Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. This touches on the topic of infertility that I dont think is talked about often in books and I was glad this one did. The Characters are very likeable and times and at other times unlikeable and that's how a good book should be. I recommend this book if you are looking for a good RomCom.

I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised. At first I thought it was a bit too predictable BUT there were many surprises towards the end of the book. Overall, would recommend it to a friend.

I received a free copy of this book, but that does not influence my review.

I actually read this book and listened to the audiobook version. I enjoyed both of them a great deal. At first, I wasn't certain that I was going to love the narrator for the audiobook, but I quickly realized that my dislike of the narrator was only coming from the fact that I've been listening to the same narrator for a while and, therefore, I needed to give myself time to adjust to the fact that they were different. Once I became accustomed to the narrator, I realized that I really enjoyed listening to her read the book.

As for the story itself, I loved it. It's been a while since I read a romance that wasn't cheesy. This one was perfect. There was just enough tension there to make me want to keep listening, and it was very sweet while not being overly saccharine. There were so many little storylines and pieces that tied together in this story, that it was never boring. I genuinely enjoyed this story a great deal, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes rom coms and romances.

This was an awesome chic lit book. Josh is Gemmas' brothers best friend and has hung out with her family forever. Gemma has been unlucky in love and even though she is unlikely to conceive a child naturally, she has decided that she will have a baby via IVF. She just needs to find a suitable donor and so she turns to Josh.

I had so many laugh out loud moments. I really enjoyed this romance - it was not too cheesy - nice and light.

📚 Things you never want to be called ”…Frumpy quote girl…” 👩‍💻

📚 I now see Lime jello molds in a whole new light and have a deeper appreciation for all things lime 😂

📚 A perfectly scripted slapstick “boy toy” moment that literally made me lol esp the 2nd scene with dirty talk.

📚 TW death, infertility, miscarriage, loss of a parent

The audio narrator, Erin Mallon was fantastic. I'd love to listen to other books read by her. I would also read another book by Sarah Ready.

Also, this needs to be a movie…if nothing else I at least need an SNL skit or something with the antics with the whole “boy toy” saga with the other couple at the center. It was hilarious.

This story will frustrate you, give you hope, break your heart, make you laugh, make you feel awkward and make you smile. If you need to FEEL something…then I highly recommend this book because it will make you feel all of the things.

This was so well written and just a really good time.

I highly recommend this one and want to thank @netgalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing and @sarahready for the opportunity to review m this gifted copy before it is released.

I’m looking forward to reading other books by this author.

This is a 4.5 star which I’m rounding up to 5 stars.

This book was adorable. I was looking for a light, fun read and this was exactly what I wanted. Gemma is tired of waiting for Mr. Right to come along. She wants to start a family now so she begins the process the have a baby on her own. Instead of choosing an anonymous donor, she asks a family friend and her brother's best friend if he would be willing to father her child. This book had me laughing and also brought occasional tears (happy and sad). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I will be on the lookout for more Sarah Ready books to read.

This review was also posted to Goodreads and on my IG account @cherrypurlsmerry.

Story-wise I liked Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. It deals with a subject that I almost had to go through...infertility. I ended up being one of the lucky ones, who got pregnant naturally with my son. However, before getting pregnant, I was mentally getting myself ready to have to go through this journey, and honestly even considering not going through it, because I was afraid it would have a negative outcome. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2018, and was told by multiple doctors that it would be extremely difficult for me to get pregnant, even going through IVF would be a struggle, because PCOS women have a hard time sometimes producing viable eggs. In America, unfortunately, IVF is not usually covered by insurance, so it's VERY expensive. It's also an absolute mental struggle to go through something like this, which is something this book addresses. Gemma's was a very strong character for going through this pretty much all on her own. Yes, she had Josh, but Josh wasn't honestly that hands on at first, because he was supposed to just be a side thing to help her get the deed done, so to say.

Now, something that did bother me was how judgmental Gemma was. She made awful assumptions about a lot of people around her, which was kind of the opposite of what she represents herself to be, working for a self-help guru; who encourages people to live their best life possible. Her assumptions about Josh were very presumptuous, and honestly it bothered me how often she made them with no real background proof on why she thought this.

Josh was a fine character, with a good background story. And then you have Gemma's boss/love interest Ian, who...can go live in a dumpster for all I care...let's just leave it at that.

Where my absolute dislike came for this book, was the narrator of the audiobook. I did not like the narrator's voice at all. Her voice was like a roller coaster, up and down on the pitch, like every sentence was a question. I personally found it annoying.

The book was pretty good, I didn't absolutely love it, and the main character had her moments where I couldn't stand her. And then when it comes to the audiobook I would honestly give it a lower rating. Just not my favorite voice for reading a book.
I wouldn't recommend the audiobook, but I do think if the subject is something you're interested in then check it out. There is a lot of great information that gives information on the process of IVF, support needed during the process, and lessons learned.

A cute and authentically written romance novel that’s predestined for being devoured in one sitting.

Josh and Gemma's story is so much fun to follow along and both characters are very lovable while being imperfect.
I love that the book brought awareness to infertility and IVF. Especially in romance novels when the couple is having a baby that is often part of the HEA and rarely problematic.
The author perfectly balanced the tone between more serious topics and light hearted banter.

Wooooow! This book was amazing! This is my first Sarah Ready book and I must say, I am a HUGE fan.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was such a cute book. Friends to Lovers is my absolute favorite.

Gemma has gone through A LOT and as a New Years Resolution decides she's having a baby through IVF. Josh is her brothers best friend and the person she decides would be the best person to help her make a baby. I loved going through the journey of Gemma finding out who she truly was. She did frustrate me at some points, but I love the growth of her character.

I would suggest looking up Trigger Warnings for this book since there are some topics that may trigger some.
If you are looking for a cute romance book, this is a great option.

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read for me. I found Gemma to be an extremely frustrating character at first, but one that ultimately wanted to root for by the end. I liked her little group of random characters in the infertility group. I liked that it was a romance but had a bit of depth to the storyline with the infertility representation. I loved Josh and wanted him to find his happily ever after.

The green Jell-O did get to be a bit much for me but it was like a comic reprieve after a bit each time it showed up.

Overall I recommend this one to friends to lovers or brother's best friend romance lovers. I do put in a word of caution that it is not all sunshine and rainbows throughout though so those who need to avoid infertility topics in books should steer clear.

✨Book Review✨
Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready
Pub Date: 25/01/2022 💗💗

I think I may have just read one of my favourite books of the year and i’m so happy about it!! EVERYTHING about this book gave me ALL the feels in every way possible and it even made me cry 😭😭 i couldn’t get enough of this book i was wanting more of josh and if gemma (defs not ian though iykyk 😂)

the plot of this book was so simple yet i have never read anything like it and the interactions between gemma and josh throughout the book were just phenomenal. i was laughing, crying and just LOVING them together and individually the whole time. the dynamics of all the relationships in the novel worked so well and were so entertaining. i was never once bored and due to it being a slow burn it had me begging for something to happen between them but that’s the kinda pain i love being in 😅😂

The friends to lovers & brothers best friend tropes got me good in this one! I feel like i’m a sucker for all romance tropes at this point and this book only proved that more. 💕🤩

I listened to both the audiobook and read the ebook and i loved both! Erin Mallon was a great narrator and I will definitely be looking for her name in the future.

Major TW for infertility & miscarriage as this was the basis of the entire book. There was infertility shaming and although this was hard to read I feel like it was done in a way that was realistic and made a clear statement on how shitty and insensitive people can be. The fat shaming was also dealt with in a similar way that made a firm statement on how much people can suck. I am curious to see what others think about how this was done so let me know if you have read it!!

I devoured this book and I really enjoyed it and think a lot of you would too!

✨ Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review ✨

This was a really fun romance that takes a sensitive approach to the struggles of AFAB people who have issues with fertility. I really loved Gemma’s character development despite not liking her as a main character. I also really enjoyed Josh from start to finish and I loved the slow reveal of how he really felt for Gemma. The greater cast of characters were also really sweet and I hope there are other books to make this a series.

The narrator for the audiobook was also really fun. I appreciated the intonation and emotive reading. It really pulled me into the story.

This was my first book by Sarah Ready and overall I enjoyed it. I did have a few issues, but it was fun, endearing and a bit predictable.
I listened to the audio and Erin Mallon did a great job narrating the whole book (this book is told completely from the heroine's POV). She has great comedic timing that worked perfectly for Gemma and Josh.

Gemma is the down on her luck sort of gal. She has been married and divorced, isn't "date" material and her family constantly nags on her looks and wants her coupled up. Literally with anyone and the prospects aren't all that hot. And to top it all off, she is infertile. How will she end up with a happily ever after if she can't have kids? It's the one thing she's always wanted.

Josh is Gemma's brother's best friend. He's been the neighbor kid that they grew up with and has always been around and has been considered part of the family. He's just returned home and is living in his dad's basement while making comics. He's the happy go lucky guy. A smile on his face like the world is his playground, there for his amusement. Gemma and Josh may have had a little action when they were teens, but now they are in their 30's and in very different places in their lives. Or are are they??

Since we were completely in Gemma's head, I could see where she was coming from and I felt for her, but man did she annoy me at times. I liked that Sarah Ready took Gemma's character and made her strong on her own. She didn't need a man to be happy and she didn't need a man to have a kid. But the way Josh stepped up and offered his services made me fall in love with him. All his smiles and smirks and being there every step of the way. How can a character that we don't get his POV steal the show for me??

Overall, the romantic in me enjoyed the story and liked the journey these two took to find their happiness. It was funny and cute and a long time coming. That comic killed me in the best way!! BUT, the realist in me had issues with the whole IVF experiences. It was a part of the story that I had to suspend my belief in what happens and how Gemma treated the whole situation. But, with that said, I still liked the story and Erin Mallon really brought Gemma and this story alive. 3.5 stars.

Wow wow wow. I truly had no expectations going into this book and it may be one of my favorite women's fictions novels of the year. This book is one of the most female foward, compassionate and insightful books ive read on a topic that can be really serious and anxiety provoking for some. Ready put all of my worries away and truly created a unique book about the struggles a woman goes through to be pregnant, find love, and find herself and how all of those things don't have to happen together and can happen on the woman's own terms. I loved Gemma and she may be my favorite lead character of 2022. A lot of her fears are fears that in having currently and I truly resonated with her on a level I wasn't expecting even if we are in different life stages. Josh as well is just perfect. He is the so supportive and understanding in a way a main character should be. I hope I find my Josh one day. Overall I couldn't not recommend this book more.

Erin Mallon was also an amazing narrator and truly showed all of Gemmas emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy

Audio book - The narrator for this book was FANTASTIC. Just hire her to do all the books! The tone and inflections were so spot on to convey the range of emotions Gemma goes through on the journey that is this book. The narrator also captures others characters so well even when multiple are talking. The IVF support conversations alone were impressive with a room full of people all carrying different voices. The male voices were also perfect and Josh was swoon worthy, I loved his parts!
Below is my review of the story itself, which was also fantastic!

I loved this book so much, I devoured it in a day! It was equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. It reminded me of the best parts I loved of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center.

I love how Gemma deals with so much but takes it all in stride and even finds humor in these situations. The comic relief is so perfectly placed not to take away from meaningful moments.

Josh was the best. I almost wish some chapters were from his perspective because Gemma could be so frustrating not seeing all these little hints he gave her about his feelings. Every time he smiled away a moment he was probably hurting it made me want to crawl into his head and get a moment from his perspective.

The IVF Support Group had a fantastic cast of characters and I’d love to see future books based on their relationships and IVF journeys! I think there was some hint of that possibility in this book ;)

I also really enjoyed Gemma's family, they are so quirky and entertaining.

I do wish there would have been more surprises throughout the story, I felt like a lot of the big moments we could see coming from a mile away, but the journey was so fun and hilarious you didn’t really mind that you knew it was coming.

Overall I thought it was a great book and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Fav quote
“Suddenly it hits me. Each of us, all the people in our lives, are like icebergs floating near each other. We only see the top of the icebergs, the faces we show the world , and the rest, all our inner lives and secret fears remain hidden underneath the surface.”

I loved this audiobook! Gemma was missing something in her life and felt it was a baby and since she was considered infertile she knew the only way to get pregnant was through IVF and a donor. At the family New Years Eve party she decides to ask her brother's best friend and the guy she lost her virginity to, Josh, if he would donate to the cause (so to speak) and help her out. At first he turns her down but a few days later he contacts her and a plan is hatched. This was a quirky, lovely, and totally charming story of friendship, true love, betrayal, family drama, and all the joys of medical science. I found myself laughing and even tearing up a couple times through this one. Erin Mallon, the narrator, is one of my favorites and she could read a menu and make it interesting but she had me falling in love with these two and all the other characters along the way. Definitely glad I picked this one!

4.5 Hilarious, Heartfelt & Swoony Stars!

I loved this hilarious, heartfelt and swoony romance! Gemma has a good life with her dream job, and wonderfully supportive and loving family and friends. She is done with men though, after her last failed relationship. All she wants is a baby to love, especially after finding out she may never be able to have one. She is looking for the perfect donor and she has her mind set on her brother's best friend, Josh. He has been a big part of their family for years. He lives with his father, and seems to take nothing seriously. When Josh agrees to be her donor, Gemma can't believe her luck. Josh was so sweet and swoony, jumping right in with IVF appointments, and supporting Gemma through all the emotional moments. Their journey with IVF isn't an easy one, and they learned a lot about each other along the way, changing preconceived ideas about the other. They liked what they learned, and grew closer as their attraction built. But when it seems like it might never happen for them, will they be able to stay together, will their hearts hurt too much? I love Josh and Gemma together! Gemma is fun, and quirky, and loves inspirational quotes, and just wants someone to love her despite all her flaws. Josh was sweet, supportive, and knew when to make her laugh and when to make her swoon. Their story is hilarious, sweet and at times heartbreaking. I loved the way Ready tackled a very sensitive subject matter like infertility and IVF, with such honesty and empathy that makes this a heartwarming and addictive listen. I also really loved all the supportive and quirky family and friends who made this story even more entertaining and authentic.
Erin Mallon did a great job narrating this moving story and bringing it to life. I loved her humor, and her easy ability to make this hilarious, awkward and emotional story feel real and authentic and even more entertaining!

4 stars - ahhhh this book was so sweet!!!!! If you're a fan of Hallmark movies this is definitely right up your alley. There are some romance tropes that really, REALLY give me unpleasant anxiety and author Sarah Ready handily avoided them to give us something sweet and refreshing. Erin Mallon is a great narrator for this book - the perfect blend of sweet and headstrong necessary to embody Gemma's vulnerabilities. Thank you Swift & Lewis and Netgalley for the ARC!

I already read this book and I want to listen the audiobook as well. I am not a fan of aa audiobooks but this one nailed it. Narrater is too good to convey every emotion swiftly and maks the story renewed.

This audiobook was honestly one of the best I have listened to. The narrator was fantastic and really made the story come alive! She embodied Gemma in the best way possible and made me fall in love with the characters. The story as a whole was so quirky, relatable, funny, and a touched on the difficult topic of infertility! This story was predictable but there's something about brothers bestfriend romances that really get me! HIGHLY RECCOMEND!