Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us is the second book in her critically acclaimed Skyland series, following Before I Let Go (2022) and preceding Can’t Get Enough (2025). While Before I Let Go explored the emotionally charged reconciliation between Yasmen and Josiah Wade, This Could Be Us turns its gaze toward Soledad Barnes—a woman rebuilding her life after profound betrayal—and Judah Cross, the man who enters her world when she least expects it.
The Skyland series is more than just romance. It’s a meditation on adult love, healing from trauma, and finding home in unexpected places. Each book can stand alone, but when read together, they form a tapestry of soulful, grounded stories with richly layered characters navigating the aftermaths of life-altering choices.
Plot Summary: A Blueprint for Rediscovery
This Could Be Us centers on Soledad Barnes, a woman who seemingly had it all: a stable home, a charming husband, three beautiful daughters, and a knack for creating perfection out of chaos. But her carefully curated world collapses when her husband Edward is exposed for white-collar crimes that leave her reputation shredded and her family in shambles.
Forced to confront the wreckage, Soledad turns her focus inward. She rebuilds, not just a home, but a sense of identity. Amidst this turbulent reinvention enters Judah Cross, the man investigating Edward’s fraud and—ironically—the only one who offers her the emotional refuge she desperately needs.
Their connection is slow-burn and forbidden, defined by uncertainty and reluctance. Judah is as much a man of integrity as he is a contradiction—torn between duty and desire. What begins as cautious curiosity unfurls into a deeply emotional romance, one that asks Soledad to trust again—not just in a partner, but in herself.
Character Study: Soledad Barnes and Judah Cross
Soledad Barnes
Soledad is the radiant heart of the novel. Her resilience is its pulse.
- Strength in Vulnerability: Despite her trauma, Soledad does not collapse into victimhood. She mothers fiercely, shows up for herself, and embraces therapy and self-partnering with both honesty and humor.
- Complex Identity: As a Puerto Rican woman navigating upper-middle-class expectations, her cultural identity is woven organically into the narrative, offering authenticity without exoticism.
- Emotional Evolution: Her reluctance to fall for Judah is not a tropey resistance but a deeply understandable response to betrayal. Her growth feels earned, not rushed or conveniently timed.
Judah Cross
A rarity in romance: the emotionally intelligent, broody accountant with a fierce moral compass.
- Protector Without Possession: Judah’s instinct is to protect Soledad, but he never undermines her agency.
- Layered Masculinity: A widowed father of autistic twins, Judah embodies nurturing masculinity. His portrayal subverts harmful stereotypes while celebrating involved fatherhood.
- Imperfect but Grounded: His internal conflict—choosing between his job and his heart—adds emotional texture without dragging the story into melodrama.
Their dynamic is rooted in mutual respect, smoldering attraction, and emotional honesty. It’s not just romantic chemistry; it’s emotional compatibility.
Themes: Identity, Autism, Betrayal, and the Reclamation of Joy
1. Autism Representation
Soledad’s bond with Judah’s sons, particularly Aaron who is nonverbal and autistic, is one of the most poignant aspects of the novel. Ryan handles autism with remarkable sensitivity, nuance, and insight—likely informed by her own experiences as a mother of an autistic child. This isn’t a plot device; it’s a thematic cornerstone.
2. Divorce and Emotional Labor
Soledad’s reflections on her failed marriage are honest and complex. Through candid conversations with her friends (including Yasmen from Before I Let Go), Ryan delves into:
- The invisible emotional labor women often shoulder
- The subtle erosion of self-worth in a marriage gone wrong
- The courage required to redefine love post-betrayal
3. Economic and Emotional Rebuilding
Soledad’s new normal isn’t glamorized. The financial struggle, single parenting, and the fear of failure are rendered in painstaking, relatable detail.
4. Second Chances Without Scripts
One of the book’s strongest themes is the freedom to rebuild love outside traditional scripts. Soledad doesn’t want to remarry—and that’s okay. Judah doesn’t need her to conform; he just wants her whole, on her terms.
“Draw a picture in your mind of what a future could look like and really believe this could be us. And whenever you’re ready, I’m right here.”
Writing Style: Kennedy Ryan’s Signature Blend of Lyricism and Precision
Ryan’s prose, as always, strikes a careful balance between poetic introspection and grounded dialogue. She invites readers into the internal worlds of her characters without overwhelming them. Her strength lies in her emotional precision—those quiet but seismic moments when a character makes a choice not to run, not to fold, not to give up.
- Lyrical but Accessible: Never pretentious, her writing evokes emotion without manipulating it.
- Sensual Without Cliché: The romantic scenes are sultry, yes, but always character-driven.
- Dialogue-Driven Intimacy: Much of the romantic tension builds through charged, meaningful conversations—not just physical proximity.
Highlights and Memorable Moments
- The Christmas Party Flashback: Judah noticing Soledad while she’s still married—his internal restraint vs. attraction—is masterfully written.
- Soledad’s Therapy and “Self-Partnering”: These scenes showcase self-love as the foundation of her healing.
- Soledad’s Confrontation with Edward’s Mother: A powerful moment of reclaiming her voice in the face of gaslighting.
- Judah’s Boys: Particularly Aaron, whose interactions with Soledad bring tears and joy without becoming saccharine.
- Final Chapters: Judah’s quiet offer of unwavering presence—“I’m not going anywhere”—is the romantic climax we didn’t know we needed.
Constructive Critique
While This Could Be Us is a strong and resonant story, a few elements warrant scrutiny:
- Pacing in the Middle Act: The narrative occasionally meanders in the second half. Soledad’s emotional hesitation, while realistic, sometimes results in repetitive internal monologues.
- Judah’s Work Conflict: Though his professional dilemma adds stakes, the corporate subplot feels underdeveloped in contrast to the richly explored romantic and familial threads.
- Side Characters: While Hendrix and Yasmen add welcome vibrancy, a few peripheral characters feel sketched more than fleshed out.
These are minor critiques in a story that excels in emotional realism and thematic richness.
Series Context and Continuity
- Before I Let Go dealt with divorced co-parents navigating grief and rekindled love.
- This Could Be Us leans more into rebuilding from scratch, parenting under fire, and learning to open up again.
- Can’t Get Enough (2025) is expected to carry the emotional and thematic legacy forward, likely featuring another member of the tight-knit Skyland circle.
What unites the series isn’t just the setting, but a shared ethos: grown-up love that wrestles with real-world weight—grief, neurodivergence, identity, and emotional accountability.
Readers Who Will Love This Book
- Fans of Colleen Hoover, Tia Williams, or Talia Hibbert who crave deeper character studies
- Readers looking for autism representation handled with care and respect
- Anyone who appreciates strong single mothers, multicultural family dynamics, and second-chance love
Comparable Titles
- Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
- The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
- Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
- The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (for its emotional nuance and “forbidden” romance arcs)
Final Verdict
This Could Be Us is not just a romance—it’s a declaration. A love letter to survival, resilience, motherhood, and the kind of love that’s built not on fantasy, but on fierce emotional truth. It’s deeply romantic, unflinchingly honest, and profoundly hopeful.
Kennedy Ryan once again proves why she is one of the most important voices in contemporary romance. She doesn’t just write love stories; she writes people, pain, possibility—and the quiet courage it takes to believe again.
If you’re ready for a romance that speaks to your spirit as much as your heart, This Could Be Us belongs on your shelf.