I was blown away by this book!

I love a contemporary romance, especially when it's Jewish, but this book just upped the ante. I loved the way these characters felt so real and so messy and so human. I loved that this story delved into how hard it can be to be othered and how hard it it can be to deal with grief as a 20 something. I was so moved by the struggles and triumphs of these characters and I rooted for them throughout the story.

Although this book did include a lot of miscommunication (which I usually hate), it felt justified for these characters and I didn't mind it. I loved their growing relationship and how they learned to be themselves together, it felt like such a young millenial story.

The Jewish rep in this book was also PERFECT. I always love reading stories about Jews of color and these two characters belong to biracial Jewish communities we don't usually see represented in books.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This was a quick romance and I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters. I love the idea that no matter how different we all are we can always find something in common.

I genuinely thought this book ended at the 25% mark, but it turns out that’s really where Liyah and Daniel’s story begins. As they work together on this new museum project, we watch as these former childhood lovers turned enemies become friends and then more.

I enjoyed the message that no one is broken or messed up enough that they’re undeserving of love; that everyone deserves it regardless of things they’ve done or things that have been done to them.

I thought the story ended at 25%, then around 50%, then again around 60% so in short it felt a bit drawn out to me. I also felt like Liyah and Daniel never actually moved on from their middle school-esque communication abilities, which is never a fun trope for me personally. Talk. To. Each. Other. And. Stop. Assuming. Everything.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.

I thiought this was an ok rom-com. Enemies to lovers. Both main characters have pain/heart ache in theie pasts and were olf childhood friends that drifted apart. Both stubborn. I thought this was an ok book and I would read another book from this author, but I was not blown away, nor was I overhelmed with emotion for the story. I did like that the story was set in Chicago!

Recommended but not my favorite.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel Runya Katz and St Martins Press Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. The characters felt like caricatures and the writing and pacing did not flow well for me,

This was such a cute read. I loved the dual POVs, the history between the characters and their depth. Discussing heavier topics, that were well thought out and kindly written; however the characters did lack some depth and growth.

Overall though, I still liked this story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The positives: it takes place in Chicago, my hometown. And the representation was diverse - Jewish, Korean, queer, etc. And Aliyah had a unique career, working in a museum towards a goal of becoming a curator. I also learned about certain Jewish and Korean traditions which was nice.

But….Aliyah was so not likable for so much of the book that I never cared about her getting her HEA. Daniel was so nice to her and took so much of her anger that I started wanting him to walk away pretty early on. By the time she opens up to him about her past hurt and works through it all I was just didn’t care very much.

Unfortunately this book just didn’t work for me as much as I hoped. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc!

Thank You for Sharing is about Liyah and Daniel as they meet again on a flight and reconnect as Daniel's company is hired by the museum where Liyah works at. This book had me in my feelings. It really makes me question when it is my turn???? Daniel and Liyah were so cute. This debut was so nice and I am delighted that I got to read this book. Hopefully, I will order my copy and I am waiting for this author's next book!!!!

I had hoped to enjoy this as I constantly seek out books with Jewish representation but it was not for me.

Thank you to SMP for an advanced copy.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz.

Aliyah was not the most likable character. I felt she treated Daniel poorly throughout the book and questioned why he would want to be in a relationship with her. She had moments where she was empathetic to his feelings, but there were too many other times where she wasn’t. I liked that Aliyah recognized she was a difficult person and had some awareness in this regard.

I liked Daniel and the secondary characters: Siobhan and Jordan and the friendship group they formed with Aliyah.

Overall, I think the story was well-written.

Don't let the cover fool you- this book actually has a lot of tough topics discussed, please check trigger warnings. I loved the representation (fmc is half black and half Jewish and the mmc was half Jewish and half Asian).

The reason that this is not higher stars is because I just felt myself unable to connect with the characters on an emotional left. I thought the fmc was quite awful at times and I disliked the third act breakup.

Thank You For Sharing
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Rachel Runya Katz

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: A chemistry-filled childhood friends to enemies to lovers debut romance about two people forced to confront their pasts to save both their relationship and careers.

Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson’s last conversation—fourteen years ago at summer camp—ended their friendship. Until they find themselves seated next to each other on a plane, and bitterly pick up right where they left off. At least they can go their separate ways again after landing...

That is, until Daniel's marketing firm gets hired by the Chicago museum where Liyah works as a junior curator, and they’re forced to collaborate with potential career changing promotions on the line.

With every meeting and post-work social gathering with colleagues, the tension (and chemistry) between Daniel and Liyah builds until they’re forced to confront why they broke apart years ago at camp. But as they find comfort in their shared experiences as Jews of color and fumble towards friendship, can they ignore their growing feelings for each other?

My Thoughts: For a debut novel, this was stellar. Liyah and Daniel were friends 14 years ago until a fight ended their relationship. As fate would have it, they end on a plane together and pick up fighting where they left off, each thinking this is the last they will see of each other. When Daniel’s marketing firm gets hired for a project at the museum where Liyah works, fate crosses them again when they must work closely together for the project. They are forced to face feelings buried years ago. Can they manage to be friendly during this project and can that spin into more? This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, family by choice, and second chance romance. Trigger warnings of grief and sexual assault.

The author really embraces both the POC Jew representation and queer representation with grace, tactfulness, and rawness. The storyline covers sensitive topics such as grief, trauma, and sexual assault, and does it so that it impacts the storyline but carries authenticity. The story is narrated in a dual narration by Liyah and Daniel, in a third person POV. While I don’t care for the third-act breakup, sometimes it is necessary to bring the characters back together closer. The rawness and tenderness between the two characters is authentic, raw, and just beautiful. The baggage they work through with on-the-page therapy is brilliant and it sheds light on a topic that is usually swept under the rug. Therapy should be freely sought out if needed and we need to remove the stigma it carries. Liyah experienced some difficult trauma and as a result, she keeps her heart locked away and has the appearance of unapologetic. Daniel, on the other hand, is thoughtful, patient, and compassionate. The characters were well developed, had tremendous growth, sassy witty banter, amazing chemistry, and were creatively spun. The author’s writing style was complex, layered, contemporary, humorous, raw, poignant, and heartwarming.

Thank You For Sharing was endearing, heartwarming, a bit poignant, while beautifully written story between two people who have to lean on each other when it matters the most, while growing in the process. It will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions with a HEA that will warm your heart. Katz has created a modern love story between two memorable characters, with humor, and the most tender love that I have read recently. I recommend picking up.

I really, really enjoyed this book! It is absolutely steeped in Jewish culture and customs and there are incredible conversations about being biracial, about misogyny, about sexual assault and grief and falling in love.

I absolutely loved the give and take between Liyah and Daniel, though I would have loved a little more chemistry between them. The banter was there, it just didn’t send me the way I would have liked!

Highly, highly recommend!

Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes but the writing style didn't work for me. Third person perspective with relatively flat and somewhat unlikeable FMC. The pacing was off and it didn't quite hold my interest 2.5 rounded up to 3

Sometimes I struggle with third person present tense and I think that was the case here, because while I was interested in the characters and the storyline, something stopped me from emotionally connecting. It felt like going through the motions.

Gorgeous debut, deep emotions, and lovely characters I fell for from the first page. And really appreciated the representation in this book! Looking forward to more books from Rachel Runya Katz! Thank you to Netgalley and SMP for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Wonderful story to read - I recommend that you add to your list. Happy reading!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely

Daniel and Liyah were childhood friends until an argument at summer camp drove them apart. Fourteen years later, they are accidentally seated next to each other on a plane and continue bickering. They think they are (thankfully) rid of each other again, but then Daniel is hired as a consultant on a career-making project for Liya and the two are forced to work together... and alllll of the sparks fly!

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Daniel and Liyah had some epic banter - nothing like a frenemy from childhood to hit you with the low blows - but there was real depth here as well. I loved watching them rediscover their shared connection and think Katz did an amazing job balancing the emotional highs and lows for both characters. I also loved the supporting characters and thought the meeting notes were hilarious. And A++ on the steamy scenes - hello!!! This was one of my favorite books of the year, and I cannot wait to read future books by Katz!

While slow to start, Thank You for Sharing sucked me in with heartfelt and relatable characters.

Liyah was difficult for me to like at first, and I kind of wish the author had given me her backstory earlier. On the other hand, the revelation of her backstory was genius because her annoyance with Daniel endeared him to me immediately and then I wanted him to win her over and was sympathetic towards her. So while the later revelation kept me from being super into the story initially, it completely had my attention after page 100.

This book isn't just a romance. It's a story about how hard it can be to have a community outside of family as an adult--and how important that is. It's a story about how work can become more goal-oriented than dream-oriented. It's a story about forgiveness. It's a story about background bringing people together. It's just... beautiful and lovely and heartwarming. I felt so many of the things the characters were going through and it made me feel understood.

Give it a read, my friends.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc and the publisher for the physical finished copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Liyah and Daniel ran into each other on a plane, they had not seen each other since summer camp as teenagers. Neither of them acknowledged their past connection and left with acrimonious feelings. As fate would have it, they were forced together through work and ended up becoming friends again. However, a growing attraction put their friendship in peril and they had to make decisions about their futures. Rachel Runya Katz utilizes many of the common romantic tropes in such a way that the reader is fully in for the ride. This debut novel is a fun romance with a little bit of spice.

I struggled with this book as I did not connect with it. It just felt ‘off’ with me but it is me not the book.

The angst was ok at first but the lingering feeling became ‘irritating’, especially after several apologies had been offered.

The FMC, in my opinion, acted childish and immature most of the time and was too opinionated.

However, there were some redeeming qualities to highlight. This has so much multicultural and own voices swirling through it which I totally enjoyed. The author also touched on heavier issues like grief, assault and trauma.

I enjoyed the ‘history’ between Daniel and Liyah and how the resentment was carried over into adulthood. I love their respective relationships with their families.

I loved how the Jewish culture was highlighted and how the various ceremonies were detailed.

I also enjoyed SSC which I feel every adult should belong to- a small group which will have your back and listen to your rants.

All the supporting characters were great. I particularly liked Neen (they have a good head on their shoulders) and Siobhan.

There was a mention of something that had happened to Kayla but we were never told about it besides the mention.

If you are a lover of queer, biracial romance then you will enjoy this.

I received a copy of this book and the review is entirely mine and voluntary.