'What Now' is the sequel to Shari Low's 'What If', the release and story coming 20 years after the original (which I loved and gave an enthusiastic five stars on its rerelease earlier this year). Whereas Carly Cooper was in her late thirties and chasing previous lovers around the globe in the original, the plot of the sequel sees her almost 50, her marriage to Mark failing and her two sons almost grown. Her character has come on quite a journey since her outing in the first novel, falling into domestic not-quite-bliss with Mark and eventually abandoning all of her literary dreams. Shari Low crushes Carly to a shadow of her former self, using this sequel to build her back up. Unfortunately, this means the book is not quite the enjoyable ride of the original.

The bulk of the book sees Carly on holiday with her pals in LA, visiting the gorgeous Sam Morton, trying to forget her husband who is on a trip with their two sons. To me, quite a lot of the story felt like Carly had regressed. She is obsessed with the fact that she has gained some weight, her size 14ness mentioned enough to give any reader a complex really, and agonises over her path in life for the majority of the plot. It is a shame that the trip to LA serves to illustrate Carly being in a rut and moves incredibly slowly. There is a slightly diverting story in New York (no spoilers but it is quite emotional) but the book lacks the pace and excitement of the pursuit of love from the original. A lot of action happens in the last 10% of the book and it is all just a bit unbelievable and convenient. The story is fine but the pacing needs to be fixed for this to have the spark 'What If' captured all those years ago.

Overall, a sweet story but stick to Shari Low's brilliant original if you want something more engrossing. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The follow up to “What If”. 

I was lucky enough to read the 20th anniversary edition of “What If” recently and waxed lyrical about the characters, the story, the prose and the dialogue. It says everything that “What Now” continues this perfectly - without hiccup or pause. 

Indeed the only problem is the same as its predecessor - that it had me reading late into the night, teasing out another chapter, squeezing in a couple of minutes’ read here and there. 

A beautiful book, highly recommended.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.  The follow,up,to What If, where Carly Cooper goes on the hunt to track down all of her ex boyfriends to see if she had made the right decision with ending those relationships.    In this book, Carly’s marriage to her first ever boyfriend has come to an end, and he is taking their sons away for a month.  Her best friends spring into action and take her on a trip of their own.  Mayhem ensues, but its all great fun.  This story is brilliant and funny.

This is the sequel to What If? which was originally published 20 years ago.  What Now? picks up the story 20 years later, finding out how Carly Cooper’s life has turned out.  She’s now 20 years older, mum to two teenage boys and her marriage to the love of her life is on the rocks.  When her sons go on holiday with their dad, Carly and her life-long friends jet off to Los Angeles to try and rediscover the old Carly.

I loved the previous book, and couldn’t wait to read this one!  I won’t tell you who Carly married just in case you haven’t read the first book, but after 20 years the marriage is on the verge of ending.  I loved the old Carly, fun, flirty and carefree, but the years have certainly taken their toll on her.  She’s a wonderful, loving mother, but it’s obvious to see that ‘fun Carly’ has left the building!  She has given up so much for her marriage and her family, feeling that she never gets anything in return.  All of her friends are back for this story, except Sarah who has sadly died, and her death has greatly affected Carly more than anything.

Coerced into a holiday in LA, visiting an old friend (and ex!), I just knew the old Carly would resurface somewhere.  I loved all the other characters (except Estelle, who I think I would have slapped!!), and the relationship she has with all of her friends is something to be envied.  The group are so much more than friends, knowing each other most of their lives, and I would struggle to say which one of them I liked the most!!  Their friendship was heart-warming and completely hilarious, making me laugh at the turn of every page.  

The book is so easy to read, and the characters and storyline wraps you up like a big hug as soon as you start reading it.  It can easily be read as a standalone book, but I would really recommend reading the previous book first to understand Carly’s story!  It’s packed to the rafters with life, love and laughter, and I genuinely couldn’t work out what Carly was going to do about her failing marriage.  There are no big twists, but the ending fitted Carly’s story perfectly, and I have to admit being just a tiny little bit jealous as to how it all worked out!

There were lots of laughs along the way (cue Aunt Val’s down to earth nature and ‘telling it how it is!!), but there’s also a lot of tears and sadness, particularly when the circumstances around Sarah’s death was revealed.  Be prepared for tears, both of the happy and sad variety and have the tissues at the ready!  The location of the book may also reduce you to tears, but only because you just really want to be there!!!  I bawled my eyes out with how the author teased me with the L.A. skyline, blue skies, swimming pools and endless cocktails!!  This was the perfect escapism from the wet, cold, windy weather here at home!!

This was a fabulous revisit to the world of Carly Cooper!  A little bit more serious than our first visit, but she’s now a grown up so what do we expect!!  Nonetheless it was still just as enjoyable and I was captivated with it by the end of the first chapter!  Highly recommended if you need some laughs, a good cry and a dose of L.A. sunshine!  Can we expect to see Carly Cooper in another 20 years’ time…I really hope so!!  Fab, fab, fab!!

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“What Now?” is the sequel to “What If?” that has been 20 years in the making. I recently read “What If?” and could not wait to read more from Shari Low. 

“What Now?” picks up nearly 20 years after we first met Carly Cooper and her friends. They’ve all been through marriages and kids but the bonds that the lifelong friends forged in their teens are just as strong today. This is a book about friendship and finding what makes you happy. 

This works as a stand alone book. You don’t need to read “What If?” in order to enjoy this one.

I am a huge lover of Shari Low books and whilst I did enjoy this book and it is definitely worth a read it’s not one of my favourites

We find carly & her friends 20 years later ( first book is called ‘what if?’ ). 
After reading the first line an ‘oh my god’ escaped my lips!
Carly’s boys are off on a 3 week trip without her. She wanted to stay home, eat ice cream and wallow in self pity. Jess, carol & kate had other ideas. With a difficult decision to make, where will Carly end up? From London to LA, LA to New York, New York to LA, another superb book from Shari Low.

Having recently read ‘What If’ for the first time (and loved every word of it!) I was over the moon to have received a copy of ‘What now’. It was everything I hoped for and more. 

In ‘What Now’ we re-join Carly Cooper and her besties although we are 20 years on from where we left them in ‘What If’. Carly is mum to two teenage boys and when her soon-to-be ex-husband drops a bombshell on her, Carly’s friends are there to stage an intervention. One that sees the girls all jetting off to LA to catch up with another of Carly’s exes Sam Morton, accompanied by Aunt Val (who is hilarious!).

This book will make you laugh (mainly) but there are parts where it will no doubt also reduce you to tears. As Carly faces up to some of the demons that have been troubling her for the last few years, can she leave them in the past and move on? Will she ever feel happiness again? Or is the fun-loving Carly we all came to know and love in ‘What of’ a thing of the past? 

This is a must-read!!!! 

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

What Now? is the marvellous follow up to What If? and catches up with Carly Cooper and the gang 20 years later.

Recently separated from husband Mark, Carly struggles with the fact that her husband is taking the boys off on a USA road trip. Instead of being left to mope, her friends have arranged a surprise trip to Los Angeles to stay with old pal and ex in his luxury movie star home.

This book is just what is needed in the current climate where travel is not available. How I loved jetting off first class with the girls to LA, even if it was virtually.

Reading Shari Low book requires no effort and you are soon wrapped up in the characters and scenes. Much of it is very funny, but like life it has some sad moments too that generated more than a couple of tears. I love how What Now? is outrageous enough to get lost in the fiction, but real enough to resonate with it.

I enjoyed getting to know characters who have had cameo roles in other books, but are featured in more detail here. This time is was eccentric Auntie Val. What a scream she is.

Another 5 star read from Shari Low.

Live your best life. Carly, Carol, Jess, Kate and Sarah were truly soulmates and epitomized the power of sisterhood. I absolutely laughed out loud multiple times due to their antics as well as Val and her statements. The British humor uplifted it even further. I applaud Cooper in.recognizing that she allowed herself to become smaller and lost herself and her dreams along the way. In finding herself again, she achieved true love.

I laughed, I cried and what a roller coaster! These women have made me feel apart of the group. Cooper's character grew from the last book. There was a whole new kid's generation that would be lovely for the next book. However, the adventure they had in LA was not much going on, and yet there was so much substance out of that trip for just being in one place. The dialogues were so easy to fall right into the story. By the end of the book, I wanted to know more. Where will they all end up next?

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I only read What If during lockdown this year so I am so blooming glad I didn't have to wait 20 years for this sequel. 

This is everything, just perfect, Shari is an amazing writer and I just love Carly Cooper just as nutty as she was all those years ago now with 2 children and recently split up with her husband Carly finds herself with 3 weeks in the holidays to herself, what can she get up to? 

I absolutely adored this and gave me such a happy feeling.

One you do not want to miss out on you will not be disappointed.