I really enjoyed this! I really liked the first book so when I saw this one on NetGalley I was excited! This book dealt and focused more on heavier topics than the first book which was more of a rom com. But it felt like realistic problems that a couple might go through when things get tough. While it did have its light-hearted moments, it isn’t a light-hearted book. I still really enjoyed it despite this! I enjoyed Ian’s character arc in this book! Overall, I really liked this and it was a 4.5 for me! The narration was great as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association, and Members Audiobooks in exchange for an honest review!

This book, like many rom-coms are a little bit over the top. It was very cute though. It sometimes read as more of a contemporary drama at times, with some parts that definitely made a bit sad with the heaviness of the topics.

Honestly though, I enjoyed there wasn't as much spotlight on the baby as I thought there would be. That may be controversial, but it's my truth. 🤣 As much as I don't enjoy babies, I really enjoy this couple overall.

A big thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around - 3/5 ⭐️
📍Sequel
📍Second Chance Romance
📍 Slow Burn

I liked the concept of this second book and it was interesting reading about what happens after the "happily ever after". Even though I didn't love Ian’s redemption story I recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for the gifted copy!

I loved the first book featuring these characters, so I was really excited to dive into this one…and it didn’t disappoint! I will say this book had a completely different feel to it, when compared to the first book. I felt that this one had much heavier content, and wasn’t as hopeful throughout as the first. While I always rooted for Gemma and Josh to reconnect, there were so many times where I was devastated with the turn of events and wondered if there would be a happy ending. Traumatic brain injuries are such a delicate topic, and I feel as though the author captured the struggles for not only the person it happens to, but also the family around them. I really loved this book- highly recommend!

I really enjoyed the first book and wasn’t really sure how a sequel would go. I’ll be honest, I wanted to stop listening about 20% through the audiobook but kept going on hopes it would get better. It had ups and downs and I often felt like certain issues would come up out of nowhere. I liked that it highlighted some issues a relationship may have but it was to an extreme. The first book really could have been a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis publishing LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook to review.

I have a knack for reading series & sequels out of order, but I do my best to enjoy them on their own! This was a sequel to Josh & Gemma Make A Baby, and other than some light confusion about side characters for a chapter or so, it was pretty easy to catch up with. However, the main plot led to a lack of chemistry between Josh & Gemma, which just made this hard to get into. I ended up becoming a lot more emotionally invested in this than I expected to, but there was seriously sooo much miscommunication it was painful at times! Overall a cute read, but probably lands better as a sequel than as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for both the ARC and ALC of this book!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The first one was great, and while I wasn’t sure of there being a need for a sequel at the beginning, I was more and more convinced and pleased as I read/listened!

I will say I LOVED Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, like loved. I swooned so hard for Josh at the end of it (Gemma was hit or miss for me) that I was so excited for this to come out. With all the anticipation I was NOT expecting what I just read. I'm all for reading about the realities of life putting a wedge between couples (I'm looking at you Pam and Jim final season of the Office) but that was wow.... a lot. I will say I read this book in an instant because I loved reading more about Josh and Gemma, I just had a hard time with everything that happens in the first half of the book. If you read the first book (let's be real you can NOT read this without reading the first) then I would recommend it but with a warning is all. It will hurt you before it heals you.

This book made me so emotional! The beginning was perfect. I was able to really connect to their relationship in a short amount of time, which was a great foundation for the rest of the book. I loved being able to see the little ways she was falling in love again even when she didn’t. All in all, just a beautiful and sweet book.

Josh and Jemma are going to have a baby, are crazy in love, and about to get married. Until something happens, and life throws a wrench - no, the whole toolbox - into their plans. In the aftermath, will they find their way back to each other?

Oh. My. Gosh. I devoured this book. It was amazing. Funny, sweet, heartbreaking, life affirming. I cried, I giggled, I swooned. I liked Josh and Jemma, and I was absolutely enthralled with the story and invested in their lives and the outcome of their relationship.

There is so much I am taking away from this book... I actually ran out of space for quotes in my reading journal. There were some cute illustrations in the book, and I loved the quotes at the top of each chapter.

I didn't read the first book, Josh and Jemma Make a Baby, and I got through this one fine, because there was enough explanation to extrapolate what must have happened in that book. I would recommend, though, if you can, to read the first book before you read the Second Time Around. I will probably get the first book to read, then read this one again. It is definitely worth the time it would take for a re-read. If you want to walk away with new understanding of what it means to love, despite drastic changes in your life, then you need to read this story.

*I was given a digital ARC by NetGalley and I am voluntarily writing this review.

JOSH AND GEMMA THE SECOND TIME AROUND follows Josh and Gemma after they solidify their relationship in the first book and embark on parenthood and marriage. One of the things that Sarah Ready teased about this sequel was that it would be “what happens after the happy ever after?” I braced myself for the emotional rollercoaster—which was wild and crazy—but I absolutely loved it. Having loved the first book, I was so excited and curious to see what was next for Josh and Gemma. And let me tell you—Sarah Ready delivered.

I’m so happy we got the “after”, even if it did tug at all my heartstrings. On what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their life, tragedy strikes our happy couple, and we were left to read about the aftermath for Gemma, and Josh’s subsequent and unwavering faith in their relationship. Honestly, there were times when I wasn’t sure if they would get their second happily ever after, but we are in great hands with Sarah’s storytelling. It takes a little while to get there, but it is so worth it. I know I’ve talked about how much I love Sarah’s writing, and this book is no different. There is so much heart and emotion within these pages and I know it’s a story that will stay with me for a while.

As someone who loves an HEA, I really appreciated this take on what comes after, and reading about the strength of Josh and Gemma’s love. Though this story can be read as a standalone, you’ll appreciate it so much more if you read the first book, JOSH AND GEMMA MAKE A BABY, before you dive in. Be sure to have some tissues handy when you do! Huge thanks to the publisher and the author for an early copy of JOSH AND GEMMA. It’s out now for you to enjoy!

I had a hard time getting into the story.
I had trouble understanding the beginning of the story; the first chapters did not seem to me to be coherent.
Spend these first chapters, I joined the story and these characters that I found endearing, realistic....
Nice discovery

J'ai eu du mal à rentrer dans l'histoire.
J'ai eu du mal à comprendre le début de l'histoire; les premiers chapitres me m'ont pas semblés être cohérents.
Passez ces premiers chapitres, j'ai adhéré à l'histoire et à ces personnages que j'ai touvré attachants, réalistes....
Belle découverte

This was an enjoyable read although I preferred the first book in the Josh and Gemma series. This book would have been difficult to follow without having read the first. The book had an original plot and an interesting premise. I felt some of the interactions between characters was juvenile and not very believable.

This is book two of the Josh and Gemma series. Sometimes one enough. I probably wasn't in the right place to read this book as I read it right after finishing a strong contender for my favorite of the year. So I thoroughly acknowledge that it might have annoyed more than normally. Given that it was strong love story between the characters and verge on torture porn a la the tv series This is US, If that's your thing, have at it.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🦇 Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐

❝ I'm telling you that I love you. In a million little ways, in so many quiet, tiny, little ways, that they all add up to be greater than the biggest love in the whole world. I love you in so many little ways that it almost hurts. It almost hurts to love you.❞

❓ #QOTD If you had a second chance at a lost love, would you take it? ❓

🦇 Gemma Jacobs is ready to start her new life with fiancé Josh Lewenthal and their soon-to-be-born baby. Everything changes right before those two, beautiful words—"I do"—when Gemma has a seizure at the altar. It's not until after she wakes up from a coma (three months later!) that she learns she had pre-eclampsia. Having also suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), Gemma finds she no longer feels the love she once had for Josh. Can their love story survive what happens AFTER happily ever after?

💜 Sarah Ready does a wonderful job at highlighting socially relevant topics. While the first novel focused on the struggles of IVF, the sequel discusses medical subjects like TBI, pre-eclampsia, and the aftermath of nearly losing a loved one. There might have been more emotional enlightenment if we saw part of the story from Josh's perspective, though—namely while Gemma was in her coma.

🦇 Sarah Ready returns to Josh and Gemma's love story in an unnecessary sequel. Unfortunately, this book reads as more of a redemption story for an over-exaggerated villain than a true love story. Nothing is given the full extent of attention it deserves. Gemma abandons her plan to rekindle her love for Josh too quickly, there are few one-on-one moments illustrating the disconnect between her and her daughter (aptly named Hope, which I'm sure triggered a flashback for The Originals fans), and though the novel tries to bring attention to TBI and pre-eclampsia, we don't learn much about either diagnosis. This plot might have worked better as a stand-alone for two new characters, or as a novella from Ian Fortune's point of view. Due to Gemma's diagnosis, she's emotionally distant for most of the book, which keeps us as readers at arm's length. Even the smut feels rushed, with none of the love you'd expect from these characters.

🦇 Recommended for anyone desperate to dive back into Josh and Gemma's story. Don't hold out for any real emotional connection to these characters, though.

📚 Sequel
💜 Second Chance Romance
⚖ Redemption Arc
🧠 TW: TBI, Pre/Eclampsia, Coma, NICU

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I want to preface this by saying that Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was one of those books where I kind of don't even remember the plot, but remember a lot of how I felt reading it. I remember that I found it amazing that Gemma's battles with fertility were the main plot, and how I gushed with Josh everytime I read about him; I remember thinking that it was not a book exactly made for me, but important for someone else. I only remember bits and pieces of the first plot, but I remembered that the first book felt really pure to me, despite all the criticism I then saw on Goodreads and even on here that I actually ended up agreeing. So, it was one of those books where you can't go in expecting something great, but it will be great by itself if you don't expect it to be a work of art.
Now onto Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around: it was exactly the same. I unfortunately have very few time (and mental space) to read during work days, but I found myself liking Josh and Gemma as a company. I'll admit, the plot was a bit weird for me. I thought it would be more focused on Gemma as a mother after wanting to be one so bad - and I guess I got that in a way, but it wasn't really how I wanted it... - or even how they lived with their happily ever after. I was wrong, and I think I'm kind of glad to have been. The author found a really refreshing - in my opinion - way of both giving more background to the characters themselves and also give their relationship depth. I admit I found the whole brain damage plot a bit out there, but then I read it was inspired by the author's mother...and I won't argue with that. I found it weird, but I can't imagine being through that.
When it comes to the book itself I really liked having it as company. I like Ian's redemption and his scenes made me laugh (maybe because I can't even remember what he did in the first book, besides knowing he stole Josh's ideas and etc) and I guess that was something good about reading the second book a year after the first. Maybe for those who will binge, it will be harder to like Ian, I don't know. I just know that I liked him as a person. I liked all of them. Even though I couldn't remember most of the other characters, and I guess this is something to point out as bad, because I remember the girls struggling to get pregnant with Gemma were important to her growth.
As a sequel, I don't know what my opinion is. I liked it as a book, and I liked to read about these characters again, and I appreciate - once again - the author talking about struggles that are not so relatable, but I don't know if it was needed. I liked how the author spun the sequel into not being only about some weird fight and them "second-chancing" again, but about a real, deep struggle and shook them. I liked that Gemma grew a bit and I liked that Josh made me gush once again. I guess I wasn't expecting any of it, but it wasn't bad. I suspect that, in a year, I probably won't remember most of the plot, but I'll remember what I felt, and I think this is the most important thing a book can do. Make us feel and make us relive those feelings through our memories.
I can't ask anymore from a book, and I thank Sarah Ready for the company.

Deeply emotional roller-coaster that will make you really question what comes after "Happily ever after" ... Fun and highly entertaining take on an adorable couple that face some truly heartbreaking true to real life road blocks on they way to their journey. Great reading!

As a reader who loved the first book of Josh and Gemma, I couldn’t read this fast enough! The hardships they go through were a lot heavier than I expected, but I thought the continuation of their story was beautiful. Josh proves he would do anything for Gemma and their love story and I teared up so many times while reading! This is a MUST READ if you loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby!!!

Unfortunately I got four chapters in before I realized this was a sequel and I hadn't read the first book. I'm sure my reading experience would have been better if I had read the first one, but I flew through this cute book, and enjoyed reading about what happens after the "happily ever after".

The first book wasn’t for me so I also wont be finishing this one. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review