This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Narrated by Inés del Castillo and Jacobi Diem

Second in the Skyland Series but stands alone just fine. Contemporary Romance/Divorce Fiction/Women’s Fiction.

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When somebody’s writing changes you in some way or makes you see things differently, to me it’s the mark of a great writer. Kennedy Ryan blew me away with my favorite book of 2022, Before I Let Go. At that time, I was recently divorced and my ex and I had a complicated relationship. I thought maybe I loved it so much because it was so relatable to where I was in my life.

But This Could Be Us, the second in the Skyland Series (they stand alone perfectly fine) was just as good as the first. Soledad was a strong, independent woman raising 3 girls in a marriage that was struggling. She didn’t realize just how bad things really were until her husband betrayed her and the kids in more than one way, leaving her to carry the burden herself.

“The hurt settles like sediment, sinking all the way to the bottom of me, and solidifies into rage.”

Soledad is a domestic goddess. She cleans, organizes, cooks, and hosts fantastic parties. When she suddenly had to raise her three girls alone and keep them in their fancy private school, she took that talent and turned it into a career. While doing that, she was getting to know herself and learning to love herself. #datingmyself

Judah Cross and his ex-wife are co-parenting their two teen boys who are on the autism spectrum with one being mostly non-verbal. I loved this aspect of the story so much, from the healthy relationship between exes to all the things you don’t have to think of if you don’t have kids who are neurodivergent. They were such amazing parents and I appreciated that they had an eye on the future knowing that the boys would need their support forever. I loved how Kennedy wove in the trials and tribulations of parenting kids with autism without making it the main focus of the story.

“Life is always gonna be complicated, but the good stuff is worth fighting for.”

Judah wanted Soledad from the moment he first saw her, but she was on her own journey. He was so patient and understanding that despite him being the last person Soledad should fall for, you couldn’t help but root for them. Judah was such a phenomenal, attentive father and that attentiveness carried over to his relationship with Soledad. Though the attraction was continuing to grow, he had been divorced for 4 years. She needed to find herself before she could find someone else, and that was the main focus of the story. The romance was almost secondary, and that worked just fine for me.

“You are my prince.” But there’s nothing for him to save me from because I’ve saved myself. He doesn’t have to awaken me with a kiss, I’m wide awake. Reborn, rebirthed through my own fire and pain and work and wisdom.

Another thing I absolutely loved is the friend group of Soledad, Hendrix, and Yasmine. They were such a wonderful part of her healing process. Every woman would be lucky to have friends like that. The Puerto Rican culture was also well represented and even better in the audiobook. I love the diversity of her characters.

The only thing that held me back from a full 5 stars was that everyone (except the villains) was just a little too perfect. Soledad’s kids were so well-behaved, even the one who still wanted her dad. Soledad was an instant success making enough money to support her family within months and her kids lovingly helped and supported her. The story was so real in so many ways, but I feel like it needed to be messier.

“When are we ever done working on ourselves? I believe wholeness is not a destination, but a lifetime process. Something that instead of waiting for, you could be living for.”

Likes:

I love the friend group that featured Yasmine from the first book.
Real, raw, and honest.
The gentle descriptions of autism and life with kids on the spectrum.
Adult characters with adult problems.
Healthy co-parenting between exes.
The growth and self-love Soledad went through.
Made me think differently about being alone.
I bookmarked so many amazing quotes.

Dislikes:

Everyone was just a little too perfect (except, of course, the villains).

The Narration:

Inés del Castillo was phenomenal as Soledad. Soledad was half Peurto Rican, and I loved that it was clear the narrator spoke Spanish as well. Jacobi Diem was just plain fabulous as Judah. I actually had the arc of this book on my Kindle for I while but decided to hold out for the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. Their narration made the book even more special.

The Down & Dirty (TLDR):

This Could Be Us was not as emotional as Before I Let Go but it was real and raw. I love how Kennedy Ryan writes such strong, kick-ass, resilient women. This story is as much about Soledad’s journey to find and love herself as it was about the romance, but I thought it was balanced perfectly for the story. I can’t express just how much I loved This Could Be Us. I thought there was no way it would live up to the first in the Skyland Series, but I couldn’t be happier to say I was wrong! I only took off the half star because everyone was a little too perfect. Still, This Could Be Us will be a 2024 favorite and it needs to be your next read.