
Ok y’all let’s talk about it.
This Could Be Us is book 2 of the Skyland series and follows Soledad Barnes and her trash ass husband Edward, who we already knew wasn’t shit from Before I Let Go. Edward is one of those never takes accountability, everything is everyone else’s fault type dudes. He gets caught up with the FEDS, and the person who discovers his crimes? Judah. The same man from work he cannot stand and has been badmouthing to his wife the whole time. The audacity.
As everything falls apart, Soledad is not only trying to shield their three daughters from the chaos they’ve found themselves in, but also navigating betrayal, reinventing herself, rebuilding from the ground up, and trying to find some kind of balance. Thankfully she has her besties Yazmen and Hendrix to lean on, but baby things get sticky. After crossing paths at an annual holiday party, Soledad and Judah cannot stop thinking about one another. Meanwhile Judah, his ex-wife Tremaine, her new husband, and their twin sons are all in their own season of change, unfolding simultaneously throughout the story. Did I mention Soledad’s kids hate Judah because their daddy keeps saying the man hates him and set him up?
Now. Y’all know how I felt about Before I Let Go — if not, go peep that review. I feel the OPPOSITE about Soledad’s story.
I was NOT rooting for Soledad and Judah and here’s why — girl, why tf are you playing with that man like that? Judah was GONE from jump. Hadn’t even touched her and was already willing to do anything for her. She kept stepping up then pulling back every time things got too close, until she finally couldn’t anymore. I seriously wanted to choke her. I get that she was in her self-care, dating herself era but she was giving mixed signals from start to finish.
Meanwhile Judah was out here being honest, patient, loving, and gentle without ever overstepping. I also loved how Kennedy Ryan handled his and his sons’ neurodivergence & autism throughout. It was carefully and intentionally woven in. What develops on the page is an unrelenting connection between two people finding healing and solace while learning to love again.
When Soledad finally gave in, I wanted to give my dawg Judah some dap because baby she was SPRUNG. 😂 And honestly? He earned every bit of it. But chile, when she took a machete to Edward’s mancave?! I was TOO THROUGH!
Great read. Kennedy Ryan did not miss, yet again.
TW: infidelity, financial crime, betrayal
Rating: Judah deserved better, but he got her ass SPRUNG so we good. 🤷🏾♀️
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