This is without a doubt in the top romances I read in 2023 (and I read a lot of romances)

Ready or Not gave me all those warm fuzzy feelings I get from watching Gilmore Girls in the fall, or 90s rom coms on a rainy day. There was something so magical and wholesome and special about this - I loved this book so so much.

Eve was funny, relatable, and so realistic - just an all around amazing character. One of the greats. To be honest I loved every single character, they were lovable, human, and all showed so much growth throughout the novel. This book dealt with some difficult topics and they were all handled with so much grace.

I don’t want to say too much, because I think this book speaks for itself - so please do yourself a favour and pick this up. This is one I want to keep on my forever shelves, and will certainly be purchasing a copy when it comes out on February 13th!

I'm in the minority on this one. I just didn't connect with the characters in this one. However, I loved the New York setting, relationships between some of the characters, and appreciated the realness of the story. However, some of the relationships felt awkward or forced.
A solid 3 star story that isn't all that memorable

I usually do not love the unexpected pregnancy trope. This was done well. The story revolves around the pregnancy but in a way that doesn't feel forced. I enjoy the setting and the relationships throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where to start with this review? Throughout the story, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it at the end. Although I've never been in the position of an unexpected pregnancy while single, it felt like many parts of it were unrealistic. It seemed to gloss over the freak-out stage, but it did depict a disconnection to the pregnancy for quite a while. The way things worked out with both Ethan and Shep felt a little too good to be true, but at the end of the day it gave me lots of warm-fuzzies and a happy ending. I think this one was 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for me.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone follows the story of Eve Hatch, a woman who is content with life, her job, her relationships with friends and family and isn't looking to rock the proverbial boat. She lives in Brooklyn with BFF Willa nearby and her family comfortably in the Midwest. That is until she has a out of the ordinary one night stand and ends up pregnant.

The pregnancy changes all of Eve's relationships - from fighting with Willa to developing a new friend in Willa's big brother Shep, to realizing that maybe it's ok if her family isn't so far away.

Shep ends up stepping up and helping Eve during her pregnancy by ordering her food, checking in, listening to her complaints, and Eve decides that he is kinda hot! Yet another complication- the baby’s father, who is technically supportive.

As Eve's pregnancy progresses she find herself wanting more in life, including Shep. She spends her time trying to figure out what she wants, but does she find it? And what is it?

Ready or Not is a great story of how an unexpected change in ones life can change your way of thinking and your desires. The storyline is different enough from other unexpected pregnancy romances that it's interesting and engaging. The characters are well rounded, deep enough for us to care about them and their situation. This a great (spring/summer) read!

A charming, heartfelt story!

An unexpected pregnancy brings a change to Eve's life, but also to everyone else in her life. As we follow Eve and see the way everything changes for her, we also see how the news affects Ethan, the baby's father, Eve's best friend Willa and her brother Shep. The 3 of them have been friends since childhood and the pregnancy changes some things.

This is also a slow-burn romance, it's about friendship and change and moving on from things in the past. I liked the NYC setting and Eve's pregnancy brought memories of my own pregnancies.
I'd have liked to see an epilogue jumping to a year later at the baby's first birthday for an update on the characters.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book has a slow burn to end all slow-burns! I am usually not a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope, but both of the leads stole my heart in this one.

This book has:
•Accidental pregnancy
•Childhood friends to lovers and best friends brother trope
•He falls first and harder!!!
•A cinnamon roll hero who is sweet, supportive, and an overall gem! Shep is my new book boyfriend fr 📖

This book was such a soft, fluffy, and heartfelt read. Thank you to Dial Press and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

4.5 stars! I loved these characters so much. They were portrayed as three-dimensional and mature, but they were realistically flawed and made some not-so-great decisions, like we all do at times. The main character, Eve, finds out she's pregnant after a one-night stand, and we get to see the progression of her thoughts about all that it entails, which were very relatable. We also see how she navigates her relationship with the baby's father, her family, and her childhood friends, who are the most steadfast and protective of her circle. There are emotional ups and downs. The romance goes hot and cold, will they or won't they. It's heartwarming and humerous, with some great one-liners. Eve was an endearing character, and, throughout the book, I was rooting for her to find contentment and fulfillment in her life, whatever that might look like. This book was a feel-good read without being syrupy or ditzy. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for an early reader e-book.

I am in love with this story and will never stop recommending it! Everyone needs a Shep in their life, I am serious to the bone!

I highly recommend reading this book, even if you are a reader who does not enjoy surprise pregnancy trope. Because READY OR NOT is more than this trope. Although yes, pregnancy takes the lead in this story, it is not overwhelming or inaccurately portrayed.
The main character, Eve is such a loveable person, with flaws, insecurities, dreams that are hard to grab, with a messy family, with a new life just about to begin. After she finds out she is in fact pregnant, after a one night stand, which was a suprise to them both, she fights to have the dad involved, while also navigating her relationship with her best friends and all the things happening in her life and body that are new. And scarry.

I giggled and cried my way through this book, an absolute joy and warm hug. It had so many life-altering moments, truths I will hold dear to me. I think what made this book this beautiful, was the honesty and simplicity. A perfect mirror of what life is and could be.

Read it for:
slow burn romance
surprise pregnancy
friends to lovers
he falls first
my best friend's brother
dog friendly pub
hilarious banter

Thank you so much PRH Intl for the e-ar, I loved every moment! #partner

Very much enjoyed this fun book about a girl who gets pregnant from a one night stand the tries to navigate her life after finding out that news. Along the way Eve tries to navigate life with possibility of the baby’s fathers involvement and her best friends brother being her true love that she’s been denial about since they were young. I loved how the book was broken up into the three trimesters of pregnancy to outline Eve’s journey through this time. This is a perfect spring book that light hearted but yet has its moments that get you in all the feels!

This book was so cute! I loved watching Eve evolve over the course of her pregnancy. I also loved seeing her not only discover who she truly is but who truly means the most in her life. The love connection between her and Shep was perfect!! And seeing Ethan’s character evolve too was the added bonus. Definitely a palate cleanser if you are looking for a light hearted read.

In "Ready or Not," Eve finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand, shaking up her life in Brooklyn. Her quick wit and sharp banter become her coping mechanism as she grapples with strained relationships and uncertain futures. Her friend Willa's brother, Shep, unexpectedly steps up to help, sparking new feelings. As Eve rethinks her life, she discovers that love and family come in unexpected ways. This heartfelt tale explores love, self-discovery, and the surprises life throws our way.

I really enjoyed the writing style and hope to read more by Cara Bastone in the future.

Eve's story was wonderful! I really enjoyed seeing how her and Shep grew closer throughout all the complicated events and roadblocks they encountered. They definitely became each other's "person" and Shep's support of Eve was so lovely. There were so many emotions to feel throughout this read!

I did not know who Cara Bastone is but I enjoyed this book so much and the emotions it brought out of me.

The book follows Eve who gets the most unexpexted suprise after a one night stand . Her pregnancy unravels her relationship with her siblings, her job , her best friend Willa who is trying for a baby,the baby daddy Ethan and her best friend’s brother Shep. The book is divided into segments as we get to follow her from the first trimester to when she gives birth. Witty,reflective,fast paced and emotional-great read.

I received a complimentary copy all opinions expressed are mine.

How often do you go into a book completely blind?

I do it somewhat frequently when @netgalley sends me a random eARC. I’ll be honest, I mostly judge them by the cover and then go check @goodreads to see if some friends have added it. That was 💯 the case with Ready Or Not.

This book was not like anything I would normally pick up! Eve finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one night stand. The father is not someone she has any desire to develop a romantic relationship with, besides he’s back together with his on-again-off-again girlfriend by the time she finds out and tells him. Her bestie, Willa, isn’t the most supportive because she’s having fertility issues and that makes their relationship a bit strained. The real star of the show for Eve is Willa’s brother, Shep.

I enjoyed watching Eve’s story progress through these 9 months as she gathers her feelings, plans for the future, and matures in rapid fashion. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d have picked this one up if I’d read the blurb more carefully (surprise pregnancies aren’t typically my jam in books, no offense), but I did highly enjoy this one! It was a cute book and that cover is gorg. 😍🌸🌺🌼

This is hands-down my absolute favorite read of the year thus far! The characters were charming and so so lovely. The romance was so heartwarming, authentic, and realistic. This was fantastic writing- witty yet full of heart. I loved every second of my time with this book!

Wow. I don’t even really know where to start. I’m flabbergasted that a book about pregnancy (and so much more) has such a hold on me.

I was hooked from the first page and instantly fell in love with Shep. I was hoping he was the love interest and he exceeded any and all expectations.

The writing was beautiful. The characters felt so real, and the humour was exactly my kind. I laughed and I cried. My heart ached during the sad moments, and I was kicking my feet during the romantic ones.

I flew through reading this. I even had to stop myself a few times so I could take in what was happening.

Eve’s pregnancy is the main plot of the story, but the underlying message of love and family was so powerful and heartwarming.

As someone who’s still very unsure about having children, I didn’t expect to connect with this book. I requested the e-ARC because I’m a sucker for romance, but it took me forever to pick it up because I truly didn’t think I’d enjoy it. But wow, I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I loved this book so so much. Eve was such a fun character to read and heading her story was so much fun.

Eve becomes pregnant after having a one night stand and what follows in Ready or Not is her journey through accepting her pregnancy, her relationship with her best friend/father of the baby/ her best friends brother, and decisions regarding the trajectory of her career. Ultimately this a really lovely story with honest portrayals of becoming a mother and a very slow friends to lovers romance. I felt that all characters were highly relatable and while I felt frustrated at times by decisions made, I came to understand them and felt that Bastone did a great job examining complex relationships.

Eve is a great character. She is funny, loyal, honest, and a hot mess but you adore her and want her to be your friend. Shep, her best friend Willa’s brother, is an absolute sweetheart of a man. He’s loved Eve for as long as he can remember and he’s the most supportive friend to her until her feelings catch up to his level. The relationship between Willa is a beautiful, honest portrayal of friendship and what it looks like for women during the ages of motherhood. I laughed and I cried.

I will say that this book felt much more general fiction with a heavy emphasis on pregnancy and the romance was a subplot. I expected this to be a contemporary romance, like Bastone’s other work, and had to shift my lens to better appreciate the story. Her writing is excellent though and I was so glad to read another book by her as I love her other series. I read alternatively with my eyes and with audio and would highly recommend the audio for your reading experience. The narrator hit it out of the park! She perfectly captured the essence of Eve and was easy to follow with the other characters. She was so animated and it was a delight to listen to her.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a very enjoyable read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sharing such an enjoyable read with me.