The Book:
Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz
Publication Expected September 10, 2024 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Find more September 2024 releases here!
Torrie’s Rating:
The Plot (Goodreads):
After reconnecting on a road trip, two friends must decide if love is the ultimate risk worth taking in this funny, emotional sapphic romance.
Nia and Jade had been inseparable ever since their best friend, Michal, introduced them at her tenth birthday party. But now it’s been three years since Michal died of cancer— since the brutal fight Nia and Jade had in the weeks after— and they’re barely on speaking terms.
Until Nia reads a letter Michal wrote for her 29th birthday, asking her and Jade to go on the southern Jewish history road trip they’d planned before she died. To add to the complications, Michal’s then-boyfriend and Jade’s twin brother, Jonah, joins the trip. Despite the years apart and Jade and Jonah’s strained relationship, any awkwardness quickly disappears as it becomes clear how much Nia and Jade have missed each other.
Unfortunately, old issues soon arise. Nia has been in love with Jade since they were teenagers, and Jade has been so committed to their friendship that she never let herself consider something more. As the stops pass, tensions mount, running high until Nia and Jade are forced to confront what happened three years ago, their feelings for one another, and even their respective relationships with Jonah.
Torrie’s Review:
Thank you to Rachel Runya Katz and St. Martin’s Griffin for gifting this book to me through a goodreads giveaway!
This book was so much more than I expected, I was truly blown away. The characters are so deep and well developed, the love rings so genuine, and it pulls at your heart-strings (I definitely teared up). And THE ENDING, god, was it perfect. I loved the vulnerability in Jade and Nia (and even Jonah).
Many romance writers could learn from the subtly of Rachel Runya Katz. I’ve written some strong reviews in the last year about authors that overly emphasis secrets or moments to build suspense by referring to them with immature “The Moment” or “The Incident” monikers, and it is just so overdone and honestly leaves me rolling my eyes. This book avoids that problem, while still having a moment in the past that the reader was in the dark about. It was clear we were missing something, without the author/characters shoving it down our throats saying “look at me! Don’t you want to know what happened?” Rachel Runya Katz has the right approach, and that is natural subtly.
I think my only critique on this book is that the cover felt very YA romance, yet this is certainly a New Adult or Adult romance. Not just for spicy content, but the characters are in their late 20s. I do think they acted a bit young, but maybe the death of their best friend delayed their growth. I guess I just don’t feel like the cover does the depth of this book justice. It isn’t a light romance read, it is a purposeful, thoughtful, and complex work of fiction with a lot of well-done romance.
I cannot wait to read more by Rachel Runya Katz!
Meet Guest Reviewer by Torrie Lewine