This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan Summary
Aperçu de This Could Be Us
Kennedy Ryan's "This Could Be Us" boldly centers a forty-something divorcee rebuilding after betrayal. Oprah Daily praised its universal resonance, while its authentic portrayal of parenting children with autism draws from Ryan's personal experience. What happens when devastation becomes your pathway to unexpected love?
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À propos de l'auteur de This Could Be Us
Kennedy Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of This Could Be Us, the second installment in her acclaimed Skyland series, and one of contemporary romance's most celebrated voices. Entertainment Weekly calls her "one of the finest romance writers of our age" for her empowering storytelling that centers women from diverse backgrounds while exploring themes of love, identity, and resilience in Black communities.
Ryan made history as the first Black author to win the RITA Award in 2019 for Long Shot and the first to receive an Audie Award in Romance for Reel in 2022. Her journalism background and advocacy work—she co-founded LiFT 4 Autism, raising over $500,000—inform her authentic, socially conscious narratives.
The Skyland series, which also includes Before I Let Go and Can't Get Enough, is in development at Peacock with Universal Television, where Ryan serves as Executive Producer. This Could Be Us was named Amazon's Best Romance Novel of the Year for 2024 and won the 2025 Audie Award for Best Romance Audiobook.
FAQ sur This Could Be Us
What is This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan about?
This Could Be Us follows Soledad Barnes, a Puerto Rican stay-at-home mom whose perfect life shatters when her husband Edward is arrested for embezzling $6 million and cheating with his assistant. Left to support three daughters alone, Soledad rebuilds her identity from scratch while navigating an intense attraction to Judah Cross, the forensic accountant who exposed her husband's crimes. This contemporary romance explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and learning to trust again after devastating betrayal.
Who is Kennedy Ryan and why is she significant?
Kennedy Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author recognized by Entertainment Weekly as "one of the finest romance writers of our age". She made history as the first Black author to win the prestigious RITA Award in 2019 and the Audie Award for Romance in 2022. Ryan writes empowering contemporary romance and women's fiction centered on diverse women, with her Skyland series optioned by Universal Television for development at Peacock.
Who should read This Could Be Us?
This Could Be Us is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally complex contemporary romance with strong female protagonists. Fans of women's fiction exploring themes like single motherhood, self-reinvention after betrayal, and forbidden attraction will find this compelling. The novel particularly resonates with women navigating life transitions, those interested in stories about resilience and rediscovering personal identity, and readers who appreciate romance that tackles real-world challenges like financial devastation and rebuilding from the ground up.
Is This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan worth reading?
Absolutely. This Could Be Us won Amazon's Best Romance Novel of the Year for 2024 and received the 2025 Audie Award for Best Romance Audiobook. The book earned a 4.41 Goodreads rating and was nominated for Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Romance in 2024. Kennedy Ryan's signature blend of authentic emotional depth, compelling character development, and empowering storytelling makes this a standout in contemporary romance that delivers both the emotional journey and satisfying happily-ever-after readers expect.
Do I need to read Before I Let Go before This Could Be Us?
While This Could Be Us is the second book in Kennedy Ryan's Skyland series, you'll recognize Soledad from Before I Let Go where she appears as a secondary character. However, each book focuses on a different protagonist with their own complete romantic arc, making This Could Be Us enjoyable as a standalone. Reading Before I Let Go first provides additional context about Soledad's background and the interconnected Skyland community, but it's not required to fully appreciate her transformative journey in This Could Be Us.
What happens to Soledad Barnes in This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan?
Soledad Barnes transforms from a domestic goddess with a planned-out life into a self-sufficient single mother after her husband's betrayal. Following Edward's arrest for embezzlement and infidelity, Soledad discovers a flash drive containing evidence of his stolen $6 million, which she gives to Judah Cross. Throughout the novel, Soledad focuses on keeping a roof over her daughters' heads while rediscovering her identity and learning to trust herself again. Her journey centers on self-partnering and learning to love herself fully before opening her heart to new possibilities.
Who is Judah Cross in This Could Be Us?
Judah Cross is the forensic accountant protagonist who discovered Edward Barnes' $6 million embezzlement from CalPot, ultimately leading to Edward's arrest. A divorced father of twin sons with autism, Judah maintains a friendly relationship with his ex-wife Tremaine but never experienced passionate love in his previous marriage. When he meets Soledad at a Christmas party, their mutual attraction is immediate and intense. Judah represents the "forbidden one" Soledad shouldn't want but can't resist—the unlikely man who enters her life as she's rebuilding from the ashes.
What are the main themes in This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan?
This Could Be Us explores themes of resilience and self-discovery, showing how "from the ashes of a life burned to ground, something bold and new can rise". The novel addresses betrayal recovery, single motherhood, and the challenge of trusting yourself and others after devastating loss. Kennedy Ryan weaves in themes of self-partnering and learning to love yourself fully before inviting new love. Additional themes include forbidden attraction, the courage to embrace second chances, and empowering women to rebuild their lives on their own terms rather than depending on others.
Is This Could Be Us a standalone or part of a series?
This Could Be Us is the second book in Kennedy Ryan's Skyland series, following Before I Let Go and preceding Can't Get Enough, which releases May 13, 2025. Each book features a different protagonist with their own complete romantic storyline, making them function as standalones while maintaining interconnected characters and settings in the Skyland community. The entire Skyland series has been optioned by Universal Television and is currently in development at Peacock, with Kennedy Ryan serving as Executive Producer.
What awards has This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan won?
This Could Be Us won Amazon's Best Romance Novel of the Year for 2024, recognizing it as the top romance across all categories on the platform. The audiobook received the 2025 Audie Award for Best Romance Audiobook, making Kennedy Ryan a two-time Audie winner. The novel was also nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Romance in 2024. These accolades build on Ryan's historic achievements as the first Black author to win both the RITA Award and Audie Award in Romance categories.
Is This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan being adapted for television?
Yes, This Could Be Us is part of Kennedy Ryan's Skyland series, which has been optioned by Universal Television and is currently in development at Peacock. Kennedy Ryan serves as Executive Producer on the adaptation, ensuring her authentic voice and vision translate to screen. This marks significant recognition for Ryan's work, as TIME previously listed the first Skyland book, Before I Let Go, among its Top 50 Romance Novels. The television development reflects the series' compelling storylines, diverse characters, and exploration of real-world issues that resonate with modern audiences.
How does This Could Be Us compare to Before I Let Go?
While Before I Let Go focused on Yasmen and Josiah's second-chance romance, This Could Be Us centers on Soledad's journey from betrayal to self-discovery with a forbidden love interest. Both novels showcase Kennedy Ryan's signature approach of placing strong women at the center who face real-world challenges—financial devastation, relationship betrayals, and personal reinvention. This Could Be Us features Soledad, who appeared as a secondary character in Before I Let Go, now as the protagonist navigating single motherhood and her husband's imprisonment. Both books earned critical acclaim, with Before I Let Go making TIME's Top 50 Romance Novels list and This Could Be Us winning Amazon's 2024 Best Romance Novel.
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Citations de This Could Be Us
Watch me.
You can't control us with money.
a declaration that no one is coming.
can be alone without being lonely.
Don't worry. Sol's got ya.
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Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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