🍼REVIEW🍼 Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I loved this book! It was sweet, funny, brought me to tears at times and was all around entertaining!
A delight from beginning to end. Gemma makes a New Years resolution to have a baby and decides to ask her brothers best friend, Josh, to be the baby daddy. Much to her surprise, he says yes and the process kicks into gear. Then her boss, Ian, starts to show interest in her and a love triangle ensues.

It is laugh out loud funny in the right places and so very sweet and romantic. There are amazing friendships, support groups (I seriously wanted to join it!) family bonding and workplace drama. All tied up with a (pink or blue?)bow at the end. What more can you want??

This was my first but won’t be my last Sarah Ready rom-com! Highly recommended!

Thank you to DreamScape Media, NetGalley and a new fav writer, Sarah Ready, for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
The audio version was excellently performed by Erin Mallon. She was perfect as Gemma and ads the perfect touch to the supporting cast. #joshandgemmamakeababy #sarahready #sarahreadyauthor #netgalley #arc #advancedreaderscopy #dreamscapemedia #erinmallonnarrator #thebookaholicsoutlet #usedbookstore #tbrlist #tbrstack #romcom #romancebooks #ivf #babymakesthree

A nice escape, with a different premise than your typical romcom. Some of the things that happen to Gemma seem unnecessary or irrelevant (flashing the camera on the work Zoom, the especially harsh comments from friends and family). I really liked both Gemma and Josh though, and I wish there was more interaction between them to make their relationship build more organically, and to get to know them a little more. Overall I enjoyed the story, and was pleasantly surprised not having heard about it prior to seeing it on NetGalley.

“A percentage is just a percentage until it happens to you”

This book was exactly what I needed. I was able to personally identify with elements of the story and appreciated that connection. Thank you to NetGalley for the Audiobook! This is the first book I’ve read by author Sarah Ready, but I will absolutely be reading more. The story of Gemma and Josh was filled with push and pull, will-they, won’t-they, mistakes and growth. Gemma has been through a lot in the last few years and knew what she needed to do in order to achieve the happiness she desired— or at least she thought she did. How the story unfolds was a journey that I was happy to witness. Josh was such a complex character. He had a quiet confidence and an element of
mystery. Through it all, his sincerity shown through. I also loved the friendships that Gemma developed. One of my favorite things when reading is being able to picture the character’s surroundings. There is no doubt that I stepped right into winter in New York City!

This story was not without personal conflict. They cut a little deep in tense moments and it made me a tad squirmy. I think it could’ve been lessened while still having the same effect, however there was character development as a result so it is a minor note. The story does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. I would’ve loved an epilogue! I am signing up for the author’s newsletter to read the bonus chapter! Overall, I recommend reading! The narrator did a great job and enhanced an already engaging story!

This was an easy to get through romance perfect to carry me through my Sunday. I liked how the book centered around IVF, as I don't often read about that in books. I wasn't a fan of a lot of the side characters, and found the dialogue cringe sometimes, but it ultimately wasn't enough to make me DNF. I read the ebook in conjunction with the audiobook and enjoyed both. Thank you!

This was a sweet romance involving a woman trying to get pregnant through in vitro. I liked both of the main characters and the story itself for the most part. I did have a problem with some of the supporting characters. I don’t know how a mother who loves her child could speak to her like she doesn’t deserve love and should settle for some old jerk (who is named Mort… hell would have to freeze over before I sacrificed my daughter to some old man named Mort). The mother also routinely brought up her daughter’s fertility issues and weight in a negative manner as reasons why she should settle. Who thinks they can casually talk about these sensitive topics as flaws? Some other family members weren’t that much better. I did like the love interest and the narrator though. I liked that they actually dealt with in vitro itself instead of the character just magically getting pregnant when she finds true love like (SPOILER) The Friend Zone did.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Fertility issues, Miscarriage

In one way this book was exactly what I expected - a nice predictable story with a happy ending. However, there were some unexpected twists along the way which kept me interested. There were some genuine laugh out loud moments and I found the characters quite endearing. The author definitely kept a firm hold of the story ensuring any loose ends were tied up. Overall, an enjoyable read!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the light it brought to IVF! While listening/reading to this book I teared up, laughed out loud, and cheered for these characters in each of their journeys. Recently, my husband and I started our family with a baby boy. While trying for him, I learned more about the IVF community and the struggles that come with it. While we’re always hopeful of it taking the first time, I appreciated the realistic nature of all the situations represented in the fertility support group, and know others will too.

I will say I wasn’t crazy about how the other couple at the clinic that came at Josh and Gemma, but I suppose the author used them as comedic relief in tense moments.

Audiobook narration: I thought the narration was great. It fit Gemma and her story very well!

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was such a fun book! I loved their chemistry and their backstory.. I especially loved how much Gemma grew as a person throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend this book or the audio. The story was finally done the writing was good. I can’t wait to read another book by Sarah Ready.

I really enjoyed this I love audiobooks and this was an instant need for me to read. I was also approved for the ebook copy as well and I’m rereading it now.

Some spoiler-y trigger warnings: Infertility, Miscarriage, body/fat shaming

This book was not at all what I expected, in good ways and some not so pleasant ways. The first was that I did not expect the book to be heavy. For some reason, I thought it would be fluffy and funny, but it had some heavy materials. But the good thing was that the material was so effectively delivered that I cried through the whole thing.

Second, I did not expect the female protagonist to be this clueless and this toxically positive. I'm so glad there was a redemption arc for her because I was getting so so mad at her for being so selfish. But again, this was a narrative device used superbly well!

Overall, the writing was very lucid and I got into it pretty easily, but I'm not sure the book can be categorised as easy romance (only because of its heavy materials)

This book didn't pull me in. I got through the first two chapters but I just couldn't get invested. It may have been the narrator, she seemed to give Gemma a weird snarky quality that didn't fit the tone of the writing. I admit that I'm a mood reader, so there is a possibility that this just doesn't fit the mood I'm in, but if I'm being honest, I don't plan on picking this book back up. Because I DNF, it's hard to leave a star rating. I feel it's unfair to leave anything less than 2 1/2 stars, but please note that I have not finished this book.

Gemma's biological clock is ticking and she approaches long time family friend to assist her in having a family.
I loved this book! It's hilariously funny, down to earth and real commentary on the characters has you laughing out loud. I thought they were brilliantly written from Gemma herself to the doctor, I could imagine each and every one.
The group was an inspired addition, adding other threads for story that you were invested in.
I loved Josh from very early on and really really felt weary of Ian.
A truly funny but also sensitive and very intimate look at the journey of treatment through IVF. I liked that it also addressed problems around infertility that women face. Endometriosis is a condition that needs awareness and this book does this beautifully whilst keeping a positive and humorous spin on things!
I loved every bit!

I listened to this audiobook in ONE DAY. I am so tired as I stayed up until 3AM today to finish it, but so glad that I did. This is a new-to-me author, and I am a sucker for illustrated book covers, so I had to request to download a #gifted copy on audiobook from @netgalley.
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@mallonerin is the narrator, and she did such a wonderful job. She changed up her voice perfectly for each character, where you knew who it was. I think that is why I couldn't stop listening to it! The characters really felt alive while I listened to it. For those who "can't do audiobooks", PLEASE listen to this one! I also need to know your thoughts afterward.
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The story had quite a few funny moments, but there are parts where I had all the feels and emotions for the characters. This book has you laughing, but also has you crying tears. At times I did want to shake Gemma and say to her "How are you not getting the hints, lady?!!!" The book eventually had steam, but for you all who like really 🔥🌶, I would maybe pass. ⠀⠀

Wow! This book gets five ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

**TW: if you have gone or are going through infertility, this book might not be for you.

The book was modern and relevant to what so many couples go through with infertility. As someone who hasn’t walked that path, it was insightful to see behind the curtains of those families. It told perspectives from more than just the main characters’ journey.

Gemma is a character you can’t help but love with her quirk and honesty. Josh is reserved and kind, but someone you will love reading about.

This story follows Josh and Gemma through heartbreaks and setbacks with twists of sadness and little bit of steam.

This book caught me by surprise! I highly recommend this book!

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby approach in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a sense of humor and a touch of love. Well, sort of love, Gemma wants nothing more than to be independent in life. After dealing with unreliable men, she decides that a man will weigh her down from her goal of having a baby. She is a working woman but wants very much to be called “mom”.

To be honest, I nearly passed this book up because it feels too personal. But, I’m glad I did not pass this book up! I didn’t cry. I caught myself laughing at the dad jokes. Yes, I did say “dad jokes”. I love that Josh and Gemma take a very serious situation and find a way to make it comedic.

Gemma seems to me like a Bridget Jones-type. Her boss is appetizing, yet she has a murky history with her brother’s friend Josh, a laidback comic book artist.

Just so you know, this book is so much more than getting a friend to agree to be your donor: it’s about friendships, love, support, learning to love, and learning to let go.

If you enjoy the Bridget Jones series or enjoy reading books about independent-working women, I recommend this book. Or perhaps you are like me and find the subject of IVF difficult to discuss, I still recommend this book.

As for the narrator, I think part of why I enjoyed Josh and Gemma Make A Baby is due to the fantastic narrator!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the providing me with a copy for review!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted audiobook. This was such a fun rom com with brother’s best friend.

I love how this book dealt with Gemma and her desire to have a baby and infertility and made it fun. I loved how she approached Josh and their journey of IVF and discovering their relationship.

The narration was perfect and really portrayed the not so perfect life of Gemma.

4.5 stars. I REALLY enjoyed this book. Gemma was cute and quirky in the best kind of way. Not the typical "I'm not like other girls" kind of quirky. The book took on some serious topics but managed to keep it light and still hit you in the feels in all the right places. I would 100% read a sequel but regardless I will check out this authors other works.

This was so adorable and sweet!
This book gave me all the feelings especially by the end.
I felt it was a real and raw portrait of fertility issues so beware of that before going in if that's a sensitive matter for you.
Gemma was such a sweet character and watch her go through the things she does and with so many toxic people around her broke my heart a little bit.
Josh... only when I finished the book I realized this wasn't double pov because somehow through Gemma's narration he HAD a voice and I absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed this book so if you want something sweet and fun but also with real life struggles this is for you.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to listen this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I LOVED this! I love the fake trope so much, and this was no exception. Josh and Gemma's history only added to the beauty of their story. This had great side characters (like Gemma's fertility friends), twists and turns I didn't see coming, and main characters you fall in love with and root for. This is my first Sarah Ready book I've read before, and I definitely won't be my last. And the narrator was so entertaining! I loved her voices for the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.