I'm not typically one to read surprise pregnancy books, but this one has a different approach. The book opens with Eve finding out she is pregnant, then it shows how pregnancy can affect different relationships in your life. It shows how different the world reacts to pregnancy, how your workplace can treat you, how strangers or even friends can treat you differently.

I felt so bad for Willa, I don't have the personal knowledge of what she went through, but I can imagine how hard it would be to watch your best friend accidentally get what you have been wanting for so long.

Shep was such an amazing friend, I love the relationship between him and Eve. He was there for her and that was enough for him, if that was the way it was supposed to go. He did so much for Eve, and the growth in their relationship was inspiring. They go from childhood friends, who have been through so much, to seeing how much they really love each other.

Ethan, poor man, he wasn't 100% sure how to feel or what to do about his situation. I know we see this a lot in today's world, but he really stepped up and was there when Eve needed him most.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, however I wouldn't fully classify it as a romance book, it was so much more about Eve growing with her pregnancy and how it can truly change an individual.

I received an e-Arc from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review! Thanks to Madison for the e-Arc!

I had an idea how this story was going to go down but I was wrong. I liked this little gem. The story does hit home on the fact that family and love can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Whoo!

I will admit I don't read many stories about being pregnant but after reading the summary, I could not resist! It's such a great rom-com. Sweet and adventurous and complicated.

I think that's why I liked the story because it showed that life can be complicated. People have to deal with situations and other people. It felt real to me.

The book was written from Eve's view of everything. That was really nice to see. Eve had growth for herself in this story, you'll see it! I think some of the other characters experienced that too.

So if you like Contemporary Romance, Unplanned Pregnancy, Friends to Lovers and Slow Burn, then this book is for you. To me it was real, sweet and complicated!

Ready or Not is the perfect read for anyone looking for a great hug in book form. This book tugged my heart strings and I did not want to let go. Eve has found herself pregnant from a one night stand. Now she has to deal with the idea of being a single mom and how her brothers and best friend are going to react. She also has to figure out if the father is going to play a role in her life. To top it all off she is unsure of how she feels about her best friend's brother, Shep. He has always been in the background of her life and now he is no longer with his long term girlfriend, Everything is changing and she is not sure what she can blame on her pregnancy or what she truly is feeling. This novel is absolutely delightful and will envelop you in its embrace. Don't miss this perfect Rom-Com novel. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Dial Press Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anything Cara Bastone is an instant buy for me and this is no exception. I am a sucker for a surprise pregnancy trope and this one delivered! I can’t recommend this enough!

I liked the book for its story. Love the characters, especially how the main characters were perplexed, the way they were handling. The emotions were raw, when it was between the two best friends. It balanced out. I would recommend this book to my friends and colleagues.

Cara Bastone’ writing is amazing, and I read the book in one day and enjoyed every second of it. I loved how it pulled so many emotions in me. Plus, there was a lot of angst and push and pull too, but in the end, the characters were what made the book so enjoyable.

I was not prepared for the emotions Cara Bastone wrenched from this cold heart. I'm usually not one to pick the unplanned pregnancy book, but I am a sucker for found families.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

This is a romance novel with an unusual twist. As the book opens, Eve Hatch is at an ob/gyn appointment on her lunch hour, looking for confirmation of her suspected pregnancy. She's done some at-home tests, and is already pretty sure of the truth. Eve is not in a romantic relationship. A few weeks ago, when her best friend Willa's brother Shep left his long term relationship and moved in with his sister and her partner in Brooklyn, the three had a fun night out. When Willa and Shep called it a night and caught a cab home, Eva found herself still energized and went into a nearby bar, where she ended up going home with the bartender, Ethan Rise.
So after she gears herself up to tell first Willa the news, and then Ethan, she must figure out how to tell her siblings, and the wider community.
Eve has a job in an organization that she's always dreamed of working for, a wildlife conservation organization, but she is in administration and dreams of running her own project. When an opportunity in a different direction opens up due to her hard work, she must make a choice and figure out what she really wants there as well.
She loves her small apartment that she's made exactly as she wants, but worries about whether she can fit her baby into it, especially as it grows.
With all these changes opening up in her life, Eva finds Shep, her childhood friend to be there when she needs someone. He accompanies her on errands, shows up at her home with exactly the perfect things for the moment, and helps her to focus her mind on the good in what's happening.
This novel is a journey of self-knowledge and self-life as well as a romance. A real page-turner.

I was drawn in by the cover. Going to be honest that’s the reason I requested it. I don’t like surprise pregnancy stories and other things that made me not finish this book.

Eve is just living her life when she finds out she's pregnant from a one night stand. Her best friends brother is the one who helped her through everything. Could she be falling for him? I loved their vibes and chemistry!

I really liked this book and the characters were lovable and relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Ohhh this one will make you weepy at the end. I don’t usually enjoy a pregnancy trope but I actually really enjoyed this. Everyone was so sweet to each other and even in the most surprising circumstances they were all kind and supportive in their own ways.

Cute and sweet!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a perfect rom com! I laughed out loud so many times while reading! I love a book that makes me laugh and cry and feel all the feelings.
The book begins with a surprise pregnancy that is a result of a one night stand between Eve and Ethan. The story bring us through the entire pregnancy, with all the tiny (sometimes hilarious) details that a woman experiences. It is a funny and heartwarming story and I loved every second. This was my 1st book by this author but it will not be the last. Go read this book! You will not be disappointed!

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley! I thought this book was really cute and an overall solid rom-com. The beginning was a bit slow, but once I got into the story, I flew through it in one sitting. The group of characters surrounding the FMC is just developed enough that you can get a sense of their journey and fall in love with each of their imperfections. I don't usually read this trope, but I enjoyed the FMC's journey, and the romance was very cute. It might just be because I don't usually read this trope, but it took me a while to empathize with the pregnancy motivation. The writing itself is very easy to read, it felt like you were completely immersed in the FMC's thoughts/stream of conscious, although there were times when it was strained to be the "cute, quirky girl."

Overall, I enjoyed this as a light boy-next-door, friends to lovers style book.

Receiving a copy of this book was super well-timed for me as I’m currently in my third trimester of my first pregnancy. I appreciated how accurately the author captured some of the emotions of pregnancy through Eve’s eyes. Shep was absolutely adorable and I loved the slow burn. Parts of the character development felt rushed/unfinished as several of the characters felt one-dimensional but I enjoyed this story as a cozy rom-com.

I LOVED this book for a women's fiction book, but for a romance? I felt it was lacking. I'd describe this as women's fiction with a side of romance. As women's fiction, it was easily a 5+ star read, but its romance was MAYBE 2.5 stars. If I were to weigh both components equally, then this would be a 3.75 star read, and I think that is an accurate rating. Cara Bastone's writing style is so unique, fresh, and unlike anything I've ever read before, and I loved every second of it. This is my first book of hers, and if her others are anything like this one, I will be working my way through her backlist immediately. And can we talk about that cover? It is GORGEOUS. The changing leaves, sweater weather... it perfectly captures autumn and its cozy vibes, but the book doesn't come out until February 2024. Missed opportunity, for sure.

The one night Eve allows herself to let loose and have a one night stand, she winds up pregnant. The only person who is there for her unconditionally from the beginning is her best friend's older brother, Shep (not the baby daddy), who she's starting to see in a new light. Split up by trimester, we follow Eve through her pregnancy, adapting to her changing hormones, body, and reality. That's basically it. That's the plot. This book is the definition of no plot, just vibes. And I was here for it. It is a slooooow burn romance with maybe one open door, not too descriptive sex scene.

I LOVED this cast of characters. I had a particular soft spot for Nurse Blank (i.e., Louise), though I do realize it is unprofessional for nurses to give patients their personal phone numbers. I loved Eve's friendship with Willa and how Willa shows up for Eve in the ways that she feels able to when it matters (even though it is hard for her). I want so badly for this to turn into a series so I don't have to leave them. Maybe Willa's book could be a marriage in crisis, since dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss takes a toll on a couple. And then for Ethan to find non-toxic, unconditional love as a single dad? I want to live in this fictional world. Cara Bastone writes about New York City in such a magical way, making me (almost) forget how much I find big cities to be too stressful, too loud, and too crowded.

As much as Shep is sweet and thoughtful, I thought he is almost TOO perfect. Seriously, the man has zero character flaws, translating to the personality of a piece of cardboard. He's boring. This might be okay if he were just a side character, but as a main character, I would expect more development and, well, issues. Not to mention, the side characters, like Eve's best friend Willa, are more complex than he is. It's like he only exists to be Eve's love interest. He comes off as pathetic, following people around like a lost puppy. To be clear, Shep is FINE (I'd rather him than an alphahole) but lacks depth. (Another point against him: he's blond.) The romance would have been so much more interesting if Eve had wound up with her baby daddy. Ethan has flaws for days (I seriously wanted to shake some sense into him for most of the book), which makes him multi-dimensional and complex. I also felt more chemistry and tension between the two (though there would be some serious other woman drama if he were the love interest). I didn't feel any romantic (or even sexual, oddly enough) chemistry between Eve and Shep. I didn't feel any butterflies in my stomach during any of their interactions. I did, however, like the bromance he and Ethan fall into by the end. It's rare to see this type of co-parenting setup in a romance book from the child's birth, and I think that dynamic (almost) makes up for the lackluster romance.

One final critique: I wish we had seen Willa's reaction to and interaction with the baby. I think that would have provided some necessary closure.

You NEED to read this book if you like:

🍂 no plot, just vibes 😎
🍂 found family
🍂 New York City (specifically Brooklyn) in the fall
🍂 he falls first
🍂 "it's always been you for me"
🍂 best friend's brother
🍂 surprise pregnancy (but he's not the baby daddy)
🍂 sloooooow burn, low spice

Thank you SO much to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

This was the cutest little romance. I enjoyed it way more than I had anticipated. Loved the love story between the main characters and love a good happy ending.

How on earth can I convey the perfection that is this book? I honestly don’t know that I can do it justice so even if I fail just read it- ok? A surprise pregnancy certainly changes Eve’s life but it also affects those around her including her best friends and the one night stand turned father-to-be. Everything is messy and complicated because that is how life works but nothing ever verges into overly dramatic and no one is a villain. In fact every character is relatable and deserving of their book ( hint hint). There is so much warmth in this book mixed in with a dash of humor. and the romance is both incredibly sweet but comes with moments of major swoon. I really loved this book and will definitely be buying a physical copy for my shelf of favorites.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Ready of Not by Cara Bastone!

A comforting read filled with likeable characters and interesting settings. I really appreciated the emotional maturity throughout. A pleasure to read about well-adjusted characters, for a change.

Such a great read. 5 Stars.

I've been a big time fan of this author for a long time now and this book did not disappoint! Maybe I'm aging myself here but Ready or Not gave me those warm and fuzzy feelings I used to get from watching a great 90's rom-com for the first time. It was honestly like reading a fantastic Rom-Com movie! With great characters and a heartwarming storyline, I definitely picture myself reading this book again.

Eve is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and all that comes with it when your a signal women in Brooklyn. Eve was funny, brave, charming, and so very realistic. The way she dealt with all the things going on her life just felt so believable and very relatable. I really enjoyed her relationship with Shep, whom is a long time friend. He was such a sweetheart and dependable friend at a time that Eve needed someone the most. To be honest, all the characters were great and I could really sympathize how everyone around Eve was handling this news of her expecting.
If you're looking for a book with likeable characters and a great setting I'd definitely give this one a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I picked this book based on the cover and description and Bastone's name didn't ring any bells at the time. But then I checked it out on goodreads after receiving an ARC (thanks to NetGalley and Random House) and realized that I've listened to some of Bastone's audible exclusives and didn't love them. So, I went into this with low expectations, but it quickly became one of my favorite books. Seriously, this was a perfect read for me. The friend dynamic between Eva and Willa was incredibly relatable, the plotline was realistic, and the evolution of all of the relationships throughout the book was so enjoyable to read. The romantic tension and slowburn was also excellent! My only complaint is that I wished there was more!