Long Shot

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Honestly, Kennedy Ryan can do no wrong! I swear it! This is my second read of hers and she is an impeccable storyteller! Here I was thinking this was going to be a hot steamy basketball romance, but it’s so much more!

Do check your triggers as there is much DV throughout this book and it’s very much of a story surrounding survival but also triumph and justice. The amount of research Kennedy shows is above measure. She keeps it authentic without devaluing anyone’s experience. The light shed on this subject and the reality it is for some out there, really allows us as the reader to sympathise, as well as, wanting more for those that go through this without help nor support. This book may bring tears to your eyes as it did mine.

The story follows August, an up and coming NBA star about to get drafted. He meets Iris at a bar and they instantly hit it off, mostly because Iris can talk anyone under the table with basketball stats. They leave the bar when August wants a kiss and Iris tells him that she can’t due to having a boyfriend. As time rolls on, we find out Iris’ boyfriend is indeed August’s childhood rival Caleb who is also drafted to the NBA. August can’t let go of the connection with Iris. Caleb notices the interest August holds for Iris and takes any chance to rub it in August’s face. Behind closed doors, Caleb’s narcissistic behaviour keeps Iris tethered until one night, with the help of her cousin Lo, she gains an opportunity to get out of his control for her daughters sake. Iris takes some time away without contact with August, but then their timing aligns.

I am flawed by Kennedy’s writing. If I wasn’t convinced with Before I Let You Go, I now want to read everything she’s ever written! Just wow!

This book had me laughing, crying, happy, sad, emotional… but in the end when Iris got her justice, I was touched by her triumph. I thought August was sweet - he knew a connection of this magnitude couldn’t be ignored. He hung around hoping one day he’d be with Iris but never pushed it in an obsessive way. It was the ultimate test of patience. August knew Caleb wasn’t right and that his and Iris’ time would come.

You really connected with the characters. The whole time I was thinking, how will Iris get out of this? It was painful to read her journey and I really wouldn’t have guessed how justice would be served to Caleb. I loved her cousin Lo and the strong sister bond they had despite having a fall out. All it took was one word for Lo to come running to help. I loved that!

This book has definitely left an impression! I honestly cannot fault it. The writing, the spice level, the dialogue, the research, the storytelling is all high level! Can’t wait for my next Kennedy read!

Coming Home

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Touré and Niomi had a moment during college but life had taken them on their respective journalist adventures and careers. Fate would have it that they would reunite at Touré's daughters graduation ceremony where the school invites their most famous alum to speak. Did they miss their chance or is this their opportunity to take a chance they didn't get?

I saw this as an inclusion for audible subscription, and because I love Kennedy Ryan so much, I had to check it out! It's a cute story and one of those what if moments. The two main characters could have had something during their college years but the timing wasn't right. I liked that they went to have their own lives, grew as people and then realised what they wanted in life.

Touré thinking he didn't have the best relationship with his daughter based on his sacrifice to work to provide, was very noble. Even though he felt like he missed out throughout his daughter's life, her telling him that she admired him was such a sweet and pivotal moment.

I like second chance stories and how Niomi and Touré got together. This was a very short audiobook and a nice story. There was a little bit of spice also.

Before I Let Go

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I read this as part of a book club and I’m thankful for having a few chapters to read each day. The content did get heavy at times and taking a break was welcomed.

Yasmen and Josiah are a divorced couple who suffered a loss of a child and also a very close Aunty in quick succession. Yasmen went through a deep depression, whilst Josiah didn’t take the time to grieve. Josiah didn’t believe in therapy and talking to a professional, burying any trauma he’s ever experienced deep within. Yasmen and Josiah are still in each others lives as they have 2 children and also run a restaurant business together. As Josiah attempts to move on with someone new, are they both really ready to depart the love they once had or will old feelings start to resurface?

This book was a beautiful read for me. I can understand why some may not like this read, as the couple in the story could have worked things out with proper communication, having their own time to grieve and also needed the tools to work through their grief.

My heart broke reading about the loss of a child that Yasmen had to experience. I especially liked the research the author did with those who had this experience and even sought therapists out who may have helped those with such a significant loss.

Everyone wants to hate Josiah because he thought therapy was bollocks. My friend told me that this stigma is held for black men (something I didn’t know), so it makes sense that he thought it wasn’t going to help him nor Yasmen. He only thought her meds did the job, but when he eventually goes himself, he has such a profound experience and realises he was wrong.

I think Yas definitely wanted Josiah to express himself. He didn't know how and that stemmed from when his parents died. He buries it deep and didn't have the tools to cope or grieve properly. If Josiah didn’t hold the stigma surrounding therapy, used a therapist to digest his parents death when he was younger, he wouldn’t have held the "life moves on" mentality. So it was the same application to the loss of Byrd and Henry.

I think what drove Yas for divorce was also that Josiah kept tiptoeing around her and treating her like she was precious. She didn't know their business was not going smoothly and they had no money in the bank to pay for lawn mowing. I felt as if he threw her depression back in her face by painting over that nursery wall. Josiah felt like it wasn't productive sitting there every day, day in day out. I think he felt like she needed to stop and come back to reality. He didn't understand depression, so therefore had judgement from a practical point of view. Yasmen was all emotional. So really he lacked emotional intelligence. They were two opposite people at the time. They weren't going to work out if they continued that way, so I think Yas thought divorce was the only solution for self healing from such a devastating loss.

Kaseem was such a sweetheart and the whole time I was thinking “what is Deja’s problem?”. I knew it wouldn’t come easily and we got our answer towards the end of the book. I think a child can hold anger when they don’t really understand fully what’s going on. If you only hold a certain piece of information, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and can be very confusing for the child. Overall, I thought for how well Yasmen and Josiah were co-parenting, they had pretty decent children. Deja holding attitude was within her own reasoning.

I think this book is really raw and emotional. It embraces a topic that maybe not many people would know about or relate to, but is as real as it gets for those suffering loss and depression. I would recommend not reading this book if those are triggers for you.