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chronic_listener's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Abortion, and Death of parent
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
lydiarama's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship
The main character’s best friend’s reaction to Eve’s pregnancy is complicated by her and her husband’s fertility strugglesshamaramill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kristakp's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
This book would've been much better if the author leaned way harder into the throuple.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
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
jla'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was lovely. I don't normally enjoy reading about pregnancy, but the plot was so well done. I loved every single one of the characters. I was so jealous of how much love she was surrounded by. Shep and Ethan were so adorably dorky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy
immovabletype's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Misogyny, Abortion, and Alcohol
meg_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found this book to be wayyy overhyped. I honestly didn't like it very much, which is saying something because I am usually a sucker for any type of friends to lovers trope. I found the romance to lack believability, especially once we learn the context of how long lasting Shep's feelings were. The premise of this sounded so fun and it started out that way, and then just went a little sideways. I felt disconnected from the characters, nobody directly communicated how they were feeling until the very end, and everything tied together with the most perfect bow that I found it a little unbelievable. I know many enjoyed this a lot, but it wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility
sariereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Toxic relationship