✨ Sapphic
✨ Enemies to ??? to Lovers
✨ Road Trip with a dog
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Found Family
✨ Jewish and Racial Heavy Topics

This one was not what I was expecting. A few people have called it a rom com and there are a few funny moments for sure, this is FAR from a rom com. This book ripped my heart out and I cried 3 times. I highly recommend this one if you are looking for something to break your heart and gently put it back together.

A very emotional and complicated journey of three best friends who lost their mutual best friend way too early and way too young. The road trip they take and the letters their friend left them help with the hurt they all feel and the ability to piece their lives back together as a group of three rather than four. The historical context of their southern trip was woven into the story seamlessly. A lot of emotion and misunderstanding, but in the end, there was understanding. A nice read. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

Whenever You're Ready explores the complexity of love and friendship. Nia and Jade drifted apart after losing their mutual friend, Michal. When a letter from Michal is found, begging Nia and Jade to take a roadtrip that they had previously planned together, you know that something good is coming.

What will happen as Nia and Jade reconnect? Will their friendship recover? Will it turn into something more?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The author did a great job of weaving the romance into the story while still dealing with heavier topics.

Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz is a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery, friendship, and the complexities of love. The story follows a young protagonist navigating the challenges of growing up while grappling with anxiety and societal expectations. Katz’s writing is both lyrical and relatable, drawing readers into the protagonist’s journey of finding her voice and understanding her worth. The book’s emphasis on mental health and resilience makes it a compelling read for young adults, resonating with anyone who has faced uncertainty in their own life.

I really enjoyed this.. The road trip was everything. It was packed with so much. There was also so much depth to the each character..

Rachel Runya Katz's Whenever You're Ready is a stunning exploration of grief, friendship, and the enduring power of first love. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Katz weaves a captivating tale that will stay with you long after the final page.

The story follows Nia and Jade, two childhood friends whose lives intersect once again after a tragic loss. As they navigate their grief and reconnect, their bond deepens, revealing a complex and passionate connection. Katz's portrayal of their journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, capturing the nuances of their evolving relationship with stunning authenticity.

What sets Whenever You're Ready apart is its exploration of the complexities of grief and the ways in which it can shape our lives. Katz delves into the emotional turmoil that Nia and Jade experience with sensitivity and understanding, offering a poignant and relatable portrayal of the grieving process.
In addition to its emotional depth, the novel also boasts a compelling plot, engaging characters, and beautifully written prose. Katz's writing style is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into the world of her characters and making them feel as if they are experiencing their journey alongside them.

Whenever You're Ready is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and literary fiction!

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz is a beautifully wrecking story of friendship, love, grief, history, and everything else in between. As someone who’s read Rachel’s debut novel, I knew I immediately wanted to read this one as well. And I was not disappointed at all. This book was way more intense than Rachel’s debut, and I spent the last few chapters crying in my hotel room.

I really love when dead characters haunt the narrative. This book was a perfect example of the case. Despite this mostly being Jade and Nia’s (and Jonah) story, Michal was such a special character, and I loved that Rachel made us feel her presence throughout the book. Her letters at the end was such a beautiful to the ones at the beginning, and I absolutely loved how deeply she loved about her friends. I was definitely a sobbing mess when I read those letters at the end. I loved how the book showed difference approaches to grief, because grief isn’t one-sided. Everyone experiences loss and the aftermath of it differently, and the 3 main characters in the book reflect this perfectly.

I was waiting to see what caused the rift between Nia and Jade, and after reading it, I could understand both perspectives. This book did an excellent job at portraying different perspectives to every obstacle. I was so glad they were able to talk it out, and I was so glad Nia’s mom was so supportive. Also, I need to give Jade a hug. I don’t want to spoil much, but Nia and Jade’s transition from best friends to lovers was so satisfying, and I just loved reading through the tension (and screaming “just kiss” at every chapter).

This book really had heavy themes, and I literally hated Jonah at one point in the story where he purposely hurt Jade, even though I could understand where his anger was coming from. That’s the thing about this book, it makes you see everything from every side and sympathize.

Jade and Nia are best friends. Michal introduced them to each other at her tenth birthday party. They thought they would continue to do everything forever as best friends do. Michal dies from cancer. 19 years later. Michal left letters for Jade and Nia for them with instructions that they are. To be opened on their birthdays. Will Jade and Nia wait for their birthdays? When Jade and Nia turned 29, their letters have a special request. The request is for them to go ona road trip. Michal’s boyfriend goes with them on the road trip. The three of them had planned to explore the history of Jews (including their own families) in the South. Wanting to cherish and honor Michal’s memory, the two women reconnect, and they set off on the trip with Jade’s twin brother, Jonah, who was Michal’s boyfriend. They seem to settle back into old habits and routines;. It feels as if no time has passed at all. However there still is a blew up Nia and Jade’s friendship—an attraction both feel but only one has acknowledged.


The author writes multiple themes within their slow romance: the history of Jewish communities in the South and the generational trauma that comes with it; This is an examination of grief; and the complexities of friendship and sibling relationships. The two women’s yearning and pining tenderly accentuate it. The romance may at times fights with the other elements. In the novel. What I liked about this novel was the romance and friendship. I like the author’s writing which showed the depth of the characters.

Rachel Runya Katz’s newest work Whenever You’re Ready is a masterpiece of the friends to lovers trope. But it also a treatise on grief and what happens when emotions run high without resolution. Reconciliation with the past and present is a big arc of this couple's journey within a journey. The road trip elements are especially well-written and tie into the overall plot perfectly. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Whenever You’re Ready is about family, friendship, and the kind of first love that could last a lifetime... if only you are willing to take a chance.
You should read this book if you want to feel all the emotions between Nia and Jade, we get to see how the friendship came about, fell out and got put back together in a different way.

The only time I enjoy romance novels are when they are 1. queer and 2. involve some other plot point. This novel was done so beautifully, exploring both the grief of losing someone close to you and Jewish history, in addition to the romance between two of the main characters. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a happy ending, but who wants to do some soul searching and crying to get there.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. I'm normally not a fan of slow burn romances but this was super cute!

Rachel Runya Katz’s *Whenever You’re Ready* is a heartwarming, emotional, and refreshingly funny sapphic romance that explores the delicate dance between friendship, grief, and love. At its core, it’s a story of two estranged best friends, Nia and Jade, who must confront their complicated history and deep, unresolved feelings on an unforgettable road trip through the American South, rich with Jewish history and personal memories.

The novel begins with a fractured friendship—Nia and Jade haven’t spoken in three years since the death of their mutual best friend, Michal, and the brutal falling out that followed. Katz wastes no time establishing the weight of their loss and the bitterness that still lingers. Michal’s death from cancer left a gaping hole in their lives, and her absence is felt throughout the novel like a quiet third presence on their journey. When Nia receives a posthumous letter from Michal on her 29th birthday, asking her and Jade to go on a road trip they had planned before she died, the two women are forced to confront the unresolved tension between them.

The road trip becomes the perfect setting for this long-overdue reckoning. It forces Nia and Jade into close quarters, not only with each other but also with Jade’s twin brother, Jonah—Michal’s former boyfriend—who joins the trip. Jonah’s strained relationship with Jade adds another layer of complexity to the story, as the siblings must also come to terms with their past. Katz masterfully weaves in the history of Southern Jewish communities with the personal histories of these characters, creating a backdrop that feels both intimate and expansive. The road trip isn’t just a journey through the South; it’s a journey through their collective grief and unresolved emotions.

Katz’s writing is full of wit, humor, and sharp emotional insight. She has a gift for balancing light-hearted banter with moments of deep vulnerability, which makes the dynamic between Nia and Jade so engaging. Their connection is undeniable from the start, and as they begin to lower their walls, it’s clear how much they still care for each other, despite their years apart. Katz does a beautiful job of capturing that bittersweet tension of wanting someone but fearing that the risk of losing them forever is too great.

Nia, who has been quietly in love with Jade since they were teenagers, is a particularly well-drawn character. Her internal struggle—whether to protect her heart or take the risk of revealing her true feelings—is both relatable and deeply moving. Meanwhile, Jade’s fierce loyalty to their friendship and her fear of complicating things with romance adds another layer of complexity to their relationship. Katz allows their feelings to simmer, building the tension between them in a way that feels organic and true to their history.

The novel’s emotional core, however, is in its exploration of grief and how it shapes relationships. Michal’s death still casts a long shadow over Nia and Jade’s lives, and their unresolved grief is what initially drove them apart. As they travel through the South, visiting places Michal had planned for them, the trip becomes not just a chance for reconciliation but also a way for them to honor Michal’s memory and begin to heal. Katz’s portrayal of grief is nuanced, showing how it lingers and shapes the choices we make, but also how it can bring people closer when they’re finally ready to confront it.

*Whenever You’re Ready* is not just a romance, but a rich exploration of friendship, family, and the complexities of love. Katz’s decision to center the story around Jewish history and the South gives the novel a unique cultural depth, and the representation of queer love, combined with the sensitive portrayal of grief, makes this a standout in the sapphic romance genre.

For readers who love a slow-burn romance rooted in history, emotional depth, and the complicated ties of friendship, *Whenever You’re Ready* is a beautifully crafted, poignant read. Katz reminds us that love, whether in friendship or romance, often requires taking the ultimate risk: vulnerability. And in the end, it’s always worth it.

What a great book! It deftly handles tough topics like racism and antisemitism, while weaving an engaging story with characters you can’t help but fall in love with. This is the second book I’ve read by Rachel Runya Katz, and I really enjoyed them both. I think Katz is now an autoread author for me!

4.5

Whenever You're Ready was absolutely heart-wrenching. This emotional story starts three years after Jade and Nia's best friend Michal has passed from brain cancer. Jade and Nia have been fairly distant since Michal's passing, especially after some harsh things were said in the aftermath of everything. They reunite, along with Jade's twin brother Jonah, for a road trip through the South visiting various important Jewish stops, a trip that was supposed to be taken with Michal but never came to be.

This book is extremely emotional and touches on a number of sensitive subjects but I think everything was done extremely well. The author's note at the end provides some extra context regarding the specific stops that the group makes in the book but ultimately the road trip provides some interesting (and unknown to me) history about Jewish history in the South during the Civil War. Jade, Jonah, and Michal are Jewish and Jade/Jonah's ancestors were founders of one Jewish community in the South, while Michal's ancestors were founders of a different community so there is a wide variety of Jewish history that Katz explores. I really enjoyed most of the characters. Jade was a bit frustrating though and I disliked how she treated Jonah for the most part but understand that there's always a lot more history between siblings than friends typically have.

Withholding review at this time. Will review post SMP boycott. Look forward to reviewing/providing feedback for author/audience at a later date

I had such high hopes for this book but it just wasn’t holding my attention and at 30% I gave up and jumped to the end. I found the history to be incredibly interesting but the main story felt forced and predictable. I really wanted to like this one since I loved the author‘s first book, but this was a miss for me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy of this.

Very slow burn will they won’t they friends to lovers
A lot of Jewish history and connections with racism included
Great diversity but I wanted more from the characters