𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬: 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.
𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦: 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯, 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵,𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 26𝘵𝘩 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 2023


𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕒, 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕪 𝕋𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕠𝕣 𝕤𝕨𝕚𝕗𝕥.!!!

I received an Arc copy to Josh and Gemma the second time around and to say I was surprised was an understatement. They had already received the perfect ending in the previous book so how could the second time around be any better.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧,𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?

This question was what made me curious and dive back into their world once again and I was not ready for what I was about to witness.

Sarah really pulled all the strings on this one as she dealt with real life issues and sensitive topics which had my heart racing for a while. To see that romantic comedy can carry out such issues yet still keep the humour and lively atmosphere throughout the length of the novel is commendable.

I was not prepared for the amount of angst
I’d experience and to see this couple go through heartbreak & despair yet still fight back against all odds and slowly find their way back to each other was awe-inspiring.

It’s difficult to admit that when you are in love, you feel as though nothing can hurt you, everything in life is finally right and you are soaring so close to the sun that you forget to appreciate the little things and it’s only when you are on the verge of losing that love or have lost it, that you find yourself surrounded by all the things that made the love you experienced so much more significant.

To say that the book was an unnecessary ending this love story deserved would be wrong because then we wouldn’t appreciate Josh and Gemma’s love enough.

“𝐀𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚”

Thank you Swift and Lewis publishing LLC for approving this ARC copy and NetGalley for making this review possible.

I received this book as a ARC to review, I didn’t realise this was a sequel so I listened to the first book and loved. Now you definitely can’t read this book without reading the first one first so I’m glad I did that.

I love that this was such a different take on your usual HEA, there was real life problems which Josh and Gemma had to go through. Overall a really good read

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Ok - I have to say first … I LOVED book 1. Josh was one of my top book boyfriends after book 1. It was one of my top reads (of over 400) last year. It was absolutely incredible! I loved the couple, the story, the infertility struggles represented, the difficulties dealing with Ian. It was so real. Such a unique story. Book 1 was 5* for me.

I HATED book 2. I broke up with Josh as a book boyfriend during book 2. He never managed to redeem himself. If your almost wife (who literally fell into a 4 month coma AT THE ALTAR) had this situation, would any love-sick guy who made all the claims he did run off to California (from NYC), and not sit vigil at her bedside… and be on the cover of every tabloid with his new girlfriend? Disgusting. Ian 100% redeemed himself because he was the one sitting by her bedside for months, he was the one with her when she woke up, he was the one who was with her every moment as she struggled to get herself back through physical and other therapy. Heck, he even does a whole lot more than that.

Sarah Ready - what did you do! Book 1, one of my top of 2022, is now completely tainted after this! I’M SO SAD after reading this book! It was like someone took book 1 as fanfic and completely twisted the HEA around… even though Josh has his excuses, it’s an absolute NO from me. I definitely can’t recommend this to anyone who loved the first book as much as I did. 2.5-stars rounded up.

The only redeeming thing about this is Erin Mallon as the narrator on the audio version. She’s my number one girl! I kept going and didn’t DNF because I love her voice… and kept holding out hope there was something really and truly wrong with our understanding of Josh’s behavior (told all from Gemma’s POV, so hard to know what he was thinking the whole book).

I received an advance read and listen copy from NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and Members' Audiobooks, and this is my honest feedback.

I sped through this book. I had enjoyed the first book in the series, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, and was excited to see where Josh and Gemma's relationship would go once they were actually together and pregnant. The book started off well enough. I was happy to see the progression in their relationship and the weeks leading up to the birth of their baby. There was family, joy, comedy, sexual tension and anticipation.

Then the book took a major turn, and felt *lackluster* to me.

I mean, sure, I can understand the theme of forgiveness, but regardless of the idea of forgiveness, I cannot understand and empathize with the villain of the first book who literally insulted the MC as she was miscarrying. Then to not only to forgive but to become friends with that person - it really upset me and ruined the book for me a bit.

The book also had a lot of lead up and then such a quick ending. I don't know - I enjoyed some of the book, but mostly felt confused and frustrated.

Whew. It's always interesting to read about after the happy ever after. We left Josh and Gemma at the end of their previous book totally in love, engaged, expecting a baby... what happens next?
Not-really-a-spoiler-alert: a lot. A lot happens.
The first few chapters are (if you've read the previous book) more of the same: Gemma and her chaotic family, slapstick comedy - and then it takes a major turn. Because the story is entirely from Gemma's point of view, the whole tone changes too: as a result of what happens in her life, she might be the same person, but she's not the same character any more and it shows in her narrative. Interestingly, her change of perspective gives the reader a new perspective on the other characters: not just Ian, whose backstory was totally not what I was expecting, but her mother who came across as a lot more sympathetic. And Josh, who I couldn't get much of a handle on in the previous book, but who is depicted with so much love and detail here. This is a story that's hard to read at times, but is ultimately full of emotion, and the realisation of what it really means to love and the forms it can take.

The story
Gemma and Josh are about to tie the knot, just before their baby is due. But at the altar, instead of saying I Do, Gemma passes out. When she wakes up, three months have passed. She has pre-eclampsia and been in a coma. Sadly nothing feels right and the first thing Gemma says to Josh is that she doesn’t know if she loves him anymore.

My thoughts
I loved the first book in this series, it dealt with IFV very honestly, and had Josh and Gemma finding love with each other. I am not sure about this second story. The characters find peace in the end but it’s a hard read, and I feel like maybe treating this as a sort of romance topic is a hard thing to do. So much emotion, sadness, not knowing if someone will wake up and even if they do who they will be when that happens. Josh and Gemma struggle to communicate after she comes around, and I felt like the fact that she hasn’t really bonded with her baby isn’t tackled at all. Some things in life are just plain hard and this has to be right up there with tough things to deal with ❤️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was not my favorite. I loved the first book. I felt it was just too far fetched. I wanted to love it because of the first but really didn’t!

The premise of the story has a lot of potential: what happens when the couple who has it all loses their footing, and perhaps, each other?

The reality is that the story never reaches what could have been. Gemma and Josh, our couple, have a baby on the way, a beautiful wedding planned, and everything coming up roses when a calamity strikes. The story explores how they react in the aftermath. It could have been a deep and profound journey but it felt very rushed and shallow. Here this couple is supposed to have this incredible love but we never really get to see it.




I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Gemma and Josh are getting married and having a baby. The wedding preparations and pregnancy are taking a toll on Gemma. She makes it down the aisle only to collapse during the vows. She awakens from a coma to discover she has given birth to a daughter. She also discovers she no longer loves Josh. The relationship takes some rebuilding after that admission. Will they become a couple again or does Gemma feel more comfortable with someone from her past?
This was a great book. It was maddening, sweet, and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed this book. Josh was so very understanding and Gemma's mom was a great support as well. It would be wonderful if everyone had the support that Gemma had. This is not the book for everyone. Some will be upset at Josh. Some will be upset at Gemma. I am glad they worked through their issues and arrived at their destination.

Josh and Gemma the second time around
by Sarah Ready
5 stars

Gemma is on cloud nine with her life she's about to have a baby and is getting married to Josh.
What happens when life decides to throw you a curve ball?
Josh and Gemma have to navigate what can happen when life gets turned upside down and no one knows how to handle it.

I absolutely loved Josh and Gemma make a baby, so when I saw this one squealed I was overly excited to see their journey continue.
Sarah's writing hits home it's a sweet cozy love story with complex topics. I love her writing and have loved almost all her books.
if you read this 100% read Josh and Gemma make a baby first or this won't flow well.

Josh and Gemma have the fairy tale they have their miracle baby due soon and are about to get married, but all of that changes in an instant.
Having woken up and not sure what is going on at all, Gemma is lost on time and day and not being able to feel, and not sure how to handle everything.
Can you survive a relationship when you can't feel love or happiness?
Can you get back to what you missed out on and get back to what life used to be?

This is so emotional in so many ways but like my favorite quote from the book.
Everythings better the second time around.

Thank you, Netgalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing for the eARC for an honest review.

<b>**** 4.25 Stars****</b>

Read <b>Josh and Gemma Make a Baby</b> before you pick this one up for having a better experience reading.

I honestly didn’t want to pick up this book up because the first book was so amazing and had the perfect little ending and everything was tied up in a nice little bow, so what more could this story offer you? But I was so wrong.

I would have regretted not reading this book. I cried a million times and I also laughed a lot too, I don’t think I have felt so many emotions in just 300 and odd pages. To whoever is going to continue with this serious buckle up Toto because this one’s a really emotional ride one which you will never be prepared for.

<b><i>I have never read an author who brought out a twist in the book so early and yet follow through and through with it till the end so beautifully.</i></b>
Some of the character developments that happened were so shocking and unpredictable. The plot will never leave you feeling bored. It’s fast paced and gripping.

Every chapter there’s something amazing happening.
I would love to talk about some trigger warning in this book that were handled with so much care. I get the authors message so loud and clear and I sympathise with so many issues that we face as humans and maybe not everyone does but you understand the pain so deeply. I don’t know how she managed to put such raw emotions out there.
Absolutely loved this book, I have found a new author to love and I will keep coming back to her.

<i>Trigger warnings : anxiety, panic attacks.</i>

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really like the Josh and Gemma make a baby and was thrilled to be able to read what happened next in their story. It's not often you get to see what happens to characters once their book has finished and they get their happily every after. I liked that we got to see what the reality looked like for Gemma and Josh after they have their baby and how it all would actually work out, we get to see that life isn't easy and they happiness is not always guaranteed after the happily ever after.

Do I think that a sequel was strictly necessary for this book? no. I think that Ready did a great job at tying up the last book with a nice little bow and allowed for the readers to make up their own mind as to how Gemma and Josh went about the rest of their lives. I am a reader that doesn't need every single question answered at the end of a book.

Over all Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around was a good and enjoyable read.

This book was not what I expected, and I don't mean it in a good way. I was expecting a cutesy little romance of Josh and Gemma preparing to meet their child, or even adjusting to parenthood, but this book could not be any further from that. First off, the tone is completely different from the first book, with this one feeling much darker. The whole premise of the book is that Gemma falls into a coma and has to learn how to feel again, what the heck? It's such a weird premise and feels so dark. Second, it barely felt like a romance novel. Josh and Gemma were barely together, and it even felt like romance wasn't even a priority for them. The romance didn't even come into full force until the last 15 or 20%. Lastly, I was excited for this follow-up book to the first novel, especially because it leaves a lot left unwritten in the first ending. Yet, I felt so disappointed. I feel like this book was just fumbled, and after reading, it feels unnecessary.
I understand this was an important story for the author to tell, since it was personal with the issue of traumatic brain injuries. However, it just did not feel like the right fit for a sequel with Josh and Gemma.

This book was GREAT! I remember being surprised about the depth of the first book and I feel the same way about this one. It covered some heavy topics and wasn't just a romance. I found myself loving the friendship of Gemma and someone who was from the first book and I just appreciated this book SO much, The authors note at the end was heart warming and I want to read more about her now.

Thank you for my copy of this book- I am a Josh and Gemma fan for sure!

To be completely honest, I feel pretty conflicted about this book. I absolutely adored the first book and didn’t believe there would be a sequel because of how well it wrapped up. But then there was. The premise of this book was a little mysterious, so I didn’t really know what would happen…until I started reading it. The plot was just a little too unrealistic for me, but maybe in reality it’s not that crazy. For the sake of remaining spoiler free, I won’t go into details, but for the longest time I was just thinking what the heck is happening. This book was incredibly unexpected but in the end I did like it. There was a redemption arc, relearning to love, and dealing with loss. It was both heavy and light at the same time.

This book was completely not needed. I don’t know why the author wrote this book but okay. The whole premise of the book was so dumb for this to be part of the series. I understand the author wanted to represent her mother, but I should’ve been done in another book/universe.

The idea of love was so lost and not well expressed in this. It was more telling than showing. I liked Ian’s redemption story and honestly now he’s my favorite. But otherwise, the love connection between Josh and Gemma just felt poorly represented.

It read so quickly, which was great! Especially since there was actually so much going on. I was so excited about this, I didn’t totally love the last one, it’s because of how Gemma was treated, but I wanted to see Gemma and Josh get their happily ever after! And while they DID, and of course I knew there was going to be a conflict, otherwise this book wouldn’t be a thing at all. But the journey to their actual HEA was rough and honestly not my favorite.

That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good book, it REALLY was! It was written well, and the story moved along at a good pace. I just wanted something different. It was just so hard to watch Gemma struggle, and to watch Josh struggle because of everything Gemma was going through.

BUT the saving grace of this whole book was the ending, and watching Gemma be this new version of herself. She WAS changed after being in a coma, but she was determined not to give up. Watching her fall in love again. Her realizing that love isn’t just the big things, it’s also the little things. It was SO SWEET. Her and Josh love each other SO MUCH. And that was the most important thing. And like everything else that was done so well.

Ian Fortune SUCKS. But his whole story line was complicated and thought out, I hated every second of it, but it was done so well. I hate that Gemma decided they were friends. I don’t actually care that he did in fact had a sad childhood and a very specific reason for being the way that he is, he was not a good person. Gemma and Josh were such good people, and forgiveness IS very important. But I personally wasn’t into it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved every minute of Josh and Gemma the Second Time Alone. I easily could have read this in one sitting if it weren’t for life and adulting.

Even though the book deals with some heavy subject (preeclampsia resulting in coma and TBI) it still have many funny aspects to the story.

My favorite part of the whole story is Josh and Gemma’s love for each other.

Thanks to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for a copy of Josh and Gemma the Second Time around in exchange of an honest review

Im going to start this review by saying I absolutely loved the first book in this series. Loved it. So I was super excited to read the sequel. Let me tell you this book is going to have some very polarizing reviews Im sure. This isn't a lighthearted, fun, cute, rom com. This sequel is about real life, it's about what can happen after the HEA. It's about tragedy, loss, illness, and its really challenging the vows we make to each other. The book also took on some pretty heavy topics like pregnancy complications and TBI recovery. If you aren't into reading something harder, more emotional and serious, maybe skip this sequel. If you want to read how two people struggle through hard issues and find their way back to each other, then give it a read. Also if you want to read about Ians redemption - give it a read.

-A few spicy scenes
-Some miscommunication (not always my fav)

3,5 stars

Absolutely not. Absolutely. Not. I genuinely don’t understand why this book was written, it was so unnecessary. The first book would’ve been perfectly fine as a stand-alone.

I didn’t like the first book to begin with, mainly because of the writing and the lacking chemistry between the characters, and sadly that didn’t change in this one. A lot of the times, the writing felt overly dramatic, trying really hard to be funny, which just made it cringe-worthy. As for the characters, Josh and Gemma infuriated me so much. There was so much unnecessary drama and miscommunication between them. Most of the interactions (like in the first book, there weren’t a lot) between them felt forced.

This book is also a great example for “show, not tell” because their “love” was never really shown. And what made everything worse is that Gemma spent more time with Ian instead with Josh. There were more sparks between her and Ian, the antagonist (although not anymore I guess?) which is terrible. Also, why was this book a whole Ian redemption arc. No one asked for that. There were so many things wrong with the plot. The Lisa thing. The Ian thing. The entire brain injury thing??? Basically the whole thing.

It feels like the author tried really hard to convey a deeper message about love and whatnot, unfortunately it didn’t work. This book should’ve been left unwritten.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and Netgally for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.