I LOVED THIS!! I listened to this on audio and immediately fell in love with Shep and Eve. Shep was the perfect golden retriever man, and I loved him and Eve together so much! He’s was literally perfect for her and I finished with the biggest dopey grin on my face! This was my first book by this author and now I can’t wait to read so many more!

Thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ready or Not is the first book I’ve read by Cara Bastone and it won’t be the last.

I finished the book last night but needed to take a bit and chill otherwise my review would have been all caps screaming about how much I loved this story and how it showed a realistic view of pregnancy. Eve is funny and smart and loves fiercely. She doesn’t quite always know what she wants but she has an amazing made family of her two best friends, Willa and Shep and her way older brothers. I love how her whole network comes together to support her when when she unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a one night stand.

This tale felt realistic on so many levels and I want to applaud the author for writing a romance but not the typical romance where the main female character ends up madly in love with her baby’s father.

No, this slow burn friends to lovers story is perfection and I feel that the author gave it the maximum amount of build from Shep and Eva growing from childhood friends.

Also, when Eve finds out she’s pregnant and lets Willa know, Willa can’t handle the news at first because she’s been in her own journey to try to get pregnant and has been this far unsuccessful. I felt like this was a very raw and realistic interaction and even though it hurt them both, it didn’t sugarcoat their feelings.

I am adding this author to my auto read list and am looking to read more by Cara Bastone.

Eve Hatch’s life is turned upside down after an impulsive one-night stand leads to an unexpected pregnancy. With the baby’s father entangled in his own complications, Eve leans on her best friend Willa and Willa’s older brother, Shep, who step in to support her during this life-altering journey.

I genuinely enjoyed this story, even if it took me a while to finish. The premise was engaging, and Eve’s growth over the nine months was both relatable and heartfelt. While I found myself comparing it to Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, this book has its own charm.

The baby daddy drama was frustrating at times; Ethan really needed to step up. However, Shep’s character brought a lot of warmth to the narrative. He was incredibly supportive and selfless, which I appreciated, even if he sometimes felt a bit too perfect.

Overall, this book offers a compelling take on unexpected motherhood, with plenty of humor and heart. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an uplifting read about personal growth and friendship.

Ready or Not, was engaging, well developed and filled with love and hardship in all its forms. Every relationship Eve has is complex and complicated but at their core filled with love and respect. Eve’s story was filled with so much truth, how raw and real life is with some humor and lots of love along the way. Shep was the perfect partner and friend that Eve needed, her family was hilarious and even the baby daddy had his moments, I’m grateful their relationship never turned more than co-parents because the way he let his on-again, off-again girlfriend dictate his future relationship with his child did not earn him any bonus points.
Willa’s reactions to her friends unexpected pregnancy while she struggles with her own pregnancy and fertility journey are such honest and real reactions, humans have these worries and fears and honestly jealousies about things sometimes beyond their control, but Willa owned up to it and worked hard to be as supportive as she could be while still being honest as to how hard it was on her. While Eve was shocked to this at first, Eve and Willa’s empathy grew for each other and their friendship stood the test.
A great read, a wonderful story and one of my favorites to date.

Cute storyline! Enjoyed the characters!
Thabk you netgalley and thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read this book!!

Really loved Eve and Shep’s story. Shep is perfect: strong, supportive, gentle, patient. - I’m not going to lie. Accidental pregnancy isn’t one of my favorite tropes. But I gave this a chance knowing that the pregnancy wasn’t between the love interests. And I’m so glad I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. I picked up this book purely because of its vibrant cover, and I'm glad I did. Set against the backdrop of NYC, it delivered a heartfelt story blending women's fiction and romance. The narrative follows Eve Hatch, a career-focused "Brooklynaire" who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, forcing her to navigate the challenges of impending single motherhood. I appreciated the authentic portrayal of Eve's self-discovery as she grapples with her fears, her evolving relationships, and the surprising support from Shep, her best friend's brother. The slow-burn romance felt genuine, and the cast of quirky, well-developed characters brought depth to the story. However, some plot points felt predictable, and the tension between Eve and her friend Willa could have been explored more deeply. The pacing also lagged in spots, but the overall charm and heartfelt moments kept me engaged. A realistic and touching journey of growth, this book is a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys stories about love, motherhood, and finding one's way. I’m hoping this turns into a series because I’d love to see more of these characters.

Eve faces an unplanned pregnancy after a one-night stand and finds support from her best friend's older brother, Sep, who she's known for many years. Honestly, I found Eve to be profoundly annoying and lacking any dimension of intrigue. The plot and Sep were the only saving graces.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard so many great things about this, but I was still blown away by how wonderful it was. The characters were all so realistic, grappling with life in such a poignant way and with such beautiful friendships at the heart of it.

Im going to start out by saying that I typically do not like the surprise pregnancy trope in books. A sentiment I’ve seen in a lot of reviews of this book. However, I truly really enjoyed READY OR NOT. I’ve had a hard time articulating my thoughts surrounding this particular book when it comes to the accidental pregnancy.
I should probably say that on a personal note- my first son is the result of an unplanned pregnancy. And I think that what I don’t like so much about other books I’ve read is that sometimes that plot point is used for shock factor, or to move the book along and a lot of times it just feels icky to me. Allllll of that to say- this book did NOT feel like that. One of the things I remember most about finding out about my own pregnancy- one where I was young, unmarried and the relationship was only a year old- was that I wanted to be able to do what was best for all of us. Myself, my partner, and our child. I remember grappling with a decision and then once I made it- I remember thinking no matter what, I wanted to make sure that we would always be the best parents we could be- even if we didn’t work out in the end. (SPOILER ALERT- we did 🙂) And this book felt like that. Like a really realistic and relatable version of my own story.

Eve had to navigate all of the challenges and changes to relationships that one can encounter when something as life changing as becoming pregnant happens. Friendships and priorities change and it can definitely be confusing and difficult. I loved following as she figured out how to communicate/coparent, had some hard friendship discussions and even allowed herself to find love unexpectedly. This is a book that will live rent free in my mind for a very long time ♥️

Cara Bastone's has a gift for writing! I've loved her books for a while now and this was no surprise! I really enjoyed this story!
I like the premise and I found it to be original despite this being a popular trope in romance.

I absolutely adored this book!!! This is a book that I now tell everyone they have to read. Cara Bastone is a must read author for me now. This book was perfectly written. The cover is also beautiful!

I LOVED This book. The Romance, The plot, the characters, everything was amazing!
I really enjoyed how the story flowed and how the relationships developed so well. I was nervous the main character and her child father would date just complicate things but I’m so glad they didn’t. Shep is amazing! He was so supportive and kind and he is definitely on the top of my book boyfriend list. I think the author wrote Willa and Eve’s friendship very well. I appreciated that Willa wasn’t just immediately 100% fine with eve’s pregnancy. It added a layer of depth and realism to their relationship. I do hope to see Willa have a happy ending. Cara Bastone did an amazing job with this novel.

This was cute! This was the first book I read with the pregnancy trope and I actually really enjoyed it!

Before this book I had been in a reading slump. Even reading very popular books it was all unrealistic millionaire stories with no character development. I feel like this story was so down to earth and relatable that I finished it in about 4 days. I loved the story and felt the characters were portrayed in a realistic way. I thought the plot was different and refreshing and am looking forward to reading .more books from Cara Bastone

So this is the first book by this author I picked up and it was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was hard to put down. There were many ROFL moments and so much chemistry between the characters I want another add on story to Eve & Shep’s story and also the other characters in this story. So good I’m gonna go find Cara’s back log of stories.

REVIEW: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

Cara Bastone's "Ready or Not" is a delightful contemporary romance that perfectly balances sweet and steamy.

Bastone's writing shines in her character development. They are relatable and multi-dimensional, carrying their baggage and insecurities. Their r journey from hesitant attraction to deep connection feels authentic and earned.

The author skillfully weaves in themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and second chances, adding depth to what could have been a simple love story.

While the plot occasionally relies on familiar romance tropes, Bastone's fresh take and engaging prose keep the story feeling original. The pacing is generally good, though some readers might find the middle section slow.

Overall, "Ready or Not" is a heartwarming read that will satisfy romance fans looking for a well-crafted story with genuine emotional resonance. Bastone proves once again that she's a talented voice in the genre.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

I am always weary when it comes to reading about accidental pregnancies because the characters tend to just end up together due to the circumstances they have been put into, so I was surprised when the plot of this book steered away from that. Firstly the characters had such a cute relationship and their friendship made me want to cry sometimes. Tell me why Shep was the nicest person ever! He was so lovely and made the book worthwhile.
Although I would say that the relationship and somewhat miscommunication between the main characters drove me nuts and made me want to throw my phone across the room..., I ended up liking it more than hating it.

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is trying to figure out her next steps in life and finds out she is pregnant. Throughout the story she realizes who is there for her, who she can rely on and what she wants not only for herself but for her baby.

I received a copy of the ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore Cara Bastone’s writing. This one did not disappoint! I laughed and cried and just enjoyed every moment of this book. It is a very heartwarming story. I would recommend this book to anyone enjoys sweet romance with a pinch of spice mixed in.

TW: this book talks about pregnancy, loss of pregnancy and loss of parents.

Eve is having a baby…with Ethan? A one night stand turns into a surprise pregnancy. Eve doesn’t live near family, but she has her best friend, Willa, and Willa’s brother, Shep, to lean on throughout her pregnancy.

I really enjoyed how the book with split into parts by trimester. I love that we got how Eve’s thoughts and body changed over each distinctive section. It reminded me of times throughout my own pregnancy.