February 11, 2026

Good on Its Own, Just Harder to Appreciate After the First Book

This Could Be Us

by Kennedy Ryan

Author  Kennedy Ryan   
Publisher  Forever   
Year  2024   
Pages  416
Genre  Romance · Contemporary Fiction
Themes  Divorce · Healing · Identity · Rebuilding · Second chances

The second book in the Skyland series follows Soledad, navigating life after a marriage that has fallen apart, and Canon, a man with his own complicated history. A romance about starting over when you thought your story was already written.

“Starting over wasn’t failure. It was just a different kind of brave.”

What It Actually Felt Like

The writing quality is the same as the first book. Kennedy Ryan brings her usual depth to the romance and Soledad’s story is genuinely interesting. The issue is purely personal: I didn’t connect with this couple the same way I connected with Yasmen and Josiah in Before I Let Go.

That’s not a knock on the book itself, it’s a function of how good the first one was. Someone who connects more with Soledad as a protagonist might actually prefer this one.

The Honest Part

My feelings here are about character investment, not craft. The craft is consistent. The emotional landing just wasn’t the same for me personally.

Who This Is For

Fans of the first book who want to stay in the world. Worth reading as part of the series even if it doesn’t hit the same heights.

⭐⭐⭐⭐  Good on its own, great as part of the series.

Tags  romance, contemporary fiction, Skyland series book 2, mood: warm

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