I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS. This was absolutely brutal on my emotions and not at all what I expected. I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it, I just advise people to be ready for an emotional roller coaster! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I chose this because I read the first installment of the Josh and Gemma saga... It was a unique take on what I call a "Rom-Com" book. This one took uniqueness a step further. While the vast amount of miscommunications and frustrating exchanges made me want to slap all of the characters in the face, repeatedly, it was still unique and kept my attention to the end. It bordered (maybe it touched) on cheesy Hallmark vibes with a wild storyline and inconceivable circumstances, but I guess they got me because I wanted it to all work out in the end. Which, if you know anything about Hallmark movies.... I won't spoil it.

In this sequel, we revisit with Josh and Gemma and see where life takes them after their happily ever after. But we are in for a surprise because life doesn't always end up how we think it will. When their world is torn upside down, they have to fight for themselves and then each other.

This book had an interesting concept that I'd not read about before. However, if you read the first book, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, you would understand that something unique would have to happen for these two to need a "second time around." I was not 100% convinced of the situation throughout the book, but was happy that Ready addressed some of those issues as the book progressed.

I love Josh and Gemma. They are just the sweetest, most perfect couple really. I would recommend reading the first book first. Without the background in that one, this one would lack something. You will get to meet all the characters in this one and understanding their history is really helpful.

I will admit that some of the explanation for a certain character's behavior was a bit lacking for me, but I was able to overlook that and enjoy the story for what it was. It was nice to be back with Josh and Gemma for a while and I'd like to read more of Ready's work.

I listened to the audio narrated by Erin Mallon and I would definitely recommend it. I tend to speed it up a bit because her narration feels a bit slow to me, but she somehow manages to do a sexy man voice incredibly well.

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.

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.

This book was just a jumbo pot of miscommunication.

It starts out with Josh and Gemma about to get married, only Gemma has a medical emergency and ends up falling into a coma for a couple months then wakes up feeling nothing (emotionally). I felt like this part of the book could have been portrayed a little bit better. It seemed glossed over after it was mentioned, aside from the fact that Gemma no longer loved Josh apparently.
I did enjoy the backstory of Ian that we got and maybe there will be a spinoff book featuring him ?

4/5 - Spice: 1.75/5

Was this a very odd sequel to book #1? Yes. Did I still get incredibly invested in it too? Yes. The T.B.I., Josh being a simp, and the return of Ian?! Wild. I gotta say, I loved that this book really shows how even the most perfect Happily Ever Afters (like Book#1) still need soome reality testing, and that what Josh and Gemma (and even more for Gemma, yet again) are getting their relationship tested in this book! I really enjoyed it. I can see where some people may lose investment in it, but as someone who just biologically can't DNF, I enjoyed the entirety of this book! 

Brief Plot: As Josh and Gemma prepare for their marriage, Gemma experiences a medical emergency that leads to a Traumatic Brain Injury. With this, she has to re-learn her love of others, and with family meddling, and her ex-boss Ian constantly showing up to cause chaos, Josh and Gemma's relationship is TESTED. 

Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for an eARC Audiobook of Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, written by Sarah Ready, and narrated by Erin Mallon.

DNF'd! I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one took a weird turn and I was not interested enough to power through.

I remember reading the ARC of Josh and Gemma make a baby this time last year, and I LOVED it!! Seeing them back together brought back those familiar feelings.

The book is everything that you could wish for. You see them back together, with a baby this time and how they navigated,

But the plot twist?!?!?!?! I was not ready for that, My jaw was on the floor, honestly. We also see a bit of Ian, and when I tell you things start to connect, BRO!!!!!

But honestly, this was so cute, and I love Josh and Gemma. I wish them nothing but happiness,

Thank you to Sarah Ready for the ARC!!

What can I say…I didn’t expect this book to have a sequel and somewhat I feel like it wasn’t necessary.

It’s a fast pace story and it’s interesting in the beginning but not too much in the middle. I feel like it had too much going on and I kinda hate Gemma for how she acted.

Ian…oh Ian. I really don’t like that they became friends again…I felt the friendship was too forced and to be honest, I would be friend with someone who hurt me in the past.

I think if you like romances, you can read this one but the first book it’s better.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Swift & Lewis' Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to listen and review this book. I read this book as a standalone from the series and it did not disappoint! Josh and Gemma instantly pulled me in to their story and while some of it was very predictable, I thoroughly overall enjoyed the book. Highly recommend if you need something cute and quick to read!

I really enjoyed the first story of Josh and Gemma and finding out that there was a second was exciting for me! I was curious what the second time around would entail and it was something!

Get ready for a roller coaster. Right away from the beginning I recognized the symptoms that Gemma was presenting with and I found myself absolutely terrified for her. My brain went to a more sci-fi type place which would have made no sense with the book at all but once the story got going it flowed so well and really grasped the difficulties that relationships go through. So many ups and downs for Josh and Gemma - it’s a really good story.

I received an audiobook through NetGalley and I enjoyed that as well. The quality was great and the narrator knocked it out of the park!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Josh and Gemma are back. Gemma is pregnant and they are getting ready to get married. Gemma is feeling a bit unwell but chalks it down to being stressed because of the wedding and coming down with a cold. In the middle of the ceremony, Gemma is convinced she is dying and blacks out. Months pass and we learn that she has preeclampsia and could have died because it was not treated. She spent 3 months in a coma and baby Hope was in the NICU when she was born. Luckily the baby was fine and she was okay even though she claimed she couldn't feel emotions the same. She had a traumatic brain injury and it could have changed her forever. With this she began to fear that she would never feel love for Josh again and fought to figure out her emotions. It was an interesting listen.

4.5/5⭐️
This sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was such a delight. It was refreshing to read a story that continues after the HEA and explored more of the characters’ back stories. While I was not expecting so much of the story to focus on Ian, I did end up enjoying it and it brought everything full circle in the end. I alternated between the audiobook and e-book and enjoyed both formats; the narrator was amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for my review copy.

Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around is the sequel to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby - I'm going to avoid detailing the plot so as not to spoil anything for those who haven't read the first book, but I also think it's best to go into the second installment of J&G as blind as possible.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was one of my biggest surprise reads of last year - I absolutely loved the story, I found it unique and hilarious. There were some heavier themes, but for the most part, everything felt very believable. I unfortunately did not feel the same way about the sequel. Besides a fairly unbelievable plotline, the miscommunication between J & G also skirted reality in my opinion. I wanted to shake some sense into every character in this book at one point or another. I think in general, it takes a really strong story to make a sequel to a romance novel seem compelling - when book one leaves you with a happily ever after, you're reluctant to let that reality go in order to have conflict for a second book. At least, that's how I feel!

I am a big fan Josh Lewenthal, and so I did enjoy getting to revisit his character. For me, this is one story that just didn't need to be told.

My Thoughts (Possible Spoilers)
3.5/5
I absolutely loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. So, of course, I read Josh and Gemma the Second Time around as soon as I could!! While I really enjoyed it, I did prefer the first book in the series💓 What I really enjoyed about this book, as weird as it sounds, was Gemma and Ian’s relationship. I love the friendship they built and how Ian helped Gemma make her way back to Josh. While I did enjoy the way Sarah Ready wrote this story I do wish we got a little more of Josh and Gemma being a family with Hope. I know they got there in the end but I wanted a little more during the book. I also wish we got a little more of a reason of why Josh and Lisa were thought to be a couple when Gemma woke up. But, like I said I did really enjoy this book. I love all the characters💓 This book made me laugh, made me sad, and made me smile. 10/10 recommend reading this one soon because it is out now!💓

I read the book first.. My favorite couple ever. I really enjoy reading the book and then listening to the audiobook. First you devour the book and so listening slows it down for the little things that you had missed because you were just waiting to find out what happens next.. Perfection!

Funny, witty, sad. I loved the whole book. I would ready more from this author. The narrator was great in implementing the storyline.

This is a follow up to Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. I guess I didn’t read the synopsis before I started the book, so I actually didn’t realize for a few chapters. I decided to continue anyway and think it works surprisingly well as a standalone.

I thought it was an interesting storyline exploring the months after the typical romcom ends — though that makes it sound like they’re dealing with maintaining their love through typical, mundane life things. That’s not the case, but I’ll leave it at that.

Overall, perfectly enjoyable.

There was a little too much miscommunication/jumping to conclusions for my liking. I think it also could have gotten to the main plotline a bit faster, but that may be because I wasn’t invested in Josh and Gemma yet having not read the first book.

Thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy that I could review.