It's twenty years later and time to catch up with Carly and she's in a bit of a flunk. So what better why to get back to the woman she once was with a road trip to LA with her girlfriends.

Carly and the girls are back for an epic adventure!  You thought mid-life crisis' were just for the fellas?  Think again...only it does in fact involve the male species in several respects, so yeah...okay, I'll commit to it being brought on my them, but not fully about them.  Anywho, back to Carly...

She's been living the dream with her presumed soulmate, two kids, a house, a career with dreams politely shelved and no (*cough cough*) regrets, until one day...she's not.  I mean, she still has the great kids, house, and career-type outlook in the works, but the soulmate has left the building.  What's a girl to do?!  Carry on, and so she does...until another monkey wrench comes flying her way and suddenly ducking for cover is no longer an option, and hiding away won't be tolerated by those who love her most.  Can we say ROAD TRIP?  Okay, well there is a road, but they take the skyway, and along the way discover oh-so-many-more things about themselves, each other, and the world around them...including the fact that love comes in many forms, not every soulmate results in a happily ever after, never take on a clan of "mama bears", and true love can strike twice!

If I've left you intrigued, GOOD!  You should be...and it's well warranted.  If you're a fan of Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, or Chick Lit, this is definitely a book you won't want to miss.  By the turn of the final page, you'll feel like one of the gang...and I can't think of a better group to be counted as one!

I was happy to be back with Carly Cooper and her girls. And also delighted that there are 'chick-litty' books about women in their 40s. Normally this age-group features only in 'romance dramas' that are either melancholy, boring and/or have at least one heavy blow of fate.
Well, Carly's life hasn't been exactly a breeze either, she had some heartaches to endure as well. And yes, they are dealt with in this book as well! But still, the whole book never lets you feel down, thanks to Shari Lows great writing style that I've become to adore over the past couple of years.

This book is a sequel to Lows very first novel "What if", and although Carly sums up the necessary bits and pieces as she goes along, I would highly recommend reading the first part. Not
There you get a better picture on who her friends are (character-wise) and what kind of character Sam really is. Because here he is very seldomly part of the story, which consists mainly of Carly lying on the pool and chatting to her friends, and here and there she throws in some flashbacks. There is not so much action going on. All the touristy things they do in L.A. are summarized in one paragraph! Yes, there is a trip to NYC, but I would have liked a little bit more.

Also, the circumstances of how she gets into a very special situation that she mentions in the first chapter - and most importantly how she gets out of that situation - are too easily solved. After reading the whole book until finally coming back to the Carly from chapter 1 I expected more.

However, I still highly enjoyed "What Now?", and wouldn't mind at all to meet the girls again a couple of years down the line. And what happens with Carly after she finally makes up her mind where life will take her next!

A gorgeous, romantic book, that will whisk you away to sunnier happier times. Make you forget what we are living through at the moment and pop a smile on your face as you sink into a lovely romance.

A sequel to the book What if .
Carly is back twenty years later 
The girls decide Carly needs to get her mojo back 
So they plan a trip to Los Angeles 
This books shows the process of Carly from the first book and find out why Carly has not got her happy ever after
Good Read 
Thanks NetGalley

I really enjoyed this read and there is so much to love in this story, friendships, laughter and romance. It is all nicely finished off so your not left guessing either. This can be read as a stand alone if you haven't read the first book. 

A lovely escapist read full of emotion and laugh out loud moments. Thank you.

So Carly Cooper is back and better than ever in this sequel to What If?. This book is made up of 34 Chapters as well as a Prologue and an Epilogue. The Prologue (as well as the rest of the book) helps catch the reader up, so whether you have or haven't read the first one you can still read this one. Though I highly recommend reading the first one. 
From the absolute beginning of this story it is engaging and really draws readers in. Making them want to know how this story will progress. Like the previous book, this one also has songs attached to every chapter, meaning you have a built in playlist of songs to listen to when reading along. As the chapters pass readers will also get a look into the past as it is mentioned. These jumps in time are clearly labelled and it is clear to the reader when you are in the past and when you return to the present. 
One thing readers should be aware of because this did happen to me is that you will get caught in the 'one more chapter' lie to yourself. I certainly found myself saying 'one more chapter' before I went to bed. I stopped reading at around midnight having read 10+ chapters. Readers will be drawn into the story to the point that they won't notice time passing or the chapters changing. 
Overall I enjoyed this book immensely. I completely gobbled up Carly's story and the antics that she and her friends got up to. The ending is perfect, exactly what the reader will want and really wraps the whole book up with a pretty box.

Having read the prequel to this book, ‘What If?’ last year, I jumped at the chance to read this sequel from Shari Low. Whilst it is a sequel, it could easily be read as a standalone novel as there is plenty of reference to the first book which allows a new reader to keep up.

This story reintroduces us to main character Carly Cooper twenty years on. Changes in her life mean her character is now vastly different to the carefree spirit we encountered in ‘What If’ as she is struggling to cope with getting older, hang ups about her appearance and the fact she is having to start afresh having split up with husband Mark.

When Mark announces that he plans to take their two sons away for three weeks to America, Carly is inconsolable. Luckily for her, one thing hasn’t changed and that is the support of her friends, who combine forces to ensure she doesn’t sit wallowing and feeling sorry for herself and whisk her off to Los Angeles in the hope she’ll recover some of her zest for life.

There is humour aplenty to be found in this novel and I often found myself laughing out loud at certain points. Aunt Val is an absolute scream and is certainly the most enjoyable character in the book.

There are plenty of poignant and emotional moments too as Carly attempts to find herself again and re-evaluates her feelings towards Mark and her marriage. Will she get her happy ending?

A highly-recommended read!

Twenty years ago Carly Cooper went on an epic rollercoaster ride of a journey to find every single boyfriend she’d ever had, in order to discover if he was possibly ‘Mr Right’ that she had inadvertently overlooked. The result was the hilarious ‘What If ?‘ But now, Carly is separated from hubby Mark (previously mentioned, but possibly not so ‘Mr Right’) and she’s a single mom to their 2 teenage sons. You could say quite a lot has changed in the past twenty years!

What hasn’t changed is the solid group of friends that Carly has (one of them right next door), and the wonderful, comfortable extended family they’ve all created, now with husbands and children thrown into the mix. But Carly isn’t the same happy-go-lucky spontaneous 30-year-old she was twenty years ago. Understandably she’s been through some stuff and now that she’s almost 50 and feels slightly larger than the slim self she once was, she doesn’t have the self confidence she used to have. Quite honestly, she’s lost some (ok, most) of the sparkle and sheen from her younger days, and she’s feeling quite down in the dumps.

When Mark tells her that he intends taking the boys on a month-long US trip in an RV, Carly is devastated. Didn’t they once talk about taking trips together as a family? And what happened to all of those hopes and dreams – Mark was always too busy working and those family trips and holidays never happened. But suddenly, now that they’re no longer together, he’s taking time off to spend with his sons … without her! What on earth is Carly going to do for an entire month, on her own?! She can’t even begin to imagine. Thankfully her lovely Aunt Val and friends come to the rescue and remind her that she still has lots of living still left to do!

With each chapter headed by a song-title, the index makes for a fabulous soundtrack to accompany Carly through this stage of her life. This is a lovely, thoroughly enjoyable read and a reminder of the importance of the bonds and strengths of female friendships. Kate, Jess and Carol each fulfil their unique roles in their tight-knit group and we’re reminded of how different friends each bring their own gifts and insights into the relationships that we share. This isn’t quite the rollicking ride that What If? was, but it’s just as much fun, in a more mature and insightful way, and still with some cringeworthy moments thrown in for good measure! I can really relate to Carly still trying to find her ‘happily ever after’, and to all her self-doubt – it’s so authentically real. Where is it written that just because you found your Mr Right, and settled down and had your kids, that now you need to be happy with your life, yourself, and everything else? Very seldom do things work out that perfectly, and I love that Shari Low acknowledges this by continuing the story with What Now?

This is a light, easy read that despite coming across as a bit ‘frothy’ does cover issues that go a lot deeper than what they appear to be on the surface: growing older (and larger), losing those close to us, coming to terms to mistakes we’ve made in the past, and taking a serious look at ourselves and deciding that if we want to like who we are now, we might need to make some changes!

A 4 star read that I’d highly recommend. You could read this as a standalone, as enough background info is given, but I’d suggest reading What If? first (and also, because it’s a great, fun book anyway, so why miss it?) You can read my review of What If? here.

A beautiful yet poignant story about the inexorable love between close friends and between Mother and Son and the shock of coming to terms with being newly single, in your forties, whilst trying to keep your skeletons firmly in the closet.


Carly is newly separated from her Husband and is left looking after their two teenage Sons. On Mother’s Day she learns to her consternation, that her Ex is planning on taking the two boys on a USA roadtrip for three weeks in the summer holidays.

The thing is, what is she going to do with herself while the Boys are away, in order not to look like a sad loser! 

Wonderfully, Carly’s friends arrange a surprise trip to LA for them all (they do it in shifts), to see Carly’s ex (and Hollywood star) Sam. There does however appear to be more than one skeleton in Carly’s closet.

Please read if you want to see if Carly banishes her demons and if you want to see what is on the horizon for her on the romantic front.

One thing that I loved about the first book was the energy and passion that Carly Cooper demonstrated. It was a whirlwind romance across the globe and it was impossible to not get caught up in her excitement. Therefore, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the sequel and was enthusiastic to learn what happened next to Carly Cooper.

However, I was a little disappointed in the end and the book didn’t meet my expectations. The fun-loving, wild, spontaneous Carly has been replaced with a grief-stricken, lonely, overweight middle-aged woman, with very low self-esteem. Throughout the book we are reminded of Carly’s insecurities and flaws; she is unable to accept who she is and has lost the identity that made her character so loveable to begin with. I think this had a major impact on the tone and pace of the story. Reminding myself that this character was now approaching fifty, I still think Low could have embraced a more fun-loving aspect to herself. Instead, it takes Carly nearly all of the novel to rediscover herself and energy, meaning that the last few chapters were actually my favourite.

It feels like the majority of the novel doesn’t really move, quite literally. Carly and her friends are sat around a pool in LA, staying at Sam’s house (a flame from the previous story). The intention is for Carly to re-energise herself, especially as it appears that her marriage has broken down and her sons are on a tour of the east coast of the States. Not wanting to be left alone, Carly’s friends arrange for her to have a mini break and hopefully return home in a better mood.

There is a lot of reference to the previous story. At times, it felt like there was too much of a recap, meaning you could probably get away with not reading the predecessor. This was another element that reduced the pace of the story because Low was reviewing events that had happened so long ago and I had already known. However, at the same time, there remains flashbacks to the previous twenty years, giving readers a true insight into why Carly has not found her ‘happy ever after’ and what she and her friends have been through these past two decades. I liked the transition between the time lines because it made the novel more interesting to read and it did feel like I was catching up with old friends.

Despite my criticisms, I did enjoy reading the book. Although I was always yearning for Carly’s original “pzazz”, I was really keen to see how life had progressed for the main characters. Low again titles every chapter with a song and I loved the music references; quite frequently the song would be stuck in my head for a while after reading and it definitely reflected the mood of the chapter.

Whilst there is a lot of low points and sadness in the novel, Carly’s role as Aunt to Toni was endearing and showed a glimpse of her old character. When the friends move to New York, I thought this was symbolic of Carly breaking free from her negativity and it turns out that this is actually what happens in the city. There begins the start of some fun energy and it is at this point that the novel reminded me of the first book.

I loved the first book; I only liked the follow-up. Personally, I hope Low does not consider another novel in this series because I think it is best the characters are left alone. I can’t see how a third book would offer any new, original material and in my head, I am going to allow myself to believe that all the characters lived a happy, fulfilled, ever after.

With thanks to Boldwood books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What Now? is the sequel to What If? the story that began it all. It is feisty, fresh and funny with standout characters, emotion and relatability. Carly's life after almost twenty years isn't quite what she imagined. Her sons are everything she wanted, but her marriage is over after years of making do. Her vulnerability is undeniable when Mark her soon to be ex-husband arranges to take the boys away on the family holiday they always promised themselves.

Carly's caring friends organise a trip to LA to stop make her realise that proves to be a revelation and forces her to confront past decisions. There is so much to love in this story, especially the friendships, the laughter and the romance.

A lovely escapist read full of emotion and laugh out loud moments.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

What I’ve loved about all Shari’s books that I’ve read are the lovely characters and the story lines. And ‘What Now?’ lived up to this.

The situations she describes while often being full of laughs are so close to what many women go through – the fallout of divorce, trying to re-create a life when you should be enjoying the one you’ve already created and the genuine fears that mothers have, especially those sharing custody of their children with their ex-partners.

All the characters while full of sarcasm, humour and often self-deprecating in their manner are very real. There’s an underlying vulnerability in Carly that tugs at your heartstrings.

The fearless Carly, knocked down by life and responsibilities doesn’t have the courage to follow her heart after calling an end to her soulless marriage. But her band of girls, including her aunt Val, push her to rediscover the adventurous woman she used to be. What follows is a great source of entertainment and made for a delightful read.

I loved this story of friendship and reinventing oneself.

Favorite Quotes:

I realised we were both wearing the same outfit: white jumpers, ripped faded jeans. However, with my size fourteen figure and her size eight, we looked like a before and after poster advertising weight-loss shakes.

…it icked me out even to think about women lusting after my brother, but, to his credit, he only had eyes for Carol. Especially as she’d assured him that she’d take her straightening irons to his pubic hair while he slept if he dared to consider infidelity.

She could have married George Clooney and she’d still have found fault. She always had that sour expression – like her knickers were on too tight.

Christ on a bike, I wouldn’t want to have to Hoover that place. You’d just be finished and it’d be time to start again.

‘Is she the one that did that orgasm scene in the café? Our Josie once copied that at a coffee morning in the community centre. They asked us to leave.’ I turned to Carol. ‘Is it just me, or is she the gift that keeps on giving?’

‘…blame the menopause,’ Val announced, making several people around us choke on their drinks. ‘When I was going through the change, I was forever just blurting out whatever was on my mind. Although, my Don says I’m still doing it, so this must be the longest menopause in history.’



My Review:

I enjoyed every perfectly pitched word of this highly engaging and delightful book.  It was definitely giggle-snort worthy. Ms. Low’s storylines and writing style were good fun and sparkled with wry wit, clever levity, and situations that resonated deeply with me.  The characters were endearingly quirky, highly invested, tirelessly supportive, and interesting women whom I covet to have as my own circle of friends.  My favorite of all was of course Auntie Val.  I suspect Ms. Low was following me around and taking notes, although I am not quite as well accessorized.  I aspire to ascend to Val’s lofty heights of Auntiedom and colorful fashion sense.  I adore Shari Low and am scheming to read all of her past and future scribblings as I am enamored with her deliciously amusing and pleasantly absorbing wordcraft.

Shari Low is back with a fun, relatable and deliciously feel-good page-turner I just couldn’t bear to stop reading: What Now?

Twenty years ago, Carly Cooper had vowed to write her own happy ending. Convinced that one of her previous lovers was Mr Right, Carly had gone on an epic quest to find the one that got away. But two decades and two teenage sons later, Carly cannot help but wonder whether she might have made a colossal mistake and been rather too hasty in her bringing her search for The One to a close. Will Carly put herself out there for another throw of the dice? Will she continue to fight for her happy ever after? Or is she going to spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been?

The future isn’t exactly looking bright and rosy for Carly. Her kids are growing up and will be leaving home soon leaving her all alone with just four walls for company and with a divorce under her belt, Carly realises that she isn’t quite ready yet for bedroom slippers and quiet nights in in front of the telly watching the Antiques Roadshow. She is going to grab life by the horns and take a huge leap of faith, so accompanied by her trusty girlfriends, she heads off to Los Angeles ready to unleash the wild and adventurous Carly she used to be.

But in the bright lights of LA, will Carly find the answers she has been seeking? Will she realise that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side? Or has her happy ending been under her nose all along?

Shari Low has done it again and penned an entertaining, uplifting and wonderfully funny tale that will make you giggle and have you reaching for the tissues on a couple of occasions. Carly Cooper is a wonderful heroine and somebody you could imagine meeting up with for a chat and a gossip over a couple of drinks.

A heart-warming, hilarious and life-affirming tale about friendship, taking chances and finding the courage to put yourself out there at any age, Shari Low has got another winner on her hands with What Now?

What Now? is the sequel to the fantastic What If? by Shari Low. After reading the first instalment in this series of books I could not wait to dive in to this story.

We find ourselves reunited with Carley Cooper and are instantly immersed back in to her world. Twenty years have passed, and we soon find out that not everything has turned out how our leading lady would have liked. Carly is a dedicated mother to her two teenage son's, and not a day goes by when she doesn't feel immensely grateful to have them in her life.    

Carly still has her wonderful family of choice, including her fabulous friends and their partners, along with their children, and she gets so much joy from them and their loyal friendship. However, not everything is running smoothly in Carly's life, as her marriage is really struggling, so much so, that they are on the verge of divorce. The connection between them is still unbelievably strong, and it is clear they still care for one another and be a supportive unit for their boys, but not spending any time on her marriage has broken them.

When Carly's Aunt Val and her closest friends form an intervention, they inform her that she has changed from the fun loving, spontaneous person they all know and love over the years. Carly is a bit taken aback by this - after all, she is a mother and all of her choices and decisions have revolved around what is best for her boys. But that certainly doesn't mean that overthinking every decision life presents us with is going to send us in the right direction. Taking in all of this, Carly finds herself on embarking on yet another journey of self exploration.

I adored this book from the start. Shari never fails to produce interesting characters, all of whom have their own individual traits and life stories that add so much to this brilliant story. I love the cast of characters that form Carly's friendship circle. They all have the most unique personalities, and when they are all together, you can't help but want to be a part of their circle!. The way that the characters also remember a friend they have lost is beautiful and emphasises the closeness in which they share.

The story was so beautifully written, I found myself well and truly immersed in the world that Shari brought to life and truly invested in Carly's life and wanting her to find happiness again. The storyline was perfectly structured full of humour, love, and emotion that made it impossible to put down. This book has everything you could possibly want from a rom-com, and I will certainly be recommending this book to everyone!.

I believe I am in the minority of readers of What Now? by Shari Low in that I have not read the first book, What If?.

Occasionally, I thought perhaps I should have read book one first, but I had no problem following and enjoying the story as a stand-alone. The author gives enough backstory to make the story flow.

The characters are entertaining and relatable. Several subplots involving the next generation and a few new players add great dynamics, and Val nearly stole the show. I’ve been told she appears in several of the author’s books. This tidbit alone will make me read more of Ms. Low’s books.

Our main character, Carly Cooper, uses comedy & sarcasm to deal with her life issues. For the most part, this worked well in the book. Her banter with her sons is quite entertaining. I wish I were that witty.

While the romance is a predominant part of the book, I felt that the real story was the connection between lifelong friends. The way they deal with tragedy, life, problems, and romance made the story special. The way they have each other’s back after all these years is amazing.

I recommend What Now? to lovers of fun, witty, sarcastic romantic comedy.

4☆ A Fun Filled, Uplifting Adventure, A Laugh out Loud Must Read 

Another Fantastic installment and the sequel to What If? Shari Low has written another Gem! 

This Time round fast forward 20 years and Carly is divorced, and panicking when she reluctantly agrees to let her boys go away with their Dad for one whole month. Despite him never taking them & her away, when they was married. 

Her best friends (yeap there all back) and Aunt Val rally round to support her. But that comes with a lil bit of tough love.
You see the girls think it's about time Carly got her mojo back and find herself again. She used to be spontaneous,  Fierce and Fun. But now she's older and going through a tough time. 
So what better way to discover who she is again, than a fun filled girly trip to Los Angeles.
After their last adventure who knows what this trip has in store for them! 

Oh my gosh this book is one highly Entertaining, Laugh out Loud, whirlwind of a book. So much hijinks, Second Chance Romance and Drama. 
The Characters are just as good as before and what shines through is their close bond and friendship. I wish I had a group of friends like that.
What Now? Does have a bit of a different vibe, but there all older, and it definitely doesn't stop them having fun and getting into all sorts of trouble. 

So if you are looking for a Fun, Uplifting, Laugh out Loud Read then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of What Now?

Last year I was on the blog tour for the 20th anniversary of What If, the story that first introduced is to Carly Cooper. And, when I found out that Shari Low was writing a follow up story to see what happened next I knew I had to read it. 

What Now is set 20 years on from What If. Carly now has two teenage sons and is in the process of divorcing Mark. With the prospect of being alone Carly Cooper decides to go on another adventure. Well she's kind of pushed into it by her friends and fabulous Aunty Val. Seriously everyone needs an Aunt Val in their lives. I loved this woman. 

With her close group of friends to hand (and Val) Carly sets off to America. I got fabulous Sex and the City vibes from this story. The way the girls (who are meant to be more mature now) set off on their jollies and let loose. 

The Carly we see in What Now is a lot more subdued than she was in What If. But, that is natural, she is a fully grown adult with responsibilities. There is also a heartbreaking storyline amidst the fun and frolics of the main story. 

What Now? Is definitely an easy read and it is so great to catch up with all the girls again. I did however want a different ending for Carly than what she got. This might surprise some people as I'm sure everyone will love how it pans out. 

Carly Cooper and the girls will keep you entertained from start to finish. You'll laugh with them and cry with them. What Now? Get a copy and let the girls tell you their story...

Carly and her amazing friends are back, 20 years later and things are looking very different.  Recently divorced, child free for a while and at a loose end can only mean one thing! Girl trip!
I am so pleased we got another chance to hang out with Carly and the girls.  I adored their friendship and shenanigans in What If? And loved a second visit into their lives.  This time we begin with Carly in a rut.  Down and a much calmer version of her previous self it was quite heart breaking to see.  What’s amazing is her friendship with her girls is still very strong and along with Aunty Val (who appears in several of Shari’s novels), they manage to convince her to add a little adventure and spark back into her life.  The bond between these ladies spans decades and is so strong.  I have a strong group of friends and reading this really reminded me of them.  I love how they are all honest but adore each other.  Each friend brings a different personality and perspective into things, but they all share a common goal – to restore Carly back to herself.   Carly is a wonderful character, full of life and energy and I love her spirit.  
It was a pleasure to join the girls on yet another road trip and I devoured this book.  I laughed, cried and sighed throughout and I highly recommend.