This was such a fun read until it wasn't. When it wasn't, it made me cry.

If you're looking for a slow burn romance, spicy (2/5 chillies spice meter), funny but also has sad moments book, this is it! Like most romance books, you might predict how it ends but boy, oh boy, are you in for a treat.

Sarah Ready definitely knows how to write a book that will pull you in and leave you wanting more. I listened to it in a day, and whenever I wasn't listening to it, I was thinking about it.

I liked Gemma. I loved how she was written as this woman who is lovely, but also a little bit annoying at times. It was sometimes hard to like her and root for her. I guess what I'm trying to say is she was a realistic character, flaws and all. Some of her choices were aloof; completely, and they didn't make sense, but some of them lead her to the path that she wanted. She goes through one particularly difficult event, and honestly, I wish the author delved into it a little bit deeper since we were in the throws of sadness anyway. But I would have loved for that topic to be explored more

Josh. Oh Josh, he was so funny. Argh, so so funny. I loved that. There were some conversations in this book that literally had me bending over laughing. But, I have to say, part of his storyline was some of the saddest in the book. I found myself throwing him a pity party in my head, but somehow I knew he would come out alright.

More than that, this story is also about community. The different ways people show up for each other, family or chosen family. Josh and Gemma truly had fostered communities to shoulder some of the shit that they went through, and made it a little bit lighter. I loved that.

So, if you're looking for a book that will get you out of a reading slump, I would highly suggest this, but please for the love of all good things in the world, read the trigger warnings.

Spoiler alert: Be prepared for a lot of pining and I think we can all agree Ian is a douchebag who deserves to be pooped on by a bird every time he leaves the house.

I got this book in advance from Netgalley, and this is not a sponsored post. However, many thanks to Netgalley, and my inner spidey senses for choosing a wonderful book based of off the cover. Happy Reading :)

*if you see this same review on instagram, don't judge.* ( )

Truly one of the most poorly written books I have read. It was painful to listen to such terrible prose, especially when that prose was deployed in service of a well-known character stolen from an existing series. I cried uncle at the hour mark on the audio. I usually would not rate the book since I stopped so early. That said, unless Ready realized how bad this was, learned how to write, and then restarted writing the book, (leaving intact the original section with its terrible writing) I feel confident this is a one-star through and through. Also, Ready needs to lay off binging Bridget Jones movies, stat. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I liked it so much, decided to buy the Kindle version so I could read again in the future. I would caution readers it does contain infertility and pregnancy loss. I would recommend book and author. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

NetGalley provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Josh and Gemma make a baby - audiobook

I have to tell you I recently found a passion for audiobooks, and I grab every opportunity for a free one (judge me, but I'm a student and can't afford it right now). So when I saw one in NetGalley, and romance one, what did I do? I grabbed it. And I listened to it for two days.

This book is amazing - so heartwarming, and funny, and lovely, and cute! I loved all of it. I genuinely laughed out loud with Gemma's friends and felt the love of Josh. They were just such a cute couple.

But let's give you a short synopsis.

Gemma is a 32-year-old single woman, whose dream is to have a baby. One sweet, little girl. The problem is that she doesn't have a boyfriend and doesn't want a random man to inseminate her, so when on 1st January she asks her brother's best friend Josh about it, and he declines, she feels desperate.

Luckily, or not so much for Josh, his dad is sick and he decides he wants to make a baby, so he can leave something after.

And there starts the IVF procedure and here starts their connection.

Gemma - yes, she was selfish and blind for the people around her, but she was not mean (except once) and was really enjoyable to read about her. Her adventures as a single woman who likes her career, but wants a child felt cute and lovely, and when I put my headphones in, I couldn't stop listening.

Josh was the best - kind, and funny, but also thoughtful and caring, and his smile was just brightening the world. He felt human, and I loved that he wasn't envious (of certain things). He just wanted to make the earth a better place.

There wasn't much spice or steaminess, but the whole book felt so wonderful and complete, I didn't need it. The characters were realistic and definitely rippled a few laughs from me.

The writing was amazing, and the story was excellent. So if you are looking for a sweet, heartwarming, and funny romance, this book is perfect for you.

Erin Mallon also did a fantastic job putting voices behind the characters, and her impressions in the book were genuinely terrific! I would listen more of her if I could.

So in the end I do recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ( )

If you haven’t laid hands on the book yet, here’s your clue to stop reading. This review has spoilers.

When I first heard about the book, it sounded so much like a book from one of my favorite authors. And trust me, that book was by far, one of the best books I’d ever read. I was worried I’d subconsciously compare the two and put this book on a pedestal only to be disappointed. As I started reading, the book, kinda, reminded me of another of my favorites by another of my favorite authors. I know, I know, too many favorites. Trust me, I was so worried that I might be disappointed by the book, or perhaps, I’d put an extremely high target for it to reach. Thankfully, neither happened. The book crossed leaps and bounds of expectations and I never etched a comparison, because there was none.

This is my first book from Sarah, but honestly, I see myself reading any and everything she’s ready to write or has already written. She has a unique way of presenting emotions. While some authors scrape the surface of emotions, others dwell too much on it. Sarah, however, presents a beautiful balance of both. This book has made a special place in my heart and I’m sure the author has left a mark on countless other hearts, too.

Josh and Gemma are wonderful, as a couple, and as individuals. In a way, they complete each other, and no, I do not mean that in a swoon-worthy couples way, though that’s equally true. I mean it literally. Even if they don’t start off as the best of friends, they’re each other’s, emotional companions. It’s like how Gemma said, he’s a houseplant, but one that’s given her actual strength. For whatever period we’ve observed as readers, I know Josh and Gemma support each other way better than I see most head-over-heels-might-do-a-cartwheel-in-love couples do. Most importantly, I’m thankful the end doesn’t say “Hey, I’m Josh and I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you”, because blah, he was too young for love, and if he loved her, he would’ve stayed, Josh was smarter than to take the virginity of the love of his life and then vanish into thin air for 6 years.

During both of the very important yet not-so-forefront deaths, I’ve felt more pain than in all of many books together. It’s exactly how I said, Sarah balanced her words so carefully that I hurt so much without knowing it too well. Honestly, I thought it was stupid that one phone call made Gemma realize that she doesn’t want a Mr. Right after thirty-two years of wishing for him. But as the book proceeded, I realized it wasn’t that simple, and the beauty of that moment hit me. It wasn’t a rash decision, it was an epiphany after so much struggle, and I’m so happy for her.

Everything else aside, the end was, well, a tad dramatic. No, not the last chapter, but the part where Gemma goes to the comic convention. It was beautiful, interesting, yes, but it’d have been more realistic and perhaps, relatable to some extent. I mean, a normal person would’ve asked the security to tell him she was Gemma, rather than make the whole “I’m Jewel” chanting. But as dramatic as it was, it was beautiful. Thus, the pros and cons outweigh each other.

Yes, I hate that the baby didn’t see the universe and how his dad created the beautiful comic, but as Ian said, Every ending is a new beginning, or was it, Josh? I know, I can be lame. But this book unlocked a piece of me, a piece that years for someone to love. After all, love is the best gift I’ve ever had the privilege to give, and I know I’m too young for love, but someday, I hope I feel that sense of belongingness. Anyway, this isn’t a rant show. This is about Josh and Gemma, and they are happy, in love, and together, with a baby on the way. If that’s not what love is, I don’t even want to know what is. ( )