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nightsparks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book truly felt like a love letter to the experience of pregnancy, and coming to terms with being a parent. So many moments had me tearing up. So many great lines I would have highlighted if I owned this book.
There is also a delicious romance brewing along with the baby. I absolutely adored the romance and felt giddy when they finally kissed.
I love the ending so much. The friends & family all coming together in the ways they could. Nurse Louise is mvp and I wish we all got one of her when pregnant.
Ps. I'm so thankful I got epidurals.
There is also a delicious romance brewing along with the baby. I absolutely adored the romance and felt giddy when they finally kissed.
I love the ending so much. The friends & family all coming together in the ways they could. Nurse Louise is mvp and I wish we all got one of her when pregnant.
Ps. I'm so thankful I got epidurals.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
elliembh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
ninetyonepct's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Honestly, this was fantastic, would genuinely be one of the best books I read this year. The only hold back is just how unbelievably millennial the characters are. That being said it makes all the characters feel like actual people.
And the one star reviews talking about how "cringe" the MC was for being open to the idea that her child may end up being trans is NOT the cringy part of this book. If that's what bothered you just say you're transphobic and move along to some other book. I promise you this book has actually cringy stuff in it but being accepting of trans people is not it.
For real tho I loved the plot, the characters felt real no matter how annoying I thought they were at some times, and It just felt warm.
Might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you can get past the millennial cringe then you'll be okay lol
And the one star reviews talking about how "cringe" the MC was for being open to the idea that her child may end up being trans is NOT the cringy part of this book. If that's what bothered you just say you're transphobic and move along to some other book. I promise you this book has actually cringy stuff in it but being accepting of trans people is not it.
For real tho I loved the plot, the characters felt real no matter how annoying I thought they were at some times, and It just felt warm.
Might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you can get past the millennial cringe then you'll be okay lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
abidavisf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Somebody call the Louvre cos we’ve got ourselves a masterpiece.
Cara Bastone is a genius. Her writing is gorgeous. It’s casual and simple while also immensely clever. It’s hilarious and raw and friendly. Ready or Not is your best friend telling you about their day. It’s your own stream of consciousness, guiding you through life, making subtle observations about inconsequential events and overthinking everything.
Eve is a badass. She is all heart, even when she thinks she isn’t, *especially* when she thinks she isn’t. Eve is love and bravery. She cares and she craves and she feels so much. I adore her. She is also hilarious. I can’t figure out if I’m more inclined to be her or be her best friend.
Shep and Ethan are two sides of a coin, opposite and yet so similar. Both men are in touch with their emotions. Both men are genuinely good. There were moments in this book that had me frustrated with Ethan but nothing ever made me doubt his integrity or his intentions. Shep is, of course, perfect. No notes. I hate saying that, but it’s true.
I love that Ready or Not is just a story of an accidental pregnancy and figuring out what the ever-loving fk you’re going to do about it. This is a book about dreams and friendship and found family. It is a book about accepting flaws, your own and those others. It is a book about honesty and openness. There are some really hard-hitting themes in Ready or Not, from infidelity to infertility, and all of them are handled with grace and respect.
I am over the moon to be able to go and read Cara Bastone’s entire bibliography.
Cara Bastone is a genius. Her writing is gorgeous. It’s casual and simple while also immensely clever. It’s hilarious and raw and friendly. Ready or Not is your best friend telling you about their day. It’s your own stream of consciousness, guiding you through life, making subtle observations about inconsequential events and overthinking everything.
Eve is a badass. She is all heart, even when she thinks she isn’t, *especially* when she thinks she isn’t. Eve is love and bravery. She cares and she craves and she feels so much. I adore her. She is also hilarious. I can’t figure out if I’m more inclined to be her or be her best friend.
Shep and Ethan are two sides of a coin, opposite and yet so similar. Both men are in touch with their emotions. Both men are genuinely good. There were moments in this book that had me frustrated with Ethan but nothing ever made me doubt his integrity or his intentions. Shep is, of course, perfect. No notes. I hate saying that, but it’s true.
I love that Ready or Not is just a story of an accidental pregnancy and figuring out what the ever-loving fk you’re going to do about it. This is a book about dreams and friendship and found family. It is a book about accepting flaws, your own and those others. It is a book about honesty and openness. There are some really hard-hitting themes in Ready or Not, from infidelity to infertility, and all of them are handled with grace and respect.
I am over the moon to be able to go and read Cara Bastone’s entire bibliography.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Minor: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
spindere11a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility and Medical content
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
Spoiler details to clarify trigger warnings …shawniejo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
juanat77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
sgmotley's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Title: Ready or Not
Author: Cara Bastone
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: February 13, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Dial Press, a division of Random House Publishing Group, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Heartfelt • Wholesome • Authentic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life... until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is... suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.
Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.
Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Ready or Not was on my radar way before it was announced as a Book of the Month choice because the premise sounded so wholesome and just right up my alley. This is my first time reading Cara Bastone and I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed it.
This friends-to-lovers, slow burn romance featuring an unexpected pregnancy was done just right. There were so many real-life obstacles and tender moments between the characters that I felt myself among friends. Each of the characters was so real and endearing. I particularly loved Shep and nurse Louise, even though her role was small. The romance was definitely not the main focus, and yet it felt so organic. The theme of found family was very progressive and important in this day and age.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments and it was definitely interesting getting Eve's internal monologue. The character's reactions (even Eve's) to the pregnancy were varied and genuine. Despite covering a shorter period of time (nine months), the pacing and writing style was spot on.
Overall, Ready or Not was an enjoyable read. The realistic relationships and characters development were definitely the strength. I would definitely be willing to explore more of Cara Bastone's work, and there is a little part of me hoping these characters might return in a follow-up or even a series.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the friends-to-lovers trope
• readers who like endearing characters
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes the good news hurts more than the bad."
"Sometimes the bad feels better than the good."
Author: Cara Bastone
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: February 13, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Dial Press, a division of Random House Publishing Group, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Heartfelt • Wholesome • Authentic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life... until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is... suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.
Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.
Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Ready or Not was on my radar way before it was announced as a Book of the Month choice because the premise sounded so wholesome and just right up my alley. This is my first time reading Cara Bastone and I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed it.
This friends-to-lovers, slow burn romance featuring an unexpected pregnancy was done just right. There were so many real-life obstacles and tender moments between the characters that I felt myself among friends. Each of the characters was so real and endearing. I particularly loved Shep and nurse Louise, even though her role was small. The romance was definitely not the main focus, and yet it felt so organic. The theme of found family was very progressive and important in this day and age.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments and it was definitely interesting getting Eve's internal monologue. The character's reactions (even Eve's) to the pregnancy were varied and genuine. Despite covering a shorter period of time (nine months), the pacing and writing style was spot on.
Overall, Ready or Not was an enjoyable read. The realistic relationships and characters development were definitely the strength. I would definitely be willing to explore more of Cara Bastone's work, and there is a little part of me hoping these characters might return in a follow-up or even a series.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the friends-to-lovers trope
• readers who like endearing characters
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes the good news hurts more than the bad."
"Sometimes the bad feels better than the good."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
knzkenzieknz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage