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Thank You for Sharing
A chemistry-filled childhood friends to enemies to lovers debut romance about two people forced to confront their pasts to save both their relationship and careers.
Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson’s last conversation—fourteen years ago at summer camp—ended their friendship. Until they find themselves seated next to each other on a plane, and bitterly pick up right where they left off. At least they can go their separate ways again after landing...
That is, until Daniel's marketing firm gets hired by the Chicago museum where Liyah works as a junior curator, and they’re forced to collaborate with potential career changing promotions on the line.
With every meeting and post-work social gathering with colleagues, the tension (and chemistry) between Daniel and Liyah builds until they’re forced to confront why they broke apart years ago at camp. But as they find comfort in their shared experiences as Jews of color and fumble towards friendship, can they ignore their growing feelings for each other?
With sexy charm and undeniable wit, Rachel Runya Katz's sparkling debut, Thank You For Sharing, proves that if you're open to love, anything is possible.
Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson’s last conversation—fourteen years ago at summer camp—ended their friendship. Until they find themselves seated next to each other on a plane, and bitterly pick up right where they left off. At least they can go their separate ways again after landing...
That is, until Daniel's marketing firm gets hired by the Chicago museum where Liyah works as a junior curator, and they’re forced to collaborate with potential career changing promotions on the line.
With every meeting and post-work social gathering with colleagues, the tension (and chemistry) between Daniel and Liyah builds until they’re forced to confront why they broke apart years ago at camp. But as they find comfort in their shared experiences as Jews of color and fumble towards friendship, can they ignore their growing feelings for each other?
With sexy charm and undeniable wit, Rachel Runya Katz's sparkling debut, Thank You For Sharing, proves that if you're open to love, anything is possible.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2023
About the author
Rachel Runya Katz
2 books216 followersRachel Runya Katz (she/they) is a contemporary romance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her partner, their cat, and far too many houseplants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 605 reviews
February 2, 2023
The representation in this book will mean so much to so many readers, not just BIPOC Jewish folks, but also young 20 somethings who are both ambitious and tired, trying to find their way while dealing with all-too-recent trauma & the bullshit of the world.
Liyah Jackson-Cohen & Daniel Rosenberg are going to stay in my head a long time; I love the life in this book & their friendship group. (Even if this book occasionally made me feel old because I am very much not young and ambitious/was not nearly as cool as any of these characters even when I was in my 20s lolol but still I feel like it captures that general time period of young adulthood very well.) Liyah is prickly AF, unapologetic about it, and Daniel loves her fully for it. They are also both just really freaking hot lolol. Both characters also actively engage in therapy on page.
This is also the second 2023 book I’ve read this year (the other being Alicia Thompson’s With Love from Cold World) where there is a nonbinary side character who uses they/them & it is very casually used/not a big deal & I really love to see it.
CW for death of a parent (Daniel’s father) & sexual trauma, both of which I thought were dealt with very well.
Lastly, I feel it’s important to note that Daniel has a cat named Sweet Potato. My heart.
Liyah Jackson-Cohen & Daniel Rosenberg are going to stay in my head a long time; I love the life in this book & their friendship group. (Even if this book occasionally made me feel old because I am very much not young and ambitious/was not nearly as cool as any of these characters even when I was in my 20s lolol but still I feel like it captures that general time period of young adulthood very well.) Liyah is prickly AF, unapologetic about it, and Daniel loves her fully for it. They are also both just really freaking hot lolol. Both characters also actively engage in therapy on page.
This is also the second 2023 book I’ve read this year (the other being Alicia Thompson’s With Love from Cold World) where there is a nonbinary side character who uses they/them & it is very casually used/not a big deal & I really love to see it.
CW for death of a parent (Daniel’s father) & sexual trauma, both of which I thought were dealt with very well.
Lastly, I feel it’s important to note that Daniel has a cat named Sweet Potato. My heart.
September 14, 2023
Thank You for Sharing is an absolutely stellar debut book full of emotion, banter, lovable characters, and fun tropes including forced proximity, one bed, second chance, found family, and more! The story follows Liyah, a 27-year-old museum curator, who is focused on her career. When an opportunity presents itself, Liyah pitches her boss a new exhibit plan. When the job is greenlit with the exception that Liyah must work with a marketing specialist to bring in more patrons; the last person she expects to be met with is Daniel, the boy she used to be friends with growing up. Despite not having seen one another in nearly 15 years, the two still remember each other, one with fondness and the other not so much. Determined to set aside their differences, as Liyah and Daniel begin to work together they develop a sort of worker camaraderie along with two of their other work friends. Between meeting up every week for drinks and working side by side on the exhibit, Daniel and Liyah become fast friends and are even quicker to succumb to their mutual attraction.
I cannot sing this book's praise enough, I loved how beautifully raw it was! It was so delightfully refreshing, everything was done with care and thought out so well; from the characters to the topics discussed. I loved the Jewish and Queer rep that was prevalent through the story, getting little snippets of culture and traditions was so fun; and I also liked how both Liyah and Daniel had their own individual outlooks being two Jewish POC. While there are multiple sensitive topics including grief, trauma, and sexual assault, it was handled very well in my opinion. I loved how open and honest the characters were with themselves and each other, it felt so very real and tender. I will say the only thing I could do without is the infamous third-act breakup; I am not a fan and that was the case here as well. The saving grace was the ultimate progression of Liyah and Daniels' relationship, it was fleshed out so well! Seeing Liyah slowly open up and forgive Daniel for their past and become friends, to them slowly realizing they wanted to be more; it was amazing watching their relationship unfold and evolve. Overall, Thank You for Sharing is a beautiful, heartfelt story full of love and hope between two people learning to lean on each other and grow in the process.
~Many thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Runya Katz for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review!
I cannot sing this book's praise enough, I loved how beautifully raw it was! It was so delightfully refreshing, everything was done with care and thought out so well; from the characters to the topics discussed. I loved the Jewish and Queer rep that was prevalent through the story, getting little snippets of culture and traditions was so fun; and I also liked how both Liyah and Daniel had their own individual outlooks being two Jewish POC. While there are multiple sensitive topics including grief, trauma, and sexual assault, it was handled very well in my opinion. I loved how open and honest the characters were with themselves and each other, it felt so very real and tender. I will say the only thing I could do without is the infamous third-act breakup; I am not a fan and that was the case here as well. The saving grace was the ultimate progression of Liyah and Daniels' relationship, it was fleshed out so well! Seeing Liyah slowly open up and forgive Daniel for their past and become friends, to them slowly realizing they wanted to be more; it was amazing watching their relationship unfold and evolve. Overall, Thank You for Sharing is a beautiful, heartfelt story full of love and hope between two people learning to lean on each other and grow in the process.
~Many thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Runya Katz for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review!
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February 13, 2024Contemporary romance about a Black Jewish woman and a Korean Jewish man (both mixed race) reunited many years after a summer camp romance went wrong. This is, weirdly, the second US Jewish 'summer camp romance went wrong, characters still seething with resentment decades later' romance I have read. Is this a thing?
Liyah's summer camp resentment kicks off an 'enemies to lovers' framing that for me didn't quite fit the characters/situation. Liyah is prickly, defensive, and deeply scarred after a bad college experience (dealt with extremely well, both by Daniel and by the author.) But Daniel didn't do anything wrong at 13, and is now kind, courteous, loving, giving and generally contorts himself to make Liyah happy throughout, which means that Liyah's ongoing hostility kind of feels like it's for the sake of the trope, and makes her seem pretty unreasonable. (Props to the supportive best friend who actually calls her out eventually.) Daniel is a really lovely, vulnerable, caring hero, and Liyah has many moments of being a marvellous heroine, and there's a terrific and diverse supporting cast as well as the strong Jewish feel. I guess I'm saying the author could have trusted the characters to stand alone: they're strong enough.
A strong and enjoyable debut overall. Could have done without the casual 'you're Irish, your grandfather was in the IRA' comment (??), and the present tense added nothing for me to make up for its awkwardness, but it so rarely does.
Liyah's summer camp resentment kicks off an 'enemies to lovers' framing that for me didn't quite fit the characters/situation. Liyah is prickly, defensive, and deeply scarred after a bad college experience (dealt with extremely well, both by Daniel and by the author.) But Daniel didn't do anything wrong at 13, and is now kind, courteous, loving, giving and generally contorts himself to make Liyah happy throughout, which means that Liyah's ongoing hostility kind of feels like it's for the sake of the trope, and makes her seem pretty unreasonable. (Props to the supportive best friend who actually calls her out eventually.) Daniel is a really lovely, vulnerable, caring hero, and Liyah has many moments of being a marvellous heroine, and there's a terrific and diverse supporting cast as well as the strong Jewish feel. I guess I'm saying the author could have trusted the characters to stand alone: they're strong enough.
A strong and enjoyable debut overall. Could have done without the casual 'you're Irish, your grandfather was in the IRA' comment (??), and the present tense added nothing for me to make up for its awkwardness, but it so rarely does.
September 28, 2023
2⭐
Genre ~ romance
Setting ~ Chicago, Illinois
Publication date ~ September 12, 2023
Page Count ~ 343 (30 chapters + e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 0 minutes
Narrators ~ Raymond Lee, Tyla Collier
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ debut, childhood friends to enemies to adult lovers, he falls first, some steamage
Aliyah & Daniel went to camp together when they were kids. There was a misunderstanding one summer, she left camp and never spoke to him again. Flash forward 14 years and they are working on a project together.
I could not stand Aliyah at all. Well that's a small lie, I did like her ambitions to be a museum curator before she turns 30, but that's about it. She was really mean to Daniel, both before they started sleeping together and even during. Don't even get me started on the 3rd act bs. I can honestly say I was rooting for them not to get together.
Daniel was sweet and deserved better.
Overall this one was not for me, but I feel like it's a decent debut for the right audience. Aliyah was half Black and half Jewish and Daniel was half Asian and half Jewish and I felt the cultural aspects of the story was well written. Aliyah's bff, Neen, is trans and I thought they were a great edition. They were always honest with her and let her know when she was being ridiculous, which is a great bff in my opinion.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ romance
Setting ~ Chicago, Illinois
Publication date ~ September 12, 2023
Page Count ~ 343 (30 chapters + e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 0 minutes
Narrators ~ Raymond Lee, Tyla Collier
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ debut, childhood friends to enemies to adult lovers, he falls first, some steamage
Aliyah & Daniel went to camp together when they were kids. There was a misunderstanding one summer, she left camp and never spoke to him again. Flash forward 14 years and they are working on a project together.
I could not stand Aliyah at all. Well that's a small lie, I did like her ambitions to be a museum curator before she turns 30, but that's about it. She was really mean to Daniel, both before they started sleeping together and even during. Don't even get me started on the 3rd act bs. I can honestly say I was rooting for them not to get together.
Daniel was sweet and deserved better.
Overall this one was not for me, but I feel like it's a decent debut for the right audience. Aliyah was half Black and half Jewish and Daniel was half Asian and half Jewish and I felt the cultural aspects of the story was well written. Aliyah's bff, Neen, is trans and I thought they were a great edition. They were always honest with her and let her know when she was being ridiculous, which is a great bff in my opinion.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
September 12, 2023
What a modern day love story! In real life, people come into relationships with baggage, and working through your own as well as your partners can be challenging. 'Thank You For Sharing' follows both Liyah and Daniel as they do just that. What an amazing debut novel for Rachel Runya Katz.
March 1, 2023
Now that TYFS is available to more than just a tiny circle of my friends and publishing folks, I figure it’s time to do my little author review with content warnings!
This book is my love letter to found family, the second coming of age than happens in our late twenties, people who sometimes feel excluded from their own communities, and only one bed.
It is humorous, but also touches on some sensitive subjects [spoilers below]:
-Sexual assault (past/off page)
-Grief over parental death (past/off page)
I hope you enjoy spending time with these characters. They mean a whole lot to me.
This book is my love letter to found family, the second coming of age than happens in our late twenties, people who sometimes feel excluded from their own communities, and only one bed.
It is humorous, but also touches on some sensitive subjects [spoilers below]:
-Sexual assault (past/off page)
-Grief over parental death (past/off page)
I hope you enjoy spending time with these characters. They mean a whole lot to me.
April 4, 2024
Thank You For Sharing was a great second chance romance featuring two Jews of color, which made for a nice change of pace. Liyah Cohen-Jackson (short for Aliyah) is half black and half white. Daniel Rosenberg is half Korean and half white. They are both Jewish and were friends (and more) years ago at summer camp but fell out and haven’t seen each other since then (they are in their late 20s now).
Liyah has a hard time trusting people. First there was the issue with Daniel when they were 13, and then a bad experience during her first year at college. Both have her leery of romantic relationships. Luckily she has really good friends: Siobhan, a coworker at the Field Museum in Chicago and Neen, a friend from home.
Daniel never understood why Liyah was so mad at him (and I kind of sympathized with him; I thought it was one of the over-the-top things in this book). He’s grown into a wonderful, caring young man, who has experienced loss and is still grieving.
I was so happy to see them work their way back to being friends and more, sharing their experiences as Jews of color. (So sad to read about how they were treated when they ventured into a synagogue, but sad to also say that, from my own experience witnessing this sort thing, I’m not all that surprised.) Their customized holiday traditions were delightful (kimchi latkes!)
So this was a not-quite-enemies to friends to lovers story. The third act breakup was kind of awkward and a bit over-the-top, but it didn’t spoil the overall lovely story for me.
One of the highlights of the book was the wonderful friend group that formed organically and became a weekly Speakeasy Survival Club. They met for drinks at their favorite bar, took notes (“minutes”) and created rules. So much fun! Another highlight was Daniel’s adorable cat, Sweet Potato. All the behind-the-scenes stuff at the Field Museum was so interesting.
This was a debut novel and I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next book!
Note: The cover doesn’t really do anything for this book - it’s kind of blah. Too bad, because the novel is definitely not blah.
CW: grief, sexual trauma (past)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Liyah has a hard time trusting people. First there was the issue with Daniel when they were 13, and then a bad experience during her first year at college. Both have her leery of romantic relationships. Luckily she has really good friends: Siobhan, a coworker at the Field Museum in Chicago and Neen, a friend from home.
Daniel never understood why Liyah was so mad at him (and I kind of sympathized with him; I thought it was one of the over-the-top things in this book). He’s grown into a wonderful, caring young man, who has experienced loss and is still grieving.
I was so happy to see them work their way back to being friends and more, sharing their experiences as Jews of color. (So sad to read about how they were treated when they ventured into a synagogue, but sad to also say that, from my own experience witnessing this sort thing, I’m not all that surprised.) Their customized holiday traditions were delightful (kimchi latkes!)
So this was a not-quite-enemies to friends to lovers story. The third act breakup was kind of awkward and a bit over-the-top, but it didn’t spoil the overall lovely story for me.
One of the highlights of the book was the wonderful friend group that formed organically and became a weekly Speakeasy Survival Club. They met for drinks at their favorite bar, took notes (“minutes”) and created rules. So much fun! Another highlight was Daniel’s adorable cat, Sweet Potato. All the behind-the-scenes stuff at the Field Museum was so interesting.
This was a debut novel and I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next book!
Note: The cover doesn’t really do anything for this book - it’s kind of blah. Too bad, because the novel is definitely not blah.
CW: grief, sexual trauma (past)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2023
4⭐️
This was really a really cute forced proximity enemies to lovers romance!
This was really a really cute forced proximity enemies to lovers romance!
September 30, 2022
Liyah is a prickly heroine after my own heart. A woman who, upon the reader's first meeting with her, acts sort of like a feral cat--all hisses and warning growls and pre-emptive attacks. But like most quote-unquote "unlikeable" heroines, Liyah is this way because of her own past trauma and betrayals, and throughout the course of her developing relationship with Daniel, she learns to trust and let her formidably icy shell melt enough to let love in. And Daniel, of course, is our loveable cinnamon roll hero, with his sensitive, caring, also-wounded soul... and super hot bod covered in jellyfish tattoos.
Liyah and Daniel are thrown together in a temporary career-related plotline, which justifiably takes a backseat to the development of the romance between them. This part of the story serves as a vehicle to encourage closeness, and while the stakes are significant enough for us to care, they're never so high nor are the conflicts so dire that we can't relax into the parts that really shine: their blossoming romance and the developing friendships of their "found family"-style Survival Club (a casual Friday-night bar meet-up for a group of marginalized people who need a safe space to vent about career, life, and love frustrations, where we meet the secondary characters that come alive and feel as three-dimensional as our MCs). The survival club meetings serve as the comedic relief in a story that often touches on heart-wrenching topics, and the scenes (and sometimes shorthand meeting notes, each delivered by a different character) carry that responsibility with aplomb and had me laughing out loud.
And that past and current angst/trauma? It's handled gently and with maturity and realism. It's like angst-with-mittens-on. A tough-but-productive therapy session. And as the friendship slowly deepens between Liyah and Daniel, and that slooooowwww burn inevitably gives way to more, the endorphins keep the story's mood warm and fuzzy.
Speaking of that slow burn: can I just applaud this book for setting an absolute RECORD for finding ways to make our hero and heroine "platonically" sleep together as "friends" (I counted four separate instances of these two "friends" sharing a bed--or the equivalent thereof, once while trapped in a museum overnight in a snowstorm)? And check it: somehow NO funny business occurs despite the hero's convenient shirtlessness and tensions running HIGH. When I say "slow burn" I really mean it!!!
But you know what? It feels right. This story doesn't rush the relationship, and the pacing is perfect as it is. Even the epilogue feels unhurried and indulgent. The reader gets time to sit with the characters and revel in the feelz. It's character-driven romance at its finest.
This is a funny, gentle, friends-to-lovers story that lingers in the quiet moments and lets the reader bathe in the romance that burns slow--but oh-so-hot. A perfect read to escape into on a rainy day and be bear-hugged in your feelings places... even if you, like hesitantly thawing heroine Liyah, insist you don't have them.
Liyah and Daniel are thrown together in a temporary career-related plotline, which justifiably takes a backseat to the development of the romance between them. This part of the story serves as a vehicle to encourage closeness, and while the stakes are significant enough for us to care, they're never so high nor are the conflicts so dire that we can't relax into the parts that really shine: their blossoming romance and the developing friendships of their "found family"-style Survival Club (a casual Friday-night bar meet-up for a group of marginalized people who need a safe space to vent about career, life, and love frustrations, where we meet the secondary characters that come alive and feel as three-dimensional as our MCs). The survival club meetings serve as the comedic relief in a story that often touches on heart-wrenching topics, and the scenes (and sometimes shorthand meeting notes, each delivered by a different character) carry that responsibility with aplomb and had me laughing out loud.
And that past and current angst/trauma? It's handled gently and with maturity and realism. It's like angst-with-mittens-on. A tough-but-productive therapy session. And as the friendship slowly deepens between Liyah and Daniel, and that slooooowwww burn inevitably gives way to more, the endorphins keep the story's mood warm and fuzzy.
Speaking of that slow burn: can I just applaud this book for setting an absolute RECORD for finding ways to make our hero and heroine "platonically" sleep together as "friends" (I counted four separate instances of these two "friends" sharing a bed--or the equivalent thereof, once while trapped in a museum overnight in a snowstorm)? And check it: somehow NO funny business occurs despite the hero's convenient shirtlessness and tensions running HIGH. When I say "slow burn" I really mean it!!!
But you know what? It feels right. This story doesn't rush the relationship, and the pacing is perfect as it is. Even the epilogue feels unhurried and indulgent. The reader gets time to sit with the characters and revel in the feelz. It's character-driven romance at its finest.
This is a funny, gentle, friends-to-lovers story that lingers in the quiet moments and lets the reader bathe in the romance that burns slow--but oh-so-hot. A perfect read to escape into on a rainy day and be bear-hugged in your feelings places... even if you, like hesitantly thawing heroine Liyah, insist you don't have them.
September 20, 2023
All 2 stars are for Daniel, and Daniel alone
February 18, 2024
My heart at that ending!!!!
- she's grumpy 😡, he's sunshine 🌞
- Chicago setting ✨
- lots of cute banter/flirting
- estranged friends to friends with benefits to lovers
- Jewish poc rep!!!
- Neen is my favorite
Content warning: past sexual assault, death of a parent (mentioned), sexual content, racism (microaggressions), sexism
- she's grumpy 😡, he's sunshine 🌞
- Chicago setting ✨
- lots of cute banter/flirting
- estranged friends to friends with benefits to lovers
- Jewish poc rep!!!
- Neen is my favorite
Content warning: past sexual assault, death of a parent (mentioned), sexual content, racism (microaggressions), sexism
September 13, 2023
3.5 stars really
This one started out not great for me. I struggled to get through it, even with some of the really good parts to it. While the story itself was interesting, and the characters were likable for the most part, I just struggled for some reason moving through it quickly. I did really enjoy the little group meetings they had every Friday night and the funny “minutes” they took at each meeting. The banter and snarky conversations also kept me going throughout the story as well. Liyah’s experience her freshman year of college is very similar to what mine was, and actually I was pleasantly surprised to hear that her reaction/coping mechanism was also similar to how I think I dealt with my own experience.
I just strugged a lot I think with the back and forth of their issues about the other one not really being interested. I feel like how hateful Liyah was to Daniel was a little over the top for what it was about, especially after he apologized to her. Even with knowing what part of her trauma was, it still was a little more than I felt was necessary.
There was a lot of good to the story though, great humor, friends, situations, and I loved all the parts about Chicago and of course the Field Museum where I set one of the first novels I attempted to write myself. So I think if it sounds like one you’d be interested in, you should give it a try, but if it doesn’t, then you might pass for now and come back when you have more time to fit it in.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
This one started out not great for me. I struggled to get through it, even with some of the really good parts to it. While the story itself was interesting, and the characters were likable for the most part, I just struggled for some reason moving through it quickly. I did really enjoy the little group meetings they had every Friday night and the funny “minutes” they took at each meeting. The banter and snarky conversations also kept me going throughout the story as well. Liyah’s experience her freshman year of college is very similar to what mine was, and actually I was pleasantly surprised to hear that her reaction/coping mechanism was also similar to how I think I dealt with my own experience.
I just strugged a lot I think with the back and forth of their issues about the other one not really being interested. I feel like how hateful Liyah was to Daniel was a little over the top for what it was about, especially after he apologized to her. Even with knowing what part of her trauma was, it still was a little more than I felt was necessary.
There was a lot of good to the story though, great humor, friends, situations, and I loved all the parts about Chicago and of course the Field Museum where I set one of the first novels I attempted to write myself. So I think if it sounds like one you’d be interested in, you should give it a try, but if it doesn’t, then you might pass for now and come back when you have more time to fit it in.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
September 12, 2023
I am completely enamored with Daniel and Aliyah from Thank You for Sharing, a truly special debut.
Thank You for Sharing is a forced proximity, workplace romance between former childhood friends, Daniel Rosenberg, and Aliyah Cohen-Jackson.
“She’s hated him since they were kids. He’s missed her just as long.”
Watching Daniel and Aliyah evolve from ex-childhood best friends to workplace acquaintances to friends to lovers was a truly special journey. Thank You for Sharing is filled with sharp humor, witty banter, tenderness, and beautiful representation that will appeal to many readers. I laughed (so many times), I cried (twice) and had consistent butterflies while reading.
Aliyah is passionate, quick-witted and keeps her heart and feelings locked away after experiencing trauma (check TW). Daniel is compassionate, thoughtful, and patient; still grieving from the loss of his father a year earlier. TYFS is an emotional (and physical) slow burn; through a series of vulnerable shared moments, Daniel, and Aliyah work together to build trust, validation, and love. Each confession is handled with the utmost care and extreme gratitude from the listener. It is evident how sacred and important a moment it is for their budding relationship.
I truly loved everything about this book. Katz has created a cast of lovable characters, memorable humor and the sweetest love story. 100% this needs to be on your TBR!
SMP romance, thank you for sharing this wonderful book with me. I will be thinking about D&L for the longest time.
My 10 favorite things from TYFS
1. Sweet Potato
2. SUE’s furcula
3. Speakeasy Survival Club meeting minutes
4. Daniel (the softest MC) blushing & beaming
5. Aliyah’s sharp wit ((A man admitting he was wrong? In this economy? I’m in love)
6. An emotionally intimate one bed scene- the ticket
7. The representation
a. Aliyah is Bi, Black, and Jewish
b. Daniel is Korean and Jewish
8. Therapy positive- both MC’s attend therapy
9. Learning more about Jewish traditions and culture
10. An epilogue, 3 years later
Thank You for Sharing is a forced proximity, workplace romance between former childhood friends, Daniel Rosenberg, and Aliyah Cohen-Jackson.
“She’s hated him since they were kids. He’s missed her just as long.”
Watching Daniel and Aliyah evolve from ex-childhood best friends to workplace acquaintances to friends to lovers was a truly special journey. Thank You for Sharing is filled with sharp humor, witty banter, tenderness, and beautiful representation that will appeal to many readers. I laughed (so many times), I cried (twice) and had consistent butterflies while reading.
Aliyah is passionate, quick-witted and keeps her heart and feelings locked away after experiencing trauma (check TW). Daniel is compassionate, thoughtful, and patient; still grieving from the loss of his father a year earlier. TYFS is an emotional (and physical) slow burn; through a series of vulnerable shared moments, Daniel, and Aliyah work together to build trust, validation, and love. Each confession is handled with the utmost care and extreme gratitude from the listener. It is evident how sacred and important a moment it is for their budding relationship.
I truly loved everything about this book. Katz has created a cast of lovable characters, memorable humor and the sweetest love story. 100% this needs to be on your TBR!
SMP romance, thank you for sharing this wonderful book with me. I will be thinking about D&L for the longest time.
My 10 favorite things from TYFS
1. Sweet Potato
2. SUE’s furcula
3. Speakeasy Survival Club meeting minutes
4. Daniel (the softest MC) blushing & beaming
5. Aliyah’s sharp wit ((A man admitting he was wrong? In this economy? I’m in love)
6. An emotionally intimate one bed scene- the ticket
7. The representation
a. Aliyah is Bi, Black, and Jewish
b. Daniel is Korean and Jewish
8. Therapy positive- both MC’s attend therapy
9. Learning more about Jewish traditions and culture
10. An epilogue, 3 years later
September 10, 2023
This was such a heartfelt, layered debut full of emotional depth!! Maybe my new favorite trope, this book sees childhood friends, Daniel and Liyah, turn enemies, reunite years later when forced together for work and eventually becoming friends again and later lovers.
With a unique shared experience being Jews of color, Korean American Daniel and African American Liyah, bonded at summer camp, only to have Daniel blow things up after their first kiss. Still bitter, Liyah holds a grudge from the past and resents having to work with Daniel on a campaign to help promote the Chicago museum where she works.
I really enjoyed that this was a slow burn where we really see the relationship between Daniel and Liyah grow organically. They each have emotional baggage to work though, Liyah, especially is still trying to get over sexual trauma (rape) from her time in college and Daniel recently lost his father. The therapy rep and found family in this book was top notch!!
Great on audio narrated by Raymond Lee and Tyla Collier, this marks a new author to watch for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
With a unique shared experience being Jews of color, Korean American Daniel and African American Liyah, bonded at summer camp, only to have Daniel blow things up after their first kiss. Still bitter, Liyah holds a grudge from the past and resents having to work with Daniel on a campaign to help promote the Chicago museum where she works.
I really enjoyed that this was a slow burn where we really see the relationship between Daniel and Liyah grow organically. They each have emotional baggage to work though, Liyah, especially is still trying to get over sexual trauma (rape) from her time in college and Daniel recently lost his father. The therapy rep and found family in this book was top notch!!
Great on audio narrated by Raymond Lee and Tyla Collier, this marks a new author to watch for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
June 3, 2023
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 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.
May 5, 2023
DNF @ 13%, I did not vibe with the way this book is written at all. Just something about the writing style really prevented me from engaging in this book, also I don't like the FMC. She is (justifiable) in some of her anger given the deep history racial/religious/gender inequality against her, but at some points it gets a little overwhelming. The MMC seems like a pushover and a simp, and overall way too vanilla and boring. It was really hard to care about this relationship
October 20, 2023
knew i could trust a man who has a cat
September 21, 2023
The title of the book is intriguing and I really love the cover photo. It is kind of cute and I feel a little cozy looking at it.
This book has been a very cozy read for me. It is a rollercoaster ride of so many emotions and each of the emotions have been portrayed so well by the characters. The author with her flawless writing skills has captivated my heart through this story. The plot has been written really well and the Storytelling is fantastic. The twists and turns have been mentioned in a very engaging manner that you will definitely enjoy reading.
I am going to recommend this book to all the Sweet Contemporary Romance lovers. You must grab your copy and read this book. It is a treat to read while drinking coffee.
This book has been a very cozy read for me. It is a rollercoaster ride of so many emotions and each of the emotions have been portrayed so well by the characters. The author with her flawless writing skills has captivated my heart through this story. The plot has been written really well and the Storytelling is fantastic. The twists and turns have been mentioned in a very engaging manner that you will definitely enjoy reading.
I am going to recommend this book to all the Sweet Contemporary Romance lovers. You must grab your copy and read this book. It is a treat to read while drinking coffee.
October 15, 2023
I really, really enjoyed this book! It is absolutely steeped in Jewish culture and customs and there are incredible conversations about being biracial, about misogyny, about sexual assault and grief and falling in love.
I absolutely loved the give and take between Liyah and Daniel, though I would have loved a little more chemistry between them. The banter was there, it just didn’t send me the way I would have liked!
Highly, highly recommend!
I absolutely loved the give and take between Liyah and Daniel, though I would have loved a little more chemistry between them. The banter was there, it just didn’t send me the way I would have liked!
Highly, highly recommend!
August 30, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up. Thank You for Sharing is a wonderfully Jewish story, even when the main characters (both Jews of color) aren't talking or even thinking about their Judaism.
Liyah and Daniel have a meet-disaster almost a decade and a half after a romantic-turned-disaster summer at camp (I generally don't like when characters are hung up on their childhood camp romance, but for reasons that are shared later in the book, it made more sense than this plot line often does). When work pushes them together, they start spending more and more time together on and off the clock.
This wasn't so much grumpy/sunshine as prickly (Liyah)/soft (Daniel), and I loved it. Daniel was a big soft cinnamon roll, and he was able to perceive what Liyah needed and be that for her, even when she was reluctant to admit it.
CW: grief due to loss of parent -- Everyone's experience with grief is different, but there are so many elements of Daniel's experience of losing a parent in your 20s that just felt so spot-on. There's an early scene in the book where Liyah and Daniel agree to go to Yom Kippur services together, as a middle finger to people who see Jews who aren't White show up to synagogue and ask them if they're lost. As the yizkor (memorial) service starts, Liyah asks Daniel if he wants to leave, as some people have a custom of not staying in that service if their parents are still alive. Daniel is flustered, mumbling and giving non-answers about why he's not getting up, and when Liyah realizes what's happened, she feels awful. I read this scene, and must have screamed at how real it felt. Daniel's awkwardness in his own position, his awkwardness for how him staying for yizkor put Liyah in an uncomfortable position (even though he shouldn't have to think about that), and the emotions that come with the first yizkor after someone dies. There were so many other moments, big and small, where Daniel's experience and feelings and how he handles them were so raw and emotional in a way that's rarely represented in books, and it certainly made me feel seen.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of Thank You For Sharing in exchange for my honest review.
Liyah and Daniel have a meet-disaster almost a decade and a half after a romantic-turned-disaster summer at camp (I generally don't like when characters are hung up on their childhood camp romance, but for reasons that are shared later in the book, it made more sense than this plot line often does). When work pushes them together, they start spending more and more time together on and off the clock.
This wasn't so much grumpy/sunshine as prickly (Liyah)/soft (Daniel), and I loved it. Daniel was a big soft cinnamon roll, and he was able to perceive what Liyah needed and be that for her, even when she was reluctant to admit it.
CW: grief due to loss of parent -- Everyone's experience with grief is different, but there are so many elements of Daniel's experience of losing a parent in your 20s that just felt so spot-on. There's an early scene in the book where Liyah and Daniel agree to go to Yom Kippur services together, as a middle finger to people who see Jews who aren't White show up to synagogue and ask them if they're lost. As the yizkor (memorial) service starts, Liyah asks Daniel if he wants to leave, as some people have a custom of not staying in that service if their parents are still alive. Daniel is flustered, mumbling and giving non-answers about why he's not getting up, and when Liyah realizes what's happened, she feels awful. I read this scene, and must have screamed at how real it felt. Daniel's awkwardness in his own position, his awkwardness for how him staying for yizkor put Liyah in an uncomfortable position (even though he shouldn't have to think about that), and the emotions that come with the first yizkor after someone dies. There were so many other moments, big and small, where Daniel's experience and feelings and how he handles them were so raw and emotional in a way that's rarely represented in books, and it certainly made me feel seen.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of Thank You For Sharing in exchange for my honest review.
November 19, 2023
Aliyah is so mean for no reason
August 29, 2023
I know it's bad, but based on the cover, I didn't have the highest expectations for this. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it just didn't appeal to me very much. So I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this! This book is so fun - I loved the awkwardness that occured a lot of the time, and I especially loved the budding friend group, joining for Survival Club and even taking notes of their meetings. Both the MC and LI are Jewish people of colour, and this is something that connects them. I thought this was great to see, especially since I don't think I've seen this representation in books often before. It's also a queer book, since the MC is bisexual!
April 26, 2024
DNF @ 150 pages in. sorry, but i just have ZERO interest in ever picking up this book again, it's a bit too boring!!
April 8, 2024
Maybe rounding this up from 4 stars just because it was both quite cute and charming and handled some rocky topics from the two main characters pretty well, and because I mostly read it on a trip from the Bay Area to Chicago. Lots of good themes covered, classic romance tropes done pretty well, and I’d say just one misstep for me in the book. I enjoyed the perspectives on Judaism.
April 18, 2023
This was such a thoughtful and layered read, with a dual POV deftly employed to tell the story of two twenty-somethings sorting out life as young Chicago adults while falling love. Daniel has loved Liyah since they were at summer camp as thirteen-year-olds. Liyah has been holding a grudge against Daniel for just as long. When the two are partnered up on a months-long work project, defences come down, they turn to each other for much needed support, and they begin a friends-with-benefits relationship that's a slim disguise for love. While the romance is center stage, Katz also weaves in nuanced subplots about the lingering impacts of grief and assault, and how those life experiences shape who we become and how we relate to others. I loved the Chicago setting after so many years of calling the city home, especially the use of the Field Museum, where I did one of my most memorable freelance projects. I also appreciated that while there's plenty of lust in the book, the relationship goes well beyond physical attraction, diving deeper into the ways each main character grows with the support, encouragement, and sometimes even simple presence of the other. The friendships are also fabulous, balancing out the central cast of characters with the kinds of people we all need by our sides, the ones who challenge us to be better when we make mistakes, but who never stop wanting the best for us. The title is perfect, the dialogue sharp, the romance a fantastic blend of swoony, steamy, and sweet. I really enjoyed this one, and I look forward to seeing what Katz follows up with in years to come.
April 17, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I always love to see Jewish romances! Thank you to Rachel Runya Katz for sharing (haha) this one. I definitely appreciated having dual POV for this book, as I felt like I got to know both characters very well. Oftentimes, I’ll finish a romance book and find I know next to nothing about the love interest, so I’m glad that didn’t happen here. I generally liked both Liyah and Daniel as characters, and I also thought they clearly had good chemistry. I also thought they had a good introduction scene (even if the secondhand embarrassment was real) and I liked the plot reason for why they had to keep seeing one another. There were a couple aspects of the book that were things I personally didn’t enjoy. I would have liked MORE of a plot, as sometimes I felt a bit bored with the storyline. I also thought that Liyah’s character development was slow for a while and then seemed to happen very quickly. The pacing just felt a bit off to me. I was also surprised that some reviewers called this a slow burn, when it didn’t seem like one to me. I’ll also say it takes a while for the main characters to properly get together, but they did at least get involved with each relatively early on in the book. I will say that the love confession was good. It got a gasp out of me! I’d say that overall the book is a solid 3.5 stars, but I admit that some of my reasons for taking it below 4 stars are because of personal preference. I hope I get to read future books from Rachel Runya Katz!
I always love to see Jewish romances! Thank you to Rachel Runya Katz for sharing (haha) this one. I definitely appreciated having dual POV for this book, as I felt like I got to know both characters very well. Oftentimes, I’ll finish a romance book and find I know next to nothing about the love interest, so I’m glad that didn’t happen here. I generally liked both Liyah and Daniel as characters, and I also thought they clearly had good chemistry. I also thought they had a good introduction scene (even if the secondhand embarrassment was real) and I liked the plot reason for why they had to keep seeing one another. There were a couple aspects of the book that were things I personally didn’t enjoy. I would have liked MORE of a plot, as sometimes I felt a bit bored with the storyline. I also thought that Liyah’s character development was slow for a while and then seemed to happen very quickly. The pacing just felt a bit off to me. I was also surprised that some reviewers called this a slow burn, when it didn’t seem like one to me. I’ll also say it takes a while for the main characters to properly get together, but they did at least get involved with each relatively early on in the book. I will say that the love confession was good. It got a gasp out of me! I’d say that overall the book is a solid 3.5 stars, but I admit that some of my reasons for taking it below 4 stars are because of personal preference. I hope I get to read future books from Rachel Runya Katz!
October 15, 2023
The last 20% were so aggravating and frustrating to listen to, it made me consider rating this 1 star even. Nonethelss, this isn't a bad novel per se...
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 either, 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.
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 either, 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.
September 3, 2023
3.75 ☆
this was a really solid debut novel! there are a ton of great things to highlight - biracial main characters, Jewish rep, pro therapy, a cat named sweet potato!
the romance developed gradually between liyah and daniel as they reunite 15 years later as co-workers. they slowly become friends again, reconciling their past before getting involved with one another romantically (a bit of a slow burner). it really gives them a chance to catch up and build their trust in one another, especially since Jewish camp 15 years ago didn't go the way either of them wanted. daniel is incredibly kind, understanding and is very much so in love with liyah. it takes liyah a bit longer to get around this, which is understandable as we see from her past relationship history, but that never deters daniel in his efforts to support and be there for her.
the third act conflict wasn't needed imo and liyah's response/reaction to certain things annoyed me, which is ultimately why this is 3.75. nonetheless, a great debut!
thank you st. martins press for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was a really solid debut novel! there are a ton of great things to highlight - biracial main characters, Jewish rep, pro therapy, a cat named sweet potato!
the romance developed gradually between liyah and daniel as they reunite 15 years later as co-workers. they slowly become friends again, reconciling their past before getting involved with one another romantically (a bit of a slow burner). it really gives them a chance to catch up and build their trust in one another, especially since Jewish camp 15 years ago didn't go the way either of them wanted. daniel is incredibly kind, understanding and is very much so in love with liyah. it takes liyah a bit longer to get around this, which is understandable as we see from her past relationship history, but that never deters daniel in his efforts to support and be there for her.
the third act conflict wasn't needed imo and liyah's response/reaction to certain things annoyed me, which is ultimately why this is 3.75. nonetheless, a great debut!
thank you st. martins press for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 16, 2023
I was always going to pick up a new romance featuring queer Jews of color, and on that front I very much enjoyed how familiar this book felt. Overall it was...okay. I think the story had a lot of potential but ultimately it felt unbalanced in terms of tone. I'd be reading a fun romcom with banter and wit, and then get hit with heavy emotional content seemingly out of nowhere, then back to the lighthearted romcom vibes. A lot of potential emotional depth was left sort of dangling without ever really growing into something that had believable impact on the story. Maybe with some stronger editing or more experience they could have been woven together better because I know it's the kind of thing that can be done.
Also, Daniel completely steals the show and must be protected at all costs. In fact I'd consider dating men again if I could be guaranteed to get a Daniel.
Overall rating: 3
Hannah Angst Scale rating: 1.5
Content notes: since I buddy read this with Leigh, I feel it's only fitting to [yet again] lean on her for the thorough list in her review
Also, Daniel completely steals the show and must be protected at all costs. In fact I'd consider dating men again if I could be guaranteed to get a Daniel.
Overall rating: 3
Hannah Angst Scale rating: 1.5
Content notes: since I buddy read this with Leigh, I feel it's only fitting to [yet again] lean on her for the thorough list in her review
May 30, 2023
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.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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