Whenever you're ready

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Katz's poignant sophomore outing (after Thank You For Sharing) explores the complexities of grief, friendship, and love through a heartfelt sapphic romance. Three years after the death of their mutual best friend Michal, estranged friends Nia and Jade embark on a road trip organized around southern Jewish history to fulfill Michal's final wish. They're joined by Jade's twin brother and Michal's boyfriend, Jonah, as they travel between some of the oldest synagogues in the South. As old feelings resurface and new tensions arise, Nia and Jade confront their shared past and the possibility of a future together, even as they wrestle with personal grief and historical trauma. Katz's exploration of mourning feels authentic, leavened by the transformative power of enduring friendship. The complex exploration of identity, race, and the Jewish experience in America only elevates the tender love story. Reminiscent of the works of Casey McQuiston and Becky Albertalli, this will resonate with fans of character-driven queer romance and anyone seeking a nuanced portrayal of loss and healing. Agent: Jessica Mileo, InkWell Management. (Sept.)

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Review by Library Journal Review

Katz's (Thank You for Sharing) latest is a poignant novel that explores themes of friendship, loss, racial identity, and Jewish heritage. The story follows three friends on a road trip planned by their late friend Michal, who originally introduced Nia to twins Jade and Jonah on her 10th birthday. On Nia's 29th birthday, she discovers Michal's wish that she and the twins go on the trip together. The only problem is that Nia hasn't spoken to Jade since Michal's passing, and, unbeknownst to her, Jade and Jonah have unresolved conflict between them. But they embark anyway on the journey to learn about Southern Jewish American history, all while confronting their grief. Katz's narrative skillfully intertwines personal emotions with broader societal issues such as antisemitism and racism, while also highlighting the complexities of being biracial in the United States. There are some elements of romance between Nia and Jade, but the novel's driving theme is their enduring friendship, built on a strong foundation. VERDICT This slow-burn childhood-friends-to-lovers romance novel that grapples with history is a compelling pick for fans of the genre.--Michelle Mistalski

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Estranged childhood best friends confront long-buried feelings on an emotional road trip. Nia and Jade had been friends since they were introduced by their mutual bestie, Michal, at her 10th birthday party. Now, 19 years later, Michal is gone--she died of cancer a few years ago--and they're barely on speaking terms. But before Michal passed away, she left letters for Nia and Jade to open on their future birthdays, and the ones written for when they turn 29 come with a special request: To go on a 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. All three seem to settle back into old habits and routines; in some ways it feels as if no time has passed at all. But there's still the elephant in the room that blew up Nia and Jade's friendship--an attraction both feel but only one has acknowledged. Author Katz deftly enfolds multiple themes within their slow-burn romance: the history of Jewish communities in the South and the generational trauma that comes with it; an intense examination of grief; and a testament to the complexities of friendship and sibling relationships. Heaping doses of the two women's yearning and pining tenderly supplement it all. However sweet and emotional the romance may be, though, it often fights for attention with the novel's other rich elements. Visits to locations with deep histories for the Jewish and Black communities and a consideration of how ugly, upsetting life moments can leave people and relationships changed are the more compelling components. An emotional romance buttressed by strong themes of history, trauma, loss, and identity. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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