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.

It was a perfect start to this year with this book as this book starts on the New Year's Eve . I never expected to like this book so much . I had thought to take a break from reading for two weeks but when I got the arc for this book , I would'nt resist .

Gemma Jacobs is 32 years old , divorced , independent woman working for a self help guru , Ian Fortune (by the way we don't like him ). Josh Lewenthal is her brother's best friend . They have known each other for practical all their life . Gemma wants a baby but she is infertile following her endometriosis diagnosis.
so she wants a SUPER sperm of none other than JOSH LEWENTHAL . Want to know the remaining? READ THE BLOODY BOOK coz IT WAS SO GOOD .

I ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED IT . It was my first Sarah Ready's book so I didn't know what to except . She did'nt disappoint , I loved her writing style . This book gave me all the feels . It had the right amount of humour , emotion and character . IVF is an underrated plot point . I haven't seen a lot of romance novels where IVF is discussed (maybe one ) . I think IVF can be good plot point if written beautifully and informatively . The support group was incredible helping Gemma through her process . By the way , the illustrations in between was so cute .

But I wished there was more steamy scenes ( atleast the lime jello scene 😉) I am not a person who reread books a lot but will I reread this book ? HELL YEAH .

If you love The Friendzone by Abby Jiminez , Sarah Adams and Sally Thorne , you would love it . ***me here hopefully waiting for bonus chapter even though the book isn't out yet***

Thank you Netgalley and Sarah Ready for the opportunity to read ARC .

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby should have delighted me. This book seemed to promise what I love about romance novels, which is how fun romance tropes can open up an exploration of complex emotional and relational dynamics. And perhaps that is what this novel delivered for some readers. Unfortunately, Josh and Gemma missed the mark for me. I was underwhelmed by the dynamic between the hero and heroine, not least because Gemma really didn't seem to be that interested in Josh's life, or, like, anything about him?

Having said that, I expect this book to find its readers. I can't think of a romance novel that deals with infertility to recommend over Josh and Gemma, which speaks to a gap that think book is filling, perhaps. I can imagine that for readers who have similarly struggled with IVF, following Gemma and Josh through their journey to creating a family may be very affirming.

Josh and Gemma Make A Baby by Sarah Ready
Tags: RomCom; Brothers Best Friend; Second Chance Romance; Infertility Journey

Gemma Jacobs is 32, divorced, and sick of waiting for Mr Right. It’s New Years, and she’s made her resolution – have a baby. She’s an independent women, she can do this on her own – and she knows just who she’d like her donor to be: Josh Lewenthal. Josh – nice guy, easy going, family friend (her older brother’s best friend actually), and the guy she once long ago lost her virginity to. Now she just needs to get Josh on board…

I really enjoyed this book – it balanced being a romantic comedy (complete with the hijinks and heartfelt moments) with covering a serious issue that impacts a lot of people (infertility). I liked the balance of levity and depth and really enjoyed watching Gemma’s journey.

I ended up reading this book over the course of an afternoon, it just sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down. I adored Josh – he was such a fun character to see the layers revealed on and I enjoyed his interactions with Gemma and watching their story evolve. I also had all the feels when he read a certain something at a certain part (no spoilers), but seriously crying. 💕

I laughed, I cried – I just had a lot of feelings. It had a bit of a Bridget Jones-ish romcom vibe at times for me, and as always, I’m a fan of a good slow burn romance. I think fans of romcoms in the vein of Christina Lauren, Abby Jiminez, and the like.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Ready for the opportunity to read an early copy!

FIVE STARS. Is it presumptuous to say a book published in January may end up being one of my favorites of 2022? I loved this story and devoured it in a day. It’s perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Abby Jimenez; definitely pick it up if you like movies like What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Back Up Plan, or When Harry Met Sally. This book gave me all the feels from butterflies and giddiness to heartbreak and longing and everything in between. Pick this book up, and thank me later. Also, say hi to my newest book boyfriend, Josh, for me.

This witty, hilarious, and banter filled romcom is sure to put anyone in a good mood. And the characters an overall plot are so endearing that readers find it easy to dismiss any little hiccoughs they may find along the way. Sizzling chemistry, slow burning romance, and the brother’s best friend trope all work together in perfect balance to create a laugh out loud contemporary romance.

4 bright stars for this heartwarming and hilarious romcom

Jemma and Josh have known each other for ever, he is practically part of her family. So when she decides that she wants to have a baby without waiting for the perfect man to come along, she asks Josh. Just as friends. After all he doesn't take life seriously, so would be perfect as she doesn't want anything more than his help to make the baby. So, just friends.... Anyway, it's a nice read except for the unnecessary over the top cringe worthy scenes that do not add to the story at all, if anything they take away from some great characters and a plot that does not need the slap stick additions

3.5⭐️ maybe? I could not put this damn book down. JOSH AND GEMMA MAKE A BABY is an adult rom-com about a single woman who convinces her brother’s long-time best friend to have a baby with her via IVF following her endometriosis diagnosis.

I highly recommend this story as an audiobook: Erin Mallon’s performance is delightful!

What I Loved:
- Josh. If you like cinnamon roll heroes and the “boy obsessed” trope, Josh is your man.
- Female friendship. There were some really great supportive platonic relationships, and the female side characters were hilarious.
- Though a little corny at times, the writing was captivating and I was hooked from page one.
- The balance between humor and more serious topics. I enjoyed both the fun banter and the poignant discussions around infertility, motherhood, and grief.

What I Didn’t Love:
- Casual unchallenged fatphobia. This got a little better as the book went on and the MC stood up for herself, but I think the negativity could have been addressed better - especially considering we are led to believe that Gemma is “midsized” or curvy and not fat.
- Gemma, at times. Part of her character arc was that she had to unlearn the misconceptions she had about the people around her, but yikes. She was surely sympathetic and endearing at times, but I would not recommend this book if you don’t like slightly unlikable narrators.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of THE FRIEND ZONE by Abby Jimenez. JOSH AND GEMMA MAKE A BABY was a captivating read to kick off 2022 with!

TWs: infertility, miscarriage, death of a parent, cancer, casual fatphobia

** spoiler alert ** ** I received a copy of the audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Man, oh man, oh man, did I want to like this book more than I actually did. The premise was intriguing, the writing witty, the dialogue real and refreshing, and the narration so engaging I actually kept getting up in the middle of the night to listen to "just another half hour."

But in the end, it was the execution that did me in. As someone who loves rom coms, I can usually spot the influences pretty early on, and this novel read more like "Helen [Fielding] and Nora [Ephron] make a baby."

The story opens with an overweight, 32 year old, divorcee arriving at her parents' annual New Years Day buffet, having her mum insult her outfit, and then sending her upstairs to change into something decidedly more hideous.

And the shades of Bridget Jones don't end there. There's the involvement with the guy she loathed growing up who she's starting to find attractive but who has a "history" with the sleazeball of a boss she has lusted after for years before he finally notices her because of a wardrobe malfunction. There's the slightly senior coworker who seems to find fault in everything Bridget, er, Gemma does, but then leads the I am so not kidding here slow clap when Gemma finally tells off Daniel, er, Ian. Hell, even leading up to telling off, there's the naked chick who surprises Ian on what was meant to be his and Gemma's romantic evening together who can't wait to throw in a little fat shaming in Gemma's direction.

I keep going between 2 and 3 stars because the writing really is fantastic. I just wish Ms. Ready hadn't borrowed so heavily from the original and the best.

I really liked this book! I thought it was a cute story. Ready used classic tropes like brother’s best friend and even a little bit of a love triangle, but included a fresh new twist of wanting a baby and how that played into the mix.
I haven’t had any experience with IVF or fertility clinics, but I appreciated the way the author pulled in more characters to touch on others’ journeys with infertility.
The story got cuter and cuter and ended with some peak cuteness, but somehow remained grounded into enough reality that I wasn’t rolling my eyes at the ending.
4.25/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Still dealing with the aftermath of her divorce and infertility diagnosis, Gemma decides it's time to take charge in her own life. She visits with a fertility doctor and learns that it is possible for her to have a baby through IVF, she just either needs to find a donor or use the anonymous donor bank. She decides the best candidate is her brother's playboy best friend, Josh, who she's known for over two decades. And she thinks he's an even better choice because she has no romantic feelings for him and would never consider him marriage material. To her surprise, Josh not only agrees but decides he wants to be a part of the baby's life.

I really loved this story! I was laughing out loud at the beginning of the book and then found myself tearing up during some of the more difficult moments at the end. Erin Mallon narrated and did an awesome job as always. I was so invested in Gemma's journey and discoveries about herself and those around her. This story is single POV but there were little nuggets dropped along the way that let the reader in on Josh's feelings. I typically prefer dual POV but this story was just woven so beautifully that I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to read others from this author!

CW: infertility, loss of a parent

Growing up, Gemma was obsessed with Josh, her brother’s best friend. Gemma decides to distance herself from Josh after they hook up at Josh’s high school graduation party, and she goes years without being friends with him. A few years pass - they both graduate college, Gemma gets married, and then divorced - and Gemma’s mom attempts to convince Gemma to date Josh. As Gemma is explaining all of the reasons why that’s a terrible idea to her mom, Josh overhears their conversation.

Fast forward a few years and Gemma wants to have a baby via IVF. After convincing Josh to be her donor, Gemma starts to realize that her obsession with Josh might have been dormant instead of completely gone.

Ready’s character development intertwined with an engaging plot, makes for an interesting story. Also, the summarizing of the IVF process was very informative. The only thing I would criticize would be the semi-stereotypical description of the other women who were going through IVF and were a part of the support group.

Mallon’s narration portrays the various characters’ emotions accurately, which adds an additional layer of depth to the book.

I received the audiobook as an ARC (thanks NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing!).

It was an okay read.
Some of the story was a bit predictable but I really enjoyed the characters and how their relationship evolved in a very natural and convincing way. The narrator for the audiobook unfortunately was not as convincing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This cute little rom-com was the cutest start to my 2022 reads! I really enjoyed the narrator’s work, especially for a one-woman cast. And today was the perfect day to listen, since the book starts and ends on New Year’s Eve!

When I judged this book by its cover, I thought I was signing up for a cutesy baby daddy rom-com. Josh and Gemma ended up being so much more! There was definitely an emotional layer to this book that I wasn’t expecting. I found myself tearing up at some scenes (TW: infertility and loss) and cracking up laughing at others.

Generally I prefer romances with dual perspectives, but SR did an amazing job of showing us Josh’s thoughts through Gemma’s eyes. Josh seemed so sweet and genuine, despite being a bit of a player growing up. I would have liked to see more of Josh’s opinion of Gemma growing up, but there was a twist that would’ve been ruined by his POV.

I will say that I’m not sure how realistic this book was in regards to the discussions of infertility and IVF. Gemma seemed particularly naive on the topic for someone ready to drop tons of money on IVF. She didn’t even realize that it doesn’t usually work on the first round–something I know as someone that has never tried to get pregnant either naturally or through IVF. There were many scenes where Gemma’s mother made her feel unworthy as a woman for not dating, going so far as to shame her body type.

IVF discussions aside, I really enjoyed this book. Sarah Ready is a new-to-me author, but I’ll certainly be reading more of her work in the future!

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was exactly what I needed at the moment.

It was the perfect mix of serious and humor. It also had the perfect amount of romance and drama.

Gemma has decided she is ready to have a baby on her own, she doesn’t need a husband to make her dreams of being a mom a reality. Due to infertility issues she needs to go through IVF anyway. While discussing with her doctor about how to go about she decides that she does not want to use an anonymous sperm donor. Instead she decides to ask her brothers best friend, the boy that took her vCard in high school, because he’s been a part of the family forever and she know s him. However she realizes she doesn’t really know him at all as they begin the process.

4.25-.5 ‘Grimm & Jewel’ stars


Um…I’m almost dumbstruck. Cause I did NOT see this one coming — not even a little!(especially what I consider a middle of the road trope for me - bff’s little sister/older brother’s bff). That was sooooooo unexpectedly good read to cap the year off with.
description

I started using netgalley this past year & tbh none of the new-to-me authors have really knocked my socks off…until now 🥰. I was just browsing the romance ARCs a couple of weeks when the cover caught my eye & the description sounded alright. Not thinking too much of it at first with some other more pressing reads in mind to get to first, but I got to reading it late the night before, expectations thoroughly curbed. You know what? I devoured it in what I’d consider more like a sitting & a half total. It’s been a while since I felt like that with a new to me author.


Josh & Gemma Make A Baby totally gave me the feels 🥰. Such a sweet & swoony slowburn…so funny(like genuine lol. The whole ‘boy toy’ situation is one of the biggest book laughs I’ve had in a long time 😂🤣) & a much more emotional ride than I anticipated. Sure, there’s some angst woven in, but I wouldn’t consider it too OTT. So here’s the thing with the latter, Gemma has been through a lot in her adult life. She’s still a work-in-progress & has some real growing to do as a person to move on from it. Which she does through the book & that part of the journey is bound to have a few potholes & bumps. By the end, each part of it just made that much sweeter when Josh & Gemma reached the start of their life together & the start of their own family.

For a single POV(Gemma’s), SR does a wonderful job letting the reader get to know Josh through Gemma as they get reacquainted & become closer as they fall for each other. That’s not easy to do. Seriously, that doesn’t translate as often as I would like with single POV romance. All that in mind, get ready to fall in love with Josh 😍. He’s one of the most lovable heroes I’ve read all year. Gemma’s so relatable even though it might be a little frustrating when her insecurities rear up at less than opportune times, but it’s honest. After her history, it makes sense emotional intimacy wouldn’t be simple.

The negatives are few in number. Of those few, I’d say there’s only one worth mentioning imo. On their own, most of the inspirational quotes that Gemma loves to use that she’s gotten from her boss(a “self-help guru”) could definitely be cheesy — I’m not about to pretend they weren’t —, BUT there turns out to be a purpose to all the quotes. Nothing else stuck with me much in a negative way.

I’m not trying to imply this “reinvents the wheel” by any means, but for my first Sarah Ready book, (I know I’m basically a broken record here) I am so pleasantly surprised & impressed. Definitely won’t be my last 😊. In fact, I’m gonna plead my case to Ms. Ready — please, please do like a time rewind series with all of Gemma’s new friends (from group) relationships with their hubbies sound intriguing. I wanna read how they met & fell in love too. All 3 were such a likable cast of side characters, Carly, Brooke & Hannah, without sounding redundant in their personalities. Then the epilogues can fast forward to after this one & we can see how everyone is doing. 🤞

I might tidy this review up some later, but for now, let me leave you with if any of the above piques your interest, J&GMAB is definitely worth picking up.

⛔️ Trigger Warning: ⛔️
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[infertility (the obvious if you’ve read the synopsis), loss, miscarriage, sort of a triangle(nothing too heavy or significant happens with OM. no sex on or off page.]

(GoodReads review here >> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4395263149 )

Story: 3 ⭐️
Steam: 3 🔥 light smut - one scene
Audio: 5 🎧

I thought this book looked and sounded so cute! I ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped.

I liked Josh ok, but I wasn’t a fan of Gemma. She got better at the end but through most of the book she was judgmental, selfish, and irritating. I think that’s where my disconnect was with the story. It was also a very slow burn. The book goes over so many serious life events but attempts to lighten this with some humor that at times felt forced and out of place.


CW/TW: infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, loss of parent

Thanks to NetGalley and the suit her/publishers for an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.