Ready or Not (2024) by Cara Bastone Review

His bike. His new bike—the one he took the train up to the Bronx to buy and then rode all the way home—has a baby seat fastened onto it.

“I listen when you talk, Eve.”
Shep

“Of course I know how you feel. You’re a handsome, successful guy who is usually very nice, and you got the love of my life pregnant. You wanna talk about insufferable?”
Shep

“I love you too and I was really hoping you’d be my boyfriend.”
Eve

— Story Synopsis —

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.

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

— My Thoughts —

This was a pleasant read. It’s my first time reading a book that has a surprise pregnancy trope so honestly, I didn’t know what I was getting into.

Shep was so caring and thoughtful towards Eve 🥰 But I couldn’t portray him as a boyfriend for some reason. He seemed to come off a little brother-ish.

This book also took a while for Shep and Eve to actually start dating. Literally up to 70 or 80% of the book was just Eve trying to adapt to the idea of being pregnant and how she overcame her challenges with her best friend and the child’s father. The plot was a little slow.

It wasn’t boring, but if you’re picking up this book wishing for some swoony, spicy romance, this isn’t it. I don’t dislike this book but it isn’t one of my favourites.

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