Josh and Gemma Make a Baby

Josh and Gemma #1

by Sarah Ready, Erin Mallon (Narrator)

9 hours, 29 minutes

New Year’s Resolution: Have a baby. Preferably with Josh Lewenthal.

Meet Gemma Jacobs. She’s driven, energetic, and a positive thinker. She has a great career working for famed self-help guru Ian Fortune, she lives in a cute studio apartment in Manhattan, and her family is supportive and loving (albeit a little kooky). Her life is perfect. Absolutely wonderful.

Except for one tiny little thing.

After a decade of disastrous relationships and an infertility diagnosis, Gemma doesn’t want a Mr. Right (or even a Mr. Right Now); she just wants a baby.

And all she needs is an egg, some sperm, and IVF.

So Gemma makes a New Year’s resolution: Have a baby.

Josh Lewenthal is a laid-back, relaxed, find-the-humor-in-life kind of guy. The polar opposite of Gemma. He’s also her brother’s best friend. For the past 20 years, Josh has attended every Jacobs’ family birthday, holiday, and event - he’s always around.

Gemma knows him. He’s nice (enough), he’s funny (ish), he’s healthy (she thinks), and he didn’t burn any ants with a magnifying glass as a kid. Which, in Gemma’s mind, makes him the perfect option for a sperm donor.

So Gemma wants to make a deal. An unemotional, businesslike arrangement. No commitments, just a baby.

To Gemma’s surprise, Josh agrees.

They have nothing in common, except their agreement to make a baby and their desire to keep things businesslike.

But the thing about baby-making…it’s hard to keep it businesslike, it’s nearly impossible to keep it unemotional, and it’s definitely impossible to keep your heart out of the mix. Because when you’re making a baby together, things have a way of starting to feel like you’re making other things, too - like a life, and a family, and love. And when the baby-making ends, you wish that everything else didn’t have to end, too.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Friends To Lovers, Chick Lit

Audiobook

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Author Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.

Her works include Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, French Holiday and romcoms in the Soul Mates in Romeo series. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She lives in the Caribbean with her family and water-loving pup.

Find more books and interesting tidbits at www.sarahready.com.

Reviews

[ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf @ 48%

this was anything but the adorable romcom i was expecting. if i could unread this book, i would.

one star may seem super harsh, but if y’all were to ask me to name at least one thing about this book that i enjoyed?? remotely even liked!?



i will warn you that this review is so ranty and spoilery, and i ain’t even sorry about it :)

i know romcoms are a lil OTT. the humour. the embarrassing moments. the cliches. the humiliation. the walking disaster heroine who’s life is hanging on by a thread. the meddling family. the smooth talking hero who could have saved us a fuck tonne of time if he’d just told the heroine he fancied her in the beginning.

could have saved me the fucking hassle.

the first thing that is typical of a lot of romcoms and romance in general is having the heroine just be constantly shat on. by life. by her family. by love interests. by strangers. by colleagues. by the universe.

and dear Gemma was no exception. but it was the usual trope on fucking roids, lemme tell you. the first two chapters were enough to make me wanna dnf but i persevered.

i can’t stand when authors try to make me sympathise with a heroine by just whacking up the trauma-factor. it’s just suffocating to read and doesn’t make me pity her... it just makes me hate the book bcos not all women have to constantly suffer, okay?

not only is Gemma divorced, but her husband cheated on her with his now-wife. they’ve been together ten years since the affair and have three perfect kids together... while Gemma cannot conceive.

that was sad enough, then we find out Gemma walked in on them fucking in her own goddam house after she finds out about her infertility which her then-husband said he didn’t care about.

fast forward to the present, and Gemma is a pariah. she’s a mess. she’s chubby (which is constantly thrown at her like she should be embarrassed and ashamed??). everyone in town knows about her infertility and uses it as a way to openly mock her, belittle her and diminish her worthiness, like she’s lesser bcos she’s infertile. all bcos her ex told people the details of her infertility.

i mean, within the span of the first two chapters the amount of random people who just openly made fun of her in her own house was bizarre. she chucks food on herself, she’s told she looks like a “lumpy cucumber”. she’s labelled as desperate. one woman tries to force her son to go on a pity date with her. another man told her “no wonder you can’t keep a man”.

the guy who’s mother was trying to convince him to date Gemma tells his mother within earshot of Gemma how her ex-husband told him “the inside of her abdomen looks like a grenade went off. Apparently, the medical resident fainted when he saw it.”

then finished that sentiment off with Gemma “dresses like a slob, eats like a hoover, and has no self-respect. The divorce wrecked her. She’s second-hand goods.”

this was all within the first two chapters. there’s trying to stir sympathy within the reader... then there’s just pissing me tf off. like can you not ease up just a little? let the woman breathe!

this woman was shamed for being infertile🤡 didn’t know infertility shaming was a thing, but okay??



the fat shaming was so casual most of the time too. her mum would say shaming shit to her like it was normal but was presented as the loving doting mother who always means well... nah fuck that. honestly fuck that.

then Josh was kinda annoying and weird too. like he said this to Gemma when she approached him to be her donor:

“It’s a no.” Josh gives a firm, final nod. “I’m not some horse you can put out to stud. I’m kind of surprised, Gem. I never thought you viewed people like objects that you can use. I thought better of you. I’m a person, you know?”

she literally just asked if you’d be her sperm donor?!? idk why you’re getting all deep and offended😭 she didn’t do anything nasty or malicious. she admits she’d want her donor to be someone like him with all his qualities and lists them in detail, low-key licking his arse, and somehow amongst all of that, big man gets offended???

okay? go off i guess.

i wanted to dnf from here bcos it was all too much. but i hadn’t even seen Josh and Gemma in a romantic proximity yet so wanted to at least give that a chance.

in the mean time...

Gemma goes on a live zoom call with her boss and half the fucking company in her bra that says JUICY on it bcos she’s just woke up. why do authors just constantly embarrass their heroines?!?! i truly don’t understand it. let them have some peace, i beg of you.



you what i could have seriously done without??

Ian Fortune – “the world-renowned self-help guru.”

(i also don’t understand why she had to preface his name like that everyone time she spoke about him or introduced him...)

Ian is her cliche, smarmy boss who i imagined as the evil executive in Alvin and the Chipmunks. idk why. who she was dating for more than half of the book.



he was weird as fuck and Gemma’s obsession with him and his “fancy quotes” made me want to kms. girly really has one of his infamous quotes painted on her fucking living room wall: ”love is the best gift I’ve ever had the privilege to give.”

it’s like she thought “live laugh love” was too basic, so used that one instead to be ✨unique✨

and Gemma truly believes this man came up with all of his “inspirational quotes” as though they haven’t been circulating tumblr since 2011 in an edgy font with aesthetic pictures of Effy Stonem off her tits.

(and i searched for his name when i was reading to find more info on him bcos i was curious even tho i dnfed, and turns out he stole all of his inspirational guru shit from Josh💀 nah Ian can keep that shit bcos am i supposed to be impressed Josh came up with all of that shit and not Ian? bcos either way, the quotes were shit).


 
now the romance...

what romance? where? sincerely show me where there is any romance??

Josh and Gemma barely interact (and i know i dnfed but this was one of the reasons why). they interact TWICE in the first 30% and both encounters were mediocre and brief at best. it got to the point i skimmed everything else bcos i just wanted to get to Gemma and Josh within the same scene, at least. Gemma at work, Gemma with Ian, Gemma at the support group, Gemma chatting shite in her own head... all of it was so damn boring and contributed absolutely nothing to the story. just made me dislike Gemma the more i had to endure.

any time they actually spend time together was followed by “we spent the next few hours doing...” “time flew by as we...” etc. show me. for the love of fucking god S H O W M E. how am i supposed to be convinced of their undying connection when they barely spend time together?

you’d think with them being in each other’s lives so much there’d be some history. some chemistry. some memories. some intensity. but no. they had no spice. no flare. nothing special whatsoever. seriously, the lack of chemistry was painful. i mean, they’ve known each other for 24 years.

i had to stop at the below interaction tho. for my own sanity. my own mental health. for the sake of humanity. i wanted to see where Josh and Gemma could go but i–

i have no words to explain or articulate the horror and dread which took over my body like some sort of suffocating, feral disease at the scene when Gemma is so horny bcos of the hormones she’s taking, Josh offers to ring her phone for her constantly for a few minutes bcos it vibrates when it rings, so Gemma can use it to have an orgasm on a bench in Central Park.

“Your phone vibrates,” he says in a logical tone.
“Um, yes?”
“Well, I’ll keep calling, so it vibrates continuously until you get…relief.”
I stare at him, but he refuses to look back at me. I let out a long sigh. It’s crazy, it’s insane, it’s…brilliant.

 
THEN— THEN GET THIS FUCKING SHIT. Josh is the one standing next to her and calling the phone while Gemma is on her way to being arrested for public indecency, until the phone rings while it’s vibrating against Gemma’s vagina and it’s no longer Josh, but Gemma’s mother.

i really wish i was making this shit up.

then they go to their fertility appt. where shit just got worse and worse— a couple in the waiting room are arguing bcos the woman has an STD and accuses her husband of giving it to her by cheating. turns out she was cheating on him with her usual “boy toy”... who the couple accuse Josh of being👁👄👁 while Josh isn’t said boy toy, idk if the author was trying to be funny by having some slap-stick occur, but the couple try and attack Josh in the waiting room with a Georgia O’Keefe painting and a pair of Prada heels.

i reiterate. i really wish i was making this shit up.

the painting is smashed over Josh’s head like he’s in some SNL skit.

i had to stop there. my brain couldn’t handle this god awful book anymore. i even skimmed ahead to get more info and turns out Ian is cheating on Gemma *pretends to be shocked* and she gets fat shamed again.

so nope. this is not for me. can’t see how this book is for anyone tbh. it made me wanna gouge my eyeballs out with a spork.

[edit: i just read the epilogue out of curiosity and it was pretty damn cute ngl. so i suppose that was a redeeming quality of the book].

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" by Sarah Ready is a Rom-Com with Lime Jello Salad! Lots of it!

Gemma Jacobs' New Year's resolution is to have a baby! She's unmarried, uninvolved, and unable to conceive without IVF. Now all she needs is a willing sperm donor with 'no-strings-attached' to make it happen.

Gemma doesn't want any sperm donor though, she wants someone she knows and trusts. Someone like Josh Lewenthal, her brother's BFF and a blast from her past.

Gemma's entire family knows Josh. He's been at every family gathering for the past 20 years. He's great looking, healthy, funny, and has a great smile. Even if he IS a bit over confident, who cares!

Too bad Josh has fallen on hard times though and back living in the basement of his dad's house. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise for Gemma's business-like and no-commitment plan for a perfect sperm donor. This could work!

I loved this story! I connected to Gemma as the protagonist, her sense of humor and her great big heart. She was all about having a baby and her focus is portrayed in a hilarious and fun way. Josh is perfect at being her accommodating sperm donor. Their banter back and forth is refreshing, comical and gives a whole new meaning to having 'phone-sex'!

The audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon was one I devoured in two listens. Her voicing was believable, animated, and completely enjoyable! I was totally engaged! I smiled, I laughed, and I cried!

I highly recommend this story that is both entertaining and most likely the best Rom-Com I've read to date. I don't know why I connected with this one so much, but I did and I'm glad!

Multiple Twigger Warnings: IVF / Infertility / Miscarriage / Body Shaming.

Thank you to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, and Sarah Ready for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I couldn’t care less about him, I just need his sperm.”

Josh and Gemma make a baby is a rom-com about a woman, Gemma, who decides she is going to have a baby via IVF with her brother’s best friend, Josh. Gemma isn't in a relationship with Josh; she only sees him as a sperm donor (see the above quote). However, in their attempt to make a baby, Gemma realizes that her feelings for Josh go beyond a transaction.

Gemma is the sole narrator, and I loved her character. She is fresh, witty, honest, and sometimes a jerk; I found her voice refreshing. I loved Josh’s character too. Although we only experience Josh through Gemma’s eyes, it is easy to get a feel for his character. The two characters have strong chemistry and fun banter, and I was rooting for them early on.

I enjoyed the narrative style, and it was refreshing that there is only one timeline, which takes place in the present moment. There are brief flashbacks to Gemma’s childhood and some early interactions with Josh, but the narrative is rooted in the present, so the reader can experience Gemma’s infertility issues in the moment. Ready handles infertility with sensitivity and a bit of humor, which shines through in the infertility support group that Gemma joins.

This book is getting high praise, and rightly so. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. It made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions (the puking incident was my favorite)! There were a few cringe moments, but I got past them. My one critique is that the plot and Gemma mirror Bridget Jones’s Diary a little too much. However, infertility and Josh not being anything like Mark Darcy distinguish it from Bridget Jones.

Overall, this is a fun, charming, and heartwarming read that gave me all the feels!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS AUDIOBOOK!!

This book was a delight from beginning to end! That narrator, Erin Mallon, was awesome and I am so happy I chose to listen to this instead of reading it.

Gemma Jacobs- she quirky, funny, thinks too much, love quoting inspiration quotes, is a little clueless, has positive energy, and has a job she loves but is missing something in her life. Well, I should say someone. She wants a baby. Her marriage ended in heartbreak, she has an infertility diagnosis from having endometriosis and has not met Mr. Right. But there is IVF, all she needs is a donor.

Josh Lewenthal is her brother's best friend. He has always been around. He's a super nice laid-back guy, quick to smile, funny, has an engaging smile, and is dependable. Gemma knows him, right? He is healthy, funny, and single. Why use an anonymous donor when she views Josh as being an ideal sperm donor!?! She is shocked and excited when he says "Yes".

This book was so much fun to listen to. Gemma and Josh were both likable characters and I loved their witty banter and interactions. I enjoyed their journey and thought Gemma's family tradition of writing down resolutions, putting them in a jar (no name on them) and having them read out loud was charming.

There are also some interesting and intriguing supporting characters as well. Gemma's fertility group members were fantastic and provided some laughs. Her self-help guru boss and co-workers made things interesting.

This book does touch on some very serious issues such as infertility, miscarriages, fat shaming and judging people by their looks. I wasn't the biggest fan of her mother always trying to fix her up, mentioning Gemma's looks, weight, how she dresses. She is not the only character who does this, and the sad thing is, this happens both in books and real life. These may be triggers for some.

There is a lot of laughs in this book, a lot of fun, there are some very charming and heartwarming parts. This book had me feeling all the feels. I mentioned the word journey once before in my review, but with books in the romance category, it is all about the journey. Sarah Ready took me on one entertaining, heartwarming, and at times, laugh out loud, bumps in the road, journey.

This was my first book by Ready and I look forward to more of her work (I look forward to listening to more books narrated by Erin Mallon as well).

Highly recommend.

TW- if you are dealing with infertility or miscarriage, parts of this book may be difficult to read. I also do not know how much research went into IVF, etc. so I can't speak on if parts of this book are realistic.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Tina(why is GR limiting comments?!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A GEM OF A STORY! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! MY FIRST 5 STAR OF THE YEAR!

I must say I was delightfully surprised at just how much I enjoyed this story. A truly entertaining ROM-COM that I devoured! I expect this book to be a MAJOR hit this year! I listened to the audio masterfully narrated by Erin Mallon. I was captivated and could not stop listening to it. This book fills you with many different emotions. It made me smile, and laugh out loud and then there were some tender and sad moments.

Gemma and Josh are both such likeable characters. Gemma is 32 and a divorcee. She has endometriosis but is longing for a child. She's known Josh her whole life as he is her brother's best friend. She wants to try IVF but needs a sperm donor and decides Josh would be perfect. The story takes off right from the start.

This is my first Sarah Ready book but it will definitely not be my last. What a talented storyteller! I HIGHLY recommend this one!!

Many thanks to my GR's friend Debra who drew me to this story

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for granting me access to this Advance Listener Copy.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage ….

Scratch that. Gemma Jacobs has a plan and it doesn’t look like that.

Gemma, a thirty-two year old unlucky-in-love divorcee working for self-help guru and secret crush, Ian Fortune, wants nothing more in life than to have a baby. The only problem? Her medical condition necessitates her using in vitro fertilization - IVF - and she needs sperm. She’s not looking for love or a baby daddy to help raise her child - she just needs his ‘little swimmers’ and she’ll take care of the rest. She could use an anonymous donor, but then another option comes to mind …

Josh Lewenthal, her brother’s best friend and long-time friend of her family.

Why not? He’s gorgeous, smart, familiar, definitely not marriage material, and besides … they’ve already had long-ago “history” (that’s a euphemism 😉). Imagine her surprise when after years of only seeing each other at the occasional family gathering, Josh agrees to be Gemma’s donor.

It’s purely business, right? They’ll be friends, sign contracts for who will play what part in the baby’s life, Gemma will raise her daughter (that’s her dream), and everything will be clean and neat. No strings, no problem.

As can be expected in a rom-com, nothing ever goes quite to plan. Gemma’s boss, Ian, has his own designs on her, a quirky group of fellow IVF ladies enters her life, and her feelings toward Josh get complicated. She thought she had it all figured out, but does she?

This is sweet, charming, funny and has decent emotional depth for a rom-com, not to mention some “steam your glasses”, cha-cha-cha moments! *blush* There were aspects of the story that gave me Bridget Jones’ Diary vibes, especially where Ian and Josh were concerned, but I love that story so the similarities were a bonus.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon, who did a wonderful job with the large cast of characters. My only minor issue was getting used to her gender voicing, since all the male characters basically sound exactly the same, but I quickly adjusted and enjoyed how she brought everyone to life.

Shout out to my friend, Terrie, whose wonderful review put this one on my radar. It was just what I needed after two ‘blah’ reads!

★★★★ ½

Thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, NetGalley and author Sarah Ready for this ALC to review. My opinions are given honestly and freely. This book is now available!

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never look at a vibrating phone the same way again. Thank’s a lot, Ready.

Gemma Jacobs decides to have a baby and she is not going to wait to be in a relationship. Power to her!! Unconventional queen!! Gemma has wanted a child for a long time, but due to health issues, she was told she would never have one. Her family and other people made her feel weird for being a single woman with no children, and because of this, she is finally motivated to do what she can to have a child. Unfortunately, due to biology, she needs sperm. She decides to ask Josh Lewenthal, a family friend, and the guy who “deflowered” her.

This was really funny. Honestly, I would recommend this purely for a good laugh. I love that she spoke her mind to the men who thought she was desperate to just date anyone.

I’m not sure I like her reasons for choosing Josh, but at least the father was going to be someone she knew and was comfortable with. Their relationship developed over time, and they were just cute.

Some parts of this book wasn't predictable for me, but some parts were still a bit predictable. Ready does a great job in revealing that the road to becoming pregnant in this way can be a heartbreaking experience. She really had me laughing at one minute and wanting to cry in the next.

I love that we get to see other parts of Gemma’s life like the development of her relationship with her family and friends. We also learn more about Josh and his relationship with his father and what he enjoys doing.

I didn’t really like that she was motivated to have a child after realizing how a lot of people viewed her, but to be fair, you don’t realize a lot of things till some people provoke you.

Overall, a cute romance, some sad scenes, and lots of humor.
Also guys, please don’t date your boss. Just don’t.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (audio) has everything you’re looking for in a rom-com.

More than anything, Gemma desperately wants a baby. Dealing with infertility problems, she’s turned to IVF to give her the chance she needs. OK, she tells herself, I can do this! Now it’s just a matter of finding the proper donor. Hmmmm…. Decisions, decisions🤔. Does she go with the anonymous donor or would she consider turning to Josh, her brothers’ best friend. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s drop-dead gorgeous and smart. He would make the perfect candidate. But would he agree?

I adored Gemma and the inner-strength she displayed as others were quick to criticize her weight, and infertility among other things. But Gemma doesn’t flinch! She is a woman who knows what she wants and is going to get it (one way or another).

The banter was witty and clever. The romance was totally believable, filled with plenty of chemistry and spice. 🌶🌶. The perfect formula for a great rom-com.

I highly recommend the audio. Narrated by the highly talented Erin Mallon, (my favorite narrator). When I noticed she was the voice talent I immediately downloaded this audio.

In fact, I would listen to anything this woman narrated. (yes, even a phone book!) Fortunately the equally talented Sarah Ready wrote a truly exceptional rom com that immediately dropped me into the lives of Josh and Gemma and kept me rooting for them from start to finish.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley Audio and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very upbeat and amusing audiobook!🤰💞

When I first saw the cover my response was "eh".

When I read my first GR friend's 5-star review, I thought "good for you!".

IVF rom-com? Umm, haha...no thank you. I think I'll pass.

It was not until the 4th or maybe 5th FIVE stars review that it hit me and I went into panic mode "Omg, I think I'm going to miss out!"

So if you're still pondering whether or not to give it a try.... do yourself a favor and get this wonderful and uplifting audiobook! This is a second chance romance, LOL funny, great tension with charming characters. I absolutely adored this book!

Thank you Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC and Netgalley for this audiobook.

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and unputdownable! I was not expecting to love this book so much, but it was delightful! I love Gemma’s character and how perfectly imperfect she was, and Josh is totally swoon worthy. The storyline was cute, and I love that it brought awareness to infertility and IVF. There were some laugh out loud moments mixed with some tearjerker moments. It was exactly the read I was needing right now. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you, Net Galley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you GR friend Tina for recommending this fun audio! As Tina stated, “it was just what I needed”.

Gemma Jacobs is your basic workaholic who finds herself approaching her mid-thirties with no man in sight. She’s always wanted a baby, and she’s realizing she may never find a man to settle down with. She works for an egomaniac self-help guru who is a creep as well.

Gemma has only one man who she knows and trusts to ask if he’d be willing to be a sperm donner. Enter Josh Lewenthal, her brother’s BFF. She’s known him all her life. He’s been to all the family affairs and is a part of the family.

Gemma makes the proposition to Josh, a purely business proposition. Josh agrees and the silliness begins. Gemma becomes involved in a support group for women like her. What a hoot these women are.

Anyway, this is a beautiful escape which will have you giggling out loud. It’s a fun and delightful story, not too sappy (for me) and definitely hilarious.

Narrator Erin Mallon is fantastic.

Thank you Tina!!

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and hot brother's best friend romance, which tackled some serious topics

Firstly thanks to Roz for recommending this book to me! I enjoyed it for the most part, and it helped me to finally kick my reading slump!

Sarah Ready was a new author to me, and I liked her writing style here, it flowed well and drew me in quickly. The story itself was sweet and predictable, and although a little flawed, it was endearing enough for me to overlook some things.

I was pleased that the book tackled IVF and also miscarriages, but I wouldn't advise reading this if you are infertile, going through IVF or have suffered a miscarriage recently because there are some things which may upset you, and that are a little unbelievable. For example, the being able to book in for the IVF so quickly and easily without having to wait.. on what planet?! Also the main character's lack of knowledge of IVF going in. She knew nothing about it, and did no research, which was irritating! Saying that, it was refreshing to read about discussions on fertility, miscarriages and endometriosis, and some of it felt real, knowing quite a few couples who struggled to get pregnant, and had IVF. There are definitely highs and lows, heartbreak and joy, and it's not an easy road to go down, but I know friends who happily have had success. I was pleased that Gemma and Josh didn't magically get pregnant without the IVF at the end *side eyes that other book*.

I thought the main characters had good chemistry and steam, with that slow-burn longing which gave me the feels and made me swoon. The romance was sweet, and I adored Josh (why are all love interests called Josh btw?!!). Although he didn't have a pov, I still felt like I got to know him.

Some of the humour was very silly (gold catsuit, boytoy etc) but most of it broke up the emotional scenes nicely.

The friends were likeable, if not a little caricature, and I would happily read about their stories!

Things which soured the story for me was the fat shaming, and was Gemma even overweight?! The infertility shaming, where the whole town seemed to know about Gemma's struggles and judged her for it?! Where her family were really horrible to her about it. I know this can happen, but it wasn't nice reading about it. I had a real problem with Gemma's mum, who was toxic. Interfering and nasty doesn't even cover it! There was a real lack of communication there, and although she redeemed herself in the story, I still feel salty about her treatment of her daughter.

The gross men and community, who made Gemma feel worthless was upsetting, but again, I acknowledge that some people do act like this.

The inspirational quotes, which really could just be copied and pasted from the internet, but played a vital part in a plot twist..

And Gemma...bless her. A lot of people will not like her at all. She was immature, annoying and a bit of a mess! So flawed, insecure and blinkered. She did annoy me at times, but I didn't mind her. She felt like a work in progress, and definitely needed to grow up!

So although I devoured this book, and mostly enjoyed it, I did have a few issues with it, and don't seem to love it as much as others do. However, if you're looking for an easy romance read, and can suspend belief, and go with the flow, this might be for you, it was fun and quite heart-warming in the end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for making this ARC available as a read now download, in exchange for an honest review

[Allison Faught · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book.
It was so cute and the characters were just awesome. Sometimes love stories can be so OTT, cheesy, and eye-rolling, but this book was a great mix of everything!
Surprisingly, there were a couple of twists and turns along the way that I wasn’t expecting. The book was utterly unputdownable! And of course, the message the story sends was a great touch too.
A few complaints (Warning: Rant ahead)-
Gemma always referred to her child she was trying for as ‘she’. Throughout most of the book, it was never even acknowledged that she could potentially have a boy. I can understand feeling like you’re having a girl vs. a boy while being pregnant, but there was zero explanation as to why she was so hellbent on only having a girl. I suppose that rubs me the wrong way as I have a close friend who isn’t able to conceive and she has made it so clear that she doesn’t care if she had a boy or a girl. Just being a mom would make her so beyond happy. So, I guess that seems a little out of character for someone who desperately wants to be a parent.
Second, and lastly, I realllllly felt like Gemma’s mom (although portrayed as a protagonist) fat-shamed Gemma….like a few times throughout the book. I kept thinking ‘Is this how people talk to their daughters?? 😲’ Based on the front cover (despite her being pregnant) and especially an illustration inside the book, Gemma is probably the furthest thing from being considered overweight. Not cool or funny.
Honestly, I really did love this book. My complaints encouraged me to give this 4.25 ⭐️ instead of 5, but if you can look past those discrepancies, you’ll love the book too!
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital copy of this book!
4.25 ⭐️

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars for Josh and Gemma Make a Baby's audiobook.

If you are looking for a romance, don't look any further. I adored this book! It was sweet and charming.

Gemma is ready for the next step in her life. She wants to have a baby. She has stage 4 endometriosis and she is done waiting for the right guy. Her marriage to Jeremy was a big disappointment and left her with a sour taste for romance. Adding salt on the wound, Jeremy has remarried and is on his third child.

Gemma needs an IVF partner and she asks her brother's best friend, Josh to be the donor. At first, Josh says no but then he changes his mind. Josh has been in Gemma's life since they were teenagers. Josh was her first too. A detail she has never forgotten.

Once Gemma decides on taking the next step on IVF, her boss Ian, who is a guru in self-help, asks her on a date. He is hot and handsome and she has liked him for the last seven years but is he what Gemma needs? Or is it Josh who is going with her to every doctor's appointment and makes her laugh when she is stressed?

Josh is hands down one of my favorite book boyfriends. He was there for Gemma all the way and I found him to be sweet, supportive, and super sexy.

Gemma was so much fun to read. She has so many great scenes like the koi pond, the pumpkin dress, the humble pie. Too many to count.

I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby so much. It's was hard to let go of these characters. I will miss them.

I did the audio for this novel and I thought it was phenomenal. I wanted to listen to it all at once, it was that compelling. The chapters just flew by.

Trigger warning: Infertility.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Swift & Lewis Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: This delivers exactly what it promises. So if you are on the lookout for a typical romcom that goes exactly as you expected, this one is for you.

Story:

Gemma is a 32 year old divorcee who is "average in every way". She has a great job working for famous self-help guru Ian Fortune, she lives in a lovely apartment in Manhattan, and she has a loving and (mostly) supportive family. The only tiny issue in her life is that Mr. Right is nowhere in sight and her mom won’t stop setting her up with weirdos. Gemma decides that the solution to her happiness is not a guy but a baby. Unfortunately, after an infertility diagnosis when she was younger, the only chance she has of conceiving is to go for IVF. And when it comes to search for a potential sperm donor, who better than Josh – the laidback, handsome, funny and dependable best friend of her brother.

Will Josh agree? (You know the answer.)
Will Gemma find what she’s looking for? (You know the answer.)
Will there be a baby at the end? (Well, duhhh!!! You know the answer!)
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Gemma.

Let’s create a checklist of the qualities a contemporary romcom typically has.

✔ A goofy and clumsy heroine who is unaware of everything other than her own needs.

✔ A sexy rich guy who's secretly in love with the goofy girl but she doesn’t know it. (Duh!)

✔ A creepy hot guy whom the heroine has a crush on but who is actually a douchebag, unbeknown to her. (Duuuhhhhh!!!!)

✔ A large and crazy family who are both endearing and irritating, and who love to poke their nose in affairs none of their concern.

✔ Close friends of the heroine, each of whom fits into their own stereotypical trope: the gorgeous rich girl who is desperate for true love, the nature-loving vegan who wears remedy beads and meditates and follows weird natural healing ideas, and the smart foul-mouthed woman who uses her bluster to cover a heart of gold.

✔ Too many over-the-top situations that would never happen in real life. (I mean, seriously! If you feel like you are going to puke and there’s someone standing in front of you, how difficult is it to turn your head and puke anywhere but on him!?!??! Sheesh!)

Basically, there's hardly any romcom trope left untouched. (Oh, one more item to tick - there’s also a cheating ex!) Where this book attempts to be different and succeeds is that hardly any romcom focusses on having a baby. Most only focus on the couple. So the struggles faced in conceiving a baby other than the natural method, and the heartbreaks and uncertainties associated with this process are very well brought out. Also, every chapter starts with a cheesy self-help quote. These are fun, especially as they represent the chapter and Gemma’s thoughts perfectly. Some of the scenes between Josh and Gemma are really cute and heartfelt.

At the same time, the characters follow the computing acronym of WYSIWYG – “What You See Is What You Get”. Everyone is exactly as expected, there are no surprises. Josh was the typical good guy, Ian was the typical bad guy. Gemma was a bit too self-centred and rude for my liking. I am not a fan of Sophie Kinsella but at least when she writes a clumsy lead character, she still makes her loveable. Gemma did not win my heart in spite of her struggles because of the way she treated everyone in her life. Some of the secondary characters are jerks. I couldn’t understand Gemma’s mother’s attitude, for instance. She comes off even more self-centred and narrow-minded than Gemma. Genetic flaw, maybe?

Also, there are too many over-the-top scenes. Every modern romcom has at least one such scene, I don’t know why. This one crossed my level of permissible stupid content.

Basically, you will get everything that you expect from this genre. And if that’s all that you are looking for right down to the predictable happy ending, you will enjoy this book. Those looking for steamy scenes will be mighty happy.

I heard the 9.5 hours long audiobook as narrated by Erin Mallon. She is a brilliant narrator and she certainly enacts the scenes well. She is very expressive and every emotion shines perfectly. I wasn't a fan of her male voices, but no other complaints. (Anyone who can narrate a steamy scene with full gusto and passion without bursting into giggles earns my admiration.)

3.5 stars from me, rounding up to 4 because of the fabulous narration.


My thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and NetGalley for the ALC of “Josh and Gemma Make a Baby”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.




***********************
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[toointofiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When I was a little kid, I worshipped Josh Lewenthal, now, I couldn't care less about him, I just need his sperm."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️,5/5

❗This is a spoiler-free ARC review from NetGalley❗


I found this little delight on NetGalley about a month or so ago, but I just now realised that it has actually been officially published a little over two months ago. I don't really know what the deal is with all that but that's okay. No harm, no foul. I do still have to publish this review on NetGalley, however, so instead of writing a spoiler-review like I always do with published books, I will keep it spoiler-free.


I thought this was going to be a story with the pregnancy trope. I was actually looking forward to it, I love that trope (even though most don't), but this was actually more of a pre-pregnancy trope. I really liked it regardless, although the cover misled me a little. No matter, this was one of the most hilarious, adorable, wholesome and heartbreaking books I've ever read. Beautiful. Just beautiful. I also found it really informative. There's so much I didn't know about fertility treatments and all the trouble couples must go through to create a family. This book also addresses other important social issues, such as the stigma of infertility that people are forced to carry with them, men and women alike, or the judgement on women who are single in their thirties. The romance was absolutely incredible, btw. Slow-burn, sweet, and torturous. Exactly my style. While the romance was slow-burn, the story was anything but. It got to the point right away and kept a steady fast pace from beginning to end.

I love love loved the characters. Josh and Gemma were A D O R A B L E!!! The chemistry between them was off the charts, their pining was heartbreaking...but also kind of funny too 😝😝, and oooh the thigh-clenching sexy scenes 😍😍. They really check all of the romance boxes, and they all mixed together beautifully. Josh is hilarious, lovable, loyal, and so so so cuuuuuute 😭😭. Gemma is basically the human equivalent of sunshine, but with a dark side. I couldn't have asked for a more delightful main character. They had one of the sweetest, cheesiest grand gestures I've ever read. I was left delighted and cringing at the same time. It was a bit of a cliche but absolutely loved it, anyway.

All the secondary characters were incredibly well written. Gemma's family, the friends she made along the way. There was, however, one character among all the others, who stole my heart and she goes by the name of Brook. She is this hilarious, unfiltered lawyer that I am deeply in love with now. The kind of character who offers comedic relief during tense situations. The entire book was filled with delightful comedy and she was definitely one of the highlights.


Yes, I would definitely recommend this book.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 32-year-old divorcee Gemma Jacobs decides she’s ready to have a baby via IVF, she enlists the one person she feels not only comfortable with, but no possible romantic attachment to, Josh Lewenthal. Her brother’s best friend and the boy who “took her virginity”, Josh’s current situation in life (lives in his dad’s basement) makes him the perfect candidate to help her make a baby - or so she thinks. But what happens when Gemma realizes there is more to Josh and her feelings for him than meet the eye?

This was a much cuter book and with more depth than I had anticipated going in. To be completely honest, reading books about IVF can sometimes be difficult for me. Having gone through it myself, I’m extremely critical of the way it’s portrayed down to the minuscule details surrounding each and every part of the process. I’ve read some books that have driven me crazy with the inaccuracies, so much so, that even if it was a good book otherwise, I usually wind up not recommending it, nor rating it very highly.

This book, however, was nothing like that. I do not know if the author herself has been through IVF or if she has a close relative that has, but the details in this book were pretty spot on which was very refreshing. The story felt original and the pace of the plot kept me engaged from start to finish.

The characters were extremely relatable and well developed. There were times I felt like I was going through the process right along with them, which again made me very happy that the IVF process was described accurately. And Josh and Gemma, well they just made my romantic heart so happy.

TW: IVF process and miscarriage described in detail.

This book releases tomorrow! Be sure to check it out for something charming and unexpected. I for one will definitely reading more books by this author.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ Josh and Gemma #1
Publication date ~ January 25, 2022
Publisher ~ Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC
Est Page Count ~ 371
Audio length ~ 9 hours 29 minutes
Narrator ~ Erin Mallon
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ brother's best friend, best friend's sister, infertility, IVF, miscarriages, slow burn, minimal steamage

Gemma (32) really wants a baby to raise on her own. She decides to do IVF and asks her brothers best friend, Josh, to be her sperm donor. He agrees and although they have known each other for years and actually lost their virginity together, how well do they really know each other? Many assumptions are made and we all know what happens when you assume...

Josh has book boyfriend potential with his easy going, charming, sweet and jokester demeanor. I do kinda wish it was written in dual point of view, so we would've known how he was feeling through the whole process and just his feelings in general.

I do love me a rom-com and this one was a delightfully heartwarming slow burn. So cute!

Narration notes:
She was perfect and I can tell why she is an award winner!

*Thanks to Netgalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC and Sarah Ready for the my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review**

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Rozberry🍓 · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread 4/10/24

read 12/31/21


🎉 Happy Release Day(1/25/22) 🎉

(Don’t forget to sign-up for Sarah’s newsletter for a bonus chapter in Josh’s POV. The link is provided at the end btw. It’s so worth it 😍🥰)

4.25-.5 ‘Grim & his Jewel’ stars


Um…



I’m almost dumbstruck. Cause I did NOT see this one coming — not even a little!(especially what I consider a middle of the road trope for me - bff’s little sister/older brother’s bff)

That was sooooooo unexpectedly a good read to cap the end of the year off with.


I started using netgalley this past year & tbh none of the new-to-me authors that have accepted my requests have really knocked my socks off…until now 🥰. I was just browsing the romance ARCs a couple of weeks when the cover caught my eye & the description sounded alright. Not thinking too much of it at first since I had some more pressing reads in mind to get to first, but I got to J&GMAB late the night before, expectations thoroughly curbed at the start. It wasn’t long before I devoured it in what I’d consider more like a sitting & a half total. It’s been a while since I felt like that with a new to me author.


Josh & Gemma Make A Baby totally gave me the feels.

Such a sweet & swoony slowburn…so funny(like genuine lol. The whole ‘boy toy’ situation is one of the biggest book laughs I’ve had in a long time 😂🤣) & a much more emotional ride than I anticipated. Sure, there’s some angst woven in, but I wouldn’t consider it too OTT. So here’s the thing with the latter, Gemma has been through a lot in her adult life. She’s still a work-in-progress & has some real growing to do as a person to move on from it. Which she does through the book & that part of the journey is bound to have a few potholes & bumps. By the end, each part of it just made that much sweeter when Josh & Gemma reached the start of their life together & the start of their own family.

For a single POV(Gemma’s), SR does a wonderful job letting the reader get to know Josh through Gemma as they get reacquainted & become closer as they fall for each other. That’s not easy to do, so seriously…

That doesn’t translate as often as I would like with single POV romance. All that in mind, get ready to fall in love with Josh 😍. He’s one of the most lovable heroes I’ve read all year. Gemma’s so relatable even though it might be a little frustrating when her insecurities rear up at less than opportune times, but it’s honest. After her history, it makes sense emotional intimacy wouldn’t be simple.

The negatives are few in number. Of those few, I’d say there’s only one two worth mentioning imo. On their own, most of the inspirational quotes that Gemma loves to use that she’s gotten from her boss(a “self-help guru”) could definitely be perceived as cheesy — I’m not about to pretend they weren’t —, BUT there turns out to be a purpose to all the quotes. Nothing else struck with me much in a negative way.
**I got to thinking I probably should mention Gemma’s mom. In terms of Gemma’s dating life in the beginning, her mom definitely does have a knack saying insensitive things & her idea of ‘help’ wasn’t exactly helpful. I’m not one to mince words about toxic family members. HOWEVER this is one of the rare times I actually believe she meant well, but was a bit emotionally dense. Once Gemma expressed how that made her feel to her mom, I think she(her mom) gained awareness, changed her tune & was actually sorry.**

I’m not trying to imply this “reinvents the wheel” by any means, but for my first Sarah Ready book, (I know I’m basically a broken record here) I am so pleasantly surprised & impressed. Definitely won’t be my last 😊. In fact, I’m gonna plead my case to Ms. Ready — please, please do like a time rewind series with all of Gemma’s new friends (from her infertility support group) relationships with their hubbies sound intriguing. I wanna read how they met & fell in love too. All 3 were such a likable cast of side characters, Carly, Brooke & Hannah, without sounding redundant in their personalities. Then the epilogues can fast forward to after this one & we can see how everyone is doing. 🤞

I might tidy this review up some later, but for now, let me leave you with if any of the above piques your interest, J&GMAB is definitely worth picking up.

⛔️ Trigger Warning: ⛔️ infertility (the obvious if you’ve read the synopsis), loss, miscarriage, sort of a triangle(nothing too heavy or significant happens with OM. no sex on or off page.)

**This arc was provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[NZLisaM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this contemporary romantic comedy.

At thirty-two, Gemma Jacobs, sick of waiting for Mr. Right, decides to have a baby on her own. She approaches her brother’s best friend – Josh Lewenthal – because he possesses all the traits she wants in an offspring – handsome, intelligent, athletic. He’s also a notorious womaniser, and Gemma may have been seduced by his charms as a teenager, but she has no intention of falling in love with him now. All she wants from Josh is his sperm.

Remember Stephanie Plum and Joe Morelli’s backstory from the first chapter of One For the Money? Well, Gemma’s and Josh’s was pretty much the same, except Gemma didn’t hit Josh with her car, after he took her virginity, and then ghosted her.

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was light, entertaining, and enjoyable. It also contained some hilarious, laugh out loud moments, although I did think that the two encounters at the fertility clinic involving a Neanderthal and his girlfriend took things too far. Gemma’s struggles with infertility were realistic, raw, and emotional, and my heart went out to her. I loved that the book was well rounded, and didn’t just focus on the romance, but all aspects of Gemma’s life – career, friend’s, family. Speaking of, I adored Gemma’s family, and her new friend’s. Even the children were well written with distinctive personalities from one another. The obstacles to Gemma and Josh getting together, including the love triangle, completely worked for me, and were exactly what I like in my romances.

But, I did have several issues with Gemma, especially as the book wore on. At first glance I warmed to her character, who was somewhat of a cross between <>Stephanie Plum<> and Bridget Jones, but she quickly dissolved into self-centred, and immature. I hated the way she treated Josh, and that she never made any attempt to get to know the real him during the course of the novel, and that she made assumptions about him with no evidence to back it up. And, I honestly have no idea what he saw in her, and why he fell for her, so it became harder to root for their relationship. Frankly Josh, you can do better than Gemma! Since this was a hate to love romance I fully expected Gemma to be dismissive of Josh in the beginning, but her attitude and judgement of him was more prevalent in the second half, which was weird. It also irked me that Gemma was obsessed with having a girl who she could dress up etc, constantly referring to her future baby as “her” and “she”, as this seemed like a selfish reason to have a child.

There’s a second book out early next year, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, but to be honest is a sequel to a romance ever really warranted after the couple get together? Although, I’m not surprised that Josh and Gemma would have future issues, just hope Gemma is more supportive of Josh the second time around. Personally, another book about these two doesn’t interest me, but with the right characters, I would definitely give this author another try.

[Syndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem! A real gem. I can not stop smiling and laughing.It makes my day on boring weekday on my office desk. I usually weary picking an author that is new to me. This time, I do not regret picking up Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. Miss Ready certainly an author on my watch list. I will surely looking forward for her next book.

Making baby is not something new in romance. But in this book, Miss Ready putting more than just romance. She is also putting inspirational quotes to make our live more optimist. The quotes certainly make my gloomy days more sunny. The banter, the conversation between Gemma and Josh are hilarious and sarcastic. I like the dynamic between Gemma and her family.
I certainly can relate to Gemma being the youngest in the family.

Bravo Miss Ready.

5 stars

[Lau ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby is the romance between Gemma, who is trying to have a baby using IVF, and her brother’s best friend Josh. While infertility is a painful subject to talk about, the author managed this book to be light and fun using Gemma’s fresh humor. The writing style was the kind I could read for hours without an interesting plot, because it kept making me smile. But the story was not boring, so it was twice as good.


The dynamics between Josh and Gemma were goals. I loved them together. Josh was always kidding, Gemma was extremely funny and they were constantly making each other laugh and smile. This way, the hard and stressful experience of trying to get pregnant was easier to endure. I also loved the friendship created between the members of the infertility group. It was refreshing to see a group of women going through a difficult time sticking together, supporting and teasing each other as they have been friends for years.


“Gemma? What’s up? You alright?”
“I need your sperm,” I blurt out.
Josh stars to choke, then coughs. His face turns red and hits his chest.
Oh no. I’ve killed him.
()“You want to have sex?” He looks really confused. “Gemma, you really have to work on your pick-up lines.”


I need Josh in my life, he was so precious without being flawless! Handsome and clever and fun and with the kindest heart. He made comics for a living and there were little drawings throughout the story ‘made by him’. I’m torn because, as I said before, I liked Gemma’s POV, but I felt like I would have loved to see Josh too since unrequited love trope is my kryptonite. He was head over heels in love with Gemma, and she was oblivious and dating OM who was clearly an as*** even if she couldn’t see it. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I saw the twist coming or that I don’t like the OM trope, but I think Gemma was oblivious enough to keep the slow burn without the need of a third wheel.


However, the thing that really bothered me was Gemma was OTT judgmental, and she was thirty-two. Has she not learned anything in twenty years? I loved her POV because she was funny and positive, but there were a couple of scenes where I wanted to slap her in the face, hug Josh and tell him she didn’t deserve his awesomeness. Luckily, she realized it -yes, character development-, and changed it. But the drama-free lover in me was still bothered.


Gemma’s poor judgment and the OM aside, this book was a joy to read. It was cute, heartwarming, unique and so much fun! I spent one afternoon reading it, just smiling and laughing with the characters. And I’ve found a new book BF!!✨


I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

this started so so good..I loved it and I thought it would be a five-star read..
and then everything went to shit...



I can't remember when was the last time I was this angry at the characters...


plot

Gemma is 32, divorced, feels insecure about her curvy body, dresses as she really doesn't care, and her mother is trying to set her up with all these losers in their small town. She works and lives in New York for a life guru Ian whats his last name. Ian is the person who invented all these feel-good quotes. Gemma's job is I guess to post them on social media and make presentations. This douchebag Ian is her crush. After whatever reason or maybe learning her ex-husband is expecting his third child and another awful setup by her mom, Gemma decides she will have a baby on her own.

Sounds great so far, right?!

whats's happens next

Well, Gemma decides that her sperm donor should be Josh. He is her brother's best friend, she has known him her whole life and she lost her virginity to him. She would never date him because she has all the assumptions about him, but he has been indirectly in her life through her brother...so that works, I guess..

plot nonsense happens, of course

* why she didn't ask Ian to be her sperm donor as she starts dating her boss, who she is crushing on and has a mild obsession with

he is of course the HUGE ASSHOLE and everyone sees it except her
but that is not here nor there

* inspirational quotes like wtf is with that, the way she is fascinated with them, and thinks Ian invented them

* very confused with this whole life guru mumbo jumbo like whos life he changed, I don't get it

* I don't know much about the American medical system but I know that IVF is expensive and the nonchalant way she goes about all of it was a little bit eyebrow-raising

* how in all the time she knows him Gemma never reads Josh's comics and just assumes he is a poor dude because he lives with his dad, like girl he is your brother best friend and you work on social media and you never knew he is a successful comic author



characters

Gemma
judgmental & superficial
obtuse
annoying

Ian
slapable

Josh
deserved better

other side characters
very stereotypical

overall this book gave me "every woman is validated by giving birth" vibes and all the behavior of people in the small town somewhere near New York where Gemma's family lives is absolutely obnoxious, she is body shamed and judged because she is "chubby, a divorced woman in her early 30"



and no one can love her, I'm sorry what????!!!

why not one star
this book has its moments of laughter and cuteness
the pace was also great
solid start & idea behind the story

favorite thing about the book

I listen to this as audio and Erin Mallon was exceptional.

I really really wanted for this to be successful reading and for almost half of the book, I thought it will be... Nevertheless, do we count it as a win if the book made us feel? Even if those feelings were negative?



* this was an arc copy reading and all opinions are my own
Thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of the book

[exploraDora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting Josh and Gemma Make a Baby to be a fun rom-Com, and it did not disappoint.

The story follows Gemma, a 32 year old divorcée, who realized she's doesn’t need to be in a relationship in order to fulfill her dream of having children and a family, she’ll just need to get a little creative. So, on New Year's Eve she makes her resolution to have a baby. But because she struggles with infertility issues, she decides to go through IVF and is now in need of a donor.

Enter Josh, her brother's best friend. She has known him her whole life, he is a nice guy and he is also very handsome. So he seems like the perfect guy for the job.

I thought Josh and Gemma had such a wonderful dynamic as friends, but also when they start flirting and are slowly developing feelings for each other. Technically speaking, their romance is a friend's-to-lovers (which is my favorite trope), but it's also a little more than that because they have a short romantic past as well. Either way, I loved seeing them grow closer during Gemma's process of getting pregnant.

There were many cute and humorous moments throughout the story, the characters were all likeable (except Ian, who was a douche) and I very much enjoyed the writing style. I also think I might have liked this book even more due to listening to the audio version. Highly recommend it! Erin Mallon is one of my favorite narrators and she did an amazing job, as usual. I binged this in one day - so my faith in romance has been temporarily restored.

Thanks to Netgalley and Swift Lewis Publishing LLC for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Arini · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars

I’m all over the place conflicted about this book, but one thing for sure it should’ve been titled “Josh and Gemma Make Cowards of Themselves” cause that’s what they are. OR what about “How Josh Makes Gemma C*me in the Middle of Central Park Using a Vibrating iPhone” cause I’ve never read anything more unsanitary and ridiculously inSpiRed.

When I was a little kid, I worshiped Josh Lewenthal, now, I couldn’t care less about him, I just need his sperm. ==> Even this hilarious, but self-serving opening (literally the first sentence of this book) already had me feelin’ some typa way that didn’t exactly sit right with me.

1)
Something about the writing rubbed me off the wrong way. This was a romcom with a storyline that hinged on the h’s (Gemma) infertility. I don’t want to read a book that discusses something important only to have it glossed over or treated without the proper attention and care that it deserves. At the same time, seeing as this is a romcom, I didn’t want this book to be depressing either. So, while I appreciated the humor, I also felt at odds with it. I know the author was just poking fun, but some of the things that were said made me uncomfortable. For example,

“How are you? How are you?” he asked. He pumped my hand from across the desk. Then, “What a stupid question. You’re infertile, that’s how you are. Well don’t worry, we’ll get you pregnant in no time. Would you like some water?”

This was a scene where the h was having her first consultation with her doctor (Dr. Ingraham) regarding her infertile status and what to do about it (IVF). That dialogue was said matter-of-factly, and it was funny. But if I was the one in that situation, I’m not sure I could hold back my flinch either. It was like being slapped in the face, but then as an after thought to make the remark less sting, you were given a hope. Other than that, I loved all the explanations on this topic cause now I feel like I know a little bit more about women’s fertility and the process of undertaking an IVF.

2)
Every single character in this book was a judgemental asshole. Well, mostly Gemma’s family and their neighbors. All the fat shaming and infertility shaming were distasteful. It’s not okay that random people are mocking you for your poor fashion sense, for being a divorcee, and for being infertile, but when it’s your own parents??? That hurts and is unacceptable. I hated that Gemma’s mom was constantly trying to set her up. Not only that, she also made it seem like Gemma deserved less than the best (because she was imperfect) by setting her up with perverts and sleazeballs.

“I’ve invited someone for you to meet at the party,” my mom said. “His name is Mort. He’s got a wonderful career. Makes scads of money. And better yet, he’s mature, only fifty mind you, and he doesn’t want kids. Not a one. He’s perfect for you, Gem.”

[...]

“Mimi said that it’s known around town that you’re desperate. No one wants to date a mid-thirties chubby divorcee with questionable fashion sense and a bum uterus. Gregory Butkis might not come to the party. Mimi said he’s looking for a wife, not a pity date. I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t want to tell you this, but Mort’s the best you can do.”

To make things worse, she would make offhand comments about her eating habits or her physique as well. I know she had good intentions, but in my opinion she always had a tendency to say things that were meant to be empathetic but they came out hurtful or offensive instead. I also hated whenever Gemma’s sister said “I wish I had what you had. No concerns.” like it was supposed to make Gemma feel better about her predicament and there was something to be gratetul for in being infertile when all she’s ever wanted and yearned for was the opposite.

3)
The romance was STUPID, and both Josh & Gemma were COWARDS. The way Josh quietly pined and love Gemma was sweet, but also heartbreaking and lowkey pathetic. He was the kind of man who let things slide and let something good past by him, and that just wouldn’t do for me. To be fair, he’d always known that Gemma didn’t think too highly of him, so he made it his goal to be the man she deserved. Which was noble and all, but even when the dynamic between them started to shift, he still didn’t confess his feelings or try to pursue Gemma. And that was frustrating.

Gemma was no different. She was a judgemental cowards when it came to Josh and her feelings for him. I didn’t like the way she approached him to be her sperm donor. Her proposal sounded like he was just some tool to get what she wanted. She was judgy about his personality and lifestyle just because he was laid back, always joked, and never took things seriously. He also (temporarily) lived with his dad, and he made & sold comic books for a living. Gemma obviously concluded that he was broke. I mean, WTH. Not our heroine buying into stereotypes. 🙄

It was baffling how Gemma could be so shallow and blind about Josh while dating the fakest, creepiest dude (not to mention, his cliché lines were so cringey) on the planet (Ian). How ironic that she didn’t want to fall in love with a loser but she was dating a poser. I understand that she was afraid, but throughout the book I felt like she was being selfish, yet she was punishing herselt at the same time (??) All things considered, she did open her eyes and eventually have a bit of character development. I liked her much better in the last 1/3 of the book.

4) *TW/Spoilers*
There was an on page miscarriage scene in this book, and it had me feeling all kinds of emotional. It was horrifying cause it happened in the middle of the day when Gemma was working. It was angering (for me) because Gemma didn’t immediately do something about it. She was just standing there stupefied and kept doing her job. The fact that no one noticed she was bleeding, gah! I mean, she was wearing tights and maybe people simply couldn’t tell, but still. After it happened, and she had it confirmed by her doctor, it was just so painfully heart shattering.

5) *Likes*
5.1. Even though I think Josh & Gemma didn’t interact often enough, all the scenes they were in were entertaining; 5.2. The romance wasn’t completely stupid cause it was also full of silly antics (but in a good way); 5.3. I really liked Gemma’s female friends from her IVF support group cause they were a total hoot; 5.4. It was kinda icky that Josh was (in a way) capitalizing on his love life through his web comics, but it was also lowkey swoony that he expressed his love for Gemma through them; 5.5. I wasn’t a fan of the corny grand gesture itself, but I loved that Gemma was the one making it.

“Love is the best gift we ever have the privilege to give.”⁣

So this book wasn’t a winner. Many people were put off by the title, but it was actually what piqued my interest. Unfortunately, it was the content that put me off. I think the writing/humor (some of it) was off putting. The characters were awful. The family (mother/daughter) relationship was toxic. And the romance was pitiful. Pining can be a delightful torture, but mostly it’s exhausting.

That’s not to say Josh and Gemma Make a Baby didn’t have any redeeming qualities cause there were indeed a few things that I enjoyed. It managed to be lighthearted and cute when it counted, but it was also quite heart rending that it moved me close to tears. This was my first book by this author, and I’m not so inclined to try more since I don’t think her writing is for me, but we’ll see.

(Read as an Audiobook)

[lazybookconqueror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, hilarious, perfectly balanced, and full of banter.

Joshua Templeman from The Hating Game and Josh Im from Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating have brand new competition. There is a new swoony hero in town and he goes by the name of Josh Lewenthal.

Gemma is thirty-two and going through a bit of a crisis. She married and divorced early after finding her husband in a compromising position on her dining room table. And since then, she hasn't been great at trusting people and building relationships.

But, what she does know is that she really wants a baby. After an infertile diagnosis, she learns that there is a chance for her to conceive through IVF. And when thinking about a donor her mind immediately shifts to Josh Lewenthal, her brother's best friend. After all, Josh has always been around, she's known him for twenty-four years, he's like a house plant, always in the periphery of her life.

While going through the process Gemma learns a great deal about herself, makes delightfully eccentric friends, and discovers a whole new hidden side to Josh, that just might turn her world upside down.

This book was just such a perfect little read. Yes, the whole Ian vs Josh thing resembled Bridget Jones a whole lot. That particular plot was a bit on the nose, and the entire thing with the quotes was a tad too much. However, the characters and overall plot were so endearing that it was easy for me to dismiss some of the hiccups.

The chemistry was sizzling, the longing perfectly balanced, the slow burn expertly constructed, and the brother's best friend trope applied with mastery. If you enjoy a laugh out loud, full of emotion, and creatively written contemporary romance, this book is definitely for you.

TW: Infertility, miscarriage, loss.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I have such conflicted feelings about this book. I loved a lot about it. Specifically the ending (it was perfect) and the incredible hero. Based on the blurb I thought it was going to be a lot of fun, and in some ways it was. In other ways, it was a little triggering and unrealistic On page miscarriage that was so hard to read… and as someone who’s been through 10 years of infertility and different treatments and procedures there was some definite unrealistic things. I did enjoy the writing and the some of the side characters were great. I wish the heroine would have opened her eyes a little sooner. Overall this was more enjoyable than not and I’ll definitely check out more from this author in the future.

Audio book source: Netgalley
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Erin Mallon
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9h 29m

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️

“I’m afraid of him. I realize that now. I’m afraid of Josh Lewenthal. Not because he’s horrible, or a cheater, or a bad person, but because of exactly the opposite. Because I could easily fall completely, totally, irrevocably in love with him.

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.

“You should always believe the universe is going to give you good things, because sooner or later, it will.”

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😭😭

“I thought if I had a baby, that I could love her without fear, but that’s not true. Love always involves risk. It involves risking hurt.”

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.

“He tastes just like I remember, like sweet longing, laughter, and promised pleasure.”

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.

“Suddenly it hits me. Each 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. I was judging based on the tiniest glimpse of a person, not what was inside.”

*** Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an eArc and audiobook . ***

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps an unpopular opinion but this didn't really work for me. Poor @Preoccupiedbybooks got inundated with my ranting & raging at so many interactions 🙈

Gemma is our main PoV and I'm sorry to say this (again) but I'd have benefited from a dual PoV here as I'm afraid I could not see why Josh agreed to any of this. It doesn't sound like they had much more than peripheral contact prior to this proposal and Gemma's assumptions before getting to know him through this process are super judgmental 🤦‍♀️ I found her way too naive for her age and I *could not* with the quotes and work storyline - hard NOPE & strong no thank you to all of that except for Lavinia...she can stay 🤗

The initial phone interaction with mom and the party made me so mad, I was almost hissing like an angry cat. The gold unitard and beau from the clinic interactions were way too OTT 🙄 as was the Pitch Perfect inspired 🤮 but also lowkey enjoyed that as he totes deserved what came his way 😈 There was also too many mentions of lime jello...it's practically a character, although maybe I'm bitter because lime isn't a flavour I favour but also carrots? Is that really a thing? I'm genuinely curious 🤔

Clive's Comic Crew were hands down my faves and I enjoyed all their interactions. The family also come through as the story unfolds & c o m m u n i c a t i o n happens, altho I liked the older sis + kids from the beginning. A scene in the park was pretty entertaining if also highkey WTF am I reading moment lolz and the illustrations throughout were cute nods to Josh's job.

I cannot speak to the infertility storyline but hope it was handled sensitively and deffo opened my eyes further to the ups, downs and toll that this process can take on all involved - even if ultimately I think the epilogue was a little too HEA to be realistic but that's just my *cough* pessimist leaking out 🤷‍♀️

2.75* it just felt a little superficial/skimming the surface where I'd have liked a bit more depth especially between the main couple. Finding out in the Author's note that she was inspired by Bridget Jones' Diary really wasn't surprising, it felt very very similar to the first film in places.

Ultimately this just didn't really work for me & I deffo seem to be in the minority so hopefully this'll be more of a win for you 🤞

[Isabelle Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I first requested this on Netgalley, I was literally over the moon. A heroine with infertility issues, IVF, falling for your donor, it just all sounded so unique and completely out of the box, I was HERE for it.

But after struggling through *that*, I swear I’d just dump the book and try to forget it ever existed if I wasn’t obligated to review this for Netgalley.

let’s keep this brief and start with the premise, shall we?

“Meet Gemma Jacobs. She’s driven, energetic, and a positive thinker. She has a great career working for famed self-help guru Ian Fortune, she lives in a cute studio apartment in Manhattan, and her family is supportive and loving (albeit a little kooky). Her life is perfect. Absolutely wonderful.

Except for one tiny little thing.

After a decade of disastrous relationships and an infertility diagnosis, Gemma doesn’t want a Mr. Right (or even a Mr. Right Now), she just wants a baby.
And all she needs is an egg, some sperm, and IVF.

So Gemma makes a New Year’s resolution: have a baby.

Josh Lewenthal is a laid back, relaxed, find-the-humor-in-life kind of guy. The polar opposite of Gemma. He’s also her brother’s best friend. For the past twenty years Josh has attended every Jacobs’ family birthday, holiday, and event – he’s always around.

Gemma knows him. He’s nice (enough), he’s funny (-ish), he’s healthy (she thinks) and he didn’t burn any ants with a magnifying glass as a kid. Which, in Gemma’s mind, makes him the perfect option for a sperm donor.

So Gemma wants to make a deal. An unemotional, businesslike arrangement. No commitments, just a baby.

To Gemma’s surprise, Josh agrees.

They have nothing in common, except their agreement to make a baby and their desire to keep things businesslike.

But the thing about baby-making…it’s hard to keep it businesslike, it’s nearly impossible to keep it unemotional, and it’s definitely impossible to keep your heart out of the mix. Because when you’re making a baby together, things have a way of starting to feel like you’re making other things too – like a life, and a family, and love. And when the baby-making ends, you wish that everything else didn’t have to end too.”

*sighs deeply*

See, there was potential.
It was squandered pretty quickly, but it was there.

plot discussion first.

So as mentioned in the premise, our heroine was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis. To put it simply, this disorder means it’s physically impossible for her to have children. As a side note, it’s awesome that the author chose to write a romance with infertility. It’s something many couples have to navigate and work through, and I love seeing that representation in this book 💕. However, with that all being said, the way the author handled infertility and IVF just made it feel weird.
I mean like maybe this is just a me problem, but I really didn’t need that attempt to make the IVF process ✨romantic✨, and I really really didn't need Dr. Ingraham’s scientific explanation of how babies are made.

like I just really didn’t need those mental images in my life tysm

In terms of the characters, everyone felt about as multi-dimensional as the milk carton I threw into the trash this morning. Gemma���s and Josh’s families felt like they existed to make the MCs look good, and then failed miserably at even that. Everyone else was completely forgettable lol

Speaking of our MCs, Josh and Gemma were terrible MCs.
Josh felt like Sir Plot Whiplash. Like right in the beginning of the book they were literally eating ice cream, walking around NYC, talking like regular people, and then Gemma asks him a simple IVF question and BAM the guy is giving her hecking bedroom eyes.

BEDROOM EYES. ON GRIMY NYC STREETS.

i mean sir this is a Wendy’s after all.

Gemma wasn’t much better. The amount of times she was like “hE’s SeXy aND hAWt AnD i wAnT HiM” was just annoying and felt like middle school all over again.

Also, those two had no bloody chemistry. Like it’s never clear why Gemma likes this man. Or why he gives a crap about her. But to be fair, WE ONLY EVER HAVE GEMMA’S POV. SO MAYBE HE’D BE BETTER IF WE ACTUALLY KNEW HIM HM?


no, I’m not salty about it why do you ask *sniffs*

anyways, this just really wasn’t the book for me. too strange and weird and cringe and I mean really I should’ve known all this from looking at the title lol



Ratings:
Star Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: R

Recommendations That Are Better Than This Book:
Eye of the Beholder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Maid of Dishonor by Gracie Ruth Mitchell