Despite of the pregnancy trope, I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed it. I liked Eve and her growth as the book progressed. I think Cara did a wonderful job in describing pregnancy and the difficulties it can bring. This book isn’t for everyone but I think life can be messy sometimes. Cara did a wonderful job in bringing everything together at the end and reminding us what’s important here: the baby and its well being.

Maybe this is controversial, but I love the surprise pregnancy trope! When I saw that this was the premise of this book, I knew I had to request it on NetGalley and read my first book by Cara. It didn’t disappoint, and I’m already planning to read more of her work!

Eve is settled in her life, just coasting in her mediocre job and small apartment near her best friend. After a one night stand leaves her with a positive pregnancy test, she realizes her life is about to get a lot more complicated. Her relationship with her bestie is out of sorts, the baby daddy is unsure of the situation, and Eve herself doesn’t know how she feels just yet. But then there’s Shep, her bestie’s brother, and he’s supportive and just the thing Eve needs during this new journey.

I adored Eve and how she works through the unexpected change in her life. She’s messy, scared, unsure and so REAL. She’s trying to make it work, and I admire her ability to admit she has no idea what she’s doing but work to be the best for her baby.

Shep is the SWEETEST, I loved him the minute he came into the story. When you compare him to Ethan (the baby daddy), there’s no contest of who Eve deserves to have in her life. The way he automatically slides into the role of caretaker for Eve and genuinely wants to be around her just melted my heart.

I was so sad when this book was over because I never wanted it to end. The relationships in the story were so well-written and I already miss the characters! The only thing that could have made this even better was an epilogue because I’m greedy.

Thank you to Cara, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book was so unique and a great read. This accidental pregnancy book that didn’t follow the traditional formula and I loved the direction it went. After a one night stand, Eve realizes that she is pregnant and her whole life changes (very understandably). But instead of finding comfort in her baby daddy and her best friend, she reconnects with her best friend’s older brother and they soon discover they may have feelings for each other. I cannot recommend this book enough! Such a sweet story with heavy topics like infertility, abandonment, grief, adult friendships, and gender/sex very well.

Title: Ready or Not
Author: Cara Bastone
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
'Ready or Not' by Cara Bastone

Intriguing:

'Ready or Not' was a sweet romance. With what happens to Eve, it was good to see how this author brings it all together. I somewhat feared Ethan but always felt Shep was there for Eve through it all. I had wondered about Eve's best friend in all that she had also gone through, but I didn't feel like she was there for her friend when needed. I know Willa had gone through a lot, but a true friend would have been there for her best friend, especially when required. You must pick up this read to see how it all comes together for Eve, Shep, and Evan. It was a pretty exciting read.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for allowing me access to this ARC.

Synopsis: Eve becomes pregnant after a one night stand... which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world except the baby daddy is with someone else and her best friend is struggling with infertility. Eve's caught in this limbo of ignoring what's happening for the sake of her friend and also panicking because this a major life event and she doesn't have the help from the people she needed it from the most. That's when an unexpected person steps in and is there for Eve when she least expects it.

Review:I literally can't talk about this book without crying. I thought it was absolutely beautiful and will be in the top 5 books for me this year. I really loved Cara's writing. I fell in love with the characters so fast, she really did a great job putting so much personality into them. The banter between the characters is top tier and I was laughing so much in between crying. Shep is one of the best written men I've ever read. Hands down nobody will beat him for me this year. We all need a Shep in our lives.

I felt so much empathy towards the characters. I really saw myself in Eve for so many reasons.
1. My SIL struggled with infertility and I always felt like I was walking on eggshells around her and constantly had to make sure that things I said and did didn't upset her. So to watch Eve go through this pregnancy and not wanting to upset Willa was hard to read because I truly understood the predicament.
2. I've been in Willa's shoes. I lost my first pregnancy at 7 weeks and I was so happy for friends and family who became pregnant after my loss but man did it hurt. So I truly felt her pain.
3. The absolute fear once you're almost at the end and that baby is coming out one way or another and things finally become real. That panic Eve feels because things aren't perfect, ugh I've been there too.

I just really think this will be a great story for everyone to read. I highly recommend you pick it up!

3.75 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this E-ARC. I want to start off by saying that this book was so much more than I expected. I thought it was a romance and its not. Its about Eve coming to terms with what will be her new life since shes pregnant. I found parts of this book to be so raw and so real and it made me identify with the characters so much more. The side characters were giving life. And the MMC well did not disappoint.

I've always enjoyed Cara Bastone's books, but with this book, it's like she's gone up to higher level. The book focuses firmly on Eve, a midwestern transplant to Brooklyn who always dreamed of working as a policy analyst for a World Wildlife Fund type of not-for-profit, but settled for a "dream adjacent" job working in administration when she was unable to complete her master's degree.

At the start of the book, Eve accidentally becomes pregnant after a one night stand with a bar owner. The book covers the 9 month period of her pregnancy as she slowly comes to terms with and blossoms into full-blown love, both with her impending child and with one of her best friends, Shep, whom she's known since she was 6 (his sister is her best friend). Shep is a lovely golden retriever MMC who has always been there for Eve and has always had a raging crush on her although she was completely oblivious to it. The book is told entirely from Eve's POV and the focus is all on her, but Shep's feelings and Eve's growing awareness of him run parallel to her coming to terms with her pregnancy.

Ethan, the father of the child, is present in the story but it's clear fairly quickly that he will not be her HEA, so this isn't a love triangle. Nonetheless, he's also portrayed sympathetically as he deals with his own tangled feelings about his impending fatherhood and his longstanding girlfriend (they were split up when he and Eve slept together so there is no cheating).

Aside from the great characters, what I absolutely adored about the book was that every time the author could have leaned into hurt, anger, or angst, she instead chose for her characters to act with kindness, understanding, and a generosity of spirit that bodes well for their future relationships. All in all, I loved the book and am so happy I had a chance to read it, My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

It’s always been Eva and Willa and let’s not forget about Shep, Willa’s brother. They grew up in Michigan and eventually all moved to Brooklyn. Life was comfortable and predictable, just the way Eve liked it.
Then, just like that Eve’s world is turned upside down by an unexpected pregnancy. Ethan, the baby’s dad, is beyond shock and in tears. Willa thought she would be the first one to be pregnant, and so she’s not feeling great about the news either. The only one showing support is Shep.
Shep is there for Eve. To cook for her, to watch movies with her, to rub her feet, to buy her groceries. The only questions are: will Willa change and be more accepting and helpful? Will Ethan man up and be there for Eve and the baby? Does Eve have feelings for Ethan, or will she move on with someone else?
My thoughts: I enjoyed this quick read from beginning to end. It didn’t feel too long or too short and there was a clean ending. I was seriously hoping it would go one way, but it didn’t, and let’s just say I am still recovering 😊. I liked all the characters, but it took me the longest to like Shep. I think he was just too good to be true. Willa is very relatable as someone struggling with fertility that must watch her friend get unexpectedly pregnant. This book is a great example of a found family; it’s not always going to be perfect for everyone involved, but they will always have your back.
Overall, I feel that Eve was a strong character and with or without help would have made it through just fine.

I go through phases where I either love or avoid books with pregnancy tropes. There is something so comforting and romantic about starting a family (however you define that) with someone you are either in love with or grow to love (in some romance novels). As someone close to that phase of life, it is both thrilling and terrifying.

Ready or Not is not your typical pregnancy trope romance, or is it even your typical romance. While I will say the book is a love letter to pregnancy, and that storyline propels the action forward, it was about so much more than that. It was about self-discovery, navigating best friendships when moving at different speeds, dealing with the trials and tribulations of life in general, death, and loss. It was about being unsure of where you fit in the world. And, of course, it was also a really great love story. Ready or Not is really freaking messy (referring to the situations Eve finds herself in, not the writing or the plot. Those were excellent). As is life, right? It is funny, and tender, and made me want to be kinder to myself and those around me. It was not one of those books that had me so gripped I couldn’t put it down, and combined with the varying pace makes it perfect for a weekday nighttime read. It was a great book, and I recommend adding it to your bookshelf!

Eve is pregnant. Whoops. She’s also stuck in her “stepping stone” job, her best friend is being weird, her baby daddy is well-intentioned but unreliable, and she’s also unexpectedly developed feelings her best friend’s older brother, Shep. It’s a lot to handle. But this new nine month countdown means that she’s got deadline to figure it all out, and maybe even discover herself along the way.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC!

Is it a romance? Is it women’s fiction? Is it coming-of-age? Like some of the best romance (see Jane Austen), Bastone’s latest, Ready or Not, is a romance and definitely a story about the heroine’s growth. (If there was less emphasis on a lovely romance, it could be WF, but thankfully, not.) Most importantly for readers of this blog, it’s really really really good. I’m thankful to a newfound ability to stay up past my bedtime because it gave me several hours of uninterrupted reading time. The fact Bastone’s story is wittily and well-written with wonderfully nuanced characters and good pacing to the HEA kept me from snoozing.

Ready or Not‘s opening captures the reader thanks to Eve’s wry voice. Eve Hatch is at an obstetrical clinic waiting to find out if she’s pregnant, convinced she is, given the three positive home tests. From that scene onwards, we watch Eve transform physically and emotionally: is it the pregnancy? In a sense, yes, it makes her rethink and re-evaluate her life and I loved that her decision to keep the baby (though abortion is discussed as a choice, which I also appreciated) doesn’t make her world sparkle with the fairy-dust of *heart eyes* saintly motherhood. It’s damned hard and Eve often messes up with the people who love her: her best friends, Willa and Shep Balder and the baby’s father, Ethan Rise (frankly, he’s a nice guy but he messes up way worse than Eve). What Eve realizes as the pregnancy proceeds and relationships shift is how she has shortchanged herself. More importantly and significantly, because pregnancy is irrevocable, Eve realizes she’s been “stuck” in certain patterns, ones she must break to make a fulfilling life for herself and baby. For a novel whose plot is growing a baby (her name ain’t “Eve” for nothin’), it sure kept me riveted. Why? Eve’s voice and her relationships as she navigates pregnancy and figures out the future.

Once again, I’m disappointed I can’t quote from Bastone’s romance because what will capture the reader is Eve’s funny, self-deprecating voice and jaundiced-eye view of the world. But she’s also good at understanding, observing, and analyzing the world and people around her, though she’s never quite sure of herself. An intelligent heroine? Bring it on. The first hint, early in the novel/pregnancy, is when she tells her best friend Willa, who reacts somewhat selfishly. Though Willa comes back from that and is supportive and loving, we don’t know exactly what has brought these two to this point. Once we do, near the due date, things are much clearer.

This is Bastone’s strength, no one is a villain and no one is a hero (well, Shep comes pretty close because, hey, ROMANCE); characters are three-dimensional, likable in many ways and yet, realistically flawed. Eve’s brothers come across as distant and yet, they’re wonderful by the end. It’s not them, it’s how Eve sees them. As Eve matures in her understanding of where the people in her life are coming from, she also gains in self-understanding. And not in a pop-psych way. Because she’s smart, but stuck in some ways, nothing heart-stoppingly tragic, just everyday-this-would-be-better-if-it-would-change way. Like her reevaluation of her job, which has as great an HEA as the HEA.

And speaking of HEA…well, it’s marvellous and subtly twisty in the best emotional way possible. First, there is the baby’s father, Ethan Rise, a one-night-stand encounter, a nice one, warm, friendly, sexy, fulfilling, but out of character for both. Eve is no “secret baby” mama; she seeks Ethan at the bar where they met and tell him she’s pregnant within days of confirming at the clinic. He cries; Ethan cries a lot and there be good reasons, but I also found it endearing. You’d think, with romance convention and cliché the way they are, Ethan would be hero-in-the-running. I loved that Eve has the desire, but not the cause, or emotional investment. She doesn’t know him and he doesn’t know her. This is so beautifully, realistically portrayed.

No, the romance narrative lies elsewhere and its development is a thing of beauty. It’s too delicious to spoil and because it’s definitely slow-burn, each reader should experience it in all its glory. Let’s say the cover does one lovely moment in the romance, justice. Like an aw-worthy moment. The working out of Eve’s relationships, with co-workers, family, friends, as well as her own sense of who she is and who she wants to be, are handled with humour, humanity, and subtlety. I absolutely loved it. There is QUITE a realistic rendering of birth-giving, but as dénouement, it’s as perfect a twist to the baby-filled epilogue as you’ll ever read. It’s during the fact, and in the fact, and after the fact. It’s not trite, or sentimental, but heart-felt and not-quite-beautiful in the details, but beautiful in the results. If you read one romance this year, make it this one. With Miss Austen, who’d have loved Bastone’s novel, we say Ready or Not is proof “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma. (BTW, Bastone wrote three fantabulous category romances for Harlequin, you should read those too.)

Cara Bastone’s Ready or Not is published by Dial Press and releases today, February 13th, a perfect Valentine’s Day present to yourself. I received an e-galley from Dial Press, via Netgalley. This does not impede the, note please, AI-free expression of my opinion.

I have very complicated feelings because I do think it was a very cute book but at the same time I didn’t particularly enjoy some things. Personally I thought it was a bit lacking in the romance department, I love slowburns and this had the right bones for it to be smashing but I really felt like there was very little to grab onto for most of the book and it was like very sudden how she got to the realisation that she had feelings.
It is very much focused on the pregnancy journey, which is fine for me but maybe I would have appreciated a little bit more around the romance.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have zero interest in anything related to babies or pregnancy, but there was something about this book, about the warm cover,
the description, and the funny first page that told me, “You have to read this book.” And I’m so glad I did. It’s a beautiful story about love and all the forms it can show up in. This will be a top book of the year for me!

This was such a heartwarming read that left me feeling all sorts of fuzzy and warm inside!

The absolute highlight of this are the characters, I adored every single one of them. Eve took a bit of getting used to, I think I was a bit surprised by her behavior in the first few chapters (but in her defense she was learning to come to terms with am unexpected pregnancy so totally understandable), but I absolutely adored navigating life and the story through her eyes. And Shep. Shep was, quite literally, the perfect MMC. To have such a selfless, loving character in this story who was willing to stand by Eve’s side regardless of whether or not she returned his feelings was so incredible, It’s just, wow. I love Shep, He was just so perfect for Eve and I feel so warm and fuzzy when I think about them. The side characters were incredible too, I loved the complexity behind everyone, especially Willa and Ethan, and adored Nurse Louise (that cafe conversation between her and Eve was so heart touching). I feel like, in the media or in other stories, it’s easy to villainize certain characters in these kinds of narratives, but I loved how this story didn't do that, and Eve's realization of how everyone around her has their own sets of circumstances and reasons for reacting to her pregnancy was beautiful to read.

The story itself was beautiful, I didn’t think I’d fall in love with it as much as I had. Getting to see this reconciling of a ton of different factors in Eve’s life occur over the duration of her pregnancy was incredibly empowering and touching by the end. I appreciated the absence of petty drama and a third act breakup, I felt like Eve took everything that came her way as head on as possible and it was really amazing to see so much growth from Eve and everyone around her from the beginning to the end.

This is the kind of book I want to pick up and reread when I’m a bit older and have more life experience under my belt in hopes of taking in this story and the characters in a new perspective, and I think it’s so beautiful that this story has elicited this feeling in me! I loved this book, 5/5 stars, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Cara Bastone's work!

Thank you to Net Galley and Dial Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Eve discovers that she's pregnant. It's NOT planned. In fact, she barely knows the father (Ethan). She barely knows herself. And she barely knows her actual feelings for the man who has been one of her best friends since childhood (Shep). But the impending due date pushes things into stark relief. And it changes EVERYTHING. Who will Eve end up with? The life that she's known is gone forever, but maybe the best adventure is what's to come!

This book was BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I ADORED it. ADORED. It takes the messy sides of life and people and shows us how compassion and understanding can create something gorgeous in the midst of imperfection. I love the idea that people are be flawed but still so worthwhile. I loved the slow burn between Eve and her big beautiful cinnamon roll hero of a man. The spice was fantastically emotional. Cara Bastone is often hilarious as well. Just about every sentence was so creative and delightful. I challenge anyone to open this book to ANY page and NOT be charmed by her writing!

Trigger warnings: pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, unplanned pregnancy, deceased parents, mourning the death of a mother

I'd like to thank @randomhouse and @netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wouldn’t normally pick up a romance novel centered around an unplanned pregnancy, but after seeing so many glowing reviews for Ready or Not by Cara Bastone, I decided I needed to give this one a try. To be honest, the pregnancy aspect of the story was a little difficult for me to read, and it did take up a lot more of the story than I had anticipated, but I’m still glad I read it.

First of all, while I loved the baby daddy, Shep STOLE MY HEART. He is the most cinnamon roll of all of the cinnamon rolls; the most golden of all of the golden retrievers; the swooniest of all of the swoonies. He is just everything. I highlighted SO many things he said and did, all of which completely enchanted me. And when I noted my favorite things he said or did, I wrote them IN ALL CAPS because how could I not?

I loved seeing Eve’s journey, and watching her character develop as her pregnancy progressed and she moved closer to motherhood. The way the found family aspect was tied into her journey was beautifully done. I want Willa’s story now!

I also would love an epilogue; the ending felt a little incomplete. I wanted to see a little more of Eve’s life postpartum, to see how her found family is navigating this new dynamic.

But I could not put this down- I read it in one day!

4 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Cute Read!!! The cover is gorgeous and a perfect fit for this book! If you're not a fa of surprise pregnancy trope don't read. I enjoyed how Eve was a bit all over the place and Shep was great for her. The one thing bothering me is the absence of an epilogue. It had a realistic view of a lot of things that helped everything come together.

Thank you NetGalley, Cara Bastone and Random House Publishing for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. Thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ready or Not
Author: Cara Bastone
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024

Ready or Not is going to be my favorite romance book of 2024. I don’t make that bold prediction lightly, but then again, this is an extraordinary book. Ready or Not is a LOVE STORY and not JUST a romance novel. This is the first book in a long time that I feel like I KNOW these characters, and they are so well-written that it was a privilege to get an early ARC of this book. It is not so easy to write a story about a young working girl, Eve, who gets knocked up after one night with a random guy in the middle of a years-long drought. We follow the various stages of Eve’s pregnancy, including telling the “sperm donor” and finding out, he has “issues” to realizing that the love of her life was never far away. I’m not a romance writer and this review may not sound very swoony, but I assure you, this is an outstanding, well-written, witty, charming, and addictive love story. It’s a real love story with real-ish people. It will be released tomorrow, Feb. 13th, and it’s the perfect book for the month of love. BUY THIS BOOK. You can thank me later. #love #pregnancy #romance #lovestory #sweet #charming #NewYork #fate #ReadyOrNot @carabastone @netgalley @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse #dialpress #dialpresspublishing #babyonboard #pregnant #HEA
❤️

I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: February 13, 2024.
❤️

#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader reader #reviewer

Listen. I'm a Cara Bastone STAN. Whenever a new CB audiobook drops on Audible, I drop all my responsibilities, turn on my bluetooth, and hit the road for a run while soaking in the good vibes. I've listened and re-listened to her Audible Originals countless times. SO you can imagine my excitement when I found out she would be releasing a full length romance novel?? Ear drums were shattered.

Now, I'm not much of a pregnancy trope fan (not a fan at all actually), but it was Cara Bastone so I gave it a chance. And I'm glad I did! While it wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still a cute, light, heart warming read. Perfect for a Valentine's week release. I hope many more readers discover the joy of Cara Bastone's writing and the characters she brings to life!

I just finished reading this book after receiving it as part of an E- advanced copy to receive my feedback.
I will start by saying that I enjoyed the storyline. Girl is pregnant and goes through the 9 months of ups and downs. She navigates a friend who isn't there for her and the friend's brother who wants to be there for her. The characters were well developed, unique, but also relatable. I just adore Shep! The foreshadowing was perfect. It was obvious enough to draw the reader's attention but vauge enough to keep you guessing.

I did not enjoy the author's beliefs being shoved at the reader multiple times within one scene. There were a few others throughout the book but the one scene had it repeated too much.

I did rate 4 stars because If you get past the bits with an agenda it was a cute romcom.

This was my first Cara Bastone book and I am so glad that I picked it up! This book has a wonderful rom-com vibe set in New York with very relatable characters. There is a surprise pregnancy, a friend's to lovers trope, and an extremely awesome slow burn romance. Do yourself a favor and get this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the digital copy of the book for my opinion.