I! loved! this! book!

I fell in love with eve as a main character so quickly — she’s messy, funny, and 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 and I saw so much if myself in her from the start

and while I wouldn't necessarily categorize this book as a romance, it is a story about love

it is romantic, yes, but the love I’m talking about is not the slow burn, childhood friends-to-lovers romance between eve and shep — not really. the 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 love, the real heart of this story is the love eve grew for the child she was bringing into the world. the beauty of someone who had always felt like a bit of a lone wolf finding her inner peace in what was the most unexpected way possible for her. a love like that? a love between a mother and child? it took my breath away.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.

did you think I forgot about shep?

where do I begin. shep is the definition of a dream man. attentive, thoughtful, self-sacrificing, and unwavering in his support. I think people sometimes confuse a golden retriever personality with immaturity and while he first comes across as a little lost on the page, he is the rock in the storm of eve’s life, an anchor in an unknown harbor

and it was so refreshing to have a character like his be there to remind eve that she’s not alone, never has been, and never will be

that love and support have always been there, she was just too distracted by life to see it

we know pregnancy is beautiful but complicated and cara managed to give us such an honest look at what being it means not just to a mother who is physically, literally growing a whole human being while going about her daily life (women are incredible), but how it touches the lives of every person around her — her sweet but distant brothers, her best friend who is on her own complex pregnancy journey, the cute guy at the bar that she spent one non-committed night with who is trying figure out his own life, let alone be responsible for another, the mother(s) she lost, the maternal figure she found in nurse louise

I laughed, I cried, and I felt warm and fuzzy and whole by the end — like reading eve’s journey somehow transformed me too

I finished the last third of this on an amtrak train back to to new york and while I will always love reading books that wisk me away to magical places, reading this story set in brooklyn felt very much felt like coming home

“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘰,” 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳.

NOW GO READ THIS BOOK, BYE

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

A single lady in NYC ends up pregnant after a one night stand. Eve is in a precarious position in all aspects of life, including with her best friend and her job. She's having a hard time telling people what she wants. But the sudden forced changes of being pregnant put her on a complicated crash course toward finding the life she is meant to live, whether she's ready or not. This was a fun, hard to put down rom-com.

First of all, I love this cover so much!

Second of all, I usually am not all about an unplanned pregnancy trope. But since it happens basically right from the beginning and is the catalyst for everything that happens versus it being a mid way twist or something, it totally worked for me.

Lastly, I loved these characters. Bastone really did a great job writing loveable characters that all had their own quirks and flaws, but ones that you rooted for every step of the way. I love that she didn't have a "villain" that wrecked everything or got in the way. That made this story seem so much more believable and relatable. I also loved the dynamic of Eve and her best friend Willa and the challenges that came with Willa, who has been trying to have a baby, seeing her BFF pregnant with a baby she didn't plan for. That added a whole other element that was very beautiful and poignant.

I enjoyed every minute of this one - it really was a beautiful romcom that just made me smile from beginning to end.

Thank you to Netgalley & Random House for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

When I first started reading this book I did not know what to think since right away you realize it’s a pregnancy trope. I am not a fan but I pushed my way through. And what unraveled was a cute banter sweet story nothing what I was expecting (without giving spoilers) and that last couple of chapters were filled with so much swoon my heart couldn’t take it! Also no third act breakup so that also helped my heart lol. Highly recommend!



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

Rating: 4 💫

Synopsis
Eve Hatch is pregnant! And it’s unexpected, the outcome of a one night stand. Her planned pregnancy turns into a blessing, as her old friend Shep is by her side through 9 months of pregnancy, while the father decides what he should do - does he want to be in the child’s life?

The Review
The cover of this book is simply gorgeous. How could you not want to pick it up? The beginning of the book had me cracking up, and I immediately fell in love with Eve’s character. The story was super cute, and Shep was such a wonderful guy, so filled with love and admiration that it made it so hard to put this book down because I wanted to soak up every sweet moment of his and Eve’s friendship. The relationships in this book were well written and you could tell that Willa, Shep, and Eve had been lifelong friends. At certain points I thought maybe Ethan and Eve could have given a relationship a go, but I knew where the story was going, but it was still in the back of my mind the whole time.

Final Thoughts
Pick-up this book if you’re looking for a heartwarming story that will give you a little chuckle, but constantly make you smile.

Of Note
The book did have a detailed spicy 🌶️ scene and mentions of infertility.

Tropes
💛 Friends to Lovers
💛 Best friend’s brother
💛 Soulmates
💛 Sudden/unexpected baby

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This is not your average unexpected pregnancy book – first off, you find out (besides on the BEAUTIFUL cover and in the summary) in the first few pages. This was a new author to me, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but I was loving this book! While it was only told from Eve’s POV, I felt like we got to know the other characters pretty well, and I loved some of the side characters – specifically Nurse Blank/Nurse Louise. While I cannot confirm, I felt like the feelings and descriptions Eve had throughout her pregnancy were accurate and relatable. I was obsessed with Shep, and just really enjoyed this story as a whole. It wasn’t overly romantic, so I think readers who aren’t a fan of the romance genre would also enjoy. There was so much going on in this story, but in a great way. Eve is just figuring out life in general – her friendships, family, career, lovelife - all while dealing with loss and pregnancy!

Tropes:
- Surprise pregnancy
- Friends to lovers
- Best friend’s brother
- Slow burn

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

As a woman in her thirties, I was very intrigued by this one. It’s a fast paced and heartwarming story overall, with a very conversational writing style.

I really liked all of the characters, and they all had such different and unique reactions to the situation at hand. There were great moments that explored female friendship fertility struggles.

The star of the show for me (obviously) was Shep. He was a quiet presence from the beginning, but the slow shift in their relationship was so satisfying.

Content warning: pregnancy (like the entire book is about pregnancy)

"A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love."

This was a great depiction of what a surprise pregnancy is like, especially with someone that you might not consider to be a long-term partner. It is also a slow-burn, so it takes up until about 80% to finally get a spicy scene between the two love interests. I also really appreciated how the author wrote about gender/sex of the baby and pronouns (well-done!). Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I absolutely adored Shep (he gave off major golden retriever vibes...but in a healthy way).

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and the author, Cara Bastone, for an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review/opinions.

This book is a slow starter. At the beginning I thought it might be good, but forgettable. By the end I felt like I'd lived through everything right alongside the characters, had been pregnant myself, and was moving into the apartment right with them. It was all so vivid and embodied.

I'm dealing with a death in my life, not the coming of a new life, but it was also weirdly cathartic. The feeling of dealing with an overnight change in situation was remarkably similar. When Eve felt uniquely alone, I could relate. The relief and comfort of Shep not being shy and jumping in to help was familiar as well. As was the feeling of some people being weird about it. It was the perfect thing to read at this stage of grief.

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.