Thankful to have received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first "Christian" novel and I did not really know what to expect,

Kayla has been pining for Ben since their first class and her crush only deepens with time. By a stroke of luck, he happens to be at the same party, emotions run high and they have a one night stand and amicably part ways. Expect for Kayla, that one night changes her entire life. when she learns that she is pregnant. She is forced to search Ben out and tell him the truth.

Ben is under some serious pressure to pass the LSAT's to gain entry into law school, please his parents and his on and off again girlfriend Darcy. He is a victim of circumstances as he is forced to bear the burden of family expectations especially with their past in their town.

Their navigation of the realities of pregnancy at a young age, without a relationship and definitely outside of marriage is definitely interesting. The dynamics and differences of their family life enhanced the novel and definitely proved to me that one can rise above the expectations of their family. It was interesting to note the reactions of both parents and how they coped with the situations.

There was a definite underlying "God has a plan" theme throughout the novel and the strength in believing. Overall, it was a pleasant read with a nice message.

Just finished this one this morning. When Ben and Kayla find themselves expecting a baby following a hookup, they have big decisions to make. They weren’t dating at the time of the hookup—in fact, Ben had a girlfriend, albeit a really awful one—but they’d both been harboring romantic feelings toward one another for a long time. This was a romantic, uplifting read and I enjoyed it. Faith in God is a big part of the story, and it was interesting to watch the characters deal with the unexpected consequences of their decision while still remaining true to their faith. The ending was a little predictable, yes, but what contemporary romance isn’t predictable? There’s a formula—no pun intended—for these types of stories for a reason. The important thing is how the author gets us there, and the author told a great story that kept me engaged and left me feeling positive in these uncertain times.

There really isn’t much to say about this book in either direction. It wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t good. It’s just kind of... there.

It has religious undertones and personally I don’t care for that. Everybody is free to have their faith, but I think that made this book have a lot of unrealistic choices made. It didn’t feel like these were struggles normal people (even those with strong religious beliefs) would make.

The overall writing style was good and I did enjoy reading some moments of character growth.

I can’t say it’s a bad book, just probably not a book for me.

I do appreciate the ARC from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

-Stone.

Life isn't perfect, and the choices we make have consequences, some good and some bad.

Two college students spend one night together and have to maneuver the aftermath.

Ben and Kayla are young and have their whole lives ahead of them. Their dreams of career and the expectations of their parents are set aside to pursue an unexpected journey.

I think the characters could have had a bit more depth, it is a more appropriate read for college age students in the struggles they face. Some sexual references were made.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a story about two college students who find themselves pregnant after a one-night stand. The pregnancy was handled maturely by the characters, which I really liked. This is a Christian Romance but it wasn’t heavily laced with religion. God was mentioned at the right moments, almost as if the conversation was happening in real life.

I enjoyed this read. If you like sweet romances, pick this book up. Thanks Netgalley for the read!

This was a cute story that was a fast read. The biggest downfall for me was not expecting how religious this book was. It wasn't a deal breaker for me but would have been nice to know ahead of time.

I thought the premise of this was really cute. I thought the story as a whole was a very cute, light read. I think the book would do better if it was more advertised for a religious audience. I personally didn't mind it but i didn't expect it.

Enjoyed this story which was nice and really cute. Just did not expect it would be this religious and have faith as such a backdrop. Not unpleasant, but that wasn't really my cup of tea

It’s a decent story. I liked it enough. But I found it to be too religious. Just not my thing. The preachiness was the stuff I didn’t like.

***** READER BEWARE: Christian religious rom-com*****

This is definitely a realistic book and a rom-com for sure BUT it is also a highly religious book, and all sorts of God are mentioned throughout. For me it wasn't completely off-putting because I am a huge fan of the religious Left Behind thriller series by TIm LaHaye. Obviously this is not a thriller...

Kayla hookups up with her secret crush Ben and ends up pregnant, and dreads telling her rich father. Do Ben and Kayla decide to have a real relationship? Will her father be peeved about an unplanned pregnancy while she is single? Will he make her give the baby up?

I was happy about the ending bur the characterization of Ben and Kayla were flat and boring. I found myself reading other titles on my shelf in lieu of this because I was getting bored. Overall, an ok believable story but I wasn't super excited about it.

Thank to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A sweet, quick read about two people whose lives are forever changed after one quick night together. They are not ready for what is about to come and they will need to figure out not only what they want, but how to navigate their parents expectations.

Cute book that was a fast read. Definitely one to pick up and was on a slow weekend. Cute story and good characters that get you lost in the story.

An ARC of this novel was sent to me by NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really am not a fan of this- it's the one night stand trope BUT they're both Christians. I didn't finish it halfway through the book because I cannot relate to it at all.

This was an interesting take on the one-night stand pregnancy trope. This one has a Christian twist to it, as the two main characters have strong faith and all characters are frequently talking about God's will in their situation. I know that there's a group of people who will claim that two young people who claim to be Christians would never get themselves into such a situation, but I will disagree. To me, this was a book that felt more realistic as far as the behavior of college students. We are not perfect humans and accidents will happen. It's how you handle them that makes the difference in life.

Both of these characters are under a lot of pressure from their parents about making all of the right decisions. Their families have high expectations of them. And now that this wrench has been thrown into their lives, those plans are on hold, or more likely being completely diverted. Relationships are completely strained and they are struggling to salvage what they can.

And speaking of relationships, Kayla and Ben really didn't have much of one before that fateful night. There was obviously some attraction, but then they didn't follow up with each other after that night because they were so busy. Now that they know they are going to be permanently connected, they are awkwardly navigating the getting-to-know you phase while kind of starting at the end and working backwards. That spark is there, but it is not a rushing heat. That heat already got them into trouble already, so they are really trying to take it slow. And for the sake of both them and the baby, you are rooting for them to work it out.

The biggest fireworks come from Ben's on-again-off-again betrothed girlfriend Darcy who is beyond angry that her own dreams of being a power couple have disappeared. She causes a lot of unnecessary drama that occasionally feels slightly out of place, and yet helps to fuel the honesty and bonding between the parents-to-be.

It's a story of reexamining your own personal morals and beliefs. It's about learning how to navigate the rocky waters of adulthood even before you think you're ready. It's about prioritizing relationships with people in your life. It's about remembering to be truthful and honest. And it's about learning how to love and to keep the faith.

I enjoyed reading this reading this book. It had just enough faith references to serve as a reminder to keep the faith, especially as we are in a very weird place in our world right now. But it wasn't preachy. So I think even others who are less religious may still find some value in this book. I gave it 3.5 stars overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Prism Book Tours for fulfilling my review request for this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I realllllyyyyy wanted to like this. Life is crazy and I was excited for the possibility of a cute fluff read that would fill me up with warm fuzzies. And my main thought when reading this was really? Let me explain. There will be spoilers in this review from here on out. 
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Okay so Kayla and Ben have a one night stand. Afterwards Ben does not call her or contact her. She finds out she is pregnant. She tells her friends, they are all shocked 😮 because omg premarital sex and a baby outside of wedlock...what year does this book take place in??? (At the end of the book, I discovered...2020 🤦🏽‍♀️) Shocker Kayla was a virgin. Ben is in basically an arranged relationship that is supposed to lead to marriage for reasons that are tragic but really doesn’t make sense because again 2020. His dad is aggressive and has a whole plan for Ben’s life laid out. His mom is basically a standard stereotypical SAHM (No shade, I am a SAHM I mean like the ones from old movies.) A baby DOES NOT fit into this plan. They are mad and make him choose.... look I don’t even want to rehash it. The fact is I couldn’t connect with these characters who have morals from the 50s but are living in 2020. It just seemed unrealistic. They are seniors in college. Every one is waiting til marriage??? this book felt like a book to scare teens and young adults from having sex. “If you have sex you will get pregnant and die.” I’m not recommending this one to my friends. Sorry 😐

Wow! This was such a great story and is definitely up near the top of my list of favorites. These two main characters were dealing with the consequences of their actions and did so in a manner that reflected a value for life and the understanding that their lives were going to change in a big way.

I loved the way this story progressed. There were some cringe-worthy moments involving Ben and his reluctance to completely open up about the past. These moments ended up bringing forth some true growth for both Ben and Kayla, in their relationship and even in their faith walks. I felt that the romance between these two built naturally, starting with two people who did not really know each other and were uncomfortable with the situation, to a couple who truly cared for each other and the life that was created between them. This story was very nicely done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Christy Hayes tackles a challenging, but relevant, subject in her latest New Adult release. Formula for a Perfect Life is about an unplanned pregnancy and the fallout that occurs for the two families whose lives will change.

As Ben and Kayla deal with the emotions of becoming parents, the decisions they have to make, and their friends’ and parents’ reactions, they learn about each other’s lives and revise their future plans.

Most of the book (all but the final chapter) takes place during Kayla’s pregnancy, and the first third is the mother- and father-to-be coming to terms with their new reality. And of course, there’s opposition from family and Ben’s ex-girlfriend to deal with.

Hayes includes some content that some Christian fiction readers may take offense with. There are the realistic temptations of two people who are attracted to each other and some harsh names used by Ben’s ex to describe the baby and Kayla at different times. But these are also true to this reader demographic.

What at first seems like a disaster, something that will destroy the plans laid out for Kayla and Ben, may just turn out to be a blessing these two never expected.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

How do you take a difficult subject, make it palatable, and then ensure your readers enjoy it? I mean, really! Did you read the synopsis? How much more contemptible could a guy be than to cheat on his girlfriend and get the "other" girl pregnant? Yet, with compassion and enough light-hearted moments to keep it out of the mire, author Christy Hayes created an enjoyable, moral-filled story in Formula for a Perfect Life.

Kayla was a Christian who knew better. Yet the night she spent with her long-time crush - the night he sought her out - her hormones took over her rational thought. Frightened and feeling alone, she was devastated when she found out that things were worse than she thought. Ben had a girlfriend! And didn't exactly take Kayla's news well.

Despite what you might think, I ended up liking Ben right away. Not because he was handsome or charismatic but because he seemed so lost. Sure, he slept with his girlfriend and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Sure, he didn't even love her. Yet seeing into his heart, I felt compassionate toward him and hoped he learned his lessons and made the right choices.

Ben's dysfunctional family was interesting - to say the least. The secret pain and guilt Ben carried had him seeking atonement by following the path his parents wanted him to.

I've read other stories about unplanned pregnancies before, so this was not a new theme. Yet I don't recall seeing so clearly the struggles of what to do about it as I did here. While only Ben and Kayla's thoughts were expressed, I could even understand why her parents reacted as they did and their suggestions. (Ben's dad - yeah, I didn't get him at all other than the grief he was wrapping himself up in like armor - but I did say he was dysfunctional, right?)

I was glad to see it made clear to Kayla, Ben, and those around them the consequences of making bad choices, even the result of being a bad example. They turned to God for help and were sorry for their sin. As in Maybe it’s You, however, the Christian message is subtle and not the predominant theme of the story.

While there were some raw, uncomfortable moments and some crude language used in a couple of places, it was momentary. I would have preferred they weren't there and yet won't stop reading this series because of them - they were mild. I found this to be less edgy than Maybe it’s You (which I was glad about!)

Formula for a Perfect Life stands alone though Kayla is one of Reagan's dorm mates from Maybe it’s You, and picks up where it left off. If you enjoy new adult fiction and don't mind reading of grittier moments, I recommend reading them in order.

Thank you again to #netgalley and #xpressotours for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Since I read the synopsis I was so intrigued about the story, It was an easy and sweet read and while I was reading it I found myself rooting for Ben and Kayla, I wish we had more of their relationship before the pregnancy because sometimes I didn't feel a real connection between them at the beginning. I love the two POV’s it gives me the whole picture of their real feelings and struggles which I’m a fan of.
Kayla’s friends are the best, there were so supportive and always been there for her.
The Christian undertones are so subtle, making the story easier to read to all the people who don’t read books with religious content.
My biggest “problem” was that sometimes we jump in time and we don’t know the details of how they got there making feel the story a little rushed.

This was my first Christy Hayes book and I’m so happy with the experience I’m gonna read more of her work.

I kindly received an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the plot and the characters of this book. The characters are shown to have different personalities, they do not all feel the same. Formula for a Perfect Life is about a girl in her last year of college who gets pregnant after a one-night stand.
I did have some issues with the book, though. The main issue I had was that the pacing felt strange. It felt too quick sometimes, and then way too slow at others. I did not enjoy reading most of the conversations between the characters, as all of the conversations felt basically the same, especially early on. There was also a bit of unnecessary drama thrown in about 80% through the book, but I will not spoil it.
This book gets 3 stars from me because it was a book that I somewhat enjoyed. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a Christian romance, one that isn’t that realistic at some points in the story.