This book was a sweet romance book with a touch of spice. The author weaves the story in the prospective of the MMC and the FMC going back and forth from the past to the present. We also get in depth storylines for the people in the town they live that will have you in tears both sad and happy. This serves as a trigger warning, mild spoiler, and something I think is great the author did: There are instances of homophobia and domestic violence in the book. After the conclusion, the author includes facts, statistics, and a website for each if you want more information/need help.

Thank you for the ARC!

I was not the biggest fan of this book, which I don't know if it's because I didn't read the book before this one to get a sense of this town, or if it's solely because of this book.

I liked both characters independently but I found their relationship to be strange. i say this because I simply find it rather unrealistic that neither of them had found someone in the 20 years they weren;t together. Not only that, but for them to be so obsessed(?) with each other because of a relationship they were in for two months when they were teenagers is a little bit inconeivable. This felt like it was bordering on insta-love which I simply am not a fan of.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this!

I have not read the popular first book, but it seems the books in the series are independent. This is a simple teenage love story that goes wrong (they lose connection), and the romance is rekindled years later when both are mature, independent professionals who have successfully put their past behind. Moher is a good writer, skillfully weaving up a thin plotline. Nothing much happens in the book, sadly, and it is clear that the Joe and July will eventually come together, whatever the issues. Some suspense is necessary even in a romance. I'd say July is a well-wrought character, but her confusion is confusing, even silly sometimes. Small-town romances don't have to stay so small and inconsequential. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I hope the title changes... #Smalltownromance

What’s She’s Having by Laura Moher

July and Joe were high school sweethearts until Joe disappeared the day after he and July had sex for the first time. They both were led to believe the other didn’t care which led them to put up walls. 20 years later Joe returns to town hoping to win back July’s heart.



I was so excited to read this book because I loved Curves for Days and the whole cast from that novel is back (love Rose and Angus)! I love the plus size representation in these books and the representation of social workers! As a clinical social worker for 20 years I am often disappointed at what books and movies get wrong about the profession (guess it helps this author is a professor). Love that Joe is going back to school for his MSW! Love the care this town has for its occupants! But sign me up for a small town romance any day. This book also showed abuse very accurately; both domestic violence and verbal/emotional abuse due to a character’s sexuality. It also portrayed July’s depression and eating disorder with compassion. Both Joe and July were struggling with real-world pain that kept them guarded and misunderstanding each other.



I laughed and cried reading this book. I was rooting for all the characters to get their HEA. I loved the friendship that Joe and July created as they allowed themselves to trust the other again. Softball team was so fun! A great slow-burn, second chance romance. Will definitely continue to look out for Moher’s work. And if you haven’t read Curves for Days you should. Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars (I would rate this book higher but there was one gray sex scene that I didn’t like.)

Overall: 3.75
Spice: 2

I read the first book in this series a few months ago and happy to find a book featuring plus-size MC's. I was excited about this book. The first few chapters should have been the prologue then we moved into the book, because I was lost until about chapter 3 or 4. Please check the trigger warnings for the book. I liked how author brought back the characters from the first book and it appears the series will stay centered around the same town. I loved how this town is about found family for those that don't have a real family and how it's okay to seek outside help and give outside help.

4.25 Stars

July + Joe

We already met July in Curves For Days . She runs the restaurant in town.
In highschool she was super madly in love with Joe for two amazing months. Then he disappeared after their first and only night together. Never to be heard of again. Which destroyed July. And now he's back in town and both Joe and July never let go of these old feelings .... and the anger and sadness.
Will there be a second chance after so many years?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

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That was adorable.
I loved the people and the town and the food and the amazing community feeling of it all.
I cried for the lost love - the twenty years they missed. For how broken they both were back then. And I cried for the kids that July hired for the restaurant.
I really enjoyed reading this.

Three points that I didn't love. I would change them if I were the author - but I'm not - so don't mind me! First the talking ... Laura lets people talk like they are gangsters doing a criminal deal thingy. She leaves out the are's and other little words. Example: How you end up here? or That your car? Know what I mean? Also - did you realize I just did the same thing? LOL! Almost every conversation has these weird sentences. I could live with it if one person talks like that. But they all do and it sounds so ridiculous. That's not something that belongs in a book. So weird.
The second thing. Why are they not immediately a couple after meeting again? I just didn't get the point in all the drama. They both love each other and they never forgot each other and yet Laura creates such a ridiculous and silly misunderstanding that they can't be together all through the book. I hated that. Yes - romance books most often all have that silly misunderstanding or fight towards the end - but here we get that in the beginning and it makes zero sense. I would've edited that all out and just have them fall in love again with some problems here and there but the way it was done was so not well executed.
And the last thing... their first love at 16. They were together for two months. TWO MONTHS! That makes no sense. I wanted it to be a year or at least six months. But two months is so not enough!

Another thing I just thought about... why did I think - all through the book - that July had a daughter?? Huh?? No idea. So weird. I always expected Joe's secret daughter to jump out at him.
Also - why did 20 years have to go by? Wouldn't 5-15 have made more sense??

► BUT - still - I loved reading this. It was a sweet and emotional second chance love story with a heartbreaking side story thrown in. I really enjoyed this book! I would definitely watch a tv show set in this town with all those amazing people!

Sometimes your first love can be the most heartbreaking. This was the case for July and Joe when they were 16. Misunderstandings shaped them into the adults they are now 20 yrs later. They both had insecurities about rekindling their past relationship. With the help of a couple of teenagers they were able to set aside fear of rejection and push through the friend zone into something more. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion

The second book in Laura Moher's Big Love in Galway series is a second chance romance with a plus sized heroine. Great banter and chemistry with characters that will have you rooting for their HEA.

this was such a fun read I really enjoyed it it really tailored to me being a plus size girly! Such a fun small town summer read.

This was a very enjoyable book to read. I felt good reading it and it gave a key into the life's of July and Joe as they find themselves together again.

July and Joe...youthful romance...twenty years later...confession...letters unsent...can this couple put back together what they once lost? This story is realistic in that it could happen...it probably has happened...it might happen. That being said, the story was lengthy, at times, and sometimes, I could not keep reading...I took breaks. This talented author has written a story of two people in love being united again...of the problems...the friends and family in the background...intrigue...Thanks Netgalley.

"What She's Having" by Laura Moher is a delightful read with witty banter and endearing characters, Moher crafts a charming story of love and self-discovery. It's the perfect feel-good read for cozy evenings or lazy weekends.

I really liked the first book in this series, but this one was not my favorite. Firstly I really dislike the miscommunication trope especially in a dual POV. I get really frustrated with the characters. Secondly, I feel like July needed a lot more help than what she got if she broke that much at 16 over a man and still was not okay 20 years later. That seems excessive to me. I also can’t imagine people that dated for 2 months at 16 holding a torch for 20 years and never settling down with anyone else. I’m all for a second chance romance but this was a lot. I liked both characters outside if their obsessions and issues with each other; but I just didn’t fully vibe with the story of them together. Thanks to NetGalley and sourcebooks for the ARC.

I’ll have what she’s having is a cute story about high school sweethearts who were torn apart against their will and spent the next 20 years trying to forget each other. When Joe learns the truth about what kept him and July apart, he spontaneously moves back to her hometown to see what could have been.
One thing I liked about the book is that pretty much everyone in this town is a good person, especially our two main characters. What was challenging for me is the miscommunication trope that prevailed throughout the story. It was distracting how July thought about herself and the barriers she placed to impede her happiness. My other critique is that I wish the relationship between the two when they were younger was longer. They kept talking about how they only spent two months together, didn’t kiss for the first two weeks, and lost their virginities the night before he left. Based off of the way that July was described, it was hard to believe that she would lose her virginity to someone 6 weeks after meeting him, even if she did believe she was in love. My last critique is that, as a fuller bodied woman, it was difficult to hear July’s self talk about her body and how she was skipping meals, even if though she wasn’t skipping meals to lose weight. There was so much talk of size, especially how lean Joe was in comparison to her and I found it distracting.
All in all though, it was a fun story and left my mouth watering on how badly I wanted to try their food!