"Josh and Gemma: The Second Time Around" by Sarah Ready is a poignant and emotionally charged contemporary romance that delves deep into the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. As a reader, I was immediately drawn into the lives of the protagonists, Gemma Jacobs and Josh Lewenthal, as they grapple with the sudden upheaval of their seemingly perfect lives.

Ready skillfully sets the stage for the novel by introducing Gemma and Josh as a couple deeply in love, with promising careers and a baby on the way. However, as the story unfolds, we see their relationship tested in ways they never imagined. Gemma's unwavering positivity and Josh's laid-back humor are put to the ultimate test as they confront devastating challenges that threaten to tear them apart.

The characters are vividly drawn and authentically flawed, making them relatable and sympathetic. I found myself empathizing with Gemma's struggles to maintain her optimism in the face of heartbreak, and rooting for Josh as he navigates the uncertainty of their future. Their journey is filled with heartache, but also moments of profound growth and self-discovery.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of themes such as resilience, forgiveness, and the true meaning of love. Ready doesn't shy away from portraying the messy, imperfect nature of relationships, but also offers a message of hope and redemption that resonated deeply with me as a reader.

The return of Ian Fortune, a figure from their past, adds an extra layer of tension and intrigue to the story, keeping me eagerly turning pages to see how his presence would impact Gemma and Josh's already fragile relationship.

Overall, "Josh and Gemma: The Second Time Around" is a captivating and emotionally resonant tale that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you cheering for its resilient protagonists. With its compelling storyline, well-developed characters, and poignant themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for a review. Please not that the opinions formed are my own. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book and give a my review.

I enjoyed Josh and Jemma's story. However I cannot endorse this book due to the amount of explicit content. I liked the pregnancy representation and Jemma's journey of recovering and living after a serious health crisis. However this book was not as good as the first book in the series.

I don't think this was a necessary sequel but enjoyable overall. I wish more focus had been paid to Josh and Gemma rediscovering their love.

"Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around" by Sarah Ready is a four-star romcom that serves as the highly anticipated sequel to "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby." The novel continues the delightful journey of Gemma Jacobs and Josh Lewenthal as they navigate the ups and downs of life after the happily ever after.

Gemma, with her upbeat and positive outlook on life, and Josh, the laid-back and fun-loving creator of a successful web comic series, are faced with unexpected challenges that disrupt their seemingly perfect lives. Ready masterfully explores the complexities of love, marriage, and the resilience required to weather life's storms.

The strength of the novel lies in its ability to tackle the "after the happily ever after" phase, offering readers a realistic and heartfelt portrayal of the struggles that can arise in long-term relationships. The characters, who were initially introduced in the first book, continue to evolve and face new hurdles that test the depth of their love and commitment.

The narrative is rich with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and invested in the fates of Gemma and Josh. The return of the world-infamous Ian Fortune adds an intriguing layer to the story, introducing an element of suspense and uncertainty.

Ready's writing style is captivating, blending humor with emotional depth. The novel seamlessly weaves moments of laughter with more poignant scenes, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that mirrors the complexities of real-life relationships.

The exploration of a devastating separation adds a level of intensity to the plot, forcing the characters to confront uncomfortable truths and make difficult decisions. The resilience and strength displayed by Gemma and Josh contribute to the novel's overall message that love requires continuous effort and a willingness to fight for what truly matters.

While the story offers a satisfying continuation of the characters' journeys, some readers may find certain plot points and conflicts to be somewhat predictable. The resolution of certain challenges may adhere to familiar romantic tropes, potentially leaving readers seeking more unconventional twists.

In conclusion, "Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around" is a four-star romcom that delivers a compelling and authentic exploration of love, laughter, and life's unexpected curveballs. Sarah Ready skillfully captures the essence of long-term relationships, offering readers an engaging and emotionally resonant story that goes beyond the traditional happily ever after.

DNF
I've tried multiple times to arrive at the end of the book, but I don't understand the whole sense of the story.
I loved Josh and Gemma have a baby with all my heart and I was overexcited to have a sequel.... but I didn't expect this. It's all focused on Ian and his sort of redemption arc and... did we really need it? I would have understood if we have his redemption and a further development of Josh and Gemma... but this...?
I'm really sorry, but I didn't enjoyed it at all...

After reading the first book in the series, I was really satisfied with the ending and was really excited when I found out that there was a sequel! That's how I ended up reading Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around.

This book is not at all what I expected. I was expecting a continuation of the happily ever after from the past but from the very beginning, I realized that wasn't the case. The story it chose was very different - what do you do when your happily ever after is shattered? As before, I loved the writing style and the characters.

This book kept breaking my heart and putting it back together. While I did love the continuation to learn about Josh and Gemma’s baby not sure the sequel was necessary although one thing I loved about this book and the first one are the unique story lines and how they are a bit deeper than what you would expect. I was not expecting the twist with Ian. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions for me, I did enjoy it in the end, but don’t think the story line will be for everyone.

Amazing book!

Fantastic story, just like the 1st book but better.

I loved the themes covered and the characters overall growth in the story.

One to add to the book shelves for sure.

This sequel involving Josh and Gemma was a more involved read than it’s predecessor.

When life is rolling happily along for the two (about to be three), a sudden and unexpected situation arises that changes everything.
This sequel takes us on the journey of rebuilding life, love and trust.

Thank You for this advance copy.

This was a lovely read. So well written and it flowed nicely. It kept me on my toes and extremely captivated.

I absolutely loved Josh and Gemma Make A Baby so I was looking forward to this one. It didn’t have the same impact as the first book and after knowing about the previous magic in their relationship this one was a bit of a struggle for me as a reader. Now obviously their relationship takes a massive shift in this book so the same dynamics aren’t in play which I understand. Overall I did enjoy this book but just not as much as the first one.

First let me start by saying, I have not read the first book in this series, so that may be affecting my connection with this one. I liked the main characters, but they made some very questionable choices at times that were hard to understand. Maybe I would understand them better with more back story. Regardless, this was an enjoyable story that I would recommend to others in search of a quick fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC!

After falling head over heels for "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby," I was hyped to snag an early peek at this sequel. But, you know, it's like when you're expecting a blast of laughter, and you end up with just a chuckle.

This story kicks off with Gemma rocking an eight-month baby bump, and our lovebirds prepping for their wedding. Then, bam! Trouble crashes their party, and it's like, "Is their happily-ever-after in serious trouble?" Drama alert!

One thing I dug was the return of Ian Fortune. Is he really the self-centered jerk he appears to be, or is there more to the guy? His vibe injected some much-needed spice into the mix. But here's where I had to put on my skeptic shades: Gemma's recovery felt like it hit the fast-forward button. I mean, miracles do happen, but this one had me raising an eyebrow.

However, Ian and his antics at the rehab spot were like the plot twist we all needed to keep the pages turning. So, yeah, the sequel had its ups and downs, but it's still a rollercoaster worth riding.

*The only reason this book is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because I hate a miscommunication trope.

Josh and Gemma are at it again. They're about to get married when tragedy strikes...

As Josh and Gemma navigate their new world we get to fall in love with them again as well as some past characters and new characters. This book will tug at your heart strings and make you feel every single emotion.

I HIGHLY recommend giving this one a read if you read the first Josh and Gemma.

I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, so I was excited to see this one! I liked the idea of this book, but things made me nervous for a while!

When I saw Josh and Gemma were getting a sequel I was stoked! And this book was so representative of how much of a roller coaster relationships can be. Sarah Ready writes such fun books (this is my second by her) and they have me laughing throughout the whole thing.

I admired the deeper messages in this one because relationships aren’t always rainbows and butterflies. Ready did an excellent job with representing illness.
4 stars simply because I think I enjoyed the first book a little more but this one was still wonderful!

I love a good happily ever after not being the true end to a story, and Sarah Ready did a stellar job with it. Not the biggest fan of her writing, but liked this nonetheless!

I DNF'd around the 15% mark. I loved the first book in the series and this felt like an unnecessary follow-up. The first book worked perfectly as a standalone and it didn't need anything more added to the story of Josh and Gemma.

I liked the audiobook narrator, but even she couldn't save this mess.

I was very excited for this sequel as I really enjoyed the first book, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. Unfortunately, this book did not hit the same for me as the first. The first book ended perfectly and really didn't need a sequel. When the twist of fate came in the story, I could not believe it. The sequel seemed to undo all the work that the first book had worked so hard to get to. This book was just not for me.

The second book that follows the story of Josh and Gemma after the birth of their baby. While Gemma suffers complications, Josh is left to raise their child on his own. As Gemma begins to get better, he finds himself asking if he can find the woman he fell in love with, even when so much has changed.
While I loved the first book and it had me hooked from the outset, I did find this book a bit harder to continue on with. At times I felt descriptions of events or characters to continue on for longer than was needed to further the story.