Chapter summaries This Could Be Us Kennedy Ryan

Chapter 19 (Chapter Sixteen: Soledad) Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

During dinner at Soledad’s house, she serves picadillo-style chili to her friends Yasmen and Hendrix. Yasmen pitches a Harvest Festival pavilion called Sol’s Farm-to-Table, where Soledad would recreate her dinner-party experience for the community. Despite initial reluctance, Soledad agrees after Yasmen points out the financial benefits.

The conversation shifts to Soledad’s teenage daughter Inez, who wants to see her father Edward in prison. Soledad worries about the impact of Edward’s crimes on the children and admits she had an emotional clash with Inez earlier. She also reveals a close call when Inez nearly saw her on Judah Cross’s porch during a delivery.

Soledad confesses her past attraction to Judah at Edward’s Christmas party and admits the chemistry is still present. Both friends press her about the possibility of a relationship, but Soledad insists she is not ready. She explains she is working with her therapist on “self-partnering” and wants to pour into herself after years of being Edward’s support system. Hendrix shares her own preference for casual arrangements, while Yasmen validates Soledad’s need for time alone.

The evening concludes with a phone call from Spiros restaurant confirming a reservation Soledad made before Edward’s arrest. Though initially uncertain, she decides to keep the reservation and go alone, asserting her independence.

Key Events

  • Soledad serves chili made with sofrito to Yasmen and Hendrix.
  • Yasmen proposes the Harvest Festival pavilion; Soledad agrees after considering her finances.
  • Discussion of Inez wanting to visit Edward in prison.
  • Soledad reveals her delivery to Judah and the lingering attraction.
  • Friends debate whether Soledad should pursue Judah or stay single.
  • Soledad declares she is practicing self-partnering with her therapist.
  • A call from Spiros prompts Soledad to keep the anniversary reservation for herself.

Character Development

Soledad shows growth in self-awareness and independence. She openly discusses her past emotional dependence on Edward and her determination to build her own identity. Her decision to keep the Spiros reservation—originally made for her anniversary—symbolizes her willingness to enjoy life alone.

Hendrix provides a counterpoint with her unapologetically non‑romantic lifestyle. She validates Soledad’s choice while humorously advocating for physical satisfaction without emotional entanglement.

Yasmen acts as the pragmatic, encouraging friend. She supports Soledad’s financial and personal decisions, offering concrete opportunities like the festival pavilion.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Self‑partnering: Soledad’s explicit term for prioritizing her own needs over romantic involvement. This theme drives her decision to decline Judah’s coffee invitation.
  • Friendship as support: Yasmen and Hendrix offer space for Soledad to voice doubts and reaffirm her choices, illustrating the novel’s emphasis on chosen family.
  • The Spiros reservation: Originally a symbol of a shared life with Edward, it transforms into a marker of self‑reliance. Soledad reclaims it as her own pleasure.
  • The chili recipe: Cooking with her mother’s pilón connects Soledad to her heritage and to nurturing others, but the chapter reframes that nurturing toward herself.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point in Soledad’s emotional arc. She resists the pull of a compelling potential relationship—Judah—because she recognizes she must first complete her own healing. By keeping the Spiros reservation, she demonstrates that she trusts herself to create satisfying experiences without a partner. The scene also deepens the friendship dynamics that will continue to sustain her.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Soledad decide to keep the Spiros reservation?
    She has wanted to eat there for two years and refuses to let the lack of a dinner companion stop her. Keeping the reservation is an act of reclaiming her own enjoyment and independence after the end of her marriage.

  2. How does Hendrix’s attitude toward relationships contrast with Soledad’s?
    Hendrix avoids long‑term commitments entirely and sees no need for romance; she jokes about casual sex without emotional risk. Soledad, while currently desiring solitude, does not rule out future love; she is simply taking a deliberate season to focus on herself.

  3. What role do Yasmen and Hendrix play in Soledad’s decision‑making about Judah?
    They listen without judgment, offer honest opinions, and ultimately validate her choice to prioritize self‑discovery. Yasmen’s practical support (the festival pavilion) and Hendrix’s blunt humor create a safe space for Soledad to articulate her boundaries.

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