Synopsis: Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life dealt them some truly devastating blows, Yasmen and Josiah found that love couldn’t solve their problems or save their marriage. A gorgeously poignant story of healing, family, and love. Kennedy Ryan is a true artist." - Helen Hoang Kennedy Ryan’s latest contemporary romance, Before I Let Go, is dedicated to the “strong girls . . . hustlers . . . [and] superwomen,” all of which could be used to describe heroine Yasmen Wade. Yasmen built a charmed and idyllic life with Josiah, her college sweetheart-turned-husband. Partners in life and in business, the two ran a successful restaurant together. But their happiness came to a screeching halt when their third child was stillborn, which was only the start of a series of heartbreaks. In the emotional aftermath, Yasmen’s grief became paralyzing. She sought mental health counseling, but Josiah was unwilling to seek therapy with her. Yasmen had to battle the darkness alone, which created a rift between her and her husband. Rather than taking refuge in each other, as “Team Wade” had done for nearly two decades, they divorced. However, their hearts never truly let go. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for her life to fall apart, but she’s finally finding joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, raising their two children together and running a thriving business together. However, like magnets, they are always drawn to one another, and now they are beginning to wonder if they are really ready to give up everything they’ve ever had.

Fans of Colleen Hoover will love this beautiful, unforgettable, oh-so-real second-chance romance whose characters will stay in your heart long after reading. Kennedy Ryan is a brilliant storyteller who can make you cry one moment and snort-laugh the next." - Jill Shalvis For a second, Yasmen looked distressed, but then, despite feeling like someone dragged me over hot coals and needles, I laughed. Then she laughed and I wondered if this—finding someone you can laugh with when everything hurts—was the stuff happily ever afters were made of. Not the sugarcoated kisses and hot-air balloon rides and romantic walks under a full moon. My whole body throbbed with whatever plague infected me, but that day Yasmen made me happy. In the midst of a raging flu, she made me laugh. One stolen kiss leads to another . . . and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s good – until it starts to hurt again. As old wounds reopen, Yasmen and Josiah wonder if it is too late for them to find forever. What do you think?” Yasmen looks up from something she’s working on at the card table in the middle of the living/dining/kitchen zone of my dilapidated one-bedroom apartment, completeTheir love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. I don’t read a lot of romance, so I haven’t read anything by Kennedy Ryan, but she’s written a lot of books. The the Grip series (2017), the Hoops series (2018-2019), The Kingmaker in 2019, Queen Move (2020) , and Reel (2021). Do you have a favorite? Tell me in comments! Review: Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie & Carolyn Durand Devastating, thought provoking, and so hopeful, this deeply romantic second-chance love story brought out all my emotions. This book is stunningly beautiful’ FARAH HERON Kennedy Ryan writes modern romance with such emotion and beauty. Her stories are guaranteed to break your heart and then they heal it, each and every time." - Kylie Scott

Thank goodness. A romance for grown folks—and a poignant, steamy one at that! Before I Let Go is an emotional look at a marriage burned to the ground and two people determined to rise from the ashes to find happiness again. Yasmen and Josiah have the enduring type of love that would make anyone jealous. Theirs is not a connection based solely on physical attraction; although, there is some seriously hot magnetism between them. They share a mutual respect, despite the pain they inflicted on one another. I respected both of them tremendously. Award-winning and bestselling ‘powerhouse’ author Kennedy Ryan is at her absolute best in this compelling, scorching novel about hope and healing, and what it truly means to love for a lifetime ( USA Today). Real, raw, magnificent— Before I Let Go is the beautiful angst I love to read.”— Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Timesbestselling authorThe fallout from divorce affects family members in different ways. The dynamics between Josiah, Yasmen, and their kids kept me invested—particularly Yasmen’s relationship with her surly teenaged daughter. If issues overtake the romance plot and the pain in the story story outweighs the joy, the book isn’t a romance. Josiah has just started dating again, something that has shaken Yasmen up a little. Is she willing to watch the former love of her life marry someone else? Can these two give love another try? (Uh… YES!) A RITA Award Winner and bestselling author, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish, and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. SPECTACULAR! Kennedy is doing something no one else in romance is doing right now. If you love angst with the most satisfying payoff, Before I Let Go is for you." - Christina Lauren

Before I Let Go BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!!! I love second chance romance and I never thought that one with a divorced couple would be my problem. Kennedy Ryan proved me wrong with this book. In the case of this couple, it was the latter. Now they are managing to find their footing again, running a successful restaurant, co-parenting their sensitive, intellectually gifted son Kassim and their ambitious, confident daughter, Deja. Award-winning and bestselling "powerhouse" author Kennedy Ryan is at her absolute best in this compelling, scorching novel about hope and healing, and what it truly means to love for a lifetime ( USA Today). Yasmen and Josiah have been divorced for two years. They thought they would be together forever, but a traumatic event in their lives tore them apart to the point of breaking up. A few years after Yasmen and Josiah’s divorce, they found a rhythm to raise their two children and run their restaurant together. Just when they think they’re moving on with their lives, the attraction between them begins to pull them closer than ever.Real, raw, magnificent — Before I Let Go is the beautiful angst I love to read.” — Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author I tipped over from wildly attracted and more-than-slightly pussy-whipped into the real thing. Into love. That moment is soldered into my memory. It’s one I’ll never forget. Real, raw, magnificent— Before I Let Go is the beautiful angst I love to read.” — Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author She took me on a JOURNEY with this book and left me wanting more books like this. Every member of the Wade family had emotional struggles to overcome and it was wonderful that they could find joy after suffering heartbreak. She perfectly captured the complicated emotions of Yasmen and Josiah as they tried to leave the love of their lives behind. I appreciate the recent shift in romance away from perfect characters (thin, young, rich, successful, beautiful/handsome) with perfect lives.

Before I Let Go tells the story of a divorced couple who are trying to move past the pain they’ve caused each other to continue co-parenting their two children.

Soon, a stolen kiss leads to another. It’s hot. Secretive. And good until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?