The book was archived before our group could download it. We are sure that we would have enjoyed the book judging from the reviews it has received.

I loved this cookbook! It helped me through my first Whole30 experience and provided the structure I was craving.

I loved Michelle's first book and this one is just as brilliant. Even if you don't follow a paleo diet you will find recipes you like here.

I love the Nom Nom Paleo blog. I requested this book although I knew I was going to go out and buy it anyway due to the strength of her first book (Nom Nom Paleo - Food for Humans). Outside of the whole paleo debate, this is family cooking, pure and simple. The older I get, the more I prefer to read and cook from books only written by fellow parents in the trenches. This is all of that and more.

This cookbook was fabulous!

I loved going over it. It was super fun and the recipes in it were really wonderful. I would definitely recommend this to other people!

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this!

A really great book from the nom nom stable. Really found it useful! Great grouping of recipes with helpful photos. Would really recommend to a person new to paleo.

As always this is a great read not just for the paleo conesuer but for any foodie. The concept of her book is unique, interesting and easy to read. Another great book in the Nom Nom Paleo set.

So I have perused this book at the book store when I got a chance to download the PDF version I jumped at it.

The recipes in this book are very simple and easy, more geared toward Asian influence (see author). It's also geared more toward a paleo lifestyle, so it's not for everyone.

However, for someone who is currently on Paleo or thinking about it, this book is a good one to add to your library. Michelle recipes again are simple, she uses the instapot and slow cooker. I have seen better cookbook photos but the photos in this book does it job, it gives details of what Michelle is cook.

I would recommend this book for both Paleo and Non Paleo foodies.

I would like to thank Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an open and honest review.

Well, I have to start by saying this is a very different cook book to the ones I am used to reading and reviewing and, for a while, I wasn’t too sure if I was finding it refreshingly different or just a little too off centre for my liking. So, yeah, mixed feelings about the layout and formatting, but we will get to that later.

What I did love about ‘Ready or Not!’ is that it is my sort of paleo. I am a whole foods, make from scratch but nobody’s perfect sort of person… In fact I am known for calling myself perfectly imperfect and sometimes just eat cereal for dinner (gluten free and in activated almond milk but still cereal)!

And I really do find the term ‘Paleo’ has been given a really bad name in recent years as it’s gone from a generic term for just plain and simple whole food eating to anti this and ban that and “it’s all meat and you must hunt it yourself or you’re not a Paleo”…. I hate labels. And so refuse to call myself paleo due to all this negativity. It’s not a cult people! It’s a suggestion on how to eat food!

Which is why I loved ‘Ready or Not!’ as it not only seems to follow a similar perfectly imperfect lifestyle, but also seems to have gone back to the old style, far more flexible approach to paleo and so I am not ashamed to say I have read it… Or now follow ‘Nom Nom Paleo - Michelle Tan’ on Facebook. What can I say? Her food looks amazing and the recipes are simple and very easy to follow.

I will state here and now that my own personal food allergies and intolerances (recapping for those who don’t know me - wheat, allium, seafood, dairy to name a few) mean that not all recipes were suitable for me… while some could be fine-tuned to suit my needs and others were perfect to just go with… I’m looking at you Pina Colada Tapioca pudding!

So another reason to have mixed emotions as not every recipe in ‘Ready or Not!’ could be made in my house. And so as much as the book tempts and excites me with its differences… I am also disappointed it is yet another cook book that is hit and miss for my diet. Won’t anyone think of the allium intolerant? ;-)

Okay, back to the layout and formatting of ‘Ready or Not!’ and me stating it’s very different to the norm. I mean, my 12 year old daughter loves it, but she is really into Manga and graphic novels - as well as inheriting my cook book addiction. It is indeed rather… unique being set out like a manga book but then again I think our modern new home cooks would like it as it has the set by set pictures and instructions, it has the smiley faces and constant chatter of making it like a one on one cooking conversation and would give them that feeling instant gratification the younger generation seems to need.

But for me? And my love of 100 year old (and then some) cook books that consist of a paragraph or two and the belief the reader knows their way around a kitchen and doesn’t need to be spoon fed each ingredient… yeah, I can’t say I enjoyed the manga style that much. A little too dumbed down and babyish for me.

Oh, and it is written for an American audience so uses imperial measurements and the American names for foods - such a cilantro rather than coriander. This may be a stumbling block for some new cooks here in Australia but who knows? Do Aussie kids still say capsicum rather than peppers? Maybe I am just outdated again. ;-)

However! What I did love about the layout was how the recipes were broken down into different “are you ready?” sections… Hence the name ‘Ready or Not!’ I guess.

There is the intro that tells you all about how the book is laid out, then then prep section for sauces and other basics. Then we hit the section where you have all the time in the world to cook. The section for having some time to cook and the section on having no time and just wanting a wholesome family meal ASAP. This was great as I have days like this where I either have all the time in the world, a little time or none at all and so the idea of having a go to recipe idea for each time limit was great. Again, not all the recipes in any of these sections suited my personal dietary restrictions, but I really did love that layout as I honestly feel it a great way to encourage more people to skip the instant meals and take away and try their hand at some simple but tasty whole food home cooked meals.

So, yeah, a bit of a like/ unlike relationship happening here. :-D I love the passion, enthusiasm and talent shown by Ms Tan and her family and I do love the styles of meals as Cantonese food - via Darwin - is my childhood comfort food. And so there was some definite connection there that has made this book somewhat appealing despite my also dislike of it. Oh dear, I am getting a split personality over it! :-D

Would I recommend this book to others?

You know, I think I would. But I would be recommending it to the younger generations. I can’t see myself or my mother wanting to race out and buy it… but I can see myself buying it for my daughter to add to her slowing increasing cook book collection.

It is a good cook book, but just one meant more for the modern generation rather than an old fuddy duddy like me. ;-)

Would I buy this book for myself?

Ummm, I MIGHT sneak an electronic copy onto my tablet as a “just in case” as there were some really appealing recipes in ‘Ready or Not!’ or I might buy a paper version for my daughter and pinch it from time to time. I really can’t be sure… it interests me and I love the vibe Ms Tan has created… but manga cook books just go against my grain. ;-)

In summary: a great cook book for the next generation of whole food home cooks.

Michelle Tam can basically do no wrong! Her book is beautiful, her writing is perfection, and her recipes are delicious! Love it!

I love a book that makes me want to cook and eat healthy food. Not only does it give a Paleo 101, it also offers great recipes and tips. The presentation which has illustrations and photographs was unique and appealing. Recommended to people who want to learn how to cook simple and healthy food.

Beautifully illustrated with step by step photographs for every dish. This book is suitable for paleo and non-paleo eaters alike. The way it's organized into level of readiness is helpful.

I loved the lighthearted feel of the cookbook. Our family have added a few of the recipes into our normal rotation and planned to try more. I would recommend this to my cooking friends.

I love Michelle Tam's blog, and I found this cookbook to be just as fun and quirkily illustrated. The Paleo recipes were an interesting variety and looked delicious, and I liked the pictures illustrating each step for many of the recipes. The organization of some of the recipes I found to be a little confusing, but overall I thought the recipe selection would definitely add variety to my current collection and looked absolutely delicious!

This is another winner and must-have addition to your cookbook collection!

I have the first Nom Nom Paleo book and I frequently cook several recipes from it that are now staples to our family's menus. AND this cookbook, like that debut one, has several great recipes too! Each dish I tried was a big hit with my family. But what I loved most about this 2nd book is that there are options for meals that you can make-ahead, for things you can do with leftovers and for when you need a meal right away!

I highly recommend this book even if you don't believe in the Paleo way of life. My family is not Paleo. We just love good tasting, healthy food. Michelle Tam's recipes are so yummy and so easy to follow.

Good layout, well written. Easy to understand. I found it helpful and useful.

Another great cookbook from Nom Nom Paleo. I have glanced through it and have a list for the grocery store so I can start making some of theses recipes. As always, they are clearly presented and will be easy to follow.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

Ready Or Not! (150+ Make Ahead, Make Over, and Make Now Recipes by nom nom Paleo from authors Michelle Tam and Henry Fong) was created to be the go-to book for fast, easy to prepare, Paleo recipes. Perfect for when there’s no time to make a good meal. This book is focused on making a healthy impact on your life, cooking your own food – whether you’re ready to cook or not.

With offerings of make ahead, reheat and eat dishes, and last-minute options there should be a recipe for any need. For those like myself, who are not particularly familiar with Paleo cooking, there is a brief explanation of the process. The two-page description was very informative and easy to follow. The book concentrates more on what you should be eating rather than what you shouldn’t, which is a nice change. Using a fun cartoon style, the author also includes an explanation of how to use the book, which came in handy.

After the Paleo description and explanations, the author then begins with the “What Do I Need To Do To Get Set?” section which helps you set up your kitchen and prepare for your “nomtastically butt-kicking” meals. Here, you learn everything you need to know about how to set up your kitchen, utensils, appliances etc. It then goes on to explain how to set up the Paleo pantry. You learn what vegetables, what meat, everything to stock in your pantry for what you’ll be cooking.

Lots Of Choice

With over 150 recipes, there are a lot of choices for any need. Whether or not you’re cooking a quick meal or able to prepare ahead making ingredients that will be used for several different meals. Most of the recipes have many pictures, giving you step-by-step instructions, and pictures for each step of the process. With the level of detail here, I think even a novice cook would be able to successfully create many of the recipes on file.

The recipes are divided into three categories, followed by meal planning:

Ready! Prep-Ahead Recipes For When You Have Your $#!t Together
Kinda Ready! Easy Meals ‘Cause You Got A Head Start
Not Ready! Emergency Fast Food That Tastes Good
Beyond Ready! Blueprints For Everyday Cooking

Interestingly, there are two indexes. The traditional index, sorted by title, is second but the first index is the really helpful one. This recipe index is awesome because it doesn’t just give you a list of all of the recipes included in the book. It gives you a breakdown of which recipes are in each category, broken into sub categories. It also charts which recipes are “Whole30 Friendly”, “Nut-Free (Not Including Coconut)”, “Egg-Free”, “Nightshade Free”, and “Freezer Friendly”. I’ve never seen a more helpful index in my life. The only issue I had was that there was no explanation for “Nightshade Free” but that is Google-able.

Any one considering the Paleo diet should definitely try this book, it is extremely informative. I think even a very beginner cook, would be able to follow the easy step-by-step instructions.

See the full review with a recipe for Mango Turmeric Tonic online at the RecipesNow! Reviews and Recipes Magazine. This review was based on a complimentary copy of the book sent to me by the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars

Michelle Tam, also known by her blog name Nom Nom Paleo, is at it again. She brings her signature wit, charm and realistic approach to Paleo cooking to her second cookbook in spades. Ready or Not! Features 150+ make ahead or “make-now” meals.

In this beautiful book, once again filled with cartoon drawings of the whole family done by her husband and co-author Henry Fong, Tam shares the kind of recipe many of us are looking for: easy, delicious, and on whatever timetable you have at your fingertips. It’s an added bonus that many of the recipes are easily labeled “healthy” since Nom Nom Paleo is a blog dedicated to the Paleo lifestyle. While I don’t adhere to the Paleo diet, I’m familiar with its parameters and find many of Tam’s recipes mouthwatering and delicious.

I own her first cookbook and cook from it frequently. I can tell Ready or Not is going to have a permanent home on the counter, rather than living over on the cookbook shelf. It’s apparent from the book that her blog and lifestyle truly is a family affair. Her kids and husband feature as illustrations and contributors throughout.

Tam doesn’t preach endlessly about the benefits of Paleo, she gives a quick overview and moves on to the good stuff, what we’re really here for – the quick and easy recipes. She organizes the book into four “readiness” levels, rather than dish or component, so depending on where you’re at in meal planning, from “I’m sitting down now to plan for the week” to “I need dinner on the table NOW!” you know just where to look in the book. It’s a well thought-out organization, that’s very user-friendly.

The first actual cooking section “Get Ready” is full of sauces, salsas, dressings, and condiments, with a few other meal components such as hard boiled eggs and pre-roasted chicken breasts. Many of the recipes are Paleo-ized versions of sauces easily found at the grocery store such as hoisin sauce, gojuchang or Thai peanut sauce. For people not eating the Paleo diet, this section is really the least helpful or interesting. I’m personally just going to buy the sauce in the jar from the store. She also spends time in this section outlining useful basic kitchen tools and pantry items, which is great advice for a novice chef. The best part of this section is at the end when she lists ways to mix and match these super basics into quick meals like Mexi-Chicken Salad using the chicken, salsa, smoky lime pepitas and some avocado.

The “Ready” section is for those times when you actually have time to sit down, meal plan and do some food prep for the rest of the week. Lots of slow/pressure cooker recipes fill these pages, along with a few soups and crunchy things. My personal favorite recipe of the section was the Mok Mok Wings, which is reminiscent of the fish sauce laden wings at the iconic Portland restaurant Pok Pok. The Nom Nom Family has a second house in PDX, so it’s not a leap to guess they’re related flavor-wise.

The “Kinda Ready” section is where the going really gets good though. It’s comprised of recipes that are quick to throw together and lean on stuff you’ve probably already got in the pantry or the leftovers from earlier in the week before you lost your motivation to cook for the week. It’s the inspiration a lot of us lack when we’re staring at the fridge on a Wednesday night after a long day at work when dinner just needs to be on the table and take out isn’t gonna cut it.

Finally, the “Not Ready” section is the section for “Oh my god just put food on the table” nights. Some of these recipes had me a bit skeptical – for example, one of the first recipes in the section is a soup that has a pretty long list of ingredients and takes 15 minutes hands on/45 minutes total to make. Not sure that I’d call that quick. Her egg drop soup and following variations are quick however and delicious. Definitely what I’d consider appropriate for this section.

The final section of the book is the roadmap section, where Tam puts together weekly meal plans and shopping lists, to really make this whole cooking during the week thing seem feasible. A really nice addition to the book, making it extra friendly to the busy home cook who wants to eat healthier.

Parts of the book read like product ads, as Tam is a big fan of both the InstantPot pressure cooker and Red Boat Fish Sauce. She devotes pages to both these products, which feels a little weird.

The recipes themselves are laid out almost like a comic book, but using real photographs of the process rather than simple description or drawings. And, while a number of the recipes are Paleo-ized Asian or Asian-inspired, this is not an Asian cookbook. There are recipes for chicken tinga, baby back ribs, souvlaki and buffalo wings as well. I love a lot of Asian flavors so Ready or Not is absolutely packed with recipes that appeal to my palate.

All in all, Ready or Not is a book I plan to purchase for myself, though I knock a full star off because while it’s very useful and a fun resource, it just didn’t excite me the way other cookbooks do.