Okay WOW. I absolutely enjoyed this read. It was definitely a bit frustrating just because I wanted more progress from the characters a little bit sooner but honestly it all worked out for everyone in the end.
4.5 stars!!

"Ready or Not" by Cara Bastone is a heartwarming contemporary romance that navigates the complexities of love and second chances. Bastone skillfully weaves a tale of vulnerability and resilience as the protagonists, Mia and Jake, confront their pasts and embrace the possibility of a future together. The narrative is both tender and humorous, capturing the essence of genuine connection. With well-drawn characters and a delightful blend of romance and self-discovery, "Ready or Not" is a charming and uplifting read. Bastone's witty prose and emotionally rich storytelling make this novel a delightful addition to the genre, leaving readers with a warm, satisfied feeling.

Maybe more a 3.5 on this, but this felt different (and better written) than a lot of rom/rom-coms I've come across of late. It's also on the more unconventional side, and focuses as much (probably more) on Eve's pregnancy than it does on her love interests.

So, Eve finds out she's pregnant from a one-night stand and decides she wants to keep her baby. It's a big life change, obviously, and as a single woman living alone in an expensive city with a mediocre paying job and no real relationship with the baby's father, she is understandably freaked out. Plus her best friend, who has struggled with infertility, becomes distant after hearing her news.

But in steps a cinnamon roll, puppy dog of a man and her best friend's older brother Shep. But also maybe the baby's father will step up...?

I enjoyed this one. It was funny, bittersweet, and had some nice romantic moments.

This one is open door with other mentions of sex, which isn't my preference but I was really intrigued by the overall premise. Can definitely skip the big explicit scene without missing any plot points...

At first I struggled a little with the first few chapters but I’m glad I pushed the. There were moments Ethan got on my nerves but I loved Shep from the word go. I felt sorry for Willa and her husband because of their pregnancy issues. I was glad Eve brothers were there for her. It really does take a village to raise a child. A good read. Success to the author!

Cute, especially since I am also currently pregnant, but not my favorite read. Despite the author having her own children and having been pregnant before, it just felt factually inaccurate at points 🤣

This book was really lovely. I loved the explorations of pregnancy and identity and learning to love others fiercely. I also want to shout out two specific bits I really appreciated: 1) I liked that the characters used condoms even when she was pregnant (and without a long tense discussion about it, even though they had known each other forever). 2) labor and delivery wasn’t traumatic! It was realistic, but so often traumatic birth is used to raise the dramatic stakes (and can be very triggering for people who went through that). I appreciate that it wasn’t here. Anyway, a great book that I’ll be recommending a lot.

Ready or Not

A heartwarming story. You can fall in love with the characters. Some you may not. Eve isn't a fan of surprises, so when an unplanned pregnancy comes along, it reveals quite a bit. Eve's friendship with her best friend doesn't seem to be going the best, but Willa's older brother is the one that steps up and showing Eve in all the right places. It is a well written book, that keeps your interest the whole time. You will enjoy some funny moments and some sweet moments. Enjoy!

I Absolutely loved this book. It was so well written and I loved all the characters and relationships. They were so thought out and real, including Willa who was struggling so hard but still did her best to show up where she could.

A touching and engaging story. The characters are so easy to love (or dislike). There are so many touches of love that you might miss them. Some heartbreaking moments and a couple of spicy scenes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book and its characters stole my entire heart. I'm sometimes wary of an unexpected pregnancy plot, but I loved the role the father played in this story—and the fact that the LI is someone the MC never quite saw coming. Their relationship was so tender, wholeheartedly loving, and so grounded and real—it made me feel loved by proxy. The story of the community around this small growing family was so deeply touching, the humor was distinct and voice-y, and the overall sensibility was one of wonder and delight at the world. Such a life-affirming story, and I'm now a Cara Bastone fan for life.

Ready or Not is a beautiful story of motherhood, friendship, love, loss, and renewal. And the cover? Dreamy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminded me of a show that I used to watch called ready or not which I loved just as much as I love this book.

I love this author’s previous works so naturally I pounced at the chance to read her newest novel!

My rating: 5 Stars
Spice: 1

Read this book for…
Found family
Best friend’s brother
Friends to lover
Slow burn
Surprise pregnancy

Thoughts:
Wow this book drew me in like no other book I have read in recent memory. Full disclosure I was drawn by the book cover and the author and dived into the tale with no knowledge of the blurb. My goodness was I in for a surprise.

There is something so lovable about the main female character, Eve, that makes you want to accompany her throughout her journey. This is her journey of self love, of finding one self, of coming to terms with the realities of one’s life. It’s poignant, it’s tear jerking, it’s magic. In a compelling narrative that seems to take inspiration from stream of consciousness, you are fully immersed into the world around Eve. I felt as if I was allowed in on her pregnancy journey. The first appointment, the fear of going through the pregnancy alone, the initial resistance to change, the first kick. You feel her fear, her joy, her growth. I love how realistic and imperfect the characters were. I also genuinely feel like each individual character’s storyline were handled wonderfully.

This was easily a one sitting read. I could not stop at just the first trimester…I wanted to see through the end. There were definitely multiple times I had to stop and wipe my eyes a little bit. The storytelling is beautiful and everything about this novel was phenomenal.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to start by saying thank you to NetGalley and Random Public House Publishing for accepting my request to read "Ready or Not" as an advanced copy!

SUMMARY:
This book is about Eve, a young woman living in Brooklyn, who is surprised to find out she is pregnant after a one-night stand. Seeking support from friends, she finds that her closest friend Willa isn't as supportive as she'd hope, but surprisingly her older brother Shep is. Throughout the pregnancy, Shep is attentive and there for Eve when she needs someone to be. To add to her situation, the biological father is unsure on the role he wishes to play in this unplanned pregnancy.


REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this book!! I'm usually not a huge fan of a one-night stand/pregnancy trope, but I think Cara Bastone did a wonderful job. I also really enjoyed the relationship that grew between Eve and her best friend's brother, a strong and supportive older man. Loved!

This book was funny but cute I enjoyed it ! Thank you so much for a advance copy. this is a book that made you smile well reading

If you enjoy Romance's with a Love Interest that is "ENTIRELY TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD", Cara Bastone's "Ready or Not" is absolutely for you. Given the subject matter and the possibility of a love triangle, I expected this to be considerably more angsty than it was, but there was so much humor, mostly thanks to Eve's inner monologue. Her thoughts and raging hormones during her third trimester were especially hilarious. Cara Bastone brought a lot of humor and heart given the complex subject matter and she tackles it all deftly! I look forward to more from her in the future!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

In "Ready or Not" by Cara Bastone, the protagonist Eve Hatch finds herself caught in a series of unexpected events that shatter the predictability of her life. Accustomed to a comfortable routine in her cozy Brooklyn apartment, Eve never anticipated the whirlwind of emotions that accompany an unplanned pregnancy following a one-night stand. As the weight of her circumstances threatens to strain her relationships, Eve discovers that love and support can emerge from the most unexpected sources. Eve's once unwavering bond with her childhood friend Willa begins to waver under the strain of her pregnancy. Just when she needs her most, it is Willa's older brother, Shep, who steps forward to offer his unwavering support. Previously seen as a friendly presence in her life, Shep's sudden attentiveness surprises Eve, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to his unanticipated charm. Amidst the complexity of emotions, Eve also struggles with the involvement of the baby's father, who, though technically supportive, remains conflicted. The arrival of the unplanned pregnancy acts as a catalyst, propelling Eve out of her complacency and forcing her to reassess her desires in life. As she navigates the challenges of her expanding reality over the course of nine months, Eve begins to realize that her longing for more extends beyond her impending motherhood. The surge of hormones and Shep's unexpected presence awaken in her a yearning for fulfillment in every aspect of her life. Throughout the pages of "Ready or Not," Bastone skillfully weaves a tale of self-discovery, family, and love. Eve's journey serves as a testament to the idea that family, whether biological or chosen, can surpass expectations and surprise us when we least expect it. As Eve grapples with defining her next steps, she learns that life's greatest joys often emerge from the depths of uncertainty. In this captivating novel, Cara Bastone captures the essence of human emotions with poignancy and authenticity. "Ready or Not" invites readers to immerse themselves in Eve's world, empathizing with her struggles, and rejoicing in her triumphs. As the pages turn, Bastone effortlessly combines wit, heart, and a touch of romance, creating a literary experience that will leave readers contemplating the unpredictable nature of life and the power of love. "Ready or Not" is a beautifully crafted story that reminds us of the transformative power of unexpected love and the profound impact it can have on our lives. Through Eve's journey, we are reminded that even in the face of uncertainty, genuine connections and personal growth can flourish, leaving us forever changed.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC on this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It hit on so many real topics from the main character Eve's surprise pregnancy, work not being fulfilling, her friend Willa's fertility struggles, and many many more. There were some points of the book I just wanted to scream at Eve to wake up, but seeing things as an outsider always seems to be more obvious than the people living in it.

I love a followup to this book to see where all of these characters have gone in 5-10 years.

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did and to feel so invested in these characters. Eve is almost 30 living in Brooklyn with a job in the area she loves and the perfect apartment for a single girl. After a one night stand she finds out she's pregnant and has to now begin to reorder her life and where it's headed. While figuring out how she feels and navigating telling all the important people in her life, including the one night stand, she comes to realize that one person in particular may mean more to her than she wants to admit. This is a really sweet friends to lovers that shows all the mixed emotions that lead up to falling for someone who has such an important part in your life already without mixing romance into it. I liked all the characters in the story and was hoping for all of them to find the right resolutions to what they were going through. I will definitely recommend this one and read more from Cara Bastone. Giving this one 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.