Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
You've Got Mail gets an update in this quirky romance from Katz (Thank You for Sharing). High school librarian Yael lives a second life as podcaster Elle, host of The Sophomore English Agenda, where she shares snarky opinions about the books most commonly on school curricula. She keeps both personas strictly separate to protect her career. When the podcast takes off and becomes more work than she can handle solo, a friend connects her with a podcast editor she introduces as Kevin over email. The pair agree to work together and quickly develop a flirtatious online relationship. Meanwhile offline, Yael clashes with her roommate's hookup Ravi, whom she meets when he attempts to sneak out through Yael's bedroom window. The pair are thrown back together when Ravi volunteers with Yael's after-school LGBTQ+ book club. Her relationships with both men develop in surprising ways--but the biggest surprise of all comes when she learns they're one and the same. Katz makes the familiar setup a lot of fun with witty banter and a refreshingly diverse cast. This flirty contemporary is sure to warm hearts. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Yael and Ravi--aliases Elle and Kevin, respectively--are online-only collaborators on "Elle's" podcast. In real life, Yael is a high school librarian who needs volunteers to chaperone her after-school queer book club for students. Ravi once ran out on Yael's best friend, but he's the only volunteer, so she resolves to keep her guard up around him. "Elle" and "Kevin" get closer as Yael and Ravi fight their immediate attraction with witty barbs. When they figure out each other's real identities, can they withstand the collapse of their two worlds? Katz (Whenever You're Ready) continues her streak of character-focused, naturalistic queer romance, in which the protagonists grow by finally getting out of their own way. Narrators Nixon and Katon-Donegal transport listeners beautifully, though some flubs in the final edit keep the audiobook from attaining perfection, including Nixon's Trinidadian accent occasionally slipping when doing multiple voices in a scene and Katon-Donegal's whispering being so quiet as to cause frantic volume shifting by listeners. VERDICT A gorgeous, queer-centric romance about adult friendships, acceptance, and vulnerability, recommended for every collection.--Katherine Sleyko
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A podcast host falls in love with her producer via email, only to discover she knows (and despises) him in real life. When Yael Koenig startedThe Sophomore English Agenda podcast under the pseudonym Elle Rex, she never imagined that a show discussing high school reading would get more than a handful of listeners. But practically overnight, her secret podcast amassed a major following, and it's more than she can handle on top of her day job as a public school librarian in Portland, Oregon. Her roommate, Charlie, and best friend, Sanaa, insist Yael needs help, so she hires a New York--based editor named Kevin Kisson to produce and edit her show. Immediately, the two strike up an email friendship; soon, she can't get enough of their funny, vulnerable, sometimes flirty banter, which offers her solace amid personal and workplace stress. The latest drama? Yael's new volunteer for her after-school queer book club is Charlie's one-night stand, Ravi…whom she caught sneaking out the window post hookup. Little does she know that Ravi the jerk is actually Kevin Ravi Kisson. At book club, Yael and Ravi can barely contain their dislike for one another, but after hours, the tension between them starts to sizzle. Online, Elle and Kevin have decided to keep things professional, even though it's obvious they like each other, maybe even love. What happens when they find out each other's real identities? Can the real Yael and Ravi be as open in person, without a screen making hard things easier to say? Katz's third novel is an expressive, modern take on classic "meet-disasters" likeYou've Got Mail, with characters who are refreshingly communicative and vulnerable. Both leads are queer people of color--Yael is Black and Jewish and Ravi is Trinidadian--and the author artfully explores their complex relationships with family, friends, and partners. Another highlight is Yael's tongue-in-cheek podcast episode list, which Katz offers a snippet from after the epilogue. This enemies-to-lovers romance has all the winning ingredients: compassion, spice, comedy, books, and more. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
