I thought this was a good read about July and Joe. I honestly felt a little bored at times but I myself being in a slump here lately. I thought maybe this book would pull me out but it didn’t. There are trigger warnings to check out before reading, but a good quick read.

This book was pretty… goofy. The characters’ emotions and the circumstances of their lives were way too simple. There is a subplot with two teens that work in the main character’s restaurant that I found much more interesting than the main love story, and it is the only reason I bumped this review up a star. The story of how Joe came to live across the world was absolutely unbelievable and had no nuance to it whatsoever. July was bordering on irritating, in my opinion. And there’s a scene where something happens in their sleep that is unforgivable to me. Lol. I still can’t wrap my head around it. The third star is solely for that subplot, but the romance did nothing for me.

I really enjoyed these characters and their journey. July was a pleasure to read as a plus-sized, take-no-nonsense woman, who is no stranger to hard work and difficult circumstances. Joe is reeling from his mother's deathbed confession, and the fact that he is still head over heels for his high school love.

I'm not normally one for miscommunication as a plot point, but in this case it made sense. I also loved the small town community vibes, and the sense of neighborly love (sometimes at the expense of being too involved). Overall, this was a very sweet read and perfect for summer!

July is a tough hearted plus size woman who is hard worker. She has a history that includes heartbreak, depression, and an eating disorder.
When Joe, a paramour from her past, returns he finds himself falling in love with her and feels that she is his one and only. He has a history of childhood abuse so the couple have a lot to work through to come together.

A romance that touches on hard topics was just what I needed. Seeing the growth they share and then the romance makes this a compelling read.

This was a great read. I binged it during the heat wave and was swept up in the story of July and Joe. This second chance romance packs a powerful punch with LOTS of feels, great eats (for the foodies) and more emotion because apparently you just can't have too much.

Joe's mother reveals a long kept secret on her deathbed that has him heading for July - the woman he unwillingly walked away from almost 20 years ago. This story is beautiful and sad all at the same time - like the best ones are really. There's a great cast of characters and I didn't even realize I was reading the second book in a series - you can just pick this up ... but you're probably going to want to add Moher's other titles to your list too!

For fans of second chance romance, food rep, talking it out and softball.

Thank you so much for Laura Moher, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this E-A R C!

All thoughts and opinions are my own!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Find more on my IG @kayreads_romance

⚠️ !! Please be sure to check any TWs before diving in !! ⚠️

What to expect:

* Plus size FMC
* Second Chance
* Small town
* Found family


My thoughts while reading:
🚨ALERT SPOILERS AHEAD🚨

I’m so excited to read this oh my gosh!! I loved the first book in the series so much!

Oh my god his mom never mailed those letters to July oh no!!!

HA TINA AND DONNA’S HALLOWEEN COSTUMES!! Melanin & Mela-none T-shirts omg

I have been devouring this book!!!

Gosh what if Joe & July become guardians of Maisie & Sam?!

Okay I was WRONG but they did help them get emancipated!!!

I love Laura Moher books so much I’m so happy and grateful I received this ARC! Very excited to read more from her in the future 🥰

I thoroughly enjoyed What She's Having by Laura Maher. It's the 2nd book in her Big Love for GaIway series. I was emersed in this slow burn, second chance romance set in a cozy small town. Maher weaves a story of relatable characters facing emotional hurdles with wit and sensitivity. She has created a story where love is hard-won but ultimately worth fighting for, leaving me with a satisfying and emotionally journey. I look forward to reading more stories from this series.

July Tate is a strong and resilient woman with a heart as big as her hometown, but she's still haunted by the pain of a lost love. For her, love means vulnerability, something she can't afford. Joe Anderson knew from the moment he met July that she was The One. After years apart, he returns, determined to explain his sudden disappearance. Instead of the girl he once knew, he finds a formidable woman who captivates him completely. Joe represents everything July has been missing, reigniting their old spark. But his presence causes July, usually more capable than anyone, to start making mistakes. This terrifies her because if she falls in love again, she risks everything, including her beloved town.

The book has a lot of potential and drew me in from the very beginning, but this changed by the third chapter. We know that July and Joe are still in love with each other, but do we really need constant reminders that they were together for two months as teens? I think two months is too short a time, and twenty years is too long to wait to reconnect. I like that the story is about love in a small town, where everyone is connected, knows everything, and helps each other.

The side story was very interesting to me, and I was more curious about what would happen with the children. Although the book is dual POV, I didn't like that the characters said one thing but did another. I also didn't like the miscommunication trope stretched throughout the entire book. The sex scenes were interesting, but the first one came out of nowhere and didn't fit at all, in my opinion.
Overall, the book is sweet and interesting, with well-developed characters throughout. The plot is simple and easy to follow, even though some parts are repetitive. Unfortunately, I haven't read the first book yet, but it's in my library, and I can't wait for the third book to come out. I will definitely read the entire series, even though I didn't give this book the best rating.

Most of us have met a small-town woman like July -- an ultra-competent, plus-sized woman with colorful and loyal friends but she routinely accepts less-than-satisfying situationships. That's where Joe finds her as he returns to the scene of their teenage romance decades later and shortly after his mother's deathbed confession changed the course of his life.

They bump up against one miscommunication after another as they struggle to make sense of their past and forge a future that is kinder and emotionally healthier. Joe is a green-flag guy who refuses to accept a meaningless fling, while July fears letting down her emotional defenses will unravel her mental health. Like so many of us, they keep trying in hopes of finally getting it right.

What She's Having is a heart-warming story that embraces body positivity and emotional self-care for a slow burn that is that much more satisfying in the end.

Spice rating: 2.5/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Tropes: Slow burn, small town, second chance, miscommunication, plus-sized heroine, green flag hero

What She’s Having is the embodiment of a heartwarming small-town romance.

Joe returns to Galway after twenty years, with the intention of rekindling his relationship with July. But time has changed them both, and their reunion isn’t as grand or satisfying as they had longed for it to be. So, they start from scratch, with the help of a tight-knit community who would do just about anything for each other.

This subverted my expectations in a pleasant way— I didn’t think this story was going to be as wholesome as it was! That said, it was cute, but I guess community-driven romances aren’t my cup of tea. A me thing, I admit, because I can see how this could be a favorite for others. I just like being contained within the main couple’s bubble.

Would recommend if you like: small town romance, second chance love, dual POV!

I haven’t read a lot of romances with a small town feel like this book has, and I really feel like I need to after this. I love the found family feeling this had, and the coziness that just seems to come so easily with a setting like this.

Joe and July are both really great main characters, but all of the side characters are also so well developed and great to read about. While I adored reading this after Curves For Days, it definitely could be read as a standalone. You don’t miss anything by doing so, but for people who loved Rose and Angus, it’s a fun little follow up on how they’re doing.

Personally, I’m not really a fan of the second chance trope. I feel like it often is a lot of ‘tell not show’ and the reader basically just has to trust the author when they say how the characters used to feel. But with this book, I feel like the author did a great job really showing the past feelings and connection between Joe and July, and I appreciate that. I’m giving this a 4 instead of a 5 because I really didn’t like how things progressed physically with them, but many others may disagree.

This book is super inclusive and doesn’t shy away from tough topics. I cry pretty easily when reading, so it’s not a surprise that I cried, but I did cry more than expected. I did think that everything was handled really well though. It didn’t feel inclusive just to be inclusive, everything fit the story and was there for a reason. I’m really glad that I read this.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had no idea the emotional journey this story would take me on. It’s much more than just a romance novel… the humorous quirky characters, the deep-seated mental health struggles, the gut wrenching stories of abuse…. ❤️😭 it hit me in ALL THE FEELS! I laughed… I cried… and ultimately, I LOVED this book!

While it definitely had the makings of a 5 ⭐️ read, a few aspects missed the mark (please note as I read an advanced copy of this book, these issues may be addressed prior to publishing):
- There were times the story felt repetitive and purposely drawn out with the characters rehashing the same details over and over.
- Tom went from being possessive over July to completely leaving her alone and basically being nonexistent in the story.
- The epilogue was extremely short and made the story feel like it ended abruptly, leaving much to be desired.

As the second book in this series, it’s normally helpful to have read the first book so you can gain backstory on the characters. I read What She’s Having as a standalone and never felt lost or confused. There’s enough details where it works, but I’ll probably go back and read Curves for Days since I enjoyed this story so much.

Overall, this book truly surprised me and was really hard to put down! I finished it in one day because I was so emotionally invested. It’s easily a 4.5 ⭐️ read!

Please note the trigger warnings:
- Eating disorders
- Severe depression with suicidal ideations
- Loss of a parent
- Domestic & familiar abuse
- Homelessness

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Laura Moher knows how to write and hownto capture feelings and put it on paper. This story is the heartbreaking and beautiful. I know not everyone is a fan of the miscommunication trope, but this was done right. It's very real to have two people who were deeply hurt, and honestly just traumatized, end up having some miscommunication and handle situations poorly. That's real life. I love that July and Joe's story felt like it could actually happen.

Laura does a stunning job so showing the truth of heartbreak and the lasting impacts it has. I found myself relating to several parts of this story on both sides. I love reading stories with men that are pure green flags, even with their real flaws, as well as reading about women I can physically relate to as a plus sized woman.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait for more!

While I am someone who typically loves a second chance romance this one sadly fell a little flat for me. This is a book that falls victim to the miscommunication trope. The FMC also has really hold a grudge from a relationship that happened 20 years ago and that feels a bit immature to me.

This was such a sweet story! I finished it in one day. I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't put it down. I love that this book has plus size representation. And in my opinion, it was done very well. I could myself in the main character and relate to her story. I really enjoyed it. This book had me swooning, laughing and crying in the best way. If you like romance books with heart, humor and heat then this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.