What a cute story!! I enjoyed the narration a lot. The story made me laugh and I was rooting for Josh and Jemma!!

The narrator, Erin Mallon, did such a wonderful job bringing this story to life. Gemma as much as she is in independent, headstrong women finally learns to accept people into her life and truly show and give love to those who love her. Albeit, a lot of her development came toward the end of the story, a lot of the other characters were fairly well developed at the beginning of the story. At first I was really rooting for Josh in general and not much for Gemma but she gets her own focused epiphany that brings her up to level.
Overall, this was a very fun, quirky, heart-touching romantic comedy that I would recommend for a good time. :)

I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. It was heartfelt and a sweet romance story. I kept rooting for Gemma throughout and was glued to the story the whole way through. The narrator did a great job and her voices for the characters were enjoyable.

This book was cute!!

I liked this book. There were some parts in the book where I was a bit thrown off by the comments of others, but I liked it. One part I had an issue with, was how everyone was so concerned with Gemma’s fertility issue. I felt that was unnecessary as it’s nobody's business but her own. But I did like Josh; I thought he was cute, I just wish he was more honest with Gemma; there was a bit of miscommunication. Overall I thought it was an adorable book, and the ending was cute!

Gemma wants to have a baby. Her only problem is she’s single, and unable to conceive without some help. She decides she will do it alone, but asks her brother’s best friend to be her sperm donor. Gemma And Josh Make A Baby is funny and fresh with several LOL moments. I was rooting for her and Josh and their “baby”. They are surrounded by very likeable characters except Gemma’s Mom and her boss, but this was a cute, fun audiobook perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to both the author and publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready. I was nervous going in to this delightful little rom-com considering the subject would rest primarily on the plot point of infertility, but I was so pleasantly surprised with the writing. Ready handles a serious and delicate topic with care and nuance which, as someone who struggled for a solid couple of years to initially conceive in my early twenties, I greatly appreciated. Wanting a child and not being able to have one really does make you a bit psycho on the best days. My only real nitpick with the story was that everyone eventually did conceive which is not the way reality always goes and could potentially hurt a reader if they’re unknowingly hit with that tidy little ending. All in all, I felt it was an adorable book; lots of humor without turning a serious matter into a joke or dismissing the pain surrounding choices of whether or not to try whatever it takes to conceive a child, and when to know when to surrender the hope. I’m very fortunate enough to have not had to get all the way to IVF intervention and to have carried three of four pregnancies to full term with healthy children who are now basically grown, but I also have a healthy appreciation for what it feels like when bouncing babies are everywhere except in your womb or arms and the recognition that not everyone has that luxury, though, again, I feel the author handled that with the care it deserves in this writing. I will definitely recommend this one (with minor exceptions) to other readers.

This was such a fun read, i loved how it all came together at the end, and the plot of how they got there, light, spicy, fun rom com

This is the first time I've read/listened to a book by Sarah Ready and it won't be the last! I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook for this Rom-Com. I found myself laughing out loud during certain parts, and other times on the verge of tears.

Gemma Jacobs is a divorcee with an infertility diagnosis after having endometriosis. She's got a great job and a positive attitude. She has always wanted to have a baby. Gemma realizes she doesn't need to find Mr. Right in order to have a baby through IVF, all she needs is a sperm donor.

Cue Josh Lewenthal. Gemma has known Josh since childhood, seeming he's her brother's best friend. Josh is a laid-back guy, with an engaging smile and he's always dependable. Add in the fact that he's single, funny and healthy. Gemma decides why not ask Josh to donate sperm instead of using a donor she knows nothing about. To her surprise, Josh says "Yes."

This book takes you through the journey of Gemma asking Josh to be her donor, the IVF process, the support that Gemma finds and so much more.

Trigger warnings- if you are dealing or have dealt with infertility or miscarriage, there are definitely parts of this book that might be hard to get through. It also has mentions of fat shaming, and judging people by their looks.

The main character Gemma wants to have a baby but she wants to do it with the help of science. She see's a doctor at a fertility clinic to try to get pregnant to have a baby. The story at times was hilariously funny with her brother's best friend Josh who Gemma says will give her the sperm donation to make a baby. I thought that this part of the story made my sides hurt from the laughter it was real funny what antics Josh and Gemma go through to try to make a baby. Gemma boss who is a bit over the top with his inspirational quotes that he built a business around this concept and Gemma thought her boss to be something that he actually is not. This twist and part of the story disinterested me it was I felt over the top. I think if the author stayed completely focused on Josh and Gemma and left Ian out of the book this would have been a 5 star review.

The best parts of the book was all the laughter the different scenarios that occurred at the fertility clinic with Gemma and Josh. The description of the room that Josh goes into to give a sperm donation and the assistance that Gemma gives him. Gemma realizes that everything she thought was true was not including what she thought of her boss Ian and of Josh. The story takes you on a roller coaster ride with Gemma realizing where her heart really needs to be. Is it to late for Gemma and as tragedy hits her and Josh will this be the thing to put them together or pull them apart.

The narrator did a fantastic job with the characters.

I recommend this book for the humor it was hilarious at times but not the whole story there are some very sad parts in the book. I rate the book 3.5 stars.

I listened to the audiobook of this story. As always, Erin Mallon was fabulous! I enjoyed the story, but hoped for a deeper insight into Josh to figure out why he actually had a long term crush on Gemma. She was not the easiest character to love. I wished we could have had more of the "after" instead of just a glimpse of them actually together.

Don’t you just love feel good books?! They leave your heart full and with a smile on your face. Josh & Gemma Make is Baby is that type of book!

Josh & Gemma’s romance is a little unconventional. It’s a little bit of friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend trope, and second-chance romance with an IVF journey thrown into the mix. Yes, it was a little silly and theatrical, but had me laughing-out-loud often. Reading it felt similar to reading Abby Jimenez’s books, especially because the audiobook is narrated by the same narrator! See below for trigger warnings.

Read if you like:
-Books by Abby Jimenez
-Love triangles
-Inspirational quotes
-Single POV romances
-Charming devil-may-care hero
-Comic books

Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Wow! I went into this not knowing much about it or how people felt about it, but I loved it! It's been a few romance books since I openly gasped, sighed and laughed out loud. Josh and Gemma give us a little slow burn. a little enemies to lovers and my personal favorite, brother's best friend! This book isn't your average cheesy romance, the characters grow and there is true emotion. Loved this! Highly recommend if you are in need of a good romance!

I was expecting Josh and Gemma Make a Baby to be a fun rom-Com, and it did not disappoint.

The story follows Gemma, a 32 year old divorcée, who realized she's doesn’t need to be in a relationship in order to fulfill her dream of having children and a family, she’ll just need to get a little creative. So, on New Year's Eve she makes her resolution to have a baby. But because she struggles with infertility issues, she decides to go through IVF and is now in need of a donor.

Enter Josh, her brother's best friend. She has known him her whole life, he is a nice guy and he is also very handsome. So he seems like the perfect guy for the job.

I thought Josh and Gemma had such a wonderful dynamic as friends, but also when they start flirting and are slowly developing feelings. Technically speaking, their romance is a friend's-to-lovers (which is my favorite trope), but it's also a little more than that because they have a short romantic past as well. Either way, I loved seeing them grow closer during Gemma's process of getting pregnant.

There were many cute and humorous moments throughout the story, the characters were all likeable (except Ian, who was a douche) and I very much enjoyed the writing style. On top of that, I think I might have liked this book even more due to listening to the audio version. Erin Mallon is one of my favorite narrators and she did an amazing job, as per usual - I binged this in one day!

The title and description of this book originally got me interested, but once I started it, the characters really brought me in and held my focus. From the very start, I was rooting for Gemma and her drive to have a baby!

Having known numerous couples who have gone through the IVF process, it was extremely eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and an overall emotional roller coaster to see the details of the process in this story. I’ve always had a deep respect and admiration for couples pursuing IVF, but seeing this side of it gave me more perspective into what it’s like for the couples, while also keeping the tone light.

The book was funny, touching, awkward in the best ways, and is a unique spin on the traditional rom-com story.

There were a few steamy scenes, but they weren’t overly descriptive or over the top. Even readers who don’t like traditional open-door romance could enjoy these scenes!

One section in particular got on my nerves with overly repeated phrases…looking at you, BOY TOY…but other than that, the book flowed and transitioned well, and it was an overall fun read!

For fans of:
-Childhood friends to lovers
-Guy falls first
-Mild open-door romance
-Second chance romance
-Pregnancy stories
-IVF journeys
-Motivational quotes
-Wieners and wine
-Limes

This was such a fun, sweet story. Josh and Gemma make more than a baby. They also make quite the couple. With the foundation of years of friendship, Josh and Gemma reconnect at a time when both of their lives are changing. A New Year’s party brings them back together just when Gemma makes a decision that will change her life forever. And she asks Josh to help her make a baby. Gemma’s journey with infertility is heartfelt. Their relationship is filled with the tenderness of childhood unrequited love, the comfort of old friends, and the steaminess of rekindled love. This was my first book by Sarah Ready and I loved it. And Erin Mallon made the narration come to life.

I received an ARC audiobook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Reading this felt like watching a 2000-2010s RomCom, and I admit that I really enjoyed it. Some of the DNF reviews are funny to me because concerns they have are resolved towards the end of the book, but if it’s not your cup of tea then I guess that’s that. It’s very cliche and predictable in every sense but it’s just the right amount of cheesy and emotional to draw the right group of readers in. There are some serious quirks in here and one of the most debatably odd scenes in the book is when the main character uses a cell phone as a vibrator. I don’t advocate for random hook ups or premarital sex (discussion for another day) but even I was like, “there’s gotta be a better way…” and it was just ultimately cringeworthy.

Beyond that, obviously a book about making a baby is going to have sexual content, which I always take a little off for in reviews. However, I am very appreciative to the author that nothing was graphic, though I did just skip through some of these scenes. (Idk, like I get it - they had intercourse, don’t need deets). I think the most important part of this book was the reality brought forth in IVF and loss/grief, I know a little about IVF but I think this book did a great job of showing what that process can look like. I know nothing about losing a parent, but I also think that was depicted well here. Also, one review I saw stated they didn’t know infertility shaming was a real thing - let me tell you, it sure is. I have seen loved ones deal with it and it breaks my heart. Just like single shaming (which is also in this book) is a real thing, somehow both are real and happen often.

The author did an excellent job showing how Gemma grew throughout the book as she experienced certain things and had revelations about herself. As someone who is sometimes too blunt and admittedly, comes off self-righteous, I related to those moments where she blurts things out in the name of honesty. Thankfully, there is character growth and that’s a really great addition to this plot.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I don’t regret it. I think it can be almost informative for friends and family of those enduring IVF to have an idea of what that loved one might be going through. This is a nice, emotional and fun read that could probably be made into a movie easily.

I received my copy of Josh and Gemma make a Baby from Swift & Lewis Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Miscarriage , and Child death

Moderate: Infidelity, Body shaming, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

Done-to-death trope about falling in love with a childhood friend whose virtues you were too blind to notice earlier? Check.

Annoying obsession with getting pregnant/having a baby and referring to at every chance you get? Check.

An entire scene directly lifted from the Bridget Jones movie, where Bridget goes away with Daniel for the weekend, only to find another woman waiting there for him? Check.

What? The guy she has had a crush on for so many years turns out to be a jerk and Josh the underdog, is NOT a loser, but is very noble indeed, and has been wronged, AND is also loaded? Whaaaaat? Surely you didn't see that coming?

Don't even get me started on the utterly unoriginal, lame and cringey 'motivational' crap that Gemma lives by, spewed by Ian, who is a self-professed guru and motivational speaker.

Gemma is thirty-something, and she is now considered un-dateable and even losers don't want to date her. She's divorced and has endometriosis so she's unable to get pregnant, and that is also presented as a shortcoming. Huh?

However, deciding to disregard all this, she decides that she WILL have a baby, by whatever ways and means necessary. She settles on Josh to be the sperm donor, because he's always been around, and she knows him and is comfortable with him, and he's almost a part of their family anyway. If ever there was a lame reason for doing something, this is it. She also gives him the option of being a part of the baby's life, or not. Whatever, bro!

The long and short of it is that they try artificial insemination, but that doesn't work, and she's seeing Ian, but having a baby with Josh. She joins a support group, which has no purpose at all in this story except to provide superficial moral support and to try and add a few interesting secondary characters to the story to make it more varied and interesting since Josh and Gemma are about as deep and interesting as Amazon packaging boxes.

Why are we subjected to all the visits to the doctors and the drama with them, when we know they will end up together, and there's a more direct way of getting pregnant because it's obvious that they will develop the hots for each other sooner or later?

Earlier she didn't think he was good enough to go out with, but suddenly when she's run out of options, he's become the PERFECT candidate to be her sperm donor? While she dates someone else, even though she knows Josh has feelings for her? She's a user, and he's SUCH a good guy(sap) that he's willing to be taken advantage of that way? Pshhhhhh.

And doesn't IVF treatment cost a bomb? But yet she's in and out of the doctor's office getting treatments as if she's getting Starbucks.

Gemma was just all over the place, and Josh was Mr Goody-two-shoes, and I didn't find either of them likeable. They had about as much chemistry as two wet logs. And in the end, everyone gets their HEA, except me. I got a headache.

You're probably thinking this is a pre-coffee rant, but no. I didn't like it any better even after two cups of coffee.

Why didn't I DNF it, I hear you ask. One is because I'm a glutton for punishment, and I try with all my might to never give up on a book if I can help it. And also maybe because somewhere in my stone-cold heart there was a dying ember of romantic anticipation that wanted something magical to happen that would bring a smile to my face and warm the cockles of my heart. Hmmm. This book ruthlessly extinguished that ember.

Props to the narrator Erin Mallon though, who made this book sound far more interesting than it was. If I were reading it myself, I probably would have DNFed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was definitely a cheesy romantic comedy. It was very cutesy, but also had a bit of a deeper level when dealing with the infertility and miscarriages. I did not love that the women who couldn’t conceive were considered a butt of jokes though. At the end I was glad to have read it, but I didn’t love it.

Honestly, I just cannot finish this book - I had to stop at about 40%. My biggest issues with this book are Gemma's portrayal, Gemma's judgment/mind (she is ridiculously presumptive and mean), the unrealistic NYC characters, the cheesy influencer boss guy, and the narration. I just can't get on board with how Gemma is portrayed, how she acts, and how people treat her - it's all around bad. I really wish Gemma were portrayed in a more positive light or was less of a generic jerk about things like money and privilege.

The first 25% of this book, I wasn't quite sold. BUT I really grew to love the characters and the dynamic between them as the story progressed. Gemma is sweet and definitely a pushover. Josh is hot yet dorky in obvious and secret ways.

In an unconventional way (a la the movie Knocked-Up), we see a couple who does things "backwards" according to society. Yet, it's the reality of life in the twenty-first century. It's the new "conventional." Family pressure, aging, relationship issues ... all topics that are covered within this sweet story. We also got some funny side characters that kept things interesting.

I really enjoy the lifelong friends-to-lovers trope and this didn't disappoint in that realm at all. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light-hearted rom-com that's a little off the beaten path. :)