By the sheer premise of the plot, "Ready or Not" had the potential to land with my least favorite romance trope: pregnancy and the dreaded love triangle. Bastone steered this little book well away from that trap and delivered a surprisingly poignant story where the reader can't help but root for all involved.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘖𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵 to fall hopelessly in love with this marvelous, sublime, incredible story?

Shep is the best part of the story. He's kind, generous and a tad awkward and absolutely gone for Eve but all in the best ways. I'd love to give the man a hug, I'd probably get bruised in the process but a hug nonetheless (and that moment when the baby kicked only for Shep? thing of dreams).

Eve navigated the entire thing so well. She was nervous and happy and a little(lot) scared to death but she was perfect through and through.
What I love most about the story is how Eve treated Ethan. There were times he decidedly didn't deserve her kindness but that's exactly why Eve commanded respect.

Another amazing aspect (ooh alliteration) was how despite the chaos of the situation, there was no toxicity. None at all. No woman blaming the other. No men dueling it out to stay in Eve's or the baby's life, instead they were panicking about birthing instructions and laughing together.

- ~ -

4.01 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

No one is more surprised by how much I love this than me. I usually don't want babies, kids, or pregnancy anywhere near my romance, but I have loved Cara Bastone's books, so I wanted to give this a try.

I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put this down. I cried multiple times and was beyond sad when this ended. It's just such a lovely read. All the characters felt so real that you could even forgive them when they kind of act terribly because you understand them. Also, even though this story doesn't reflect my own experience of becoming a mother, there was so much that resonated with me and probably led to all the tears.

The only slight complaint I have is that I really wanted an epilogue, which is mostly just because I wanted more of these characters.

I can't recommend this one more highly. Thanks so much to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5! I’m NEVER one to go for a pregnancy storyline but I decided to take a chance on this one, since it’s been SO long since I’ve read one and I thought going into it knowing pregnancy was the main storyline would help! Sometimes the writing style wasn’t to my taste, and I skimmed a bit in the middle because I didn’t feel too much of a romantic connection between the two leads. But the ending was so cute! I loved seeing everyone grow into their roles and there was no drama and it was just really delightful. I even cried a little bit! Very adorable.

I loved this book! The pregnancy trope is usually hit or miss for me, but I thought this was really well-written. I loved the complicated relationship dynamics between Eve and everyone else. Shep was the best, and I am so glad there was a little twist to the usual pregnancy storyline with the romance! I also loved the complications of Eve and Willa’s relationship and appreciated how real it was. PS I want an Ethan-centered book now!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Ready or Not. I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, cute read. Predicable happy ending, but enjoyable along the way. Light and fluffy, not much substance, but a good beach book.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is a fantastic book that I couldn't stop reading, so I'm giving it 4.5 stars! The characters in this story are amazing, and their experiences really make the book special.

The main character, Eve, is going through a big change in her life when she unexpectedly becomes pregnant. This shakes up all her relationships, especially with her best friend Willa. Willa's older brother, Shep, steps in to help, and things start to get interesting because he's suddenly kinda hot!

The author's portrayal of the challenges and emotions that come with an unplanned pregnancy is both realistic and touching. Eve's struggles and the support she receives from her friends, family, and medical professionals highlight the importance of having a strong community during such times. Willa's situation is particularly moving, shedding light on the difficulties that pregnant women often face (no, how dare you guys accuse me of crying!!) Not to sound cringey, but I hope anyone starting a family has a support system like Eve does!

The friends-to-lovers trope is well-executed, although there are moments where the chemistry between Shep and Eve may feel a bit disconnected. However, as the story unfolds, you'll come to appreciate the depth of their relationship and how Shep's character evolves into someone truly remarkable. His gestures of support and care for Eve are heart-melting and will have you swooning.

To sum it up, "Ready or Not" is a heartwarming tale about family, love, and unexpected surprises. I rate it 4.5 stars and can confidently say that it's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange of honest thoughts! It was worth losing sleep over and kudos to the illustrator of the book as well - the cover is stunning and I can't wait to purchase a physical copy!

3 Stars Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is a surprise pregnancy, friends-to-lovers romance. I wasn't totally sure what to expect out of this book, since most surprise pregnancy romances are between the parents-to-be, but not this one. This made the novel hard to read at times, but Eve's pregnancy was never truly an obstacle for her relationship with Shep. And while this is categorized as romance, it felt more like women's fiction at times with Eve's journey and growth over the novel. Her surprise pregnancy is simply the catalyst to reexamining her life, what she wants, and taking the steps to make it happen. Overall, it was a heartwarming read and I really enjoyed it, though I wish we had gotten more of the HEA between her and Shep.

I adored "Ready or Not" by Cara Bastone! A bit uneven in the beginning, but once she steers the story towards where she clearly wants to go, the book blossoms. A beautiful story of found family, showing strength, and new beginnings. And the romance was so well-done! I'd read anything Cara Bastone puts out now.

I've never read anything by Cata Bastone before, but she is definitely an author I'll read again. I love a good romance, but I also love complex characters and interesting situations, and this book delivered both. Eve's story had two HEAs and I love that she went through a lot to make it work.

Ready or Not is the story of Eve Hatch who gets pregnant from a one night stand. Eve lives in a cozy NYC apartment and her childhood best friend Willa and brother Shep also live there. Eve is not super satisfied with her career and has had disappointing relationships. When Eve tells the father that she’s pregnant he is back together with his ex.

Unsure of how involved the father will be, Eve’s friends step up in unexpected ways. Eve also goes through incredible growth. I loved that the main characters were in or around their 30s. Pregnancy is a main theme but it’s not a cheesy pregnancy trope. It’s a beautiful story of real life, messy relationships, lifelong friends, and taking on what life throws our way. It was delightful and I couldn’t put it down.

Please note that while this is a very sweet, fairly lighthearted book there are some topics that could be triggering. Loss of a parent is big theme for some of the characters throughout the book. Miscarriage is also briefly addressed. Pregnancy and all the things that go along with it are a major theme in the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Finished in less than 12 hours, and I’m suprised by how unputdownable it was! Super cute and totally heartfelt in a way that had even the “never once children” person that I am tearing up. Amazingly fleshed out voices and characters that make mistakes and are so human that you can’t help but feel upset and root for them at the same time. I know unplanned pregnancy is a controversial trope, but it’s more of a story line here, and don’t let that deter you from reading a really good story!

This is a sweet look at love, family, pregnancy, and second chances. Eve gets pregnant after a 0ne-night stand and is determined to keep the baby. Baby-daddy Ethan is a bartender and (she discovers later) has a girlfriend. Best friend, Willa and Willa's brother, Shep are there to help as they've all known each other since grade school. But little does Eve know that Shep has had a crush on her for years! But of course, he will do nothing to interfere--especially if she's interested in Ethan--or being a single mother. Things play out the way they are supposed to, maybe unexpectedly but it's cute, warm, and funny. I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The story opens with Eve confirming her unplanned pregnancy after an out of character one night stand. Her life is completely changed, as is Ethan’s (the baby’s father). Her best friend is struggling with her news for her own reasons, and it seems like her best friend’s brother Shep is the only person who is constantly there for Eve. The story follows her pregnancy timeline and unexpected romance with Shep.

I’ll be completely honest and tell you that I wasn’t sure I’d like this book. I struggled with infertility and child loss (like Eve’s best friend) and I tend to steer clear of the surprise pregnancy trope. Happily, I ended up loving this book! I think the fact that it begins with the pregnancy helped my dislike of that particular trope. In addition, I thought the author handled the topics of infertility and loss in a sensitive way that didn’t detract from Eve’s story. I loved the author’s sense of humor and the characters were so funny and likable. Even Ethan, who made choices that I didn’t care for, had great character development. I’d definitely recommend this sweet, heartwarming rom com to everyone!

Thank you to Cara Bastone and Random House for sending me an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of Ready or Not. This was my first book by Cara Bastone, but I was immediately drawn in by the cover and intrigued by the synopsis, and I wound up thoroughly enjoying this book. It’s likely not for everyone since it centers around pregnancy, and an unplanned pregnancy at that. But if that interests you I think you’ll enjoy this book. As someone currently pregnant, I was able to relate to the main character in many ways. It’s portrayed in a realistic but lighthearted manner.

Now onto the romance. Eve gets pregnant by someone she met at a bar one night. She’s supported by her best friend Willa and Willa’s older brother Shep, both of whom she’s known since childhood. Willa has been dealing with infertility issues, so she struggles to be as supportive a friend as she could be. Shep really steps it up to help support Eve and give her someone to lean on. When Eve goes to tell the father, Ethan, of the pregnancy, Shep goes with her. Throughout the book there’s a bit of a love triangle between Eve, Ethan, and Shep. I really enjoyed seeing the relationships and friendships develop between Eve and both men, and their (mostly) honest communication throughout. I enjoyed watching how Eve and Willa’s relationship evolved and they learned to support each other through their opposing circumstances. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be looking to read more by Cara Bastone!

THIS BOOK! I adored it immediately and I feel so blue now that it's over. Eve quickly climbed to the top of my Mt. Rushmore of female leads.

A quick synopsis:
A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

I was deeply moved and inspired by Eve's story of finding herself through a truly unplanned pregnancy. She's one of those lead characters that walks through life admirably even if she doesn't know it. This book inspires me to build the life I desire, ask for what I want, and be an "other-centered" kind of person. This book isn't your typical romance, it definitely leans into fiction; which I enjoyed!

The romance between her and Shep (WHAT A NAME) was a beautiful slow burn and so, so sexy....but all of the relationships in this were very clearly fleshed out. You get a romance, a gorgeous friendship, some complicated sibling relationships, and a one night stand that was so delicately rendered, I could scream. The NUANCE! Cara Bastone, I bow down. We got not ONE dreamy male lead but TWO! There are no villains in this story, only complicated authentic people which is also why I loved it so. I laughed and cried my way through this. I can't recommend this highly enough. Cannot wait to buy this when it's published, its a story I know I'll return to again and again.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC and the opportunity to read/review it honestly.

I loved this one so much. I wish there was a little more at the end. It just felt kind of rushed. Would love to read a crossover/follow-up novel with Willa! Either way I cannot wait to purchase a copy when it comes out and recommend to customers.

I first want to start off by saying objectively this is a well written book that many readers will love. I do not envy Eve and the situation she was in, and Shep was 100% supportive from the get go and I love him for that.

Now onto the rest. I don't know what it was about this book but I started getting the ick near the end. I don't know what it was but I just didn't really think Eve & Shep had that much chemistry, there was just something missing for me. I was like....are they only together because Eve has raging pregnancy hormones? Should they wait until after the baby is born? Idk, I wasn't feeling it. YMMV.

But again, the book was well written and it will be a wonderful read for many. For me it was just "ok".

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

The cover on the book is beautiful, but unfortunately the book did not engage me enough to keep reading past 48 pages. The pace is too slow and I didn't connect with the overly awkward characters. I knew immediately Eve would end up with Shep, yet they have no chemistry, which made it hard when Ethan shows up in the picture since I liked his character better than Shep. I did skim the ending and it seems like they've created a nice, supportive family unit.

This was such a sweet slow burn.
I loved the story line between Eve and Shep, and between Eve and Ethan. The rawness of Eve and Ethan growing together for their baby, while not being romantically involved was realistic and beautiful.
Eve and Shep have been friends for so long and I loved how Shep stepped in to help Eve and their romantic story line was wonderful.
Overall, this book is worth a read. I truly enjoyed every minute of it.