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Can't Get Enough

Can't Get Enough

by Kennedy Ryan 2025 448 pages
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Plot Summary

Homecoming Unraveled

Returning home reveals unraveling threads

Hendrix Barry, a successful talent manager and venture capitalist in Atlanta, returns to her childhood home in North Carolina for Christmas. She's immediately confronted by the reality of her mother's worsening Alzheimer's—her mother is missing, the house is in disarray, and the neighbor reveals the recent death of her mother's best friend, Catherine. Hendrix's world tilts as she realizes her mother can no longer live alone. The family's matriarch, once the pillar of their community, is now vulnerable, and Hendrix is forced to face the emotional and logistical challenges of caregiving. The arrival of Aunt Geneva, her mother's older sister, offers a temporary solution, but the sense of impending crisis lingers.

The Caregiver's Dilemma

Balancing duty, guilt, and ambition

Hendrix juggles her demanding career in Atlanta with frequent trips home to care for her mother. The guilt of not being present gnaws at her, as does the fear of losing her mother piece by piece. Aunt Geneva moves in, but the arrangement is fragile. Hendrix's professional life is thriving—she manages rising star Chapel and co-leads the Aspire Fund, a venture capital initiative for Black women entrepreneurs. Yet, the emotional toll of "parenting her parent" and the looming decisions about her mother's future weigh heavily. The family's love is palpable, but so is the exhaustion and the sense of being stretched too thin.

Miami Nights, New Beginnings

A party ignites unexpected chemistry

At an exclusive Miami party, Hendrix is both working and trying to unwind. She meets Maverick Bell, a charismatic, self-made tech billionaire, who is hosting the event with his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, Zere. Their initial conversation is electric—full of wit, mutual respect, and a surprising depth as they bond over their shared experiences with Alzheimer's in their families. The attraction is immediate but complicated by Maverick's relationship status and Hendrix's own emotional walls. The night is a turning point, planting the seeds for something neither expected.

The Party and the Billionaire

Old endings, new possibilities

Maverick and Zere's relationship is unraveling—she wants marriage and children, he does not. Their breakup is imminent, but they maintain appearances for the party. Maverick is drawn to Hendrix's authenticity and strength, while Hendrix is captivated by his intelligence and empathy. Their connection is deepened by candid conversations about family, ambition, and the burdens of caregiving. The party becomes a crucible for change, as both realize they are at personal crossroads.

Unlikely Connections Spark

Shared vulnerability forges intimacy

Back in Atlanta, Hendrix and Maverick's paths cross again, this time in a professional context as Maverick expresses interest in investing in the Aspire Fund. Their conversations, initially about business, quickly become personal. They share stories of loss, resilience, and the unique pain of watching a loved one fade away. The boundaries between professional and personal blur, and their mutual attraction intensifies. Both are wary—Hendrix because of her friendship with Zere and her own rules about mixing business and pleasure; Maverick because of the fresh wounds from his breakup and the complications of public scrutiny.

Family, Friendship, and Guilt

Support systems and self-doubt collide

Hendrix leans on her close friends, Soledad and Yasmen, for advice and emotional support. They help her navigate the complexities of her mother's care, her career ambitions, and her growing feelings for Maverick. The trio's bond is a source of strength, but also a mirror for Hendrix's fears—of failing her mother, of sacrificing her dreams, of breaking "girl code." Meanwhile, Maverick's relationship with his father and daughter is explored, revealing his own vulnerabilities and the legacy of loss in his family.

The Weight of Ambition

Dreams, duty, and difficult choices

Hendrix's professional life is at a high point—she's producing a TV show with Zere, managing Chapel's skyrocketing career, and the Aspire Fund is gaining traction. But the demands of caregiving and the emotional labor of her mother's decline threaten to derail her ambitions. Maverick faces his own crossroads: the opportunity to buy a professional basketball team, fulfilling a lifelong dream and honoring his father, but at the potential cost of his relationship with Hendrix and his values.

The Allure of Maverick

Desire and emotional honesty break barriers

The chemistry between Hendrix and Maverick becomes undeniable. They share moments of vulnerability, humor, and passion, culminating in a night of intimacy that is both physical and emotional. Their connection is tested by external pressures—Zere's lingering feelings, the scrutiny of their professional circles, and their own fears of repeating past mistakes. Both must decide if they are willing to risk their hearts and their ambitions for a chance at real love.

Boundaries and Temptations

Girl code, secrets, and self-sabotage

Hendrix grapples with the ethics of pursuing a relationship with Maverick so soon after his breakup with Zere, her business partner. The tension between personal happiness and professional loyalty is acute. Zere's reaction is swift and unforgiving—she cuts Hendrix out of their TV project, forcing Hendrix to confront the cost of her choices. The fallout tests Hendrix's resolve, her friendships, and her sense of self-worth.

Girl Code and Consequences

Friendship fractures, but new paths emerge

The rupture with Zere is painful but clarifying. Hendrix leans on her friends and her own resilience to rebuild. She and Maverick commit to each other, choosing honesty and partnership over secrecy and shame. Their relationship becomes a model of mutual support, respect, and shared ambition. Hendrix's willingness to risk it all for love is mirrored by Maverick's own sacrifices, as he faces a moral dilemma with the basketball team acquisition.

The Lawsuit That Changes Everything

Systemic injustice threatens hard-won progress

The Aspire Fund is hit with a lawsuit from a conservative group, weaponizing civil rights law to block their grants to Black women entrepreneurs. The case becomes a national flashpoint, with Hendrix as the public face of the fight. Maverick's business interests are entangled—his potential business partner is funding the lawsuit. Both must decide where their loyalties lie. The legal battle exposes the fragility of progress and the ongoing struggle for equity.

Choosing Love, Risking Loss

Sacrifice and solidarity redefine success

Maverick chooses Hendrix and his principles over the basketball team, walking away from a lifelong dream rather than compromise his values or harm her cause. Hendrix, in turn, embraces the uncertainty of love, trusting Maverick in a way she never has with anyone. Their relationship becomes a partnership in every sense—personal, professional, and political. Together, they face the fallout, the public scrutiny, and the challenges of blending their lives.

The Power of Community

Sisterhood, caregiving, and collective strength

Hendrix's friends and family rally around her as her mother's condition worsens. The church community, her aunt, and her chosen family provide practical and emotional support. Hendrix learns to accept help, to delegate, and to trust others with her burdens. The narrative highlights the importance of community care, intergenerational wisdom, and the resilience of Black women in the face of systemic adversity.

The Cost of Sacrifice

Letting go, moving forward, and honoring the past

Hendrix makes the difficult decision to move her mother and aunt to Atlanta, selling the family home and closing a chapter of her life. The process is fraught with grief, guilt, and nostalgia, but also with hope for new beginnings. Maverick's own family finds healing as he and his father work together on new ventures. The couple's commitment to each other is tested and strengthened by these transitions.

Healing, Hope, and Home

Love, legacy, and the promise of tomorrow

The story culminates in a celebration of love, friendship, and community. Hendrix and Maverick, having weathered personal and systemic storms, find joy in each other and in the lives they've built. The Aspire Fund continues its fight, undeterred by legal setbacks. Hendrix's friends achieve their own milestones, and the bonds of sisterhood remain unbreakable. The novel ends with a sense of hard-won peace, the assurance that love—romantic, familial, and communal—is both refuge and resistance.

Characters

Hendrix Barry

Resilient, ambitious, and deeply loyal

Hendrix is a successful talent manager and venture capitalist, fiercely dedicated to her family and her community. Her mother's Alzheimer's forces her into the role of caregiver, a responsibility she embraces with love but also with guilt and exhaustion. Hendrix's relationships—with her mother, her aunt, her friends, and eventually Maverick—are marked by honesty, vulnerability, and a refusal to settle for less than she deserves. Her journey is one of balancing ambition with duty, learning to accept help, and redefining what it means to be strong. Her psychological depth is revealed in her struggle with control, her fear of loss, and her eventual willingness to risk everything for love.

Maverick Bell

Charismatic, principled, and emotionally intelligent

A self-made tech billionaire, Maverick is both driven and deeply compassionate. His past is marked by loss—his mother's death, his grandfather's decline from Alzheimer's, and the end of his relationship with Zere. Maverick's attraction to Hendrix is immediate and profound, rooted in shared experience and mutual respect. He is willing to sacrifice personal ambition for love and justice, walking away from a dream to stand with Hendrix in her fight. Maverick's development is defined by his willingness to be vulnerable, to challenge societal expectations, and to build a partnership based on equality and care.

Zere

Ambitious, glamorous, and wounded

A supermodel and reality TV producer, Zere is Hendrix's business partner and Maverick's ex-girlfriend. Her desire for marriage and children is at odds with Maverick's life goals, leading to their breakup. Zere's reaction to Hendrix and Maverick's relationship is one of betrayal and hurt, resulting in the dissolution of her partnership with Hendrix. Her arc is a study in the complexities of female friendship, professional rivalry, and the pain of unmet expectations.

Aunt Geneva

Steadfast, nurturing, and quietly heroic

Hendrix's aunt and her mother's older sister, Geneva steps in as caregiver when Hendrix cannot be present. Her presence is a stabilizing force, but her own health issues highlight the unsustainability of the family's arrangement. Geneva's wisdom, faith, and humor provide comfort and guidance, even as she struggles with her own limitations and grief.

Soledad

Creative, loyal, and resilient

One of Hendrix's closest friends, Soledad is a single mother and influencer who has rebuilt her life after a difficult marriage. Her journey mirrors Hendrix's in many ways—balancing ambition, motherhood, and the search for love. Soledad's support and practical help are crucial to Hendrix's ability to cope with her mother's illness and her own emotional challenges.

Yasmen

Grounded, empathetic, and wise

Another of Hendrix's best friends, Yasmen is a restaurateur and mother who has weathered her own storms, including divorce and loss. Her perspective is often a source of clarity and comfort for Hendrix. Yasmen's relationship with her ex-husband and her children provides a counterpoint to Hendrix's own family dynamics.

Chapel

Rising star, grateful, and perceptive

Hendrix's client and friend, Chapel is a model whose career is taking off under Hendrix's management. Her loyalty to Hendrix is tested by the fallout with Zere, but she remains supportive and understanding. Chapel's arc explores the challenges of sudden fame, the importance of representation, and the complexities of navigating professional relationships.

Skipper

Resourceful, witty, and fiercely protective

Hendrix's assistant, Skipper is both comic relief and a vital support system. Her banter with Maverick's assistant, Bolt, adds levity and a subplot of its own. Skipper's loyalty and competence are essential to Hendrix's ability to juggle her many responsibilities.

Bolt

Efficient, enigmatic, and unexpectedly passionate

Maverick's assistant, Bolt is the consummate professional—until he meets Skipper. Their antagonistic chemistry provides a subplot of opposites attracting. Bolt's role in Maverick's business and personal life is significant, often serving as a sounding board and confidant.

Mrs. Barry (Hendrix's Mother)

Once-vibrant, now vulnerable, and still beloved

The emotional heart of the novel, Mrs. Barry's decline from Alzheimer's is depicted with compassion and realism. Her relationship with Hendrix is both a source of pain and a reminder of unconditional love. The novel explores the psychological impact of caregiving, the grief of anticipatory loss, and the small moments of joy that persist even in decline.

Plot Devices

Dual Narrative Structure

Alternating perspectives deepen emotional resonance

The novel alternates between Hendrix and Maverick's points of view, allowing readers to experience their internal struggles, desires, and growth firsthand. This structure creates intimacy and tension, as each character's choices and vulnerabilities are revealed in real time.

The Caregiving Crisis

Alzheimer's as both plot engine and metaphor

The progression of Hendrix's mother's illness is a constant undercurrent, shaping every decision and relationship. The disease is depicted not just as a medical condition, but as a metaphor for loss, memory, and the shifting roles within families. It drives the narrative's emotional stakes and grounds the romance in real-world challenges.

The "Girl Code" Conflict

Friendship, loyalty, and the ethics of desire

The tension between Hendrix and Zere over Maverick is a central plot device, forcing Hendrix to weigh personal happiness against professional and ethical obligations. The fallout from this conflict propels the story into its second act, testing the strength of Hendrix's convictions and relationships.

Systemic injustice as antagonist

The lawsuit against the Aspire Fund introduces a broader social conflict, connecting the personal struggles of the characters to larger issues of race, gender, and equity. The legal battle is both a plot obstacle and a commentary on the ongoing fight for justice, with real-world parallels to contemporary events.

Sacrifice and Choice

Love and ambition in tension

Both Hendrix and Maverick are forced to make sacrifices—Hendrix risks her career and professional reputation for love; Maverick walks away from a lifelong dream to stand with Hendrix and her cause. These choices are foreshadowed throughout the novel, with earlier decisions and conversations laying the groundwork for their climactic acts of solidarity.

Community as Safety Net

Friendship and family as sources of resilience

The novel repeatedly returns to the theme of community—whether it's Hendrix's friends, her church, or her professional network. These relationships provide practical help, emotional support, and a sense of belonging that counterbalances the isolation of caregiving and ambition.

Analysis

A modern romance about love, legacy, and resistance

Can't Get Enough is more than a love story—it's a meditation on what it means to care for others, to fight for justice, and to choose joy in the face of adversity. Kennedy Ryan weaves together themes of Black womanhood, ambition, and the intergenerational bonds that sustain us. The novel challenges the notion that women must choose between love and self-fulfillment, showing instead that true partnership is built on mutual respect, sacrifice, and shared purpose. The legal battle over the Aspire Fund is a timely reflection on the fragility of progress and the ongoing struggle for equity. Ultimately, the book is a celebration of community, the power of chosen family, and the courage it takes to love deeply—even when the world seems determined to make you choose.

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FAQ

Synopsis & Basic Details

What is Can't Get Enough about?

  • A Caregiver's Unexpected Journey: Hendrix Barry, a high-achieving talent manager and venture capitalist, returns home for Christmas only to discover her mother's Alzheimer's has progressed significantly, forcing her to confront the immense challenges and emotional toll of caregiving while balancing her demanding career.
  • Finding Connection Amidst Chaos: Amidst the stress of her mother's illness and the demands of her professional life, Hendrix meets Maverick Bell, a charismatic billionaire grappling with his own family's history of Alzheimer's, sparking an unexpected and complicated connection.
  • Love, Ambition, and Systemic Battles: The burgeoning romance between Hendrix and Maverick unfolds against the backdrop of difficult family decisions, professional ambitions, and a timely legal battle challenging the Aspire Fund's mission to support Black women entrepreneurs, forcing them to confront personal choices and fight for collective progress.

Why should I read Can't Get Enough?

  • Deep Emotional Resonance: The novel offers a raw and compassionate portrayal of Alzheimer's and caregiving, exploring the complex emotions of love, guilt, fear, and helplessness with unflinching honesty that resonates deeply.
  • Compelling Characters & Relationships: Readers will be drawn to Hendrix's strength, vulnerability, and fierce loyalty, Maverick's unexpected depth and principled nature, and the powerful bonds of female friendship and community that provide essential support.
  • Timely Social Commentary: Beyond the romance, the book tackles urgent contemporary issues of systemic inequity, the weaponization of laws meant to protect marginalized communities, and the ongoing fight for racial and gender equity in business, making it both thought-provoking and inspiring.

What is the background of Can't Get Enough?

  • Inspired by Personal Experience: Author Kennedy Ryan draws on her own family's experience with dementia, lending authenticity and emotional weight to Hendrix's caregiving journey and the portrayal of her mother's condition.
  • Reflecting Contemporary Legal Battles: The lawsuit against the Aspire Fund is directly inspired by real-world cases challenging initiatives aimed at supporting marginalized entrepreneurs, grounding the plot in current events and highlighting the fragility of hard-won progress.
  • Celebration of Black Excellence & Community: Set partly in Atlanta's vibrant Skyland community, the novel showcases Black affluence, ambition, and the powerful networks of support, like the Divine Nine sorority bonds, that are crucial for navigating personal and professional challenges.

What are the most memorable quotes in Can't Get Enough?

  • "We are not magic... We are resilient. It's not a wand. It's work.": Hendrix's powerful declaration challenges the often-used term "Black Girl Magic," reframing it as hard-earned resilience and relentless effort in the face of systemic barriers, defining a core theme of perseverance in the book.
  • "The plan is love, Hendrix... It's the no matter how bad it gets or how much I want to run, I'll stay kind of love.": Maverick's father offers profound wisdom on navigating the difficult journey of caregiving and loss, suggesting that unwavering love and presence are the only true strategies, a lesson Hendrix grapples with throughout the story.
  • "My life won't be measured just in what I did, but who I did it with... I think that's where real contentment is found, and I think I could find it with you.": Maverick articulates a shift in his perspective from relentless ambition to valuing connection and partnership, revealing his emotional depth and the profound impact Hendrix has had on his understanding of fulfillment.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does Kennedy Ryan use?

  • Dual Narrative Structure: The story alternates between Hendrix and Maverick's perspectives, offering intimate access to their thoughts, feelings, and motivations, which builds empathy and allows readers to witness the evolution of their individual journeys and shared connection.
  • Emotional Realism & Vulnerability: Ryan employs a raw and honest tone, particularly in depicting the struggles of caregiving and grief, using internal monologue and candid dialogue to reveal characters' deepest fears and insecurities.
  • Symbolism and Motif: Recurring elements like the garden, specific songs ("His Eye Is on the Sparrow," "Blue in Green"), food (grits, banana pudding, Waffle House), and objects (Post-it notes, the unicorn ankle bracelet) are woven throughout the narrative, adding layers of meaning and connecting personal moments to broader themes of memory, love, and resilience.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

  • The Overturned Plant: In the prologue, the overturned plant with soil on the carpet in Mama's usually immaculate home isn't just disarray; it symbolizes the upending of Mama's life and the disruption of the established order Hendrix knew, foreshadowing the chaos Alzheimer's brings.
  • Maverick's Macallan 60: Maverick offering Andy Jr. a sixty-year-old, sixty-thousand-dollar bottle of whiskey isn't just a display of wealth; it's a subtle power play, a reminder of his financial dominance and patience (like the aged whiskey) in waiting for the right moment to strike, contrasting with Andy Jr.'s impatience and eventual downfall.
  • Hendrix's Chipped Nail Polish: Maverick noticing Hendrix's chipped nail polish on the balcony after the showcase is a small detail that humanizes her, revealing a moment of imperfection beneath her polished exterior and making her feel more real and accessible to him, highlighting his ability to see beyond the surface.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

  • Mama's Garden Neglect: The description of Mama's once-prized garden being overgrown in the prologue subtly foreshadows her cognitive decline and withdrawal from activities she loved, and its eventual restoration with Maverick's help becomes a symbol of healing and new life.
  • "It's Funny How the Tables Turn": This phrase, used by Hendrix in the prologue regarding her mother's vulnerability, is echoed throughout the book in various contexts, subtly foreshadowing shifts in power dynamics, caregiving roles, and even the unexpected turns in relationships like Bolt and Skipper's.
  • The "Footprints" Poem: The "Footprints" poem, a constant presence in Mama's house, is initially a symbol of her faith, but later becomes a poignant callback when Mama interprets the disappearing footsteps as her own fading mind, highlighting the cruel irony of the disease and the promise Hendrix makes to carry her.

What are some unexpected character connections?

  • Maverick and Hendrix's Shared Alzheimer's Experience: The immediate and deep connection between Maverick and Hendrix is unexpectedly forged by their shared, painful experiences with Alzheimer's in their families, providing a foundation of empathy and understanding that transcends typical initial attraction.
  • Bolt and Skipper's Antagonistic Attraction: The highly professional and seemingly incompatible assistants, Bolt and Skipper, develop an instant, volatile attraction that manifests in witty insults and secret hookups, providing unexpected comedic relief and a parallel subplot about finding connection in surprising places.
  • Maverick's Father and Hendrix's Mother's Shared Grief: Maverick's father, still grieving his wife, and Hendrix's mother, reliving the loss of her husband due to Alzheimer's, share a profound, unspoken understanding of losing the love of a lifetime, subtly connecting their families through shared sorrow.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

  • Aunt Geneva: More than just a caregiver, Aunt Geneva is a pillar of faith and resilience, providing essential support for both Mama and Hendrix, embodying the strength of intergenerational bonds and highlighting the immense burden and quiet heroism of family caregiving.
  • Soledad and Yasmen: Hendrix's chosen family, these two friends represent the power of sisterhood and community, offering unwavering emotional support, practical help (like organizing the house for Mama), and honest counsel, demonstrating that chosen family can be as vital as biological ties.
  • Maverick's Father (Chris Bell): Maverick's dad is crucial to understanding Maverick's character, ambition, and values. His grief over his wife and his past professional disappointments provide context for Maverick's drive and his eventual decision regarding the Vipers, while his acceptance and approval of Hendrix validate their relationship.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

  • Hendrix's Need for Control: Hendrix's drive for success and her initial resistance to accepting help stem partly from an unspoken need for control, a coping mechanism developed in response to the unpredictable chaos of her mother's illness and the helplessness she feels in that situation.
  • Maverick's Desire for Connection Beyond Wealth: Despite his immense success, Maverick is motivated by a deeper, often unspoken, desire for genuine connection and belonging, seeking relationships based on mutual respect and vulnerability rather than transactional interactions often dictated by his wealth.
  • Zere's Pursuit of External Validation: Zere's ambition and focus on public image and status are subtly driven by an unspoken need for external validation, perhaps stemming from the transient nature of the modeling world, which makes Maverick's rejection and Hendrix's perceived betrayal particularly painful.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

  • Caregiver's Guilt and Helplessness: Hendrix grapples with profound psychological complexities related to caregiving, including guilt over not being present, helplessness in the face of her mother's decline, and the emotional exhaustion of witnessing anticipatory grief and moments of lucidity followed by confusion.
  • Trauma and Resilience: Maverick's past experiences with loss, particularly his mother's death, his grandfather's decline from Alzheimer's, and the end of his relationship with Zere, reveal psychological trauma that informs his cautious approach to relationships and his deep empathy for Hendrix's situation, showcasing resilience forged through hardship.
  • Identity and Adaptation in Alzheimer's: Mrs. Barry's psychological state is complex, marked by moments of clarity and deep sadness ("My life feels like one long bad day lately") interspersed with confusion and regressions to happier pasts, illustrating the fragmented nature of identity under the disease and the emotional toll on the individual.

What are the major emotional turning points?

  • The Prologue's Revelation: Hendrix's discovery of her mother's disarray and disappearance in the prologue is a major emotional turning point, shattering her denial and forcing her to confront the severity of the situation and her new reality as a primary caregiver.
  • Maverick and Hendrix's Dock Conversation: The candid conversation on the dock in Miami, where they share vulnerable details about their families' experiences with Alzheimer's, marks a significant emotional turning point, deepening their connection beyond initial attraction and laying the groundwork for trust.
  • Maverick Choosing Hendrix Over the Vipers: Maverick's decision to walk away from buying the Vipers, his lifelong ambition, to stand with Hendrix against the lawsuit is a pivotal emotional turning point, demonstrating the depth of his love and commitment and solidifying their partnership based on shared values.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

  • Mother-Daughter Role Reversal: The dynamic between Hendrix and her mother evolves from a traditional parent-child relationship to a complex role reversal where Hendrix becomes the primary caregiver, navigating the emotional challenges of parenting her parent while honoring her mother's past independence.
  • Friends as Chosen Family: Hendrix's friendships with Soledad and Yasmen evolve into a powerful chosen family dynamic, providing a vital support system that complements her biological family and highlights the strength found in mutual care, honesty, and shared vulnerability.
  • Partnership Built on Shared Values: Maverick and Hendrix's romantic relationship evolves rapidly from initial attraction and friendship to a deep partnership built on shared experiences, mutual respect for ambition, and a commitment to supporting each other's personal and professional battles, including the fight for equity.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

  • The Outcome of the Aspire Fund Lawsuit: The novel concludes with the lawsuit against the Aspire Fund still ongoing, leaving the ultimate legal outcome and the future of the grant program for Black businesswomen ambiguous, reflecting the long and uncertain nature of real-world fights for equity.
  • The Progression of Mama's Alzheimer's: While the narrative depicts Mama's journey with realism, the specific trajectory and severity of her future decline remain open-ended, acknowledging that each case is unique and the challenges of caregiving will continue to evolve beyond the story's conclusion.
  • The Long-Term Dynamics of the Blended Family: The novel introduces Maverick's daughter, Tamia, and hints at the integration of their lives with Hendrix, Mama, Aunt Geneva, and She-she, but the long-term dynamics and adjustments of this newly formed, multi-generational, blended family are left for the future.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Can't Get Enough?

  • Hendrix and Maverick's Coatroom Encounter: The scene where Hendrix and Maverick have sex in a coatroom at Zere's birthday party is highly debatable, raising questions about "girl code," loyalty to a friend/business partner, and the ethics of their actions so soon after Zere's breakup, despite their mutual attraction.
  • Zere's Reaction to Hendrix and Maverick's Relationship: Zere's angry and hurt response, including cutting Hendrix out of the TV show project and questioning Hendrix's motivations, is controversial, sparking debate about whether her reaction is justified given the circumstances or an unfair punishment for Hendrix pursuing her own happiness.
  • Maverick's Decision to Fund Aspire After the Lawsuit: While framed as a principled stand, Maverick's decision to publicly back Aspire and withdraw his Vipers bid could be debated as potentially performative or strategically motivated, although the narrative strongly supports his sincerity and commitment to Hendrix and the cause.

Can't Get Enough Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

  • Love Triumphs Over Ambition: The ending of Can't Get Enough sees Maverick choosing his love for Hendrix and his commitment to justice over his lifelong dream of owning the Vegas Vipers, demonstrating that true fulfillment comes from connection and values, not just achievement. His sacrifice proves the depth of his love and earns Hendrix's complete trust.
  • Community as Foundation: The novel concludes with a powerful affirmation of community, showcasing the strength of Hendrix's chosen family (Soledad, Yasmen, their daughters) and the support system surrounding Mama and Aunt Geneva. This highlights that love extends beyond romantic partnership and is essential for navigating life's challenges.
  • Hope Amidst Ongoing Battles: While the Aspire Fund's legal fight remains unresolved, the ending is hopeful. Hendrix and Maverick are together, Mama and Aunt Geneva are settling into a new home with support, and the characters are ready to face future challenges as a united front, symbolizing resilience and the ongoing nature of progress and healing. The final scene in the garden, surrounded by ranunculus, symbolizes enduring love and new beginnings.

Review Summary

4.53 out of 5
Average of 1.3K ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan is highly praised for its emotional depth, realistic characters, and powerful representation. Readers appreciate the exploration of Alzheimer's, caregiving, and Black entrepreneurship. The romance between Hendrix and Maverick is described as steamy and soul-deep. Many reviewers consider it their favorite in the Skyland series, lauding Ryan's writing style and ability to tackle complex themes. The audiobook narration receives particular praise. While some found it lengthy, most agree it's a touching, empowering read that showcases strong female characters and friendships.

Your rating:
4.63
90 ratings

About the Author

Kennedy Ryan is a contemporary romance and women's fiction author known for writing emotional, diverse stories with complex characters. She prioritizes giving her characters their happily ever after, but often makes them work for it. Ryan is married and has a son, and she runs a charitable foundation supporting those living with autism. Her writing is praised for its depth, representation, and ability to tackle difficult subjects. Ryan engages with her readers through various social media platforms and a newsletter. Her Skyland series, including Can't Get Enough, has garnered significant acclaim for its portrayal of strong women, friendships, and authentic relationships.

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