This book was so much fun to read. We have Gemma who is funny as hell by the way, she works for some social media Guru, she wants a family, her mom is always trying to set her up with someone since her divorce and she has horrible fashion sense. She wants Josh, who is a family friend, her brothers best friend actually, to be her donor….

From the beginning we see the attraction they have for each other and even though it’s a slow burn, I love the the possible love triangle that happens in the middle of this story. I also love the support group that Gemma goes to throughout her IVF journey, those women are so bad ass and hilarious.

I am such a sap and I love to read declarations of love, and how Josh showed his for so many years and how Gemma also realized that all along her happy ever after was right in front of her. I can’t wait to read book 2 I would love to see where these two end up.

A really fun, hilarious and heartfelt story with an interesting premise. Really enjoyed my time reading this one.

I absolutely loved this book. Fertility struggles are so much more common than anyone really talks about. How refreshing to know if it has been a struggle, or still is, that you are not alone. I love a good book with real life subjects, humor, and a love story to boot.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

I really enjoyed this. Josh was sometimes too nice to Gemma and I think he should’ve stood up to her more. Gemma had her sweet moments but also the moments of wanting to slap her, I have the second book to read so I’m looking forward to that.

Don’t let the cover fool you. I received an electronic ARC of Sarah Ready’s Josh and Gemma Make a Baby from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Looking at the cover, I thought this would be a light, fluffy, and happy romance novel. It was, but it was so much more. I stayed up later than I should have reading this book. This was the perfect reflection of my belief that any woman who wants to be a mother should have that chance in what ever manner she chooses. Gemma’s IVF journey was eye-opening, especially because IVF isn’t really part of romance novels even though so many women have been diagnosed with infertility. Josh is definitely up there as one of my favorite book boyfriends too. His comic books were so sweet. This is definitely one of those books I would read again at different stages in my life. Would definitely recommend this to anyone in a book club because there’s so much to talk about.

"Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" is a heartwarming and humorous novel that explores the complexities of modern relationships and fertility struggles. The author, Sarah Ready, artfully weaves together a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The characters are relatable and endearing, and the plot moves at a satisfying pace. Overall, "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" is a delightful read that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready is a delightful and humorous romantic comedy that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of love, laughter, and the ups and downs of starting a family. With its endearing characters, witty banter, and heartfelt moments, this book is a perfect choice for fans of light-hearted contemporary romance.

The story revolves around Josh and Gemma, a couple who embarks on the wild and unpredictable journey of trying to conceive a baby. From navigating fertility clinics to tracking ovulation and dealing with hilarious mishaps along the way, their quest to expand their family is filled with laughter, unexpected surprises, and plenty of heartfelt moments that tug at the heartstrings.

Sarah Ready's writing style is engaging and filled with humor, making the story a joy to read. The witty banter between Josh and Gemma is a highlight, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that will leave readers chuckling. The author skillfully balances the comedic elements with poignant and heartfelt scenes, creating a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

The characters in Josh and Gemma Make a Baby are lovable and relatable, with their quirks and insecurities making them feel like real people. Josh's wit and charm, coupled with Gemma's determination and vulnerability, create a dynamic and engaging couple that readers will root for. The supporting cast of friends and family adds depth to the story, providing a sense of community and support that enhances the overall reading experience.

The book not only explores the humorous aspects of trying to conceive but also delves into the emotional complexities and challenges that many couples face on their journey to parenthood. Ready portrays the emotional rollercoaster with sensitivity, highlighting the highs and lows, the hopes and disappointments, and the unwavering love and support that binds Josh and Gemma together.

While the story primarily focuses on the couple's pursuit of starting a family, there are also meaningful themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the importance of communication woven throughout. The blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth creates a well-rounded and satisfying reading experience.

In conclusion, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that will leave readers smiling and invested in the lives of its charming characters. Sarah Ready's witty writing, lovable characters, and relatable storyline make this book an enjoyable escape into the world of love, laughter, and the beautiful messiness of starting a family. If you're looking for a fun and heartfelt read that will brighten your day, look no further than Josh and Gemma Make a Baby.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby from the author for an honest review.

altogether a very cute story that i really enjoyed! i can't wait to finally get round to reading the sequel.

Personally, this just was not a book that I enjoyed. A lot of the main characters trauma felt piled on for no good reason and there was almost so much of it that it became hard to focus on any of it and became overwhelming to me. I also did not enjoy the speech used in relation to Gemma and made me feel like a chubby, disgusting, slob and the way infertility was spoken about made me uncomfortable.

TL;DR:
- 3.5 stars
- Content warnings: IVF, miscarriage described in detail, infertility issues
- A surprisingly deep novel (heavy on the women's fiction) with Gemma's hopes, fears, truth and honesty at the center of it all. Doesn't index as highly on a core romance if that's what you're looking for.

Loved:
- I loved Josh. He was so cool, interesting, cute, and not once did he make a decision during the course of this book that made me want to pull my hair out.
- I also loved Gemma's mom-hopeful friend group. They were all super unique characters who had different experiences with fertility and love and I appreciated the perspectives they brought to Gemma.
- Gemma was VERY well written - I know because I absolutely have been Gemma at times in my life. Her inner monologue and the way she internalized and externalized her emotions was all super accurately written, IMO. But I didn't love the character herself (I'll get into that later.)

Less into:
- The book is advertised as a romance, but I do think it actually comes across far more as chick-lit. The book is about Gemma at its core, and her story with IVF, making the baby she wants, and finding love. Women's fiction is not really my genre of choice and so I was a bit disappointed by how it's portrayed as a story about Josh and Gemma and we don't get a lot of that.
- I didn't love Gemma - I think that's okay and shouldn't be a reason you don't pick up this book. I have found in a lot of women's fiction I read that the lead is not my favorite character! After all we are getting a real view into the personal thoughts of a person going through a difficult situation in life, and there are bound to be a variety of behaviors and emotions that are not pleasant, but are truthful. Gemma's choices frustrated me constantly, but I recognize that they were totally normal responses based on her life experiences. SUPER well written.

Overall this is a very honest look at a woman trying to navigate making the baby and relationship she wants in her life, and the ups and downs that come with it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

While the book had its cute moments, and fun friendships, so much of the infertility experience felt like fantasy, which was challenging. This book felt very bittersweet with all of the fertility challenges of the different characters, but for all of them to end up with babies at the end felt unfortunately unrealistic.

So I came into this expecting a romance and it really wasn’t, at least not by my definition of romance. The main female character spent most of the book dating a guy who wasn’t the male main character, and even when she started to realize her feelings for the main male character, she was terrible to him.

Gemma was an extremely judgmental person and it was extremely frustrating. She literally destroyed every relationship she has but was able to fix them all with a simple apology. It didn’t feel like enough.

I really liked the concept of this book, but Gemma sort of ruined it. Josh was a wonderful character and, honestly, he deserved better.

Gemma is unable to conceive naturally, but with the help of modern science she can conceive through IVF; now all she needs is to find a donor.

This was a beautiful and a little bit of an emotional read, taking on the sensitive subject of miscarriages and infertility in a narrative that will leave you only wanting the best and the most beautiful outcome.

Gemma's family gave me 'Bridget Jones' Diary vibes,' and I was pleased that by the end she was able to stand up for herself but her family only meant the best; this showed great growth throughout the character.

And I loved the Thursday group, which I was thankful for in the novel as this made everything more real and more emotional.

From the start you know Gemma and Josh are meant to be together and I couldn't put this novel down.

3.5 stars
I have to admit - I`m not the biggest fan of pregnancy romances, but this one was well done. A sweet story and a cute relationship between the main characters.
I really liked it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

First, I hate that it took me so long to read this book. OMG! I loved it so much! Gemma and Josh <3 words cannot describe them. I laughed, cried, and rolled my eyes so much in this book. I literally could not put it down. Yes, I have bought the ebooks and yes I will be buying the physical copies. This book deals with pregnancy, miscommunications, infertility, deception, and most importantly growth. Brother’s best friend since childhood. Just read this book. I cannot wait to read book 2!

There were parts of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby that I loved and parts that I hated. But all in all this had my heart full by the time I finished!

A romcom that features IVF as a main part of the story? Sign me up! This is such a unique idea for a romcom but it worked so well! I grew to really care for the characters and loved going on this journey with them. Brother's best friend is also a favorite trope of mine so I had a feeling this book would be a hit for me and it definitely was!

Rom-coms can be a hit or a miss for me but this one was definitely a win. It was the perfect escape on a rainy weekend. It made me laugh out loud and it was hard not to fall in love with Gemma. This was my first read by this author but it definitely won't be my last.