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Ready or Not
A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.
Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy and close to her childhood best friend Willa, but far from her midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. While her job is only dream- adjacent , she’s hoping her passion and hard work will soon help her land a more glamorous role. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect…until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's loyal friendship with Willa is feeling off , right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is… suddenly kinda hot? Then there’s the baby's father, who is supportive but conflicted. Before long, Eve is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.
Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy and close to her childhood best friend Willa, but far from her midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. While her job is only dream- adjacent , she’s hoping her passion and hard work will soon help her land a more glamorous role. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect…until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's loyal friendship with Willa is feeling off , right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is… suddenly kinda hot? Then there’s the baby's father, who is supportive but conflicted. Before long, Eve is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.
Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
367 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2024
2137 people are currently reading
121626 people want to read
About the author
Cara Bastone
13 books4,614 followersHi, I’m Cara!
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,681 reviews
April 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I loveeeee Cara Bastone’s writing style so much!!!!! The way feelings are described is so wonderful ☺️
I really enjoyed seeing the realistic decisions Eve had to make and how they affected (effected? Idk) the relationships around her. Shep was a walking green flag & the slow burn romance was done so well! I also ended up really liking the development of her relationship with the other male character (who had a cameo in Promise Me Sunshine which was fun to look back on)
This book was more slice of life with a slow burn plot so it was a BIT too slow for me, but I would love to read more of her work now!
I loveeeee Cara Bastone’s writing style so much!!!!! The way feelings are described is so wonderful ☺️
I really enjoyed seeing the realistic decisions Eve had to make and how they affected (effected? Idk) the relationships around her. Shep was a walking green flag & the slow burn romance was done so well! I also ended up really liking the development of her relationship with the other male character (who had a cameo in Promise Me Sunshine which was fun to look back on)
This book was more slice of life with a slow burn plot so it was a BIT too slow for me, but I would love to read more of her work now!
April 19, 2024
shep is everything
July 8, 2024
DNF around 50%. Once she started saying “we’ll let the baby pick their gender” with a straight face, I decided it was time for me to dip out. So slow and all it’s about is her being pregnant and no drama, so lame.
Edit: some people are taking this review way too seriously. This line is just an example of how cringe the writing is, it’s not that deep. Literally in no way reflects how I feel about these issues in real life. Sometimes it’s just a bad book. Chill.
Edit: some people are taking this review way too seriously. This line is just an example of how cringe the writing is, it’s not that deep. Literally in no way reflects how I feel about these issues in real life. Sometimes it’s just a bad book. Chill.
January 27, 2025
Quick confession: When I requested this book, I hadn't read the blurb nor had I delved into any of the author's previous works. My attention was purely captivated by the stunning, vibrant cover that emanated promising rom-com vibes set against the backdrop of NYC.
Driven by my affection for the Big Apple and an insatiable yearning for a beautiful romance, I plunged in without knowing what to expect. As fate would have it, I am incredibly fortunate to have taken this leap, as it introduced me to yet another brilliant author. This author had me hooked with their sincere and authentic portrayal of motherhood, a blossoming slow-burn romance, meticulously developed and believable characters. In fact, I'm already gearing up to immerse myself in the rest of the author's works. My fervent wish is that this book evolves into a series, spanning numerous seasons, affording me more time with this extraordinary, quirky, and fascinating cast of characters, whom I found myself easily forming connections with. The intricate web of their relationships, their journeys of self-discovery and personal growth, along with the path of exploration they tread, significantly shape the foundation of this narrative, a journey I wholeheartedly savored. Eve Hatch takes center stage as our main character, content with the life she has meticulously crafted after leaving her hometown.
She's distanced herself from the conventions instilled by her Midwestern, tradition-bound family, emerging as a quintessential Brooklynaire. She exerts relentless effort to ascend the career ladder, seeking a more gratifying and rewarding position. However, an unexpected one-night stand dramatically alters her trajectory when she discovers that she's on the brink of becoming a single mother. Regrettably, this revelation places strain on her relationship with her best friend Willa, who has her own set of reasons for her reactions. Astonishingly, it's Willa's brother Shep who steals the limelight, emerging as the most supportive presence in Eve's life. He extends his unwavering support by surprising her with lunches and offering a patient ear for her complaints and woes.
Could it be that he's inherently charming, or have the pregnancy hormones taken the reins of control over her thoughts? As their time spent together accumulates, Eve recognizes a burgeoning attraction that refuses to be ignored. Yet, she must also contend with Ethan, the biological father of her impending child, who finds himself unexpectedly faced with the aftermath of Eve's sudden announcement. The question looms: Will he step up and assume his role in the baby's life? Is Eve prepared to raise the child independently, or will the deepening friendship between her and Shep evolve into something more, despite Willa's critical stance? In summary, this is a genuinely enchanting and expertly executed tale of self-discovery, a blend of women's fiction and romance, which resonated deeply with me. Witnessing Eve's evolution as she grapples with her apprehensions, imperfections, and her journey towards embracing motherhood through growth and change was both relatable and heartwarming.
The narrative weaves a tale that's not only realistic but also profoundly heartfelt, an odyssey you most certainly shouldn't overlook.
My heartfelt appreciation extends to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for generously providing me with the opportunity to explore this digital review copy in exchange for my candid feedback.
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Driven by my affection for the Big Apple and an insatiable yearning for a beautiful romance, I plunged in without knowing what to expect. As fate would have it, I am incredibly fortunate to have taken this leap, as it introduced me to yet another brilliant author. This author had me hooked with their sincere and authentic portrayal of motherhood, a blossoming slow-burn romance, meticulously developed and believable characters. In fact, I'm already gearing up to immerse myself in the rest of the author's works. My fervent wish is that this book evolves into a series, spanning numerous seasons, affording me more time with this extraordinary, quirky, and fascinating cast of characters, whom I found myself easily forming connections with. The intricate web of their relationships, their journeys of self-discovery and personal growth, along with the path of exploration they tread, significantly shape the foundation of this narrative, a journey I wholeheartedly savored. Eve Hatch takes center stage as our main character, content with the life she has meticulously crafted after leaving her hometown.
She's distanced herself from the conventions instilled by her Midwestern, tradition-bound family, emerging as a quintessential Brooklynaire. She exerts relentless effort to ascend the career ladder, seeking a more gratifying and rewarding position. However, an unexpected one-night stand dramatically alters her trajectory when she discovers that she's on the brink of becoming a single mother. Regrettably, this revelation places strain on her relationship with her best friend Willa, who has her own set of reasons for her reactions. Astonishingly, it's Willa's brother Shep who steals the limelight, emerging as the most supportive presence in Eve's life. He extends his unwavering support by surprising her with lunches and offering a patient ear for her complaints and woes.
Could it be that he's inherently charming, or have the pregnancy hormones taken the reins of control over her thoughts? As their time spent together accumulates, Eve recognizes a burgeoning attraction that refuses to be ignored. Yet, she must also contend with Ethan, the biological father of her impending child, who finds himself unexpectedly faced with the aftermath of Eve's sudden announcement. The question looms: Will he step up and assume his role in the baby's life? Is Eve prepared to raise the child independently, or will the deepening friendship between her and Shep evolve into something more, despite Willa's critical stance? In summary, this is a genuinely enchanting and expertly executed tale of self-discovery, a blend of women's fiction and romance, which resonated deeply with me. Witnessing Eve's evolution as she grapples with her apprehensions, imperfections, and her journey towards embracing motherhood through growth and change was both relatable and heartwarming.
The narrative weaves a tale that's not only realistic but also profoundly heartfelt, an odyssey you most certainly shouldn't overlook.
My heartfelt appreciation extends to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for generously providing me with the opportunity to explore this digital review copy in exchange for my candid feedback.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
January 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ There are tears in my eyes. This is a BEAUTIFUL story that was so beautifully written. I loved it!!!
January 14, 2025
I loved every second of this!! Eve has Lorelai Gilmore energy and it made this book so much fun <3
September 23, 2024
i adored this with my whole soul
April 30, 2025
4.25!
“It’s a lot of what motherhood is too. Moving from being self-centered to being other-centered.”
This was such a spontaneous read — like one minute we were just praising Promise Me Sunshine and the next we were planning on buddy reading this but honestly, it was so fun! I love how it's making me like the accidental pregnancy trope because the last few books about this topic that I have read have been so enjoyable!! Cara Bastone's writing is just phenomenal. It's so easy to read, and I love how she tackles one issue with such a mixed tone: it would be humorous to the point that you'd be rolling on your bed, but also sad to the point where there would be tears in your eyes. The story that she shared with us was filled with so much grief, joy, and love that it was hard not to fall in love with it. It's my second Cara book, and the way she's making me fall in love with her writing style with each book is so impressive. I hope this keeps up with all her books.
“A secret is only a secret if no one knows about it. What’s a secret that everyone knows but no one talks about? It’s shame.”
Eve, her POV was so fun to read she was awkward but in a very fun way. It just made me fall in love with her. I also love how mature she was and how she handled everything so well. Her friendship with Willa was everything! Her way of thinking and her way of dealing with some of the situations were relatable, and I found that to be a really strong point in the book. Her willingness to go with it and the struggles of raising a child as a single mother, and the emotions surrounding it, were well written as well. And to make it even better, Cara blessed this book with Shep. He was everything — the way he knew what to say when no one else did, the way he would make her feel so comforted, and the way he understood what she felt and said was just amazing!! I love how considerate he was and how he made everything so much better, how he was also dealing with his trauma but always had a smile on his face and did not let anyone else see it. I loved him.
“Even when I feel ugly, let the love in. Let someone care for me, tenderly, because they love me, not because I can’t do it myself.”
The romance — it was everything. It was all-consuming, it had me consumed and I did not wish for it to be any other way. I was swooning over them; they were so cute, like I could read 10 books about them and not be bored. The bond between them was so strong their stroll and window shopping scene was my favorite scene — it was just so heartfelt and one that I can't forget. They overall made this book so much better; their bond from the start was so strong that you would not see anyone else besides them. And the way Cara was able to make us feel this way shows how well-written this book was!!
Overall, a solid romance!
__
Another hit by Miss Bastone and an epic buddy read (RTC)
___
After loving Promise me sunshine, I just know this will hit!
-Buddy reading this with Hoda, Buket, Lilyya, and Ri
“It’s a lot of what motherhood is too. Moving from being self-centered to being other-centered.”
This was such a spontaneous read — like one minute we were just praising Promise Me Sunshine and the next we were planning on buddy reading this but honestly, it was so fun! I love how it's making me like the accidental pregnancy trope because the last few books about this topic that I have read have been so enjoyable!! Cara Bastone's writing is just phenomenal. It's so easy to read, and I love how she tackles one issue with such a mixed tone: it would be humorous to the point that you'd be rolling on your bed, but also sad to the point where there would be tears in your eyes. The story that she shared with us was filled with so much grief, joy, and love that it was hard not to fall in love with it. It's my second Cara book, and the way she's making me fall in love with her writing style with each book is so impressive. I hope this keeps up with all her books.
“A secret is only a secret if no one knows about it. What’s a secret that everyone knows but no one talks about? It’s shame.”
Eve, her POV was so fun to read she was awkward but in a very fun way. It just made me fall in love with her. I also love how mature she was and how she handled everything so well. Her friendship with Willa was everything! Her way of thinking and her way of dealing with some of the situations were relatable, and I found that to be a really strong point in the book. Her willingness to go with it and the struggles of raising a child as a single mother, and the emotions surrounding it, were well written as well. And to make it even better, Cara blessed this book with Shep. He was everything — the way he knew what to say when no one else did, the way he would make her feel so comforted, and the way he understood what she felt and said was just amazing!! I love how considerate he was and how he made everything so much better, how he was also dealing with his trauma but always had a smile on his face and did not let anyone else see it. I loved him.
“Even when I feel ugly, let the love in. Let someone care for me, tenderly, because they love me, not because I can’t do it myself.”
The romance — it was everything. It was all-consuming, it had me consumed and I did not wish for it to be any other way. I was swooning over them; they were so cute, like I could read 10 books about them and not be bored. The bond between them was so strong their stroll and window shopping scene was my favorite scene — it was just so heartfelt and one that I can't forget. They overall made this book so much better; their bond from the start was so strong that you would not see anyone else besides them. And the way Cara was able to make us feel this way shows how well-written this book was!!
Overall, a solid romance!
__
Another hit by Miss Bastone and an epic buddy read (RTC)
___
After loving Promise me sunshine, I just know this will hit!
-Buddy reading this with Hoda, Buket, Lilyya, and Ri
February 4, 2025
Can Ready or Not be described as “unexpected pregnancy” when that is the whole synopsis of the story? I mean, it's unexpected for Eve, sure, but we don't know her; we know nothing about her if not that she randomly got pregnant.
I sound like a hater, but it wasn't my intent, at first. I was well aware of what the story was about since the beginning; in fact, I asked for an ARC specifically for the OMG-I'm-pregnant-what-do-I-do-now trope.
And since lots of people liked it, my question is still there: do I dislike pregnant women in books or do I dislike Cara Bastone’s vision of it?
Something tells me it's the latter because, if you really think about it, the story is kind of… questionable.
Eve basically grew up with no family, has a job she hates - and is not very remunerative -, is single and never gave a thought about having kids. Which is completely normal for a woman in her 20s and beyond who's figuring out what to do in her life.
And then she finds out she's pregnant and she's simply fine with that. She doesn't panic, she doesn't think for a moment about how her life is gonna change, and she isn't anxious about pushing out of her body a literal human being. She's like: “I’m pregnant, so I'll have a baby”.
And I know some of you could say that I'm pissed because she didn't consider getting an abortion not even for a second - because she didn't consider that at all -, but I'm not. I imagined what a woman in her situation would think or do - what I’d think or do -, and I’ve came out with two options: or she's very delusional because she actually believes everything is gonna be okay and the world is an amazing place and nothing is ever going to happen to her kid, or she's completely detached in every aspect of her life.
While Shep is without a doubt the best part of this story - he's so kind, generous and cute, not to mention his functioning brain; and Willa could have been harsher, given her situation; and Eve is not such an unbearable character.
And while the lack of toxicity was both so good to witness and irrealistic.
Eve’s reaction drove me off significantly, too much to enjoy the rest of her pregnancy journey.
↠ 2 stars (DNF @25%)
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I sound like a hater, but it wasn't my intent, at first. I was well aware of what the story was about since the beginning; in fact, I asked for an ARC specifically for the OMG-I'm-pregnant-what-do-I-do-now trope.
And since lots of people liked it, my question is still there: do I dislike pregnant women in books or do I dislike Cara Bastone’s vision of it?
Something tells me it's the latter because, if you really think about it, the story is kind of… questionable.
Eve basically grew up with no family, has a job she hates - and is not very remunerative -, is single and never gave a thought about having kids. Which is completely normal for a woman in her 20s and beyond who's figuring out what to do in her life.
And then she finds out she's pregnant and she's simply fine with that. She doesn't panic, she doesn't think for a moment about how her life is gonna change, and she isn't anxious about pushing out of her body a literal human being. She's like: “I’m pregnant, so I'll have a baby”.
And I know some of you could say that I'm pissed because she didn't consider getting an abortion not even for a second - because she didn't consider that at all -, but I'm not. I imagined what a woman in her situation would think or do - what I’d think or do -, and I’ve came out with two options: or she's very delusional because she actually believes everything is gonna be okay and the world is an amazing place and nothing is ever going to happen to her kid, or she's completely detached in every aspect of her life.
While Shep is without a doubt the best part of this story - he's so kind, generous and cute, not to mention his functioning brain; and Willa could have been harsher, given her situation; and Eve is not such an unbearable character.
And while the lack of toxicity was both so good to witness and irrealistic.
Eve’s reaction drove me off significantly, too much to enjoy the rest of her pregnancy journey.
↠ 2 stars (DNF @25%)
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 16, 2025
dnf. was atrociously boring.
⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅
pre - read.
mainly reading this because of the cover 👀💫
ꨄ︎ so grateful to be reading this with my best girl mads i hope the book is as beautiful as the cover for us 😽🩷.
⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅
pre - read.
mainly reading this because of the cover 👀💫
ꨄ︎ so grateful to be reading this with my best girl mads i hope the book is as beautiful as the cover for us 😽🩷.
January 31, 2025
*Guys this book is so boring WTF 😭
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Unplanned pregnancy is not the best trope.
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Unplanned pregnancy is not the best trope.
February 27, 2025
✩ 5 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Unplanned Pregnancy
➼ Found Family
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Best Friend’s Brother
➼ Self-Discovery
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Brooklyn Setting
➼ First Person POV
Oh my goodness! 😍 This was absolutely adorable! The MMC was one of the most perfect MMC’s I’ve ever read! A Cinnamon Roll to end all Cinnamon Rolls, just the absolute sweetest depiction of a man! Straight to the top of the book boyfriend list for you sir! Her best friend on the other hand… not a fan 😒, but she couldn’t ruin this book for me!
People hate a pregnancy trope, but I really don’t mind them most of the time. 🤷🏼♀️ This plot is a little different from the standard pregnancy trope though so I think even those who don’t typically enjoy them would still enjoy this book. The entire book is centered around the FMC’s unplanned pregnancy though, so skip this one if that doesn’t interest you. The only thing I didn’t love was the authors repeated jabs at religion, but again, it couldn’t keep me from loving this book. 🙃
Keeping this review brief to not give away too much of the plot. Looking forward to reading more of this author’s work in future!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: My first Cara Bastone! 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
I’ve heard only great things about this author and I can’t wait to dive in! Am I the only one who doesn’t mind the “unplanned pregnancy” trope? 🤷🏼♀️
What to Expect:
➼ Unplanned Pregnancy
➼ Found Family
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Best Friend’s Brother
➼ Self-Discovery
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Brooklyn Setting
➼ First Person POV
Oh my goodness! 😍 This was absolutely adorable! The MMC was one of the most perfect MMC’s I’ve ever read! A Cinnamon Roll to end all Cinnamon Rolls, just the absolute sweetest depiction of a man! Straight to the top of the book boyfriend list for you sir! Her best friend on the other hand… not a fan 😒, but she couldn’t ruin this book for me!
People hate a pregnancy trope, but I really don’t mind them most of the time. 🤷🏼♀️ This plot is a little different from the standard pregnancy trope though so I think even those who don’t typically enjoy them would still enjoy this book. The entire book is centered around the FMC’s unplanned pregnancy though, so skip this one if that doesn’t interest you. The only thing I didn’t love was the authors repeated jabs at religion, but again, it couldn’t keep me from loving this book. 🙃
Keeping this review brief to not give away too much of the plot. Looking forward to reading more of this author’s work in future!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: My first Cara Bastone! 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
I’ve heard only great things about this author and I can’t wait to dive in! Am I the only one who doesn’t mind the “unplanned pregnancy” trope? 🤷🏼♀️
February 5, 2024
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚢 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚊 𝙱𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎 🩷🍼
✨3.5✨
I definitely saw this gorgeous cover and knew I had to read it🤓
Synopsis: Eve gets pregnant from a one night stand and decides to keep the baby. She’s never thought about being a mother so it’s a huge surprise. She’s also not in a relationship with the child’s father and it’s not the ideal situation. Her best friend takes the news difficult in the beginning due to her own infertility issues but her best friends brother has been more than supportive. After spending time together over the pregnancy feelings develop between them
Tropes
🌟surprise pregnancy 🤰🏻
🌟friends to lovers
🌟best friend’s brother
Eve is a HOT MESS. I can totally relate because I am too 😂 we’re barely making it. She moved to NY from the Midwest with her best friend and has made a life for herself in Brooklyn. She has a career and loves being in the city. She’s loyal, funny and extremely understanding. She’s the friend you want to have in your corner.
The baby daddy 🙄😐 I’m not even going to bother to look up dudes name because I forgot it. He’s a jerk
Shep(I know the name is weird) is such a genuinely kind and sweet person. I adored him ☺️💓 He gave major golden retriever vibes l and I loved how he was there for her throughout the pregnancy. He was considerate and always looking out for her best interest. He paid attention to the smallest details and would recognize minor changes about what she was wearing or changes throughout the pregnancy.
Things I Loved
🩷realistic description of pregnancy
🩷complex relationship and emotions(the father and mother of child are not together)
🩷New York setting 🗽
🩷 so many sweet moments to make your heart melt 🥹🫠
🩷how the author writes the intimate scenes!!!! Omg it’s so detailed and I swear I stopped breathing..I was overheating and screaming over a hand massage..a HAND MASSAGE lol
🩷Shep reading baby books and buying a bike with a baby seat on it(he’s not the child’s father) 😭😭😭
Spice Level
1/5🌶️
This is a slow burn romance and there is a spicy scene towards the end of the book but not overly descriptive.
Overall thoughts:you should read this if you love contemporary romances. I loved how this showed a pregnancy from start to finish and it was authentic. The pregnancy is not beautified you are getting a real glimpse of thoughts and feelings of someone who is pregnant. The ending was beautiful and it’s a happy ending but there is no epilogue…and yes I like my endings delivered in a pretty package with a bow..so I’m in my feelings at the moment.
Thank you so much NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Cara Bastone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✨3.5✨
I definitely saw this gorgeous cover and knew I had to read it🤓
Synopsis: Eve gets pregnant from a one night stand and decides to keep the baby. She’s never thought about being a mother so it’s a huge surprise. She’s also not in a relationship with the child’s father and it’s not the ideal situation. Her best friend takes the news difficult in the beginning due to her own infertility issues but her best friends brother has been more than supportive. After spending time together over the pregnancy feelings develop between them
Tropes
🌟surprise pregnancy 🤰🏻
🌟friends to lovers
🌟best friend’s brother
”This is my life, on purpose. I didn't choose the way this pregnancy started. But I can choose the way I bring this kid into the world.”
Eve is a HOT MESS. I can totally relate because I am too 😂 we’re barely making it. She moved to NY from the Midwest with her best friend and has made a life for herself in Brooklyn. She has a career and loves being in the city. She’s loyal, funny and extremely understanding. She’s the friend you want to have in your corner.
The baby daddy 🙄😐 I’m not even going to bother to look up dudes name because I forgot it. He’s a jerk
Shep(I know the name is weird) is such a genuinely kind and sweet person. I adored him ☺️💓 He gave major golden retriever vibes l and I loved how he was there for her throughout the pregnancy. He was considerate and always looking out for her best interest. He paid attention to the smallest details and would recognize minor changes about what she was wearing or changes throughout the pregnancy.
”I want to do what's best for us, Eve. I want to help as much as possible, especially in those first few months when you and the baby are still figuring everything out. And if that means sleeping over all the time and changing diapers and feeding you and taking the baby on walks while you nap, then great. If that means holding down the fort over here while you and the baby figure each other out over there, then great."this man is perfect 🥺
Things I Loved
🩷realistic description of pregnancy
🩷complex relationship and emotions(the father and mother of child are not together)
🩷New York setting 🗽
🩷 so many sweet moments to make your heart melt 🥹🫠
🩷how the author writes the intimate scenes!!!! Omg it’s so detailed and I swear I stopped breathing..I was overheating and screaming over a hand massage..a HAND MASSAGE lol
🩷Shep reading baby books and buying a bike with a baby seat on it(he’s not the child’s father) 😭😭😭
Spice Level
1/5🌶️
This is a slow burn romance and there is a spicy scene towards the end of the book but not overly descriptive.
Overall thoughts:you should read this if you love contemporary romances. I loved how this showed a pregnancy from start to finish and it was authentic. The pregnancy is not beautified you are getting a real glimpse of thoughts and feelings of someone who is pregnant. The ending was beautiful and it’s a happy ending but there is no epilogue…and yes I like my endings delivered in a pretty package with a bow..so I’m in my feelings at the moment.
Thank you so much NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Cara Bastone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
on-pause
October 23, 2024 Putting this one on pause for now. It's actually pretty cute, but I'm not in the mood for it right now. Will come back to it.
The high praise and glowing star ratings have brought me here... and this cover gives me autumn vibes. 😍
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Slow Burn
➼♡ 💛Childhood Friends to Lovers
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Zero Toxicity
➼♡ 💛Green Flags Flying
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Accidental Pregnancy
➼♡ 💛Heartwarming/Humorous
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Found Family
➼♡ 💛Best Friend's Brother
The high praise and glowing star ratings have brought me here... and this cover gives me autumn vibes. 😍
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Slow Burn
➼♡ 💛Childhood Friends to Lovers
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Zero Toxicity
➼♡ 💛Green Flags Flying
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Accidental Pregnancy
➼♡ 💛Heartwarming/Humorous
ೃ❤⁀➷ 🍁Found Family
➼♡ 💛Best Friend's Brother
March 9, 2024
dnf at 50ish%
I was actually really loving this one but it lost me at all the woke gender ideology that comes up 🥴😵💫
I was actually really loving this one but it lost me at all the woke gender ideology that comes up 🥴😵💫
September 23, 2024
5 ⭐️ The most heartwarming book I've read this year!
"I'll never love anyone the way I love you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ nyc setting
✨ accidental pregnancy
✨ cinnamon roll MMC
✨ he's not the father but takes care of her
✨ childhood friends - to - lovers
✨ best friend's brother
✨ slow burn
✨ pining / longing
✨ "I've always loved you"
✨ 1.5/5 🌶️
✨ height difference
✨ funny banter
✨ low angst, high swoon
✨ found family
✨ HEA
✨ TW: death of parent/loved one, difficulty getting pregnant, miscarriage
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely, positively in love with this story! I love the premise. I love the characters, specifically Shep, who is easily the best book boyfriend of all time. I love the slow-burn romance. I love the female friendships. I love the realness of this story and the emotions it evoked. Bottom line, I love Ready or Not and wish there were more genuine, relatable stories like this.
I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to like the premise where the FMC, Eve, gets knocked up by a stranger and then falls in love with her friend instead. But it really came together so well in a realistic way with minimum drama. I may have been rooting for the baby daddy just a little, but once Shep starts really showing up for her, it was a no brainer who she needed to end up with.
Eve was a fantastic FMC. Eve did not expect to get pregnant and this story highlights her journey through that pregnancy, including all the physical, mental, and emotional ups and downs that come with it. Her reactions are so genuine and realistic that I couldn't help but think I'd feel the exact same way about a lot of her situation.
Shep was the most perfect love-interest. He is so wonderful I could cry. He is first and foremost Eve's friend and shows her his love with every single interaction. He's so thoughtful, caring, kind, generous, selfless, and adorable. He absolutely adores Eve and it is so obvious with every single move he makes. She is his sun, and he wants to bask in her light. I seriously swooned so much over him. When he brings her groceries, helps her cook dinner, gives her foot massages, feels her belly when the baby kicks, supports whatever decisions she makes about the baby daddy without pushing his own agenda . . . nothing else but the word PERFECT can describe him.
Watching the romance between Shep and Eve grow was like watching a flower blossom. It's slow, gentle, peaceful with a beautiful end result. There is so much love, admiration, and chemistry between these two, so once they get together, it's like everything just 'clicks'. Their love is soulmate level sh*t and absolutely made my heart swell.
There is only one 'spicy' scene and while it's not explicit, it does describe positions and the entire scene lasts about 6 pages. So this is not a smutty book, but there is at least one gratifying open door sex scene.
Ethan played the role of baby daddy well. Ethan really struggles to figure out his place in Eve's life once he finds out she's pregnant and he's the father. But I like how Eve didn't villainize Ethan for it. She gives him a lot of patience and grace, and eventually he comes through. I think his reaction to the situation, especially taking into account his own life, does make sense. I did want to throttle him a little bit, but at the same time, I could understand where he was coming from.
Willa and Eve have a beautiful and real friendship. Willa did not respond joyfully to the news of Eve being pregnant, but once you find out why, her reaction is understandable and you can't help but feel for her. I think this story showed just how sensitive the topic of pregnancy can be for many women who struggle with getting pregnancy, but I like how the story navigated this dynamic with Willa and Eve. It never was a big dramatic issue between them, which was nice. Eve handled Willa's emotions with love and care, and Willa does show up for Eve.
Overall, Ready or Not is a wonderful story that made me smile, swoon, giggle, and even get misty-eyed. Cara Bastone really packed this story with so much heart that you cannot help but fall in love with the characters and root for the romance. I will 100% be rereading this book.
Favorite Quotes:
"Eve, who could forget you?"
"Thanks, Shep," I say dutifully, because he's known me forever, and he has to say stuff like that.
_______
Don't worry, Eve, your body is taking care of you.
It's a novel idea. Because if it's not just me taking care of my body. If listening to my body means that it's taking care of me too, then . . . maybe, just maybe . . . I'm not completely alone.
_______
Things would just be so much easier for them if I were a good-natured harlot.
_______
You should be married when you have a baby. Her reasons are religious. Mine are that I believe every pregnant person deserves to be within arm's reach of something humpable at any given moment.
_______
Ethan may have gotten my uterus pregnant a while back, but I'm pretty sure Shep got my heart pregnant.
_______
Your children are like your heart walking around outside your body.
_______
I didn't choose the way this pregnancy started. But I can choose the way I bring this kid into the world.
_______
"Do you not really want to? Or are you scared of change?"
"I'm scared of everything."
"Okay, I'll help you."
_______
"If you can't tell . . . If it's not totally obvious . . . I'll say it because I've really, really needed to say it for a long time . . . but, Eve, I love you more deeply than I've ever loved anyone else."
_______
"I'll never love anyone the way I love you. Being with you is the only thing I've ever really wanted."
_______
"I'll never love anyone the way I love you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ nyc setting
✨ accidental pregnancy
✨ cinnamon roll MMC
✨ he's not the father but takes care of her
✨ childhood friends - to - lovers
✨ best friend's brother
✨ slow burn
✨ pining / longing
✨ "I've always loved you"
✨ 1.5/5 🌶️
✨ height difference
✨ funny banter
✨ low angst, high swoon
✨ found family
✨ HEA
✨ TW: death of parent/loved one, difficulty getting pregnant, miscarriage
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely, positively in love with this story! I love the premise. I love the characters, specifically Shep, who is easily the best book boyfriend of all time. I love the slow-burn romance. I love the female friendships. I love the realness of this story and the emotions it evoked. Bottom line, I love Ready or Not and wish there were more genuine, relatable stories like this.
I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to like the premise where the FMC, Eve, gets knocked up by a stranger and then falls in love with her friend instead. But it really came together so well in a realistic way with minimum drama. I may have been rooting for the baby daddy just a little, but once Shep starts really showing up for her, it was a no brainer who she needed to end up with.
Eve was a fantastic FMC. Eve did not expect to get pregnant and this story highlights her journey through that pregnancy, including all the physical, mental, and emotional ups and downs that come with it. Her reactions are so genuine and realistic that I couldn't help but think I'd feel the exact same way about a lot of her situation.
Shep was the most perfect love-interest. He is so wonderful I could cry. He is first and foremost Eve's friend and shows her his love with every single interaction. He's so thoughtful, caring, kind, generous, selfless, and adorable. He absolutely adores Eve and it is so obvious with every single move he makes. She is his sun, and he wants to bask in her light. I seriously swooned so much over him. When he brings her groceries, helps her cook dinner, gives her foot massages, feels her belly when the baby kicks, supports whatever decisions she makes about the baby daddy without pushing his own agenda . . . nothing else but the word PERFECT can describe him.
Watching the romance between Shep and Eve grow was like watching a flower blossom. It's slow, gentle, peaceful with a beautiful end result. There is so much love, admiration, and chemistry between these two, so once they get together, it's like everything just 'clicks'. Their love is soulmate level sh*t and absolutely made my heart swell.
There is only one 'spicy' scene and while it's not explicit, it does describe positions and the entire scene lasts about 6 pages. So this is not a smutty book, but there is at least one gratifying open door sex scene.
Ethan played the role of baby daddy well. Ethan really struggles to figure out his place in Eve's life once he finds out she's pregnant and he's the father. But I like how Eve didn't villainize Ethan for it. She gives him a lot of patience and grace, and eventually he comes through. I think his reaction to the situation, especially taking into account his own life, does make sense. I did want to throttle him a little bit, but at the same time, I could understand where he was coming from.
Willa and Eve have a beautiful and real friendship. Willa did not respond joyfully to the news of Eve being pregnant, but once you find out why, her reaction is understandable and you can't help but feel for her. I think this story showed just how sensitive the topic of pregnancy can be for many women who struggle with getting pregnancy, but I like how the story navigated this dynamic with Willa and Eve. It never was a big dramatic issue between them, which was nice. Eve handled Willa's emotions with love and care, and Willa does show up for Eve.
Overall, Ready or Not is a wonderful story that made me smile, swoon, giggle, and even get misty-eyed. Cara Bastone really packed this story with so much heart that you cannot help but fall in love with the characters and root for the romance. I will 100% be rereading this book.
Favorite Quotes:
"Eve, who could forget you?"
"Thanks, Shep," I say dutifully, because he's known me forever, and he has to say stuff like that.
_______
Don't worry, Eve, your body is taking care of you.
It's a novel idea. Because if it's not just me taking care of my body. If listening to my body means that it's taking care of me too, then . . . maybe, just maybe . . . I'm not completely alone.
_______
Things would just be so much easier for them if I were a good-natured harlot.
_______
You should be married when you have a baby. Her reasons are religious. Mine are that I believe every pregnant person deserves to be within arm's reach of something humpable at any given moment.
_______
Ethan may have gotten my uterus pregnant a while back, but I'm pretty sure Shep got my heart pregnant.
_______
Your children are like your heart walking around outside your body.
_______
I didn't choose the way this pregnancy started. But I can choose the way I bring this kid into the world.
_______
"Do you not really want to? Or are you scared of change?"
"I'm scared of everything."
"Okay, I'll help you."
_______
"If you can't tell . . . If it's not totally obvious . . . I'll say it because I've really, really needed to say it for a long time . . . but, Eve, I love you more deeply than I've ever loved anyone else."
_______
"I'll never love anyone the way I love you. Being with you is the only thing I've ever really wanted."
_______
September 6, 2024
This book is not your usual surprise pregnancy, where a one night stand turns out to be Mr. Right.
What I love about this author’s writing is the way she puts things into perspective. You think you’re a quitter? No, you’re a trier. You think your meeting was a disaster because you cried afterwards? Considering the news you received, you did great. There’s always an upside and she never fails to point it out.
This story is complicated. Eve gets pregnant and the father of her future child is in a relationship with someone else. It’s a mess. But then we meet Shep, who is the goldest of the golden retrievers and the cinnamonest of the cinnamon rolls. Shep just makes everything better. He lets Eve cry on his shoulder when she’s stuck, he is always there for her, he makes sure there’s food in her fridge. On top of that he’s tall, adorably lanky and just the right amount of dorky.
I loved the way Shep took care of Eve and finally, finally got out of the friend zone. He was such a perfect book boyfriend! The man was even okay with the fact that she was pregnant with someone else’s baby, it doesn’t get better than that.
This is not a book with an easy HEA, but that makes it even more uplifting. The bright side is always there, sometimes you just have to try harder to see it.
What I love about this author’s writing is the way she puts things into perspective. You think you’re a quitter? No, you’re a trier. You think your meeting was a disaster because you cried afterwards? Considering the news you received, you did great. There’s always an upside and she never fails to point it out.
This story is complicated. Eve gets pregnant and the father of her future child is in a relationship with someone else. It’s a mess. But then we meet Shep, who is the goldest of the golden retrievers and the cinnamonest of the cinnamon rolls. Shep just makes everything better. He lets Eve cry on his shoulder when she’s stuck, he is always there for her, he makes sure there’s food in her fridge. On top of that he’s tall, adorably lanky and just the right amount of dorky.
I loved the way Shep took care of Eve and finally, finally got out of the friend zone. He was such a perfect book boyfriend! The man was even okay with the fact that she was pregnant with someone else’s baby, it doesn’t get better than that.
This is not a book with an easy HEA, but that makes it even more uplifting. The bright side is always there, sometimes you just have to try harder to see it.
April 11, 2025
this book healed me💛
April 13, 2025
”“Romance doesn’t love you more because you are (almost) perfect. Romance loves you because you are (charmingly) imperfect.”
My second cara Bastone book and it’s official she is becoming one of my go to authors ✋🏻 this was the cutest, sweetest, softest book ever!!! The writing so warm and beautiful i loved it and the plot and the characters were soo beautiful!! Seriously i wanted moree like I didn’t want it to because it was just soo good! I wanted an epilogue and a second epilogue just so i can have more time with shep & eve 🥹🤍
“Don’t worry, Eve, your body is taking care of you.It’s a novel idea. Because if it’s not just me taking care of my body. If listening to my body means that it’s taking care of me too, then . . . maybe, just maybe . . . I’m not completely alone.”
Eve
I LOVE HER SM!!! She was so fun and relatable like omg!! She was iconic. They way she handled this whole thing with her own and yess was struggling but still she managed to stay strong and confident in her decision honestly admirable. She was so funny and relatable like scary i think cara is using the same hidden camera that emily henry when she watch us so she can write such a relatable characters 😭✋🏻 a-lot of the things that she said about the world and people made me stop and think and be like are u me because i lost count how many times thoughts like this accrued to me 🧍♀️ seriously loveee her sm 🤍
”“I listen when you talk, Eve.”
Shep
Cara writes the perfect men✋🏻 like it wasn’t enough that she wrote miles in premise me sunshine and ruined all other men for me no! She had to go and make my fall head over hills for Shep so I’m officially ruined and i feel like i will always be single 😔✋🏻 he is perfect!! My type. My dream guy!! I loveee nerdy, dorky men who are shy and blushes, and are fun to be around and make u laugh and always take care of you and care about everyone happiness first and then their own 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 but most importantly i loveee men who listen to you when u talk and actually LISTEN.🧎🏻♀️shep is literally standers, he is so perfect it’s so depressing he is not real 😭😔 so caring, so selfless, so cuteeee I ADORE HIM ✋🏻🤍
”Eve, for as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be as close as possible to you”
Eve & Shep
At first i was a bit confused not gonna lie about who is the mmc!! But after the romance started to take place. Let me just tell u that it was soo wholesome it made my heart so warm and it was just the cutest! Their friendship! How he didn’t leave her alone from the very beginning and was there for her always and made sure she knows that 🥹🥹 and her slowly falling for him. Him remembering moments that happened years ago between them 🥹🥹 plssss sooosooo precious! Im in loveeee 🤍🤍🤍🤍
Overall it was literally so good and I definitely definitely recommend 🤍 thanks ri for forcing and suggesting for buket,clace,lilyya, me to do this 😌🤸🏻♀️ it was such fun time 🤸🏻♀️🤭
Also the author said this at the end of the book and i loved it 🤍
“This book is deeply important to me because baked into it are lessons I want to keep with me for the rest of my life: Even when I feel ugly, let the love in. Let someone care for me, tenderly, because they love me, not because I can’t do it myself. Feel creativity with an urgency and thrill that literally gets me out of bed. Put half-baked ideas down on paper and work hard to round them out and rejoice when it works. Remember that change, opportunity, a new day; it’s always growing inside me, and the best thing I can ever do is let it out into the world.”
February 14, 2024
Let me start of by saying, this will likely be my top audiobook of 2024!!! It was PHENOMENAL!! The narrator put her back into this and she needs an award for this!!
If you loved Out on a limb and adored Bo, then please you will be drooling over Shep!!! This was an accidental pregnancy but in such a fun different way! You have Eve who gets pregnant and her best friends brother steps up to the plate and helps her. I loved it soooo much! It gave me all the tingly feels and had me giggling out loud! On top of that there were so many tender moments that actually had me weeping and wiping away literal tears! Eve was hilarious and had the great sense of humour ever! Shep was the softest nerdy hot cinnamon roll and I was so down for him!
A must read!!! I beg of you!
What to expect:
Accidental pregnancy
Best friends brother
Slow burn
Friends to lover
If you loved Out on a limb and adored Bo, then please you will be drooling over Shep!!! This was an accidental pregnancy but in such a fun different way! You have Eve who gets pregnant and her best friends brother steps up to the plate and helps her. I loved it soooo much! It gave me all the tingly feels and had me giggling out loud! On top of that there were so many tender moments that actually had me weeping and wiping away literal tears! Eve was hilarious and had the great sense of humour ever! Shep was the softest nerdy hot cinnamon roll and I was so down for him!
A must read!!! I beg of you!
What to expect:
Accidental pregnancy
Best friends brother
Slow burn
Friends to lover
January 21, 2024
this book y’all… a gem to humanity. cara deserves two kisses on her cheeks for writing this. like everything and i mean everything in this book is GOLD! accidentally pregnancy was done such justice omg and the narrator deserves an award for this
June 3, 2025
accidentally deleted my whole review for this, but it was literally just me raving about how adorable every character in this book is!! the writing was so funny and exactly what i want from a rom-com and shep was such a cutie. this is my second pregnancy trope book and i can’t believe people hate on it?? it adds so much emotional depth to the characters relationship and when she finally had her kid, it actually made me tear up. friends to lovers can be a bit of a boring situation to some, but i think having that foundation leads to a really healthy relationship. i thought their friendship in the earlier chapters of this book was the sweetest thing ever and i was immediately rooting for them. when is it my turn!!!!! (not to get pregnant, just clarifying)
i also loved that this was separated into 3 parts, being each trimester of her pregnancy. it showed the ups and downs of being pregnant and it ended with spring! the perfect season to have a baby. so full of hope and new beginnings. i’m so glad i read this at the right time.
highly recommend this!!! perfect spring read. RIP to my full review for this. lol. :,)
”Anyhow, I love you too and I was really hoping you’d be my boyfriend.”
Life comes to his eyelids and they start butterflying. “I’m sorry,” he says on choppy air. “I’m sorry, would you say that again?”
“Is it really that much of a surprise?”
“Eve. Say it again.”
“Boyfriend and girlfriend. You and me. Did I leave anything out?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, right. I love you.” ⋆˙⟡♡
i also loved that this was separated into 3 parts, being each trimester of her pregnancy. it showed the ups and downs of being pregnant and it ended with spring! the perfect season to have a baby. so full of hope and new beginnings. i’m so glad i read this at the right time.
highly recommend this!!! perfect spring read. RIP to my full review for this. lol. :,)
”Anyhow, I love you too and I was really hoping you’d be my boyfriend.”
Life comes to his eyelids and they start butterflying. “I’m sorry,” he says on choppy air. “I’m sorry, would you say that again?”
“Is it really that much of a surprise?”
“Eve. Say it again.”
“Boyfriend and girlfriend. You and me. Did I leave anything out?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, right. I love you.” ⋆˙⟡♡
July 16, 2024
delightful!!! i am a puddle of feelings!!!!!
cw: death of a loved one, miscarriage
cw: death of a loved one, miscarriage
February 25, 2024
I really love the pregnancy trope, so I was so excited to read this, but sadly, it wasn’t really anything special for me. The whole time I was reading, I was waiting for something exciting to come... and at 50%, I was already tired of this book and just wanted it to end.☹️
౨ৎᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
Shep is one of the sweetest book characters in history. He literally bakes bread in his free time hellooo???🥹
"𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩."
𝚂𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚈 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝.🫂
!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!
જ⁀➴
I love the pregnancy trope, so I have high hopes for this🥹🫶🏼
౨ৎᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
Shep is one of the sweetest book characters in history. He literally bakes bread in his free time hellooo???🥹
"𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩."
𝚂𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚈 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝.🫂
!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!
જ⁀➴
I love the pregnancy trope, so I have high hopes for this🥹🫶🏼
February 8, 2024
Super cute and heartwarming! I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Unexpected pregnancy books usually do not work for me and are so cheesy that I have a hard time enjoying them. This one sounded like it could be promising, so I decided to go ahead and give it a try and I'm glad I did. I found it to be very charming and entertaining! I loved all the characters in this book, but I think Nurse Louise was actually my favorite. Eve's inward monologue and her conversations with Nurse Louise at her OB/GYN appointments had me smiling. I also love the cover of this book! So pretty!
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
March 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I love Cara's writing so much, I swear 🥹
I loved Eve and Shep so much, even Ethan. Maybe I was expecting a little more romance but the book mainly focuses on the whole pregnancy theme, how a woman feels about everything that it encompasses.
I also loved that the characters felt so human and real. I will definitely continue reading more from the author.
I love Cara's writing so much, I swear 🥹
I loved Eve and Shep so much, even Ethan. Maybe I was expecting a little more romance but the book mainly focuses on the whole pregnancy theme, how a woman feels about everything that it encompasses.
I also loved that the characters felt so human and real. I will definitely continue reading more from the author.
June 6, 2025
4⭐️
Did I go into this with high expectations of loving it? Yes.
Did I ultimately end up loving it? YES!!!
My gosh this was so beautiful! I'm struggling for words. The characters in this book were a whirlwind and a half. We have so many unique personalities that just ended up meshing so well together. Our FMC, Eve, was such a beautifully written character. I personally can't speak on pregnancy since I've never experienced it, but to see her grow and evolve over the coarse of this book was amazing. Shep? THE LOVE I HAVE FOR THIS MAN IS UNREAL!!! He's definitely up there with top book boyfriends cause this man PERFECT. The side characters, Ethan and Willa, gave so much special personality to the book as well. I say that cause the ups and downs that pregnancy has on those around you going through their own struggles was such a light in this book.
The actual plot of this book was mainly just about the relationships you have through pregnancy and the pregnancy process itself. I wouldn't say it had a whole lot of substance for me, which is the main problem I had and why I didn't rate it higher. Don't get me wrong; I loved this book. But it felt like there were too many times of filler information rather than that of adding to the plot. I personally didn't mind that too much, as seeing the strengths and weaknesses of relationships building between everyone was just great.
This book just shows so many different perspectives (no literally) of the journey that is motherhood and pregnancy, and I think it was done is such a good way. The writing of this book also felt really unique and engaging and there was not a moment in this book that I would say I was bored. This book is veryyyyy very much a slow-burn/childhood friends-to-lovers and it was done so well?
Overall, this book was a journey and a half and I am so glad that I got to read this. It's a beautiful book with SO many important messages and lessons that can sometimes lack in romance books. If you haven't read this yet, I would highly recommend you do. I think everyone would learn something and enjoy reading about Eve and her brutal journey through pregnancy and the undying love that comes with it, both for herself and from others. 💛
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Unpopular opinion...I really don't think the pregnancy trope is that bad, especially if it's well-written 😙
Here's to hoping that this is one of them ✨
Did I go into this with high expectations of loving it? Yes.
Did I ultimately end up loving it? YES!!!
My gosh this was so beautiful! I'm struggling for words. The characters in this book were a whirlwind and a half. We have so many unique personalities that just ended up meshing so well together. Our FMC, Eve, was such a beautifully written character. I personally can't speak on pregnancy since I've never experienced it, but to see her grow and evolve over the coarse of this book was amazing. Shep? THE LOVE I HAVE FOR THIS MAN IS UNREAL!!! He's definitely up there with top book boyfriends cause this man PERFECT. The side characters, Ethan and Willa, gave so much special personality to the book as well. I say that cause the ups and downs that pregnancy has on those around you going through their own struggles was such a light in this book.
The actual plot of this book was mainly just about the relationships you have through pregnancy and the pregnancy process itself. I wouldn't say it had a whole lot of substance for me, which is the main problem I had and why I didn't rate it higher. Don't get me wrong; I loved this book. But it felt like there were too many times of filler information rather than that of adding to the plot. I personally didn't mind that too much, as seeing the strengths and weaknesses of relationships building between everyone was just great.
This book just shows so many different perspectives (no literally) of the journey that is motherhood and pregnancy, and I think it was done is such a good way. The writing of this book also felt really unique and engaging and there was not a moment in this book that I would say I was bored. This book is veryyyyy very much a slow-burn/childhood friends-to-lovers and it was done so well?
Overall, this book was a journey and a half and I am so glad that I got to read this. It's a beautiful book with SO many important messages and lessons that can sometimes lack in romance books. If you haven't read this yet, I would highly recommend you do. I think everyone would learn something and enjoy reading about Eve and her brutal journey through pregnancy and the undying love that comes with it, both for herself and from others. 💛
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Unpopular opinion...I really don't think the pregnancy trope is that bad, especially if it's well-written 😙
Here's to hoping that this is one of them ✨
February 14, 2024
✨He got my heart pregnant✨
What a sleeper of a book. I mean I knew that I loved pregnancy in books, but I didn’t know I’d end up loving the romance as much as I did. My favorite part was how the hero was written.
I’m not sure what constitutes a spoiler since the summary kind of posits a love triangle? The book isn’t really, but maybe you want to be surprised? Idk your heart and soul so proceed cautiously…
✨
The summary states that this is a best friend’s brother situation, so this isn’t a spoiler, but honestly it feels like a spoiler. Shep was just so unassuming for the first half of the book, like a giant puppy dog. He was cute but neither Eve nor I clocked his swooniness. It wasn’t until about more than halfway through the book when I realized that I was actually fully in love with him???
I swear even the narrator was in on it because Shep’s voice at the beginning felt and sounded so different than at the end. I guess it could’ve just been the love goggles, but even then I think the book illustrates perfectly just how much perception changes with love. Suddenly I was attracted to everything about that man!!!
Like it caught me so off guard. The author even let me know this was intentional—and it felt very intentional!!!—and that just makes me so happy on a craft level. It may be too slow burn for some, and I’ve seen others not even classify this as a romance, but I dunno I really appreciated the sneak attack of emotions. It hit all the beats a romance needs to hit for me.
By the time Eve and Shep got together, it was late in the book and super slow burn but I loved it. There were still little flashes of his interest throughout the first half of the book, which kept me engaged on the romance front. And for the rest of the book I was just so invested in Eve’s journey through pregnancy, her friendship with Shep, and her relationship with the baby daddy.
Again, I don’t classify this as a love triangle, but I liked the dynamic between having the baby daddy around (and sometimes not around) and having Shep always be there. Eve has a one-night stand weeks before the book even begins and she’s never really romantically interested in the guy for more than a few chapters at the beginning. I even ended up liking him a lot.
✨
The heroine was definitely a particular brand of quirky which I enjoyed, but probably isn’t for everyone. There were a few times I was like girl, we need to just sit down for a second, but I got used to being in her head pretty quickly. It’s single POV, so you definitely spend a lot of time on her pregnancy—the book spans the full nine months. I also appreciated that abortion was always an option and wasn’t villainized.
Once I reached the end of the book, I was so sad to realize that I was done spending time with these characters. I need more!!! Once Shep and Eve got together, there wasn’t a breakup so we did get to see them be happy together a little before the end. But I need their day-to-day itinerary. I hope there’s another book set in this same world because I just can’t let them go.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to get in the bedroom, so I was pleasantly surprised! We got a scene and some change, and I absolutely adored it. It was hot and he was very reverent 😮💨
CWs: death of parents (cancer, car accident I think), infertility (not MC), miscarriage (not MC)
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
What a sleeper of a book. I mean I knew that I loved pregnancy in books, but I didn’t know I’d end up loving the romance as much as I did. My favorite part was how the hero was written.
I’m not sure what constitutes a spoiler since the summary kind of posits a love triangle? The book isn’t really, but maybe you want to be surprised? Idk your heart and soul so proceed cautiously…
✨
The summary states that this is a best friend’s brother situation, so this isn’t a spoiler, but honestly it feels like a spoiler. Shep was just so unassuming for the first half of the book, like a giant puppy dog. He was cute but neither Eve nor I clocked his swooniness. It wasn’t until about more than halfway through the book when I realized that I was actually fully in love with him???
I swear even the narrator was in on it because Shep’s voice at the beginning felt and sounded so different than at the end. I guess it could’ve just been the love goggles, but even then I think the book illustrates perfectly just how much perception changes with love. Suddenly I was attracted to everything about that man!!!
Like it caught me so off guard. The author even let me know this was intentional—and it felt very intentional!!!—and that just makes me so happy on a craft level. It may be too slow burn for some, and I’ve seen others not even classify this as a romance, but I dunno I really appreciated the sneak attack of emotions. It hit all the beats a romance needs to hit for me.
By the time Eve and Shep got together, it was late in the book and super slow burn but I loved it. There were still little flashes of his interest throughout the first half of the book, which kept me engaged on the romance front. And for the rest of the book I was just so invested in Eve’s journey through pregnancy, her friendship with Shep, and her relationship with the baby daddy.
Again, I don’t classify this as a love triangle, but I liked the dynamic between having the baby daddy around (and sometimes not around) and having Shep always be there. Eve has a one-night stand weeks before the book even begins and she’s never really romantically interested in the guy for more than a few chapters at the beginning. I even ended up liking him a lot.
✨
The heroine was definitely a particular brand of quirky which I enjoyed, but probably isn’t for everyone. There were a few times I was like girl, we need to just sit down for a second, but I got used to being in her head pretty quickly. It’s single POV, so you definitely spend a lot of time on her pregnancy—the book spans the full nine months. I also appreciated that abortion was always an option and wasn’t villainized.
Once I reached the end of the book, I was so sad to realize that I was done spending time with these characters. I need more!!! Once Shep and Eve got together, there wasn’t a breakup so we did get to see them be happy together a little before the end. But I need their day-to-day itinerary. I hope there’s another book set in this same world because I just can’t let them go.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to get in the bedroom, so I was pleasantly surprised! We got a scene and some change, and I absolutely adored it. It was hot and he was very reverent 😮💨
CWs: death of parents (cancer, car accident I think), infertility (not MC), miscarriage (not MC)
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
February 20, 2024
SHEER SOFT COZY GOOFY INTIMATE TENDER PERFECTION SINCERELY A RECOVERING PREGNANCY TROPE HATER
June 26, 2025
unfortunately i was so bored and just waiting for the book to end 😭 shep was cute but that's all i liked about this 💔
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