I really like this book. It's a great romantic comedy and I loved the main characters. It had a satisfying ending and will recommend this book to my family and friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the advanced readers copy. This review is an accurate representation of my experience reading the book

unexpectedly good !!

honestly the title kinda put me off.. like way too direct for me ? ig ?
this was also rlly interesting to read.. cuz as someone who doesn't see herself wanting to have kids at all i liked reading the mc's mindset tbh 🤞
the author didn't half-ass the IVF process like i expected.. it was detailed and i honestly knew nothing abt it so that was nice 🤓

LOVEDDD the female friendships and how they all had diff personalities, like u could easily tell who was talking fr
the romance was cute fr they did have the chemistry and some parts had me blushing.. (the vibrating phone iykyk 😳😳)
i do wish we the author had added short flashbacks or something similar.. like they've known each other for +20 yrs it'd have been a great addition 🙁

the writing was fun !! it was kinda Christina Lauren type books 🤔
ALSOO love books set in nyc. not relevant to the plot or anything but i just like them 🤓
finished this book in ~4 hrs.

(got the digital arc through netgalley)

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to read this book due to the brother's best friend trope, but it gave me so much more. Gemma wants to have a baby, and decides to approach her brother's best friend Josh. It was nice to see that relationship start and blossom.

I also appreciated that Sarah Ready tackled infertility. So many women go through it, and the author did a good job portraying the highs and lows. I especially loved everyone in the fertility support group, the way the women supported each other in their very own ways. All had different personalities, all were in different stages in their journey, and I was just as excited to read and learn about them as I did with Josh and Emma's relationship.

I liked the slow burn for Josh and Emma. I understand the part Ian played in that, but I almost felt like he was an afterthought. And he didn't really do much for me. But Josh more than made up for it.

Emma's family was also fun to read. We all have that relative that 'means well' like Emma's mom. I liked her dynamic with her sister too.

Overall, this was a fun, easy read that I devoured in one sitting. I'll definitely be looking into other books by Sarah Ready.

To me this was a very unique concept for a book and I love it so much. Seeing her fall in love with him while he is completely whipped the entire time is so much fun. The fact that he writes the flipping comics about her?! And the HE WROTE ONE FOR THE BABY!!!! Josh is the best man ever. I need a short story about them actually being parents.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I could not get into it. Too much self degrading references (or degrading comments from others, especially Jemma's mom!), too much immature humour for my taste. Being fat, getting drunk, saying what comes to your mind, and humiliating yourself on several occasions worked for "Brigit Jones' Diary" but other authors should avoid it. And the book needs a better title.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange of the honest review.

When Gemma decides she’s taking her life into her own hands by having a baby on her own through IVF, who better to ask than her brother’s best friend? She’s tired of waiting on her Prince Charming and being envious of everyone else in her life. Little does she know through this journey she’ll discover things aren’t always as they seem.

I really enjoyed this story. It was quirky and romantic and funny. The characters are madly frustrating at some points because Sarah Ready knows how to make you fall in love with them. Several points in the book I wanted to rush through just so I could figure out what happens. It’s a novel of accepting people and taking a deeper look, of accepting and loving yourself, and of being vulnerable.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was fun, emotional, heartwarming, and discussed the standards and pressures of life and the roles in which we play. It discusses the critical topic of infertility, which was handled very well within the book.

Gemma is a wonderful character who knows more than anything that she wants to have a baby...and she doesn't need a man in her life to do it. I admire this, and as someone in their 30's wanting children, I could relate to her personally. It broke my heart to see other characters body-shaming Gemma on the frequent, so as much as I loved the romance in the book, I appreciate the story of self-love and acceptance. It's in the knowledge that we don't have to fit a specific type of mold to matter.

Josh, oh, how I love Josh. There's undeniable chemistry from when we meet him sitting on Gemma's childhood bed. Their backstory is so cute, and the trope of being "off-limits" sizzles as the two characters spend more time together. I love that they come to this agreement because it's something they both want, and it's their own goal, not involving others. They can share this, and it's beautiful to watch their full-circle story unfold. You observe early on that Josh has feelings for Gemma and always has. It's lovely how it all plays out.

The growth they go through together is beautiful, and the way they're always there to comfort one another made me cry. It's how they stand up for each other with their support and friendship. The trust between them is always present. I love to see this type of connection in a romance.

Overall, I enjoyed this fic. Some characters filled like fillers, and I didn't care for them as much, but it didn't stop me from engaging with our main characters. I enjoy how author Sarrah Ready adds humor in the dialogue, and you can visualize these conversations taking place. The illustrations were a nice touch as well.

If you're looking for a fun yet heartwarming love story, this book is for you!

The publisher kindly provided this e-arc via NetGalley for an honest review.

I was in a huge reading slump before this book.

Then I read this in one sitting.

This book had everything. I had to put the book down exactly two times. One to fry my eyes out and tell my husband, “but they’re fictional characters. Why am I so upset?” And another to crack up after the twist near the end.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Genuinely 5 stars. If I had a physical copy I would be hugging it.

Thanks netgalley for letting me read this
I loved it! It was the cutest book you could see some sparks pretty early on really but I loved that they talked about infertility and what it intels and that it took some time and support you need for family and friends and that Josh didn't flaunt his celebrity and that geema loved him anyway it made my heart so full

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby centers on the story of two misunderstood 30-somethings and their unlikely journey to parenthood and love. On a deeper level, it features things all too common and too unspoken: infertility, the expectations of single womanhood, self-confidence.

Gemma is a self-proclaimed believer in self-help, so much so that her deep-rooted interest has become a major personality trait for her as she spills platitudes in way of advice. If William Ernest Henley hadn’t written the line in “Invictus” that says, “I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul,” readers can bet that her sleazy guru of a boss, Ian Fortune, would have, and Gemma would have all too blindly boarded that ship. Within the novel’s first few lines, she bluntly explains that as a kid, she worshipped her brother’s best friend, the womanizing product of a defunct marriage, Josh Lewnthal; now, with the clarity -or panic - of her situation (early 30’s, divorced, infertile, and the recipient of every cringe-worthy set-up attempt from her overly-involved mom), she has decided that she once again cares about Josh, or more specifically, his sperm. That’s right, she’s decided once and for all that she’s an independent woman who doesn’t need no man…except strictly for DNA purposes. She proceeds with her plans, initially telling no one - including Josh - except her utterly bizarre, borderline inappropriate fertility doctor. After some very light convincing, Josh comes around (no pun intended) and agrees to be her baby daddy, because even a former panty-stealer wants a family. As Gemma prepares for her fertility journey, she not only begins a romantic relationship with Ian, but also sparks a genuine friendship with Josh, and becomes a member of a ragtag fertility support group that meets in a rat-infested comic store basement and consists of a former model, a foul-mouthed attorney, and a holistic believer. Throughout, she questions her blooming feelings for Josh, the boy she previously referred to as a “houseplant” because in their adulthood, he’s just always sort of there in the background of her life, but ultimately attributes these amorous feelings to the hormones. Ever the gentleman, Josh is more than willing to support her through these challenging times of celibacy, further blurring the lines of their totally platonic, contracted agreement for child-rearing.

The novel checks the box of multiple tropes: romance with a brother’s best friend, an over-involved mother, and a (spoiler) sick parent. Though a fun read, readers must be willing to move beyond Gemma’s narration, which at times feels immature, inconsistent, and underdeveloped. We also have to be willing to look past some truly unbelievable encounters, including the fact that her entire hometown knows that she was diagnosed with such terrible endometriosis that the doctor called her uterus a battlefield with nothing left, and another infertile couple who appears several times at key moments and wreaks havoc as a way to keep Gemma and Josh from recognizing their true feelings sooner. In doing so, I found a cute story that touched on the far-reaching, non-discriminatory impacts of infertility, the desire to be seen for who you are and not who you were, and the idea that everyone (except maybe Ian Fortune) is really just trying to get it right.

This novel was provided free from NetGalley, but will be available for release in 2022. It’s a breezy read that introduces readers to the language and journey through IVF in a gentle, if not somewhat hurried way. It could definitely be considered triggering for those struggling to conceive

It's Amazing!!
Oh, my Heart🥺🥺
Loved this book so so much, I didn't expect to Relish it as much but I did but I'm so happy about it 😁

This is a story abt 2 beautiful souls Gemma and Josh who faced life's dirty struggles with hope and sunshine in them how much ever they were derailed sometimes...There's so much to deal with btw the...Will Gemma ever realize how much Josh loves her or will he be that just a playboy in her eyes forever...

Will Gemma ever get the family she dreams of, will ppl stop criticizing her or judging her...will she know how much beauty she adds to the world
Will her struggling heart failing hope lift back up??

Ah! Gemma, you're so beautiful inside out.
I'm so glad I got to read these amazing characters.
How much Josh loved Gemma stole my breath
The way the plot was crafted, twisted, unfolded, and presented was just enchanting
This book gave me all the feels and vibes..so full of pure content, story, love, romance, and comedy
It has so many worthy characters and issues that were dawning and touching
We all struggle so much and hide it..we are not perfect but it's okay, it only matters we try, and with hope and love, we can defeat them!

The audiobook was 1000x incredible, I listened to it in one freaking day!😁

This story touched my heart so much 💗
Can't wait to read more from the author

I have so many favorite quotes from this book but I'll say only one :
LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT I EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GIVE

* CW: Deals with Infertility issues
Spice:one open door romance

Super cute rom-com! Very sweet premise. Loved the writing style. Pride and prejudice vibes.

Will definitely pick up the next book by this author.

Thanks to netgalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma is a divorcee who is desperate for a baby and she enlists her brothers best friend Josh to be her donor.

Only problem is, it’s very hard to make a baby with someone without some sort of feelings getting in the way...

What a gorgeous rom-com this was! I adored it. The relationship between Josh and Gemma is so lovely, I really enjoyed their dynamic.

Despite being a romcom it’s really poignant in parts and I found myself in tears near the end.

It also tackles the subject of infertility really sensitively, as someone who has endometriosis myself, I really appreciated that.

I’d never heard of the author before but now i’ll definitely be reading more of her work - she deserves to be as popular as Emily Henry and Colleen Hoover in my opinion!

I laughed, I cried, had moments of heartache and moments of pure joy. This romcom had the full spectrum of emotions.

Gemma is a thirtysomething divorcèe who wants to fill her life with love in the form of a family. She has come to the realisation that Prince charming isn't coming, she doesn't need a man and she can totally do this on her own. Enter Josh, Gemma's brothers best friend. He agrees to be Gemma's platonic sperm doner. From here their relationship slowly grows as they take on the challenges of IVF.

Gemma is so relatable, authentically imperfect and she revels in the acceptance of who she is and what she wants. I think we can all be a Gemma at times... positively optimistic and sometimes brutally honest. The only thing I wanted more from this novel was getting to know Josh better and his story. I was so invested in both of their lives and was rooting for their happy ending.

What's to like:
❣Relatable characters
❣Laughout loud moments
❣Moments of sincerity
❣A happily ever after (what more could you want?)

This review will also be posted on @thebluereadingchair on Instagram in the first week of Jan2022.

Within the first chapter I was so intrigued by the relationship between Gemma and Josh, wondering how their relationship will play out. Is it a classic enemies to lovers? Or friends to lovers? Brothers best friend? Not quite but at the same time it's all sort of blended in. Josh was a huge casanova when he is first being introduced., tall and handsome? Check and double check. As the title indicates Gemma and Josh are making a baby in a less than traditional way, but that makes the beginning of their relationship all the better as they become closer and friendlier that they have ever been their whole lives. Who would have thought that would teach Gemma the value of people and that you never truly know a person if you don't bother to look. Although I know mothers can be a bit overbearing and fuss over their children with good intentions for the most part, I hated how her own mother set her up with questionable men and didn't seem to be bothered that they would turn out to be creeps. The fact that she criticized Gemma for her body and made her feel like she was damaged goods made me angry even if that is what drives the book forward and pushes Gemma to reroute her thinking and learn to value herself and move forward in her life single or with a partner. Gemma really is a good character and I appreciate how she pulled herself up after her failed marriage and kept trying to live her life and didn't feel like she needed to keep a man to live a good life. Josh was also well written and you can feel his emotions through his actions and the way he treats Gemma is so heartwarming I wish she had noticed way earlier.

I got an advanced readers copy of this book and I think this was the best book to end this year with. It has left me feeling so happy that all these mushy feelings are hard to contain inside of me. This is the first book I have read by Sarah Ready and she didn’t disappoint. This book got me out of my month-long reading slump. Once I started it, there was no going back and I literally finished it in one evening. I loved it so much and I am pretty sure I have fallen hard in love with Josh Lewenthal. He is this quiet guy who is so much more than he looks. Once you get to know him, you realise how much he holds himself back from people.
The story begins with Gemma, who is fed up with the idea of looking for the perfect life partner to complete her life. She decides to have a baby by herself and she chooses her brother’s best friend, Josh, someone she has known for almost 25 years, as the sperm donor. If reading this, you think you know what this book is going to be about, trust me, you are not prepared. It is so much more under the surface, just like Josh ( I am literally making dreamy eyes every time I type Josh’s name). Gemma is not ready for what an emotional whirlwind it is going to be after she decides to have a baby with Josh’s help through artificial insemination.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions. It made me laugh out loud so many times I am pretty sure everyone in my house thinks I have gone crazy the way I have been laughing alone in my room all this time. This book made me so happy and yet so emotional. There was such a balance between light and emotional moments. I loved Josh and Gemma together. They were the kind of people who brought out the best in each other and I believe those are the best type of people.
Overall, it has been a wonderful experience reading this book. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who are suckers for “it has always been you” trope. I promise you, this book is going to leave an impression.

This book follows Gemma, who is a 31 year old divorcee, wishing for a family and a husband. Until she realises, she does not need a husband to have a baby. We follow Gemma as she embarks on IVF along side her brother's best-friend Josh.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It was so cosy and sweet but also so raw and painful at other times. Gemma was a brilliant protagonist, so witty yet smart. I think at times she could be awful but she came to her senses and eventually realised her wrongs on her own.

A book containing IVF for me is always hit or miss because it is such a difficult topic to write about because it can go so many ways. I find I prefer the books were it is not a fairytale and does not just magically happen straight away because that is the reality of IVF, it's a hard process that does not always go as planned. I think the author did a brilliant job tackling this subject.

Josh was a perfect character, I loved him from the very first time we met him, a real charmer but a sweet heart when it comes down to it. I guessed pretty early on that he was in love with Gemma and I also picked up straight away that his New years resolution was the marriage but I enjoyed the storyline regardless and I'm glad the author did not put them together straight away. A slow burner but it was definitely worth the wait.

I rated this book 5 stars and I have nothing but praise for Sarah Ready and her magnificent work. Thank you for providing me with an e-arc, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read more of Ready's work in the future.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is a wonderful romance that’s both heartwarming and humorous while also tackling the difficult topic of infertility.

Gemma is a thirty-something who’s divorced but desperately wants to become a mother. She’s struggled with infertility after endometriosis and was never able to conceive. After hearing that her ex is about to become a father for the third time, she decides to make having a baby her New Year resolution. She undertakes the nerve wracking journey of IVF, but doesn’t wasn’t to have to use a sperm donor. Enter Josh, her older brother’s best friend. Despite his constant presence in her life since she was a child, they e never been close. But she considers him a decent human being and would like his donation to the cause. They intend to keep it strictly professional but as they spend more time together throughout the IVF process, she is drawn closer and closer to Josh, realizing that maybe a baby isn’t the only thing she’s been missing.

This story was so wonderful, I didn’t want it to end after the HEA. I wanted more of everyone - Gemma and Josh, her family, and her support group friends. I relate so hard to Gemma and totally fell in love with Josh (what is it with love interests named Josh?) The very sensitive topic of infertility was handled so well, even when things got heavy, there was still humor to be found while no making light of it. If you love books by Abby Jimenez, you’ll love this one!

I love love love it . An amazing story about a woman with fertility issues who just want to have a baby to love and cherish . But for that to happen she must find the man who will be her sperm donor . The only man she has on her mind is Josh her first love and her briother best friend . At first he is negative but after while he agrees and then their journey starts . A story about love , friendship , accepting who you truly are . I loved the group of the women and how real they were .
The author made me laugh and cry from the first to last page .
I am hoping for more Josh and Gemma story to be told ., I want a sequel .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not having read other books by Sarah Ready before, I didn’t know what to expect before reading Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. Needless to say, the story was sweet and entertaining, a definite must read for sure.
Josh and Gemma story one of slow burn romance and both them experience such incredible personal growth in this book.
It was a fun, easy read that many romance lovers would like.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.