before i let go by kennedy ryan review

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: A Thought-Provoking Romance

Introduction

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, published in 2022, is a deeply emotional contemporary romance that explores the raw aftermath of love, loss, and mental health struggles. Set against the backdrop of a broken marriage and an unbreakable bond, this fiction title dares to dig beneath the surface of conventional romance and offers a poignant look at second chances. This isn't just a love story—it’s a story about healing, growth, and the pain and beauty of moving forward.

Plot Overview

Without diving into spoilers, Before I Let Go follows Yasmen and Josiah, two once deeply in love partners now divorced but still connected by their children and their shared past. As they co-parent and run a restaurant together, buried emotions begin to surface. The story delicately navigates their attempts to rebuild a life around heartbreak and healing, while the possibility of reconciliation simmers just beneath the surface. Their journey is laced with tension, reflection, and emotional vulnerability—making it a standout in the second chance romance subgenre.

Themes and Key Messages

This contemporary fiction novel is rich in themes that resonate deeply with adult readers, including:

Mental health: Yasmen’s struggle with grief and depression is portrayed with authenticity and compassion, making mental wellness a central and respectfully handled topic.
Love and loss: The narrative unpacks how love can evolve, fade, and sometimes return in unexpected ways.
Second chances: Kennedy Ryan doesn’t sugarcoat the process of rebuilding; she shows its complexity and emotional labor.
Parenthood and co-parenting: Realistic portrayals of raising children after a relationship ends add a mature depth to the story.
Resilience and healing: The book raises powerful questions about what it means to survive and thrive after emotional devastation.

Character Development

The heart of Before I Let Go lies in its beautifully nuanced characters. Yasmen and Josiah are richly developed, layered, and deeply human. Yasmen’s journey through grief, therapy, and rediscovery makes her one of the most compelling protagonists in contemporary romance. Josiah, meanwhile, is flawed but earnest, grappling with his own feelings while trying to support Yasmen. Their chemistry, though quiet and cautious, feels organic and earned.

Supporting characters—like their children and friends—add warmth and realism, and no one feels one-dimensional. Every interaction carries emotional weight, supporting the book’s messages of empathy and growth.

Writing Style and Pacing

Kennedy Ryan's writing style is lyrical, intimate, and emotionally resonant. Her prose pulls you in gently, yet firmly, with dialogue that feels genuine and descriptions that enhance rather than overwhelm. The pacing is measured—some may find it slow at times, but the deliberate tempo suits the story’s emotional complexity. The structure allows readers to sit with the characters’ emotions, making it ideal for audiobook listeners or book club discussions.

Impact on the Reader

Reading Before I Let Go feels like being handed someone’s soul. It stirs feelings of empathy, heartbreak, hope, and introspection. Kennedy Ryan crafts a narrative that not only tells a second chance romance, but also invites readers to confront their own understanding of healing and relationships. For anyone who has experienced grief, this book will likely hit close to home—yet offer comfort through its honesty.

Conclusion

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is not your average contemporary romance. It’s an emotional excavation, a journey into mental health, and a beautifully rendered story of two people who must fall apart before they can come back together. I highly recommend this book to adult readers who appreciate romance fiction with depth, book club discussions with substance, and stories that linger long after the last page.

Whether you prefer audiobooks, paperbacks, or e-readers, Before I Let Go deserves a place on your shelf—and your heart.