I absolutely adore anything Beth Moran writes and It Had to Be You did not disappoint! She tells the story of Libby and Nicky, two sisters whose parents took in foster children while they were growing up. Libby is the main character, but Nicky factors in quite a bit. Libby experienced heartbreak as a teen and again as an adult. She is a single mom who is struggling to balance it all. She runs a thriving business and charity, but she is barely hanging on, feeling like a failure. She has support from her sister and dad, but is balancing too much and eventually everything is going to topple. It is a beautiful story of family, found family, loss, and forgiveness. Beth Moran is a comfort read author for me and I cannot recommend her stories enough to anyone who has not checked her out!

Thank you to Netgalley, Beth Moran, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this wonderful story!

This was such a heartwarming story. The characters felt really flushed out and I enjoyed getting to know them. What a pleasant read!

Libby is a 29yr old single mum to two small children, as well as running a charity and a business. She teaches antenatal classes and post-birth baby care classes to teen mums as well as older couples who are also pregnant. But Libby is struggling to keep her life together, her cottage needs to be tidied up and repairs made, she's trying to stop her daughter from having constant meltdowns as well as trying to check up on all the new teen mums around her.

Things start to change for Libby though when a young teen dad turns up on her doorstep with his baby daughter after the baby's mum decides she doesn't want to be a mum anymore. This kid is working in construction and in return for free board, he has started fixing everything in Libby's cottage, he also has younger siblings he helped his own single mum raise so he helps Libby with her two children. All of this means Libby gets some much needed time to herself, which she definitely needs because she has two big things in her life to deal with - the boy (now man) that broke her heart and her mum, who has turned up again after 5yrs of being out of touch.

Libby met Jonah as a teenager when he was being fostered by her parents. The both developed feelings for each other but nothing happens for a long time, until one day they're home alone and they admit they love each other and kiss. That night, Libby sneaks into Jonah's room and though nothing really happens, they fall asleep and are found in bed together the next morning. This causes Libby's parents to have a complete meltdown and they kick Jonah out and the plan to adopt Jonah and his two young siblings goes along with him.

But then Jonah turns back up in Libby's life - his younger sister is pregnant and she needs help so they start attending Libby's classes. It's obvious Libby and Jonah still had feelings for one another and it takes some time and some talking to fill in the gaps they've missed out on. At one point it looks like they're going to be able to make it this time around but they both have complicated lives and as much as they may want to, it's not so easy to slot easily into someone else's mess.

Libby's mum never really forgives her for what happened with Jonah and after a few years she decides that she needs to leave and rediscover herself, leaving Libby, her older sister and their dad. The girls are in their 20's by this point but they still need their mum as things in their lives fall apart around them. But then she turns up again, almost like nothing has happened, and expects the girls to welcome her home but they're both too angry to let her back into their lives.

I thought this book was really well written and I like that it was told in a dual timeline so we can see how Libby and Jonah fell in love as teenagers, while watching them reconnect as adults. It also helps to explain some of the background to what happened with Libby's mum and dad. The characters are well rounded and relatable and I felt like Libby was someone who, while struggling, was open to admitting things needed to change in her life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is a romance with tons of drama that shifts between past and present. Its quite the emotional rollercoaster and I found myself rooting for Libby to have a happy ending. The characters are enjoyable and it is a fast paced read with good length chapters. I hate when the chapters take thirty minutes to read. A great book about starting over and new beginnings. You will laugh and you will cry.

ARC READ THROUGH NETGALLEY. I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I just didn’t. I felt like I had to slog through it and wasn’t super invested in the plot. I did want to cheer on Libby (and Nicky), but I just wasn’t drawn to them and dying to know what happens. I also felt like the flashbacks made it hard to follow what was happening.

ibby and her sister Nicky grew up in foster homes.
Libby has a lot going on in her life, taking care of her kids and trying to make time for herself. Then there’s her ex husband to deal with.
This was an intense book that flips back and forth from past to present. There’s the possibility of a new romance for Libby. Lots of life drama in this book

An enjoyable read, a bit of a roller coaster of emotions touching on themes of fragmented families, pregnancies (teenage and otherwise) and of course a love story.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

She's done it again! Really enjoyed this book and all it's characters. The writing style is familiar and very easy to read. Not my first, but also definitely not my last book by Beth

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood books for my copy of It Had to Be You by Beth Moran in exchange for an honest review. It publishes June 10, 2024.
Oh, Beth Moran, always writes such a lovely book. Seriously, I would read anything Beth writes! I loved this story and the wonderful characters and the character development, I was legitimately inspired to also try to do better in my life. I loved the program they had going on here, and the way that so much was overcome. I highly, highly recommend this one!

Beth Moran is my favorite romance writer. Her latest, It Had to be You, is just as good as all of her previous books. It’s a book about new beginnings and getting over old problems. Grown up sisters Nicky and Libby are successful in running a non profit for prenatal classes. But Libby’s life is a disaster in every other way. Slowly she identifies her stumbling blocks and tries to change. By the end of the book she’s the person you wish you had as a next door neighbor. A really enjoyable read. Now I’ll have to impatiently wait for Ms Moran’s next book.

Beth Moran is one of my favourite authors in this genre. A truly special book about fresh starts, finding yourself again and learning that you matter. Touches on some important and difficult subjects in a sensitive way. Lots of us will see a bit of ourselves in this novel.

Thirteen years ago Libby’s life imploded but also her family and the boy she felt in love with, destroying his chance at a future with a real family with his siblings. She is now a single mom of two children, barely keeping her family and her work as a ante and post natal specialists without a reason to laugh again. But facing her lost love again has the potential of change her life and the ones she loves more in this world and can be a second chance at love and happiness. Sweet, full of feelings and strong emotions.

Such an easy read!

Libby and Nicky are sisters who had a lively childhood; as the natural children of foster carers, they never knew who they wouold be sharing their home with. These days, they are all grown up; Libby is a divorced mother of two running her own business, Nicky is a GP and they are still close. However, that's more than could be said for their parents. Their mother took off on a world trip and is yet to return while their father has never quite known why. Whilst Nicky lives an ordered life, but Libby feels as if she is constantly struggling with everything and never quite getting on top of anything. Then there's a blast from the past and everything goes off-kilter . . .

I've yet to come acriss any work of this author's that I didn't enjoy and this one is such an easy read, pulling me in from the very start and with characters I really empathised with. I found myself struggling to set it aside to get anything else done and, as a result, read it in a day. Beautifully crafted characters and an enticing storyline all add up to an excellent read and one I'm very happy to recommend. 5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This book has a complicated plot. It is the story of Libby, who runs antenatal classes in her home and runs a charity for young mothers. She is a single mum of two, and a product of a family that fostered many children. When she was 17 she fell in love with one of the boys that her family was fostering, Jonah, also 17. There is a messy breakup and Libby goes on with her life, marrying another man but always thinking about Jonah. Years later, when Libby has separated from her husband , Jonah comes back into her life causing even more complications. Thanks to Boldwood books and Netgalley for an ARC Of this novel .

Growing up sisters Libby and Nicky never knew who would show up at their house. Their parents fostered children of every age. Now running a charity for teenage moms Libby also welcomes all who need it a place in her home. She is a single parent who feels like her life is falling apart. A decision she made in her past haunts her and she needs to take care of herself and maybe have a chance with a lost love!


Thanks Beth Moran and Boldwood Books

Beth Moran is a brilliant author. Her characters are brought to life and you instantly become invested in them and their stories.

The main character Libby has not has an easy time of it she is a divorced mum of 2, runs a successful charity, Baby Bloomers" which in itself is a full time job, she then has her business to run to provide for her 2 children, a mother who left her Dad and went off to "discover" herself, a sister Nicky who unfortunately is struggling to have a much wanted baby, an ex-husband who comes back into her work life and a long lost love that comes very unexpectedly back into her life! I loved Libby's tory and all the characters in her life.

This book will make you laugh out loud, and Libby will be some you want to befriend and cheer on.

Absolutely loved this book, and would recommend to anyone who loves a good, funny rom-com

First of all thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s no secret that I love Beth Moran’s work and will eagerly gobble up each release as it comes out! Known for her uplifting stories, perfectly balanced with a dash of romance, intriguing characters It had to be you definitely did not disappoint.

In this story, we follow Libby who is in her late twenties and pretty much a single mother of two. Her life is chaos and she struggles to balance everything she needs to, from her mum duties, supporting family to her business and charity (antenatal classes and supporting teenage mothers). Libby also struggles to say no!

When her first love at 16 flits back into her life, the narrative splits between then and now as we see what unfolds in the past compared with the growth (and healing of now!). To be honest I did think the guilt Libby carried was for something much much worse than it was but the way the writing brought it all together was beautiful.

Trying not to spoil too much but a beautiful story about second chances and learning to love yourself. I will leave you with my most memorable quote that cracked my heart a little….
‘You don’t think love’s enough?’
‘Not when it’s about a momentary feeling rather than a conscious choice, day in, day out, whether we feel like it or not.”

I enjoyed this book even though it wasn’t your typical romance tale. It showed that life can be messy and chaotic but still be happy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lovely emotive story covering a few heartwarming topics. Great well written characters.Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This was the first book I read by this author and I very much enjoyed it. It was a bit slow going at first but I loved it and I loved how fleshed out and realistic the characters were. Libby was amazing and I was in awe of how much she balanced at once. Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a story that is heartwarming and healing at the same time.