Kennedy Ryan has a reputation for crafting romance that transcends genre—where each love story becomes a dialogue with the soul. In Can’t Get Enough, the third book in her poignant Skyland series, she closes out a trilogy not with fireworks, but with fire—quiet, slow-burning, and soul-deep. This is not a story of falling in love at first sight. It’s a story about choosing love even when the stakes are high, when ambition feels like armor, and when life’s most profound battles are being fought offstage.
Following Before I Let Go (2022) and This Could Be Us (2024), Can’t Get Enough dives into the world of Hendrix Barry—a woman who, by all definitions, has already made it. And yet, as Kennedy Ryan reminds us in her trademark lyrical prose, “having it all” often comes with hidden costs.
Plot Overview: A Romance Between Equals
Hendrix Barry is a #1 bestselling author, a power player in media, and the founder of the Aspire Fund—an initiative changing the face of venture capital for Black women. But behind the curated perfection is a daughter shouldering the painful descent of her mother’s Alzheimer’s. For Hendrix, love has always seemed like a detour from purpose—until she meets tech mogul Maverick Bell.
Their chemistry sparks from their first meeting, but this isn’t a whirlwind romance. What unfolds is a deliberate and emotionally honest connection, shadowed by personal baggage, high public visibility, and the fragile balancing act of caregiving. As Hendrix tries to maintain control in a world that keeps demanding more, Maverick becomes both temptation and salvation—a man who doesn’t just want her, but sees her.
What makes this book a standout is how it resists fantasy. Their romance doesn’t simplify real-world complications. Instead, it leans into them, building something fierce, mature, and deeply earned.
Character Deep Dive: Love Built on Foundation, Not Fixing
Hendrix Barry
Hendrix is the emotional core of the novel. She’s not just successful—she’s strategic, composed, and visionary. But she’s also scared, stretched thin, and quietly unraveling under the weight of her responsibilities. Ryan doesn’t shy away from Hendrix’s contradictions. She is not softened to be palatable; she is strong and scared, caring and cutting. Her fear of needing someone becomes her most relatable flaw.
Maverick Bell
Maverick is a dream that doesn’t need to be rescued from idealism. He’s confident without being possessive, attentive without being intrusive. His patience, intellect, and emotional literacy make him more than a love interest—he’s a partner in the truest sense. Through Maverick, Ryan offers an aspirational vision of Black masculinity that is rooted in respect, support, and quiet strength.
Secondary Characters
Zere, Bolt, Skipper, and Hendrix’s family add richness without cluttering the narrative. Their interactions offer levity, mentorship, and community—elements often missing from individualistic love stories.
Emotional and Cultural Themes: Real Life, Real Love
Ryan uses romance as a vessel to explore themes often reserved for literary fiction. Can’t Get Enough is no exception.
1. Black Excellence and Burnout
Hendrix is the embodiment of “Black Girl Magic,” but Ryan asks—at what cost? The narrative highlights the burdens that come with being “the first” or “the only,” particularly in the media and finance sectors. Her success is real, but so is the exhaustion that shadows it.
2. Caregiving and Identity
The portrayal of Hendrix’s relationship with her mother, whose cognitive decline is both heartbreaking and grounding, adds rare emotional depth. It’s a theme not often explored in romance, but here it’s central. Love doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it contends with grief, obligation, and sacrifice.
3. Healthy Masculinity and Vulnerability
Maverick is allowed to hurt. He’s navigating his own past heartbreak and trust issues, but he doesn’t weaponize them. His presence offers safety and steadiness, challenging the notion that romantic tension requires toxicity.
4. The Cost of Visibility
The book subtly addresses the pressure of public life—especially for Black public figures. From navigating online backlash to internalized perfectionism, Can’t Get Enough situates its romance within the reality of performative spaces.
5. Emotional Consent and Communication
Rather than relying on miscommunication tropes, Ryan builds tension through honest conversations, differing priorities, and emotional hesitancy. It’s adult romance in the truest sense—complicated, rooted, and ultimately freeing.
Writing Style: Intimate, Elegant, and Unapologetically Thoughtful
Kennedy Ryan’s prose in this book is precise yet poetic. She doesn’t just describe emotion—she immerses you in it. Her alternating dual-POV structure gives both Hendrix and Maverick distinct voices, mirroring their inner conflicts and growth.
Noteworthy aspects of her style include:
Narrative control: The emotional arc never rushes. Even small gestures are loaded with intent.
Metaphoric resonance: Hendrix’s metaphor of “holding the whole sky” becomes a recurring image—both a burden and a wonder.
Dialogue as soul-mirror: Conversations often reveal more than backstory—they become instruments of trust-building.
Where the Book Soars
Authentic representation of Black joy and struggle
Mature, emotionally rich romance arc
Organic integration of advocacy and activism
Dignified portrayal of Alzheimer’s caregiving
Sharp, empathetic commentary on entrepreneurship and equity
Where It Slows Down
Sluggish middle pacing: The narrative momentum dips slightly during the central chapters. While the character development is strong, the lack of external plot tension may test the patience of readers looking for a more traditional romantic curve.
Overextension of subplots: Zere’s subplot regarding her career decisions and her falling out with Hendrix, though valuable, is resolved too quickly to deliver a lasting emotional payoff.
Unclear stakes at times: The absence of a strong external antagonist means that the book leans heavily on internal tension. While this works for readers invested in character arcs, some may find the lack of “big drama” less compelling.
Skyland Series Recap: A Trilogy Worth Savoring
Before I Let Go introduced us to Yasmen and Josiah Wade—a divorced couple grappling with grief, co-parenting, and rekindled love.
This Could Be Us focused on Soledad Barnes, a single mother rebuilding after betrayal, and her hesitant leap into love with Judah Cross.
Can’t Get Enough is the most high-profile in terms of character status but perhaps the most introspective in terms of emotional stakes.
What binds these books is a common thread: healing isn’t just about finding love; it’s about reclaiming selfhood through love.
Comparable Reads
If this book captivated you, you may also enjoy:
Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny – for its blend of heart and sensuality.
Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project – another powerful depiction of career-driven women and grounded romantic arcs.
Kennedy Ryan’s Queen Move – a spiritual sibling to Can’t Get Enough, with its politically engaged storyline and mature romance.
Final Thoughts: A Modern Romance for the Emotionally Literate
Can’t Get Enough isn’t about whether love is possible—it’s about whether it’s worth the risk when you’ve already built a life on your own. It challenges the reader to consider that vulnerability is not a liability but a radical act of trust. This book doesn’t promise escape; it offers resonance.
Kennedy Ryan has always used her platform to advocate, uplift, and challenge. Here, she adds another triumph to her catalog—a novel that proves romance is not frivolous. It is where we confront our deepest fears, longings, and transformations.