Josh and Gemma are back. Gemma is pregnant and they are getting ready to get married. Gemma is feeling a bit unwell but chalks it down to being stressed because of the wedding and coming down with a cold. In the middle of the ceremony, Gemma is convinced she is dying and blacks out. Months pass and we learn that she has preeclampsia and could have died because it was not treated. She spent 3 months in a coma and baby Hope was in the NICU when she was born. Luckily the baby was fine and she was okay even though she claimed she couldn't feel emotions the same. She had a traumatic brain injury and it could have changed her forever. With this she began to fear that she would never feel love for Josh again and fought to figure out her emotions. It was an interesting read.

One of the first books I ever reviewed was a Josh and Gemma book doing this a year later feels nostalgic. I loved revisiting these characters. I love when romance novels expand over books, and we get to see the characters change and go through life together. This was so real, and I loved every second of it.

I loved the first Josh and Gemma novel (Josh and Gemma Make a Baby) and was excited to see a sequel. Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around did not disappoint.
Josh and Gemma's plans and lives are uprooted and spun around. Their love is upended and it seems it is lost forever. As they try to find their way back, emotions are strung out on taut lines. Both Josh and Gemma are determined to make the journey back to each other but it is a daunting task at best.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5⭐️
This sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was such a delight. It was refreshing to read a story that continues after the HEA and explored more of the characters’ back stories. While I was not expecting so much of the story to focus on Ian, I did end up enjoying it and it brought everything full circle in the end. I alternated between the audiobook and e-book and enjoyed both formats; the narrator was amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for my review copy.

My Thoughts (Possible Spoilers)
3.5/5

I absolutely loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. So, of course, I read Josh and Gemma the Second Time around as soon as I could!! While I really enjoyed it, I did prefer the first book in the series💓 What I really enjoyed about this book, as weird as it sounds, was Gemma and Ian’s relationship. I love the friendship they built and how Ian helped Gemma make her way back to Josh. While I did enjoy the way Sarah Ready wrote this story I do wish we got a little more of Josh and Gemma being a family with Hope. I know they got there in the end but I wanted a little more during the book. I also wish we got a little more of a reason of why Josh and Lisa were thought to be a couple when Gemma woke up. But, like I said I did really enjoy this book. I love all the characters💓 This book made me laugh, made me sad, and made me smile. 10/10 recommend reading this one soon because it is out now!💓

I read the book first.. My favorite couple ever. I really enjoy reading the book and then listening to the audiobook. First you devour the book and so listening slows it down for the little things that you had missed because you were just waiting to find out what happens next.. Perfection!

I wasn’t expecting to take things the turn to the way they did in this book. But despite, I loved how heavy topics were dealt with. And I’m quite satisfied with the ending too

Umm, I don't know. I don't think this is really necessary. Or maybe just make it a novella rather than a full-length book. I think it kind of ruined what the first book did rather than making it better. So I would just pass on this one. The first book is enough.

This is the sequel to "Josh and Gemma make a baby" and picks up where it left off,so it is recommended but not imperative, that you read that one first . Gemma, now pregnant and planning a wedding, inevitably encounters obstructions and derailments to her happy ever after. On her wedding day ,the worst thing believable happened,her life came to a sudden halt ,and everything at a standstill with so much uncertainty in the air. Gemma has to re-orient herself and relearn behaviors and emotions, while navigating new responsibilities and re-acquainting herself with her familial interactions.These events inevitably placed a strain on her intimate relationship, but Josh's patience and care helped to bring everything to a satisfactory conclusion.While I appreciate the trauma Gemma experienced , I could not help feeling resentment towards some of the things she did and said.The author was able to take us on and through Josh and Gemma's journey, back to a place of happiness and normalcy with sensitivity and depth.This one is worth spending a few hours to read and I appreciate the chance to read this ARC provided by the publishers and Netgalley.

I did not read the first Josh and Gemma book though I was aware there was most likely one given the title of this book. I still felt like I could follow this story just fine. This book had an interesting and unique story line, though I found myself questioning where exactly the story was going to go much of the time, and maybe not in a positive way. I felt like a lot of the book focused on Gemma and her interactions with Ian, which led me at times to believe the book may go in that direction. I did like Josh a lot. He had all the characteristics any one could want in a partner. I think there was a lot of promise in the intent of this story line but it fell flat somewhere in the execution for me unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this sequel to Josh and Gemma Have a Baby was just okay. I enjoyed the first installment which was a good rom-com, but the HEA from the first book turned out not to be true and that there were bumps in the road which realistically happens in relationships. After a tragic event rocks their “love as long as the sky is blue” thoughts, Gemma and Josh strive for a second chance to reclaim their love. Throughout, Josh is his true nice guy persona, while Gemma struggles to find her way. Told with a thoughtful and sensitive dialogue, I felt the author handled their life challenge well. I just wish this book had more joy in it, so it really is not a feel-good book with cute romance. The addition of steamy sex scenes didn’t add to make any difference to the story. They goal for a second chance lacked the sweetness and fun found in their first story. As a reader, you felt sorry for Gemma and Josh, and maybe even their baby Hope. But on another note, I thought it was great that Ian Fortune gets a second chance to redeem his villainous reputation and we heard more of his origin story. Just a sad sequel.

Many thanks to #netgalley #sarahready #joshandgemmathesecondtimearound for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I adored Josh & Gemma in the first book and I thought the audiobook was fantastic. I was delighted to listen to this second book and it exceeded all my expectations. Josh is an amazing husband through all of Gemma's challenges and even grew to like the formerly despicable Ian. I wasn't sure how Sarah was going to make their story even better, but she did. It's a romance, with comedy, drama, family issues, a health crisis, and a villainous character. It is perfection.

"Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around" by Sarah Ready is a delightful read, even though it's not exactly what fans were expecting. After the success of "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby," many of us were eagerly anticipating the next chapter in their love story, where they would navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood together. But, instead, we're thrown a curveball when Gemma is diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and falls into a coma.

While this plot twist may have been unexpected, it's a testament to Ready's skill as a writer that she's able to make it work. The story is a powerful exploration of the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds of love and family. In an experiment that will be interesting for anyone who has ever wondered what happens after the happily ever after.

This is a very sweet continuation of the first book, maybe it wasn't absolutely needed, but it was definitely fun spending a little more time with these characters again.

This book had me hooked from the beginning! I love that it displays the hardships and struggles in life and in relationships. Love isn’t always just butterflies and kisses, it takes work to make a relationship work. Thank you NetGalley for the arc and allowing me to give my honest review!

This series is so much fun and infuriating in the best possible way.

In this 2nd book we get to hear more about Ian Fortune…yeah he’s a nightmare, I know…but every villain needs his origin story. We get that in book 2. It added a lot to the story.

Ian Fortune and Gemma both get some serious character development in this book. I sorta think Ian stole the show a few times. Once you read it you’ll know what I mean.

There is a lot of flirty banter in this one. We get a lot of perspective on this book too.

Towards the end you’ll get a nice helping of steam 🥵🔥 too. Sarah Ready writes perfect steamy scenes that are exactly what I’m looking for in a novel…not cheesy but not quite smut either. It’s good stuff. A perfectly sexy balance. 👌🏻👍🏻

I was just so fully immersed in this book. This is one of those situations where the book is just so good I’d be afraid they couldn’t do it justice on screen. BUT I’m totally here for it if they try. 🍿 🎥 It’s definitely a series I’d read again and one that I hope continues.

This book disappointed me. After the first one I couldn't get into the story and I kept thinking why there is such a sad sequel to their romance. I didn't like where the story went because I was expecting a different one. Unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea.

After reading Josh & Gemma make a baby I really thought the HEA was the road they were on so I actually surprised when I saw that Ready had written a sequel to Josh and Gemma's story.

I think what I liked most what the story was how realistic it was. Like yes in my head when the first book ended they went on to live their lives together happily, but with how they started that wasn't really the most realistic (I'm a dreamer and optimist what can I say).

If you're looking for that no problems HEA this might not be the book for you BUT if you want a satisfying emotional arc that shows a couple having to deal with real-life problems and find their way through them, it’s perfect! There's also some redemption for the infamous Ian Fortune who everyone loved to hate in the first book.

Overall, was the book necessary? No, But did I find it entertaining to go back into the world of Josh and Gemma? Yeah, I really did.

I really enjoyed this book, but Gemma irritated me a lot. This is definitely a book with a serious topic and one that needs to be talked about more often. Part of reading romance is the feeling it gives you, but what happens when the love dies, and it is no one’s fault? Can you get it back?
On what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, Gemma has complications with her pregnancy and ends up in a coma. When she finally wakes up, life is different for her and her family and she doesn’t feel love the way she used to. Josh promises to love her enough for both of them, how long he can remains to be seen.
She irritated me because she seemed to be more involved with Ian (who I begrudgingly started to understand and like more) than she put effort into her relationships with everyone else. Josh was his same swoony self and my heart broke for him on more than one occasion.
Seeing the heart and work they put into getting to each other and help each other was nice. I think more books need to talk about the heavy stuff more often. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Gemma and Josh's story continues, this side of their story showed us a different side of each character, their HEA is now on the line, they face a situation they never saw coming and now they have to find a way to get back. It was full of emotions, twists, and simply a way to show us that not everything is easy. The audiobook was narrated by Erin Mallon, and it was a wonderful way to experience this story, I stronly recommend you the audio version.

Happy Publication Day!!! 🥳
The first book was too cute! I loved it. This one was not as romance-y as the first and not so much comedy but I read this more as a domestic drama at times.
I did think this was cute in its own way but I suppose I didn’t find it entirely necessary. I went in blind to the sequel so I guess I was expecting the wedding, honeymoon and baby and the challenges that come with those to make a sweet and spicy rom com with some craziness thrown in to mix things up. At times I felt this one almost made me sad. Although it reads just like the first book, it’s very heavy at times.
I was also hoping for A LOT more story of life with the new baby and there wasn’t nearly as much spotlight on the baby as I had hoped there would be.
Also, this might sound a bit critical but the prologue was totally unnecessary. It’s literally brought up in chapter 3. 🤣 That may have been taken out since though as I read an ARC of this.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cute story. But I don’t think it’s comparable to the first!
A big thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.