A review by lovelymisanthrope
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I selected this as one of my Book of the Month picks.
"Ready or Not" follows Eve Hatch as she is forced to make some big changes to her comfortable life. Eve is pretty content with how her life is going, until she gets a surprise: following a one night stand she finds out she is pregnant. Now she must decide how a baby will fit into her world. This is complicated when her best friend, Willa, who has been struggling with infertility for years, is not as supportive as Eve needs. Eve ends up leaning a lot on Shep, Willa's older brother, and learning that she might have had her person in front of her all along.
I thought this was such a fun story about learning about yourself and discovering what you want. Eve was not planning to get pregnant, and she is initially shocked and scared by the news. But throughout her pregnancy she learns so much about herself and what she really wants out of life, and because of this baby, she takes the steps to better herself and pursue what she really wants out of life.
I think the conversations surrounding pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, expectations, and being a single parent were all insightfully done. People will not always react how you expect them to, and Eve faced some interesting social hurdles with her big news. She felt so alone, and I think a lot of people can relate to that. I also think there is great conversation about finding your people, and how you are never truly alone if you have friends.
Shep is such a great guy, and I loved seeing how much he has always cared for Eve. He really believes in her and has supported her for all the years that he has known her. I loved that they had so much history together as friends, because it made their connection feel all the more genuine.
I had a great time with this book, and I look forward to reading more from Cara Bastone in the future. 

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