I didn’t start out on the best foot with Josh and Gemma Make a Baby.. What really irked me was the fat-shaming throughout the book. Gemma is often called chubby, which is always on a list of things that make her undesirable. She’s told over and over again that she’s not good enough, and of course she believes those things. But she also talks about being curvy and other characters call her thin, and it feels not good to be a fat person reading this book. Because she’s not a fat character. She’s not chubby. Just look at the cover of the book. I love a good romance book with fat MCs, but this isn’t one of those.

The thing is, I liked this story. It’s not quite friends-to-lovers, and not exactly enemies-to-lovers, but it’s a similar type of trope, and I enjoyed it. I liked the progression of the plot, and I liked the development in the story, but more than anything, the fat shaming was hurtful.

On a steaminess level - this book isn’t super steamy. There are a few mentions of steamy moments, and there’s a unique scene that wasn’t similar to anything else I’ve read in a romance novel and that was a fun scene. But on the steamy scale, this probably tops out at a 6.

So go into this one for the plot and the character development, but don’t expect the sex scenes to blow your mind.

Josh and Gemma Make A Baby surprised me with how much I loved it! The subject matter of infertility and IVF is a hard one to do well - to really capture all the emotions of it in a sincere and nuanced way - but Sarah Ready knocked it out of the park. This was a super quick read because of the great chemistry between Josh and Gemma, the hilarious depiction of fertility treatment, and the endearing supporting characters. I found the inspirational quotes to be grating, though they did end up serving as somewhat of a plot device.

Content warnings: miscarriage, infertility, mentions of previous adultery

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I tend to avoid books involving pregnancy/babies because more often than not, there is messy ex drama or someone decides to keep their baby a secret because why should the father deserve to know? and I'm just not here for it. But something about this book lured me in and I am not upset about it.

Gemma is a 32-year-old divorcee with health issues that make it difficult for her to conceive a child. Fed up with her meddling family who can't help but point out her flaws any chance they get, she decides to take matters into her own hands and become a mom all on her own via IVF. There's a key ingredient needed in the baby-making process, however, and instead of choosing an anonymous donor, she asks longtime family friend Josh if he would be interested in donating to her cause.. Little does Gemma know that Josh has been pining for her for years.

The best part about this book was Josh. He was so patient and kind to Gemma, even when she may not have deserved it. Gemma was hard to like at times. She came across as a judgy bitch more than once but by the end of the book, I couldn't help but root for her. I also could have done without the Ian storyline. But otherwise, this book was delightful. I couldn't put it down and definitely stayed up way too late in order to finish it.

I stared this book as audio and finished reading it. And I must say I loved it. It is just a sweet love story. And Josh is to die for.
It is 4.5 stars.

Anytime I’m up til three in the morning bingeing - straight up DEVOURING - a romance, you know it’s a great one. And I did exactly that with this. Ready is a new-to-me author, but something about the blurb had me really excited for this, so I turned on the audiobook as soon as it became available. I had no idea what was in store for me. This was such a layered read, with moments of lightness and humor, scenes that had me tearing up, multi-faceted characters, and a storyline that had me grinning by the end. We only get the heroine’s point of view, so I was getting definite Love Hypothesis/Spanish Love Deception vibes - and that is a very, very good thing. Even this couple’s messy history worked for me, and the book just got better and better as the story progressed. Pair that with Mallon’s one-woman powerhouse of an audio performance, and this was a truly satisfying romance.

I wasn't Gemma's biggest fan at the beginning of the book. She was a bit judgmental but I also felt bad for her. Towards the end of the book once everything started to tie together I fell for Josh. Everything he did for throughout the book was amazing. I gave this book 4 stars because I was struggling to get through the beginning. The book definitely got my attention towards the middle.

Heart warming, funny & compassionate. I fell in love with Gemma from the get go, couldn’t put it down, finished in one session.

2.5/5 stars

I can't believe I'm not rating this book 5 stars. Looking at the cover and at the synopsis, I thought I was gonna love it. I'm really sad I didn't, but at the same time I think it was inevitable.

The story follows Gemma, a thirty-two year old who wants to have a baby, but has infertility issues and doesn't have a partner; so she asks Josh, her older brother's best friend, if he will agree to donate his sperm for her IVF treatment.
Yet, I think this book doesn't focus on any of these things. Her infertility is never touched, the subject of her marriage and cheating ex is just mentioned, the IVF and baby-making part is almost like in the background.
Gemma and Josh's relationship doesn't make any sense, I didn't understand
why they got together. And, to be honest, I think this has to do with how the two were written. Gemma didn't feel like a thirty-two-year-old woman, she was very childish and I didn't like how she thought of her friends; Josh was... there. I feel like there were many situations where the author could have explained Josh's character and background story, and doing so would have made Josh way more interesting.

I think the main issue with this book was that the author put the focus on things that didn't need it. I think she wasted a lot of pages on characters and plot that were unnecessary.

I did like Gemma's support group friends, though.

Heartwarming and unputdownable! I was not expecting to love this book so much but it was delightful! I love Gemma’s character and how perfectly imperfect she was and Josh is totally swoon worthy. The storyline was cute and I love that it brought awareness to infertility and IVF. There was some laugh out loud moments mixed with some tear jerker moments. It was exactly the read I was needing right now. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing this ARC.

I didn't know I needed this story until I finished it. It is some of the warmest, most heartfelt fiction surrounding a difficult topic. The way that Ready handles this topic, as well as the growing relationship between Josh and Gemma is nothing short of amazing.

I loved the characters and their stories. I loved the interactions between Josh and Gemma. I could feel the frustration, fear, anxiety, and grief that Gemma went through during her trials with IVF. I loved her group of friends that showed her that love is good and wonderful to have in her life.

This was such an amazing book. I loved every second of it.

This was a slow burn romance that had all of the romcom trappings, but at the same time, explored the serious subject of infertility and IVF. After yet another year of her mother's heavy handed matchmaking and barbs from most of the people in her home town about her infertility, Gemma, who just wants to finally be a mom, resolves to start the new year pursuing IVF and having a baby on her own. The only problem is that she needs a sperm donor. The idea of using an anonymous donor doesn't appeal to her. Instead, she decides that the perfect donor would be her brother's best friend, Josh, who's been a fixture in her and family's life since they were kids. What could possibly go run with such a plan? Plenty, as it turns out.

Gemma was that particular kind of romcom heroine who can't seem to get out of her own way. She successfully worked as the social media manager for a self-help guru, yet whenever she got nervous, she started babbling and often said or did the wrong thing. Consequently she often found herself in awkward situations. Josh, meanwhile, was a sweetheart of a guy who had some rough personal issues he was dealing with, but hid them under a smiling, lighthearted exterior.

I’m sorry to say that the romance didn’t completely work for me. I was frustrated with Gemma, because even though she meant well, she was quite self-centered and oblivious to anyone else’s feelings through most of the book. I didn’t understand what a nice guy like Josh saw in her and really wished he’d wise up and find someone who would treat him better. However, the book does end on a high note, with at least some indications that Gemma was realizing that she needed to change her approach if she was going to be successful at love. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

If you’re a lover of romance novels, this one is just oh so cute. I laughed out loud and even shed a tear of happiness. I truly enjoyed all of the friendships and relationships in this story and feel that everything wrapped up very nicely.

I happily predicted the ending based on the New Years resolutions placed at the beginning of the book, and I screamed when it actually happened 🥰

Run, don’t walk! Go get yourself a copy of this book.
I listened to the audio and still had all these feelings of happiness, which is unusual for me 😊

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

TW: infertility/going through IVF

I began this novel as I entered the hospital to deliver my baby. I read the ebook as long as I could before switching to the audiobook when baby arrived. I’ve continued the audiobook during late night feedings and have loved the storyline. I loved the support group and those characters. A wonderful story with remarkable Main Characters and supporting characters. There were lots of moments that had me chuckling and staying up later to read extra.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Josh and Gemma Make A Baby is about well… I think the title is pretty self explanatory. Gemma has known she is unable to have a child naturally since her twenties and shortly before her first divorce. She decides that she wants to start a family and chooses her brother’s best friend as the sperm donor.

And then hilarity and romance were promised.

Except every scene without Josh in it was painful to get through.

Why does Gemma’s entire town know about her fertility issues? And why do people treat her like she has the plague because of it? And why does she ALLOW them to? Her mom continually sets her up on dates with LOSERS because she literally believes Gemma is like a 1000 year old car no one wants to buy. And Gemma ALLOWS this. There’s a line her mother says to her that’s one part body shaming and one part ageist and Gemma agrees with her. What’s worse is that Gemma judges every one else just as harshly and it makes her extremely unlikeable. She thinks Josh is some comic book loser who lives in his dad’s basement - meanwhile he’s super successful.

And please please don’t get me started on the scene in a public park with the vibrating cell phone. I think this is the worst thing I’ve ever read in a book.

To the author’s credit - Josh is extremely charming and cute. I just wish the rest of the book was.

(And okay, we get it already! Gemma is always wearing chunky shoes.)

This is my first book of this author.
Don't get you fool with the cover , it is a romantic book, with a comedy behind but with this important subject in the plot. Infertility.
So if you are sensitive with this topic, maybe you should skip this one.
Gemma is this woman, in her thirties, who wants to have a baby alone. She is divorced , not lucky in the love department, and working full time in this famed self help company with the guru of the moment: Ian Fortune.
Josh is her best friend brother and childhood friend since forever.They went to school together and he was a constant in Gemma's life.
She has the audacity to asked him to be the donor so she can make her dream come true.
This story has to many things going on:
-support infertility group with three fabulous woman
- the attraction to her boss
- the beginning of a friendship and close proximity with Josh
- Gemma's family with all the crazy stuff that a fun family has
- the infertility clinic and all the hard topics that are attached to it.

All of this made this read so good, I laugh I cried I fell in love with Josh, his manners, his dedication with his dad, his love for Gemma's family, and the way he support her all the way.
Gemma was a strong woman, with flaws and insecurities but with a strong character and true with herself.
I was waiting for the moment Josh and Gemma finally collide, and man! it was so good to read.
I finished this story with a smile on my face.
Thank you netgalley and the author for this arc in exchange for my thoughts

Overall rating: 3.5/5
Favorite quote: “Each of us steers our own ship of destiny by following the stars in our heart”
What I liked the most: The insta-worthy quotes you get throughout the book

Romance: 2.5/5
Friendship: 5/5

Honest Review:

I expected more. When reading the blurb I imagined a more completed book, at parts it felt like it was missing development in some plot points, specially in the romance aspect. It felt too quick, one moment they were friends and out of the blue they were suddenly in love.

Also, and I very much liked this (I usually don’t) that I could decipher main plot points, or things that were supposed to be a surprise or a “twist”.

I also loved that the book touched the topic of infertility even if not deeply.

Female friendship. One of the most beautiful parts of the book and the characters. And even if the fight was kinda rushed and kinda just thrown in there, I loved the way it resolved and how everything came to be at the end.

The main character has a lot to work on, but that’s the things about humans, we all do. Would’ve loved to see a self discovery journey, even if briefly.

When I saw this book on NetGalley I was instantly interested. The cover and title were absolutely screaming *my type of book*.
Josh was such a sweetheart and without spoiling it, I'm a sucker for the type of hero he is.
I loved the little moments from early in the story that come full-circle in the end.
I'll definitely be looking into more from Sarah Ready after this!

this book was very cute

I thought I was funny and had a cool concept. thought I was very predictable, but that's not a bad thing it felt confusing kind of knowing what will happen, it was written well and had so beautiful quotes and I loved the little drawing in the chapter

overall I was an ok book very average and a good one to get you out of a reading slump or you want a fast read that doesn't take too much out of you this is perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The book is about Gemma, who is in her thirties, divorced (after having caught her husband cheating), with no prospect for a serious relationship, but an intense desire to be a mother. She has been diagnosed with endometriosis, so she is aware she will have struggles with achieving her ultimate goal of becoming a mother.

She works for a motivational guru, whom she has recently started dating. Because she is living with motivational quotes day in day out she has convinced herself to take the next step and have a baby on her own through IVF treatments.

This is where Josh comes into the picture. Josh is Gemma's brother's best friend. She has known him since their childhood, and when she was a teenager she has a crush on him. She also slept with him in her teens. She has this idea of him that he is a womanizer and someone who generally doesn't take life or anyone very seriously. She believes that he will be the best donor for her baby, because she knows him, trusts him, but will not have a serious tie to him.

I had a lot of challenges with the book, especially the beginning of it. Gemma is being portrayed as chubby, not so well dressed and well kept and with huge appetite for lime Jell-o. My problem with this is that her own family, especially her Mom, brings her down about this. She sets her up with older (stereotypically gross) men, because in her opinion she can't do any better, especially because she won't be able to give them kids. Her literal word were: You can't be picky, you can't do any better. She makes disgusting remarks about her own child, which was just unbearable for me to read.

Also, Gemma makes so many assumptions throughout the story about everyone and anyone around her, that I rolled my eyes on too many occasions.

The saving grace of the story is Josh. His character is honestly too likeable to be anything but adorable. His storyline saved the plot and my enjoyment of the book.

I believe this story does deserve 3 stars, but could definitely use some improvement, especially in how the female character is portrayed and treated.

3 out of 5 steam level- slightly descriptive sex scenes

Trigger warning- infertility, cheating spouse, divorce, parent with terminal illness

Gemma Jacobs is 32, divorced, and dealing with infertility. But this year is going to be different for her. Why? She's determined to have a baby, even if she has to raise it on her own. And who better to be the father of that baby but her brother's best friend and Gemma's teenage crush, Josh Lewenthal.

This book had so many amazing moments. I smiled, I laughed, I teared up, and I just couldn't stop reading! Gemma seems to have a positive outlook on life despite all she has been through, but we discover that she's not as confident as she seems. I was rooting for her to find happiness and have success during her IVF journey, and although some of her choices were frustrating for me, I can understand why she guarded herself and found it hard to trust in true love. I also really enjoyed seeing her build friendships with her infertility support group, and it was also interesting to see her opinions of her boss change throughout the book. Josh was the absolute best thing about this book! I adored every moment between him and Gemma, and I love how there were little clues throughout the book about how he felt and what he wanted out of life. He really was the perfect partner for Gemma, and the two of them had such natural chemistry throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
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