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j0annasolomon'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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
ms3333's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Miscarriage
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Eve unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a one night stand, leading to tension with her best friend and a surprise attraction with said best friend’s brother.
I should start by saying that I rarely read the surprise pregnancy trope, I never particularly expect to enjoy the surprise pregnancy trope, and I read this only because I needed that exact trope for a book bingo I was completing. I recognize that’s not the ideal mindset to go into a book with, and I think if you’re a fan of this trope (or even just more open to it) you may really enjoy this one!
I spent most of this book frustrated with Eve and her decision making (or lack thereof), and was a little bit bored in the middle, particularly because this is a VERY slow burn that doesn’t really feel romance-focused at all until the last third or so. That said, I LOVED the MMC Shep, and he was what generally saved and redeemed the book for me, making it a generally enjoyable read (even though not a favorite). In fact, he redeemed it so much that I probably would have given this 4 stars if it wasn’t for the ending, which really really bugged me.
In short, if this sounds good to you, I would recommend it! I know some people who have loved it and I think that those who have been pregnant might particularly get a lot out of it. But, I don’t think I was the ideal target audience for a lot of different reasons, so just an “okay” read for me overall.
CW: Infertility/miscarriage; pregnancy; death of parent; grief
Eve unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a one night stand, leading to tension with her best friend and a surprise attraction with said best friend’s brother.
I should start by saying that I rarely read the surprise pregnancy trope, I never particularly expect to enjoy the surprise pregnancy trope, and I read this only because I needed that exact trope for a book bingo I was completing. I recognize that’s not the ideal mindset to go into a book with, and I think if you’re a fan of this trope (or even just more open to it) you may really enjoy this one!
I spent most of this book frustrated with Eve and her decision making (or lack thereof), and was a little bit bored in the middle, particularly because this is a VERY slow burn that doesn’t really feel romance-focused at all until the last third or so. That said, I LOVED the MMC Shep, and he was what generally saved and redeemed the book for me, making it a generally enjoyable read (even though not a favorite). In fact, he redeemed it so much that I probably would have given this 4 stars if it wasn’t for the ending, which really really bugged me.
In short, if this sounds good to you, I would recommend it! I know some people who have loved it and I think that those who have been pregnant might particularly get a lot out of it. But, I don’t think I was the ideal target audience for a lot of different reasons, so just an “okay” read for me overall.
CW: Infertility/miscarriage; pregnancy; death of parent; grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
acethirtynine's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was very charming, and I really enjoyed Eve's journey - the balance of her own personal growth, her pregnancy, and navigating all of the complicated relationships and emotions that go along with such a huge life change.
I rarely highlight things in my e-books, but this quote from toward the end of the book (not a spoiler) really stuck with me.
Eve and another character are talking about the difference between being self-centered, being selfish, and being other-centered. This is a conversation and a revelation for Eve that is a real turning point for her - and it also just feels like such an important reminder in life, especially while the world can seem super dark. The other character talks about those who are other-centered seeing the world as a web - where everyone is connected. Where every single person is somebody else's favorite person on earth.
“That’s what it means to be other-centered? To see the web? To treat everyone like they’re somebody’s favorite person on earth?”
I rarely highlight things in my e-books, but this quote from toward the end of the book (not a spoiler) really stuck with me.
Eve and another character are talking about the difference between being self-centered, being selfish, and being other-centered. This is a conversation and a revelation for Eve that is a real turning point for her - and it also just feels like such an important reminder in life, especially while the world can seem super dark. The other character talks about those who are other-centered seeing the world as a web - where everyone is connected. Where every single person is somebody else's favorite person on earth.
“That’s what it means to be other-centered? To see the web? To treat everyone like they’re somebody’s favorite person on earth?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Infertility
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
laurenford's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and Infertility
Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, and Grief
vjzacharias's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Grief
taliafranks's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is exquisite and while the main characters are all cishet passing the text is careful to use relatively gender neutral language regarding pregnancy and includes brief representation of a nonbinary pregnant person and uses gender neutral pronouns for them, and when discussing the sex of the baby makes reference to how while they may learn the sex of the child at birth they won’t know the child’s gender until they are old enough to tell people themself. It’s very refreshing. The romance was super cute and overall it was just a really thoughtful book about an unexpected circumstance that turns out well for everyone involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexism
The main character gives birth on-screen so to speak, but it is not described in extreme detail. One of the characters is in an emotionally abusive and manipulative relationship for a significant portion of the book.mickid_booksnbees's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Grief
kelly_e's review
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: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Infertility
Minor: Abortion, Cursing, Cancer, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
brittonmc1221's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Infertility, and Death of parent