I did not realize when I selected this book that it doesn’t work as a standalone. I feel like there’s entirely too much backstory that I don’t know for me to get into this book. I made it to 35% and it never grabbed my attention. I chose to DNF. Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC. It just wasn’t for me.

Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around is the sequel to Josh and Gemma Make A Baby. I loved the first book and was surprised to see the sequel.

Gemma is pregnant and deeply in love with Josh. Josh and Gemma were preparing for their wedding, but things went upside down for them.

Gemma awoke from a coma three months later and has no emotion, which her doctor says is normal after a brain injury. She doesn’t feel love for Josh. So she decided to fall in love with Josh again and live happily with him and their daughter.

Ian also makes appearances in the book, but instead of a greedy self-help guru, we see a more human side of him. Ian helped Gemma feel emotions like anger. Gemma and Ian’s growing friendship was fun to read. Ian was frustrating at times.

The book focused a lot on Gemma and Ian; I wish we could get more of Gemma and Josh and their struggle to find their way back, and Gemma learning things again. There was a lot of miscommunication between Josh and Gemma, which was frustrating.

The idea is that things sometimes fall apart even after “happily ever after” and you can find your way back.

I liked the plot of the book. It was a fun read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥 (3.5- moderately descriptive sex scenes)
Trigger Warning: traumatic brain injury, car accident, brief mentions of cheating

Gemma Jacobs has everything she's ever wanted. She's 34 weeks pregnant with the baby she never thought she'd be able to have, and she's about to marry the man of her dreams- Josh Lewenthal. But then their wedding day ends in tragedy, and Gemma's world is turned upside down. Now she and Josh must navigate their new normal and find a way to restore their love. Has their happily ever after been destroyed or will it be better the second time around?

Alright, let me start by saying this wasn't a perfect four star book for me, but I didn't quite feel like it should be bumped down to 3.5 stars. The beginning and ending were excellent, but there were a few things in the middle that I had mixed feelings about. I really liked that this book showed how happily ever after can sometimes have roadblocks and detours. If you go into this expecting something light and fluffy, then you'll definitely be disappointed. This is more of an emotional read and deals with heavy topics of loss and trauma. We also get to see Ian Fortune- the antagonist from book 1 - get sort of a redemption arc as a lovable a-hole. His backstory included some plot twists that I never saw coming. My main complaints are that we didn't get enough of Josh in the middle, and there was some miscommunication that honestly seemed unnecessary. But even with that, I found myself sucked in and wanting to find out how Josh and Gemma would overcome the difficult hand they had been dealt. I definitely recommend reading book 1 in this duet, and if you're okay with a heavy, serious sequel then definitely give this a chance afterwards.

Thank you Netgalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gemma Jacobs has life figured out. She’s upbeat, positive to a fault, and the master of her own destiny. She has a wonderful career in social media marketing, lives in a trendy apartment with her fiancé Josh Lewenthal, and is pregnant with their much-loved baby.
Her life is wonderful. Absolutely perfect.
Except…
What really comes after the happily ever after?

I absolutely adored Josh and Gemma Make a Baby so as soon as I saw this on Netgalley I ran! I think it's hard with romance books to make a sequel that is equal to the first one so I was a little apprehensive.

I think the beginning was easy to read and fun, being back in this world but as it gradually went on, I did find myself a little bored in some sections. If you are going to do a sequel you have to do something different which Ready did do in this book but I think it just took me by surprise and I wasn't mentally prepared.

As the book went on, I did begin to enjoy it again and I loved the ending.

I rated this book 3.5 stars!

thank you to netgalley for this e-arc in exchange with honest review.

i gave this 3.5 stars. this one is a little bit disappointing and not good as the first one. i was so surprised to see the author announce the sequel for Josh and Gemma Make A Baby. i love the first book so so much like josh and gemma literally have a special place in my heart. okay no i won’t say it was necessary to write the sequel but i love how the author wants to highlight more on gemma’s story. i really wish this book more focus on josh and gemma rather than ian. and also the pacing and the plot in here are a little bit draggy. this book is still heavy and serious because of the struggles of josh and gemma’s trouble with the inability to feel. i still got the overwhelming feeling when read this book. so overall i enjoyed this book but at the same time i’m sad that it didn’t reach my expectations.

The follow up to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was, in my opinion, not as good as the first. I feel like it is one of those books where it would have been better off without a sequel.

I enjoyed this sequel. It did have a come twists & turns that after reading the first I was not expecting. Nothing new to the this type of book. If you enjoy romance novels I would recommend, plus it did have a little spice compared to the first. I enjoyed it.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
.
Josh & Gemma the Second Time Around is the sequel to Josh & Gemma Make a Baby.
.
I won’t describe this book at all because it would give away everything.
.
However, it was ok? Not needed but didn’t hate it. I was pissed at first that the author fucks with the MCs happily ever after — but it was fun. Unnecessary but cute.
.
If you read the first and enjoyed, give this one a read! Pub date is January 26!
.
Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC!
.
#netgalley #joshandgemmathesecondtimearound

Not as good as the first one.
This one didn't feel as necessary nor did it offer anything new. It has the same formula as most rom-com.
Josh and Gemma Lewenthal look like a couple who has it all. They're head over heels for each other, they love their jobs and have a fantastic apartment in the city. They're expecting their first baby in six weeks, and they’re driving upstate to Gemma's parents' home for their charming, intimate backyard wedding. But then the bottom falls out.

This is a sequel to Josh and Gemma make a baby. It could be read as a stand alone, but I highly advise reading the first one first to get a better feel and appreciation of the characters and the writing more. I love a second chance romance, so I was very excited to pick this one up.

Josh and Gemma are engaged and have a baby on the way. On the altar, Gemma faints and is in a coma. When she wakes up, she doesn't have feelings anymore for Josh and doesn't remember anyone. Can they still have a happily ever after? Yes, the beginning dragged a little bit, but I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around by Sarah Ready

This is a follow up book from Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. This book added to the story of Josh and Gemma but for me I felt it unnecessary to write this book it really did not add much to what I already knew about the couple. Gemma has second thoughts about marrying Josh. Ian is again in this story playing havoc in essence to Josh and Gemma relationships. You do find out a little more about Ian's back story that gives light to why Ian does what he does to Josh.

I am of the opinion that the first book was enough and a follow up was not necessary. It did not provide all the feels I got from the first book. I think this would have been better if Mrs. Ready would have written the backstory about Ian and not make the relationship between Josh and Gemma more complicated. I just did not get the enjoyment as I did in the first place. I just felt like I did in the first place that Ian story could be left out of the story.

I did like the banter between Josh and Gemma which some of it will make you laugh a bit. This was a 3 star read for me and I do recommend this for romance lovers this does have some romantic comedy in it. If this is your cup of tea then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for a free copy of Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received a copy of Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around via NetGalley to read and review.

I read Josh and Gemma Make a Baby last year. I remember liking (but not loving) the book. I saw NetGalley had Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around and thought I’d see where their story goes. I was not expecting anything I read but in a good way. This is a bit darker than the first book but I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely still a romance but I’m not sure if I would label it a romcom. There are little chuckle moments but it’s a darker humor.

I definitely liked the second book more than the first which I did not think would happen.

This was a hard book for me to read. I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby SO much and I thought it ended perfectly so when I saw there was going to be a sequel, I was a bit nervous. I don't like to imagine my favorite couples enduring more pain and trauma than they already have and this book really has them going through A LOT. Like major, major trauma. I wish I would have remained in my happy Josh & Gemma bubble.

Also, I do not care one iota about Ian Fortune and felt that if the author really wanted to redeem him, he should have his own book instead of having him appear so much in this one.

I really am heartbroken that I didn't love this book but I do enjoy Sarah Ready's writing so I definitely plan to check out anything else she may write in the future.

As soon as I finished Josh and Gemma Make a Baby I downloaded Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around craving more of Josh and Gemma's story! Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC. I read this in one sitting and have really been enjoying Sarah Ready's writing style. I did find some of the events in this story a bit bizarre but that's what I love about reading fiction! I did not love this as much as the first but would still recommend this book to other rom-com lovers. Overall a really enjoyable, sweet and funny read! I look forward to reading more from this author!

3.75 Stars— I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit. The biggest issue, it was unnecessary. While I enjoy reading romance that is less fluffy and more true to life, the “drama” dragged a bit and at times felt forced.

That being said, Josh and Gemma really are a solid couple. Watching their growth story is enjoyable and their HEA left me very pleased.

This book is a sequel to Josh and Gemma make a baby, which I loved and gave five stars. Now after I have read this one, I feel like this book was very unnecessary. It didn't bring so much new to me.
👫
I didn't like that the main focus in this book was on Ian, Gemma's ex boss and the most hated man. I wish to read more about Josh and Gemma rediscovering their love to each other. That was what I loved about the first book, to read about them. But overall a cosy and a cute story that I really liked

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!!!

I loved “Josh and Gemma Make a Baby”, so I knew I had to read this. Normally I don’t like reading books about “marriage troubles” and I wasn’t sure where this book would go, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance! What a heartbreakingly beautiful story!

Josh and Gemma are getting married and she is 36 weeks pregnant. Then something horrible happens. They have to learn to love again and find happiness.

This book had unexpected twists and turns and was a great sequel. I thought it was wonderfully written and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Ready!

📘: Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around by Sarah Ready
🗓 Pub Date: January 26, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads. Will review on retail once published!

I loved the first book 'Josh and Gemma Make a Baby' so I was really excited to get my hands onto the sequel. Not realising there was going to be a sequel, I thought they would live happily ever after so I did not expect the plot twist at all!

At first, I wasn't a huge fan of where the story was going as it was SO different to the first, but I ended up really enjoying following Josh and Gemma's story going through all their struggles they were now trying to overcome. I liked seeing more of their family and friends and seeing how supportive they were throughout.

Without giving too much away, the main 'thing' in the book is something that I don't know much about at all so it was very interesting to read and learn about.

This was a great sequel which flowed really well. I would definitely read more!

I loved Sarah Ready’s first book, “Josh and Gemma Have A Baby” so I was excited to see there would be a second book. I went into it expecting the same witty banter, the same feel-good vibes of the first book. This book was different. It wasn’t a bad different, just different. There was the same witty banter, but not as much as there was in the first book. This book was much heavier. After suffering an unexpected tragedy, Josh and Gemma are faced with their biggest test yet. Can they survive the aftermath of what’s happened? This second book answers questions about Ian and Josh that you didn’t even know you should have. This was a deep exploration of commitment, how nothing stays the same, and what love really means. There were some really good lessons on love in this story and if you let it, it’ll teach you a few. It was a beautiful story.

It’s hard to write a review for a book that you hated. I may hold an unpopular opinion, but I don’t read romcoms to be entertained by unnecessary trauma and drama, I read to smile and escape. Of course a little drama is normal, but throwing a huge medical emergency into an already established love story, as a plot line, seemed downright cringy and simply unnecessary. It wasn’t for me.
The audiobook helped me push through (I used both formats) since I was able to play at 3x, but if it wasn’t for the necessity of this review, it would have been DNF’d at the stupid jello ploy at humor in the beginning. Such a bummer.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC (both digital & audio), in exchange for my unbiased opinion.