The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
mollyrook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What I didnât love were the enemies-to-lovers arc and the third-act breakup. As I found with The Matzah Ball, I find âIâm mad at you for something I think you did when we were 13â to be uninspiring. They also got over it so fast in this book that they might as well have just known each other from camp without it being an enemies thing.
I also didnât think the third-act breakup was super necessary in this book. I know that Liyah has a lot of baggage to work through, but I never really bought her belief that she is unlovable. I think he could have helped her through those feelings with it just being a fight and not a full breakup.
Overall, I really liked this book, and I think itâs a great book for anyone who wants to expand their horizons of what it means to be Jewish.
Moderate: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
violentlyagitated's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Daniel spent the whole time apologizing over and over and over, poor guy, while Liyah kept tearing his head off for the biggest non-reasons ever. I get that she has a lot of trauma from past experiences, but her aggression towards just(!) Daniel and her awfully skewed self-perception made it very hard to feel for her. It's like her best friend Neen said, it gets old (and, frankly, unrealistic)! I don't think it was unjustified of Daniel to call Liyah "unfeeling" only this one time, you can be kindhearted deep down but if you're only ever being borderline insulting to those around you, people might start to consider you a bitch. He was made to apologize for it, anyway...
Apart from these grievances, the story mostly bored me, even with little tidbits about Jewish culture and anthropology sprinkled in. Nothing much happened, plot-wise or charater delevopment-wise. I think even Siobhan and Jordan as side-characters got more of both, actually. The addition of the Speakeasy Survival Club felt very random to me as well, though the club meeting notes ended up being the most entertaining part of the book.
Minor: Rape, Racism, and Death of parent
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
1.5/5 spice
Tropes:
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
Reverse Grumpy/sunshineÂ
Work togetherÂ
Forced proximityÂ
Trauma/healing
Jewish rep
BIPOC MCs
LGBTQIA rep
Dual POVÂ
At first it was a struggle for me to get through this book because it starts off with a big misunderstanding/miscommunication issue that is brought up several times throughout the story and doesn't seem to be completely resolved until Liyah is forced to confront her trust and self worth issues towered the end. It was also a struggle because I was very upset with Liyah for the majority of the story. I had moments that I loved her personality, but every time she was confronted with her aversion to love and relationships, I wanted to shake her. But I'm really glad I kept reading.
I really enjoyed the friend group dynamic, and Liyah's bestie, Neen, was my favorite. They really brought Liyah out of her destructive behavior and forced her to confront her feelings... and they held nothing back. I honestly feel like they saved the story... because there's no way Liyah would've been able to get out of her funk without their help.Â
I also really enjoyed reading about Liyah and Daniel's experiences as Jews of color and how they've had to cope with prejudice and racism. There are a lot of raw, emotional moments that go beyond the surface conflicts, and it's for these moments that I was able to get through the initial struggle with reading this book. It was definitely a reminder that everyone handles trauma/grief differently, and I need to be more open and empathetic to people and situations that I've never experienced.
Overall, I highly recommend for fans of second chance or childhood friends to lovers. This is a well-rounded story with a diverse set of characters that are relatable and real.Â
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.Â
Trigger/Content warnings:
SA (mentioned as a memory), death of parent (past tense), racism, grief, misogyny, sexual content
Graphic: Grief and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
 - This book! THANK YOU FOR SHARING is exactly what I want in a romance novel: great banter, excellent tension, working to understand past traumas, and immense character growth.
- Every character in this book has such a big personality. I'd read a novel centering any of the side characters (but please please a book for Neen first!) I adored them all, even when they were being frustrating.
- On top of all that goodness, I've never read a novel featuring two mixed race Jewish adults before (plus Liyah is queer on top of that). I love that romance is a place where identity and and the tough conversations and experiences around it can be explored with nuance and care.Â
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, and Rape
Minor: Cancer and Racism
cassielaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Rape
ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
One of my favourite romance books of the year.Â
Liyah and Daniel first met when they were just teenagers, kids really, at Jewish summer camp, sneaking away to kiss at night time.Â
Years and years later, and after a heavy grudge, Liyah is horrified to realize she has to sit next to him on a plane and even worse, work with him on the most important project of her professional life. Chaos ensures.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't find myself dragged into the pages, racing to finish, but I feel it was even sweeter savoured over a few weeks reading and I shed a few tears along the way.Â
It was genuinely delightful to read realistic, messy but growing people try to be their best selves from both ends. I found myself rooting for each of them to love themselves more along with the other.Â
Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Sexism
melanie_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a real emotional roller coaster of a read for me. These characters really went though a lot, but it felt so very real. I adored Liyah and Daniel, and was so glad they got their happy-ever-after. At times I wasnât sure it would happen, but this is romance and in tropes we trust!
Talking of tropes, if youâre after hurt-comfort, found family, fish out of water and second chance romance then this book is for you.
I thought it was well written and hope the author writes many more stories, because I want to read them.Â
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the poor to read and review this wonderful book.Â
Moderate: Grief and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
bookedwithbonnie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, and Racism
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I can't believe this is a debut! I am truly so impressed and can't wait for pub day so everyone else can read this.
This romance tackles race, culture, identity, spirituality, trauma, grief, hope, and so much more! I loved the representation of BIPOC (Black & Korean) Jewish main characters (the FMC is bisexual & there's also a side character who is nonbinary). Daniel is the soft, sweet cinnamon roll love interest of my dreams, and he hates big pharma. What a guy! Liyah on the other hand, was fighting her romantic feelings and burying her trauma deep in order to avoid true intimacy and vulnerability. She continued to hide beneath her prickly exterior because it acted as an armor for her. I felt for her but I think Rachel wrote this so tenderly and with so much care. Liyah isn't all grumpiness and skepticism though; like any good millennial, she is nostalgic for the decade in which Hollywood decided the world needed modern American teen remakes of British classic literature, like 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, and Mean Girls. Now, she is just waiting for the next phenomenon like this to hit, but queer retellings this time! GIRL SAMEEEEE.Â
With second-chance romances, I sometimes roll my eyes to the back of my head when the event that caused our main characters to stop speaking is finally revealed. However, without spoiling, I totally empathized with Liyah's anger, shame, and disappointment when I learned of what happened all those years ago. Things can certainly feel heightened when we are in middle school, but that doesn't make the pain or embarrassment any less valid. I also sympathized with how Daniel perceived the event, because the devil works hard but toxic masculinity and the patriarchy work HARDER. I think what matters most is how they approached the topic in the present, as adults, and how accountability was taken.Â
This book is set in Chicago, IL, but Liyah's best friend Neen (they/them) is in San Francisco, CA. Neen does provide levity and much-needed tough love from California at times to Liyah, and I think we should all aspire to be the kind of friend Neen in, because they don't have any qualms about being honest with Liyah when she is acting childish or conflict avoidant.
Tropes:
-dual third-person limited POV
-second-chance romance
-childhood friends
-grumpy x sunshine
-cinnamon roll love interest
-only one bed
-forced proximity
-slow burn
-found family
-SO MUCH ANGST, TENSION, AND LONGING
-the banter was BANTERING
I especially adored the found family of their Friday night Survival Club with Jordan (Black colleague of Daniel) and Siobhan (Irish immigrant and colleague of Liyah). Their meeting notes were hilarious, contained so much millennial existential angst and humor, and the rules for the club were also an absolute hoot. I loved that this was their unofficial group therapy, and it did invite them all to explore different aspects of their lives, such as work, dating, and personal goals or ambitions. I would love to be part of this friends' group!
Honorable mention to Daniel's cat named Sweet Potato -- SO STINKING CUTE !!!
Anyway, I want more stories like this. PLEASE! This was open-door but not TOO steamy. Maybe a 1.5/5 on the steam scale!
cw: mentions of rape, death, loss of a parent, cancer, and racism
Quotations that stood out to me:
The universe must be conspiring against him. Thereâs no other explanation. Accidentally making a beautiful girl hate you once is one thingâbut twice, a decade and a half apart? Heâs cursed.
âYouâre too good at guilt-tripping,â Liyah says after she pulls back.
âWell, I was raised Catholic.â Siobhan winks.
âHalf of our sorrows are caused by dealing with the middle-aged men in our department.â
House Rules Meet: Friday nights, 10 9 (Siobhan wakes up early), at Prohibition Anything said here stays here No toxic masculinity Jordan Ames, Aliyah Cohen-Jackson, Siobhan Gallagher, Daniel Rosenberg And thus, the Speakeasy Survival Club is born.
âI didnât say I hated coding, I said I hated my job. Do you think everybody feels this way?â
âWhat way?â
They sigh. âI donât know. Restless?â
âTo varying degrees, probably.â Restless is exactly how Liyah felt before she started this new exhibition. Now her work feels interesting, maybe even meaningful, but sometimes she worries that if she slows down for a moment, that feeling will set in again.
(A man admitting he was wrong? In this economy? Iâm in love)
Her mother has never been great at fielding her and Aviâs experiences with white-assimilated Jews. Theyâll repeat one of several common invalidations, and her mom freezes up completely, tears welling. As if Liyah communicating the reality of her experience is a personal attack.
âThatâs because youâve been brainwashed by mass media into believing intellectual women must reject traditionally feminine interests!â She fires back, barely stopping to breathe. âBecause God forbid a teenage girl likes a movie about aâgaspâteenage girl. These movies got me through middle school and high school.â
The anonymity is more intoxicating than any liquor.
Maybe crafting her life so the only person she lets see all the way through her lives thousands of miles away is less of a safety net and more of a way to ensure a certain level of loneliness.
Daniel stops in his tracks. Done for doesnât cover it. Heâs in love with her. Not enamored. In love. Like, stupidly. Itâs effervescent and fizzing painfully through his arteries from his heart to his extremities, and he has to lean against a nearby building so that he doesnât collapse with the weight of it all.
Moderate: Racism and Rape
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Death, and Cancer
dkaps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The only reason it isn't 5 stars for me is that some of the notes from the SSC meeting feel a little disjointed. Overall it was a great fun read.
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Antisemitism, Colonisation, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Classism, and Cultural appropriation