This was a great book. We had the privilege of meeting Laura, the author, at our book club meeting. She was the sweetest person, which makes sense because her characters are so likable and relatable. This is the second book in the series and just as great as the first. Would 100% recommend.

I liked the book, but the never ending back and forth of July's story was getting exhausting. I understand she went through a heartbreak at 16, but having her emotionally stuck there while watching the actual victim of the situation grow and adapt and be open to love made her feel insufferable. 3 stars for the townsfolk, because they were adorable and amazing.

What She’s Having is the second book in the Big Love from Galway series, but it can be read as a standalone.

July and Joe met when they were teenagers and fell in love. But life tore them. Joe decided to find her again, twenty years later, because he found out she hadn’t been ignoring him all those years ago.

I was not expecting for how emotional and heartbreaking this would be.

Joe’s letters showed just how much he loved July. And it was very emotional seeing July finally read them.

And July? She was so strong and had such a huge heart. She did what she’d always dreamed of and always helped others when she could. Her backstory (the time after Joe) was gut-wrenching.

It wasn’t only Joe and July’s story that hurt though;
it was both Maisie’s story and Sam’s story that broke my heart.

July and Joe didn’t just get back together after everything. It took time, and they had to learn to trust each other. But their love was so strong.

This was angsty, emotional, heartbreaking, and full of so much love.

A quirky, heartfelt romantic comedy that combines humor with emotional depth, offering readers a charming exploration of self-discovery, love, and the complications that come with it. The title, which evokes thoughts of classic rom-coms, sets the tone for a story that blends the romantic with the real.

What She’s Having is a cute, easygoing read that brings some fun moments and lighthearted romance, but it doesn’t quite go beyond the basics. The main character is relatable and likeable, and it’s easy to see why you’d root for her as she figures out her love life and personal journey.

However, I found some of her decisions a bit predictable, and at times, it felt like the story was dragging, especially in the middle. The romance has its sweet moments, but the chemistry between the leads didn’t fully click for me—it took a while to feel the tension build.

The humor is steady throughout, and there are definitely some funny parts, but overall, the pacing is a bit off, and the plot doesn’t offer anything super fresh. It’s a nice, light read if you’re in the mood for something casual and easy to breeze through, but it lacks that “wow” factor that would make it memorable.

Perfect for a cozy afternoon!

I have loved both books I’ve read by this author. I laughed out loud and cried as well. This author is fantastic and I will definitely read more. July and Joe gave me all the feelings and I loved it. I really like how we got all of Joes letters to July then we get Julys diary entries to Joe. Highly recommend if you love emotional reads that have happy endings

What She's Having by Laura Moher is a second-chance romance with a perfect blend of small-town charm. The book discusses some heavy topics, but the author writes them in a way that doesn't feel that dark. I just wish the writing was a little better.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

July and Joe have a lot of history, dating at 16, and now 20 years have passed since the last time they saw each other. Oh which that was the night they lost their virginity.

The story has a lot of heavy topics (eating disorder, depression, physical abuse by a parent, spousal abuse, verbal abuse, etc.). This is discussed a lot throughout the entire novel, so if these are triggers for you, this might not be your cup of tea.

The novels main focus is of course around Joe and July, a will they or won't they so to speak.

It will make you frustrated, want to be mad at the characters (for the obvious reasons mentioned above), and then also want to grab some tissues. There are some head tilt scratcher, like when July is sick that just make you go "huh". I feel like part of that scene was maybe a bit too far? Maybe that's just me.

Overall this was a good read, heavier topics, but still easy to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, Sourcebooks Casablanca (publisher) for my ARC!

3.5 Stars Storygraph, 3 Stars Goodreads

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

This one was slight spicy sweet rom com about second chances that actually worked, because of lot of second chance romances and rom com tend to fall flat.

What a heartwarming second chance romance. I really really hated what his parents did to him, and in turn them by moving to Germany and hiding the letters. Absolutely infuriating. The secondary story with the teenagers added depth to the story and was very well done. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.

I don't know what to say. I didn't like this. why would you want to rekindle with a guy who disappeared 20 years ago. I loved the setting and the side characters but just not the MCs.

“I reach to touch her, but her gaze practically withers my hand.”

What She’s Having is a sweet contemporary/New Adult Romance. Both Joe and July have hard hearts that they are desperate to protect. After years of miscommunication started by Joe’s parents, he returns to July’s small town home. He finds July happy on the outside, but jaded and lonely on the inside. He must fight to try to win her back.

Easy to read, sweet story. Well written with lovable characters. Relatable and a touch angsty. Typically in romances the banter leaves me giddy and this may have been lacking that quality. But I was surprised with the character depth and satisfied with the ending!!

What She’s Having by Laura Moher is a heartfelt romance about healing, vulnerability, and second chances. July Tate is a strong, independent woman haunted by a past love, unwilling to risk her heart again. Enter Joe Anderson, her first love, who returns to town years later, determined to make amends and win her back. As their chemistry reignites, July must confront her fears of love and loss. Moher expertly weaves emotional depth and genuine connection into a story that highlights the power of love and the courage it takes to be vulnerable. This book will resonate with readers who enjoy romance with emotional complexity and personal growth.

This is a good book. The two main characters are July and Joe. They meet when they were teenagers. There was an instant attraction. They dated, until one day Joe was gone. His family moved to Germany, he couldn’t tell July he was moving. There was no time to tell her. He wrote her letters. Later he found out they were never mailed. When his mother was passing, she gave the letters to him. He went looking for July. He found her. They fought to get back what they had as teenagers. They fell in love.

When I started this book, I thought it would be an all time fave. It started SO. GOOD with the beginnings of a second chance soulmate story of two troubled people who found their way back to each other.

And while that is true, after depicting a disastrous date, the story falls a little flat to me as it is rife with misunderstanding. Also packed with a litany of different traumas including the passing of a parent that was dealt with WAY too fast.

I would still say I enjoyed this book but it had so much potential but the characters have so much baggage that I don't think was completely unpacked by the end of the book.

July Tate is a force to be reckoned with—a big, strong blond with a heart the size of her whole town—but beneath her capable exterior lie the scars of a devastating lost love. To July, love equals vulnerability, and she can't afford either.

Joe Anderson knew from the first moment he saw her that July was The One. Now, after years apart, he's back, driven by the need to explain his disappearance. In search of the girl who filled his teenage dreams, he finds instead a powerhouse woman who steals his heart and soul.

Joe embodies everything July has been missing, and together they spark as brightly as ever. But with Joe around, July, who can usually outwork four men is suddenly making mistakes right and left. And that scares her. Because if July falls again, this time her beloved town could go down with her.
Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

*2.5

I liked the first 20 percent and then the very end but that's about it. It was a lot of telling me what was happening rather than showing me. They didn't talk that much and it was really annoying. The one sex scene that happens before they actually get together was really weird and I did not like it. It's strange because I really like the first book but this one missed the mark.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Laura Moher does it again! I thoroughly enjoyed July and Joe's story and revisiting the town of Galway. Lost young love may have broken their hearts but these two, even after years apart, truly do fit together like long lost puzzle pieces. I love these characters and their lovely town, Galway.
I can't wait to read her next book, Hard to Get, coming out next year!

I loved Laura Moher's debut romance and was delighted to see this follow-up novel! "What She's Having" was less focused on the romance storyline, but was a good community story featuring multiple hard childhoods as strong plot points, The highlight here was the sweet found-family stories with the side characters.

July and Joe's romance was a little bogged down by miscommunication, but I appreciated that they were adults about their time apart. It was also a nice change of pace to read about a couple in their thirties! I only wish the romance hadn't come together so late. And I would love to see more serious consideration for mental health - this would have been a great addition to July's character growth.

Moher is a great writer and her stories are very heartfelt. I would love to see more from this series!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.