This book was utterly impossible for me to put down. I binged the first half of it on audio, completely flabbergasted by the turn of events for my much-loved characters from the first book, and then sat down in bed and finished the rest of it in one night. I really just needed to make sure things would be OK for Josh and Gemma and their baby.

Sarah Ready has certainly succeeded at writing books that pull me right in and drop me into the lives of her characters and I am here for it.

3.5/5 stars
This book is very different compared to typical romance novels. It feels more realistic and a read for someone who is looking for something a little different than normal. Im not sure if it was my cup of tea exactly, but I did like it. What I did like was how realistic it could be at times, not every relationship is perfect after falling and love and I think this novel captures that. There were some moments that felt incomplete, like seeing Gemma going shopping with her mom. It felt like something was missing at times and could have been more developed. There were also many instances of lack of communication which made reading this frustrating at times.

This is a New Adult/Romance/Women's Fiction book, which is the second book in a series. I haven't read the first book, but this book was easy to understand, and it can be read as a standalone.

The story is about a woman called Gemma, and her fiance Josh, who are about to be married. Gemma is pregnant with their first child, which they are both really excited about. At the wedding ceremony, Gemma gets sick unexpectedly, and their whole world is turned upside down. Will they be able to survive what happens next?

I really enjoyed reading this book. The story was really interesting and it kept me engrossed. Heartwarming and emotional, this book will appeal to anyone who loves a good romance or family story. I highly recommend both the ebook and the audiobook, as both are great!

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

After making a agreement to conceive a child using IVF. Gemma and her brothers childhood best friend Josh quickly fell in love.

On the day of their wedding and Gemma at 34 weeks pregnant what possibly could go wrong?

I read the first installment of the series of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby and I instantly loved the book and the story line.

Having read, Josh and Gemma the 2nd Time Around. The story started to infuriate me. This wasn't in a bad way, I was just really frustrated about what was happening to the characters in the story I had to keep reading to ensure everything was going to be OK.

I did like the book however, I felt it did take a cheesy turn towards the end. I would definitely recommend this as a cosy comfort read.

3.5 stars!

"Josh And Gemma Make a Baby" was one of my favorite books of 2022. I laughed, cried, and felt all the feelings. I was so excited to get my hands on this sequel because romances with established couples going through challenges are one of my favorite types of stories to read.

Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to the hype I set up for it in my head.

Here we have Josh and Gemma, already engaged, expecting, and living their 'happily ever after'—until an accident shatters their perfect little bubble. They find themselves trying to rekindle that romantic spark and rebuild their shaken relationship amidst over-the-top and seemingly impossible situations.

This book is still full of the same emotion and beautiful family aspect as the one before, but I honestly can’t say it created the same lasting impact on me. Josh was his same lovely, superior romance hero self, and I loved him for that. I couldn’t say the same for Gemma, though. She was still the same quirky character as before, but somehow the events in this book made her out to be more of an unlikeable character, one I couldn’t fully support up until the end. There were many times when I wanted to shake her and yell at her for having the worst communication skills I’ve ever read in a book.

As harsh as this may sound, I thought that Josh was too good for her in this sequel that I almost wanted to forget that this sequel exists.

Criticism aside, I still think this book is a testament to Sarah Ready’s writing skills. She’s still amazing at weaving romance with women’s fiction. Because of that, I’m still keen on picking up more of her work, even though this one somehow missed the mark.


tw: illness, hospitalization, car accident, injury detail

<b>“‘I can't be sorry any of this happened,’ I say. ‘Because it showed me how many ways there are to love.’”</b>

(Thank you to NetGalley and WWCrown for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I surprised across this sequel immediately after finishing [book:Josh and Gemma Make a Baby], which had been on my TBR for a while, and that I really enjoyed as a slow burn, just-friends-turn-into-something-more. It wasn’t perfect (⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ for being properly swoony but just sort of allowing people to be awful to Gemma – especially her mom – and not really calling them out on it) but an enjoyable story nonetheless.

Josh and Gemma are expecting their baby in just a few weeks, blissfully in love and experiencing wild success in their careers. Gemma is literally about to walk down the aisle when everything suddenly goes black… and she wakes up three months later, having been in a coma from an eclampsia-induced seizure. When she wakes, her ex/former boss/world’s most hated man Ian Fortune is by her side, her daughter is a stranger, and Josh is nowhere to be seen, except on the cover of a gossip magazine that implies he’s sleeping with the actress starring in his comic’s TV adaptation. Josh hurries back, but to Gemma’s horror, she doesn’t feel anything – including love for her fiancée – only numbness. So she vows to relearn how to love him.

So it is with some sadness that I share that I had a hard time with this sequel. I really can’t stand it when exes-turned-villains get a second run in which they again behave abominably – in this case, Ian basically stalking Gemma and wearing her down and refusing to take no for answer – and get rewarded for it. Whether we’re supposed to believe Ian really has a shot, or if he’s telling the truth when he says he’s trying to goad Josh into action, is beside the point.

Moreover, and this is where I think I really struggled, is that Josh – in the title! supposedly our hero! – was barely in this story. And it just felt so out-of-character from the guy we got to know in <i>…Make a Baby</i>. He spends a lot of time in LA, which I suppose was forgivable when everyone thought Gemma might be in a coma forever, but (a) he had a newborn, maybe motherless baby he should have been home caring for! and (b) once Gemma woke up, he should have moved heaven and earth to stay by her side and help her with her recovery. He also was strangely out of tune with Gemma’s struggles, and he’s guilty of one of my least favorite tropes (running away rather than allowing an explanation) not once, but twice!

I also wondered about the way people treat Gemma’s mental and emotional issues. She absolutely should have been in intensive therapy (not just OT). And while I know it’s true that sometimes TBI does permanently change someone’s personality, the way some people – particularly Dylan, holy sh*t what he said was unforgivable – either treated it as a given or shrugged and said Gemma should just hope for the best really rubbed me the wrong way.

This book was saved for me by the third act. Ian’s behavior is at least explained, and while I don’t believe he deserves to be fully redeemed the way the book seems to want him to be, his motivations are at least clear. And I especially loved Gemma’s realization that she never stopped loving Josh, just that her love had changed, and would continue to change their whole lives.

<blockquote>
"It was so dark." I look into his dark brown eyes, at the light shining in them.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
He wraps me in his arms and I lay my head on his chest. My cheek presses against his soft t-shirt and I breathe in his smell.
"No. I'm glad," I tell him. "Before, everything in my life was so bright that I only noticed the big things. The big love. The big joy. The big happiness."
I rub my fingers over the stubble on his chin. It feels soft and scratchy at the same time. "But when everything went dark and quiet, there was room to notice the small things."
His hand moves to my back, and ever so slowly, he starts to rub his hand up and down my spine. My heart speeds up at his touch.
"It took me a bit," I tell him, "my eyes had to adjust. But then, with all the bright gone, I got to concentrate on the quiet, and the little, and all those things I'd never noticed before.
</blockquote>

[book:Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around] by [author:Sarah Ready]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 2.5 stars rounded up.
🌶️ 🌶️ Midwesterners who like Jell-O molds think this is spicy, but it’s really just a little heat
🥧🧁🍰🥮🌭 Both too much and not enough weird desserts. Some just desserts. Definitely not enough barbecue cocktail weenies
☕️ ☕️ ☕️ Too much stolen coffee

I also listened to parts of the audiobooks both this and <i>…Make a Baby</i> and Erin Mallon does a commendable job. Not too … squeaky… the way some narrators can be.

I was so excited when this sequel was announced. I wish it was a little bit longer, I felt like I got through it too fast. I love Sarah’s writing because even if I feel like a ridiculous situation is happening, the writing is so good that it doesn’t bother me. I need to work on my writing skills to describe how her writing makes me feel!

Love doesn’t die. At least, if it does, that doesn’t mean you can’t breathe life back into it and experience it a second time around.

-second chance at love, this book is a sequel
-Gemma and Josh have their happily ever after, or do they?
-the new conflict didn’t seem necessary, I feel like this was sort of a don’t fix what’s not broken situation 😥
-the ending was cute but the drama and throughout felt a bit forced
-I will note that I didn’t read book 1 so that probably affected my rating
-thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC 🙌🏻💕

2.5/5 stars! The first book in this series was sweet and sassy, with the perfect mix of humor and angst before the main characters get together. However, I really struggled with this sequel. It felt unnecessary and like it took away from the magic of the first book. This book was overly dramatic and I couldn't connect with the characters. It felt like the author was forced to write the sequel and put out a rushed product. I would read another story by this author because I loved "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby."

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Perfect feel good, heart warming romance novel. Beginning really captured me, it was funny, witty, sarcastic. It did dragged a bit in the middle and towards the end. Wanted a bit more of that wit and sarcasm towards the end too. Other than that - simple, Hallmark, warm and fuzzy story. Good message about not giving up and striving to be better even when circumstances are less than perfect and always knowing that things work out at the end.

This was the perfect follow up book. I had read the first book and the characters were always there and I wondered what had happened with them. This was perfect. I highly enjoyed it and recommend it.
I just reviewed Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around by Sarah Ready. #JoshandGemmatheSecondTimeAround #NetGalley

I have not read the first book.. however it was given such great reviews on the first book, I was honestly tempted to first buy and read that one before reading this one. Unfortunately this did not happen..

Regardless.. with this in mind, I was sorely upset how this book turned out. So much so that I really do not want to get the first book. Was it necessary to write a follow up?

Not the book for me.

Last year, I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby so much that when I found out this book was coming out, I knew I needed to read it. A sequel to their story had to be just as good as the first.

And I was right. I couldn't put this book down once I got started.

Because it was an automatic read for me, I didn't bother reading the book blurb. I had no idea what was in store for Josh and Gemma. It was an emotional ride, but it was absolutely perfect.

I appreciate this book addressing the dangers of preeclampsia in pregnancy. Most people don't know what it is or how serious it can be until they find themselves or someone they know faced with the condition. It also shows the aftershock of severe cases of preeclampsia and how it affects not just the mother-to-be and baby but everyone in their support system. Not a topic a lot of people talk about, and I'm glad Sarah Ready broke that silence.

I loved these characters and how intricately their lives are intertwined. We got a little more insight into the infamous Ian Fortune and what's made him tick over the years. It comes full circle and ties together nicely.

If I thought I loved Josh before, after this book, I'm not sure I could love him for Gemma anymore. Total swoon. And the heat between the two of them in this book? Whew! 🥵

Thank you, @Sarah Ready @ibpalovesindies and @NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I honestly thought at first that this book is just super light, cute, and funny romance but I was wrong. I did not expect that there would be heavier topics before they can finally have their happily ever after. I was honestly happy that Sarah Ready did give us a sequel to the romcom Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, because even though the book 1 is already satisfying and felt like it was already complete but its sequel made me learn more about Josh and Gemma's story and also I'm honestly glad that Ian Fortune was able to redeem himself. I just loved how everything turned out at the end. It was such a beautiful love story with sacrifices and compromise in between but it was so worth it.


Thank you Net galley for the ARC. Apologies for the late review.

Synopsis: This book is second in a series. I would suggest reading the first one prior as this one would not work well as a stand alone but TOTALLY worth reading both.

When Gemma decides that she is ready to be a mom and falls in love (first book) she faces that fact that love is not always just the big things but sometimes the little things as well.
When things go unexpected Gemma is faced with learning to love all over again and discover what love really means both for her daughter and with those around her. Love comes in all shapes and sizes and can be found in the toughest of situations.

Also please tell me we learn more about Ian next. I feel like there is definitely more to his story.

Thoughts: Where do I even begin with all the ways I loved this book. Truly this book will forever hold a special place in my heart especially timing of the read.

Traumatic Birth Story Trigger
There are so many risks and scary factors that women face when pregnant that I wasnt even aware of when I became pregnant. Some people see pregnancy as this exciting positive time in their life and truly I am happy for them. But there are many many more who are scared their entire pregnancy, me included and even more scared when they reach the end of their pregnancy and are unsure what challenges will be faced with birth and if they will in fact have a happy experience. Gemma faced not only traumatic injuries to her own body that included healing but also mentally missing out on part of her daughters life that she had been dreaming about her whole life.

Medical Trauma Effects on Life
Thank you for including the acknowledgements and for having real thoughts, feelings and emotions when it comes to pregnancy and to medical conditions. There are so many people facing uncontrolled hard times and this really touched home to me. Life isnt always what you think it is with other people and we have to just keep going.

Relationships in Sickness and in Health & Little Things
Thank you for talking about the challenges that relationships face during these times and for love stories not always being two people falling in love and living happily ever after. Thank you for focusing on the sickness and in health and all the little things in between. Love isnt always fancy date nights and elaborate vacations, sometimes its just doing life and being partners in everyday situations and making it through the rough patches by just loving each other.

Thank you Sarah Ready for writing this book it was a perfect read for this season I am in and truly a heart felt, real life book!

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔: 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙶𝚎𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍
𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛: Sarah Ready
𝙼𝚢 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎𝚜: 𝙵𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝟸𝟼 𝙹𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 (𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠)

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓?
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Suddenly Josh and Gemma’s lives are turned upside down, and their love and their future together are at risk. They realize their happily ever after isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning—and now they have to fight for it.
They confront a devastating separation, the return of world-infamous Ian Fortune, and the question of whether or not their love can truly survive when everyone says...
It’s already gone.
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
My first book from author Sarah Ready. And oh my goodness what a book it is! I know it is a sequel to Josh and Gemma make a baby, but TBH I had no idea when this ARC was approved, so I dived into it like a standalone. And let me say this it did not slow my reading process.
Sarah has made this book heartwarming yet angsty, inspiring and filled with sunshine. I admire her for writing about mental health issues so delicately.
This book is a sweet little package filled with love, kindness and an intriguing twist. A fast-paced yet gripping storyline and unpredictable characters will entertain you throughout. Read Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around and witness their happily ever after.

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚂𝚠𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚎𝚠𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙻𝙻𝙲 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢.

I had read Josh and Gemma Make A Baby early last year but wasn't aware that a sequel was planned, so was pleasantly surprised when I came across this title. I had forgotten a little of the first book but remembered the general gist, and was able to pick up where that one ended, more or less. I don't think I enjoyed this one as much as the first. Gemma's character wasn't as likeable in this one I found, and the baby that was so wanted in the first book doesn't get as much of a role as I thought that it would. I thought it would be a little more centered around the baby but it is more about Gemma and Josh. Ian Fortune makes another appearance in this book. and I actually didn't mind him, I felt he redeemed himself adequately. Overall, a little far-fetched. Gemma's selfishness was also another thing I wasn't a fan of. 2 and half to 3 stars

3 1/2 stars

I was a big fan of Josh and Gemma Make A Baby. So, when I saw there was a sequel, I was eager to read it. Unfortunately, this was a situation for me where I wish that we'd left Josh and Gemma in their Happily Ever After. This sequel felt like unneeded angst. Not only was there an unforeseen incident that threatened Josh and Gemma's future, the author also brought back Ian. The same Ian who had definitely established himself in direct opposition to Josh in the first book. So naturally, he is trying to stir the pot in this book as well. Enough already. I did like that we get some answers about Ian's background and get to understand him better.

I think the intention in this book was a good one. Ms. Ready obviously wanted to raise awareness about certain issues and succeeded in doing so. Unfortunately, the way Josh and Gemma's relationship was handled felt like an afterthought compared to the rest of the storyline. Even though they worked their way through the ups and downs, it felt awkward and sometimes redundant. I just wanted more from this sequel. The first book was such a pleasant and enjoyable read that I had high hopes for this one as well and was disappointed when it fell short. All that said, it's not a bad book. It just isn't as good as the first one in my opinion.

AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook narration was done well and matched up well with the characters. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around is the sequel to Josh and Gemma make a baby. It starts off with Gemma and her family getting ready for Gemma's wedding the next day. Gemma passes out the next day and slips into a comma. I will have to say that I did not expect that. In fact for first few pages after she woke up from her comma I thought she was dreaming, the fact that another character I hadn't seen since the last book really messed with my head. I will have to say that I had to push through the book a little in the middle. It just wasn't what I was expecting and found my attention wandering. But it got more interesting towards the end and I really enjoyed a character's redemption arc. Overall I think that the book was okay. I think I would have liked to see more of Gemma's recovery.

I finished this book with the realization that maybe romances did not need sequels. Although I liked Ians redemption arc, I felt most of the plot was unnecessary and at times boring. The ending was clear and since we already saw Josh and Gemma fall in love during the first book, this was underwhelming.