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.

3.5 stars

When I started this book, I wasn't feeling it. The main character was interesting, and it took a while to get used to her personality. BUT once things really started to come together, and we meet the men in her life, I was invested. How was she going to take care of her unborn child? Who would she choose to be with? And what's going on with the best friend? We watch Eve grow so much and watch her take what she wants from life. When I finished the book, I was smiling big with tears in my eyes. It was so sweet to watch eve become a mother with the most important people by her side.

Did I pick this book because of the beautiful cover? Maybe. Did I laugh and cry as I read it? Definitely. This is such a sweet read - definitely recommend!

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone was such a sweet read.
I have to say I was a bit annoyed with one of the characters, but overall I enjoyed this one. Eve was a strong, resilient woman and I enjoyed watching her growth.
A nice read that I would definitely recommend.

When Eve becomes pregnant from a one night stand. It’s her best friend’s older brother who helps throughout

This is not a trope that I usually read as it is not my favorite. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Eve's journey with pregnancy and how she and Willa navigated their friendship through the tricky subject. With that being said, I was all in for Shep and the slow burn that they had. But once they finally came together and professed their love it just went downhill for. IT was seemingly cheesy, and the tension just disappeared. It was an overall fun read.

Between 4 and 4.5 stars

Love the Cover!
This book really worked for me: unexpected pregnancy, friends to lovers trope, and clever idea of using trimesters of pregnancy to tell the story.

This is more than a romance book about a gal and a guy. It's a romance book about falling in love with the experience of pregnancy and the unborn child, while dealing with the ups and downs of being pregnant, and challenges at work and with friendship while falling in love with a simply wonderful, nice guy.
It's heartwarming, humorous, sad at times, realistic in certain parts, and a lot of swoon moments.

The writing was the only part that I thought was fine but could have been better.

Where to start? I read the book description and was very skeptical as to whether or not I would like this story. Felt very familiar and not in a way that was inspiring me to dig in. But from the very first page, I was rooting for Eve to figure things out and have her HEA. This was a well written book and the main character was both likeable and real, because there were moments when I also wanted to smack her. The secondary characters were well developed, particularly Shep, Willa and the baby daddy, but I kind of wanted to have her brothers around a bit more because the time she spends with them is so genuine and fun.

The book is a bit romance but a lot more Eve figuring out how to be a mom and what it means to bring a new life into the world. The romance was secondary to all of that. And I was overjoyed when Nurse Louise (I think) shows up in the key moments to help guide her.

Yes, there were some passages that felt a bit preachy about the wonder that is motherhood and adulting, but all in all, they were minor. And if all I can find to nit pick about is a few passages here and there where Eve gets into her head about being a good person, then so be it. Ok. And also how she avoided a few big decisions like her job and deciding what to do about Ethan-Edie.

I have never read any Bastone books before, so not sure whether this lives up to the previous ones. I read a few other reviews, and I think that it's a bit of a deviation in that it is less about the romance than some of her other books. So, more of a story of growth and maturing with a smattering of romance to help us romantics through.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cara Bastone, and Random House Group - Random House, Dial Press for an advanced reader copy of “Ready or Not”. This soon to be released 2/13/2024 is a friends to lovers rom-com that doesn’t disappoint!

Eve finds out she is pregnant from a one night stand with a handsome guy. One of her oldest friends moves back to the area (brother of her best friend) and she discovers there may be more to him than just friendship.

The real evolution in this novel is within the main character. The author writes of pregnancy, childbirth, friendship, fertility issues, unrequited love and self-reliance in the believable ways. Eve and all her relationships were written with warmth and hope. I was rooting for her the whole way through. The book is very engaging, and fun!

I think this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Not only was it a sweet romance, full of friendships, devotions, acceptance, and strength, it was also an authentic, wonderful look at the experience of pregnancy, parenthood, womanhood in general. the way the author lets us walk this journey with Eve from start to finish of the pregnancy was intensely emotional, poignant, spectacular, and loving.

Eve has a non-traditional route to motherhood, but we see her step into such an emotional new phase of life with such an authentic and loving point of view. I loved Eve so much as she stood up for what she wanted. throughout the story, Eve says that her friend Willa is the one who is vocal about what she wants, but there are several instances Eve makes her wants & needs abundantly clear, all in the name of keeping herself and her child safe, protected, and loved. Eve stands up for her and her child’s self, body, autonomy, respect, and worthiness throughout this story. It was so breathtaking to read.

and Shep. I love Shep with my whole heart. from the very beginning, he is the definition of other-centered, love-focused, abundant kindness, etc. he shows his love for Eve in so many ways, ways that she is able to comprehend and accept. I love a good boy-pining trope and boy did this story deliver. seeing Shep love Eve and baby right from the start was the most beautiful thing.

all the moments of dealing with friendships, parental loss, infertility and miscarriage, non traditional parenthood, budding romance, etc. are all dealt with (in my opinion) in such a respectful, authentic, endlessly loving way. there’s no one right way to deal with all the abstract, emotional moments of life, but this story shows so much love in so many abundant forms. it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. needless to say I cried a lot in this story, but I also laughed so much…much like life itself.

what a beautiful story from start to finish. it’s none like I’ve ever read, and one that will stay with me for a while. thank you for the arc :)

Love Love LOVED this book!!!! Five gigantic stars! I’m not a huge pregnancy trope fan but this may have changed my mind. Found Family, strong funny FMC, swoony Shep. Omg. The best. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!