I'm going to start off by saying that pregnancy tropes are not really my thing. I was quite hesitant to start this book but decided to give it a chance. Within the first 20 pages I was HOOKED!!! Gemma's voice is hilarious and so relatable, it was easy to fall in love with her immediately. I got STRONG Bridget Jones vibes but it didn't feel. like it was an outright copy cat of it. Josh was also one of those MCs that slowly creeps up on you. As I got further into to the book I found myself in pain over how much Josh was clearly in love with Gemma. There was some plot twists that were amazing and only drove the novel along. Also the group Gemma joins full of women also going through infertility was absolutely hilarious. I loved the life long connection they all formed. I am so happy I decided to give this book a chance and will forever be recommending it to everyone I meet. As we get older we forget to lean into scary things because of the chance of being truly, gut-wrenchingly, hurt. Gemma's journey through this felt incredibly personal and like I was going through it with her. Thank you to Net Galley for letting me read this!

This was pretty much exactly what I was expecting from the description! Gemma is in her early 30s, has been divorced for a while, and learned back in her 20s that she was infertile. She's always wanted a baby, and she decides to go it alone through IVF. When she first meets with the reproductive endocrinologist, he asks if she has a partner and she blurts out that she does, though she really doesn't. She decides to ask her older brother's best friend, who she's known for years and to whom she lost her virginity 16 years before. He ultimately agrees, and through the process they actually become friends, and then maybe more. I liked their relationship, and this was a very quick read - a nice balance of heavy topics (infertility, loss, grief) and fun, light banter.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby follows the journey of Gemma, a thirty-something divorced woman suffering from infertility, and Josh, her brother's best friend and the guy who's been a "houseplant" in the background of her life since she was young. Lacking any boyfriend prospects but really wanting a baby of her own, she asks Josh to be a donor for her upcoming IVF cycle.

I grabbed this ARC because I was enchanted by the premise, and thought it would be a fun read. Which is was, for the most part. It was a cute, predictable, brother's-best-friend, slow burn romance. But here's the thing: I really wasn't a fan of our heroine for large parts of the story. She has some really unlikeable qualities. She's extremely self-centered and judgemental, which are not qualities I think lend themselves to being a good parent. Speaking of parents, it's kind of easy to see where Gemma gets her judgemental side from, because her family is awful. On the surface they seem loving, but the non-stop fat-shaming of Gemma goes unchecked and unchallenged for the majority of the book, and from what I can gather she's not even really fat. They also bemoan her lack of a boyfriend and it seems like the entire town knows about the condition of Gemma's uterus. I doubt Gemma told anyone other than her family about her endometriosis, so that means the people who are supposed to love her the most blabbed her business to anyone who would listen.

For the most part, I think Gemma's IVF journey was done well. I've never had fertility issues so I cannot speak to the veracity of her experience, but it seemed like an honest portrayal (except for the part about being able to schedule an appointment with a fertility specialist online for the very next day - ummmmm...no). Although it does seem a bit unrealistic that she would embark on this major medical procedure with very little forethought and research. I mean, she seems surprised at the first support group meeting to learn that many IVF cycles fail. That really seems like basic information someone should know before committing thousands of dollars to an invasive medical procedure like this.

So in a nutshell, your enjoyment of this book will probably depend upon the degree to which you are willing to suspend disbelief on a number of fronts. If you're good with overlooking some flaws in pursuit of just being entertained by a sweet love story, you'll probably like this book. I recommend it for anyone looking for a romance with a unique storyline and a happy ending.

CW: infertility, pregnancy loss, death of a parent, fat shaming

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a long time since a book made me feel this angry and in love at the same time. On one hand, I LOVED Josh. He has been added to my ‘men from books I’ll never stop thinking about’ list. On the other hand, I really hate Gemma. Let’s start with Pros...
Pros:
Josh.
Funny moments
Josh’s secret
Josh
JOSH.
Con:
Gemma’s crappy attitude
Gemma’s head being so far up her own butt
Gemma’s head being so far up Ian’s butt.
IAN!
Ok... so I have less to say than I expected. This book had soooo much potential and I really liked the moments Josh and Gemma had alone, walking the city and eating pizza. Ian’s storyline was so dumb and unnecessary and made me truly dislike Gemma. This is the kind of story that really needs that dual POV to help readers not only connect with the characters, but to give the author a chance to give more depth to the plot. There were so many topics brought up I would’ve loved to see tackled and resolved, and most just ended up completely brushed over and I don’t feel like we ever truly get to know Gemma or Josh.
2 stars for Gemma, 5 for Josh so let’s meet in the middle and say 3.5

I thought it was a really good way to talk about fertility issues. That’s something that you really don’t hear a lot about outside of nonfiction books. Josh and Gemma’s relationship was really special. I do feel that Gemma was a bit immature for a 32 year old.

This was a quick and cute enough read, albeit very predictable. I didn't always love how the author broached the subject of Gemma's journey with IVF - it's such a sensitive subject for so many women, and, for a large part of the story, it seemed like the seriousness of that process was glossed over - as well as her relationship with her boss, and her past with Josh. It often felt like some key details were left out that just left the story feeling a little flat. I liked it enough to finish it - halfway through I definitely had the familiar romcom feeling of needing to know exactly how things played out with Gemma and Josh - but didn't love it either. Just okay for me.

I was given an ARC by NetGallery in exchange for my honest review.

1. What was your favorite part of the book?
There are so many amazing parts of this book. Though if I had to choose, the scene where Gemma reads Josh’s comic and realizes Josh’s feelings

2. What was your least favorite?
This isn’t my least favorite because it was on the author, but all the pain Gemma went through. It was necessary, but my heart!!

3. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
I would think it was a slow burn. The romance between the two characters was amazing.

4. Which scene has stuck with you the most?
I honestly don’t know which one to choose. I think the scene when she loses the baby while on the live stream and the moment with Ian while it was happening. It was hard to read, my heart really went out to her and I wanted to reach through the book and punch Ian myself.

5. What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?
The writing was amazing. Sarah Ready has such a way with words. I have so many things highlighted from this story, if I had to choose just one, it would be, “Each one of us, all the people in our lives are like icebergs floating near each other. We only see the top of the icebergs, the faces we show the world, and the rest, all our inner lives and secret fears remain hidden underneath the surface” location 3862-3864

6. Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?
I didn’t reread any passages

7. Would you want to read another book by this author?
I definitely would.

8. Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?
It did impact my mood, in so many different ways. Essentially, I felt what the main character felt.

9. What surprised you most about the book?
Honestly, this book seems like it would be a romantic comedy with maybe some fertility issues tied in, but it’s so much more than that. It has life lessons. It’s so beautifully written and I think the author really did an amazing job writing the main characters struggles and the struggles of others around her.

10. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
As my previous answer states, I was pleasantly surprised it was so much more than I initially thought.

11. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
I don’t really have any questions.

12. How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?
I think the title is very straightforward. I do think it’s a little wonky, but I don’t know what to recommend to change it to.

13. Is this book overrated or underrated?
I don’t know how this book will be when it is published, but I hope everyone can take the time to read it. Definitely underrated if it isn’t popular

14. Did this book remind you of any other books?
It doesn’t

13. How did it impact you? Do you think you'll remember it in a few months or years?
I definitely think it impacted some of my ways of thinking. It’s so easy to focus on the negatives in life that the positive gets overrun. I’ll definitely remember it

14. Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?
I’d definitely reread it. I loved every second of it and I’d love to read it when it’s officially out.

15. Who do you most want to read this book?
…is everyone an option? I’d definitely choose everyone.

16. Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?
What was the gender of the baby?!?! Though it’s small, I can’t help but wonder

17. Did the book strike you as original? Yes and no?
Oh, yeah. I think it’s original. I haven’t personally read anything similar to it.

*3.5/5
this was such a cute and quick read! i have to say that i really enjoyed reading it, so much so that the flaws that i encountered didn't bother me very much, i just flew through it and read it in one sitting. this book went beyond my expectations and i think i might check out other books from the author.

content warnings : infertility, miscarriage, loss of a parent, fatshaming

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

At 32 Gemma has already had her fair share of disappointments in her life, a failed marriage, a failing uterus, and countless failed dates set up by her mother. With the words of her boss and self-help guru, Ian, she knows best "if you can dream it you can do it", so who cares that her new year's resolution is to have a baby and the only thing she's missing is the other half of the equation, sperm.

With the daunting task of IVF already looming over her head, she panics when asked who her partner is and raddles off the first name that comes to mind, her brother's best friend, Josh. Although he's seemingly unmotivated, quitting his successful business venture to draw comics in his dad's basement Gemma knows him well, she can't deny his good looks, and he's basically part of the family. What could go wrong?

This book does a deep dive into the trials and triumphs of infertility, IVF, and the support needed along the way. It was a slow burn throughout but you're constantly rooting for them both. There are some scenes I found hard to believe could be realistic and unfortunately didn't add a lot to the narrative either but overall the book was a quick read and left me smiling in the end.

A feel good romance that was definitely needed for this beginning of year. The writing is strong but the author manages to write about hard subject such as infertility with care and still manages to have the book be pretty mood lifting. The characters are all lovable despite their flaws and you will definitely root for them. Definitely would recommend

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was a cute yet predictable read, that I flew through. Gemma is diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis, causing fertility issues, however one of her key goals in life is to have a baby, so she recruits Josh to help her.

I loved Josh, he was so sweet, funny and deserved so much. He remembered key moments for Gemma, and overall I think he earned so much better. Gemma however... is one of the reasons I rated it low. She was mostly annoying, blowing up at those that didn't deserve it, judgmental and selfish and she barely spent time to learn about Josh. Despite this, I did feel sympathy for her- she had a horrendous time and was hormonal, yet this couldn't completely forgive her actions.

The infertility issues were handled amazingly, with the 'support group', and I was so happy how it ended for them. I felt it was done sensitively, and the Authors Note at the end backed this up. One of the reasons I disliked Gemma was her insensitive and angry reaction when she blew up at her friends, then refused to apologise for her harsh actions, especially regarding the infertility, which she herself knows is a huge issue.

I felt too much time was focused on Ian, and yes he was key to the story, however I would've preferred time to learn about Josh, for them to get to know each other as we 'watch', instead of learning about Ian, who was a slimy guy. Also, when he had the woman in his house, I felt Gemma could've blown up at him... or said more... I hated that she still was nice to him. In addition, her mum... she was so rude! I understand family 'wanting the best for her' but setting her up with a sleazy 50 year old man... please stop.

I gave it 3.5 stars, rounded down as when I remember the book, there are more issues that stick out to me.

This book was an awesome funny nonstop reading OMG I burnt roast beef rom com
The best since looong time
I loved Gemma flaws and her insecurities her struggling with her snoopy insistent mother
I loved. The way she was trying to shape her life at her pace and rules
Josh sweetheart you are an unicorn
Ian please go and have a swim with cube jelliyfishes or sharks
Best book since months @Rozzberry this was yummi
Sensitive topic disclaimer infertility and miscarriage
Five stars

An emotional rollercoaster indeed. I felt Gemma’s pain as she navigated the process of IVF. The friendships she developed with the ladies and their jokes were the best.

I loved this book so much! From a family friend to friendship, to lovers. Very heartfelt and funny too!

3.5⭐️ This story is about Gemma who has stage 4 endometriosis which is causing fertility issues. She decides that she wants to have a baby but needs a sperm donor. She decides to ask Josh who has been her next door neighbor/ brothers best friend for the longest of time.
This book was very cute because of the relationship that Josh and Gemma had with one another. The wittiness and humor that came along with the story i really enjoyed and had me laughing. The way that the book managed to cover a serious issue but still keep us entertained is amazing. Overall, the book was ok but i found it to be very slow at certain points. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC!

This was my first novel by Sarah Ready and I really enjoyed it! I was really captivated by the blurb and the cover and decided to give this one a chance and I’m glad I did cause this was a sweet predictable rom-com which is how I wanted my first read of 2022 to be.

I listened to the audiobook and I really loved the way the book was narrated.

I loved Josh. I loved how he was so caring and thoughtful and his relationship with his dad. I also loved how his job was to write web comics which was something new I’ve read in books. I also adored the fact that he remembered small things about Gemma which happened like 25 years back😭😭

Gemma umm well, I’m not sure how I feel about her. There were moments when I felt sad for her buttttt there were moments where she annoyed the fuck out of me. I know it was her character which was supposed to be shown like this but I really didn’t like her and she got on my nerves.

Although there were some stuff I wished were done different like gemma’s character, I still loved how the writing was so captivating and addicting! I’ll surely check out her other books too when I’m in mood for a sweet book.

Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an eArc.

If I could read this again with fresh I 100% would. It was delightful in all the very best ways!

Gemma has found out that she has stage 4 endometriosis. This means she will have to go under fertility treatments in order to conceive.

Who better to do that than the handsome best friend of her brother, Josh.

Oh my heart Josh. Gemma and Josh. I adored them each. The humor they possess individually really is magnificent when they're together.

Was this predictable? Yep. Did I still give this all the stars? You bet!!!

Don't miss out on this fun piece of wonderful!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book tugged at my heartstrings. As a female with endometriosis as well as infertility it was hard to read but also a breath of fresh air as its not a topic discussed enough! Thank you for this beautiful love story and allowing me to read it in exchange for a fair review.

This is a super cute romance that still manages to cover deep issues. It does a remarkable job at blending heavier topics with humor that allows the story to flow nicely and it’s written in a way that makes the entire experience enjoyable. Josh was and absolute sweetheart and Gemma showed a bunch of growth throughout the novel.

I loved this book! It made me laugh at some parts and cry at others. Once I started, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Josh’s character was the perfect blend of funny and sweet.
Excellent ending other than not telling us if it is a she or a he!