𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘼 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙝 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙚: 5 ⭑

“𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝑖’𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒.“

_

this book is about Gemma who is divorced and thirty-two. she is social media manager for a self-help guru, Ian Fortune. This book has a lil bit same vibes with Bridget Jones Diary at the first few chapters. so that’s the reason i literally hooked from the first line of this book. yup it’s very cute, funny and lovely. but this book turned into a very serious situation when we find out that Gemma unable to pregnant because of endometriosis. Gemma wants a family but she doesn’t want to marry. so she asked someone who is a her brother’s best friend, Josh to donor his sperm or we called to be her surrogate father of her child. and that’s how the story begins.

i choose this book to read because i want something funny and cute and lighthearted. yes i got the funny, cute but it’s not lighthearted for me. as you can see the trigger warning we got infertility, loss and miscarriage. it’s a very sensitive topics i would say. i didn’t expect at all that i will love this book so much. the plot in this book is very very good i literally amazed with how the author wrote everything and make this book feel like so real that i forgot that i’m actually reading. and all of the tropes in this book are also really interesting. we got pregnancy trope, brother’s best friend, slow burn, and yes childhood friends to lovers. all of these tropes works really well in this one book. it makes you wanna read more and don’t wanna end. because that’s how i felt.

the characters in this book i would say i really adore them so much. Gemma is a strong woman. she is so relatable, imperfect, and and after her divorced she’s trying to accept who she is and what she wants. i just love how optimistic she is. the journey of Gemma in this book is so very intriguing and one of the reason why i can’t stop reading this book. next we got, JOSH LEWENTHAL. josh is Gemma’s brother’s best friend. Josh has been in Gemma’s family lives for most of her life. Josh is super amazing guy ever. hands down he deserves a book boyfriend awards and every stars in this world. he’s kind and gentle and ofc full of humour like oh god who will not fall in love with him. their relationship might be awkward but they belongs to each other. the slow burn in this book is no kidding. but it’s literally worth it till the end. i wish i could say more but it’s so hard to put into words. and Gemma’s family and other side characters are very charming i really adored them so much. Gemma’s friendship with her friends also very heartwarming.

this book literally got me speechless after i finished it. it was so beautiful written and the journey of long time coming love is so lovely. but what struck me the most is the emotions i got in this book. it’s very heartbreaking with the loss and the miscarriage and the sensitive topics. the message behind this book is everything. very beautiful and heart-wrenching. struggling with infertility in common thing and this book really do well with the topic. it also shows the way women cope with infertility differently and how it effects the relationship. overall, this book gave me a very interesting reading experience throughout the whole book. adorably sweet, devastating, full of inspiration, moments of loss and love and ofc a romantic comedy that full of humour.

thank you for the author sarah ready for writing such a beautiful book. and thank you to net galley for the ARC.

This is the first book I've read that involves the process of IVF. It was cute, funny, and a bit emotional. This was also the first book I've read by this author, and I definitely plan to read more by her.

I went into this expecting a light and fluffy romcom that I would speed through and enjoy enough before moving onto another book. I was so very, very wrong. Instead what I got was something so much more- funny yet emotional with well developed characters and an evolving plot line. The strong family dynamics were such an important part that I didn’t see coming nor did I realize that I have been missing this from other books. This whole story really got to my heart and I could actually feel the emotions of the main characters- the author is amazing at bringing them to life. This is definitely one of my favorite books. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was perfect!

I loved how Ready represented so well those who suffer with infertility. It's an amazing story about love, life and its strugles and the way we handle all of them. I'd love to read more about Josh and Gemma's story, such as everyone else :)

Finding this book at the beginning of a new year was the perfect way to get into Gemma Jacob’s head. Like many of us, she decides the new year is the right time to make a change in her life. She’s going to have a baby, man not needed. Sperm on the other hand? Essential. Enter her brother’s best friend: Josh Lowenthal.

The characters in this book were a ton of fun to read. Gemma was equal parts embarrassing and endearing, and Josh was a not-so-bad bad boy who I was rooting for from the start. They aren’t really an unlikely pair, just a slight twist on friends to lovers (maybe we’ll call them indifferent to lovers, but they do make an unlikely decision: Gemma’s going to have Josh’s baby.

Throughout the book, we learn about Gemma and how she operates. Part of what makes her so endearing is the fact that I could see where each of her decisions, good or bad, sprouted from. Sometimes characters act irrationally in a nonsensical way; the best characters act irrationally in a way that makes them seem human. Even though this book is pretty lighthearted, it’s a real treat to see some character growth as well.

An interesting addition to the reading experience were the drawings throughout. While it was fun to piece together why they were there as I read on, they took me out the story just a bit. Still, this was just a tiny part of a wonderful story. Ready handles delicate topics lightly, and I’m excited to read more of her books soon. I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for a laugh, a little secondhand embarrassment, and a reminder that sometimes a perfectly placed quote is all you need.

4.5 rounded to 5.

"Love is the best gift" 💕

🌟🌟🌟.5

First of all I love the cover its colourful, fun and caught my attention from the start. The title suggests a Rom com which it is but is also so much more, as we know from the title and blurb Josh and Gemma make a baby, Gemma wants a baby but it isnt as cut and dry as this, not all journeys are plain sailing. Hats off to the author with how she handled this because it was done beautifully with sensitivity and humour. IVF isn't really a topic I've seen in a Rom com and I think it's a great way to raise awareness.

I loved the character development of Gemma. I wasn't sure I liked her, if I'm honest, in a few situations but she's relatable and overall means well. It's nice to see an imperfect heroine that learns and grows from life and her mistakes. The secondary characters we're introduced to add another layer to the story especially the ivf support group.

This was the first book I've read by Sarah Ready and I'm happy I did. I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future and would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good Rom com and all of the feels with a bit of drama too.

Happy reading!

"You should always believe the universe is going to give you good things, because sooner or later, it will. "

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was a very fun and exciting read. I didn't like it in the first moments, but the book ended up winning me over with time. I just fell in love with Josh, definitely my favorite character in this story.

But I couldn't connect with Gemma, in some moments it was excruciating to accompany her. Anyway, it was a fun read, but I would like some points to be different.
ps: definitely "pregnancy trope" is not for me. Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an
eArc.

I so enjoyed watching the way Josh and Gemma’s relationship developed. Gemma’s journey of self-discovery as well as the way her perception of Josh (and Ian!) shifts kept my interest throughout. And the chemistry between the two in spite of her desire to keep things simple was fantastic. While it was a bit predictable, that didn’t detract from the story for me at all. And I also appreciated the way the author handled the IVF issues, something that doesn’t often come up in this genre.

Although I enjoyed this book it's a shame the author had to rely heavily on plotlines from Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding! I mean she's obviously a fan of that book but I'm sure she could have written her own plot.

Gemma's co-worker is same type as in Bridget Jones and her boss Ian is clearly based on Daniel Cleaver and her Mum has the same sort of parties Bridget's Mum has and her Mum is always trying to set her up with eligible bachelors. Her sister is always shouting at her kids in the middle of phone conversations with Gemma same as Bridget's friend does. Josh has a history with Ian that's similar to Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver (Josh punches Ian same as in Bridget Jones). Ian has a lady friend that is waiting for him when he's with Gemma and she has a mean put down of Gemma as in Bridget Jones.

That aside though, I enjoyed this story of Josh and Gemma although a lot of it was predictable. We don't get Josh's POV but I felt the author made it too obvious early on how Josh felt about Gemma.

It was an easy, lighthearted read even though it deals with IVF but this was dealt with in a humorous way that was refreshing.

I haven't read anything by this author before but I liked her writing style so I would read more from her.

Gemma is a 32 year old divorcée who’s struggling with infertility. She constantly spouts her self-help guru boss’s positive quotes and is ready to take life into her own hands. Josh is the boy-next-door, Gemma’s brother’s best friend, and a web comic author. When Gemma decides to undergo IVF, she asks Josh, someone she describes as a houseplant (always there but never noticed), to be her donor. Throughout the process Gemma learns a lot about life, herself, Josh and love.

I’ve heard a lot about this book and was excited to read it. I appreciate that it provided an inside look into infertility and the challenges that the women who are struggling with it face. The characters in this story are larger than life, and not necessarily in the best way. So many outrageous things happen, it didn’t really seem real. People (including her mom) are AWFUL to Gemma, at least in the beginning. All in all, I think that this story has the makings of a good RomCom, but not all the elements worked for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've loved this book so much.
I was in a reading slump for several weeks and even if I read, I was slow and distracted.
Then I saw this book and I'm so grateful to Netgalley and the publisher to give me the chance to read in advance.
So, here is my honest review about it.
I really enjoy contemporaries, but the problem with them is that they're often predictable. Fortunately for me, this book is not one of them.
The story is quite simple, but the characters make the difference.
I devoured this novel because I couldn't put it down. It made me laugh so hard and at the same time I was captivated by Josh and Gemma story. There was so much tension, you can't understand until you read it (and you should, believe me). Multiple times I thought I was going to burst for frustration and, meanwhile, continuing to read, I found myself moved by their personal issues and got fond of their way of being, especially Josh. He cares so much and people often don't see his cheerful attitude is also a wall to protect himself from hurt. I silently fought for him to be finally recognized for the admirable man he is.
I had liked less Gemma, but I think it's because I can related with her more than I'm glad to admit. Being insicure and living with the fear you won't be enough for someone is something that lots of people struggle with, and the author was really good to portrait in her. Her insecurities, her mistakes, her lack of courage.. You want to smack her head multiple times, but it's worth to see her fall, understand and finally do something to fix things right. It would have been interesting to have more time to deepen her relationship with her siblings and her parents, but I'm happy to read a sort of closure in that too.
Great mention to the hilarious moments that made me fall in love even more with this book - I won't spoiler you anything but for who has already read it I'll just say "Toy Boy" and "koi pond". They were amazing and not forced, thing that made them adorable and a good interlude between more serious parts.
Plus, this novel focus on the IVF process lots of couples or single woman face to have a baby.
It's not excessively dramatic (and I really appreciate the lack of spectacularization) but at the same time it doesn't hide the frustration, the procedures, the pain women have to face as well as the hormonal changes they must endure. Sometimes it's funny to read, sometimes it's not but this is the point: this is life. It isn't always full of sparkles and fun. Having a baby is a great step and people who try IVF came from different paths and stories and deserve respect. This book gives them that. Carly, Hannah, Brook, Gemma... they show the reader different aspects of the same process and I'm sure lots of people will related with them. Recognize in them, also, and that's important, because we need to remember we're not alone.
At the same time, this book is full of hope, that spreads through all this amazing journey that I'm sad it has already ended. Great idea the use of inspirational quotes (you'll understand why during the reading) and I've adored the presence of drawings in the story!
In fact, it would be beautiful to have the chance to read Josh's web comic! I don't know if the author has some ideas about it but for me it would be really a great shot (or the opportunity to read about Josh and Gemma again. Maybe through Dylan's story? I don't know why but I'm very curious about him)!.

I can't wait to read other works from this author <3 Totally recommended.

#JoshandGemmaMakeaBaby #NetGalley

Well, this book took me completely by surprise! I didn't expect it to be quite as funny and as moving as it was, nor did I realise last night that suddenly it was past midnight and I had finished the book... Because I just couldn't put it down. As someone who is very familiar with hormone shots and IVFs I think the story perfectly hit all the emotions you go through during treatment; and, just as the author said at the end of the book, this is Gemma's story, and every journey is different. The lighter, hilarious or fairytale-like elements and the heartwrenching, heavier parts of the story were very well balanced throughout and all the side characters were great, too.

But ultimately this is about Gemma, a 32-year-old, divorced and single woman living in New York City, who can't seem to find anyone worth settling down with but on New Year's realizes that she really wants to have a baby. Even though the reason for her divorce years ago might have been her infertility. Enter Josh, the best friend of Gemma's brother, who has always been around "like a houseplant" and who - to Gemma's surprise - agrees to act as a sperm donor. Legal contracts are made and in the process of perhaps making a baby Josh and Gemma might become friends, too.

Ps. Loved the little drawings by Josh Lewenthal.❤

This was a sweet love story, but I couldn’t get past the way that other characters spoke about Gemma as being ‘dumpy’ and ‘pathetic-‘ even her own mother. What’s worse is that Gemma frequently agrees with this assessment of her character.
The majority of characters were very one dimensional, with little development. At various points it also starts to read like a Trying To Conceive forum, which is absolutely not for me.

This was a decent Rom Com that also tackled done seriously tough topics. The tone felt very much like books by Abby Jimenez.

▪️WHAT I LIKED:
- This book had great female friendships with wonderfully quirky and memorable female characters.
- There were complex family relationships that were well-written and realistic.
- There were a lot of very swoony moments which dragged a feminine sigh from me. And a seriously hot steamy scene.
- The infertility journey was well-written and felt realistic. Although, it really dominates the book.

▪️WHAT I STRUGGLED WITH:
- I found it wildly predictable. In the first scene I easily identified the *twist* revealed in the last chapter. And there is a side character that also has a *twist* that the reader sees from a mile away.
- The lead female is flawed, which is good for character development, but she was SO flawed and sometimes just downright cruel to those around her that I really disliked her.
- There are two scenes, that are meant to be the funniest parts of the book, that are so improbable that it takes the humor away. Strangers assaulting each other and destroying property with zero legal ramifications is just not happening. It's not funny to me if it's totally implausible.
- There is a bit of dialog in this book that is a heavily "borrowed" from one of the mist famous Rom-Coms ever made. It's so similar that I read the ACKNOWLEDGMENTS at the end of the book, fully expecting a shout-out to the original. But...no.

From JOSH AND GEMMA MAKE A BABY:
"When you realize you love someone and that you want to spend the rest of forever with them, you want forever to start right now."

From WHEN HARRY MET SALLY:
"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.."

So, this was an okay read for me, but with a fair amount of issues that I just couldn't get past. Others seem to universally love this book, so other readers may want to check it out since I am clearly in the minority.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is a sweet, humorous romantic comedy about childhood friends in their 30s deciding to make a baby as neither of them has anyone significant in their lives, yet they feel times is passing them by and they want to create a child to love. Gemma sees her sister's four children and longs for her own, but is discouraged by her recent divorce and her devastating diagnosis of infertility. Josh has faced loss of family all his life, so he is eager to have one of his own, even though he has always been warmly welcomed by Gemma's family as her brother is Josh's best friend since childhood.
The plot, although predictable, is entertaining and descriptive and sometimes slightly steamy, creating a sweet story about unexpected love, loss, family and hope. As someone who has experienced the infertility journey, the descriptions are accurate, if somewhat more positive than they might be in real life. However I do wish I would have had a wonderful support group meet-up, as Gemma had (although would have preferred a better location!). The ending sweetly wraps up the story, giving a glimpse into all of characters' lives for the future. It was the perfect New Years read as it began with New Years and ended with New Years also!

Seeing some raving reviews on Bookstagram made me want to read this. I got it from Netgalley (thank you publisher and author!), and I can say that I get why people have been liking it so much.
This book has some of the funniest scenes and characters I have read. But sometimes it was also very poignant and heartwarming. I loved Gemma and Josh, and the whole cast of secondary characters.
It's just a very enjoyable book to curl up with.

my original goodreads review, when I finished this book at 1am after reading the last 70% in one sitting was "i almost cried WHY DID I ALMOST CRY" and that's the general feeling throughout this whole review. i've been struggling to put my thoughts on this book into words because i really want to do it justice. for starters, this book hit me a lot harder than I expected it to? i'm not looking to get pregnant or even thinking about children, but the way that gemma described the whole IVF process was so interesting, and helped me understand infertility and the emotional devastation it can cause. josh really felt like a huge question mark at the beginning of the book, especially because male characters in romance books have the tendency to be absolutely transparent (mainly with their romantic feelings for the main character), but he hid himself under layers of humour. it made all of this so much more real, because in real life, people aren't going to present the deepest parts of themselves just for fun?

this book got me so attached to the story and the characters. i don't know how else to describe it, but when everything went wrong for both josh and gemma at once, i was so emotional without even realising it. and when she threw the shoe (people who've read the book will know hahahah), I almost burst out laughing because it was so random (not in a bad way of course).

my one point of contension with this book was that, especially at the beginning, when you're not really 'in' the story yet, the illustrations have the tendency to break off that 'flow'. they're a really nice inclusion, especially with the little 'illustrations by josh' note at the end, but i think they would work so much better as one cohesive comic panel at the end, including the ~information~ from the epilogue.

this book still made me feel so emotionally drained that i lost several hours of sleep over it, so: read it!

First read of 2022 and it was a great one. I will first start with why I gave this book 4 stars. I really want to give this a 5 stars, but I was bothered by the way they mentioned Gemma’s (the main character) weight and how it was viewed as a bad thing to be curvy.

Apart from that, this romance is very important in my opinion. It talks about pregnancy and every struggle that comes with it and for that I think and hope people will read and enjoy it.

Gemma who has complications getting pregnant decides to try and have a child. As the title suggest she turns to Josh for it. I won’t give much away about why because that’s the fun part of reading this story.

Both Josh and Gemma are really funny yet very touching and struggle with a lot of things. I went from crying to laughing out loud in just seconds. Josh is a character I could really relate to throughout and I think everyone will love him. Gemma is also very lovable. I had a lot of second embarrassment bc this is still a romcom and it was amazing. There are a lot of positivity quotes and even though I’m not about all that it grew on me and I appreciated that.

All in all this book breathes positivity, lightheartedness but doesn’t shy away from sensitive subjects like grief or infertility. I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves. <3

What a fun romantic comedy - this story hooked me and I could not put it down. The author tackles the tough topics of IVF, infertility, and pregnancy loss in both a heartfelt and lighthearted manner, The romance between Gemma and Josh made me smile, laugh, and cry all in the same evening. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking out a witty romcom! You will be rooting for these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up not finishing this book. It turned out that it just was not for me! When I read the description I really hoped that I would like it and it would be a good fit for me, but it was not.