Kennedy Ryan is taking one of her most beloved romance stories from the page to television.
Peacock has officially ordered a series based on Ryan’s bestselling novel Before I Let Go. The story follows Yasmen and Josiah Wade, a divorced couple trying to rebuild their lives after deep personal pain.
Ryan is not simply handing her story to Hollywood. She is helping shape its television adaptation herself. She co-wrote the pilot with filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee, and the pair serve as the series creators.
The project brings together several major Black creative voices. Attica Locke and Tembi Locke will serve as writers, executive producers, and showrunners.
Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go Gets Peacock Series Order
The Peacock order gives Ryan’s bestselling romance a new life on screen. The novel explores love, grief, marriage, divorce, and the difficult process of starting again.
At the heart of the story are Yasmen and Josiah Wade. The former couple share two children and a complicated history. Their relationship becomes even more difficult after Yasmen experiences a miscarriage.
Rather than offering an easy romance, Ryan explores what happens when love survives serious heartbreak. The story asks whether two people can repair what was broken.
That emotional depth has helped make Before I Let Go stand out among contemporary romance novels.
Kennedy Ryan and Malcolm D. Lee Co-Create the TV Adaptation
Ryan is taking an active role in bringing her characters to television. She and Malcolm D. Lee co-wrote the pilot for the series.
Lee will also direct the show. He will serve as an executive producer alongside Ryan and several other industry veterans.
The executive producing team includes Dominique Telson, Mike Jackson, John Legend, and Debra Martin Chase. Together, the team brings experience across film, television, publishing, and entertainment.
The Lockes will also play major creative roles. Attica Locke and Tembi Locke will serve as showrunners while writing and executive producing the series.
Before I Let Go Tells a Story About Love After Loss
Ryan has built a reputation for writing characters who feel complicated and real. Her stories often deal with subjects that can be difficult to discuss.
Her work has explored infidelity, autism, mental health, Alzheimer’s disease, and miscarriage. These subjects give her romance stories emotional weight beyond the relationship itself.
Before I Let Go follows that same approach. Yasmen and Josiah must deal with grief while trying to understand what remains between them.
Their story is not simply about getting back together. It is also about healing, parenting, forgiveness, and discovering who they are after loss.
That balance makes the story particularly suited to a television format. A series can give its characters more room to develop over time.
Kennedy Ryan Was “Having the Time of Her Life” Writing the Pilot
Ryan previously spoke with EBONY about creating the television version of her story.
During a May 2026 conversation, she discussed how she builds the world of Skyland. She also spoke about working with Lee on the pilot.
Ryan said she was “having the time of her life” while writing the pilot with Lee.
Now that Peacock has ordered the series, that creative process is moving into its next stage. Fans who first discovered the Wades through the novel will have the chance to experience their story visually.
The adaptation also gives new audiences an entry point into Ryan’s work. Viewers who have never read the book can discover the characters through the series.
Before I Let Go Is Part of Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland Series
Before I Let Go is the first book in Ryan’s Skyland series. The story is followed by This Could Be Us and Can’t Get Enough.
That larger literary world gives Peacock plenty of material to explore. However, the new series begins with the story of Yasmen and Josiah.
Ryan has shown a strong ability to create interconnected stories and memorable characters. Her Skyland books explore relationships while tackling serious personal and social issues.
The television adaptation could therefore introduce even more people to the world Ryan created.
For longtime readers, it also offers something different. They will get to see familiar characters, relationships, and conflicts translated from their imagination to the screen.
Kennedy Ryan Continues Her Rise From Bestselling Author to TV Creator
Ryan’s move into television reflects the expanding reach of her storytelling career. She has already established herself as a major voice in contemporary romance.
Her recognition also extends beyond publishing. Ryan was named a 2024 EBONY Power 100 honoree, highlighting her influence within Black culture and entertainment.
Her work often places Black characters at the center of complex emotional stories. Those characters are allowed to experience joy, pain, mistakes, grief, and second chances.
Now, Before I Let Go gives Ryan an opportunity to bring that approach to a major streaming platform.
The Peacock series also puts Black writers, producers, and creative leaders behind the camera. That representation matters when stories about Black love and family reach mainstream audiences.
What the Peacock Series Means for Fans of Black Romance
The television adaptation arrives at a time when audiences continue seeking stories about Black love that feel honest and layered.
Before I Let Go does not treat relationships as simple or perfect. Instead, it explores how people change after experiencing profound loss.
Yasmen and Josiah’s journey gives the series a chance to explore marriage, divorce, parenting, grief, and healing together.
Most importantly, Ryan remains involved in shaping the story. Her participation can help protect the emotional heart of the novel during its transition to television.
For readers who connected with the book, the Peacock order marks an exciting new chapter. A story that began on the page is now preparing to reach millions of potential viewers.
