Ready or Not is a beautiful story of an accidental pregnancy and a love triangle. The book opens up with Eve Hatch, the FMC, at the gynecologist for her official pregnancy test with her one night stand-Ethan Rise. Without her parents or her pseudo mother around, Eve struggles with the thought of raising a baby, but is determined to do so.

This book was sweet, well written and had endearing characters. Would definitely recommend to someone looking for a sweet, accidental pregnancy romance with a love triangle.

I loved this book!!! I really enjoyed the authenticity and exploration of relationships that was in this book. I was enthralled. I don’t like the pregnancy trope. But this book is so much more!

Shep, the love interest, has such golden retriever, cinnamon roll energy. He is the epitome of a Midwestern mama’s boy, such pure sunshine that it’s not entirely believable.

This isn’t a reverse grumpy/sunshine scenario, however. Eve, our indecisive heroine, is a bit of sunshine herself, or at least a little quirky, but definitely more rainclouds than Shep.

Ethan, the baby daddy, is also interesting, and I like how the author shaped such a multidimensional character who feels really authentic.

The end result of the story might be too cozy and perfect to be realistic, but it does make for a nice hug of an ending.

Wow.

This was my first book by Cara Bastone and now I need to read everything she has ever published. This was amazing. The characters are amazing. The writing is amazing. The relationships and friendships are amazing. I cry very easily while reading, but books don't often make me laugh out loud. This one had me doing both multiple times.

The book is present tense and in one point of view and typically when a romance is only one point of view I will be wishing that we also got to see the love interests thoughts, in this case it never felt like anything was missing. I won’t be able to accurately describe the authorial voice, but it felt both like the main character was speaking directly to me but also like an internal monologue to herself? It was maybe the most I’ve ever felt like I was in another persons head.

I loved Eve as a main character, it was a joy seeing how all of her relationships developed. I also really liked that this never felt like a love triangle to me even with the complex dynamics.

I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book to reread physically it was amazing.

CB is such an underrated author and just knows how to write the most beautiful love stories that are sexy yet feel real and attainable. I was so excited about this ARC and it was a lovely story about making your life what you want it to be. A fun take on an accidental pregnancy. Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This is out next Feb!

I am a huge cara bastone fan, so when I saw this book I jumped on it so fast, and when I got accepted for it I devoured it. It feels more heavy than her last couple books have been, but I loved the story and even teared up at the end.

I feel that I need to start this by saying that I have never been a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope (or really any pregnancy at all). It’s simply not my jam. I don’t dig it. And so that is why this book was so monumental - because it is 1:30am and I’ve just finished and I have tear tracks dried to my cheeks and my heart physically aches.

Somehow, Eve’s pregnancy manages to be both the focal point and not the point at all. It is the cog around which everything else spins. The genuine, bone-deep, years-strong friendship between her and Willa. The heart wrenching and gentle presence of Shep’s care. Isamu’s quiet but focused awareness. Even Ethan’s wild, chaotic loops through every possible emotion. Every character is multifaceted and real and while some of those facets are deeply flawed, they are allowed to live through them and in them and they are accepted (even when begrudgingly) by the people around them.

The overarching theme of this book is all of the different ways there are to love, and how they can all be different and equal and entirely unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC! This was such a delightful read! The “unplanned pregnancy” trope has been done a million times, but Cara Bastone cultivated a beautiful story with heart, endearing characters, and a lot of laughter and small squeals of joy along the way. Completely adored this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC of Ready or Not by Cara Bastone! Eve has an unexpected pregnancy with Ethan. She wanted to hopefully end up with him in the end, but she learned Ethan's situation is a little bit more complicated. Throughout her pregnancy, her friends are there every step of the way... once she tells them that she is pregnant. I loved the story between her and Shep... also, with what happens toward the end of the book. I loved the main characters and enjoyed how the book was written in POV, mainly by Eve. I would totally recommend this book!

Publication date: February 13, 2024
I will be posting my review to my TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads!

When requesting this book, I never could’ve imagined I would love it as much as I do. It is a swoon-worth, comical, realistic book that stole my heart from the first few pages.

Shep is the ultimate book boyfriend. 😍 Eve is witty and funny and her relationship with Shep is so real and consuming.

I loved the friendship with Willa and how the story evolves with Evan. It is such a well-rounded, feel good story.

This book is out 2/13/2023 and I will definitely be reminding everyone to read it when it releases.

Thank you @carabastone and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book surprised me in the best possible way as I went into it knowing as little as possible. I commend the author for writing a beautiful story full of heart and laughter. Eve was endearing and very relatable and I loved the full cast of characters. They all served a purpose by adding to the story. I laughed out loud several times and thoroughly enjoyed the progression of the book. I would bundle this with the most memorable books I've read this year.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5788324560?book_show_action=false

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an early copy of the book! This is my completely honest review of "Ready or Not".

I knew from the hilarious section titles that this book was a winner *see "2nd Trimester: Tips on How to Satisfy Your Man (-Sized Cravings for French Toast)"*. I couldn't put this book down and ended up reading it in one sitting due to so many great factors. The slow burn and sort-of love triangle make for such an intriguing storyline that is really difficult to put down.

Refreshingly honest and relatable, Eve is everything you would want in a main character. She is likable, witty, and realistic in a way that makes readers root for her and whomever she picks in this romance. I don't want to say too much in case I spoil anything, but I would highly, highly recommend picking up a copy on release day!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This is one the best accidental pregnancy trope books I've read. I really appreciated how much depth there was to the story, Eve's journey and all the relationships in her life. Everyone had very complicated and real feelings about the pregnancy/baby, and none of it was tidy, which made the book very honest and poignant and profound. And Shep? Perfection. A really wonderful friends-to-lovers romance. Just wish we'd gotten an epilogue to see more of the relationships and the new family after the baby was born.

I'm not always a fan of the unexpected pregnancy trope, but this was such a cute read! I especially loved Shep's character, and the friendship between Eve and Willa. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet, heartfelt romcom!

I am the biggest fan of the pregnancy trope and this book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down, read it so quick and I immediately read it again. I am obsessed.

It was a decent read! My favorite things were the characters especially Shep! I also loved the complex portrayal of Willa and Eve’s relationship. It’s definitely more women’s fiction than romance.

Ready or Not was such a fun ride! It felt like a 90s//2000s romcom in the very best way--from a surprise pregnancy to a realistic friends-to-lovers arc, I adored this read!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC!

First off, let me say- wow! This was one of the best reads of 2023 for me!
Starting right off the bat, Cara Bastone made me immediately start laughing with the banter in the first chapter and I knew right away that this is going to be a great book, and I was not disappointed.
Diving right into it, this story follows Eve Hatch and her surprise pregnancy, after a very unlike-her one night stand. The baby’s father is teetering on stepping up to the plate to help, her best friend is going through her own fertility struggles and their friendship dynamic is suddenly changing, but fear not, the unlikely hero in all of this is the best friend’s brother, Shep. While they have always been friends, Shep helps her in ways she never expected, and Eve realizes there might be feelings for him underneath it all.
We follow Eve and Shep through nine months of life-changing revelations, budding romance, and a whole lot of emotions.
This book was filled with all of my favorite tropes, such as friends-to-lovers, found family, and a whole lot of slow-burn. The yearning was *chef’s kiss.*

If I could give this more than five stars, I would, I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for it to come out so I have a physical copy.
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for letting me ARC read this beauty!
Ready or Not comes out February 12, 2024!!

Unexpected pregnancy trope. People either love it or hate it. For me, as long as it isn’t a SECRET pregnancy, I love it.

This book is written so well. Heartwarming. Humorous. It’s not only about the relationship between the mother and father, it’s also about friendship and family. I don’t think I’d ever heard the term “others-centeredness” before, but I love it.

Heads up though, there is discussion of infertility so if you are sensitive to that topic, maybe skip this one. Everyone else… I highly recommend reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Ready Or Not to come out February 13, 2024.