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shalice21's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
savvier's review against another edition
It was all about her being pregnant, which doesn’t interest me. Not really a romance novel either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
janin's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
very cute friends-to-lovers.
eve was a bit annoying and i really wish there was more of an established baseline of her and shep's friendship before her pregnancy but the cute parts were really cute and both the boys were also unrealistically perfect.
eve was a bit annoying and i really wish there was more of an established baseline of her and shep's friendship before her pregnancy but the cute parts were really cute and both the boys were also unrealistically perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Abortion
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
jreyn's review against another edition
funny
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion
enneirda07's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
First of all, the narrator NARRATED. She did a great job of conveying all the emotions and the *sound effects*. I loved the FMC, she was funny and smart and advocate for herself. Shep is the perfect golden retriever book boyfriend. I also love there is no miscommunication trope or third act breakup
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Vomit
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
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
baraya's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Miscarriage
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
brittanylee0302's review
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a cute & cozy friends to lovers romance. I loved Eve's character & I feel like her anxiety & will to persevere was well balanced to make her quirky character. (That sounds weird but if you read this I think you'll understand). I loved Shep & Willa & the love they all have for each other & the family dynamic between them & Eve. The loss in this book was so heart breaking & I really felt for all of the characters who had to deal with it. Despite how great this book was, it definitely fell flat in some areas. The timeline always felt kind of off & I was never quite sure when everything was happening besides around the holidays. When Eve's brothers are introduced, their political backgrounds are introduced with them which you would think in a book like this that would be a huge topic that maybe Eve would have to maneuver but it's so glazed over that it wasn't even worth mentioning. I also felt like Willa should have played a little more of a role in this story because of what she was dealing with when Eve got pregnant but her appearance is very choppy throughout. Overall, I thought this book was really good & I think I fell for Eve & Shep as much as they fell for each other.
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a cute & cozy friends to lovers romance. I loved Eve's character & I feel like her anxiety & will to persevere was well balanced to make her quirky character. (That sounds weird but if you read this I think you'll understand). I loved Shep & Willa & the love they all have for each other & the family dynamic between them & Eve. The loss in this book was so heart breaking & I really felt for all of the characters who had to deal with it. Despite how great this book was, it definitely fell flat in some areas. The timeline always felt kind of off & I was never quite sure when everything was happening besides around the holidays. When Eve's brothers are introduced, their political backgrounds are introduced with them which you would think in a book like this that would be a huge topic that maybe Eve would have to maneuver but it's so glazed over that it wasn't even worth mentioning. I also felt like Willa should have played a little more of a role in this story because of what she was dealing with when Eve got pregnant but her appearance is very choppy throughout. Overall, I thought this book was really good & I think I fell for Eve & Shep as much as they fell for each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Miscarriage
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