This was a adorably cute heartwarming surprise pregnancy romance read that I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of thanks to Netgalley & the Publishers. While book tropes with an unexpected pregnancy aren't really my favorite but Ready Or Not took me by surprise and I really enjoyed it. This was a 3 star read that had me smiling along with giggling.

Ok I loved this book! I couldn't put it down and I managed to finish it within a few hours. The characters were complex and had a lot of depth to them, particularly the main three characters - Eve, Shep and Ethan. I thought the themes portrayed in the book were difficult but it dealt with them really well.

Eve and Ethan spent one night together when they met at a bar and a few weeks later, Eve finds out she's pregnant. When she tells her best friend Willa she doesn't get the reaction she was expecting, Willa seems angry with her. But Willa's brother Shep is really happy for her and is by her side pretty much the whole way.

When Eve has to tell Ethan, it doesn't really go well. Ethan was single at the time they slept together but he's recently gotten back together with his ex-girlfriend and he struggles to find a balance between the two women while also trying to allow himself to be there for the baby.

Eve handles everyone really well and even though she's the one who's pregnant and trying to sort out her own feelings, she's understanding and supportive of her friends, and Ethan. But she really relies on Shep when he steps up at every opportunity to help her out and she eventually realises her feelings for him.

Shep is the ultimate golden retriever boyfriend. He's supportive, he's been in love with Eve forever and he's willing to do whatever he needs to, to be her person - even making an effort to be friendly to Ethan even while he flip flops over what he wants to do with the baby.

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Three and a half stars.

Eve Hatch escaped the Midwest for the bright lights of New York where she works for a charity in the admin department, although really what she wants to do is be involved in one of the many conservation projects they run. She is horrified to find out that she became pregnant after an uncharacteristic one-night stand, despite using protection, and it cause major repercussions in her life.

First, her BFF since school Willa doesn't react well because she and her husband have themselves been trying unsuccessfully for some time to get pregnant. Second, her colleagues at work react with varying degrees of shock, horror, and indifference. Third, the father seems conflicted about the news, initially supportive he has deep reservations. In fact, the only person who seems wholly supportive is Willa's nerdy older brother Shep who seems totally invested in the baby. But Shep has only recently got out of a long-term relationship himself, and is currently sleeping in Willa's spare room.

Is Eve a victim of pregnancy hormones or is Shep incredibly hot all of a sudden? Is he just being the sweet kind guy he always was, or is there a spark for him too? Will the attraction fade away after the baby is born? Is it too soon for Shep? Is the baby's father committed or not?

This was sweet, and definitely a slow-burn. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

So I really loved the sound of this book based on the blurb but, my god, it was completely beyond what I imagined.

Firstly, Shep is perfect and I won't let anyone tell me otherwise. The friendship between him and Eve was absolutely amazing, even before it became more.

But the friendship between Willa and Eve? There aren't even words. I love how it was described as them going through the "not easy" times together, and the line about the emphasis being on 'friend' and not on 'best' was SO good. Like, how can one line be so good?!

I also like the fact that, unlike a lot of surprise pregnancy tropes, Ethan AKA the baby daddy, was neither the love interest nor was he a complete and utter douche nozzle. I really enjoyed the friendship/civil relationship between both him and Eve and him and Shep.

I have never read anything by this author before but I have already downloaded more of her books because I loved this one so much. I made the mistake of sleeping on my review and forgot all of the amazing things that I wanted to reference but I know that I loved it, I loved Shep and I loved Eve. I will definitely be buying this after release!

4.5 stars

This is probably one of the most heartfelt beautifully written books I've ever read.
I love Cara Bastone's book, they're funny and clever and this was too but it was also heartwarming and comforting.
Our fmc was such a sweet and amazing narrator. She put us head first in her story. She made us feel for her. I cry for her and smile for her. We grief with her and celebrate with her. It was amazing 👏
Shep was such a great love interest. I wish everyone has a Shep in their lives because that's an amazing person that anyone deserves to know.
I easily fell in love with this story and the characters and now I'm sad because it's over.
A new favorite book for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the pregnancy trope so when I say this book had it I RAN to request it. In fact, I did it so fast I barely read the rest of the description so when I started reading the book I realised I had no idea what it was about😭

At some point fairly early on in the book, I realised that although romance is a big part of this story (and it is pretty great), I would put this book in the Women’s Fiction section, as it’s more a book about Eve’s journey from the moment she finds out she’s pregnant and about motherhood. Having said that, I still really enjoyed it and this women’s fiction aspect was part of the book’s beauty. Seeing Eve get ready to become a mother and how much she grew as a person throughout those 9 months was beautiful. This one particular conversation she had with one of the nurses was pretty insightful and really stuck with me.

Onto the romance; I’m not the biggest fan of slow burns and I will say that I feel like once things started happening it was so fast it didn’t give me lots of time to properly enjoy it but I still loved their relationship and was really happy when they finally got together! Shep was such a nice, caring guy and was always there for her. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and it was done so well - there’s just something about the intimacy between two people who’ve known each other for so long and loved each other for so long that’s incredibly heartwarming.

Overall, though this book wasn’t necessarily was I was expecting, I had a great time reading it and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a heartfelt story with a heartwarming romance.

4/5 Stars

A big thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG this novel is beautiful - such heart-warming and gut wrenching beauty. The book is set in NY, mostly in Brooklyn. We start the book with Eve confirming she is pregnant following a one night stand with Ethan, a charming man she met at a bar. She is excited but overwhelmed - this was not planned. It feels like everyone she tells about the pregnancy are not getting as excited as she would like - her BFF is having fertility issues, and the baby daddy has just rekindled with his ex. In walks Shep, her BFF's brother - dependable, sweet, thoughtful and there to support her selflessly. I fell for Shep immediately. We all need a Shep in our lives. I cannot recommend this book enough. Please please read it.

Ready or Not, is a surprise pregnancy - not with the Baby Daddy story. The story flowed like a dream, I kept imagining and enjoying it like a tele movie set in dreamy weather and lovable New York locations.

The characters are so much fun especially Shep - the not Baby Daddy the heroine gets together with.

Eve & Shep ❤️

🍼A few weeks after a one night stand, Brooklynite Eve finds out she is pregnant. It takes courage to let Ethan, the father, know. Let her best friend battling infertility know, tell her family.

❤️The one person who is supportive from the moment he finds out is her best friend Willa’s brother, Shep. He’s kind, caring and there at every turn.

📚I have listened to a few of Cara Bastone’s audible short stories and really enjoyed them. This is the first full length book of hers I have read, and it totally sucked me in. I get that pregnancy as a topic is a total turnoff for many people, but it doesn’t do that for me. I loved the way the way Eve runs an almost soliloquy throughout this story. It’s life 100% from her point of view, messy, funny and honest. The emotional range, the hormones, and especially the absolutely adult and grown up way both she and Shep deal with things impressed me. As I was reading I just felt how endearing this story and characters are, and it filled my heart. ❤️

My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫

A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelation… Pick up this gorgeous hug of a book and get transported to your happy place… wraps itself round you like a cosy blanket.

Thank you Netgalley & Headline Eternal for access to this title in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

This was such a beautiful story. It was a story of friendship, love and family. It was so perfect. The writing was perfect and the pace of the book was just right.

I am a sucker for a surprise pregnancy romance but this one just knocked it out of the park. It is a friends-to-lovers, best friends brother romance whilst also a story of trusting and believing in yourself.

Just pure perfection. One of my favourite reads of 2024 already!

This was such a lovely story. I’ve only recently stumbled across the accidental pregnancy trope but that was with a couple. I didn’t know how I’d feel going into this with a baby daddy and a love interest.

But seeing Eve and Shep develop as a couple was so beautiful to read. Seeing how much he loved her and the baby too and wanted to be there at all times makes you wish there were men like that that were easy to find. I wasn’t that sold on the Ethan and really would have preferred it if he was mentioned less, but the author rounds to story out beautifully at the end.

My favourite part was seeing Eve develop and change throughout her pregnancy as she comes round to the idea of actually having a baby and how this will affect her life.

I’m so glad I got approved for the arc of this from netgalley and I’m 100% invested in reading the authors other works.

Ready or Not, the latest novel from Cara Bastone is an absolute gem, one that I simply couldn’t put down.

I read, and really enjoyed, Bastone’s Seatmate back in 2022, so was looking forward to reading her newest release, and honestly it blew me away. Bastone has this magical gift of writing the most relatable, messy, wonderful characters that you just can’t help but fall in love with and root for. Her characters are, for the most part, thoroughly decent people who are living in the very real world and making very real choices and yeah they sometimes mess up, but they carry on and learn from it and honestly it’s total chef’s kiss.

But first, back to the story. Ready or Not starts with Eve getting confirmation that she’s pregnant following an uncharacteristic one night stand. This is the accidental pregnancy trope, and I’m going to be honest and say it’s the best one I’ve read. (Though it would be remiss of me to not mention the TWs relating to Eve’s best friend’s own fertility struggles.) From here we follow the 9 months of Eve’s pregnancy until we leave her following the birth of her baby.

Eve is faced with many challenges across her pregnancy, from the conflicting emotions of her best friend Willa, the kinda supportive but majorly conflicted father of her baby Ethan, potential changes to her career and of course dealing with her new reality and everything that comes with being pregnant.

Throughout all of this there is Shep, Willa’s older brother and long time friend of Eve’s, who is her constant rock and support. Here we are treated to the most delightful slow burn friends to lovers that was simply gorgeous. It was so obvious just how much Shep cared for Eve and how much he wanted to be there for her and her baby. He is the gold star of caring and supportive book boyfriends.

I love how Bastone explained at the end that this novel began when she was pregnant with her first child and completed whilst pregnant with her second. Eve’s journey through her pregnancy felt so real, and it was so powerful, and messy and beautiful. This book is a romance, but it’s a wonderful love letter to the awe and power of the families we make for ourselves, whether it’s the lives grown, or those lives that are intertwined through choice and acceptance.

This book is really special and I’d certainly recommend it.

‘Ready or Not’ by Cara Bastone caught my attention due to its absolutely gorgeous springtime cover, and while surprise pregnancy is not one of my favourite tropes, the blurb appealed to me so I went ahead and requested… I am SO GLAD I took a chance on this absolute gem of a book!

We are introduced to Eve in her Ob-Gyn’s office as her pregnancy is confirmed, and soon we are told that it’s the result of a one-off encounter with a gorgeous bartender. As Eve navigates awkward interactions with the father Ethan, her relationships with her best friend Willa, Willa’s brother Shep, her three older brothers and her colleagues at work adapt, deteriorate and flourish. In particular, Shep becomes an absolute rock and we are treated to a beautiful slow burn, friends-to-lovers tale amidst less-than-ideal circumstances.

I adored:
- Eve’s characterisation of herself as a surprise baby (being an unexpected arrival two decades after her brothers) and how that impacted her feelings about her own pregnancy
- The importance of found family and building up a solid support system, even in an unusual situation
- The heartbreak, hope and underlying love in Eve’s relationship with her best friend Willa, for whom the topic of pregnancy is not easy
- The genuine and realistic conflicts between characters and the acknowledgment that fundamentally good people can communicate absolutely terribly for a myriad of reasons
- Eve’s passion for conservation, and her being taught to dare to dream about her career as a thirty year old mother-to-be
- The immersive Brooklyn setting, where the characters’ apartments and favourite haunts (including Ethan’s dogs-welcome bar) became so easy to visualise
- SHEP! Honestly the purest, most supportive and good guy whose kindness and love transformed the story

This absolutely feels like a five star read to me. The mixture of women’s fiction and romance was glorious and I fell totally in love with Eve and Shep!

I received a free review copy of this ebook from the publisher @headlinebooks @headlineeternal via @netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What I love: this book cover! The rest - meh.

I would have enjoyed this more if it was marketed better. This is marketed as a romance. However, if the romance only takes place in the last 40% of the book and is secondary to the main storyline then that is more woman's fiction in my opinion.

This story is about the main character's pregnancy, her coming to terms with it, her new life, the direction she wants to go and self-realisation. The romance was not front and centre. Whatever we were given of the romance was awkward I really don't understand why the 'slow-burn' had to be so cryptic. If I went into this knowing it was more about the main character's growth into motherhood, I would have easily given this four stars.

This book is unnecessarily long. There were chunks that we could have done without. But I also think that this story took on too much - first time pregnancy, the side character's infertility battles (TW), the father's personal relationship issues, the main character's family dynamic...it was too much.

I read Seatmate a couple of years ago and really liked Cara Bastone’s writing style so I was keen to read this one.

The basic premise of the book is bc an unplanned pregnancy following a one-night stand. We jump in as the main character Eve is discovering she’s pregnant, and follow her all the way through. Obviously this presents all manner of dilemmas and difficulties and Eve doesn’t have the biggest network to help her cope with all this. In classic Disney Princess style, Eve is an orphan. Her much older brothers live across country, her best friend is dealing with infertility struggles and baby daddy is entirely useless.

Thank goodness for Shep. Said best friends’ brother, a golden retriever in human form (also with a golden retriever name), he worships the ground Eve walks on and goes out of his way to help her.

The romance is sweet and surprisingly uncomplicated given the complicated situation, and the steamy scenes are adorably accurate re: intimacy during pregnancy.

This was a really sweet, slightly poignant read, and it viscerally reminded me of what it was like to be pregnant. Definitely had a bit of bump nostalgia going on.

I plan to go back and read Cara Bastone’s backlist now!

4.5 ⭐️

A totally refreshing take on the surprise pregnancy trope. It was witty, honest, real and sweet.

It didn’t read like a typical romance. It was very much Eve’s journey into a new, daunting phase of life, with an intricate web of characters that all played important parts in shaping that journey.

I enjoyed the side characters so much that I now want to read more about their journeys! Ethan, Willa… I just need more!

The ending was emotional and it was beautiful seeing the growth of Eve as she began her new, unexpected reality. How she learned how to go after what she wanted without fear.

Shep was also a wonderfully dorky, pining book boyfriend!

I highly recommend this story to anyone seeking an unconventional, romantic tale.

Thank you for the DRC!