Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I was excited to read this book. I thought the premise of a woman not waiting for a man and taking her own future in her hands was great. I appreciated Gemma's desire to have children and wanting to make that happen for herself.

I loved the relationship between she and Josh. He was so caring towards her and was also seeking the love of a child. I did not think it was realistic that Gemma did not know he was a world known comic book writer, instead, she thought he was just lazy.

I think this book should have taken place in London. That was how it read. The characters, setting or humor did not portray the USA at all, it would have been much more charming in the UK. Reading it just felt off to me, could have also been the way certain words were used.

I would have also liked to see a woman in the support group who was using a random donor and doing it herself. Gemma's story did not turn out that way and it would have been nice to see a woman alone going through this stressful process.

Overall, it was a sweet book. I enjoyed the happiness it brought, but was it a standout? Not really.

This is the first book I've read from NetGalley. It was funny and emotional. I enjoyed it so much and finished it in two days.

I like the energy between Josh and Gemma. The dialogues were cute and not too much drama. I like the girls and how they support each other.
I like that it took a very hard and emotional subject for some women who have hard times about and gave that a soft view.

Thank you for the ARC.

This book did not stand out to me. I remember reading it fast, but I cannot tell you anything I read. The fact I didn't DNF it is a good sign, but I cannot tell you what happened in this book.

I loved this book! What a fun, if sometimes predictable, romance. I read this book in one sitting and felt like I was smiling the whole time. Likeable characters that you root for from the beginning.

A sweet book for those looking for an easy romance.

The book flows nicely through the story and Sarahs writing style is simple and easy to read. It id perfect for those who have English as their 2nd language and those who aren't fluent. I did miss some more diversity in the language but otherwise I'm happy with the way it is written.

It handles topics of single-parenting, having trouble with conceiving, and many more that come with being an adult. The topics are beautifully handeled through sweet characters and storyline.

The book was the perfect length - long enough to connect to the characters and short enough to seem like a quick read in between other things.

I recommend it for romance lover looking for a new plot!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
This book was adorable! I loved every moment of it. This book was so heartfelt and I loved the characters so much.

2.75 stars. This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Ready and it’s really good but overall this book is just meh.

This is a cute rom-com, very easy to read and could easily read in one sitting. While I was reading it, I thought it was predictable on what’s going on but it’s fine. I love how well written the heavy and important topic from this book and the support group in here. I also loved the quotes in every chapter.

Some of what I don’t like about the book is Gemma since she’s a bit annoying sometimes that is why I don’t like her that much. And one thing that I notice is a bit of a fat shaming comment in here which doesn’t sit right for me a bit.

It is still a nice read if you want a nice cute rom-com.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Sarah Ready for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review even though I got this book later on the publishing date.

A perfect Rom-com with humour and lots of chemistry. A classic friends to lovers trope, Gemma is divorced with an appearance that’s criticised both by herself and those around her. Her love interests seem slim but she decides that she wants to have a baby, by whatever means. When looking for a suitable sperm donor, in comes Josh, her brothers friend and their long time neighbour. Gemma is hopeful for a no string attached donation, but things soon become complicated first by their developing friendship and then budding romance.

There is a great female friendship sub plot and another dealing with Gemma’s gross boss, both really added to the story in my opinion. The pacing of the book was great and the ending was super cheesy and super satisfying.

It should be noted that this book deals with some difficult topics such as fertility and miscarriage, but I feel the author does so with appropriateness.

I imagine this would make a great film and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this ARC available to me.

I went in a reading slump right after I started this book and couldn’t finish it. I was expecting a sweet rom-com but it tackled whole other issues with IVF and Miscarriages. I didn’t particularly have a problem with it but the way the FMC, Gemma, was so unaware of the process even though she went with it was a bit annoying. Almost the whole town was toxic and I could understand how that felt so I liked those aspects of the book.

Even though the character’s personalities were not upto the mark I did love the banter and humour of this book. The Slowburn and the chemistry between our Main Characters were awesome and I literally swooned.

I loved it but at the same time some aspects of this book annoyed and soured the book for me.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is the perfect book for fans of Bridget Jones Diary. It gives off so many vibes of a fun, quirky British romantic comedy even though it is set in New York.

Gemma is perceived as frumpy and overweight, she is unlucky at love and has a mother who is always trying to put her down. Josh is her brothers best friend and always been around. Gemma decides to take life by the horns and have a baby on her own, and wants Josh to be the father.

The book had some truly funny scenes in the IVF office, some infuriating scenes where you want to yell at lot at Gemma, and a wonderful payoff at the end. I really loved the IVF Support Group as welll, nice bonus of women characters who are supportive, funny and honest.

This book pleasantly surprised me. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. Josh and. Gemma are absolutely adorable together. In fact, Josh tries to act like someone who does not care about anything at all yet he is such a sweetheart. He pays so much attention to her and remembers small details! Gemma is also a wonderful character. But some of her actions towards the end (ex. how she behaved with her friends) made me mad at her. The book has some super corny or weird scenes but mosts of it was fun to read. I loved how the author delved into infertility and IVF, and handled that beautifully. There were moments in the book that made me teary. Overall, this was such a wholesome read.

If you haven’t laid hands on the book yet, here’s your clue to stop reading. This review has spoilers.

When I first heard about the book, it sounded so much like a book from one of my favorite authors. And trust me, that book was by far, one of the best books I’d ever read. I was worried I’d subconsciously compare the two and put this book on a pedestal only to be disappointed. As I started reading, the book, kinda, reminded me of another of my favorites by another of my favorite authors. I know, I know, too many favorites. Trust me, I was so worried that I might be disappointed by the book, or perhaps, I’d put an extremely high target for it to reach. Thankfully, neither happened. The book crossed leaps and bounds of expectations and I never etched a comparison, because there was none.

This is my first book from Sarah, but honestly, I see myself reading any and everything she’s ready to write or has already written. She has a unique way of presenting emotions. While some authors scrape the surface of emotions, others dwell too much on it. Sarah, however, presents a beautiful balance of both. This book has made a special place in my heart and I’m sure the author has left a mark on countless other hearts, too.

Josh and Gemma are wonderful, as a couple, and as individuals. In a way, they complete each other, and no, I do not mean that in a swoon-worthy couples way, though that’s equally true. I mean it literally. Even if they don’t start as the best of friends, they’re each other’s, emotional companions. It’s like how Gemma said, he’s a houseplant, but one that’s given her actual strength. For whatever period we’ve observed as readers, I know Josh and Gemma support each other way better than I see most head-over-heels-might-do-a-cartwheel-in-love couples do. Most importantly, I’m thankful the end doesn’t say “Hey, I’m Josh and I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you”, because blah, he was too young for love, and if he loved her, he would’ve stayed, Josh was smarter than to take the virginity of the love of his life and then vanish into thin air for 6 years.

During both of the very important yet not-so-forefront deaths, I’ve felt more pain than in all of many books together. It’s exactly how I said, Sarah balanced her words so carefully that I hurt so much without knowing it too well. Honestly, I thought it was stupid that one phone call made Gemma realize that she doesn’t want a Mr. Right after thirty-two years of wishing for him. But as the book proceeded, I realized it wasn’t that simple, and the beauty of that moment hit me. It wasn’t a rash decision, it was an epiphany after so much struggle, and I’m so happy for her.

Everything else aside, the end was, well, a tad dramatic. No, not the last chapter, but the part where Gemma goes to the comic convention. It was beautiful, interesting, yes, but it’d have been more realistic and perhaps, relatable to some extent. I mean, a normal person would’ve asked the security to tell him she was Gemma, rather than make the whole “I’m Jewel” chanting. But as dramatic as it was, it was beautiful. Thus, the pros and cons outweigh each other.

Yes, I hate that the baby didn’t see the universe and how his dad created the beautiful comic, but as Ian said, Every ending is a new beginning, or was it, Josh? I know, I can be lame. But this book unlocked a piece of me, a piece that years for someone to love. After all, love is the best gift I’ve ever had the privilege to give, and I know I’m too young for love, but someday, I hope I feel that sense of belongingness. Anyway, this isn’t a rant show. This is about Josh and Gemma, and they are happy, in love, and together, with a baby on the way. If that’s not what love is, I don’t even want to know what is.

3.75 stars!!!! i loved every minute of this book wow!!!! i was completely hooked the moment i downloaded this book from the cover to meeting gemma to falling heads over heels for josh omg!! he was the best thing to ever happen in this book, wait, jk, brook, carly, and hannah are pretty amazing too!!!
this book was funny, serious, heartwarming, tender, loving, i just !!! wow~~!!! what a way to start of my march reading!! i have never read this fast in my life!! i was hooked from the beginning and being an l&d nurse, i just felt so much compassion for gemma!! she is so strong and i just wish her all the best!! all of them!!! thank you netgalley for the earc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!!

Josh and Gemma are long time friends. Josh is Gemma brothers best friend and has been at all the family gatherings for years. Gemma asks Josh to help her with her infertility problem and have a baby together. The business deal they made gets complicated as they spend more time together. Things get complicated as they start to have real feelings for each other.

This is a good story about love, family and friendship. Thank you to netgalley for complimentary copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The plot line was a different one, and I loved the women empowerment subplots throughout the book. I liked the book a bit more going into the second half of it, and there were some parts in there that were drawn out a bit better towards the end. I also liked the theme of her accepting herself for the person she is, and coming to terms with it. It was also a nice touch that Grim and Jewel's name was reversed in the spelling of the first letter of their name with Josh and Gemma. I found that to be a pretty simple but effective way of getting across to the reader that Josh's story has a deeper meaning.

This book also touched on the theme of pregnancy, and the struggles ladies face in their bid to get pregnant. I'm not going through any of that at the moment, but I've had friends who are, and I felt that Sarah wrote this theme very well, encapsulating their frustrations and their effort in conceiving.

Having said all that, I also felt that perhaps the comedy portions were a bit forced, where if anything silly were to happen, OF COURSE it would happen to her. If some of it were removed, I would perhaps have liked it a bit more.

Overall a pretty good read, I loved the heartwarming ending, and a fitting end.

This one sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately didn’t do it for me. I DNF’d at 70% 😰 my review is not entirely spoiler free!

I loved that Gemma decided to go the non-traditional way to become a mother, but there were so many things about this book that didn’t vibe with me.

Gemma’s mom is…. Awful. Not every parent is great, and yes, it’s hard to draw boundaries around toxic behavior with those closest to us. But holy shit, her mom constantly wanting to set her up with these horrible horrible men, because “time is running out and soon no one will want you” and everyone around them excusing it with the typical “oh she means well” FUCK. NO. I honestly was raging with anger whenever the mom entered the scene.

Cringey moments galore - the scuffle with the other couple at the doctors office started out funny enough, but even for a rom com it was too much. And the whole masturbating with a vibrating phone 🥴 I have read some kinky and weird shit in romances, but this was a hard no even for me.

Gemma’s motivational speaker boss turned love interest 🤢 I’m sorry, I know it’s his job to be positive and what not, but you cannot honestly tell me that anyone is walking through life throwing around positive and motivational quotes like candy on Halloween… I think not. Oh, and then there’s the fact that he’d hardly ever even acknowledged Gemma outside from business meetings up until he accidentally saw her in her underwear on a zoom call, and just so happens to ask her out on a date after 🙄

The last and probably biggest red flag in this entire story is how Gemma’s body is perceived. Almost no chapter goes without noticing her “chubby body,” which in and of itself is no big deal. BUT the fact that everyone views it as a thing she should be sorry for, and she’s somehow not good enough because she isn’t skinny was honestly almost impossible to get through.

I really really wanted to love this. I love rom-comes and this book gave me JLos “the backup-plan”vibes, which is so cheesy but I loooooved.

The writing overall was not bad, so I hope the author will publish more books in the future and I hope they will land with me better 🙏🏼

Wow! I went into this not expecting anything deep and got absolutely surprised. It is a wonderfully written story about the ups and downs of infertility, friendship, love. Although sometimes predictable I 100% enjoyed reading about Josh's and Gemma's journey. Great character development. Humour where it is appropriate when dealing with such an emotional topic. I loved it from start to finish.

This was a cute rom com. I like the friends to lovers trope. And including IVF is nice, since it's very common.

3.5/5

Gemma is 32, divorced, with no romantic prospects the horizon other than the unfortunate ‘setups’ her mother forces her into. But she is ready to become a mother. She only needs a healthy and suitable candidate.

Enter Josh, her brother’s best friend, her teen crush, and her first. Gemma convinces Josh to donate his sperms for her ivf. And things start go look up. Especially when her Boss, the motivational guru she’s been mooning over for ever, starts taking an interest in her.

Now if only Josh and Gemma can keep everything in their lane and not mix conceiving a baby with love etc.

This book has a lot to recommend. It has vulnerable, flawed characters with issues that a lot of people face but do not talk about a lot. However, I felt the story still stayed on a superficial level. Gemma comes across as shallow, which is ironic since she is a fan of everything motivational and “quote worthy “. Good news is, she does show some character growth by the end. I think I would have appreciated Josh’s perspective as well.

Trigger warnings: death of a family member, infertility

I enjoyed reading this book, I thought the pregnancy trope was done well considering it was the main plot of the book. I also really liked Josh the love interest. I would definitely read more books for this author as I really liked her writing style.