Cute book that was a fast read. Definitely one to pick up and was on a slow weekend. Cute story and good characters that get you lost in the story.

Kayla a senior in college dreams of that storybook romance. Yet after a one night stand she ends up pregnant.

Ben has can’t have any distractions in his life with his focus being on getting into law school. Yet what happens when that girl from the unforgettable night shows up at your doorstep with a huge announcement?

These two are complete opposites. Struggling together on this new journey. Will it bring them together or tear them apart.

A sweet and quick read. First time reader. Really enjoyed the book.

* Received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review*

An ARC of this novel was sent to me by NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really am not a fan of this- it's the one night stand trope BUT they're both Christians. I didn't finish it halfway through the book because I cannot relate to it at all.

This was an interesting take on the one-night stand pregnancy trope. This one has a Christian twist to it, as the two main characters have strong faith and all characters are frequently talking about God's will in their situation. I know that there's a group of people who will claim that two young people who claim to be Christians would never get themselves into such a situation, but I will disagree. To me, this was a book that felt more realistic as far as the behavior of college students. We are not perfect humans and accidents will happen. It's how you handle them that makes the difference in life.

Both of these characters are under a lot of pressure from their parents about making all of the right decisions. Their families have high expectations of them. And now that this wrench has been thrown into their lives, those plans are on hold, or more likely being completely diverted. Relationships are completely strained and they are struggling to salvage what they can.

And speaking of relationships, Kayla and Ben really didn't have much of one before that fateful night. There was obviously some attraction, but then they didn't follow up with each other after that night because they were so busy. Now that they know they are going to be permanently connected, they are awkwardly navigating the getting-to-know you phase while kind of starting at the end and working backwards. That spark is there, but it is not a rushing heat. That heat already got them into trouble already, so they are really trying to take it slow. And for the sake of both them and the baby, you are rooting for them to work it out.

The biggest fireworks come from Ben's on-again-off-again betrothed girlfriend Darcy who is beyond angry that her own dreams of being a power couple have disappeared. She causes a lot of unnecessary drama that occasionally feels slightly out of place, and yet helps to fuel the honesty and bonding between the parents-to-be.

It's a story of reexamining your own personal morals and beliefs. It's about learning how to navigate the rocky waters of adulthood even before you think you're ready. It's about prioritizing relationships with people in your life. It's about remembering to be truthful and honest. And it's about learning how to love and to keep the faith.

I enjoyed reading this reading this book. It had just enough faith references to serve as a reminder to keep the faith, especially as we are in a very weird place in our world right now. But it wasn't preachy. So I think even others who are less religious may still find some value in this book. I gave it 3.5 stars overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Prism Book Tours for fulfilling my review request for this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I realllllyyyyy wanted to like this. Life is crazy and I was excited for the possibility of a cute fluff read that would fill me up with warm fuzzies. And my main thought when reading this was really? Let me explain. There will be spoilers in this review from here on out. 
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Okay so Kayla and Ben have a one night stand. Afterwards Ben does not call her or contact her. She finds out she is pregnant. She tells her friends, they are all shocked 😮 because omg premarital sex and a baby outside of wedlock...what year does this book take place in??? (At the end of the book, I discovered...2020 🤦🏽‍♀️) Shocker Kayla was a virgin. Ben is in basically an arranged relationship that is supposed to lead to marriage for reasons that are tragic but really doesn’t make sense because again 2020. His dad is aggressive and has a whole plan for Ben’s life laid out. His mom is basically a standard stereotypical SAHM (No shade, I am a SAHM I mean like the ones from old movies.) A baby DOES NOT fit into this plan. They are mad and make him choose.... look I don’t even want to rehash it. The fact is I couldn’t connect with these characters who have morals from the 50s but are living in 2020. It just seemed unrealistic. They are seniors in college. Every one is waiting til marriage??? this book felt like a book to scare teens and young adults from having sex. “If you have sex you will get pregnant and die.” I’m not recommending this one to my friends. Sorry 😐

Wow! This was such a great story and is definitely up near the top of my list of favorites. These two main characters were dealing with the consequences of their actions and did so in a manner that reflected a value for life and the understanding that their lives were going to change in a big way.

I loved the way this story progressed. There were some cringe-worthy moments involving Ben and his reluctance to completely open up about the past. These moments ended up bringing forth some true growth for both Ben and Kayla, in their relationship and even in their faith walks. I felt that the romance between these two built naturally, starting with two people who did not really know each other and were uncomfortable with the situation, to a couple who truly cared for each other and the life that was created between them. This story was very nicely done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Christy Hayes tackles a challenging, but relevant, subject in her latest New Adult release. Formula for a Perfect Life is about an unplanned pregnancy and the fallout that occurs for the two families whose lives will change.

As Ben and Kayla deal with the emotions of becoming parents, the decisions they have to make, and their friends’ and parents’ reactions, they learn about each other’s lives and revise their future plans.

Most of the book (all but the final chapter) takes place during Kayla’s pregnancy, and the first third is the mother- and father-to-be coming to terms with their new reality. And of course, there’s opposition from family and Ben’s ex-girlfriend to deal with.

Hayes includes some content that some Christian fiction readers may take offense with. There are the realistic temptations of two people who are attracted to each other and some harsh names used by Ben’s ex to describe the baby and Kayla at different times. But these are also true to this reader demographic.

What at first seems like a disaster, something that will destroy the plans laid out for Kayla and Ben, may just turn out to be a blessing these two never expected.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

How do you take a difficult subject, make it palatable, and then ensure your readers enjoy it? I mean, really! Did you read the synopsis? How much more contemptible could a guy be than to cheat on his girlfriend and get the "other" girl pregnant? Yet, with compassion and enough light-hearted moments to keep it out of the mire, author Christy Hayes created an enjoyable, moral-filled story in Formula for a Perfect Life.

Kayla was a Christian who knew better. Yet the night she spent with her long-time crush - the night he sought her out - her hormones took over her rational thought. Frightened and feeling alone, she was devastated when she found out that things were worse than she thought. Ben had a girlfriend! And didn't exactly take Kayla's news well.

Despite what you might think, I ended up liking Ben right away. Not because he was handsome or charismatic but because he seemed so lost. Sure, he slept with his girlfriend and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Sure, he didn't even love her. Yet seeing into his heart, I felt compassionate toward him and hoped he learned his lessons and made the right choices.

Ben's dysfunctional family was interesting - to say the least. The secret pain and guilt Ben carried had him seeking atonement by following the path his parents wanted him to.

I've read other stories about unplanned pregnancies before, so this was not a new theme. Yet I don't recall seeing so clearly the struggles of what to do about it as I did here. While only Ben and Kayla's thoughts were expressed, I could even understand why her parents reacted as they did and their suggestions. (Ben's dad - yeah, I didn't get him at all other than the grief he was wrapping himself up in like armor - but I did say he was dysfunctional, right?)

I was glad to see it made clear to Kayla, Ben, and those around them the consequences of making bad choices, even the result of being a bad example. They turned to God for help and were sorry for their sin. As in Maybe it’s You, however, the Christian message is subtle and not the predominant theme of the story.

While there were some raw, uncomfortable moments and some crude language used in a couple of places, it was momentary. I would have preferred they weren't there and yet won't stop reading this series because of them - they were mild. I found this to be less edgy than Maybe it’s You (which I was glad about!)

Formula for a Perfect Life stands alone though Kayla is one of Reagan's dorm mates from Maybe it’s You, and picks up where it left off. If you enjoy new adult fiction and don't mind reading of grittier moments, I recommend reading them in order.

Thank you again to #netgalley and #xpressotours for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Since I read the synopsis I was so intrigued about the story, It was an easy and sweet read and while I was reading it I found myself rooting for Ben and Kayla, I wish we had more of their relationship before the pregnancy because sometimes I didn't feel a real connection between them at the beginning. I love the two POV’s it gives me the whole picture of their real feelings and struggles which I’m a fan of.
Kayla’s friends are the best, there were so supportive and always been there for her.
The Christian undertones are so subtle, making the story easier to read to all the people who don’t read books with religious content.
My biggest “problem” was that sometimes we jump in time and we don’t know the details of how they got there making feel the story a little rushed.

This was my first Christy Hayes book and I’m so happy with the experience I’m gonna read more of her work.

I kindly received an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the plot and the characters of this book. The characters are shown to have different personalities, they do not all feel the same. Formula for a Perfect Life is about a girl in her last year of college who gets pregnant after a one-night stand.
I did have some issues with the book, though. The main issue I had was that the pacing felt strange. It felt too quick sometimes, and then way too slow at others. I did not enjoy reading most of the conversations between the characters, as all of the conversations felt basically the same, especially early on. There was also a bit of unnecessary drama thrown in about 80% through the book, but I will not spoil it.
This book gets 3 stars from me because it was a book that I somewhat enjoyed. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a Christian romance, one that isn’t that realistic at some points in the story.

When I chose this book I didn’t realize it was a Christian book. I probably would not have picked this up if I had known that. It’s just not something that I’m into overall.


This book was hard to get into. I’m still unsure if I like the style of writing .
I also need to like the characters and ghat just didn’t happen for me.

Overall i liked it but it wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I think that even though the book had a serious topic the author found a way for it to be cute and a fast pace read.
There is definitely a lesson to be learned in the book about pregnancy and ways to deal with it. The characters draw you in and have you rooting for them I would read more from this author.

A cute contemporary romance about what happens when life does not go your way, at all. Ben and Kayla navigate needs circumstances together. The premise is of a one-night stand that has unexpected consequences, with Kayla being pregnant. From that moment their lives are changed. Kayla is a sweet, slightly naive girl, who has a big heart where she sees the best in others, which sometimes leads to heartbreak. Ben is law major with a complicated relationship with his on and off girlfriend Darcy. The two have opposite lives but need to work through the imperfect part to make a life better for them and their child. It’s a nice, cozy read about how the two grow closer together and work through hurts. Some mild angst but it end with a happily ever after. I also enjoyed reading about Kayla’s roommates, who were constantly supportive of her and always cheered her up when she needed it. I can’t wait to read Reagan’s story and see how she got to the person she is. The story has some inspirational/ spiritual overtones towards the end, but not a lot. I’ve read books with more spiritual aspects and books that aren’t, and this book is somewhat in the middle, which didn’t bother me at all,

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
From the blurb, I made certain assumptions about this book. Since the book contains a one night stand, I was expecting a somewhat racier story. I don't choose books based on the steaminess but this book thrusts the Christianity front and center . This is typically not the sort of book I seek out and the blurb gives no indication of this aspect.
It was definitely not for me. Typically I feel a little bad about negative reviews, but I feel like this publisher made an effort to disguise the true story.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did not like this book. It moved way too fast and the storyline kept jumping timelines and it was not written well. I’m not a fan of “one night stand accidental pregnancies” to begin with, but this one moved way too fast to be believable. By chapter 2 she was pregnant for 6 weeks and was telling the guy she slept with and her best friends. She also kept referring to the pregnancy test stripes as “prison-bar stripes” which I didn’t like. If she felt that way about the pregnancy test, how would she feel about the actual child once it was born? Overall, this book was not for me.

Thank you net galley for an arc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So first of all, so excited for an NA book, I know it's a growing genre but I really love how many options are becoming available.

This book hit on all cylinders for me. I loves the Christian undertones without it being too in your face preachy. I love how the author wasn't afraid to to tackle hard subject matter (drugs, unplanned pregnancy, death) and really keep the difference of opinions at the forefront. At first I really hated a lot of characters and how they treated the situation Ben included. After thinking about it though I realized how much like life this really was. Not everyone is going to have this "perfect world rom/com" reaction. Life is hard especially when you get thrown curve balls and sometimes people act ugly. My absolute favorite parts were Kayla's roommates and how sometimes the people who you can depe6on the most aren't always blood. Overall the writing was stellar, while some were unlikeable the characters were well thought out, the content was tough but represented the NA age group well. This will definitely be an author on my must read list!

First, I hadn’t realized this was a Christian romance before reading. That is typically not my thing and there were quite a few references to god throughout but that didn’t bother me. I did however feel like the religious part of the characters made for some hypocritical and contradictory elements (I’ll keep it at that to not give anything away).

I feel like this story had a ton of potential but felt a little rushed in ways. I think the characters were well developed and I was really rooting for Kayla and Ben. They weren’t perfect but they were flawed in realistic ways.

I wish we could have gotten at least a glimpse into their relationship before the pregnancy. Without having a sense of their previous feelings it felt like they both went from cold to hot too fast without any real substance, especially Ben who seemed pretty cold towards Kayla in the early part of her pregnancy.

I felt that some of the moments between Ben and Kayla could’ve been more fleshed out to really give us a feel for their relationship. It seemed like moments were ended abruptly and then skipped over. The first ultrasound, for example, should have been a prominent scene (just my opinion) but leaving things like that out made their story feel rushed. Most of the book was them apart, trying to come to terms with the fact that they were pregnant.

Despite all of that, I liked the characters. I felt they were well written. Their parents were pretty terrible, mostly Bens. I was drawn into their story though and read through this very quickly

This book was a quick read and one that I recently stayed up until 5AM reading because I didn't want to put it down.

I fell in love with Ben and Kayla and felt anger towards Darcy. I am delighted to hear that a sequel will follow with Reagan's story. I look forward to reading that book when it is available.

My only complaint was that I noticed a couple sentences in the middle of the book that needed to be edited to omit an extra word or due to it not making sense.

Thank you to Christy Hayes, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I gave this book 2.5 stars because I did manage to finish it, and it was an alright read. It was just not really the right book for me. First I have to say that I'm already not the biggest fan of the accidental pregnancy after a one-night stand trope. The way it was handled in the beginning of this book did have me constantly rolling my eyes. I was not a fan of Kayla's character. Her referral to the positive test as "prison-bar stripes" bothered me, and I just couldn't connect with her character in any way. I did like Ben's character a bit. I felt like when it mattered he did put Kayla and the baby first, and he did step up and take responsibility. Kayla's mom was probably the best part for me. Instead of being rude and completely judgemental, she was helpful and reassuring to both Kayla and Ben The relationship between Kayla and Ben did have a decent foundation to build on, but I felt like we were missing so much of it and just kept jumping to new stages without seeing how they got there.

I really wanted more from this romcom and just feel so-so about this. This book is focused on a Christian relationship which is not everyone's cup of tea.