I found this book to be frustrating and slow. I felt like nothing was really happening for most of the book and I wasn’t invested in the characters or romance. I’ve loved Cara Bastone’s other works but this one was a miss for me.

Well this was a delight. I know surprise pregnancy is a controversial trope but I actually love it and this was such a good spin on it.

Eve discovers she is pregnant after a one night stand and everything in her life begins to change (as pregnancy is wont to do). Her best friend is taking the news weird, her baby daddy is torn, and her best friend's brother starts showing up for her when no one else is. The story carries us through her pregnancy as all these relationships start to grow and change.

Eve was an excellent heroine. She didn’t always get it right but it was admirable how she kept picking herself back up and trying. Life was not going the way she expected, she didn’t have her dream career and then to be impregnated by a bartender she hooked up really wasn’t in her plan but I loved how she just kept going. It’s told only in her POV so it’s really her story, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Shep might have been the most perfect MMC I’ve ever read. I loved Shep. He is everything I don’t normally love in a MMC - blond, golden retriever, good guy. Such a good good guy. He has pined for Eve for years, so when his chance came to be there for her he took every opportunity to grow closer to her but also to be there for the baby.

The way their relationship progressed had me downright giddy. It wasn’t all that steamy, but it was intimate and adorable. It’s a relationship of small touches and acts of service. There’s a scene where he massages her hand that made me take a sip of water because I was getting overheated. I just loved them!

I loved not just Eve and Shep but also the supporting characters. Willa is the best friend anyone would want, she would do anything for you even if it was hard for her. Ethan, the baby daddy, was struggling in such a very realistic way. He didn’t handle everything perfectly but in such a real feelings way.

I will say there were parts that felt perhaps a bit over the top about motherhood and how magical it is (one of the side characters, to summarize, basically said you don’t care about other people until you become a mother which had me blinking in confusion) but I tried not to let that bother me.

Overall though, I loved this book. I loved it so much. It’s a top read of the year for me and I know these wonderfully flawed characters will stick with me for a long time.

The two lines couldn’t have been more clear, Eve is pregnant. The girl who has always followed all the rules has an unexpected one night stand with a very sexy bar tender - now finds herself at a doctor’s office confirming what her heart already knew, she is going to have a baby. In her early thirties and single, Eve wasn’t even sure she wanted children. The idea of doing this alone is simply terrifying but somehow she is completely sure she is going to keep this baby. To add to the turmoil of emotions her very best lifelong friend Willa, who has been ineffectively trying to get pregnant for quite some time, finds the news devastating. Of all people, Shep, Willa’s older brother steps in. Recently single and living in Brooklyn, this once shy nerdy computer geek has really grown up. He takes the reins both mentally and physically helping Eve in any way he can. This unexpected loyalty sparks a layer to their friendship she never imagined. While Ethan, the hot bar tender/father struggles with their new reality, Shep supports Eve, showering her with treats and amazing foot rubs. Eve cannot decide if Shep has always been this handsome or if its the pregnancy hormones going berzerk, but it takes all of her self control not to literally jump all over his kindness. This beautiful story flows through nine months of love, friendship and back aches continually surprising Eve towards the moment of truth.

I loved this book, I loved Eve and her crazy unstable self, because she's all over the place, I love her best friends Will and Shep (they are related) I loved Eve's family, even her situation when she gets knocked up after a one night stand with bar owner Ethan, I just loved everything. The plot did not give this book justice, there is more to this book, there is the topic of fertility issues with one of the characters and trying to cope with the fact that Eve is pregnant, Ethan and his own unstable relationship (because there is a twist in there.) Then we have this friends to lovers trope between Shep and Eve, how they come to this conclusion was the sweetest, I almost cried, imagine having a crush on someone for so many years and not acting on it, but being around each other was better than not, UGH!!!!!! I loved it.

Besides the humor, because we get a ton of that in this book, we get a ton of heartwarming things going on in these 9 months of Eve's pregnancy. Her family is by her side when she announces everything, her friends are right there, even Ethan when he snapped out of his situations. Then we have Eve finally knowing what she wants and going for it, leaving behind the doubt and taking everything one step at a time. This book felt so real for me, I could relate so much with Eve and even with Willa. This author did it for me, I would be reading more from her.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Friends to lovers. There’s just something about this trope that never gets old! I instantly fell in love with the main chapter and then even more in love with her best friends. The unconventional journey to motherhood and what family truly means made this such an enjoyable book!

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

I ended up DNF-ing this one so I won’t be posting my review on Goodreads. I felt it was more contemporary fiction than romance and that’s just not what I was looking for in this book. Beautiful cover art though!

Eve's unplanned pregnancy from a one night stand changes the trajectory of her comfortable life. She loves her apartment in Brooklyn, her best friend lives nearby, and she has a steady job. We see the pregnancy bring Eve out of her comfort zone which leads to an unexpected romance. This story is so much more than a friends-to-lovers romance and I appreciated the depth to it. I've never read a romance even close to this premise and I enjoyed the uniqueness and originality. Ready or Not is heartwarming and funny and is a must for those who enjoy a good romance story. I would highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️ I DEVOURED this book. Like, I read it in a single afternoon. Every character felt so fleshed out and human, like they could be the person you sit next to on the subway. Part of their humanity was how they grappled with hard topics like motherhood, grief, infertility, and changing adult friendships. Highly highly recommend, especially if you’re not sure what to get for Book of the Month this month.

Ready or Not was a breath of fresh air compared to some of my other recent-romance reads. Undoubtedly, my favourite parts of the novel were Eve and Shep. Eve is a relatable and likeable main character, and I loved how practical and realistic her pregnancy storyline is. Her narration and inner monologue is also witty and enjoyable to read. As for Shep... Shep is just a lovable golden retriever-type guy and has the sweetest, purest soul. I loved him and have no qualms other than one thing, that kind of hindered my reading experience. As lovely as Shep is, he just didn't seem realistic to me.

Shep secretly being in love with Eve, his little sister's best friend, who grew up together? Sounds like a great friends-to-lovers story to me. But, Shep's secret and - at this point - unrequited love being strong enough to overlook the fact that Eve got pregnant by another guy? That, I wasn't so sure about. The further the story progressed, the more unbelievable I found it to be. Shep has no boundaries, no negativity, and no resentment on even a micro-scale. He immediately and happily becomes this pseudo-father and partner to Eve until Eve realizes she loves him, too. Then, he becomes a *real* father-figure and boyfriend. Again, all with no conflict - minor or major - whatsoever.

Call me cynical, but even in the most cute, sweet romance reads, there is usually some sort of conflict from one or both of the love interests. Yes, Eve is conflicted about her feelings for Shep, but the lack of conflict from Shep made his character lack realism and seem two-dimensional. Even though Ready or Not was still an enjoyable and worthwhile read, it didn't blow me away. The lack of complexity in Shep's character is what really hindered the book, for me.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Ready or Not by Cara Bastone in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. Ready or Not is fine. I will say, it really feels more like adult contemporary/women's fiction than a romance novel. I wouldn't necessarily have picked it up if I knew that going in. The relationships are a little more complicated than your typical pregnancy romance, and I felt like it played out in a satisfying way.

Oh my, did I love this book! The characters, the laughs, the chemistry, the history, the slowburn romance, the spice, the heartbreak and frustrations that they went through-SO good! And of curse-the dogs! A dog bar, what a fun idea! At the end of the day, the best character is Shep! We could all use a Shep in our lives! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Loved this book so much!!! The slow burn, the characters, the deeper meaning of the story. I love how even though it was about a surprise pregnancy it was so much more than that. The writing was great, I laughed, I cried, so well done. This is not a typical rom-com and I think that is what made it so much better! Will definitely be recommending this one!

I really enjoyed this sweet friends to lovers romance. Eve finds out she’s pregnant after a one night stand and her life is turned on its side. Her best friend Willa isn’t exactly happy for Eve but Shep, Willa’s brother, is excited and so supportive during Eve’s pregnancy. The father of the baby, Ethan, is dealing with his own issues and is an unreliable source of support for her despite his desire to be involved. The story moves through Eve’s pregnancy and how she comes to terms with the changes happening in her life in a humorous way but touches on some serious topics with grace and understanding. Her relationships shift a bit and while her feelings are raw she opens herself up to a love that she may have been afraid of in the past. I found myself wanting to just give Eve a huge hug and some maternity pants and by the end I was cheering for her to claim what she wanted instead of being afraid to take a leap.

I’m so glad I read this one, it’s a great book with just the right amount of humor, a little sadness, and a touch of spice. Perfection!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for sharing my review but all opinions and words are my own.

I <3 Shep. These 3 stars are for him and him only.

When I saw the premise of this book on Netgalley, I was SO excited. The cover was cute. Surprise pregnancy, friends-to-lovers,
anddadd a conflicted baby daddy? Sign me tf up. I loveeee surprise pregnancy books where the plot includes the pregnancy and not just at the last 10%. However, even though this book had everything I wanted, the execution fell a bit flat for me. Except for you bb Shep. You did great sweetie.

Ready or Not follows Eve after she accidentally gets pregnant from a one night stand. Her baby daddy is ... unreliable to say the least, but she has her best friend Willa and her older brother, Shep. King.

First things first. The writing. I feel like this book would've been SO MUCH better if there was about 70% less internal monologue from Eve. It was hard to process the plot because every two seconds was Eve thinking about something then getting off track. I guess it could be seen as quirky but for me it did not add anything to the story. If anything, it made her character seem immature. Next, Willa. I think her character was NOT a good friend and a lot of her messiness towards Eve was
"forgiven" based on a they've been friends forever and she was going through some stuff basis. Going through things explains your actions but does not excuse them! !!!
And Ethan, the baby daddy. (lowkey a spoiler?) All scenes involving him felt a lil
more women targeted rather than focusing on him being A ROSS (iykyk).

Now, Shep. Love him dearly. He was everything and the saviour of this book. He gives all the vibes of a cinnamon roll/golden retriever. He was there for Eve from day one. He remembers everything he says and is such an acts of service king. "Because I went shopping and thought of you." MY HEART. This book needed about 50% more of him.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Chalk this up as another book I didn’t know I needed. Being a new reader to the romance genre, the “surprise pregnancy” trope was a fresh take. READY OR NOT follows Eve Hatch after she becomes pregnant after a one night stand. With no close family of her own, Eve must navigate her impending motherhood with a found family of her choosing.

This nuanced debut features well-developed characters that you will enjoy watching blossom. I love the way Cara Bastone highlights the hardships of new motherhood and the importance of seeking out support, because at the end of the day our people are all we have.

Grab your copy from Book of the Month!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: February 13, 2024

READ THIS IF YOU:
-Are intrigued by an unconventional love story with one open-door scene
-Can’t resist a “will they/won’t they”
-Have ever been pregnant and hormonal or know someone who has

Many thanks to the publisher for an electronic ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So much more than a romance -its also a love story for friends, family, and herself. Shep felt a little too good to be true, and yet, I wanted to watch the Hallmark movie of him ASAP! I laughed. I cried. I feel like I learned a little something about how to better support my friends during pregnancy. This was such a sweet read!

“I have no idea how long I’ve loved you. Maybe always.”

Eve and Shep. She accidentally gets pregnant by a man after a one-night stand. He wants to be apart of the journey and the baby’s life but the only thing that’s holding him back is his girlfriend. Luckily, she has her best friend’s older brother to help her throughout the whole pregnancy.

YOU GUYS. THIS BOOK. 5+ STARS. A FAVE READ. I completely devoured this book! It was charming, entertaining, heartfelt and emotional. I love how this book focuses on Eve’s journey to motherhood and it just felt very raw. Seeing Eve and Shep’s relationship progress was so beautiful; every moment between them was tender. Also, Shep is THE MAN. I love how mature he was when it came to Eve and Ethan—like he wasn’t threatened or jealous at all.

🍼READ IF YOU LIKE🍼:
- friends to lovers
- best friend’s older brother
- slow burn
- “it’s always been you”
- found family
- childhood crush
- golden retriever hero
- secret pining
- accidental pregnancy
- nyc setting
- strawberry french toast & raspberry lemonade

cw: death of loved ones, infertility issues, mention of abortion and miscarriage, grief

Thank you to @thedialpress and @netgalley for the advanced copy! Ready or Not is available on February 13, 2024!

If you enjoy delightful, character-based romances, this one's for you. For me, really. Cara Bastone's Ready or Not follows the emotional journey of a surprise pregnancy. Eve is a young woman in a job only adjacent to what she wants to do --she's in admin in a wildlife nonprofit rather than actively working on policies to save endangered species. Her romantic life is nonexistent (it's been a couple of years since the last of the Dereks), her parents are dead and she's not close to her much-older brothers. Added to this are that her best friend is struggling with infertility, and her best friend's mother, the woman who truly mothered her, recently died.

Not the best time to discover she's pregnant, but also, tentatively, not the worst. She decides to stay pregnant and it's manageable. Especially if she mostly tucks the thought of having a baby out of her mind and instead thinks about dealing with what's going on with her body. The only person who is excited about the baby is her best friend's brother, whom she grew up with and has remained close to, more or less. The biological father is surprised but not horrified; however since their one night stand he has gotten back together with his long-term girlfriend.

Her best friend finds it difficult to deal with her pregnancy but it's Shep, the brother, who is there for her, going with her when she tells the father, bringing her food, making sure she drinks enough water…

It sounds a little earnest, doesn't it? But it doesn't read that way. It reads visceral and feels real, as though you're watching your best friend straighten out her complicated life, or better yet (and it does feel this way) watching yourself do so. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. Hello, 2 AM my old friend.

I’ve loved all of Cara Bastone’s previous releases; this one feels especially grittily realized. And Eve and Shep are charmers, flawed and real though they are.

i saw slow-burn. i saw friends-to-lovers. i saw accidental pregnancy and i said I NEED YOU.

these are my three favorite tropes wrapped up into a book so good i literally forgot where i was whilst reading it because i was *that* into the story. putting down the book was like waking up from the best nap of your life. you’re not sure what time it is. you’re not sure who are. but man, you feel great.

synopsis: eve is happy in her comfortable and predictable life. she always knows what to expect… until an out-of-character one-night-stand ends in an accidental pregnancy. now, her entire world is flipped upside down. the person who steps up to be there for her? her best friend’s brother, shep. and maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones or maybe it’s the fact that eve is starting to see her life in a whole new life but… was shep always that cute??

GO READ THIS BOOK. why? because it’s just *unintelligible noises of delight* i knew from page one that this book was going to be a stand-out. the writing has that pizzaz. the kind that pulls you right in. it makes you laugh. it gives you the warm and fuzzies. it feels like a swarm of butterflies in your stomach.

look, i know the accidental pregnancy trope is polarizing… but just forget about that for one second because this slow burn was DELICIOUS. it is pulled out like taffy. and shep? oh, shep. sweet golden retriever, best friend ever shep. my heart rate spiked when he hit the page. this is not your average accidental pregnancy trope book. she’s not ending up with the baby daddy. there’s no insta-love. it’s about real, messy, imperfect love in so many forms. (you’re going to fall in love with eve’s best friend willa, too.)

i know a book is good when it makes my body physically react. like blushing, laughing, squealing. i wanted to do NOTHING but read this book. and the way i was on the edge of my seat waiting for these two to FINALLY KISS. i have not felt this giddy over a book in so long.

I started reading this book before bed thinking it would be relaxing and cute. I figured I’d read a few chapters then go to bed. That didn’t happen this book was way too good and traps you I couldn’t put it away. It’s so cute and funny and doesn’t sugar coat pregnancy like a lot of other books do. The characters are so realistic it makes it refreshing to read, the love is something to dream about though! Definitely need to get a physical copy when it’s released!