When You're Ready

A Love Story

By: Kareem Rosser

Narrated by: Kareem Rosser

This unforgettable and “beautifully written” (The Seattle Times) memoir explores first love, unthinkable loss, and the toll of grief.

Kareem Rosser and Lee Lee Jones were young, beautiful, and deeply in love. Their love was a real-world romance that felt like a fairy tale: Kareem was raised in the Bottom—one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Philadelphia—while Lee Lee was raised in the wealth of the Pennsylvania suburbs. The world was at their feet, a lifetime of joy and adventure ahead of them. But their love story was interrupted by a devastating accident, which almost cost Lee Lee her life, and destroyed every plan and dream that Lee Lee and Kareem had made together.

In the months and years that follow, while Lee Lee struggles to heal, Kareem is crippled by ambiguous grief, for the woman that he loves and for the future he imagined for them both. In the space between debilitating depression and bursts of anxiety, he’s forced to finally face his demons: his tumultuous childhood, his latent mental health issues, the murders of his older brother and his best friend, and a life constantly lived in the grip of panic and fear.

“Relatable, powerful, and transformative” (Booklist, starred review), When You’re Readyis a narrative that honors love in all its forms: first love, parental love, renewed love, and, most importantly, self-love. With notes on unresolved loss and second chances, it’s a story that will grab you by the heartstrings and uplift your soul.

Amazing story

Hearing Kareem narrate this incredible story was very moving and so sad. His honestly in sharing the pain and trauma of loosing so much gripped my heart. The Jones family, allowing this story to be told, have granted an intimate look into the world they inhabit and the world they are living in taking care of a disabled child.

Excellent story of people I know!!

Such a heartwarming story of people finding true love and learning how to keep it.

True Love is Never Static

Very talented young author sharing personal tragedy and triumph in a way we can all relate to. I’m glad I listened to his narration as I could feel the emotion more profoundly. Highly recommend this to everyone.

Beautiful, raw, and real

Kareem tells the story of his love in such a honest, transparent, and engaging way. It is a beautiful tribute to the girl he loves while sharing how he coped, grieved, adapted, and healed when she suffered a life changing accident. I would give it more stars if I could. Kareem is an incredibly gifted author. This is the second book of his that I have listened to and both are exceptional!

An honest and touching true story about love, tragedy, loss, healing and happiness.

This book will take you on a journey of true love and how it can take many forms. Kareem is brutally, honest and open about his feelings, stemming from childhood to adulthood and when life throws unimaginable tragedy, it’s OK to ask for help. This is a truly beautiful story.