READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone was a highly anticipated read for me, after hearing rave reviews - so I was thrilled to receive this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eve is working a somewhat boring job, adjacent to her passions, and enjoying life in New York City with her best friend Willa. After an out of character one-night stand, Eve finds her self unexpectedly pregnant - READY OR NOT tells the story of what happens next. While I loved the premise and found the writing enjoyable and cozy, I really struggled with this book. Eve seemingly makes little money, has very little support, besides her best friend Willa, and is somehow able to afford her own place in Brooklyn, and then, when finding herself pregnant, doesn't waver in her desire to keep the baby. There is no internal monologue or explanation that Eve would even consider any alternative - adoption, abortion, anything - and in today's world, living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I found this too hard to believe. Eve didn't even mention that she's always wanted kids, or anything to explain this lack of a decision. After this, the whole book felt a bit unbelievable in a way that really dampened my enjoyment. Others may enjoy this one, but I will not be recommending it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback/

I was so excited for this one! Apart from the beautiful cover and being set in NY, the plot really intrigued me! I'm so sad to say that though it was cute, I found it very boring. By 50% I just wanted it to be over. Shep was a total sweetheart but he was too perfect.

Love this stunning cover. It evokes the perfect vibe for this story. I saw the beautiful cover and knew I had to read it, even knowing nothing of the plot. I have a habit of going in blind. The unexpected pregnancy trope is sometimes overdone and used as a trope to create conflict and misunderstanding between the two main characters. In Ready or Not, this is handled differently, as the MMC is not the baby daddy. You would think Eve would have a bit more panic and introspection about an accidental knock-up, so her complete "go with the flow" was a bit unrealistic, but since Shep was the literal sweetest character ever, it more than makes up for it. The book was a little repetitive and meandering - or maybe I am just used to more drama and toxicity on my romances - but the characters made me root for their HEA and that is all that matters.

A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this “absolutely buoyant read” (Elle, The Best and Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2024, So Far).

“Bastone delivers on this truly heartwarming, funny, and real story. Come for the dog bar, stay for the special, slow-burn romcom.”—Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author


Eve Hatch sounds a lot like me. I am a person who likes order, no surprises, staying with the familiar and being cozy. I'm also a midwesterner who plans for the unexpected. I am predictable. BUT - unlike Eve - my pregnancies were planned with a great partner. When Eve find herself unexpectedly pregnant it changes so much in her life and her relationships.

I liked this book so much - it reminded me of Emioly Giffin's first books. Great character develeopment and believable situations. A story of friendship and finding love in unexpected places.

🤰🏼Book Review🤰🏼
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Summary: Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.

Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts: surprise pregnancy is not usually my jam, but this one was so sweet. It doesn’t really become a romance until halfway through, but it’s just a really light and happy story with a very lovable and relatable FMC. This book really took me by surprise, I flew through this and was able to connect to the characters even though I lacked the same experience. A highly enjoyable, light and breezy read! Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the advanced copy !
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QOTD- what is the last book to surprise you ?! Was it in a good

A really good exploration of the pregnancy trope in romance, this novel is simultaneously sweet, tender, poignant, romantic, and realistic, while still being very fun and fluffy. One or two open door scenes, but mostly very tame. Those who love or don't mind a pregnancy plot will be very happy with this, and those on the fence may be swayed. Cara Bastone is a go-to author for me, I'm consistently satisfied by her work.

Oh I loved this book so much! Girl gets pregnant. The father gets cold feet. The best friend backs away. The best friend's brother steps up.

What a sweet, warm, funny story. I loved the characters SO MUCH and loved the realistic and complicated portrayal of pregnancy and "what now?". This was a fantastic read and I look forward to what Cara Bastone comes up with next.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The accidental pregnancy RomCom that I didn’t know I needed, but now can’t live without! Laugh-out-loud funny and gut-wrenchingly tender… Ready or Not just became an easy favorite for me this year.

We follow Eve Hatch, whose life is turned upside down by news of the bun-in-the-oven variety. Eve is forced to embrace changes of all kinds and not just the bodily ones. One of these changes comes in the (somewhat overly-large and clumsy) form of Shep Balder, a childhood friend and the older brother of Eve's lifelong best friend. Is it the pregnancy hormones talkin’ or is Eve suddenly seeing Shep in a whole new light?

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. I loved Shep’s impeccable cinnamon roll energy (he is the new blueprint!) I loved Eve’s hilarious (and spot-on) journey through pregnancy and her own personal growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a delightfully sweet story!! All the warm fuzzy feelings 💗. Shep and Eve are absolutely a joy to read about. I love the "best friends to more" trope and this one delivered on all the angst and the sweet moment when they each finally realize the feelings the other one has for them.

On top of that, I just was sucked in by the tone of this book... funny, sarcastic, and made me laugh out loud multiple times, but also so many moments that were tender, sweet, vulnerable, real, and raw. I completely lost myself in the story. I also appreciated the mature way all of these characters handled some really big, really tough issues. There was no big *miscommunication* which is a huge win for me!

I *loved* all of Cara Bastone's short stories on Audible and I am so pleased that she wrote this book with that same wonderful banter that I was hooked on from her first one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Cara Bastone’s 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵, Eve is pregnant after a one night stand and beginning to navigate life as a soon-to-be-single-mom in New York City. Though the baby’s father is struggling to determine what kind of role he wants in its life, her parents and other mother figure have passed, and her siblings live several hours away from her, Eve has a solid support system in her long-time best friend Willa and Willa’s older brother Shep. On the road to unplanned motherhood, usually go-with-the-flow Eve learns how to be more brave, decisive, and proactive with what she wants out of life and to be more open, honest, and vulnerable when it comes to love. Though there are romantic elements in the story, I would say it also has a great deal to say about friendship, family relationships, and personal growth.

This is a sweet, mostly enjoyable novel about a woman dealing with a huge and surprising life change. I say “mostly” because while I think it is a well-written story, there are certain things that kept it from being a five-star read for me. The author spends a great deal on characterization—sometimes to the point of overkill. Like, we get it, Eve is a bit flighty, Shep is clumsy, Willa is brash, et cetera, no need for the umpteenth example of these things. And yet I still struggled to understand character motivations from the narrative presented. The biggest example of this is that Eve—a single woman in her late 20s, working an admin job in the industry she loves but not on the career track she desires, happily living alone in her perfect Brooklyn apartment—has decided to become a single mom in one of the most expensive, busiest cities in the world. But we as readers are never let into her decision-making process and are left to assume she’s choosing the parenthood route because… she’s secretly lonely? She’s used to just rolling with things? It’s never made clear. And that’s just one instance of this kind of gap. Being unable to see what’s driving the various characters made it difficult for me to truly connect with them and their storylines.

Despite the disconnect, I do think 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵 is an interesting and touching perspective on motherhood and relationships. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a piece of women’s fiction that explores love and the modern family. Thank you to Dial Press, Random House, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit, unexpected/surprise pregnancy is NOT one of my fave tropes, so I was a little wary of this one. But I actually enjoyed the read. Was way annoyed with the bartender, but the friends to lovers, best friend's brother romance won my heart. Loved the found family in this story as well. A solid, good romance!

"Ready or Not" by Cara Bastone is a heartwarming and utterly delightful read that takes readers on a journey filled with surprises, laughter, and love. When Eve Hatch finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, her carefully planned life takes an unexpected turn. As she navigates the challenges of impending motherhood and strained friendships, Eve discovers unexpected support from her friend's older brother, Shep. With his unexpected kindness and charm, Shep becomes a source of comfort and stability for Eve during a time of uncertainty.

Bastone's writing is wonderfully authentic and filled with humor, making Eve's journey feel both relatable and uplifting. As Eve grapples with the complexities of family dynamics and the unexpected twists of love, readers are treated to a story that is equal parts heartwarming and entertaining. "Ready or Not" is a special blend of romance, humor, and genuine emotion that will leave readers smiling long after the final page.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Ready or Not is an interesting mix of tropes that I enjoy with those that I do not like at all. This is a childhood friends to lovers romance, which almost never works for me, paired with a surprise pregnancy trope that I usually really like. It is a contemporary romance, which is totally my jam, but it is told from only one POV, which I usually don't like. All of this to say, Cara Bastone is one of my favorite authors and this book just continued that trend. She made me enjoy stylistic and story choices that I usually don't love, and that means that this book was genuinely engaging and did it's job.

Eve discovers that she is pregnant in the first chapter of this book. She knows that she will keep and love the baby, but doesn't know exactly what that will look like. As someone who is very organized at her job and in her home, this uncertainty causes her turmoil throughout the book. Everyone in her support circle, including the baby's father and her best friend seem to be filtering the baby news through their own lenses of life experience and are unable to support Eve in the ways she needs. Everyone, that is, except for Shep, her best friend's bother who is a consistent, kind, and enthusiastic support.

The pace of the first half of the story drags a little bit. I did feel some frustration toward the characters, but that was largely intentional from the author. I read the story in one day, alternating between the ebook and audiobook. This book made me cry in Target. Do with that what you will.

Cara Bastone gets my wholehearted stamp of approval. Her stories are always engaging and hopeful. This is another 5 stars from me!

4.5 stars ⭐️

✨ accidental pregnancy
✨ friends to lovers
✨ best friend’s brother
✨ slow burn

I was SO pleasantly surprised by this book - I hadn't heard much about this book before reading but I absolutely loved it! This book was so charming, tedner, goofy, and swoony. I will 100% be reading more Cara Bastone books in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the ARC! 💕

What a fantastic book this was! Usually I shy away from accidental pregnancy tropes given my own experience with infertility. However, I think that because this was the main premise of the story from the start, I absolutely connected with it and loved every second of this book! The author handled the pregnancy theme with sensitivity and care. I appreciated that Eve’s best friend, Willa, was a character struggling with infertility. It felt relatable to my own experience. The actual pregnancy was also raw and real, not just fluffy and for the sake of the book. I absolutely loved the love story at the heart of this book too. Brothers best friend, friends to lovers, and even the found family in your one night stand all just blended so flawlessly together. The tension between Eve and Shep was perfectly done and when they finally got together, the spice was sooo good! Eve was a truly funny, relatable and wonderfully refreshing main character! And Ethan was a perfect addition to this whole story! I truly loved everything about this book! Thank you so much Netgalley and Dial Press Trade for my #gifted ebook!

Cara Bastone never disappoints!

I loved the setting in Brooklyn - Cara obviously loves the neighborhood and clearly pulls from her real-life experience. I found the family dynamics - of Eve's brother's being much older than her and Willa & Shep's mom being like a mom to Eve as well - intriguing.

I never found the baby daddy to be interesting as a love interest - so it didn't feel much like a love triangle to me. The friends to lovers slow burn of the central romance was perfectly paced and juicy.

Absolutely adored this book.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the arc of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ready or Not is about main female character Eve who has found out she is pregnant after having a one night stand with a bartender.

This is the story of Eve's pregnancy. How her friends and co-workers take the news, how her relationships with people change, how Ethan takes the news that he's going to be a dad, and how Eve can find love even when pregnant. It's a romance featuring the tropes best friends brother and friends to lovers.

There were a few moments that had me in tears for Eve and the hormonal journey that is pregnancy. Absolutely loved this one.

“ Treat everyone like they’re somebody else’s favorite person on earth “ thank you Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this lovely novel. The story focuses on Eve, a woman who finds out that a one night stand has led to an unplanned pregnancy. She goes through the ups and downs of finding out your pregnant, the awkwardness of telling people who can’t get pregnant that she’s pregnant and realizing the pregnancy hormones are some of the strongest emotions you will ever feel in your entire life. While this book was predictable, I enjoyed every word and nurse Louise is somebody I need in my life. the moral of the story is that when you become a mother you put everyone’s needs before your own and how you need to treat everybody with extreme kindness and who can say that there’s anything wrong in that?

Eve has the life she wants- a beautiful apartment in Brooklyn, a job at a place she's always wanted to work, and a best friend that has been a part of her since childhood. This all could change when she discovers she's pregnant after a drunken night at a local bar. I thought this was going to be a romance (and there is some romance), but really it's a story about a woman adjusting to life as she awaits the birth of her child. While I loved the writing, I felt like the characters were wanting. Eve as the main character spends half the book just letting life happen and doesn't really seem to grasp much that is going on around her. Ethan, the father of the baby, can't make up his mind on his involvement and Eve just lets him. Shep, her best friend's brother, is there for her and is the obvious romantic lead, but Eve doesn't even recognize her own feelings until well over half of the book. It got a little annoying to me, although I did like it all in the end.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154462768-ready-or-not" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Ready or Not" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691108629l/154462768._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154462768-ready-or-not">Ready or Not</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19304329.Cara_Bastone">Cara Bastone</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6272015427">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This was such an incredibly cute read. But it felt like it could have been more. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from the surprise pregnancy to the complicated friendships and family dynamics but the friends to lovers did not feel like enough to me. It felt SO DAMN easy. There wasn’t much fight with the main love interest and it felt like he was too nice and it was too easy for them to be together. Obviously this is a romance book, but I felt like I needed so much more. I honestly felt more connection with the FOB and definitely more attraction to him. I kept wanting to know more about him, his life, and his story, but that never came. Maybe next time. All this being said, I did cry and I did connect thoroughly to these characters. The friendships all felt real and I loved the struggle with the best friend with infertility and the conversations about loss. So much of the story felt unfinished. I definitely felt that the love that developed was very much a love of convenience and who was present during this difficult time for her and I really did not resonate with that. <br /><br />I am so thankful to have been able to read this story as an advanced reader. I really hope to reading more from Cara Bastone.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6094585-rosa-maria-lueras">View all my reviews</a>