New York times Bestseller – Kennedy Ryan
In honour of the release of Can’t Get Enough which came out on Tuesday, I thought it would be fitting to highlight my love for Kennedy Ryan and why I would recommend her as an author.
This wont be the first time she is mentioned on this blog. I rant and rave about Reel constantly, with it being the first novel I reviewed on this blog. Many of her other characters have also been named in various posts. I hold her in very high regard and this post felt fitting.
About the Author
Kennedy Ryan is a bestselling author whose writing career centres on contemporary romance novels acclaimed for their emotional depth and unflinching exploration of social issues. Her stories often feature complex characters navigating love, trauma, and resilience, reflecting a commitment to representing diverse voices and real-world challenges.
Ryan gained widespread recognition with her Hoops series, which delves into the personal and professional lives of basketball players while tackling themes such as abuse, ambition, and gender dynamics in sports. Her All the King’s Men series also attracted industry attention, with its adaptation rights acquired by The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC), further expanding her impact beyond the literary world.
In 2019, Ryan made history as the first Black author to win the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. She earned the award for Best Contemporary Romance with her novel Long Shot, a powerful story inspired by real-life domestic violence incidents. The book was widely praised for its raw and empathetic portrayal of abuse and survival.
Continuing her success, Ryan’s 2022 release Before I Let Go became a bestseller and was optioned for television development by Peacock in collaboration with UCP and Universal Television in 2023, further cementing her role as a transformative voice in the romance genre.
She went on to become a New York Times bestseller following the release of This Could be Us the 2nd book in the Skyland Series.
Notable Works
I haven’t actually read all of Kennedy Ryan’s books, unlike some of my other favourite authors, but I’m now genuinely inspired to go back and read them all. That said, here are the ones I would wholeheartedly recommend:
The Hoops Series – I read and loved Hook Shot. I haven’t finished the entire series yet, not because I don’t want to, but because I know they’ll break my heart, especially Long Shot, which I’ve heard is incredibly emotional.
The Skyland Series – All three books in this series are rooted in romance but also dive deep into powerful and painful themes. I have a few misgivings about the first two, Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us, but I still devoured Before I Let Go and absolutely loved it. Can’t Get Enough is definitely my favourite of the three.
I could recommend Reel for the thousandth time, but I won’t, so instead, I’ll end with The Grip Trilogy, which is another standout series that I highly recommend. 3 books across nearly 2 decades, it is definitely one heck of a read.
Why You Should Read Her Books
I discovered Kennedy Ryan in 2020 when I first read Hook Shot and was absolutely captivated. She will give you the most heartfelt and heart wrenching romance story all while delving quite deeply into a number of other issues whether that’s health, social justice or trauma. I didn’t realise how much of a fan I was until I started the Skyland Series in 2023.
One thing I deeply appreciate about Kennedy Ryan’s work – especially when she tackles sensitive themes like sexual abuse, domestic violence, or serious health issues – is how thoroughly researched and informed her writing is. It’s clear she approaches these topics with care and responsibility. In the foreword to Can’t Get Enough, she shared that the first step in her writing process is immersing herself in learning about dementia and Alzheimer’s care, even though she had personal experience with the subject.
Her goal was to capture a broad range of perspectives, not just her own, and that level of thoughtfulness is something I truly admire. There are many authors who fail to do their due diligence, often portraying sensitive themes in a way that feels more like spectacle than substance, something for the audience to consume rather than an authentic experience to inhabit. Instead of inviting readers to truly live through the characters’ journeys, these portrayals can feel shallow and performative.
Quotes
“Ours is a love that reimagines – that peels back the sky at high noon searching for the stars, collecting them like shells in a bucket. We bathe in stardust, drink from the Milky Way, and dance on the moon. We pierce the firmament, peer into infinity, and tread on time and space. There is no before. There is no after. Now gives birth to forever. This moment may die, but this love never will. Time is not a line. It’s a circle, and we, August and Iris, we stand at the centre.”
Kennedy ryan – long shot
“Depression,” she goes on, “is a liar. If it will tell you no one loves you, that you’re not good enough, that you’re a burden or, in the most extreme cases, better off dead, then it can certainly convince you that you’re better off without the man you love, and that, ultimately, he’s better off without you.”
Kennedy ryan – before i let go
“Better todays make better tomorrows, and if you don’t get tomorrow at least you had today.”
Kennedy ryan – reel
Upcoming Projects
As I mentioned, Can’t Get Enough, was released on the 13th of May, and even though I was at work (in the office, no less), I still managed to devour it. It might very well be my favourite in the entire series. I felt like Kennedy Ryan really addressed some of the critiques I had with the earlier books. She delivered just the right mix of angst and excitement while thoughtfully handling a deeply painful and sensitive topic.
On top of that, the various subplots were well-developed and tied in seamlessly with the overall story, adding depth without feeling overwhelming. At a book club event a few months ago we were able to speak with Kennedy Ryan and she said Maverick (the MMC) was her favourite of the three and would absolutely pull us in and I must say I completely agree.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed this author spotlight, as much as I enjoyed writing it. I have quite a few authors I would love to do this with so this will be a series that pops back up every couple months. I would love to know if any of you Kennedy Ryan fans? What are your favourite books? Who are our favourite authors? I’m always looking to explore so will happily dig into someone new!
Thanks for reading as always and see you next time!
Signed,
Only read 2 now need to figure out what else to read from her