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Ready or Not

A Novel

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Ready or Not

Written by: Cara Bastone
Narrated by: Alex Finke
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About this listen

A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this “absolutely buoyant read” (Elle)

“Bastone delivers on this truly heartwarming, funny, and real story. Come for the dog bar, stay for the special, slow-burn romcom.”—Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, Elle

Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.

Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

©2024 Cara Bastone (P)2024 Random House Audio
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Romance Romantic Comedy Comedy Funny Heartfelt Pregnancy
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What the critics say

“Accidental pregnancy is a love-it-or-hate-it construct for most romance fans, which could leave Cara Bastone’s friends-to-lovers entry in a tough position. But for those willing to jive with that particular plot twist—and trust me, it’s worth it—Ready or Not is an absolutely buoyant read. Vivacious and funny, Bastone’s first-person perspective through protagonist Eve traces the tricky threads of single parenthood, long-term friendship, infertility, grief, and (yes) sex with skill.”Elle

“I’ve never read a contemporary romance novel quite like this one. This friends-to-lovers trope centers on a surprise pregnancy that’s filled with heartfelt dialogue, unexpected love and a slow burn. It’s incredible and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This story is endearing, life-affirming, and left me feeling buoyed and hopeful.”New York Post, “The 15 Best Books We Read in February”

“Sure, this is a love story. But it’s also about all the ways love shows up. . . . And at the end of the day, that’s the ideal family, right? Never perfect but always trying.”—NPR

What listeners say about Ready or Not

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more praise for the narrator

okay, i’m a sobbing mess. that was so cute!!! and the narrator was AMAZING!! she was so animated and entertaining.

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Obsessed

The BEST audiobook narration. BEST love story. One of the BEST books with the pregnancy trope

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Great story, amazing narrator.

I loved it. I couldn't stop listening to it. The narrator was so good and I enjoyed the story very much !

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Narrator was fantastic

Heartwarming, slow burn story with an excellent narrator. Recommended if you like something sweet and wholesome with great acting.

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Relatable, funny and well narated

Loved the messy, realistic story where not everything is fairy tale perfect. Funny all the way through. The narrator told it with enough emotion but not too much theatrics. Overall very enjoyable.

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My heart is so full because this book

I am speechless! I just love it so much. From the story to the performance..umm Alex Finke.. where have you been all this time?! I’d give 100 stars all around if I could.

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Shop is my new standard for men

beautiful, quirky, and real are the three words that come to mine with this book. The writing and narrating were both flawless.

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A Charming Slow Burn Full of Laughs

I’m not usually a big romance fan, but this slow burn had me smitten the entire listen! The narrator is absolutely FANTASTIC. I couldn’t help but laugh along with Eve and root her as she experiences this rollercoaster ride. She evolves as a person while growing closer to some characters but drifting apart from others. Realistic and relatable.

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Great, easy listen.

The story was lovely, sweet, romantic and funny. Great flow and narration.
This story climaxes in the final couple of chapters and ends. We desperately need an epilogue!!

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A beautiful story

Cara Bastone wrote an incredibly heart warming love story, not just a romance, but love for oneself, ones child, and ones life. Alex Finke brought the character to life with her spectacular narration.

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