New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Kennedy Ryan, has solidified herself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary romance fiction, and is, according to Entertainment Weekly “one of the finest romance writers of our age.”

Well-known for her “Skyland” series, Ryan writes for women from all walks of life; captivating readers with her fearless storytelling by empowering and placing them firmly at the center of each story. The series consists of three novels: “Before I Let Go,” “This Could Be Us,” with the third installment, “Can’t Get Enough” releasing on May 13, 2025. TIME listed “Before I Let Go” as one of its Top 50 Romance Novels. “This Could Be Us” was Amazon’s Best Romance Novel of the Year for 2024. Of “Can’t Get Enough,” Publisher’s Weekly stated, “Ryan’s ability to blend steamy romance, complicated family dynamics, strong female friendships, and frank explorations of misogynoir remains unparalleled . . .This is an author at the very top of her game.” 

Ryan’s “Skyland” series has been optioned by Universal Television and is currently in development at Peacock – she serves as an Executive Producer. 

Ryan is one of the most decorated romance novelists of this era. She received the highest honor in romance publishing, The RITA, making history in 2019 as the first Black author to win the award for her novel “Long Shot.” In 2022 she again made history winning the Audie Award, the highest recognition in audiobook publishing, for her novel “Reel,” becoming the first Black author to do so in the Romance category. In 2025, she received another Audie Award for Best Romance Audiobook for “This Could Be Us.”

Beyond writing, Kennedy Ryan is a dedicated advocate for autism awareness. She is the co-founder of LiFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, which has raised over $500,000 for autism, with all funds going directly to Kulture City, a national autism organization. Dubbed “Queen of Hugs” by her readers, she is a wife and a mother to an extraordinary son.