When Millie gets called back the gynecologist, she just figures there is a glitch in the test from her last appointment. It happens all the time. Her annual examination had gone well. She assured her best friend, Lisa, that it was no big deal. That she needn’t come with her when there was so much packing to do for her upcoming cruise. But then Dr. Tremarchi pre-empts the bad news with what he must believe to be the positive perspective: "Look on the bright side, Millicent; at least you don't have cancer." The diagnosis: BRCA-1 Mutation. With Millie’s health history, she was not surprised to learn that she was pre-destined to die like her mother and her grandmother had. She just believed there would be more time. As the shock begins to wear off, Millie does the only thing she can think of doing. A double mastectomy and complete hysterectomy before her thirtieth birthday should guard against any possibility of cancer. With the unexpected support of a student’s “Hot British Dad” and a compassionate group of Previvors, Millie is able to conquer the horrors of living with her noncancerous condition.

Ready for Whatever: The UnBRCAble Women Series, #1 by Kathryn R. Biel is a fast-paced, fun read about the frightening reality of breast cancer. Author Kathryn Biel has obviously researched her subject well in order to confidently and convincingly address it with appropriate humor and a realistic narrative. The idea of cancer “previvors” is not a new topic, but also one not often publicly addressed. The preventive measures taken by the main character brings awareness to a situation most recently publicized by such well-known personalities as Angelina Jolie. I applaud Kathryn R. Biel and am anxious to read more of her compelling fiction.

Not enough is discussed about the struggle, pain, and heartbreak of a previvor. Kathryn R. Biel has changed this in Ready for Whatever: The UnBRCAble Women Series Book 1. Since Millie's mother and grandmother both died of cancer, her doctor decided to schedule a routine checkup to see how Millie's body was doing. This was supposed to be just a cautionary checkup; however, her report revealed that she had BRCA -1 gene mutation. This diagnosis meant that she would have an 80% chance of developing breast cancer and up to a 70% chance of getting ovarian cancer. Keeping that in mind, the doctor recommended she go through a hysterectomy, mastectomy, and reconstruction. These medical terms, in short, meant that she would lose her real breasts and her ability to conceive. As she was only 29 years old, this news really turned Millie's world upside down. She turned to the support of her best friend, Lisa, who kept cracking jokes on her situation. These comments infuriated her, but she chose not to express her feelings. When the father of one of her students, Sterling, approached her with no judgment and offered any help that she might need, she couldn't help but be attracted to him. Although he seemed like the perfect guy, how could she open herself up after the loss that these surgeries entailed?

Ready for Whatever talks about a very sensitive issue in a light tone that enhances the reading experience. One would expect the tone of such a book to be sad, but the author has surprised her readers by keeping Millie's dialogues full of wit and humor. This is not to say that she has depreciated the whole situation; on the contrary, she has revealed all the traumatic and hard facts that a person in this situation goes through. Lisa is Millie's best friend, yet she fails to be considerate towards her friend's needs. Instead of offering a shoulder to Millie, she was a real jerk about it. The execution of the story is perfect. The plot moves at a steady speed towards the end. The perfect audience for Ready for Whatever would consist of previvors, their families, and people who wish to know about the emotional rollercoaster that previvors go through. I am eternally grateful to the author for helping me learn more about the ways I can help a previvor.