This one was such a lovely story, this book was beatyfullly written and moving. After a one night Stan Eve finds herself pregnant, with this in mind this books has an eye opening take in pregnancy and how those feelings can be overwhelming. Then we have Ethan, the bio dad who wants to do the right thing but due to his circumstances, he just keeps falling short. Finally Shep, her BFF’s older brother who is a total golden retriever type. He is there for her and being amazing!

I loved this book!

Content Warnings
- Open Door (One sex scene and one scene interrupted before sex was had)
- Language (minimal - maybe 15-20 words total)
- Death of Parent
- Talk of Miscarriage/Infertility

Troupes
- Slow Burn
- Best Friend's Brother
- Sprise Pregnancy
- Childhood Friends to Lovers

Gahhh! I LOVE a good slow burn! I couldn't stop reading because I needed more. Shep had me 🤤 I was literally grinning ear to ear while reading. Literally swooning any time he was mentioned or around!!! Totally in the top 2 best book boyfriends.
Going in, I thought pregnancy was going to be a minimal aspect of this book but not the whole premise. I was skeptical and didn't know if I would be into the whole pregnancy troupe, but I was actually pretty into it. It was very touching to journey with Eve and go through all the emotions with her. Also, the way Shep and Ethan handled things was cheifs kiss. Very well done. 👏🏻 This was also my first Bastone book, but I don't think it will be my last.

Dislikes:
- One point in an ultrasound Eve stated that they wouldn't know the gender until the baby decided its own gender. Then, in a pregnancy yoga class, a pregnant woman announced herself as they. I understand that everyone is different, but I am frankly tired of everything going woke and shoved down our throats. Can we just read a book and not have to deal with all that?

- I prefer clean or closed door romances, but I was able to skip past the one open door scene. It was pretty descriptive but a fairly short scene. Not a lot of skipping had to be done.

This book brought me so much pure joy. The characters felt so real to me, I was so fully transported to Brooklyn, and I loved how honestly everything was handled. My heart grew three sizes at the end. I can't wait to go back and read more of Bastone's work.

Eve thought her life was comfortably routine until an unplanned pregnancy turned everything upside down. Her relationship with her best friend Willa is strained, but surprisingly, Willa's brother Shep becomes a major source of support.
Juggling emotions from telling the baby's father and dealing with the upcoming reality of motherhood, Eve starts questioning her desires and the predictability she once enjoyed. Throughout her pregnancy, Eve learns that love and family can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

This book was an unexpected delight and I tore through it in an afternoon.

Eve was a very engaging MC and I fell in love with Shep early on. Shep is a rock solid support/golden retriever character who seems to perfectly compliment Eve’s personality while somehow knowing how to support her at every step. I love a good friends to lovers story and this love story did not disappoint.

Areas for improvement include 1) the addition of a trigger warning for infertility as a heads up and 2) the topic of infertility and the character struggling with it felt somewhat glossed over at times even though it contributes to a major plot point in the book.

Other than the indicated areas for improvement, this book is a new favorite and I look forward to recommending this once as it is released in February.

Big thanks to Cara Bastogne, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

The main character in this story is incredibly likable. She makes, well, poor choices, but balances that with a nonplussed sense of humor. And gathers found family to her like moths to a flame.

I don't really know how to rate this book, though. I feel so conflicted. In general, the plot drags while feeling predictable. And somehow, no one admits they've made any mistakes.

But Eve learns her lesson(s) - and found family is my favorite trope!

"This isn't all about me. It isn't all about Ethan, or Willa, or Shep, or even the baby. It's a web - God, what a perfect system because - each of us is somebody's favorite."

infinite star read!

this book was absolutely amazing. I found myself absolutely immersed in Eve's story and the journey she goes on in this book. this is a twist of the surprise pregnancy trope, but it was truly phenomenal. the way the author is able to craft such a raw & realistic story that makes you connect with all of the characters included is so beautiful.

we follow Eve after a one-night stand that results in her getting pregnant, however, there is a major twist in the situation that makes the story unique. I applaud the author for making this specific set of tropes work so well, I was extremely hesitant at first but boy was I pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Eve is battling many things within this storyline, including grief which was so touching to read, but she is such a light. I automatically found comfort in her character, she is goofy, well-developed, and overall a truly wonderful character to read about. Her strength, courage, and resilience were extremely admirable, and I connected so much to her instantly.

One thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the relationships and how they were handled. Cara Bastone did an amazing job at handling these relationships and the conflicts between characters so well. I loved how natural the romantic relationship felt, we saw them go from childhood friends to platonic to romantic with such a gentle fluidity. Additionally, the relationship between Eve and her best friend is absolutely beautiful, considering her best friend struggles with fertility. It was wonderful to read how these characters communicated and blended so well together, the found family HIT on this one. even though the relationship between Eve and her baby's father was incredible, it is clear that Cara took time working out how everything would fall into place for each and every character and handled each storyline (big or small) with absolute care.

Overall, I just loved this book. I love every single character. this story unexpectedly became one of my favorite stories to read about. I definitely want to read this author's backlist because I fell in love with her writing and her ability to craft such a breathtaking book. I loved reading her author's note at the end because it added even more to my reading experience and made me feel so connected to her!

I recommend this book to any fans of Abby Jimenez, Ashley Poston, and Hannah Bonam-Young. If you want depth, this is your book. The mix of romance and women's fiction together made this such a wonderful read.

This was my first novel by this author and it was SO CUTE! I loved how real and raw things were and how the characters made their way to each other in a very realistic way. I'll definitely be checking out her other stuff!

This book was beautiful and ended so perfectly but there were parts that were hard or frustrating to read but it is because they rung so true to life. There is witty banter. But occasionally there were lulls in the story line that didn't seem to perpetuate the story, build character, or anything so that left me skipping small sections. Overall I would recommend the read though. Thanks #netgalley for the read!

A bit of a twist on a "surprise pregnancy" book for sure, but one I greatly enjoyed. I did get a little frustrated with the FMC, as she seemed lost (outside of the pregnancy, which is understandable). But I did love the different themes of infertility, single parenthood, co-parenting, found family, and falling in love. The other thing I enjoyed is that this would have been easy to inject a lot of angst into the story for all of the characters and it didn't go that route. I loved the surety of the male love interest in his feelings for the FMC.

This had some good moments but Bastone didn’t deliver (pun intended) with this for me. Eve was a flake and Shep was the boyfriend we all want but don’t deserve. The Ethan situation was just too complex for a rom-com—or what I thought was meant to be a rom-com. The sex vs. gender commentary was out of nowhere, as were the pronouns during the pregnancy yoga class. I really didn’t like Eve or how this was trying to be a manual on how to talk to a pregnant person. Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy

Add me to the group of people who requested this book because of the beautiful cover!

The vibes:
• surprise pregnancy
• slow burn romance
• friends to lovers
• found family
• the most perfect book boyfriend 🥰

Amaaazing! I went into this almost blindly and with few details from the cover. I was immediately hooked within the first few chapters. This looks like a romance but it’s so much more! The dialogue between Eve and her friends was funny and refreshing. Everyone in this book is imperfect and relatable. The character development was sooo well done! No third act breakup. No miscommunication. Had the best time reading this! I’ve already preordered my copy. 💕

I requested this book because the stunning cover quite literally took my breath away. I usually just skim a synopsis and I was aware READY OR NOT had the “dreaded” surprise pregnancy trope, which I actually don’t mind at all!

Heads up, this might be a bit more spoiler-y than my usual reviews but I can’t explain what didn’t work for me without giving a bit more information. While I don’t mind the surprise pregnancy trope at all I felt like there was so much missing from the story. The book opens up with our MC, Eve, learning she’s pregnant and that’s pretty much it. She just totally accepts it despite the fact that she never really thought about wanting kids previously. I don’t need her to lament about her options but she just leaves the doctor’s appointment fully accepting of this huge life changing news. I don’t know any woman, even a woman who wants children, that would react to this news so casually.

My other issue was the side character’s struggles with TTC. Again, I’m fine with a pregnancy trope but infertility is my least favorite thing to read about. I’m sure others will really appreciate this and I think it was handled with care, but it just wasn’t for me.

Finally, there’s a blink and you miss it moment that really bothered me. A coworker learns Eve is pregnant and responds with, “I didn’t even know you were married!. Fine, that’s something my 80 year old grandma might have said and I’m sure some people might be judgy but what irritated me was the fact that the author had to point out this woman had a crucifix around her neck. Like only a religious person could have been so rude?

Overall this is a cute story and I definitely appear to be in the minority here. The second half was a little slow and as a nurse, I personally thought the relationship with Eve and Nurse Louise was pretty unprofessional (albeit sweet, I suppose).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From Random House Publishing: Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
*******************
My review: I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Eve seemed very flighty, unhappy and self centered at first. And that's because she was. Watching her grown into a caring, less selfish person was a nice journey. Shep was the best, too good even. But doesn't everyone need a knight a shining armor?

As a parent I screamed at Eve the first half of the book: You need a better job! You need a bigger apartment! Ask your brothers for support! But seeing it all come together was a good ride. And agins, Shep was perfect. Did I mention that? I like the message that a family can be one you make with the people who happen to be around you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars because some of Eve's growth seemed a bit out of nowhere and "hurry up, a baby is coming". But overall I really liked this. I will check out the authors other works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

Ready or Not is a story of a unexpected pregnancy and what happens along the way to the birth.
I am child free at choice and a surprise pregnancy in a book just turns me off but being the pregnancy is part of the main plot I was definitely fine with it.
Eve is a single girl in Brooklyn trying to figure out how to deal with finding out she’s pregnant and how the baby daddy deals with that with the support of her close friends.
Can I relate to a soon to be mom or being pregnant, not at all but I can with being a female and thinking being a burden on others. Eve is relatable and I enjoyed the story of Willa and Shep is adorable yet a little unbelievable with some of his actions.
Overall it was a cute story and was enjoyable even for this anti baby lady.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Cara Bastone and Random House Publishing for a eARC in exchange for my honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- {READY OR NOT- Cara Bastone}

Easily my favorite read of the year! It was perfection from page one - super funny, witty, full of hope and love and all the characters were delightful 🥰 Eve finds out her one night stand was a little more fruitful than she intended and the unplanned pregnancy forces her to focus on herself and her future in a new way. Her job, her friendships, her apartment, her relationship with the men in her life all have to change whether shes ready or not!!!

Eves outlook on life was just so positive, and everyone in the book treated each other with so much decency and kindness. It was honestly a breath of fresh air and the author managed to do so without making it seem overly fake/cheesy. I was genuinely happy throughout the entire thing and would highly recommend this to everyone!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun book to read in the fall. The writing made me feel like I was in the middle of the story. A good read for anyone looking of something fun to read.

title: Ready or Not

author: Cara Bastone

publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback

publication date: February 13, 2024

pages: 400

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: nausea and puke, unplanned pregnancy, ultra sound, drunkenness

summary: Eve's one-night stand pregnancy reveals who's in her corner and helps her figure out what she wants in work and in love/friendship. 

tropes:

unplanned pregnangy
one-night stand
friends-to-lovers
great best friend
best friend's conception woes
dead parents (long before the book)
distant family
NY apartments
don't know what I want

what I liked: 

going through the pregnancy
a fun, first-person voice
the male lead is really sweet
the baby daddy's angst and its resolution
Eve's work dilemma

what I didn’t like: NA

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

Eve is pregnant, ready or not! As she navigates the world of an unexpected pregnancy alongside her childhood best friend, she learns about herself, her desires, and her capabilities.

A friends to lovers romance that filled my heart up all the way. The writing was a delight, Eve’s voice was a treat, and just enough spice to keep you on your toes!

Heart warming story! Great characters and setting. Wished the ending went a little farther into the future.

Cara Bastone crafts a heartfelt journey of a woman whose unexpected pregnancy after a one night stand throws everything for a loop, including everyone around her. This is not a storyline I go for, but the premise intrigued me and I'm glad I did because I couldn't help but be invested in thanks to the wonderful characters and the writing.

Eve Hatch is actively passively living her life as a single woman in her late 20s. She works in her dream organisation, but not in her dream job, has an apartment she's carefully decorated and loves, and has her best friend since childhood Willa.

Willa, who has been struggling to get pregnant is unable to fully be there for her, while Ethan, the father of the baby, is struggling with impending fatherhood which came while on a break with his on-off girlfriend. However Eve is not alone. Willa's brother Shep steps up in a quietly assured way with practical and emotional support. Are her growing feelings hormones or is she seeing her childhood friend in a new light?

We don't see all of Eve's problems solved, but that's not what this book is about. Instead its a wonderful character study. I really enjoyed watching how her pregnancy acts as a catalyst for Eve's growth to be less passive in all areas of her life, including her career. It was joyful to see her become active in her life, taking charge to go after Shep, building relationships with her much older brothers, and also allowing herself to feel the joy in wanting her baby vs it being an amorphous blob that's coming. I also absolutely adored the selfless Shep who also has in Eve someone who will be his champion (absolutely adored when they were apartment hunting for him). Even Ethan's struggles were realistic, relatable and he was, thankfully not written as a villain like many other books would have done.

The only issue with this book, if you could call it that was I'd have loved an epilogue set at least one year, or, perhaps five years in the future to see how it all worked out. These characters and their found family made me left wanting more.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for the ARC.