Eve has found herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one night stand. This unplanned pregnancy seems to bring to life all of the relationships in her life; her dead parents, her brothers, her best friend willa, willa's brother shep, and even the baby daddy. Her life is a bit in chaos and she's just trying to work through it day to day. As Shep starts to insert himself into Eve's life more and more, she starts to view him differently. He's so handsome, sweet, thoughtful and a little goofy. Is he starting to like her too? Will the baby and baby daddy complicate everything?

I absolutely loved this book! Eve is such a lovable character and she loves her people. She never made any outwardly bad decisions and that made this book that much more enjoyable. Buying this one for a shelf trophy!

Felt a little too cheesy and gave me a weird vibe of mid 2010s romance books that I can usually excuse IF they are written in the 2010s. It just felt very much of an age of Facebook that felt a little off.

Okay, so I went into this thinking that I would like it, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did.

Eve is messy. She's chaotic, she's a bit selfish, she's dramatic, and just overall has no idea what she's doing. I LOVE her for that. I think too often in romance books we get a fmc who is just a little bit too close to perfect and that absolutely isn't the case for Eve. She doesn't like her job, pregnancy is rough, her baby daddy is with someone else, it's just a mess.

Shep is a sweet angel who deserves everything good in this world. He's constantly showing up for Eve. Making sure she's okay, buying her groceries, and cooking her food. He's just always there for her. I'm not usually the biggest fan of friends to lovers because I never feel there's enough tension, but there's definitely tension and longing.

I'm really glad I ended up picking this one up.

I liked this, it reminded me of love, Rosie in a way so if you like that movie you’ll like this books as well!

This book is my new personality. I loved Eve’s growth throughout and can someone please tell me where I can get a Shep??? (I struggled with his name though, because all I could think of when reading it was Shep from the Bravo show 😹)

That moment, you know the one… will live in my mind forever.

This book has the most gorgeous cover! I really loved the first part of this book. But I felt like it fell apart in the second half. I feel like Shep was not a fully fleshed out character. He had no flaws. I preferred Ethan.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is a heartfelt, charming, and relatable romantic comedy that explores the unexpected twists life can take, even for those who are perfectly content with the familiar. The novel centers on Eve Hatch, a woman who prides herself on her predictable life in Brooklyn—close to her best friend, a steady job, and a comfortable routine. But when Eve finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, her world is turned upside down.

Bastone masterfully captures Eve's emotional rollercoaster as she navigates the ups and downs of unplanned pregnancy, friendship tensions, and evolving relationships. The plot delves into Eve's journey of self-discovery, questioning what she really wants in life beyond the safety of the familiar. Her relationship with her childhood best friend, Willa, becomes strained at a time when she needs her the most, leaving room for a surprising bond with Willa’s older brother, Shep. What begins as a simple act of support from Shep soon blossoms into something more complicated and unexpected, as Eve starts to see him in a new light.

The chemistry between Eve and Shep is palpable, and their dynamic adds warmth and humor to the narrative. Shep’s surprising kindness and attentiveness as he helps Eve navigate this uncharted territory shows a depth of character that goes beyond what Eve anticipated. The tension between them grows as Eve begins to realize that maybe the life she’s been coasting through isn’t the one she truly desires.

The novel beautifully explores themes of family, love, and finding unexpected connections. Eve’s journey through the highs and lows of pregnancy, friendship, and romance is deeply relatable and offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be "ready" for life’s surprises. Bastone’s writing is witty, heartfelt, and brimming with charm, making it impossible not to root for Eve as she navigates her new reality.

What truly stands out in Ready or Not is the emotional growth Eve experiences. She begins as a woman who prefers routine and certainty, but by the end of the book, she’s learned that life’s most rewarding moments can come from the unexpected. The novel reminds readers that love and family aren’t always planned, and sometimes, the best things in life are the ones that catch you by surprise.

Ready or Not is a delightful and heartwarming read, perfect for fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction. With its endearing characters, heartfelt moments, and a sweet, slow-burn romance, Cara Bastone has crafted a story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever faced unexpected change and discovered something beautiful on the other side.

This book was so good. It had everything I love in a book; banter, humour, found family and a great happy ending. I loved that there was no conflict between Shep and Eve. Sometimes a good romance book doesn’t need the couple to fall in love, break up and get back together.

I liked every relationship in the book. The ones between Eve and her brothers, the ones between Eve and her friends and Shep and the relationship between Eve and Ethan. Although I did feel like Ethan got the short end of the stick a little bit I was pleased he still got a happy ending.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was AMAZING! For sure one of my favorites of the year! This concept was so fun! I was freaking swooning over Shep! Ugh and the things he did for Eve! The bicycle seat?! Ugh this surprised me and just ended up loving it so much!

I loved this book so much. It’s one of my favorites of the year. I loved how supportive the MMC was to her and how he was always there when the FMC needed him. I was a little skeptical going in to this because it’s an accidental pregnancy, but I loved how it was handled in this story.

I wanted to really love this one and it didn't hit for me. There were sweet moments, but overall it was a little more idyllic than this situation would be in real life.

While I am not always the biggest fan of the "surprise pregnancy" storyline, Cara Bastone navigates the plot construct well in Ready or Not. It's a tender and charming read for those who enjoy the genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Great book from start to finish. Not your typical romance story, there was substance. Thank you for a copy In exchange for a fair review.

This is one of the most wholesome book I’ve read recently. Our main character Eve was such a great narrator, full of warmth and humor. She’s not perfect, but she felt so real and you can’t help but rooting for her as she took us on this unprecedented journey. This book is so full of heart, a study on people and relationships. Being a single pregnant mother is hard and this book really get to it. It tries to make light of the stigma associated with it, but it’s still there and Eve handled it swimmingly. There’s also the issue of how people react to the news and what the pregnancy meant for them. There’s this conversation in the book about how for most people, their lives changes when the baby arrives but for the women, it happen the moment the pregnancy happened and it’s so spot on. We see the way Eve had to accommodate her changes to her schedule, wardrobe, apartment, and relationships to her support system. Everyone went through their own thing and while it’s complicated, at the end of the day I’m so so SO happy Eve was surrounded by so many amazing people. Obviously Shep, but also Willa and Ethan, despite their complicated views, and even her 3 brothers that stepped up and helped her. I think the romance between Eve and Shep was adorable, but tbh I’m more invested in Eve’s relationship with everyone and how they changed and survived through the pregnancy. It made me happy that she’s happy and she’s surrounded with sooo much love and support!

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is a super cute and feel-good romance that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good, slow-burn love story! It follows Scarlett, a woman who’s been hurt by love before, and Ethan, a guy who’s a little too serious for his own good. They meet when Scarlett’s life gets turned upside down, and they end up working together on a project that brings them closer than either of them expected.

What I really liked about this book is how real the characters feel. Scarlett is so relatable, she’s been through some tough stuff, but she’s strong and determined to make things work. Ethan is a bit of a grump, but in the best way, and watching their chemistry build is super satisfying. There’s a lot of cute banter between them, and you can totally feel the tension building up as they get to know each other better.

The pacing is great, with just the right balance of sweet moments and emotional growth. The romance doesn’t feel rushed, which I loved, it’s all about them taking their time and learning to trust each other. Plus, the secondary characters are really fun and add some extra warmth to the story.

4.25 ⭐️

So sweet 🥺 this book was wonderful and honestly felt more like women’s fiction than romance because the main focus wasn’t really the romance. It was great to go through the feelings of our main character and see how she grows and learns. Definitely recommend 💖

I loved this book. It is a bit of a longer read and truly goes into the stages of pregnancy. If you want a raw, funny, tender read, this is the book for you.

I kept hearing great things about this book and Cara Bastone in general, and am so glad I read it. The pregnancy trope gets so much hate amongst the romance community, but I think Bastone expertly navigates around all of the trappings that cause readers to feel animosity to it. From the get-go, we know that Eve is pregnant from a one-night stand (something she rarely has) and that she is super unsure of how to feel about it. She hasn’t thought much about being a mother and has lead life pretty simply in Brooklyn as a single girl getting trying to get her footing in the conservation world. The way Bastone writes Eve is so relatable to many females and she is such a believable narrator that all of the choices she makes along her pregnancy journey seem completely right for her and her baby.

Of course this is a romance and solid, reliable, other-centered Shep is exactly what Eve needs (and falls for) as the romantic hero. As her best friend’s brother, he is always there, the easy to love guy that is caring without being a complete doormat. I would take a Shep in my life any day and Bastone really knows how to make a cinnamon roll hero look like the best type of book boyfriend.

Plot-wise, nothing much happens; Eve is pregnant, has nine months of pregnancy and gives birth, but the emotional journey and changes from surprise to acceptance to love are what make this book so special. Please be aware of triggers for a character experiencing infertility and miscarriage, single-parenting, and all the hormones and symptoms during pregnancy. I would say this is an “all women” book in that not only mothers will enjoy it (triggers aside), but Eve and Shep and Ethan are flawed characters many will connect with. Perhaps the happy ending is a bit too perfect for my slightly cynical mind, but isn’t that what we’re all here for? The HEA? I look forward to reading more books by Bastone in the future.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭.5 (open door 1-2 scenes)
Swoons: 🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️
Tears: 🥹🥹

Love me a hot mess Heroine and a surprise pregnancy. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. Thanks to net galley I have another to favorite author.

This was a cute easy read. Would I recommend it? Ehh, maybe. If you’re looking for a mindless read, then this is the one. With so many books on my TBR, I want to enjoy my books. This was just not for me, but that’s okay!