A stunningly tender and effervescently queer story, this book somehow has managed to find the bullseye on portraying the quintessential queer leftist experience of Chicago. It's raw in its emotional honesty and handling of grief and trauma, loving as our foursome of friends become found family, and so so electric as Liyah and Daniel move from enemies to friends to lovers. To say this book speaks to my soul is an understatement. I may only identify with the queer and Chicagoan labels of this book but this book feels so ME it's a little painful to look directly at it. Stunning debut and I cannot wait for more from Rachel Runya Katz.

Liyah and Daniel met years ago at a Jewish summer camp and kissed. The next time they saw each other, on a plane from California to Chicago, the meeting wasn’t quite as nice. Despite this, they end up working together for a few months, forming a therapy/commiserating group with a couple of other friends/coworkers, and end up growing closer. They each have their own issues, though: Daniel lost his dad last year and is still reeling, and Liyah doesn’t believe in love. What happens when their friendship starts to develop into something more?

I thought this book was really well written. I really enjoyed being able to see into the minds of Liyah and Daniel. Even when Liyah started to be a bit much and repetitive after a while, I liked seeing their thought process and watching their characters develop.

I feel like, as with any romcom book, it was a bit predictable, but still sweet and fun to read. I enjoyed the side characters as much as the main characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a nice read.

3.5/5 stars! Thank you to St Martins Press, Rachel Runya Katz, and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was not my favorite contemporary romance. The heroine, Liyah, was not easy for me to learn to love. The hero, Daniel, on the other hand, was so lovable and sweet and he loved her so well that I stuck it out to the end; but without him, I really would have given up on her before she became bearable to read. She does soften and have a good character arch, I just struggled with feeling attached to her story. I'm sad I didn't like her more because the representation was great. This is definitely a population I have not encountered before and I wish I enjoyed reading about more. I have read some really fun Jewish romances and some really fun BIPOC romances and this could have been a great BIPOC Jewish romance, but I really struggled to get into this one. Also, I just struggle with the sentance structure, especially in the beginning, There were so many disjointed sentences, parenthetical and em dash clauses, that I struggled to stay focused on the story.

This is a new-to-me author and I will say that I really liked this story. The romance is very well written, I absolutely love how candid this circle of friends became. The story is also very informative. I have to admit that Liyah did rub me the wrong way on several occasions but that's not abnormal with fiction, one character or the other should get the reader riled up a bit ;). Daniel is an absolute sweetheart, it's impossible not to fall for him. Their second chance flushes out the old and builds something new, emotional, inspiring and entertaining novel.

I did enjoy this book, but I'll admit that it took me about halfway through the book to like the main character, Liyah. She was so strident about everything, all the time, that even her softer sides seemed too brash - to the point of rudeness. However, just when I was to the point of wanting the main male character, Daniel, to look for someone more deserving, Katz pulled me in. There is a very powerful and unique scene that takes place in a synagogue. While I was unfamiliar with this custom of specific prayers of those lost, it made me google to learn more about it. Great book and I'd recommend it to friends.

Liyah Cohen-Jackson reunites with her childhood crush on a plane ride home to Chicago, but everything is not roses. Liyah can’t let go of the anger and betrayal she felt at 13 when she and Daniel kissed and then suddenly everyone knew about it. Fate intervenes and the two end up working together on a project and rekindle their friendship and maybe something more too.

I liked this story a lot. It has lots of representation (biracial main characters, lgbtq2+ characters, gender-fluidity, sex positivity, body positivity, mental heath rep, and the two main characters are jewish too). I had trouble in the beginning with the unfamiliar jargon that goes along with jewish summer camp but once I got a quarter of the way into the book it really got going. The spicy scenes were great, I just wish there were more of them. The emotional pieces were all there but Liyah is so traumatized that she can’t acknowledge them. I became super invested in the side characters of Jordan (the serial monogamist) and Siobhan (the peppy plus-sized Irish coworker). Here’s hoping those two crazy kids figure things out.

All-in-all a solid four star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review of this title.

There is a lot to like in this book — great representation with both MCs being biracial, solid Jewish representation, a good sense of place in its Chicago setting, excellent mental health rep. I thought the “social club” meeting summaries at the end of chapters was super cute too. The FMC is a little too prickly for my personal taste — once an MC crosses the line over to “obtuse” is when it’s too much for me, personally. However, this does make sense given her background. Another thing that bothered me a bit was that the MCs and their friends in the social club drink a LOT, every week. It’s probably because I’m in my 30’s now, but reading about them taking multiple tequila shots in between whiskey cocktails made my stomach churn. This is one of those books that I think objectively is good, but it just didn’t work out for me specifically.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a great book. Daniel and Liyah know each other from a Jewish summer camp when they were preteens/teenagers. Things did not end well back then, so when they run into each other as adults there is a lot of animosity/tension (mostly from Liyah). They end up being forced to work together on a project and have to get over their past in order to make the time spent together less terrible.
This story has a lot of great characters and I'm already hoping for a series so I can find out if Neen, Jordan, and Siobhan ever find love! I like how a lot of things about the Jewish faith were put in the story because I learned so much about certain holidays as well as their mourning/dealing with grief rituals. This was a slow burn enemies to lovers romance and it did not disappoint.

This is a quirky romance about Liyah and Daniel who met years ago as teenagers at a sleepaway camp. They didn't part on the best of terms, so their happenchance meeting years later on a flight isn't a happy reunion. A work project brings them together and things progress from there. This is a romance novel after all. These young people and their coworkers/friends are an interesting group. Their experiences are as unique as they are. I didn't know what to expect from this book. It was different and exciting. This was not like any romance I had come across before, but I am so glad I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank You for Sharing is a really charming debut. I loved the setup of these two people with a lot of history meeting again on a plane and then being forced to work together. Having it set in Chicago (I live in the Chicago area) and at a museum was a bonus. I haven’t read many books involving people who work at museums, which is surprising since it feels like such a rich setting for a story!

Liyah and Daniel had great chemistry, and I enjoyed their journey from childhood friends to enemies to lovers. I also loved seeing a romance with Jewish characters of color, because I haven’t seen many romances with that representation.

I think if you like the forced proximity, second chance, and childhood friends to lovers tropes, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

this is a nice debut featuring good chicago rep, two biracial and jewish MCs, and a nice dose of behind-the-scenes at a museum workplace nonsense. i didn't get the best sense of chemistry between daniel and liyah; the characters don't come off the page in a way that i've felt with other contemporary romances.

It was an enjoyable book.The premise of the book kept me engaged and the chemistry between the characters was very good. I enjoyed how the relationship progressed throughout the story. All in all it was a fun book.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Second chance romances are my HOLY GRAIL so when I heard of this book, I knew I had to pick it up. Daniel and Liyah have a history and they are both forced to confront it fourteen years later on a plane ride sitting side by side. Even though they part ways after, fate has other plans in store as they end up being nothing short of coworkers and are forced to confront, at length, their falling out all those years ago.

Already, with a premise like this, I knew the book would be heavy. However, I found the book’s pacing hard to get into and stay invested. I really enjoyed who they were as characters and their chemistry overall, though, so that definitely made up for that. I think this book was really interesting, and it’ll definitely stick with me for a while. I really enjoyed reading about their journeys both individually and seeing how they fit together.

Super charming, sharp, and funny book about the two people whose intersectional identities set them apart – and bring them together.

Childhood friends Liyah (a black Jewish woman) and Daniel (and Asian-American Jewish man) have a chance encounter on a flight fourteen years after their disastrous falling out at summer camp. They are stuck working on promotions (Daniel’s job) for Chicago’s Field Museum (Liyah’s job) and end up forming a “Speakeasy Survival Club” with two colleagues. As the weeks pass and Daniel and Liyah grow closer, old wounds heal and their friendship blossoms into something more.

I love that [book:Thank You For Sharing] is Jewish without being about judaism. It explores what it means to be Jewish and biracial (not all Jews are of Eastern European descent!) and the discrimination non-white Jews can face even from other Jews. There were some beautiful scenes as the two MCs find meaning in ritual (Yom Kippur, Jesa-Yartzeit) but also their tight group of likeminded friends.

I’m also a fan of when the story revolves around one or both of the MC’s jobs in which they are (1) good at their job(s) (2) appreciated for being good at their job(s) by their boss/colleagues (3) love doing their job(s). In this case, both MCs had all three things going for them (and their work is relevant to the story since it brings them together). Daniel’s realization about marketing the whole museum and not just the events targeted at bringing in young people after he beings seeing it through Liyah’s eyes was 💯

CW: Parental death (off page), racism (challenged).

[book:Thank You For Sharing] by [author:Rachel Runya Katz]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 rounded up
🦖🦕💀🦴 Love letter to the Field Museum
🍸🍹🍷 It’s convenient having a mixologist bartender
🏹🏡🏊‍♀️ Ah, Jewish summer camp romances (lifechanging!)

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I thought this was such a cute read. The two main character's, Daniel and Liyah had such amazing chemistry. I enjoyed all of their witty banter and watching their love story unfold. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Liyah works for a museum as a junior curator. She pitches an idea for an exhibit that may lead to a promotion. As part of the deal she must work with Daniel on marketing the museum. Daniel and Liyah have a history from summer camp when they were teenagers. They had a falling out at summer camp and have not seen each other in 14 years. Liyah is dealing with trauma both from summer camp and college. She does not want to work with Daniel but does want the promotion.

This is story of two twenty somethings who are trying to make it in the world. Daniel and Liyah are enemies to start the book but each may learn a few lessons along the way. The book is an interesting range on emotions and you will find yourself rooting for their success. Maybe we all feel at times that we do not belong. The book will take you on an emotional ride.

Thank you to #netgalley, #RachelRunyaKatz and #StMartinsGriffin for a copy of this book
#ThankYouforSharing

As a jew, I liked the representation. The second chance romance was cute. I enjoyed the banter. Overall, very cute and funny.

Liyah and Daniel have seen each other since summer camp 14 years ago. Liyah and Daniel are on the same flight, and Daniel recognizes her first on the plane and flubs his hello. From this interaction and throughout the book, Daniel is sorry, and Liyah is offended.

This is a forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers romance, so she agrees when the museum tasks Liyah to work with a new marketing firm to help appeal to a younger market base. Daniel works for a marketing firm that the museum hires and she is forced to work with him. They spend more and more time together, and Liyah starts to wonder if she missed out on all that Daniel has to offer.

I felt this story had potential, but it started really slow for me. Also, Liyah was not always so likable. I am a woman of color, so I feel that I can relate to microaggressions and the general assumptions imposed on a woman of color. However, she and Daniel share the same religion, and there is a commonality in them both being " mixed-raced" or "other," so she comes across as being too hard at times. There was chemistry between the two main characters, so this did make up for the slower start for me. I enjoyed the dual point of view; this helped me feel slightly more empathic toward Liyah's character.

I just reviewed the arc Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley
www.netgalley.com

I’ve never really written a poor review on a book before, but I just wasn’t able to get into this particular story. I would start and stop and start reading it again, thinking it would get better, but it never got better for me. I just couldn’t connect with some of the story and that may be because I’m of an older generation. The storyline was just too slow for me personally

This was so cute!
Okay, so first of all, I need to acknowledge my status as a white non-Jewish person. I feel like there were probably layers to this book that were even richer if either of these things had been different, but as it is, I definitely still enjoyed every page! The story touched on many of my favorite things, found family, museums, cats, men who go to therapy, and friends who call you out for shit behavior! I’m hoping this turns in to a series, since I’d love to know what happens with other characters (no spoilers!). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this one before it comes out in September!