Wow, what a book! I was reading in bed sobbing last night because of how beautiful this story is.

Eve's pregnant. The father? One night stand. Her family? Miles away from NYC. Best friend Willa? Otherwise engaged. Best friend's older brother, Shep, whom she's known her whole life, is super supportive, funny, sweet, recently single, and kinda hot? Here to help!

While Shep is there for her, Eve does have to do a lot of self-reflection to figure out who she truly is, what she wants out of life (pregnancy and career related), and what actually led to that fateful one-night stand in the first place.

Not only was this story about navigating all of the facets of pregnancy (mostly alone, I might add), but it was really about Eve finding herself, discovering who she wanted to be as a mother and a human being in general, and being okay with maybe having to do it all alone.

I think this book is a love letter to anybody who's ever been pregnant and didn't know what the hell they were doing. While I've never been in that position, parts of this book really made me think about the pressure some pregnant people may be under to have it all figured out. It also really made me appreciate my mom and the things she sacrificed just to be my mother!!

Overall, I really really loved this book. I'm not always a huge fan of pregnancy tropes, but this one did it for me. If you also enjoy found family and friends to lovers, add this to your TBR for next Spring, you won't be disappointed.

Let's just start with the cover - perfect and so cute! Who wouldn't want to pick this up?

The premise of this story is so unique - I love the quirky characters, the friendships, the setting, the premise, etc.

Warning: LOTS of infertility struggles so keep that in mind if this is a topic that may make you uncomfortable.

I am so happy to see that Cara has other books - can't wait to dive into those!

I love everything Cara Bastone writes. This was no exception. If you're looking for a true romance novel like some of her previous work, this definitely leans more closely to women's fiction.
Eve is a wonderful protagonist, and watching her grow and evolve throughout this novel was so beautiful and touching. It was so easy to root for her.
I'm not usually one to enjoy the unexpected pregnancy trope, but every single bit of this story felt realistic. Conflict in the story was resolved effectively, and each one of the friendships and relationships within the story was rich and nuanced.
The slow burn was lovely -- it is impossible to not love Shep and root for him throughout. He's one of the softest, sweetest MMCs I've ever read. It makes me wish we got more of him. Bastone's MMCs remain my absolute favorite in the industry.
I'm not the first to say it, but I wish this novel had an epilogue -- the ending was great, but felt a bit abrupt. I wanted more!
Thank you to Dial Press Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book for fans of Love Rosie or Knocked Up! If you love books about family, finding one’s self and romance, then you will absolutely love this book!

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone was an unexpected delight! Eve is navigating an unplanned pregnancy, which really shines a light on the relationships in her life. There is the somewhat supportive but conflicted baby’s father, her best friend who has difficulty showing up due to struggles she is experiencing in her own life and Shep, her best friend’s older brother who shows up as a strong support exactly when Eve needs someone the most. Eve is funny, brave and very realistic.

TW: unexpected pregnancy, infertility

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, NetGalley and the author for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great book and wonderful story. This is a new to me author and I can’t wait to delve into her other books! I loved the slow burn between Eve and Shep and the characters were adorable. I enjoyed watching Eve grow and see how she reacts to all her other relationships with her news of the unplanned pregnancy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. And for introducing me to a new author.

Ready or Not was an absolute delight. It’s a super sweet love story that unfolds around an accidental pregnancy. Eve is an incredibly likable heroine, and as someone who has been pregnant, I felt the cycle of emotions she goes through throughout her pregnancy was incredibly relatable. She is hesitant, at first disconnected, and then slowly begins to enjoy developing a relationship with her baby. Her best friend Willa has trouble talking about the baby due to her own issues with infertility, which is a common occurrence that does not get talked about enough. Willa’s brother Shep steps in to help Eve, initially serving as her emotional support and then much more, Their relationship grows and unfolds in such a sweet way, and Shep is not a typical alpha male hero in a way I found really refreshing. Ready or Not is heartwarming, genuine, and authentic. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. The banter between Shep and Eve was fantastic!

This book made me cry. A lot. Parts were triggering (personal life issues) but parts were just so feel good happy I couldn’t help but cry. The prose was beautiful and I very much enjoyed reading every word. I loved the characters and their issues and how it all worked out in the end. Nothing major happened, but it was a nice, relaxing, beautifully told story that I’m glad I picked up.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I WANT to say that I LOVED this book - and there definitely were parts that I did love! But it just felt like there was something MISSING. Maybe it was the POV of Shep? I’m not sure. I usually prefer dual POV, but can make due with single POV, but this time I think having Shep’s POV would’ve helped make the story move a long a touch more, especially in the second trimester portion.

But, it was very interesting to me, a single girl in her twenties, living in a big city, to see how Eve, also a single girl in her twenties living in a big city, navigated pregnancy and childbirth and her relationships with her friends/coworker/family.

I genuinely really enjoyed this book, I just feel like I needed something else to make me LOVE it.

However, it’s all worth it for the ending.

This one is a tough one to review. Good points, I loved the author's style. The humor was delicious. The pacing zipped right along. Most of the characters were complex (see below) and the guys were really well done. The hero was kind, the sort of hero I wish we saw more of in literature much less romance. The other guy was believable in his bewilderment and emotional swings, and I loved how he finally pulled himself together.

Points that I found not so good: the author's voice, as well as her heroine, are emphatically non-religious, which is fine, but in that case, why not even consider an abortion? Our heroine is shocked that a one-night stand with a random guy, while using protection, conceived. From the gitgo this rather self-involved young woman with a tentative job and emotional issues immediately is going to have the baby. Someone asks why, and she says quickly, "Not for religious reasons," and that's all we get. Okay. The prose was so fun and funny, the characters so heart-warming, I rolled with that. I knew she was going to go through with the pregnancy but I thought she could at least consider adopting the child out.

Still, this is a romance, which guarantees a happy ending. Except when it doesn't, in this case her bestie, who has been trying to get pregnant for her entire marriage. Leading to my second negative: readers who are trying to get pregnant should probably think twice about picking up this book, as Willa, the bestie, has to deal with emotional blow after emotional blow, but despite this being a romance, which promises HEA, there is no sign of her getting what she desires most by the end, despite her pulling herself together repeatedly to be supportive. Which shoves this story more toward women's fiction than romance.

Third negative: the characters are beautifully complex and thoughtfully written, most of them leading from the heart, kindness acknowledged and valued--and then a new character is briefly introduced who is wearing a crucifix. That is specifically Roman Catholic. No other Christian denominations wear crucifixes that I am aware of. Then this character makes a remark that is stereotypically judgmental, and vanishes from the book. Catholic-bashing, or just ignorance? Anyway, even if this was supposed to be fundamentalist-bashing instead of Catholic-bashing, stereotyping is still bigotry.

So I'd say, except for these issues, this book has a lot going for it: great style and adorable main characters. But CW for readers sensitive to stereotypes and who might be having conception difficulties.

I don’t usually love the unexpected pregnancy trope but I loved this one. As a parent, I felt every emotions Eve felt throughout the book. She was brave, charming, funny, and I felt that the situations were very realistic. I have loved every Cara Bastone book I have read so I was excited to read this one.

I highly recommend this book.

Thanks for the opportunity NetGalley.

This was one of the sweetest books I've read this year! I love the friends to lovers trope in this novel. It was a great contemporary look at unexpected friendship, pregnancy and love. I will be recommending this to my book clubs!

Ready or Not was a beautiful surprise! I haven’t read anything like this before but it was so well written and captivating. I truly felt almost every emotion that Eve felt throughout her journey in this book! I couldn’t help but get mad/frustrated at Ethan when he was so undecided. I was sad when Eve was telling those closest to her, especially Willa, about her pregnancy and no one was excited/happy for her (except Shep!). Love the best friends to lovers trope and always glad it’s a HEA!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you are a parent, you will likely tear up reading the final chapters, as Eve finally gets to meet her baby. It is beautiful as family and friends shower her with love and support.

However, before you get to the tears/sentimentality, you will experience Eve trying to come to terms with an unplanned pregnancy and impending motherhood. Complicating this process is that her best friend, Willa, struggles to be fully supportive (due to her own infertility issues). Eve is also facing possible changes at work, with an opportunity for a better paying position with the nonprofit organization where she works, but a position that will not help her reach the job within the organization that she most wants. The pregnancy was the result of a one-stand with a bartender named Ethan (who it turns out actually owns and manages the bar). However, in the weeks that pass between their one night of passion and the discovery that Eve is pregnant and the opportunity to share this news with him, Ethan has gotten back together with his on again off again girlfriend. Not surprisingly, his girlfriend does not react favorably to learning that her boyfriend has fathered a child with another woman. Ethan wants to be involved with his child, he thinks, but has no idea what kind of involvement he wants, and how to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend and be a father. This results in a lot of stress and uncertainty. Thankfully for Eve, she has Willa's brother, Shep, to support her. He is very other-centered, and if you are happy, then he is happy for you. Shep has long been harboring a crush on Eve, to which she has been blissfully ignorant, but he has never acted on his feelings. However, as they spend more time together as Eve experiences the ups and downs of pregnancy, she begins to view him in a different light.

Will Shep reveal his feelings? Will Eve figure out what she wants in life both in terms of career and relationships and will she take the necessary steps to achieve those goals? Will Ethan be involved in his child's life and on what terms? You will have to read the book to find out.

They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, but that is what I did and this adorable cover matches the story perfectly. 💕

I enjoyed everything about this story from the fantastic relatable characters to the wonderful portrayal of motherhood and a slow burning friends-to-lovers romance.

It was heartwarming to see Eve’s character evolve and really go after what she wants. Shep’s optimism and positivity was very enduring too, but I think Nurse Blank was my favorite character. Sometimes the person that helps you the most is someone you don’t even know yet. Her theory about self-centered vs other centered people was so spot-on in describing motherhood.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishering Group - Random House for granting me access to this book.

Mark your calendars and snag this book on 2/13/2024!

A beautiful and exciting story! I loved the characters and was rooting for them the whole time. A must read!

I was sent this book as an arc and decided to give it a try because the cover was so beautiful. I put off reading it for months because I hadn’t ever read anything from the author before and wasn’t sure if I’d like it. I made the mistake of starting the book at 10:00pm and promptly read until 1am before forcing myself to put the book down and go to sleep. It immediately captivated me and I couldn’t put it down!
In this book, Eve finds out she’s unexpectedly pregnant from a one night stand and has to navigate a best friend dealing with infertility who is struggling with her situation, a baby daddy who isn’t sure what he wants his role to be, and a family that isn’t super involved in her life. She finds help and comfort in her best friend’s brother, who ends up navigating pregnancy with her and showing up for her in unexpected ways. Shep is the ultimate golden retriever, sweet, loveable MMC and I adored him (I mean, his name is SHEP for goodness sake). The way he takes care of Eve and is also lighthearted and fun had me in a puddle. I love a good friends to lovers story and this was so well done. I also was so impressed with how realistic the characters were. They reacted the way a real human would react, and the whole thing was completely believable while also being interesting and compelling. Even when characters behaved unfavorably there are really no villains in the story because it’s such a tough situation that you feel empathetic towards them. This book also made me laugh out loud and smile like a goon most of the time I was reading. It has the perfect amount of humor, angst, drama, sweetness, and is so heart felt. It describes pregnancy really well and you can tell the author has actual first-hand experience with the subject. I’m so glad this book dropped into my lap and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Read if you love:
•friends to lovers
•”it was always you”
•slow burn
•sunshine MMC
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Normally, I am not one to enjoy a pregnancy trope book. However, this book, while involving pregnancy, wasn't your typical pregnancy trope book. There was an actual story outside of that and the pregnancy wasn't described in an "all important" "world ending" type of way if that makes any sense. The entire time I was reading this book, I kept picturing Eve as Zoey Deutch, Willa as Anna Camp, Shep as Freddie Stroma, and Ethan as Ben Hardy. So if there's anyone out there considering making this wonderfully witty book into a movie, please consider my casting suggestions. This book would've gotten a 5/5 stars for me but I felt like the ending was a little rushed. Fantastic book and a really great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This one was kind of cute, but I am not a huge fan of the tropes that the plot was based on. It felt like the characters would never have gotten together if the FMC didn’t get pregnant. The FMC finds herself in a very stressful situation, but decides to go with the flow and see what happens. I also thought the friends to lovers did not have enough chemistry for it to make sense that they got together even though the guy was not involved in the pregnancy.