Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

4 stars for Josh and Gemma Make a Baby
4 stars for narrator

Meet Gemma...focused, driven, successful, single and ready for a baby!

Meet Josh...artisitc, not driven, handsome and Gemma's first!

Gemma realizes she wants a baby, doesn't need a partner to do this..thanks IVF...but finds herself forced to nearly fake a partner to avoid a 6 month wait!

Josh is happy to help Gemma, but can they do this without developing feelings for one another?

This romance covers some pretty sensitive stuff. I loved the characters together and enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It was a great start to my 2022 reading.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book first caught my eye in a Goodreads giveaway, and from there I couldn’t *not* see it anytime it came across my feed. And I was glad to see I could request the audiobook through NetGalley.

This is my first Sarah Ready book. And while it was entertaining enough, I found some pieces of this story unbelievable and a bit dragged out.

My biggest issue is this is labeled as a New Adult novel. That’s the main reason I was drawn to it. But the main character is in her early thirties, which isn’t exactly what I’d label as “New Adult” age. And the point of New Adult is really bridging the gap between YA and Adult, where the MC has hit some milestones but not every milestone. And I would say Gemma’s only missing milestone is having a baby.

The narrator was clear, easy to understand, and distinguished characters well. One of the stars on this book is for Erin Mallon alone. I wish I could have liked it more, but ultimately I don’t think this one was for me.

TW: infertility, pregnancy loss, death of a parent

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is an emotional ride that packs a pretty good sucker punch to the heart. There's so much squeezed into this story and I loved it all. It's funny and heartbreaking and swoony and a super delicious slow burn. Told entirely from Gemma's pov, the bread crumbs we see piecing together Josh's feelings are perfection. A couple of the comical scenes felt a little over the top, but they do bring a great balance to the more weighty aspects. Everything comes together so beautifully, and honestly, I want my own Josh Lewenthal.

I was fortunate enough to snag an audio copy narrated by Erin Mallon. I do not have enough words for how much I adore her. If she's narrating it, I'm listening to it. She's a phenomenal narrator who brings so much life to this story and all of the characters. Highly recommend!

The sweetest thing I’ve listened to in quite some time!

MV Rating: 7/10 so cheesy it makes a four cheese pizza look light.
•Gemma has a successful life, and all that’s missing is love. After fruitless dating & setups, she finally decides to have a baby on her own…. With Josh.
•Josh is her brother’s very hot, very low key best friend who is anything but boyfriend or marriage material, or so she thinks.
•Josh and Gemma will go on an emotional roller coaster to find what they’ve always been missing, but can they overcome it all and finally understand each other?
•Classic enemies to lovers. Classic Jerk foil for the main male character, who facilitates Gemma’s recognition of her own power. It’s sweet, it’s a little predictable, but it’s so so funny and so well written.
•For fans of The Spanish Love Deception, The Wedding Date, and Hallmark. You will not want to miss this perfect rom-com!


Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC access!

#JoshandGemmaMakeaBaby #NetGalley. My first perception of this book was that I wasn’t going to like it but BOY WAS I WRONG and I will tell you why. I didn’t like all the nasty comments people were making about Gemma and her weight, her overbearing mother always trying to set her up with losers because she didn’t see her daughter deserved better but I slowly learned that these things I didn’t like were how Gemma perceived herself and she went along way in this book towards self discovery, open mindedness and growth. I did feel the book was a bit predictable but that didn’t change how well written it was. This book was funny, sweet and endearing. I can’t wait to read more books by Sarah Ready. I flew through this book in a day not wanting to put it down. I’m desperately hoping for a second!

Make a baby first. Fall in love second.
Gemma is single and well... she wants a baby. She cant have a baby due to her endometriosis though but decides to have one with the help of her fertility doctor... but she needs a donor. Rather than using a strangers, she decides to ask one of her oldest friends and the guy she lost her virginity to many years ago.. Josh. After a bit of convincing Josh agrees and this story follows Gemma and Josh as they try to make a baby. And yes... feelings develop 🥰

I requested this book on Netgalley on a whim. It was on audio and it looked a like a cute story I could listen to while cleaning etc. Well damn... did it ever surprise me! This story was so freaking adorable! The characters were loveable and the banter was so funny... some of the scenes had me laughing out loud. Yet it also dealt with the pretty heavy issue of infertility and delves deep into the world of IVF.... but in an entertaining way. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun adorable rom com. I'm definitely going to look into this authors other books and purchase a hard copy of this for my library.

Read if you like:

Brothers best friend trope
Childhood friends to lovers trope
Cheesy quotes
Infertility subjects
Hilarious steam scenes
Single POV
Romantic gestures
Funny teasing banter
HEA


TW: infertility and IVF

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Some steam and some hilarious steamy scenes too

I loved this book so much! From a family friend to friendship, to lovers. Very heartfelt and funny too!

Boy-toys, heels, and lemons- these were the ingredients chosen to create a memorable friends to lovers romance.

Plot centered around pregnancy isn't my typical cup of tea so I didn't have high expectations at the beginning. But I am so glad I picked this up. This was such a quick and delightful read. The dynamic between Josh and Gemma was raw and honest. Josh served as a pillar of strength for Gemma, combatting her insecurities and self doubts with understanding and acceptance. Best part is, the "I don't want to ruin what we have by saying I love you" wasn't dragged out excruciatingly. The conflict and the romantic reveal at the end, albeit predictable, didn't diminish my enjoyment because they were satisfying and exactly how I wanted the story to progress.

Going in, I expected the trademark romcom humor and some spicy moments. Ready delivers on this angle but also created fleshed out characters that are worth caring about. I'd really like to read more about Gemma's friends from her Thursday fertility group and I hope this turns into a series. On another note, heavier topics such as miscarriage and infertility were discussed in lengths. These were done tastefully in my opinion but do avoid this book if you find such topics triggering.

Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC!

I enjoyed this cute little romance immensely. I am admittedly very picky when it comes to audiobook narrators. This narrator is absolutely perfect and so easy to listen to. This is a beautifully written story of Gemma's life as she navigates infertility and dating while undergoing IVF. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy of this wonderful audiobook.

3.5 stars ⭐️

This was my first novel by Sarah Ready and I really enjoyed it! I was really captivated by the blurb and the cover and decided to give this one a chance and I’m glad I did cause this was a sweet predictable rom-com which is how I wanted my first read of 2022 to be.

I listened to the audiobook and I really loved the way the book was narrated.

I loved Josh. I loved how he was so caring and thoughtful and his relationship with his dad. I also loved how his job was to write web comics which was something new I’ve read in books. I also adored the fact that he remembered small things about Gemma which happened like 25 years back😭😭

Gemma umm well, I’m not sure how I feel about her. There were moments when I felt sad for her buttttt there were moments where she annoyed the fuck out of me. I know it was her character which was supposed to be shown like this but I really didn’t like her and she got on my nerves.

Although there were some stuff I wished were done different like gemma’s character, I still loved how the writing was so captivating and addicting! I’ll surely check out her other books too when I’m in mood for a sweet book.

Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an eArc and audiobook..

This is a super cute romance that still manages to cover deep issues. It does a remarkable job at blending heavier topics with humor that allows the story to flow nicely and it’s written in a way that makes the entire experience enjoyable. Josh was and absolute sweetheart and Gemma showed a bunch of growth throughout the novel.

I loved this story! Awesome writing. I loved all the characters. Highly recommend. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this advance copy.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me an audio copy of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. The best kind of book is one that will stick to you, whether it be a sense of happiness or love or whatever else you treasure. This one hit me, maybe it was the shared infertility, maybe it was the love. No, it was definitely the love, and the happiness. This one gets all the stars. The author and the narrator did a fantastic job with this book!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

My first issue - ALL netgalley audio books sound like a robot is stuck inside of a tin and the tin insists on echoing around. WHY?! It truly ruins the listening experience.

This story was ok - it felt predictable and played out, but sometimes there is comfort in knowing exactly where you are going.

I didn't love this and I didn't hate it either, but it was a fairly unforgettable story.

I loved this so much!!! I'm always a bit wary trying new authors but I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one, I devoured it! Listened to the entire thing in one day and I have zero regrets tbh. Josh is such a simp for Gemma holy shit (and I am a simp for Josh if I'm being honest). I really loved the pacing of this book and I loved the level of detail that was put into Gemma's experience with IVF, plus the beautiful friendships that were made! Really so many things I love about this book I couldn't even list them all! Only fault for me was the inspirational quotes felt a bit overdone but I can see why they were necessary and it didn't effect how much I loved this overall! 10/1o will recommend!

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ebook ARC and audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*contains spoilers*

Josh and Gemma Make A Baby was a genuinely entertaining and heartwarming read that I inhaled within a matter of hours. It covered deep and emotional issues such as infertility, IVF, divorce and miscarriage yet in a light and humourous way that didn't bring the fluffy tone of the book down too much.

There were quite a few conversations and events that happened throughout the story that felt very reminiscent of the first Bridget Jones film (and possibly the book too but I've not read it...) which I wasn't overly fussed on; some moments were almost identical! The comments about Gemmas appearance and the wording of her resolutions at the New Years party, the whole affair with the playboy boss thing, loving someone "just as they are" and also the misunderstanding about the Josh/Ian conflict were just a few similarities that really stood out to me.

It was because of these similarities and Gemma's character as a whole that this book didn't quite reach the 4☆ mark for me. Gemma was so unlikeable looking back. She was actually pretty selfish and judgmental, especially when it came to Josh's job and living situation, and she didn't make any effort to really get to know him as an adult or even take an interest in his life. I really felt for Josh and how he was treated by Gemma because he was such a loveable, charming character that was being seriously looked down upon because of who he was when he was a teenager. Gemma did change her attitude towards the end (thank god) but I still felt that Josh deserved better.

In terms of the audiobook, I really didn't like the narrator so opted to read the ebook version myself as the narration felt too robotic for my liking.

Gemma, a thirty-two-year-old woman, has a great job, a nice apartment, and a close and supportive family. But, she doesn’t have something she wants. A baby.
So, her New Year’s resolution is just that. She’ll have a baby, by herself, through IVF. But for that, she needs someone’s sperm.
That’s where Josh comes in. He is her brother’s best friend, and they had been close during their teenage years but strayed apart after that. He’s a nice guy, healthy, funny, and not an unknown sperm donor.
And Gemma decides he is a perfect choice. They’ll go through with it in a businesslike arrangement, no attachments, just a baby.
And surprisingly, he agrees. But when it comes to baby-making, it can just stay like this, can it?

What I liked:
The book resembles a romantic comedy from the 2000s and 2010s, fast-paced and super fun. By the end, I found myself caring about the characters. The writing is really good and catches you and doesn’t let you go (I read it in only two sittings!).

What I didn’t like: The story is predictable, and the author doesn’t delve deeper into the main character’s past, making it harder to get attached and care about them at first. I also didn’t love how the author approached some subjects (as her relationship with her boss), and she could have gone into more details and made important discussions on it, but I understand that maybe that would take away some of the “lightness” of the story.

Overall, it is a nice story that will keep you distracted while you read it, with nice characters and a bit of a “nostalgic” feeling to it.

As for the audiobook, the narrator is great, her voices for the characters make the experience much more fun. I would definitely recommend you pick it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the e-arc in return for an honest review.

Gemma’s New Year’s Resolution is to have a baby - but without a romantic partner, she is using IVF to make it happen. She needs a sperm donor and can’t think of anyone better than Josh, her brother’s best friend. He’s kind, funny, she knows him, and there is no way she will fall for him. He agrees to be her sperm donor, but in the process they get to know each other better and their relationship becomes more than a business arrangement.

What a gem of a book. This one really took me by surprise in the best way. The description of this one caught my eye and I figured I would enjoy it, but it blew me away how much I actually loved it! This sweet slow burn had me laughing out loud, had me tearing up at times, and just made my heart feel so warm. Josh is hands down one of the best book boyfriends - he’s kind and gentle, with a little bit of sass and snark in there. The side characters were also so charming and I adored the unlikely friendships Gemma formed.

Erin Mallon did a phenomenal job on the narration. This was such a fun listen!

This may have been my first, but definitely will not be my last book by Sarah Ready. Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Ready for the advanced copies! Josh and Gemma Make a Baby will be available on January 25th.

This story followed Gemma as she settles herself on the decision to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the hopes of being able to become a mother through the method of carrying her own child. This decision arrises after being diagnosed with endometriosis very early in her adult life resulting in her being ridiculed for years on end by everyone around her who was made aware of the physical toll operations took on her body & the unfortunate decision made by her husband to pursue extra-marital affairs instead of approaching his sudden decision to have children in a mature fashion. Gemma's wild & unfounded infatuation with her brother's best friend, Josh, results in her electing him as her desired sperm donor after sitting in a conversation with her practitioner & rather than voicing her need for a toilet break, spews lies so that she can evade the elongation of the appointment.

I requested access to this story because I thought that it might approach infertility in a way which was refreshing & not doused in negativity. I find that it is often better & more enjoyable to read about a story in which someone might not necessarily have to wade through obstacles & traumas to get to the value of a story. For example, we did not need to read phrases on end of Gemma's mother calling her 'fat', we did not need her to be constantly ridiculed by literally everyone around her due to scar tissue which formed on visually available sections of her body, we did not need for this character to be an absolute bolder-for-brains; this story could have profited of having more characters which resided actively in the current time period of medically available research, information & resources. It would have also been incredibly wonderful to not have to read about someone who experiences what many people in the real world do, in such a way as to render the reader disinterested in their well-being & development.

I acknowledge that this was not a story which had me in mind as the target audience. However, that being said, I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief throughout the entirety of the story. By the 45% mark I was incredibly uninterested in Gemma as a main character & really began to wonder how her family had failed her so utterly that she would be dedicated to putting her body through an intense exercise (pregnancy) whereas there are thousands upon thousands of children who would benefit from adoption into healthy safe homes. I wondered why Gemma was so intent on pursuing things that she had researched very little but that required an incredibly steep investment fee. While meeting with the support group for the first time, Gemma learns that IVF often does not 'take'/'work' the first round & is honestly shocked by this discovery. I was confused as to why. Perhaps this would have been the moment to pump the breaks & really reflect upon your level of understanding before tossing money at a process which has an unfortunate 'unsuccessful' rate amongst its users. I do not mean to be insensitive, what I mean is that Gemma seems to be approaching the personal endeavour of carrying her baby to term as though it is the only option as well as her randomly pursuing having children for reasons which are never really explored.

Gemma would benefit from some actual love; someone who would sit her down & explain to her that her value as a person does not stem from being 'able' or 'willing' to carry a baby to term in her body but from her values, ethics, her person as is. Instead, we read about a grown adult person who has been raised to feel utterly useless & rotten as a human being because she experienced a condition which was out of her control & resulted in everyone around her treating her like garbage for her entire adult life. It's sad & I don't particularly enjoy books of the kind because I can't imagine having difficulty in conceiving a child, only to pick-up this book & read about people chastising someone for those same experiences.

I also do not feel as though any of the obstacles presented added any deep & revolutionary details to the story. To be honest, I found it really difficult to read about Gemma's mom telling her that she was a piece of shit person because she was 'fat' & that no one wanted to be with a 'fat' divorcee who couldn't birth their own children. I understand that some people do in fact live through this type of dialogue & it's absolutely vile. However, what did it bring to the story except to propel the main character through delusions rendered into concrete action - i.e. IVF treatments to prove her worth rather than for the desire to foster love & positive healthy growth for another human being which, is a lifetime commitment.

Overall, this book read as being about very immature adult people sailing through life without ever taking the time to fully comprehend the decisions & repercussions those actions would have on them & those around them. I wasn't interested in any of the characters because I found nothing redeeming about them & could not imagine myself spending my days with them - i.e. I would not want to be friends with any of these characters therefore, reading about their antics which might bring a child into the world was, unfortunately, exhausting.

I can see why some people might thoroughly enjoy this story. There is enough depth & exploration of topics which do affect a multitude of people, for the story to be pertinent. However, the characters lacked a great deal of depth & for me, this took away from the potential weight the story could have held. Had Gemma been someone with any forethought or grasp of life in any terms, I would have possibly been able to look past some of her antics. However, I kept having to remind myself that this person was well-into their adult life & shouldn't be so ignorantly pursuing actions which require a huge amount of life-altering preparation.

Erin Mallon's narration style was good & I did enjoy her take on the story & the characters. However, I would note that I think this story might have benefitted from dual perspectives. It would have been interesting to read about Josh & his take on the situation & his development as a character. We read so much of Gemma's perspective of him while they were growing-up that I would have liked to know more about his first person point of view throughout the years & especially while Gemma was ridding the mind-numbing coattails of the self-help guru.

Thank you to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC & Sarah Ready for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

#JoshAndGemmaMakeABaby #NetGalley

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready is a hilarious story filled with love, family and maybe even a little romance.

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Trigger Warning: Gemma has been told that she can never have children. She then learns that this can be possible through IVF. The story takes us on Gemma journey and while the story begins light, there are some heavy moments that may be hard to read.

Synopsis:
Gemma Jacobs is hard-working, energetic and a positive thinker. She has to be in order to work with self-help guru Ian Fortune. After years of being in a toxic relationship, and then given an infertility diagnosis, Gemma decides that she is going to have a baby on her own without Mr. Right. All she needs is the help of her brother’s childhood friend, Josh Lewenthal. Josh has a relaxed attitude and has been a part of the family for so long already that this idea just fits for Gemma. It also helps that she finds Josh handsome as well! But first, Gemma has to convince Josh to say yes!

Thoughts:
-I really loved this book and thought that it was laugh out loud funny.
-Very sweet book that focuses on the happiness of Gemma wanting a baby but also the hard parts of wanting a baby.
-Even though this is a rom-com there were so many layers to the story. Real life issues, family dynamics and new friendships that need to be navigated honestly.

This was the last book that I read in 2021 and it was a great one to finish off the year. A five star read for me because of the love, humor, life journeys and character growth that take place.