Life comes at you fast in Cara Bastone's "Ready or Not." After a one night stand Eve Hatch's universe is rocked when she finds out she is pregnant.

Eve works as an admin at a wildlife conservatory and is biding her time until a more influential role in conservatorship for saving the animals opens up at the company. She's very into the status-quo of how life is and isn't searching for more, when she finds herself plus-one. When she goes to the bar to tell the bartender she hooked up with, she finds out he's not just the bartender, but also the owner- yay! and also back with his ex-girlfriend- not so yay. At work she's approached to join the finance team- a step up but not in the direction she had dreamed of, and now with child Eve has all sorts of decisions to make. She leans on her bestie Willa, and Willa's brother Shep for guidance as she starts planning for this new direction of her life. Ethan - Eve's baby daddy, kinda wants to be involved, but his gf does not want him to be, more complications. Eve's hormones test her boundaries with Shep making her wonder if there is more there than friendship. Chaos all around, this book was a great vacation read and wonderful story. Enforced the thought that though things don't always go according to plan and life throws you curveballs, if you have faith in yourself it will all work out.

Thank you to @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse @carabastone #dialpress #readyornot.

I was hesitant to read this because I don't love the surprise pregnancy trope. But this was a surprisingly cozy, rom-com read. I enjoyed the New York ambience which made this a warm fall read. I will say this skews more toward women's fiction so if you're looking for that this is a great read!

What a beautiful little romance novel!

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone just enchanted me. In it we meet Eve, who has just found out she’s pregnant after a one night stand with Ethan. Eve’s pregnancy cracks open the relationships in her life, from Willa, her best friend who has been struggling to get pregnant herself, to Willa’s brother Shep, who may or may not have a crush on Eve, to Ethan, who’s not sure how involved in the baby’s life he wants to be. As the months go by, Eve comes to term with impending motherhood while finding who she is in her career and her personal life.

This novel is a sweet slow burn that completely warmed my heart. I felt for Eve when I needed to and found myself falling for the people in her life. Life can be messy and this book definitely showcases that. I definitely felt swept up in this book and was sad when it ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5

ugh the baby fever is so real rn...

this book was the absolute best surprise ever!! i had no idea what to expect because it's not really a romance and not really a women's fiction book, it's a beautiful mix of the two. from the very beginning i was hooked on eve's story and couldn't put this book down until i got to read her happy ending. i am in the minority with my opinion that surprise/accidental pregnancy books are good. if anyone needs convincing read this book, or out on a limb, or reckless.. defiantly my top three!

as a romance i was slightly skeptical because i really hate love triangle's and i just loved shep so much. the anxiety i had over what would happen with ethan was so real. shep is literally one of the sweetest book men ever, we love men that pine for DECADES over one women!!! this couple deserves all the happiness in the world, ethan does as well. a book where he gets his happy ending and shep and eve are cheering him on the whole time and giving him dating tips is a necessity!

so yes this was amazingly cute and i definitely recommend picking this up when it gets released in febuary! all i wish is that there was more of an epilogue because i just wanted so much more moments with everyone and the baby!

*Thank you NetGalley for the arc*

This isn’t typically a trope that I read, but something about this book really drew me in. I am so glad I had the opportunity to receive this arc, because I really enjoyed this book. As soon as i started reading it I knew it was going to be a book I would have to make myself put down.

I loved seeing the different dynamics of Eve’s relationships and how she dealt with an unexpected pregnancy. Also I mean who wouldn’t love Shep? The first scene he was in I just knew I would love him. Ready or Not was a great read and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy or want to check out this trope.

Cara Bastone’s writing is so lovely and was so easy to read. I flew right through this book and I definitely will be checking out more of Cara’s books!

Oh my heart - Shep. Excellent characters and one of the best books I’ve reviewed. I really enjoyed Ready or Not and will be purchasing the paperback!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House / Dial Press.

This was a heartwarming read with a lot of interesting dynamics between the various characters. If you have hopes for a sweeping romantic tale here, go into the book knowing it’s more women’s fiction than romance until about the last 20% to manage expectations, but know the romance does come and it is lovely.

Eve ends up pregnant after a one-night stand and finds unwavering support from her friend and best friend’s brother, Shep. She has to navigate the idea of bringing a new life into the world, figure out how involved the baby’s father wants to and is willing to be and the dynamic of their relationship, and decide on a path at work all while feelings unexpected emotions toward Shep.

I have never been pregnant and don’t care to be, so while I have no personal experience with Eve’s situation, all her various emotions felt as authentic as I could imagine. I felt for her trying to balance needing Willa’s support while also being an understanding friend knowing it would be hard for Willa in the face of her own struggles. I liked seeing Eve’s growth as she worked through things with Ethan and coming to terms with the fact that, if needed, she could figure out how to do it on her own. She gave him a lot of grace in the situation, and I had a lot of respect for her.

And now Shep. Sweet Prince Shep. I loved him. I wanted more with him and Eve — this is where the above disclaimer about the romance stemmed from. A lot of the book is spent in Eve’s head as she figures out her situation for herself with tender and sweet moments and interactions sprinkled in with Shep. As a reader, Shep’s feelings were very clear and I was ready for their friendship to evolve much sooner. However, the way it plays out is very endearing and probably much more realistic given the situation. I just loved him and his steadfastness, maturity, and deeply caring nature. He was a great partner, both as a friend and romantically.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I don’t often seek out pregnancy storylines in the books I’m choosing to read, so I’m glad I took a chance on this one.

I was NOT ready for how much I was going to enjoy this book! Such a rollercoaster of emotions with the funniest leading lady I have read in a while.

Recap: Eve lives a very simple life - her apartment is perfectly curated, her job is comfortable, her life is predictable. Until she has a one night stand and, unpredictably, gets pregnant. To her surprise, her biggest support is Shep, her longtime friend and brother of her childhood bestie, Willa. Through a journey of ups, down, nausea, cravings, and dealing with the unexpected, Eve learns a lot about her family, her life, her relationships, and love - where she least expected to find it.

Review:
It is the best thing I have read in several months. This is my first Cara Bastone book, and it will NOT be the last!
Each character was so carefully crafted, from the very beginning. Eve is clever, funny without knowing how funny she is, and loves those around her. I enjoyed her journey through pregnancy, and how she handled the complex relationships in her life, from Willa to Ethan to her brothers to Nurse Louise.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was how the author portrayed how sometimes we don't know what is going on with those around us, mostly because we only know the side of them we are used to. When she knew more about her brother and about Willa's feelings, she became closer to them and was able to find the support she needed through her pregnancy.
Throughout, Cara kept me engaged with the characters, laughing at Eve's inner monologue, swooning over Shep and his caring actions, and crying alongside Eve when she saw how great her circle of support is. Truly a great read and I cannot wait for this book to come out and share with everyone.

Read if you like:
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Secret Crushes
Best friend's brother

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Can “Ready or Not” be described as “unexpected pregnancy” when that is the whole synopsis of the story? I mean, it's unexpected for Eve, sure, but we don't know her, we know nothing about her if not that she randomly got pregnant.

I sound like a hater, but it wasn't my intent, at first. I was well aware of what the story was about since the beginning; in fact, I asked for an ARC specifically for the OMG-I'm-pregnant-what-do-I-do-now trope.
And since lots of people liked it, my question is still there: do I dislike pregnant women in books or do I dislike Cara Bastone’s vision of it?

Something tells me it's the latter because, if you really think about it, the story is kind of… questionable.
Eve basically grew up with no family, has a job she hates - and is not very remunerative -, is single and never gave a thought about having kids. Which is completely normal for a woman still in her 20s who's figuring out what to do in her life.
And then she finds out she's pregnant and she's simply fine with that. She doesn't panic, she doesn't think for a moment about how her life is gonna change, and she isn't anxious about pushing out of her body a literal human being. She's like: “<i>I’m pregnant, so I'll have a baby</i>”.
And I know some of you could say that I'm pissed because she didn't consider getting an abortion not even for a second - because she didn't consider that at all -, but I'm not. I imagine what a woman in her situation would think or do - what I’d think or do -, and there are two options: or she's very delusional because she actually believes everything is gonna be okay and the world is an amazing place and nobody will ever try to kidnap her kid, or she's completely detached as a person in general.

While Shep is without a doubt the best part of this story - he's so kind, generous and cute, not to mention his functioning brain; and Willa could have been harsher, given her situation; and Ethan is not perfect, but way less awful than I expected.
And while the lack of toxicity was both so good to witness and irrealistic.
Eve’s first reaction drove me off significantly, too much to enjoy the rest of her journey.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I didn’t really go in expecting a big connection with this book. It was recommended to me and I figured eh, why not. I needed a little break from fantasy books.

But as someone who is only 25 and still not even thinking about pregnancy and whatnot at this time, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The surprise pregnancy is never my favorite trope, but this book took a surprise pregnancy and completely rewrote the rule book in a way that I found very honest and emotional.

I definitely had tears at some points. I truly enjoyed the journey of Eve’s pregnancy and how she grew through the stages. Overall, this really was a very good story.

This book hooked me right away. It’s quick to grab you with the depth of the different characters. The author does a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for each character’s personality and life choices. What a fantastic journey through the lens of a pregnant woman!

This was such a sweet book! Both funny, honest, realistic, and romantic at the same time. I enjoyed how the author explored what friendship means in different stages of life and how sometimes the peoples who step up for us are the ones we don’t see coming! It was definitely a feel-good read that I couldn’t put down. Each character was special and unique in their own ways and I loved that about it!
Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review!

I can't say that the premise is my favorite to read about, but I found this to be well done, incredibly well written and a sweet story. I do think the ending felt rushed, but overall I really enjoyed this one!

I was immediately drawn to this book based on the cover and the premise--and it didn't disappoint. Shep is goofy and lovable and all around sweet as sugar. My heart hurt for Ethan at times, and I loved the character transformation he went through. Without spoilers, this is the way parenting (and co-parenting) should look. Teamwork to the end. I would have loved an epilogue; the ending was a little abrupt for my liking. It would have been nice to see the characters enacting everything they'd learned and come to realize throughout the book.
I also don't feel like there was a whole resolution with the Willa storyline, but other than that it was a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Trade Press for my advanced copy!

This was a quick, cute read, but also lots of emotions to process. I really felt like I was on the journey with Eve. I loved seeing Eve’s thought process regarding her situation. I also enjoyed seeing something different: the father’s reaction to the pregnancy and how it wasn’t a happy ever after. I like how Shep was there for Eve. I enjoy their energy together. I enjoyed how the author did something not typically seen but the ending situation does seem a bit unrealistic to me and took me away from the overall growth of the character. I also did not like how Willa, her best friend, was gaslighting her. Eve acknowledges it for a second but then turns around and blames herself. It was great that they reconciled but still off putting. I did really enjoy this book and would recommend it to others.

Couldn’t put it down! Cara Bastone’s breezy writing style combined with an intriguing story line kept me reading late into the night! I’ll be looking for other works by Bastone - if they’re anywhere near as enjoyable as this one, I’ll be hooked!

well written but somehow I had trouble getting into the story. Might be me, though. It's charming though.

This is a well written book and I really like it but it wasn't what I was expecting. I think it was my fault because I went into this expecting a romance centric story. This is not that. While yes romance plays a part in the overall plot of the book, the central story focuses on the pregnancy and how the heroine deals with it. While a great story, I couldn't like it much because it did not cater to what I wanted when I read this, but that's not on the author or the book. This is a great story and I'm sure others will absolutely love it.

Well this one is funny! What’ a great whit and sense of humor while still addressing some important issues regarding pregnancy and life. Thanks for a fun read that gave some laughs along the way.

Thank you to Random House and Cara Bastone for sending me this ARC!

I'm not someone who is into any stories with pregnancies as a main theme, however Ready or Not was so adorable start to finish. Eve is relatable navigating an unexpected pregnancy, the dad is a random hookup from a bar with a complicated life, and a best friend going through infertility. The story is realistic with how a major life change impacts everyone around you.

Shep, Willa's younger brother who shows up consistently throughout the novel when everyone else fails. Ethan, the one night stand who has a girlfriend and is struggling to decide what to do with the women in his life. Bastone is great at giving tension throughout, and you (as the reader) find yourself hoping she choses either of them. I personally didn't find Eve's hesitance with Shep to be drawn out or frustrating, because dating your best friends little brother is a gigantic decision and shouldn't be taken lightly.