🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 Is a second chance for love possible for July and Joe? Years after Joe disappeared from their small town with a piece of July’s heart, he has returned but the hurt is still very real and raw. Laura Moher brings a big slice of very real trauma and the lasting impacts in her newest novel What She’s Having. Kudos to Moher for addressing these very real and important topics and thank you for creating the character of Joe in pursuit of his MSW. I absolutely realize my bias as a social worker, but it is an under-appreciated but versatile and capable mental health profession that addresses these challenges and more. What’s She’s Having is a beautifully written small town, second chance romance that is heartfelt. Michelle Price and Paul Bellantoni do a brilliant job narrating this charming story, bring Moher’s characters to life in the most delicious and delightful manner!


Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio arc, all opinions are my own.

Separated teenager lovers July and Joe reconnect after 20 years and have a hard time finding their groove again. This book was a lot heavier than I expected with themes of loss of family, child abuse, and severe depression. I was definitely tearing up multiple times.

The narrators were great showing different emotions and voices for each character.

Five Stars

I was wary of requesting this one since I didn't adore the first one but, I thought, why not! I'm glad I gave it a chance. I definitely liked it better than the first book.

July and Joe are in love, they're only 16 but that doesn't matter. They know what they know. When Joe disappears in the night with only one off hand comment from his father to the neighbor about going to Germany things go bad. Joe's father is a real POS and takes the family away without telling them why. Joe spends MONTHS writing to July but never gets a response. Finally he tries to move on. At the end of her life his mother tells him a horrible secret she has been keeping. This leads Joe to move back to the town he and July shared to see if there is anything left to salvage.

I have to admit that the side story was my favorite. Those kids, I love them. I wish nothing but the best for them and would be ecstatic to read more about their lives.

This story is heavy, please check the triggers. I do recommend it though if you enjoy a second chance romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for the opportunity to listen to and review this story.

Whew, this got a lot heavier than I had anticipated! What She's Having is a contemporary small town, second chance romance following characters who met as teens and were forcibly separated. It's a good book, but it's a lot to read at times. It deals with parental abuse, mental health, eating disorders, fatphobia, and more. Also because of the trauma the characters have experienced, they aren't always great at communicating clearly which only adds to their relationship issues.

July is a strong, plus-size woman who runs a local restaurant and always taking care of other people. For Joe she was the one who got away, until a deathbed confession reveals the truth of their separation. He decides to go back and try to get the girl he fell for at 16, but they have both been through a lot. While I didn't adore this in the way I did the first book in the series, I appreciate that the author is using romance to tackle big issues in a human way. Just be aware this one has some fairly intense moments. The audio narration is spot on! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Oh, my. I loved every word of this book and couldn't put it down. July is a woman after my own heart. Bless them and second chances. I'd love to have some of the recipes, visit the town, and hear the stories of the other characters. Series anyone? It was precious!

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 listening to it in one day. I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't stop. The narrator did a wonderful job. I love that this book has plus size representation. And in my opinion, it was done very well. I could see myself in the main character and relate to her story. I really enjoyed it. This audiobook had me swooning, laughing and crying in the best way. If you like romance audiobooks with heart, humor and heat then this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.