A review by talknerdybookblog
When You're Ready by J.L. Berg

emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Kind of has OW/OM drama
– the Heroine is grieving her deceased husband and is attempting to reconcile moving on romantically
– the Hero attempts to distract himself with an ONS after meeting the Heroine – thinking he's incapable of love – but is unable to go through with the ONS because he can't stop thinking about the Heroine
– the MCs are briefly confronted with one of the Hero's ex-flings
– the Hero also got a divorce from his wife – who is still part of his friend group – a bit more than a year before the book starts
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• No separation


Possible Triggers: Yes

• Heroine's husband died from cancer
• Grief
• Hero is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer towards the end of the book


Ending:
the Epilogue shows that the book is a HEA