Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.

I did enjoy this book but it was just not as good as the first one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

It's a 2.5 for me, I really wasn't into that story at all - the first book made me cry and feel all the feels and it really would have been better as a standalone. This sequel felt forced, like making them fall apart just so they could get back together was necessary to make their love story more "realistic" (which for the record, it wasn't, since the first one included enough hardships as it was). I kept putting this book away and forcing myself to come back, because it just did not flow, kind of as if another author wrote it or something. If anyone loved the first book as much as I did, I'd recommend skipping this one.

3 stars ☆ I liked the first book from this series and when I saw that there's a sequel of it, I need to read more about them.

This was an okay book, I liked it cause I get to read about them again but for me, a sequel isn't needed. I enjoyed most parts of it but at the same time I felt like it's been dragged on where I've started to lose interest. A quick and good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC !!

I listened to the audiobook version during my commute and read the digital copy simultaneously. I love Sarah Ready’s writing style, and I was a big fan of Josh and Gemma Make A Baby. The author definitely makes the reader fall in love with them as a couple.

I enjoyed reading Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, but I felt as if too much focus was on the redemption arc and not enough on Josh and Gemma’s relationship struggles.

While the book could stand alone, I think it would behoove the reader to read “Josh and Gemma Make a Baby” prior to reading this novel to get more of a background knowledge and help you to root for the titular couple.

It was so exciting to receive an ARC for both ebook & audiobook to review. I was intrigued by the cover and was excited to dig in and see what this book was all about. The sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby took a chance at seeing what happens after the happily ever after. In the first book, Josh and Gemma figuratively walk into the sunset, so in love, pregnant and engaged. The second book takes place right after, just prior to the birth of their child and wedding.
Without getting into too many details and/or spoilers, I will say that there are complications with the birth which later test the meaning of "in sickness and in health." We see Gemma's challenges in connecting with her child, her family and Josh, her realizing that things may never be the same and we feel the pain of what happens when everything goes wrong and the helplessness that comes with her injury.
This book put me through the wringer. Both Gemma and Josh walked their storm to get to their rainbow. We had a similar formula to the first book, but the approach was very different, considering their situation. Ian Fortune makes a bigger cameo in this book and steals the scene for most of his appearances. We get to see the complexity of these characters, how the past has affected their outlook on life, their ability to maintain faith and/or the acceptance to what they consider is their deserved destiny.
This is not your typical romance novel; these characters have to put in a lot of work for their ever after. After meeting these characters in the first book, it was great to see these characters develop, meet and conquer challenges and grow as well.

It's not often we get to follow characters beyond their happily ever afters. Sure, we may get a glimpse through other books in the same series, but what really happens, especially when the happily part seems to vanish in the blink of an eve?

Josh and Gemma Lewenthal look like a couple who has it all. They're head over heels for each other, they love their jobs and have a fantastic apartment in the city. They're expecting their first baby in six weeks, and they're driving upstate to Gemma's parents' home for their charming, intimate backyard wedding. But then the bottom falls out.

Josh tries to manage his career, flying between New York and Los Angeles, while parenting their baby, Hope, and being there for Gemma. And Gemma? Gemma is lost. No one knows if she'll come back to them or what her condition will be if she returns.

These are the things that test the mettle of love. Does it keep the promise of forever? Can it still survive when the one you promised to love turns out to be someone different?

With a quirky, loving family and a major supporting role from the infamous lan Fortune, we get plenty of wit, humor and comic relief through this second part of Josh and Gemma's story. But the more somber, harrowing, unvarnished parts of their story are the ones that will grip your heart and dash your soul. They'll make you think and open your eyes as you watch Josh and Gemma navigate challenges you never imagined possible.

As we go on this journey with them, we see that love is a big, wonderful, happy feeling, yes, but it's so much more. It's the choice and fortitude and unwavering determination to stick when life gets too hard and challenges get too big. It's also the joy and delight and reverence of the simple things, the seemingly insignificant moments, and the smallest blessings.

With a quirky, loving family and a major supporting role from the infamous lan Fortune, we get plenty of wit, humor and comic relief through this second part of Josh and Gemma's story. But the more somber, harrowing, unvarnished parts of their story are the ones that will grip your heart and dash your soul. They'll make you think and open your eyes as you watch Josh and Gemma navigate challenges you never imagined possible.

As we go on this journey with them, we see that love is a big, wonderful, happy feeling, yes, but it's so much more. It's the choice and fortitude and unwavering determination to stick when life gets too hard and challenges get too big. It's also the joy and delight and reverence of the simple things, the seemingly insignificant moments, and the smallest blessings.

Even in fiction, a writer's best work is always when they dig deep within, acknowledge their vulnerabilities and them pour them into their work, and Ready has bared her soul to us. This is a profound, special read. One that will touch you deeply and, I hope, make you even more grateful for the things in life we all too often take for granted.

Our language is too deficient to express how truly extraordinary this one is. Easily one of my all-time favorite reads and one I'll return to again and again, I encourage you to grab this one ASAP and start reading. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel everything in between, and your romantic heart will be changed this second time around.

A fun sequel. I enjoyed the comical elements to an otherwise tough subject matter to deal with. Despite the twists and turns in the story, the end is happy.

Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around, is the sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, which i was actually surprised to hear will have a 2nd installment.

An unfortunate event leads to Gemma having to lear how to feel again and how to re-love. It's about change and hardships that follows a moment that should've been the start of a "happy ever after".

First of all, JnGMaB was an unexpectedly good read, but it ended rather lovely, and i quite enjoyed it.
So i personally felt that it wasn't necessary for a sequel. But i also feel that the author wanted to portray a story on how everything isn't hunky dory after the supposed HEA.
And also maybe just how much superfans will enjoy more time with Josh and Gemma.

And let me tell you...i was invested! Read it in less than a day because this one had a deeper emotional pull to it, and I'm a sucker for some heartache.
I honestly didn't want to be invested because i didn't want to betray an already good thing, especially if Ian was still involved.
But jeez...i actually developed a smidge of love for Ian, and the development of his character was quite admirable.
And not just his but Gemma's as well, especially in comparison to book one.

There was also a little twist i didn't see coming, so I'm rather happy with how it all turned out...again :)

*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 & 𝘓𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘓𝘓𝘊, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯-𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*

I was so excited to see that Josh and Gemma Make a Baby had gotten a sequel. I really enjoyed the first one so I was intrigued to see where their story would take them next. I did not expect this book to be what it was at all. It truly was a roller coaster ride from start to finish. I thought I knew the direction the book was going then WHAM! no clue again. It definitely kept me on my toes throughout.

I cannot exactly pinpoint my feelings on how it ended up though, like I feel like I enjoyed it but at the same time I was frustrated. I do like how it ended which is always a positive thing but the journey of getting there made my head spin.

*BIG SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!*

Ok, the coma thing was definitely an interesting twist, I had not anticipated that at all what so ever. Then BAM Ian is back?? Then BAM she doesn't feel positive emotions anymore?? So much occurring for poor Gemma. But honestly she was lowkey annoying about it ngl, like when she began to befriend Ian and everyone was like yo wtf? She essentially said fuck off let me live my life. I honestly don't know how I feel about her budding friendship with Ian, I think more towards the end I was like oh ok besties but also I may just need to undergo character development myself. Speaking of character development I actually wanted to punch Gemma in the face. She was so annoying at points like yes I understand she lost her memory of emotions but like at the same time she wasn't really doing anything to help herself. Also, random thing that would have made this book slap would be a Josh POV during Gemma's coma.

As for positive things, the backyard wedding was so cute. I admire Josh's optimism so much, I don't know how he was able to pull through. But the amount of amazing quotes from this book .... chef's kiss. It was so beautifully written even if I did not agree with the characters actions. It had such an optimistic outlook on such negative and life changing experiences which is so pleasurable to read about.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for an advance read in exchange for this review.

This is the sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. I'll be honest - I didn't remember the first book. However, I caught up a bit while reading this book. Gemma and Josh are getting married, but she gets preeclampsia and faints during her vows. When she wakes up, she doesn't feel anything for Josh. To complicate things, her ex (who was the villain in the last book) is there, and she feels something (anger, but she feels something!). She's wondering if her love for Josh will ever come back.

The book was kind of all over the place. Gemma has a TBI, but the book primarily focuses on her relationship with Ian the Villain. It's kind of his redemption story because there are many layers as to why he's at her rehabilitation center and why he has it out for Josh. There's a bit of Josh's career involved in this too, and some tabloids around that. Also, she's a new mom! A mom who missed months of her infant's life! That is trauma! However, the book seems to gloss over that to focus on other things, and somehow, the bond between Gemma and her baby seems just fine. There are a few glimpses into the frustrations of having a TBI, but I'm not sure the book really captured the struggles into what Gemma's recovery looked like. I did appreciate Ian's redemption story, but I'm not really sure what the purpose of that was. Also, I'm not sure how much of Josh and Gemma' s story I felt. This book was has a lot going on!

Overall, it's not a bad story. Gemma is quite likable and real and I was rooting for her.

Okqy how this be soo good, again?! I loved the first book, but this one was a great book number two. The msin charackters are great

3.5⭐

TW: Pregnancy, Medical Trauma, Infertility, Mental Illness, Panic Attacks, Car Accident, Miscarriage

"Everything I'm doing, I'm doing to find my way back to you"

So I picked this book up (a) not realising it was a sequel and (b) expecting a cute little relationship in peril rom com with a cute baby thrown into the mix. Let's just say my emotions went on a total rollercoaster while I read this. If you, like me, are going into this book expecting a fluffy rom com, I hate to break it to you but you need to change your expectations because fluffy, this is not. What you actually get is two chapters of fluff and then a very sudden shift into trauma and angst! I'm not going to mark this as a spoiler because this is what should've been in the blurb of the book but essentially what happens is Gemma, our heroine, collapses ON HER WEDDING DAY and is rushed to hospital with life-threatening eclampsia where she ends up in a coma FOR THREE MONTHS. Now, when she wakes up, she has not only missed the first three months of her daughters life but she has also lost the ability to feel emotions.

Right, now that's out of the way, I will say: once I flipped the switch in my brain and got out of cute fluffy rom com mode and into general fiction adjacent romance mode, I actually really enjoyed this. I love the author's writing style and I definitely want to pick up more of her work. Even though the book pretty much had sad undertones throughout (I mean, the main character was recovering from a traumatic brain injury and learning how to love again) I really liked the bitterweet, emotional but wholesome vibe of this book. Certain scenes were completely heartbreaking (e.g. Josh coming to terms with what's happened to the woman he loves) but those scenes were interspersed with enough glimmers of hope to make it worthwhile. I loved seeing Gemma gain her emotions back slowly but surely, sometimes without even realising it was happening. I actually liked that the romance took a bit of a back seat to the heroine's own personal growth. Josh was so patient with Gemma and, up until the last third of the book, the communication between the two of them was amazing.

However, this is a contemporary romance and of course that means that their has to be some kind of massive third act drama and I definitely did not enjoy that! (I mean, come on, haven't these guys been through enough) The OW/OM drama added absolutely nothing to the story and there was absolutely no need to give Gemma's ex (who I gather was the villain of the last book) a tragic backstory and semi-redemption arc. I just don't understand why it needed to be *him* who helped Gemma feel again. The author could've replaced him with literally anyone, perhaps a grumpy old person at the treatment facility? This is purely personal preference but I'm not a huge fan of plotlines where it takes another man or woman to make the main couple realise that they need each other. But maybe that's just me?

All that being said, this was a very well written book. The author's writing style is something I would definitely not say no to reading more of and there were some amazing quotes in here that I loved! Once I got past my shock at the start of this book, I found it to be a really engaging and easy read (I finished it in about 4 hours) and I loved watching Gemma grow as a character and relearn how to be herseld. I do think that some of the plot points were thrown in to creat unnecessary drama and I really could've done without that but, all in all, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around was an enjoyable book that I would recommend (as long as you go into it with the right expectations).

I really enjoyed Josh and Gemma Make a Baby and the sequel Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around was no different.
Sarah Ready has created another amazing rom-com.
The characters were all very likeable and relatable. The relationship between the main female and male protagonists is real and believable.
Sarah is truly an amazing writer. She creates amazing characters and an awesome atmosphere.
I love how her settings are descriptive and detailed.
Another great story by Ready.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Having read the first Josh and Gemma book, my fiancé and I were looking forward to the release of this book. Hopefully there will be more in the world of Josh and Gemma

i did not know what to expect but that exceeded my expectations!!! i was so emotional over everything and it all took a turn for me right from the start!! high 4!!!

i loved the first book sooooo much and i was excited for this one. i truly thought it would be marital problems but it was like that times 6000. there’s so much i want to share but do not wanna give any spoilers out! i just was so invested in josh and gemma’s love and adoration for one another from the first book that this one really did tear me up quite a bit.

ugh so good i teared up, i giggled. i really just love this one and the whole universe it created.

thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc in return an honest review!

What happens after happily ever after?

On the cusp of having it all, Josh and Gemma have to deal with the unthinkable.

Josh & Gemma 2 was equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, funny and sad. It was very un-putdownable! I do think their first book needs to be read first to have the whole picture - it may be confusing as a standalone.

I could have used more about bonding with baby and as a family of three (since getting pregnant was such a huge plot point of book one!) and less of a character arc for Ian Fortune.

I loved Erin Mallon’s narration, she is always such a gem.

There could be some pregnancy/birth-related triggers in this book. (But it is a romance/romcom, not a tragedy)

Note that I received an early review and listening copy of J&G2, receipt of which did not impact my review.

O my God, what a roller-coaster was that.
1) I've never clicked quicker "read now"
2) I've never read a book that quickly
3) I've never cried that much

The moment I saw there is a second part of "Josh and Gemma make a baby" I had to immediately read it. I was a little bit scared, because I was worried for our wonderful couple. And rightfully.

"Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around" was filled with angst at least for me. Something terrible happened and everyone had to deal with it. I felt so so sorry for everyone involved. Sarah Ready knows how to play on our emotions. I don't want to spoil anything, but due to the situation I sometimes was really afraid that their way's will part.

It's a story about life, that can kick our asses and force is to some behaviours and emotions, or lack of them. It's about fighting for love and dealing with life changing situations. It's also about appreciation for little things we have and forgiveness. We learn that there's always something after "heaping ever after" and life's not a fairytale. We have to fight everyday for what we love and keep choosing it. And sometimes... that's still not enough.

I absolutely love Josh and Gemma. I loved this book, not much as part one, but still. Maybe that's because I usually try to avoid book that I know will brake my heart.

I'm very grateful for being able to read ARC copy, thanks to Sarah Ready and Netgalley❤️

So... I LOVED Josh & Gemma make a baby, but I didn't need this book, neither Josh nor Gemma. Not even Ian. Nor the baby.
Remember the whole plot of previous book? ...make a baby, well the baby was made and that was it. Then everything went downhill. She couldn't even see when her baby was born.
The sole porpouse of this book was to make MY Josh suffer. And how did we achive it? every time they needed to have a converstion one of them left, the problem is that it wasn't just one conversation, it was all of them.
And remember how we got Ian out of our lifes? he's back. I don´t even know why. To redeem him? Nope.
And all the laughs out loud from last book, GONE.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC but I won't be re-reading this any time soon (or ever). Let's just pretend that Josh and Gemma make a baby is a standalone and this never existed.

Sequels are always a bit of hit and miss but this one is really good so let start with it begins with a traumatic injury and it all kinda spirals after that not in the best way but in a it's a real world way because Gemma got a preaclapsia and went into a coma had a brain injury and couldn't feel love or anything really and Ian is back and kinda takes it upon himself to be Gemma friend and she willingly let's it happen cause she feels with him anyways I loved the ups and downs and the miscommunication it makes it feel like real like so thanks for letting me read this one