Reviews with content warning for Infertility - Ready or Not

What a fun, wholesome, hilarious, well-written romcom! A more realistic — and more heartfelt — version of the “Knocked Up” story. Single (and blissfully independent) girl gets pregnant after a one night stand. Sometimes a smidge predictable, but in a good way? Refreshingly rewarding love story with a reliably wonderful MMC and heartwarming family arc with realistically human supporting characters. I shaved off 1/2 a star because a few of the pregnancy moments felt unrealistic to me (a mom of 2 who’s still 3 months postpartum with my 2nd). For instance, ain’t no 3rd trimester mamas sleeping soundly without a pregnancy pillow of some kind. And I’ve never heard of anyone whose heartburn improves in the 3rd trimester?! Besides some of these questionable little details — which many may not notice — I loved this book.
**NOTE**: I have personally experienced infertility and pregnancy loss. If you’re currently or recently in THAT place then I don’t think I’d recommend this right now because it may be the wrong time to appreciate someone’s pregnancy story. There is mention of both infertility and loss in this novel.

Content Warnings

lydiarama's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Super heartfelt and engrossing! Having read the “behind the book” portion, I learned that Bastone actually began writing this when she was pregnant with her child and then revisited and ultimately finished it when she was pregnant with her second. This was not surprising to learn because Eve’s voice is so earnest and passionate, you could feel the emotion brimming beneath the words.

I’m not typically drawn to the “surprise baby” trope in romance lit (and friends-to-lovers isn’t among my favorites, either), but the protagonist felt so real and her experience so unique that the story became something entirely its own, with the theme of pregnancy becoming a larger, more expansive exploration of growth in general. I’m so glad that I read it in early January, with so much of the book feeling like a meditation on rebirth.

We meet Eve just as she learns that her spontaneous night with a handsome stranger had more strings attached than she bargained for. As a “surprise baby” herself, born to a couple on the threshold of their retirement years after raising her three brothers, Eve grapples with her mixed feelings about becoming a mother. With a job she feels lukewarm about, a sparse history of committed romantic relationships, and a reluctance to define any expectations of the baby’s father, Eve is on the brink of evolution as she sets out on a journey of finally taking a risk and moving towards something she wants.

Eve’s voice is so hilarious and honest, I soon felt that she was a close friend taking me along her terrifying, incredible experience. Shep stole my heart almost immediately with his golden retriever devotion and inability to be unkind (“did you make Ethan breakfast, you absolute prince?”). His presence is soft and sweet, with “a face that’s constantly inviting you to lie on a hammock and find shapes in the clouds.” Their story is a slow burn on the softest setting (“Slow is good. I want it in such slow motion it becomes the rest of my life”), one that feels like a cup of tea someone else made for you, like a hand holding you steady on uneven ground. The foundation of years-long friendship and understanding was devastating in its steadfastness and gentleness. I feel like this will be a book that sticks with me for some time.

Content Warnings

moki_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

lindysreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

celestemaniconereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.0

This was a really good read. I loved all the characters, and their development through the pregnancy. I also loved how this book highlighted the blessing that babies are, not the burden.

Content Warnings

euleau's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

Content Warnings

ninetyonepct's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

More...