I was super excited to read this new book by Cara Bastone! I found the writing fresh and easy-to-read as per of the author. Though, this is mostly leaning towards women fiction (which was a bit disappointing) than romance.

Most important was that certain topics were handled very delicately and I appreciated the relationship dynamics that were shown (I.e. Eva and Willa). I loved Shep too, he’s a charismatic and supportive male lead.

Lastly, I think this book was enjoyable enough, but was also too long. The build up with Shep and Eve was drawn out and I felt myself being less invested in their journey as I’d hoped. Overall, the romance was lacking but I stayed for the vibes 😎

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Cara Bastone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is everything. Everything I want in a book. It is tender and funny and romantic and self-affirming. It has friendship and family and love. Painful experiences, heartbreaks and moments of complete joy and fulfillment. It is complicated and messy but heartwarming and uplifting. As a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, a human… I just felt every moment of it with my whole soul.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my very own.

loved this romance between friends and that she had a one night stand and got pregnant and trying to navigate those situations and doing her job and slowly finding out that shep was in love with her and she was in love with him. Loved this friends to lovers romance and that things got figured out with the baby .

When I requested this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it but decided to give it a try anyways. I am not a huge fan of the pregnancy trope or anything but I was actually a big fan of this book. It was a very cute read about not being ready to literally make and take care of another human being. Which honestly is so relatable. I really liked Eve's character but by far Shep was my favorite thing about this book. Can I please get a Shep for myself.

This was one of the best accidental pregnancy books I have ever read. It will definitely be on my top reads on my Instagram for next year. I have already preordered and cannot wait to post on my insta.

Overall, I really liked this book. I genuinely enjoyed getting to know all the different characters, and watching them learn and change and mature in various ways. I found myself laughing out loud many times, and there were tears at several points, too.

As someone who is childless not by choice, I identify the most with the character of Willa, so I kind of found myself wanting to read more about her perspective of things, but I get that that’s not the main story the author was trying to tell. I’m glad that she was included in the story, though, and I think her character was treated with compassion.

I also liked the character of Shep, but he almost seemed a little too perfect, somehow? I think I ended up liking Ethan a little better, just because of the struggles that he goes through and overcomes over the course of the book, and a part of me wanted him to end up with Eve. But, overall, I was satisfied with how the story ended.

I really enjoyed reading this one and am curious to read more by this author.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Readers who enjoy accidental pregnancy, friends-to-lovers, best friend's brother tropes will find a lot to like about Ready or Not. It is a sweet story with a heartwarming conclusion.

I personally didn't connect to any of the characters and wish we had more character development and insight into Eve's decision-making and personality.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Guy Falls First, Friends to Lover and Found Family? Count me in!

Eve wants it all - a dream job, a dream guy, and a perfectly decorated apartment. After a one-night stand leads to an unplanned pregnancy, she is forced to reevaluate her relationships, her future, and how to figure out what she truly wants for herself. She discovers that love and family can surprise you when you least expect it. Will it be the baby daddy or her best friend's brother?

I typically steer clear of the unplanned pregnancy trope, but took a chance on this one (the cover is amazing) and LOVED IT. I laughed and cried throughout. I loved how the author didn't sugarcoat life's messiness and the complexities of adult friendships. This was my first time reading Cara Bastone and definitely won't be my last. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, authentic, and touching read! Trigger warnings: Eve's best friend is dealing with infertility.

My favorite quote was towards the end: "You're a love letter too, (...) You're here because we all love you so much."

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Cara Bastone for granting me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

I was invited to read this one on Net Galley and wow, I’m so glad I was. This book made me feel so seen and understood. The main character finds out she is unexpectedly pregnant and spends the next nine months watching her entire life change. She is single, living away from family, wanting her career to advance and smitten with two different men, but she is determined to do the best she can for her baby. To be honest, I didn’t love being pregnant, I love my daughter with everything I have but I never felt that “pregnancy glow”. I think women feel so much pressure to make it seem like they are happy during pregnancy and this book just felt way more realistic and relatable to me. Plus the love interests in this book are so genuine and kind and reminded me of my husband.

This book is for everyone though! I truly believe you’ll enjoy it even if you’ve never been pregnant or never want to be.

This was sooo good!! It's angsty, entertaining with with witty dialogues, charming MCs, and the tension that sparks off the page. But I also loved how the friendship and the kinda forced proximity made all their feelings come bubbling to the surface. Absolutely adorable and the cutest. Plus, enjoyed that unconventional ending too!

I'm not typically one to read surprise pregnancy books, but this one has a different approach. The book opens with Eve finding out she is pregnant, then it shows how pregnancy can affect different relationships in your life. It shows how different the world reacts to pregnancy, how your workplace can treat you, how strangers or even friends can treat you differently.

I felt so bad for Willa, I don't have the personal knowledge of what she went through, but I can imagine how hard it would be to watch your best friend accidentally get what you have been wanting for so long.

Shep was such an amazing friend, I love the relationship between him and Eve. He was there for her and that was enough for him, if that was the way it was supposed to go. He did so much for Eve, and the growth in their relationship was inspiring. They go from childhood friends, who have been through so much, to seeing how much they really love each other.

Ethan, poor man, he wasn't 100% sure how to feel or what to do about his situation. I know we see this a lot in today's world, but he really stepped up and was there when Eve needed him most.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, however I wouldn't fully classify it as a romance book, it was so much more about Eve growing with her pregnancy and how it can truly change an individual.

I received an e-Arc from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review! Thanks to Madison for the e-Arc!

I had an idea how this story was going to go down but I was wrong. I liked this little gem. The story does hit home on the fact that family and love can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Whoo!

I will admit I don't read many stories about being pregnant but after reading the summary, I could not resist! It's such a great rom-com. Sweet and adventurous and complicated.

I think that's why I liked the story because it showed that life can be complicated. People have to deal with situations and other people. It felt real to me.

The book was written from Eve's view of everything. That was really nice to see. Eve had growth for herself in this story, you'll see it! I think some of the other characters experienced that too.

So if you like Contemporary Romance, Unplanned Pregnancy, Friends to Lovers and Slow Burn, then this book is for you. To me it was real, sweet and complicated!

Ready or Not is the perfect read for anyone looking for a great hug in book form. This book tugged my heart strings and I did not want to let go. Eve has found herself pregnant from a one night stand. Now she has to deal with the idea of being a single mom and how her brothers and best friend are going to react. She also has to figure out if the father is going to play a role in her life. To top it all off she is unsure of how she feels about her best friend's brother, Shep. He has always been in the background of her life and now he is no longer with his long term girlfriend, Everything is changing and she is not sure what she can blame on her pregnancy or what she truly is feeling. This novel is absolutely delightful and will envelop you in its embrace. Don't miss this perfect Rom-Com novel. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Dial Press Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anything Cara Bastone is an instant buy for me and this is no exception. I am a sucker for a surprise pregnancy trope and this one delivered! I can’t recommend this enough!

I liked the book for its story. Love the characters, especially how the main characters were perplexed, the way they were handling. The emotions were raw, when it was between the two best friends. It balanced out. I would recommend this book to my friends and colleagues.

Cara Bastone’ writing is amazing, and I read the book in one day and enjoyed every second of it. I loved how it pulled so many emotions in me. Plus, there was a lot of angst and push and pull too, but in the end, the characters were what made the book so enjoyable.

I was not prepared for the emotions Cara Bastone wrenched from this cold heart. I'm usually not one to pick the unplanned pregnancy book, but I am a sucker for found families.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

This is a romance novel with an unusual twist. As the book opens, Eve Hatch is at an ob/gyn appointment on her lunch hour, looking for confirmation of her suspected pregnancy. She's done some at-home tests, and is already pretty sure of the truth. Eve is not in a romantic relationship. A few weeks ago, when her best friend Willa's brother Shep left his long term relationship and moved in with his sister and her partner in Brooklyn, the three had a fun night out. When Willa and Shep called it a night and caught a cab home, Eva found herself still energized and went into a nearby bar, where she ended up going home with the bartender, Ethan Rise.
So after she gears herself up to tell first Willa the news, and then Ethan, she must figure out how to tell her siblings, and the wider community.
Eve has a job in an organization that she's always dreamed of working for, a wildlife conservation organization, but she is in administration and dreams of running her own project. When an opportunity in a different direction opens up due to her hard work, she must make a choice and figure out what she really wants there as well.
She loves her small apartment that she's made exactly as she wants, but worries about whether she can fit her baby into it, especially as it grows.
With all these changes opening up in her life, Eva finds Shep, her childhood friend to be there when she needs someone. He accompanies her on errands, shows up at her home with exactly the perfect things for the moment, and helps her to focus her mind on the good in what's happening.
This novel is a journey of self-knowledge and self-life as well as a romance. A real page-turner.

I was drawn in by the cover. Going to be honest that’s the reason I requested it. I don’t like surprise pregnancy stories and other things that made me not finish this book.

Eve is just living her life when she finds out she's pregnant from a one night stand. Her best friends brother is the one who helped her through everything. Could she be falling for him? I loved their vibes and chemistry!

I really liked this book and the characters were lovable and relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!