Two estranged best friends go on a road trip their third (deceased) best friend always wanted them to go on. The story has friends-to-lovers, a kind of second chance romance (?), complicated family dynamics, queer rep, Jewish rep, and a DOG.

Friends-to-lovers is very hit-and-miss for me, and while I didn't love every aspect of this story, I thought their estrangement was relatable and their wariness to share their feelings made sense. I liked the road trip premise and how it forced them to be in close proximity. The only one-bed trope is SUPREME.

The plot was great, but the way the characters' emotions were written was my favorite part. I relate a lot to never being anyone's first choice, so reading about a character with that insecurity was cathartic.

This book does address sensitive topics about faith and racism. Check content warnings.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I sobbed through basically this entire book because the way the author paints a vivid picture of grief is just heart wrenching. Grief can bring out the ugliest parts of people, like it did in this story. But love, whether friend or romantic love, can make it easier to bear. Nia and Jade had their quirks. Nia dealt with life by trying to control her schedule to an almost pathological degree. Jade was a bit blunt and blind to her own emotions. Neither of them were good at communicating the way they needed to about feelings for one another. The resolution was beautiful and fulfilling as they learned more about themselves and how to take risks that are worth taking.

Spice: 2/5

Triggers: death of close friend from cancer, grief, discussion of racism and antisemitism, discussion of sexism, discussion of lunching of Jewish man, discussion of transatlantic slave trade and enslavement,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nia and Jade have been best friends forever. They were part of a group of 3, but their 3rd passed away 3 years prior of cancer. The story in essence is about their grief and taking a road trip that they had planned together as a group, only now it's Nia, Jade and her twin brother Jonah going.

The trip is part healing from the death of Michal but also the healing of Nia and Jade's friendship because they have not spoken in 3 years.

I found this one to be informative with respect to Jewish history. The romance piece was a slow burn as Nia and Jade explore their feelings for each other. Overall a solid read!

Michal introduced Nia and Jade at her 10th birthday party and they’ve been inseparable since. Michal died three years ago and now Nia and Jade are barely on speaking terms. When Nia reads the letter Michal wrote her for her 29th birthday, asking Nia and Jade to go on the southern Jewish history road trip they had planned before she died. Jonah, Jade’s twin brother and Michal’s then-boyfriend, joins on the trip as well. As the trip goes on, old issues arise, forcing Nia and Jade to confront what happened between them three years prior, their feelings for each other, and their respective relationships with Jonah.

WHENEVER YOU’RE READY is told in dual timelines and dual POV, transitioning between Nia and Jade’s POVs within the same chapters. I found it a bit difficult to differentiate between Nia and Jade’s voices though as they didn’t feel super distinct.

I loved seeing the relationships Michal, Jade, Nia, and Jonah shared in the past and present. The communication, particularly what we see of it in the present, is difficult at times, but feels realistic. I don’t feel like we get much of an explanation of what happens between Jade and Nia that causes them to drift apart three years prior and I would have appreciated more context on this. I also think that the pacing and storytelling to a certain extent, don’t allow for a good connection between the reader and the characters.

The romance is a very slow burn and ended up being my least favorite aspect of this story (sorry not sorry). I think the emotional trajectory of this story was the most meaningful part overall. I liked how Jonah, Jade, and Nia are able to slowly redefine the relationships they share amongst each other by the end of the story.

I really enjoyed the Southern USA Jewish historical tour. I thought it was a very interesting snapshot into a small piece of Jewish culture and history while creating a rich backstory and emotional connection to the characters and their culture. The settings the characters visited were descriptive and easy to envision.

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

Just when I think I've stopped crying long enough to write this review thinking about the book gets me up in my feels all over again. Despite being "straight" I have really come to love LGBTQIA+ romances. I feel like there are so many more nuances and layers in these stories. Also, with finding out my biological family was Jewish made parts of this novel extra poignant for me.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Whenever You’re Ready releases September 10, 2024

2.5

Three years after Michal dies of brain cancer, her best friends live out her dying wish and go on a Southern Jewish history road trip, wherein an extremely slow burn romance ensues between Jade and Nia after decades of friendship and what they thought was unrequited love.

Objectively, this was written well, but I never found myself in a position where I actually cared what happened to the characters.
I think this story would have had a greater impact if Nia was also Jewish as it would have added an extra layer of depth between her and the twins while they all reconnected on their road trip.

While there was eventually a sapphic romance, I would say the main focus surrounded grief, friendship, and platonic love, making it read more like women’s fiction.

I am fully obsessed with this cover!! From the description this book should have been perfect for me, but the writing style does not work for me at all. I have picked up this book and pretty much instantly set it back down several times because of the third person present tense. It feels like I'm reading a movie script and it's just feels boring because of that. I need to stop trying to get into this book.

After reconnecting on a road trip, two friends must decide if love is the ultimate risk worth taking in this funny, emotional sapphic romance.

This was a really cute second chance romance . I really enjoyed it 🥰

Rachel Runya Katz is an excellent writer and I really appreciated the themes this book explored - grief after the loss of a best friend, being black and Jewish. While I like romance dealing with heavier topics, I struggled a bit with finding the romantic tension anything other than tense at times with the heaviness of this book. At the same time, the relationships felt raw and authentic.

This is an interesting emotional journey with a lot of Jewish-American history along the way. I found intertwined histories of African-American and Jewish people as presented in this road trip through destinations that are important culturally and historically for both groups quite interesting. As a Jew I struggled with being the group described as enslaving others although not incorrect.

I enjoyed the relationship between twin siblings and found the competitive nature quite realistic . Rachel's description of messy relationships when trying to navigate live, grief, and family was poignant and realistic.
The relationship between the primary four characters is the highlight of the book. Everyone finding peace is the true HEA

This is a book about 2 friends who reconnected after 3 years after an obvious falling out and the death of their very close friend. They go on a road trip that they had promised to their friend and take one of their siblings and their pup along. It becomes a beautiful story of growth, self-discovery, grief, all while learning about their Jewish history along the way.

Thanks to St. Martin's press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

Rounded up from 3.5 hrs. What a fun and creative romance! I loved the way the characters interacted throughout their entire road trip. I also loved that there was a history aspect of it and that I got to learn about Jewish history in the south. I did feel like these parts were a little lengthy but I love historical fiction so to me it wasn’t too bad but I think readers who are used to romance might not like it as much. I did feel like it took SO long for the characters to get together and I wished it wouldn’t have been the last night of their trip. I appreciated the flashbacks and letters but would’ve loved to see a snippet of their life post main storyline. Overall, this was fantastic and fun. It had moments of levity built in and still conquered some pretty upsetting information.

this was not my jam, unfortunately (which is strange considering most reviews have raved about it). maybe its just that this “slow burn” felt wayyyy too slow for me, but i just could not get i to it. i was hoping for a fresh take on sapphic romance but unfortunately it just fell flat. i think there was a ton of background that, for a book billed as a romance (or at least romance-adjacent), was just not necessary and bored me to tears at some points. there’s definitely buzz around this book so i’m chalking it up as not my cup of tea, but i wish i would have loved this.

Whenever You're Ready follows Nia, Jade, and Jonah, Jade's twin brother, while they embark on a road trip to the US South to explore different Jewish sites to connect with their heritage. The road trip was made all the more significant as it was designed by their late best friend, Michal, who died of brain cancer and insisted they complete the road trip before they all turned 30.

This was a really fun read. I appreciated how the author opened up with text messages, like a modern epistolary novel - it gave us an immediate insight into where the relationship between Nia and Jade sat and how they interacted with each other. The different timelines also allowed us to see how the relationship between Nia, Jade, and Michal began and unfolded throughout their lives. All the characters felt fully realized and like whole people, which made the slow unfurling of the love between Nia and Jade throughout the book all the better. It was messy, but in a way that felt very real and true to who these people are.

The call backs to Michal and her letters were lovely - throughout the book, we get to read letters that Michal had pre-written to Nia and Jade for their birthdays that she wrote out before she passed.

I also learned so much about the history of southern Jews and while I know this is a complex history, it was really interesting to learn this with the backdrop of two characters admitting their love for one another.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of the book.

This book follow 2 friends on a road trip/ history tour in memory of their best friend who passed away. This book tackles grief and the different dynamics in a friend group. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the Jewish community and seeing multiracial racial characters within this community. There was Black, Jewish & Queer representation throughout the book. So the book started off extremely slow, so much so that I almost DNF the book. The switching of the POV made it very difficult to differentiate between the characters especially Nia & Jade. I am glad I stuck with it in the end because I love a friends to lovers romance. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

This book was beautiful. The prose was gorgeous and I loved everything about this sapphic romance.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early arc copy of this!

Nia and Jade grew up in a best friend threesome with Michal. They didn’t count on Michal dying of cancer three years previously. Michal wanted them to take a Jewish history road trip to the South before they all turned 30. And although Nia and Jade had a falling out they are willing to take the trip to honor their friend. Jonah, who was Michal’s boyfriend when she died, and is Jade’s twin, also comes on the trip.

This is a slow-burn romance and I would put it in more of a general fiction category as much of the story is taken up with the road trip. The threesome are still dealing with grief as well. I was intrigued with the Jewish history covered as part of the visits. I’ve lived in Georgia and vacationed in Savannah and Charleston and was unaware of Jewish history in the areas. It is extra intriguing as the characters are people of color. It takes getting into the story before learning the background of the characters and the cause of their falling out. Nia and Jade love each other because they have for most of their lives. But realizing they could be in love is a more dramatic step. And everything feels very weighty and angsty.

This is Katz’s second book and first f/f romance. It is very much worth reading but it covers some heavy things. Also I didn’t care for Jonah. I get why he is added into the story, but that didn’t make me like his character.

I had the pleasure of reading Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz as an ARC, thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and I’m so glad I did! This sapphic, friends-to-lovers contemporary romance exceeded my expectations in so many ways.

The story revolves around three childhood best friends—Nia, Jade, and Michal—who had been inseparable since they were 10. However, Michal tragically passed away from cancer a few years before the novel begins. Now at 29, Nia and Jade, along with Jade’s twin brother, Jonah (who was dating Michal before she died), set out on a Southern Jewish history road trip to honor Michal’s memory and explore their roots—a trip they had all planned to take together.

What makes the journey so compelling is the tension among the three characters. Nia and Jade had a huge falling out in the weeks after Michal’s death, and both Jonah and Jade are dealing with unresolved issues related to their loss. Despite the emotional distance, their shared grief and the close bond they once had bring them back together in a beautiful way. As the road trip unfolds, so do their hidden feelings and long-buried secrets, setting the stage for drama and romance.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the diversity, especially Nia, who is Chinese Jamaican. It’s rare to see that kind of representation in books, and it resonated deeply with me, as my wife is Chinese Jamaican. Seeing a character like Nia felt truly special.

While the cover initially caught my attention—its vibrant colors and sapphic vibes, the story inside held so much depth. Yes, the romance is a central theme, but this book also delves into family dynamics, grief, identity, and history, making it a rich and emotional read.

I’m giving Whenever You’re Ready 4 ½ stars (rounded up to 5). It’s a beautiful story with layers of heart and meaning, and I’d highly recommend picking it up if this sounds like your kind of read.

Thank you t St Martin's Press for this eARC! Yeesh this one hurt me. As someone who lost my best friend very young to cancer, and scattered her ashes at Disney World, this one hit pretty close to home. But the joy and love and light that Michal radiated in all of the flashbacks and through her letters also warmed my heart and reminded me of that very same friend. I don't know what it is like to be Black or Jewish or Black and Jewish but that didn't stop me from feeling the pain that Jade and Jonah were feeling on those trips because it came through so clearly and powerfully. And the chemistry and love between Jade and Nia was so strong and so palpable it kept me hooked page after page. And we love open communication and respecting boundaries and CHOOSING to be together despite, and stronger for the bad times. Just an absolutely remarkable, heartbreaking, loving, warm read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Whenever You're Ready follows friends Nia and Jade who embark on a road trip together in the wake of their friend Michal's death.

Whenever You're Ready was such a lovely read! I loved the road trip plot, and I thought the relationship between Nia and Jade was one I could read about forever. There's richness and nuance there, and their elaborate dynamic is masterfully executed. As characters, they are spectacularly well-realized, and it was so fun getting to hang out with them.

My one gripe was the pacing, only because the book got off to a slower start than felt necessary, but ultimately I think this is a fantastic and high-quality contemporary queer romance that I will definitely be recommending to anyone looking for a superb road trip read.