Coming Home

by Kennedy Ryan

2 hours, 40 minutes

They got everything they wanted...but never had each other.

Touré Wallace and Niomi Spencer were close friends at Finley College, the prestigious HBCU they attended. The attraction that simmered between them every semester was a question they never got to ask or answer before soaring ambitions launched them to opposite corners of the world. Both chased their dreams of grit and glamor as high-profile journalists. They got it all...except a shot at being more than friends.

Years later, Touré is an award-winning investigative journalist and Niomi is America's most popular morning-show host, but they both feel like something’s missing. When their alma mater recruits its most famous alums for an interview during homecoming, every look, every touch is electric. The air hums with what could have been, and they're tempted by what they could have right now, if only for one weekend. Have they traveled the world, chasing something special, when all it took was coming home?

Featuring Southern University’s marching band, Human Jukebox!

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Novella, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers

91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 9, 2023

About the author

NEWSLETTER:
bit.ly/KRList

BOOKBUB: bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

AMAZON:
http://amzn.to/2EX7pgg

FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor/

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/


KENNEDY RYAN BOOKS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/68160...


I write contemporary romance and women's fiction. I always give my characters their happily ever after, but I love to make them work for it! It's a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

I am wife to the love of my life, mom to a special, beautiful son, and a friend to those living with autism through my charitable foundation.

Reviews

[Larissa Cambusano]

SO SO CUTEEEE <3

i love me some kennedy ryan.

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy Ryan always hits it out of the park. Coming up with stories and romances so damn convincing and that get me invested from the get go.

It’s second chance, the one that got away, reuniting years later after they both have lived their lives. But they never forgot each other.

One thing I always love that Kennedy Ryan does - other than writing the most beautiful love stories - is how friendship is valued in her books. Especially female friendships.

The audiobook production was a treat as well. I could have Jakobi Diem’s voice in my ears all day. 🥰

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute short story!
I wasn't keen on the male narrator's female voices, but I never like that!

I liked the characters, the setting and the whole second chances vibe. Second chances at love, and a second chance with his daughter 💛

Very sweet, with one sizzling sex scene.

Recommend if you want a quick romance story, and I got it free on audible plus 🙌

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfection in one sitting. Older couple (41) second chance romance. The kind that felt like the timing just wasn't right the first time, but the feelings never died. Loved every single thing about this, and I will never stop being impressed by Kennedy's ability to get us so emotionally invested in her character's lives and loves so quickly.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a romantic escape, needing a break from everyday life? This book is perfect for dreaming and longing for that elusive love.

Supercute story that made me smile.

[Kameel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute short of a group old friends reconnecting after 20 years at their alma mater's homecoming...within that group you know there's always a couple or they wanted to be a couple....This was something different from Kennedy Ryan and I must say, I really enjoyed this story....Of Course with Wesleigh and Jakobi narrating it really made this short enjoyable for me.

[cora · Rating 2 out of 5]

had it's sweet moments, but guess i expected more 🥲

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really sweet second chance romance, but it was lacking in the emotion and angst I love from Kennedy. There wasn't anything wrong with the story, I just wanted more from everything. I love "the one that got away" trope, but I love when we get to see the whole evolution of the relationship, just not the ending snippet.

I love the narrators, though, and think those two are just perfection every time they narrate together!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I’m always here for anything and everything Kennedy Ryan writes so when I saw she had a new audible original out I had to get to it right away! This was a really sweet second chance at love book.

Touré and Niomi had a moment in college… they were almost something but it never quite happened. Now, 20 years after their college graduation, they’re back at their alma matter for Homecoming. Touré for his daughter, who is being crowned Homecoming Queen, and Niomi to interview Touré.

I love reading books where there is that mutual pining and you just know that both characters have it bad for one another. This book had that. Plus Kennedy Ryan’s wonderful writing! And a shout out to Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem for slaying the narration!

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 2h 40m

[*Ebony I* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet delayed love story, which definitely seems to be Mrs. Ryan's jam. Toure and Niomi were close friends over two decades ago at Finley College, an HBCU. They were both sweet on each other, but the timing never seemed to be right. When they finally take one step together, they were unable to act on it because Toure spent his senior year abroad. They both go on to be successful in their perspective careers, rarely engaging with one another. Now they both find themselves back at Finley College at the same time and they can't help but wonder what if ....
When they finally are in each other's presence again, the chemistry is still very much present and strong. This time, the timing is right and they are finally able to pursue each other. It was a sweet story as they found home in each other. This was my first full audible book and I enjoyed it, but still prefer my words.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't even read the blurb before deciding to read this, just because it's Kennedy Ryan. And it was pretty cool, even though it's a second chance romance, aka a trope I very much dislike. The narrators did a good job too. I only wish it was longer and more fleshed out.

[KaylaTRBG · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I know is that if the LOML proposed to me at our HBCU….I wouldn’t be able to handle it 😭 the music at the end scared me LMAO! Enjoyed this widdle novella 💕🥹

[Lauren Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short! Happy feel good novella. Beautiful resolutions. Second chance trope. Sweetly spicy. A perfect palette cleanser!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love second chance romances & Kennedy Ryan! This was so cute. 🥹💛

[kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟 cute! working with under 3 hours in this audio exclusive novella, kennedy still does a good job of developing niomi and touré (more so touré, but still) and their shared and separate history :)

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella. Even with such short story, Miss Ryan does not disappoint her readers. Coming Home is sweet, vanilla romance. I like the writing.

The characters introduction is straight forward and simple. The theme is second chance romance. Do not expect drama or complicated plot. Just enjoy it as it is.

4 stars

[Roomies' Digest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo cute! I’m obsessed 😭 -mo

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute second chance romance. No angst, just fluff with lots of mutual pining.

And as usual Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem did an absolutely fantastic job with the narration.

Story: 4stars
Narration: 5stars

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute novella! If you're looking for romance with characters in the 40's and Black love, this is a great pick. Coming Home follows two successful journalists who were always will-they-won't-they in college. But now, it's Homecoming at their HBCU alma mater and his daughter is homecoming queen. So they agree to do an interview, and perhaps kindle something? I really enjoyed this and thought it worked well as a novella because they have history together.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars / 2.5 Steam Fans

A fun novella. Loved seeing this lighter side of Kennedy Ryan.

Video review available in Week 8: Feb 19 – Feb 25, 2023, weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...)

[Yarany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes, however, this was cute!! KR managed to make it palatable for me. The story left me wanting more and was a bit lacking for me to really get connected with the characters. Especially, since I wanted to see the evolution of the whole relationship, and if It had been longer, I think this would've given me the emotional punch I was looking for. Still worth the listen and I'll be reading more from Kennedy Ryan!!

[Hannah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY great dual narrators that are perfect counterparts!! One sex scene and super cute premise 🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quick and cute!

Also Jakobi Diem can read me anything he wants.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always have a good time when I read Kennedy Ryan! This was a sweet second chance romance and I loved the narration. You can listen to it for free on the audible plus catalog!

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Maybe now. After all these years. Maybe us.”

Coming Home is a new audible original short from Kennedy Ryan. And just like every other thing they Kennedy Ryan writes, this was perfection! I loved Touré and Niomi and their story.

Friends in college, Niomi always felt like the “one who got away” even though they never got together, he crushed on her, she secretly crushed on him, the timing was never right for them to be together, but they shared a moment at the end of college. So now they’ve known one another for 20 years but they’re about to be around one another for the first time in years.

They both chased their dreams as high-profile journalists and now Niomi, who became a popular morning show host, is asked by their alma mater to interview Touré, who became an award-winning investigative journalist. I was obsessed with their connection and romance, Kennedy doesn’t disappoint and this short treat was just a delight! The narrators were amazing of course too!

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed Coming Home! Niomi and Toure’s story is essentially right person wrong time and second chance at something between them. They were never in love, but they both definitely wanted more with each other in their college days, but life took them different ways. I enjoyed this one even though it was quick. Toure working on things with his daughter, Seline, was sweet and added an emotional layer that I wish could have been explored a little more, but in a novella it was done well. All in all a great listen if you want something quick with a dash of emotion, heat, and some laughs. The voice actors did a great job bringing this story to life.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was short and sweet. A great pallet cleanser between heavier reads.

[Nefeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5⭐️
This was cute,short, and sweet, and Kennedy Ryan's writing is always really enjoyable. Even though second chance romance is a trope that doesn't often work for me I liked the execution here - it felt like the separation had to with the circumstances and not with mistakes the characters made (which is what usually really frustrats me about second chance stories). The characters were charming, and the narration was great, so if you're looking for a quick,romantic read, I would encourage you to pick this up!

[Tameaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little novella was exactly what I needed. Cute. Sweet. With a satisfying ending. That epilogue 🥹

[Lette Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a graduate of the HBCU that band is featured at the end, how could I not like it!! I LOVE all things Southern University and A&M College and all things HBCU!!