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What Happens Now?
‘No question about it, there are two little purple lines. I’m pregnant.’
After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’—that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?
Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.
Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own—it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…
After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’—that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?
Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.
Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own—it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2019
953 people are currently reading
2750 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 468 reviews
August 25, 2020
I've been on a pretty huge UK rom-com kick lately and this one definitely helped to scratch that itch! It isn't a new favorite, but it was a fun time and I would certainly read more from Sophia Money-Coutts in the future.
TW: complications with pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, death of a loved one
TW: complications with pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, death of a loved one
August 30, 2025
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I am so excited to be part of the Blog Tour for What Happens Now by Sophia Money-Coutts! Thank you to the team at HQ, for being so kind to send me a copy of this book!
Without further delays, let’s see what I thought…
What Happens Now by Sophia Money-Coutts is a wonderful story that features Lil, who is a normal lady, living a normal life. She thought she has found ”the one”, but after so many years, this fellow dumps her for a twenty-year old blonde girl.
Doing what everyone should do, she moves on, and tries to find a new match, choosing a dating app and swiping right. She finds a handsome man that seems to like her and arranges a date. She gets ready, meets this guy, has a few drinks and spends the night at his apartment.
What is the worse thing that can happen?
Well – firstly, he doesn’t seem to respond to her messages at all. And then, she discovers that he is, in fact, the famous mountaineer Max, who is currently out there somewhere, climbing a mountain and can’t actually see her messages, the Max who is possibly Prince William’s best friend. But on top of it all, after weeing on a stick, she discovers she is pregnant with his baby.
So now Lil is single, thirty-one and living in a small flat in London, and this is not how she expected to become a mum. But our lady Lil here is probably the bravest woman I have ever encountered in my books, and she decides to do this whole motherhood thing on her own. Yes – she really likes Max, and it would be amazing if he gets involved too, but she doesn’t need him really. She can do this!
Throughout this book I felt so empowered to read about Lil’s daily challenges and I was cheering for her all the way through. She, and all women in the world that had the courage to give birth to and raise a child on their own should be praised, and I can’t think of any words to describe how brave these people are and how much I admire them!
Lucky for Lil, she has her mother and her stepdad along her way throughout the whole journey, and these two people are the friendliest and kindest people in the world.
And then there’s Jess – Lil’s best friend, who is, by the way, THE BEST FRIEND anyone wants. She was EVERYTHING and I loved her so much! She was always there for Lil, giving the best advises in the world. We all need a Jess in our lives!
And to be honest, given my low opinion on Sophia’s first book, The Plus One, I didn’t have high expectations on this one, but I think she outdid herself and created a masterpiece! The writing style has improved so much, that you wouldn’t notice these two books have been written by the same author.
I loved reading about Lil’s journey – I truly did. The writing was gorgeous and I couldn’t put the book down. Very empowering, but at the same time a very light summer read. I recommend it to all of you – read What Happens Now? this summer, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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I am so excited to be part of the Blog Tour for What Happens Now by Sophia Money-Coutts! Thank you to the team at HQ, for being so kind to send me a copy of this book!
Without further delays, let’s see what I thought…
What Happens Now by Sophia Money-Coutts is a wonderful story that features Lil, who is a normal lady, living a normal life. She thought she has found ”the one”, but after so many years, this fellow dumps her for a twenty-year old blonde girl.
Doing what everyone should do, she moves on, and tries to find a new match, choosing a dating app and swiping right. She finds a handsome man that seems to like her and arranges a date. She gets ready, meets this guy, has a few drinks and spends the night at his apartment.
What is the worse thing that can happen?
Well – firstly, he doesn’t seem to respond to her messages at all. And then, she discovers that he is, in fact, the famous mountaineer Max, who is currently out there somewhere, climbing a mountain and can’t actually see her messages, the Max who is possibly Prince William’s best friend. But on top of it all, after weeing on a stick, she discovers she is pregnant with his baby.
So now Lil is single, thirty-one and living in a small flat in London, and this is not how she expected to become a mum. But our lady Lil here is probably the bravest woman I have ever encountered in my books, and she decides to do this whole motherhood thing on her own. Yes – she really likes Max, and it would be amazing if he gets involved too, but she doesn’t need him really. She can do this!
Throughout this book I felt so empowered to read about Lil’s daily challenges and I was cheering for her all the way through. She, and all women in the world that had the courage to give birth to and raise a child on their own should be praised, and I can’t think of any words to describe how brave these people are and how much I admire them!
Lucky for Lil, she has her mother and her stepdad along her way throughout the whole journey, and these two people are the friendliest and kindest people in the world.
And then there’s Jess – Lil’s best friend, who is, by the way, THE BEST FRIEND anyone wants. She was EVERYTHING and I loved her so much! She was always there for Lil, giving the best advises in the world. We all need a Jess in our lives!
And to be honest, given my low opinion on Sophia’s first book, The Plus One, I didn’t have high expectations on this one, but I think she outdid herself and created a masterpiece! The writing style has improved so much, that you wouldn’t notice these two books have been written by the same author.
I loved reading about Lil’s journey – I truly did. The writing was gorgeous and I couldn’t put the book down. Very empowering, but at the same time a very light summer read. I recommend it to all of you – read What Happens Now? this summer, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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August 30, 2019
3.5 stars!
trigger warnings:
Special thanks to Harper Collins for the review copy!
T H E G O O D ->
- The main character is a teacher of young children which I could totally relate to!
- this book is HILARIOUS. Like, laugh-out-loud hilarious.
- loved the discussion on what makes a 'real' family. The MC's dad isn't her biological father but is her dad is all the ways that matter.
- amazing friendships that play an important part in the story.
- really enjoyable read, overall.
T H E B A D->
- sometimes there were dodgy jokes and offensive comments made (for example, the mc states that she wants to "convert to asexualism" to avoid getting pregnant.
- love interest was a bit of a dick
- not the best written book (that being sad, I did read the ARC)
I'd say if you're looking for a fun, sexy rom-com style book, give it a go!
trigger warnings:
Special thanks to Harper Collins for the review copy!
T H E G O O D ->
- The main character is a teacher of young children which I could totally relate to!
- this book is HILARIOUS. Like, laugh-out-loud hilarious.
- loved the discussion on what makes a 'real' family. The MC's dad isn't her biological father but is her dad is all the ways that matter.
- amazing friendships that play an important part in the story.
- really enjoyable read, overall.
T H E B A D->
- sometimes there were dodgy jokes and offensive comments made (for example, the mc states that she wants to "convert to asexualism" to avoid getting pregnant.
- love interest was a bit of a dick
- not the best written book (that being sad, I did read the ARC)
I'd say if you're looking for a fun, sexy rom-com style book, give it a go!
September 14, 2019
Cheerful, witty, heart-warming chick-lit. ‘What Happens Now?’ will brighten your day.
4.5.
Lil Bailey has the perfect first date with charming, handsome, attentive Max Rushbrooke. So when he invites her back to his place, she doesn't hesitate.
The next day she sees Max on TV, and realises she slept with a famous mountaineer and guide, who's in line to be a Viscount, and whose family is loaded.
The trouble is he's ignoring her texts. Lil’s disappointed, but chalks it up to a memorable one-night stand.
Then she discovers she's pregnant.
She feels obligated to at least inform Max that he's going to be a father, but he's currently uncontactable – on an expedition, climbing one of the highest, unconquered mountains in Pakistan.
How will he react to her pregnancy? And more importantly, will be want to be involved?
Cheesy I know, but who doesn't love a light, feel good, happy ending romance from time to time?, and this one delivered on all counts. ‘What Happens Now?’ reminded me quite a bit of Beth O’Leary’s, The Flatshare, and while I didn't love this one quite as much, it was a close.
I found Lil somewhat childish and naive for thirty-one, but her tendency to over share regarding every intimate aspect of her life certainly made for entertaining and amusing reading. She did have a serious side, especially as she contemplated the ramifications of possibly raising a baby alone, and all that it entailed, and over the course of the novel she definitely matured. I loved how supportive her family and friends were, and enjoyed the special bond she shared with her stepdad. Her interactions with the 5 year-olds at the exclusive private school she taught at were sweet and nurturing, and added another layer to the novel.
Warning, the sex scenes are graphic in detail, so if you're squeamish about that kind of thing you may want to skim read those parts. Lil also goes into great detail regarding her pregnancy, which wasn't entirely to my taste, but was conveyed in a comedic manner.
Relax and escape with ‘What Happens Now?’ today.
4.5.
Lil Bailey has the perfect first date with charming, handsome, attentive Max Rushbrooke. So when he invites her back to his place, she doesn't hesitate.
The next day she sees Max on TV, and realises she slept with a famous mountaineer and guide, who's in line to be a Viscount, and whose family is loaded.
The trouble is he's ignoring her texts. Lil’s disappointed, but chalks it up to a memorable one-night stand.
Then she discovers she's pregnant.
She feels obligated to at least inform Max that he's going to be a father, but he's currently uncontactable – on an expedition, climbing one of the highest, unconquered mountains in Pakistan.
How will he react to her pregnancy? And more importantly, will be want to be involved?
Cheesy I know, but who doesn't love a light, feel good, happy ending romance from time to time?, and this one delivered on all counts. ‘What Happens Now?’ reminded me quite a bit of Beth O’Leary’s, The Flatshare, and while I didn't love this one quite as much, it was a close.
I found Lil somewhat childish and naive for thirty-one, but her tendency to over share regarding every intimate aspect of her life certainly made for entertaining and amusing reading. She did have a serious side, especially as she contemplated the ramifications of possibly raising a baby alone, and all that it entailed, and over the course of the novel she definitely matured. I loved how supportive her family and friends were, and enjoyed the special bond she shared with her stepdad. Her interactions with the 5 year-olds at the exclusive private school she taught at were sweet and nurturing, and added another layer to the novel.
Warning, the sex scenes are graphic in detail, so if you're squeamish about that kind of thing you may want to skim read those parts. Lil also goes into great detail regarding her pregnancy, which wasn't entirely to my taste, but was conveyed in a comedic manner.
Relax and escape with ‘What Happens Now?’ today.
September 15, 2019
What Happens Now? was a fun, light read - in comparison to the serial killers that I normally read about. I was not expecting to get so caught up and attached to Lil and her friends but I did. I found myself rooting for her and wanting everything to work out for the best.
Lil Bailey is a young woman who has recently been dumped by the man that she thought was the One for her after 8 years. Jumping back into the dating world she makes a date with Max via a dating app. Max is a very good looking mountaineer and after a shaky start she ends up spending the night with him (in a very steamy and funny sex scene!) After not hearing from him again after their encounter she finds herself pregnant. She is 31, single and flat sharing in London - what is a girl to do? She decides that she is going to keep the baby and go it alone - although she tries to reach out to Max to tell him what is happening. This starts a hilarious string of events where Lil discovers a lot about herself, her family and friends.
This book is funny, honest and relatable. Lil's relationships with her friends Jess and Clem are lovely, what having friends is all about. Lil and Max come from completely different worlds - can they come together to raise a baby together? I would love to see a follow up book of what happens next - so many questions!! Sophia Money-Coutts knows how to engage her audience and I absolutely loved this book.
Thanks to the HQ Book Club, Harlequin Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. I highly recommend this book for anybody needing a laugh and something light hearted but real to read.
Lil Bailey is a young woman who has recently been dumped by the man that she thought was the One for her after 8 years. Jumping back into the dating world she makes a date with Max via a dating app. Max is a very good looking mountaineer and after a shaky start she ends up spending the night with him (in a very steamy and funny sex scene!) After not hearing from him again after their encounter she finds herself pregnant. She is 31, single and flat sharing in London - what is a girl to do? She decides that she is going to keep the baby and go it alone - although she tries to reach out to Max to tell him what is happening. This starts a hilarious string of events where Lil discovers a lot about herself, her family and friends.
This book is funny, honest and relatable. Lil's relationships with her friends Jess and Clem are lovely, what having friends is all about. Lil and Max come from completely different worlds - can they come together to raise a baby together? I would love to see a follow up book of what happens next - so many questions!! Sophia Money-Coutts knows how to engage her audience and I absolutely loved this book.
Thanks to the HQ Book Club, Harlequin Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. I highly recommend this book for anybody needing a laugh and something light hearted but real to read.
February 25, 2020
4.5 stars
3am I put this down last night. 3am! And I love my sleep. I was completely engrossed in this, I couldn't put it down. I have been so grumpy today, but it was worth it.
I enjoyed the wit and the snark and the storyline kept me reading, long after I should've put my kindle down and gone to sleep.
Unusually for me, the romance was probably the least important part of this story; I was more invested in seeing how Lily adapts and grows -literally as well as emotionally - when she finds herself up the duff after a one night stand. She's real, authentic and genuinely funny, one of those characters that feels like a friend. Love that, just love it.
However, the smut is fab so fear not, it's still a winner for us smut connoisseurs.
I would have liked an epilogue, the ending was a bit abrupt, but otherwise this was a stonking good read.
Complete story, highly recommended.
**Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for my arc**
3am I put this down last night. 3am! And I love my sleep. I was completely engrossed in this, I couldn't put it down. I have been so grumpy today, but it was worth it.
I enjoyed the wit and the snark and the storyline kept me reading, long after I should've put my kindle down and gone to sleep.
Unusually for me, the romance was probably the least important part of this story; I was more invested in seeing how Lily adapts and grows -literally as well as emotionally - when she finds herself up the duff after a one night stand. She's real, authentic and genuinely funny, one of those characters that feels like a friend. Love that, just love it.
However, the smut is fab so fear not, it's still a winner for us smut connoisseurs.
I would have liked an epilogue, the ending was a bit abrupt, but otherwise this was a stonking good read.
Complete story, highly recommended.
**Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for my arc**
September 12, 2019
their chemistry??? non existent
May 11, 2020
Lil Bailey thought she had found her forever partner but eight years later, he leaves her someone else. While her life is ok with her tiny apartment and stable role as a teacher, she wants more. Lil finally gets back to dating and runs into handsome Max and things are looking up. But after a night together Max ghosts her and to make matters worse, she finds out she is pregnant.
While the blurb gives more away, I think its best going into this not knowing. What follows in the story is a fun tale about Lil, her relationship with Max, her revelation to him and what happens when they both get to know each other a little better. I laughed and it was silly and fun in places and just delightful. Definitely one I recommend as a light read with a dose of humour.
While the blurb gives more away, I think its best going into this not knowing. What follows in the story is a fun tale about Lil, her relationship with Max, her revelation to him and what happens when they both get to know each other a little better. I laughed and it was silly and fun in places and just delightful. Definitely one I recommend as a light read with a dose of humour.
August 12, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
What Happens Now? is the latest hilarious rom com from British author Sophia Money-Coutts. A book that delves into the modern dating world, first date mistakes, life changing circumstances, friendships and family, the second novel from Sophia Money-Coutts is a bubbly romp from start to finish.
Nursing a broken heart after the demise of an eight year relationship, Lil Bailey delves into the online dating world in attempt to get over her ex. She lines up a date with rich, handsome and adventurous Max. The date goes surprisingly well on all fronts, but then Max disappears from Lil’s life. The situation is compounded when Lil realises she is pregnant with Max’s child. Still very single and hardly equipped to deal with parenthood, Lil struggles to accept her impending future as a mother. Lil knows she must try and track Max down, even though he has been ignoring her. When Lil eventually hunts Max down, she is confronted with a harsh reality. They come from completely different worlds, and will one of Britain’s most eligible bachelors accept his new role as a parent?
With the back of What Happens Now? covered in praise, beginning with worldwide bestselling author Jilly Cooper, and concluding with established British newspaper the Evening Standard, my initial interest in Sophia Money-Coutts’ second novel was definitely high. Sophia Money-Coutts is a new author to me and I always appreciate exploring the work of unknown authors. I had some opening expectations with the novel. I guessed it would be a funny and light romantic comedy. I was correct in these assumptions, but there was definitely a slightly serious tone to the issues covered in What Happens Now?.
I enjoyed the glimpse this novel offered in terms of the current day dating climate. It was sad to see Lil go through the upset of the demise of her long term relationship. On the other hand, I admired Lil for getting out there and tackling the online dating world – I know I certainly wouldn’t! Lil was pretty lucky to encounter Max on her first date swipe! However, I did question Max’s intentions and his character when he failed to contact Lil after their date, effectively ‘ghosting’ her. My heart went out the Lil during these sequences in the book.
What Happens Now? changes tact when Lil makes the shock discovery that she is pregnant with Max’s child, following their date. It is easy to sympathise with Lil, thanks to the way in which Sophia Money-Coutts has crafted her lead. Drawing the support cast in closely to these aspects of the book was definitely entertaining, as well as heart-warming. The secondary cast are varied and interesting, adding something extra to this fairly standard ‘girl meet boy and finds herself pregnant’ scenario. At times I often got the feeling that this novel would transfer well onto the screen as a classic British rom com.
What I liked about Lil was her willingness to accept motherhood without any doubts, despite the fact that she was definitely faced with the prospect of doing it all alone, thanks to the illusive Max. Sophia Money-Coutts take a strong stance in these sequences and the accounts of impending motherhood, as well as pregnancy, was surprisingly frank for a rom com title.
Another aspect I appreciated about What Happens Now? was Lil’s profession. Working as a teacher of five year olds in an exclusive all boys school, was a really interesting career angle. It was a nice contrast to Max’s own profession as a mountaineer. As a teacher myself, I really enjoyed these areas of the book as they came across as truthful, funny and entertaining.
The love aspect of the book is what drives this novel, along with the pregnancy, and the high emotions of the situation that Lil is confronted with. The romance is a sweet one, with a few hot and heavy moments, which I am sure chick lit fans will lap up. For me, the raw honesty and often crass explanations of some areas of the book didn’t quite suit my tastes, but others may appreciate these areas of the book. The ending came fairly fast and it did make we wonder if a sequel is in the works. I am sure time will tell in this department.
A book that conveys the world of modern dating, mistakes, choices and facing up to your future encircles What Happens Now?. Relatable, honest and utterly outrageous, this novel should tick all the boxes for chick lit fans.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
What Happens Now? is the latest hilarious rom com from British author Sophia Money-Coutts. A book that delves into the modern dating world, first date mistakes, life changing circumstances, friendships and family, the second novel from Sophia Money-Coutts is a bubbly romp from start to finish.
Nursing a broken heart after the demise of an eight year relationship, Lil Bailey delves into the online dating world in attempt to get over her ex. She lines up a date with rich, handsome and adventurous Max. The date goes surprisingly well on all fronts, but then Max disappears from Lil’s life. The situation is compounded when Lil realises she is pregnant with Max’s child. Still very single and hardly equipped to deal with parenthood, Lil struggles to accept her impending future as a mother. Lil knows she must try and track Max down, even though he has been ignoring her. When Lil eventually hunts Max down, she is confronted with a harsh reality. They come from completely different worlds, and will one of Britain’s most eligible bachelors accept his new role as a parent?
With the back of What Happens Now? covered in praise, beginning with worldwide bestselling author Jilly Cooper, and concluding with established British newspaper the Evening Standard, my initial interest in Sophia Money-Coutts’ second novel was definitely high. Sophia Money-Coutts is a new author to me and I always appreciate exploring the work of unknown authors. I had some opening expectations with the novel. I guessed it would be a funny and light romantic comedy. I was correct in these assumptions, but there was definitely a slightly serious tone to the issues covered in What Happens Now?.
I enjoyed the glimpse this novel offered in terms of the current day dating climate. It was sad to see Lil go through the upset of the demise of her long term relationship. On the other hand, I admired Lil for getting out there and tackling the online dating world – I know I certainly wouldn’t! Lil was pretty lucky to encounter Max on her first date swipe! However, I did question Max’s intentions and his character when he failed to contact Lil after their date, effectively ‘ghosting’ her. My heart went out the Lil during these sequences in the book.
What Happens Now? changes tact when Lil makes the shock discovery that she is pregnant with Max’s child, following their date. It is easy to sympathise with Lil, thanks to the way in which Sophia Money-Coutts has crafted her lead. Drawing the support cast in closely to these aspects of the book was definitely entertaining, as well as heart-warming. The secondary cast are varied and interesting, adding something extra to this fairly standard ‘girl meet boy and finds herself pregnant’ scenario. At times I often got the feeling that this novel would transfer well onto the screen as a classic British rom com.
What I liked about Lil was her willingness to accept motherhood without any doubts, despite the fact that she was definitely faced with the prospect of doing it all alone, thanks to the illusive Max. Sophia Money-Coutts take a strong stance in these sequences and the accounts of impending motherhood, as well as pregnancy, was surprisingly frank for a rom com title.
Another aspect I appreciated about What Happens Now? was Lil’s profession. Working as a teacher of five year olds in an exclusive all boys school, was a really interesting career angle. It was a nice contrast to Max’s own profession as a mountaineer. As a teacher myself, I really enjoyed these areas of the book as they came across as truthful, funny and entertaining.
The love aspect of the book is what drives this novel, along with the pregnancy, and the high emotions of the situation that Lil is confronted with. The romance is a sweet one, with a few hot and heavy moments, which I am sure chick lit fans will lap up. For me, the raw honesty and often crass explanations of some areas of the book didn’t quite suit my tastes, but others may appreciate these areas of the book. The ending came fairly fast and it did make we wonder if a sequel is in the works. I am sure time will tell in this department.
A book that conveys the world of modern dating, mistakes, choices and facing up to your future encircles What Happens Now?. Relatable, honest and utterly outrageous, this novel should tick all the boxes for chick lit fans.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
September 16, 2019
Rating: 2.5 stars
Writing reviews about a book that wasn't really all that bad, but still disappointing is hard. This is one of them. I was excited to read "What Happens Now?", I might be one of the rare people that enjoys pregnancy trope (even though I don't want kids irl, how ironic), I thought this would be a fun and cute read and to some extent it was.
I did chuckle a couple of times, it was a very easy and light read but can't say I'm impressed or that in two months I'll remember much of this. Was just a forgettable read.
Can't say I really cared for the main characters, Max in particular seemed to change his personality quite a bit. And to add to it their romance felt very meh? Whether they ended up together or just remained friends/co-parents wasn't something I was at all invested in, not a lot built up or chemistry there.
Some other things also bothered, like the main character talking about "converting to asexualism", which definitely rubbed me the wrong way. This also needed more editing, one side character went from Jess to Lex at one point. Also not to nit-pick but if you say you don't want to find out the sex of the baby because wants it to be a surprise why keeps referring to the baby with specific gender pronoun instead of gender neutral ones?
I will still say if you need a fast-paced, light romance pick this up knowing isn't that funny nor surprising.
Writing reviews about a book that wasn't really all that bad, but still disappointing is hard. This is one of them. I was excited to read "What Happens Now?", I might be one of the rare people that enjoys pregnancy trope (even though I don't want kids irl, how ironic), I thought this would be a fun and cute read and to some extent it was.
I did chuckle a couple of times, it was a very easy and light read but can't say I'm impressed or that in two months I'll remember much of this. Was just a forgettable read.
Can't say I really cared for the main characters, Max in particular seemed to change his personality quite a bit. And to add to it their romance felt very meh? Whether they ended up together or just remained friends/co-parents wasn't something I was at all invested in, not a lot built up or chemistry there.
Some other things also bothered, like the main character talking about "converting to asexualism", which definitely rubbed me the wrong way. This also needed more editing, one side character went from Jess to Lex at one point. Also not to nit-pick but if you say you don't want to find out the sex of the baby because wants it to be a surprise why keeps referring to the baby with specific gender pronoun instead of gender neutral ones?
I will still say if you need a fast-paced, light romance pick this up knowing isn't that funny nor surprising.
January 17, 2020
RATING: 1 STAR
DNF @15%
What Happens Now? started out pretty good. I liked the main character, Lil, and the British wit (think modern Bridget Jones). I empathized, and related too well, to Lil's situation of online dating after a break up with a long-term partner. I was still happily listening when Lil goes on her first date with Max, that turns into sex at his place. When she wakes up, Max isn't there and continues to ghost her. Then boom, there is a wench in the plan when Max appears on TV and we learn more about him.
At this point I just lost interested in the story. And, so I think, do I pursue this book, or just cut my losses? I turned to the reviewing community. After reading several reviews, , I decided to move on. I still have Money-Coutts' novel The Plus One to read...so I am going to try one more time.
DNF @15%
What Happens Now? started out pretty good. I liked the main character, Lil, and the British wit (think modern Bridget Jones). I empathized, and related too well, to Lil's situation of online dating after a break up with a long-term partner. I was still happily listening when Lil goes on her first date with Max, that turns into sex at his place. When she wakes up, Max isn't there and continues to ghost her. Then boom, there is a wench in the plan when Max appears on TV and we learn more about him.
At this point I just lost interested in the story. And, so I think, do I pursue this book, or just cut my losses? I turned to the reviewing community. After reading several reviews, , I decided to move on. I still have Money-Coutts' novel The Plus One to read...so I am going to try one more time.
September 24, 2019
Another chick lit, not romance.
The blurb makes it sound like this book is a romance novel, but to me, a romance novel has the central plot as, well, the romance. Whereas chick lit focuses on a journey a woman takes, of a sort. Romance included, but not the main plot. At least, that's how I've always interpreted the genres.
Which means this book is chick lit. And full of British pop culture references. If that's your cup of tea, read away.
The blurb makes it sound like this book is a romance novel, but to me, a romance novel has the central plot as, well, the romance. Whereas chick lit focuses on a journey a woman takes, of a sort. Romance included, but not the main plot. At least, that's how I've always interpreted the genres.
Which means this book is chick lit. And full of British pop culture references. If that's your cup of tea, read away.
August 25, 2019
*4.5 Stars*
ARC kindly received from Harlequin Aus in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so much better than I expected it to be. It sounded interesting from the blurb, but when you actually start reading it, you discover that the characters are fun, and whilst the story-line is serious, the book is written in just the right way to make it a bit more light and fluffy.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and was truly unsure how things would turn out between Lil and Max. We don't actually get too much of Max in this book, its mostly about Lil and how she's navigating her new circumstances, what with being pregnant and all, along with other normal things about her life, such as her friends and her job.
There are some great secondary characters in this too, in the form of Lil's best friends Jess and Clem, and also her parents. They make for a fun and crazy bunch, and you really find yourself easily liking these characters and getting drawn into their world.
I also really liked how this was set in London, and everything about the writing and characters was truly British. At least it was from my perspective (being an Aussie and having visited the UK once). I really felt like I was over there too - really great world building there.
I sped through this alot faster than I expected, and I truly enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It was a good ending, but way too abrupt, and that's why my rating is 4.5 stars rather than the full 5. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Review also on my blog - What Happens Now? by Sophia Money-Coutts
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ARC kindly received from Harlequin Aus in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so much better than I expected it to be. It sounded interesting from the blurb, but when you actually start reading it, you discover that the characters are fun, and whilst the story-line is serious, the book is written in just the right way to make it a bit more light and fluffy.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and was truly unsure how things would turn out between Lil and Max. We don't actually get too much of Max in this book, its mostly about Lil and how she's navigating her new circumstances, what with being pregnant and all, along with other normal things about her life, such as her friends and her job.
There are some great secondary characters in this too, in the form of Lil's best friends Jess and Clem, and also her parents. They make for a fun and crazy bunch, and you really find yourself easily liking these characters and getting drawn into their world.
I also really liked how this was set in London, and everything about the writing and characters was truly British. At least it was from my perspective (being an Aussie and having visited the UK once). I really felt like I was over there too - really great world building there.
I sped through this alot faster than I expected, and I truly enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It was a good ending, but way too abrupt, and that's why my rating is 4.5 stars rather than the full 5. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Review also on my blog - What Happens Now? by Sophia Money-Coutts
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August 23, 2019
What Happens Now? By Sophia Money-Coutts is a very upbeat contemporary novel about the highs and lows of pregnancy. I really enjoyed this honest look at life through the eyes and mind of a single thirty one year old named Lil.
The book opens with a pregnancy test and ends after delivery. The reader ‘travels’ the nine months with Lil. We see her take on situations as she asks the questions all mums-to-be want to ask. Written in the first person the reader becomes intimately acquainted with Lil. I loved her down to earth manner that contrasted with those around her in the birthing class.
What Happens Now? was not just about pregnancy, it was about good friends, work colleagues and family. Not all families are made up of the traditional mum, dad, two children and a dog but the families are made up of love.
Sophia Money-Coutts wrote an honest and often hilarious look at life. I was literally laughing out loud throughout as I recognised that there are things I have said or thought that mirror Lil.
What Happens Now? was a wonderful feel-good novel, just perfect for the garden, the beach or the sofa! It’s a novel that left me smiling.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A word of caution: there is language and scenes some readers may not like. I found there was too much detail (for me) in the bedroom scenes/references so I skipped chunks of the narrative. It did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
The book opens with a pregnancy test and ends after delivery. The reader ‘travels’ the nine months with Lil. We see her take on situations as she asks the questions all mums-to-be want to ask. Written in the first person the reader becomes intimately acquainted with Lil. I loved her down to earth manner that contrasted with those around her in the birthing class.
What Happens Now? was not just about pregnancy, it was about good friends, work colleagues and family. Not all families are made up of the traditional mum, dad, two children and a dog but the families are made up of love.
Sophia Money-Coutts wrote an honest and often hilarious look at life. I was literally laughing out loud throughout as I recognised that there are things I have said or thought that mirror Lil.
What Happens Now? was a wonderful feel-good novel, just perfect for the garden, the beach or the sofa! It’s a novel that left me smiling.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A word of caution: there is language and scenes some readers may not like. I found there was too much detail (for me) in the bedroom scenes/references so I skipped chunks of the narrative. It did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
August 23, 2019
A huge thank you to Harper Collins for sending me a proof of this to read and review - I loved it! I finished it in one sitting. Review to come upon Australian Publication Date!
June 11, 2020
Yikes 😬😬.
Okay, so I'm Scottish, and my kin are nowhere near posh. We're as blue-collar and blunt as can be. I was raised by a man and around boys, and I have a pretty ribald and irreverent sense of humour as a result, I admit. I'm relatively thick-skinned for a female and it's hard to repulse or offend me.
This book - in particular, the heroine - was absolutely revolting.
Here again, we have another unattractive heroine paired with an unfairly attractive hero. It's not believable. It might sound shallow, but hey, the truth hurts. It is what it is.
Here's a tip, writers - That's. Never. Gonna. Happen. A man like Max is never going to go for a six feet, pear-shaped girl with thunder thighs, a fat belly and an ugly, bulbous nose.
I get that this is chick-lit/rom-com fare, but the image the writer paints of the heroine is unappealing rather than endearing. And it steadily goes downhill.
I legit felt nauseous more than once during this book, and I fail to see how this heroine's crass and frankly disgusting inner-dialogue was funny. So, if gross-out humour and unnecessary detail doesn't faze you, read on. If it does, proceed at your own risk.
In this story we get to read about -
- the heroine peeing on her hand and a description of her wiping herself 😷.
Not her hand...thankfully, she actually washes that.
- a bout of loose bowels and wind brought on by dodgy curry, which needed several doses of Immodium. This event preceded her first date with the hero. The date predictably became sex, during which he rimmed her and thoroughly licked her arse crack - AFTER she's taken multiple trips to the bog. 🤢🤮
- her bad breath, furry teeth and cheesy tongue. Also her smelly feet and the fat rolls on her abdomen. We are also treated to how often she farts, complete with a full account of the eye-watering stench 🤮.
- how slovenly and quite frankly stupid she is. She leaves dirty knickers wherever, wears threadbare clothing with stains down the front and damp underarms with rank ass, stained Converse in public when she knows she's going to be around posh folks. She's always got sweaty armpits or her makeup is running or she's soiled her top somehow. She's always got to pee or has trapped wind. My overall impression of her is that of a gauche, unwashed, dumpy slob, and a thick-headed one to boot. This h is a Kindergarten teacher FFS. She doesn't think about her actions or possess common sense. She doesn't know how to dress appropriately or properly use makeup, and her self-deprecating attitude really began to grate. What was truly disturbing is that this gross, stinking cow was going to be a mum🥺.
If anyone is inclined to read this anyway, the story is the standard, if unmemorable, contrived nonsense. A ONS ends in another bcp 'failure' 🙄😑 resulting in the pregnancy of someone who should never procreate. And who in their right mind doesn't use a goddamned condom for backup when shagging a stranger?
Anyway, some questionable details about pregnancy and loads moronic fat humour which I loathe because being pregnant is not the same as being obese.
I can almost bet this writer has never had a child and it baffles me why so many writers think it's okay to write about things they know jack shite about.
The hero is rather 1-D and absent through much of the story. The ending is abrupt and unexpected and there's no HEA - in fact, it's barely a HFN.
If your idea of a rom-com is a pig for a heroine and low-brow bodily-function humour, go for it, but I would not recommend this book.
🤮🤮🤮🤮
Okay, so I'm Scottish, and my kin are nowhere near posh. We're as blue-collar and blunt as can be. I was raised by a man and around boys, and I have a pretty ribald and irreverent sense of humour as a result, I admit. I'm relatively thick-skinned for a female and it's hard to repulse or offend me.
This book - in particular, the heroine - was absolutely revolting.
Here again, we have another unattractive heroine paired with an unfairly attractive hero. It's not believable. It might sound shallow, but hey, the truth hurts. It is what it is.
Here's a tip, writers - That's. Never. Gonna. Happen. A man like Max is never going to go for a six feet, pear-shaped girl with thunder thighs, a fat belly and an ugly, bulbous nose.
I get that this is chick-lit/rom-com fare, but the image the writer paints of the heroine is unappealing rather than endearing. And it steadily goes downhill.
I legit felt nauseous more than once during this book, and I fail to see how this heroine's crass and frankly disgusting inner-dialogue was funny. So, if gross-out humour and unnecessary detail doesn't faze you, read on. If it does, proceed at your own risk.
In this story we get to read about -
- the heroine peeing on her hand and a description of her wiping herself 😷.
Not her hand...thankfully, she actually washes that.
- a bout of loose bowels and wind brought on by dodgy curry, which needed several doses of Immodium. This event preceded her first date with the hero. The date predictably became sex, during which he rimmed her and thoroughly licked her arse crack - AFTER she's taken multiple trips to the bog. 🤢🤮
- her bad breath, furry teeth and cheesy tongue. Also her smelly feet and the fat rolls on her abdomen. We are also treated to how often she farts, complete with a full account of the eye-watering stench 🤮.
- how slovenly and quite frankly stupid she is. She leaves dirty knickers wherever, wears threadbare clothing with stains down the front and damp underarms with rank ass, stained Converse in public when she knows she's going to be around posh folks. She's always got sweaty armpits or her makeup is running or she's soiled her top somehow. She's always got to pee or has trapped wind. My overall impression of her is that of a gauche, unwashed, dumpy slob, and a thick-headed one to boot. This h is a Kindergarten teacher FFS. She doesn't think about her actions or possess common sense. She doesn't know how to dress appropriately or properly use makeup, and her self-deprecating attitude really began to grate. What was truly disturbing is that this gross, stinking cow was going to be a mum🥺.
If anyone is inclined to read this anyway, the story is the standard, if unmemorable, contrived nonsense. A ONS ends in another bcp 'failure' 🙄😑 resulting in the pregnancy of someone who should never procreate. And who in their right mind doesn't use a goddamned condom for backup when shagging a stranger?
Anyway, some questionable details about pregnancy and loads moronic fat humour which I loathe because being pregnant is not the same as being obese.
I can almost bet this writer has never had a child and it baffles me why so many writers think it's okay to write about things they know jack shite about.
The hero is rather 1-D and absent through much of the story. The ending is abrupt and unexpected and there's no HEA - in fact, it's barely a HFN.
If your idea of a rom-com is a pig for a heroine and low-brow bodily-function humour, go for it, but I would not recommend this book.
🤮🤮🤮🤮
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2020
Brit-chick-lit at its best. Super cute story and audio narration by the author was very good!
October 22, 2019
For me this is 4.5 stars because I wanted an epilogue. Other than that I really enjoyed this book.
April 26, 2020
I think I started this book and stayed on chapter 2 for over a month. Well I picked it up this morning and I could not do anything else until I finished it. This is a thorough 5 star read. I can say I finished it in one sitting because I just got up for occasional breaks.
What do you do when you're getting over an 8 year relationship, when the love of your life has moved on to someone younger and more beautiful? You get a dating app and try to find someone out there to shake you out of crying jags and bouts of feeling sorry for yourself.
Then the unthinkable happens, you get pregnant..... Ms Money-Coutts is very very funny and I love the self disparaging humour from Lil and her friends. My favourite character was Dennis, the lovable Dad.
What do you do when you're getting over an 8 year relationship, when the love of your life has moved on to someone younger and more beautiful? You get a dating app and try to find someone out there to shake you out of crying jags and bouts of feeling sorry for yourself.
Then the unthinkable happens, you get pregnant..... Ms Money-Coutts is very very funny and I love the self disparaging humour from Lil and her friends. My favourite character was Dennis, the lovable Dad.
August 27, 2019
4.5 Stars... really enjoyed this!
August 23, 2019
4 hilarious stars
This book is such a fun read! A laugh-out-loud story about a woman who finds herself pregnant after a one-night-stand, and the hilarity that ensues as she juggles her job, her friends and family, and her world-exploring baby daddy with the no-holds-barred wonders of pregnancy and impending motherhood.
31-year-old Lil is moving on after being dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years, and after 6 months of being single, she’s meeting up with a guy she met on a dating app. She and Max spend a great evening together, with things ending up in a sizzling encounter that rocks her world, but that turns out to be a one-off. It’s not until later that she learns that Max is part of the British aristocracy (friends with Prince William no less) and is a famous mountain climber who shortly after their date heads off on a trip to Pakistan. And it’s while he’s away that Lil learns that she is pregnant.
And so we begin Lil’s hilarious journey through unexpected pregnancy. From all of the wonderful moments to the things usually not spoken of, we get to explore it all with her in unflinching honesty, and OMG it’s so funny! And all of this while unfolds she’s dealing with her job as a kindergarten teacher at a very exclusive boys’ school, flatmates who are constantly disturbing her with their weird sex noises, and the crazy lives of her friends and family. And when her wayward baby daddy returns, things get even more complicated.
Lil is in for the ride of her life, and it’s a funny and heartfelt journey as we experience the highs and lows with her. I absolutely love Lil as a character. She’s endearingly awkward and so relatable, and I could sympathise (and all too often relate) to all that she’s going through. And I love how brave she is at accepting this huge change in her life and embracing all that it means, despite the fact that she has no clue what she’s doing.
There is romance, but it’s more in the background and it doesn’t come with the feels or heartpounding excitement that I usually look for in a romance, but it was well written and sweet, and probably realistic for the situation. Max appears more like a side-character, while it’s Lil’s parents and best friends that steal the show – unequivocally having their girls’ back and being there for her in all of their quirkiness and hilarity.
I had a lot of fun with this one. I was hooked in pretty quickly and couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out. I found the ending to be a bit abrupt and would have loved an epilogue to finish things off a bit more, but I’m wondering whether Lil’s BFF, Jess, will get a book, so we may get to see more of these characters yet. But nevertheless, I really enjoyed this one.
A solid 4 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is such a fun read! A laugh-out-loud story about a woman who finds herself pregnant after a one-night-stand, and the hilarity that ensues as she juggles her job, her friends and family, and her world-exploring baby daddy with the no-holds-barred wonders of pregnancy and impending motherhood.
31-year-old Lil is moving on after being dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years, and after 6 months of being single, she’s meeting up with a guy she met on a dating app. She and Max spend a great evening together, with things ending up in a sizzling encounter that rocks her world, but that turns out to be a one-off. It’s not until later that she learns that Max is part of the British aristocracy (friends with Prince William no less) and is a famous mountain climber who shortly after their date heads off on a trip to Pakistan. And it’s while he’s away that Lil learns that she is pregnant.
And so we begin Lil’s hilarious journey through unexpected pregnancy. From all of the wonderful moments to the things usually not spoken of, we get to explore it all with her in unflinching honesty, and OMG it’s so funny! And all of this while unfolds she’s dealing with her job as a kindergarten teacher at a very exclusive boys’ school, flatmates who are constantly disturbing her with their weird sex noises, and the crazy lives of her friends and family. And when her wayward baby daddy returns, things get even more complicated.
Lil is in for the ride of her life, and it’s a funny and heartfelt journey as we experience the highs and lows with her. I absolutely love Lil as a character. She’s endearingly awkward and so relatable, and I could sympathise (and all too often relate) to all that she’s going through. And I love how brave she is at accepting this huge change in her life and embracing all that it means, despite the fact that she has no clue what she’s doing.
There is romance, but it’s more in the background and it doesn’t come with the feels or heartpounding excitement that I usually look for in a romance, but it was well written and sweet, and probably realistic for the situation. Max appears more like a side-character, while it’s Lil’s parents and best friends that steal the show – unequivocally having their girls’ back and being there for her in all of their quirkiness and hilarity.
I had a lot of fun with this one. I was hooked in pretty quickly and couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out. I found the ending to be a bit abrupt and would have loved an epilogue to finish things off a bit more, but I’m wondering whether Lil’s BFF, Jess, will get a book, so we may get to see more of these characters yet. But nevertheless, I really enjoyed this one.
A solid 4 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2019
It was fine, not my favorite book, but it had its moments.
I have no idea in the slightest how this is supposedly a great beach read. (Excuse me, poolside.) And the chapters were SO. FREAKING. LONG. I literally timed myself reading a few different ones and they took 20 minutes MINIMUM. Am I just not as fast a reader as I think I am?
Aaannnnddddd.... I kinda think she should've just skipped the sex scenes. Obviously an important bit considering the plot of the book, but I just thought they were..... dumb? I don't know. Not my area of expertise. I just feel like a nice 'Next morning...' instead would have served better.
Whatever.
I think my biggest problem with this book is that it's probably the most realistic rom-com ever. No insta-love, no improbable plot-twists with an odds-defying comeback. Difficult and awkward situations..... resolved? I don't even know. HEA was not wrapped in a big, fancy-pants bow.
I'm using too many hyphenated words.
There were PEOPLE in this book. Not adorkable tropes and alpha males. I wanted to punch everyone at least once. Everyone had a personality without being complete twits. It was actually a nice combo of people and characters.
So. Yes. Good.
I did read this in only two days. It held my attention. I liked it (kinda ok, it's still just fine). It was good. Worth it.
Ok. Now I think I'm finally done with this full-on British rom-com kick. For now.
The hyphens are making a return.
Let's read something else.
I have no idea in the slightest how this is supposedly a great beach read. (Excuse me, poolside.) And the chapters were SO. FREAKING. LONG. I literally timed myself reading a few different ones and they took 20 minutes MINIMUM. Am I just not as fast a reader as I think I am?
Aaannnnddddd.... I kinda think she should've just skipped the sex scenes. Obviously an important bit considering the plot of the book, but I just thought they were..... dumb? I don't know. Not my area of expertise. I just feel like a nice 'Next morning...' instead would have served better.
Whatever.
I think my biggest problem with this book is that it's probably the most realistic rom-com ever. No insta-love, no improbable plot-twists with an odds-defying comeback. Difficult and awkward situations..... resolved? I don't even know. HEA was not wrapped in a big, fancy-pants bow.
I'm using too many hyphenated words.
There were PEOPLE in this book. Not adorkable tropes and alpha males. I wanted to punch everyone at least once. Everyone had a personality without being complete twits. It was actually a nice combo of people and characters.
So. Yes. Good.
I did read this in only two days. It held my attention. I liked it (kinda ok, it's still just fine). It was good. Worth it.
Ok. Now I think I'm finally done with this full-on British rom-com kick. For now.
The hyphens are making a return.
Let's read something else.
May 13, 2019
At the start of this book I thought that maybe I'd made a mistake requesting it. I was looking for something light-hearted and this seemed to fit my requirements.
I didn't love the first few chapters, the characters were annoying and the details the author went into during the sex scene were unnecessary.
After my initial reservations I found myself warming to the characters particularly Lil, I liked reading about her interactions with family and friends and her job as a teacher.
I liked the no holds barred look at pregnancy and how there was no sugarcoating.
This ending up being the light-hearted, enjoyable read I was after, I'm glad I stuck with it!
I didn't love the first few chapters, the characters were annoying and the details the author went into during the sex scene were unnecessary.
After my initial reservations I found myself warming to the characters particularly Lil, I liked reading about her interactions with family and friends and her job as a teacher.
I liked the no holds barred look at pregnancy and how there was no sugarcoating.
This ending up being the light-hearted, enjoyable read I was after, I'm glad I stuck with it!
November 23, 2019
This was meh. The main character Lil was underwhelming and a bit boring really. Max was also underdeveloped. I mean the guy was a mountain climber and he made me yawn. Wtf? In general this fell flat. I found myself skimming in a few places. But what really got me fucking irritated was the ending, I mean this just ends like in mid conversation. Seriously!? Maybe things will turn out, maybe they won't. How about this; you're the fucking author and this is a rom-com and it's your job to finish things off not mine so do your job Sophia. Is that too much to ask?
August 29, 2019
What a lovely book! Read this in 2 days. Thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few spelling and grammatical errors but that didn't detract away from anything, whereas usually it puts me off! Her honesty about pregnancy and labour were hilarious, and having read 'the plus one' a few months ago and was disappointed with the lack of laugh out loud moments, this novel had me laughing on nearly every page!
August 1, 2019
Copy received from Harper Collins Australia for an honest review
I was intrigued by the blurb of What Happens Now?, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. I mean, the surprise baby has been done over and over, what could be new, right?
From the minute I started reading, I knew that this was going to be different for me. The story isn't different to a lot of books out there, however the story telling was wonderful, and I wanted to keep reading. I was reading this story in my lunch breaks at work, so I found myself sneaking in a few extra minutes when I could to finish a chapter, and left me wanting to read more as I walked away each day.
Going in , I thought Max and Lil's story was just going to be the light and fluffy, however it had some darker, more emotional times that gave the story wonderful depth.
There are some fabulous secondary characters, particularly Lil's best friends Jess and Clem. Oh, how I adore them! I need them to move in with me!
Our lovelies story is not always the easiest and lovey-dovey-est story out there, and I found myself wanting to skip to the last chapter to check that things ended the way I wanted them too - I refrained from doing so though!
I did feel though, that after all the tension and build up between Lil and Max, the ending was very rushed. I mean, I got the ending that I was wanting, however to me it felt like it was "oh OK, this happened, the end". I wanted more!
This was my first Sophie Money-Coutts read, but I definitely want to read more.
I was intrigued by the blurb of What Happens Now?, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. I mean, the surprise baby has been done over and over, what could be new, right?
From the minute I started reading, I knew that this was going to be different for me. The story isn't different to a lot of books out there, however the story telling was wonderful, and I wanted to keep reading. I was reading this story in my lunch breaks at work, so I found myself sneaking in a few extra minutes when I could to finish a chapter, and left me wanting to read more as I walked away each day.
Going in , I thought Max and Lil's story was just going to be the light and fluffy, however it had some darker, more emotional times that gave the story wonderful depth.
There are some fabulous secondary characters, particularly Lil's best friends Jess and Clem. Oh, how I adore them! I need them to move in with me!
Our lovelies story is not always the easiest and lovey-dovey-est story out there, and I found myself wanting to skip to the last chapter to check that things ended the way I wanted them too - I refrained from doing so though!
I did feel though, that after all the tension and build up between Lil and Max, the ending was very rushed. I mean, I got the ending that I was wanting, however to me it felt like it was "oh OK, this happened, the end". I wanted more!
This was my first Sophie Money-Coutts read, but I definitely want to read more.
August 5, 2019
Absolutely fantastic!! Had me laughing the whole way through.
September 26, 2019
This was a brilliant rom com that had me laughing from the first chapter. Pretty much if an f bomb is dropped in chapter one I and caught hook line and sinker. So many good characters in this book. Loveable friends, co worker but for me Lils step dad probably takes the cake. What a beautiful man! This is a brilliant read and you would be crazy not read it if you are a romance lover.
May 1, 2021
Darum geht es:
Eigentlich war Lil sich sicher, dass sie den Richtigen längst gefunden hat. Zumindest bis er sie für eine blonde Kollegin Mitte zwanzig sitzen lässt. Also tut Lil, was jede Single-Frau mit einem letzten Fünkchen Selbstachtung tun würde: Sie hört auf den Rat ihrer besten Freundin, kramt ihren besten BH ganz hinten aus der Schublade und findet sich auf einem Date wieder. Ganz ehrlich, was soll schon passieren? Eine ganze Menge, wie sich ein paar Wochen und einen positiven Schwangerschaftstest später herausstellt. Doch Lils Date ist seit ihrem einzigen Treffen wie vom Erdboden verschluckt. Lil macht sich auf die Suche – denn sicher sah er nur rein zufällig genauso aus wie dieser Max Rushbrooke, Sohn von Lord und Lady Rushbrooke und begehrtester Junggeselle Englands, der die Titelseiten sämtlicher Klatschmagazine beherrscht?
Das Buch hat vieles richtig gemacht: ich mochte direkt die Figuren des Buches, sei es die Protagonisten als auch die Nebenfiguren.
Lil ist, zugegeben, etwas naiv, aber dennoch eine starke Persönlichkeit, die versucht die Dinge positiv zu sehen und trotz Widrigkeiten ihren Weg geht. Ihre Eltern, schon etwas speziell sind mir direkt durch ihre unkonventionelle, liebevolle Art ans Herz gewachsen.
Max ist ebenso realitätsnah wie Lil dargestellt; beginnend mit seinem Argwohn bezüglich der Schwangerschaft, also auch für seine aufkeimende Liebe zu dem Ungeborenen. Dann hätten wir noch Lils Freunde: Clem und Jess: ein herrlich chaotisches Gespann, aber sehr liebenswert dargestellt.
Lil wird ungeplant schwanger – die Geschichte beleuchtet ganz realistisch die Überlegungen von Lil: was spricht für und was dagegen. Es ist sehr nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Auch die Schwangerschaft an sich: fern jeglicher Romantik wird hier angesprochen was bei einer Schwangerschaft und Geburt passieren kann!
Jetzt zum Negativen: ich bin mit einer völlig anderen Erwartung an das Buch rangegangen. Durch den Kappentext und das Zitat auf dem Cover („Ein Lacher pro Minute – genial.“) habe ich ein viel lustigere Geschichte erwartet. Ich musste schon schmunzelt ab und an, aber richtig gelacht habe ich nicht.
Deswegen gibt es von mir nur
3 von 5 Sterne
Vielleicht wäre es anders gewesen, wenn die Erwartung eine andere gewesen wäre.
Eigentlich war Lil sich sicher, dass sie den Richtigen längst gefunden hat. Zumindest bis er sie für eine blonde Kollegin Mitte zwanzig sitzen lässt. Also tut Lil, was jede Single-Frau mit einem letzten Fünkchen Selbstachtung tun würde: Sie hört auf den Rat ihrer besten Freundin, kramt ihren besten BH ganz hinten aus der Schublade und findet sich auf einem Date wieder. Ganz ehrlich, was soll schon passieren? Eine ganze Menge, wie sich ein paar Wochen und einen positiven Schwangerschaftstest später herausstellt. Doch Lils Date ist seit ihrem einzigen Treffen wie vom Erdboden verschluckt. Lil macht sich auf die Suche – denn sicher sah er nur rein zufällig genauso aus wie dieser Max Rushbrooke, Sohn von Lord und Lady Rushbrooke und begehrtester Junggeselle Englands, der die Titelseiten sämtlicher Klatschmagazine beherrscht?
Das Buch hat vieles richtig gemacht: ich mochte direkt die Figuren des Buches, sei es die Protagonisten als auch die Nebenfiguren.
Lil ist, zugegeben, etwas naiv, aber dennoch eine starke Persönlichkeit, die versucht die Dinge positiv zu sehen und trotz Widrigkeiten ihren Weg geht. Ihre Eltern, schon etwas speziell sind mir direkt durch ihre unkonventionelle, liebevolle Art ans Herz gewachsen.
Max ist ebenso realitätsnah wie Lil dargestellt; beginnend mit seinem Argwohn bezüglich der Schwangerschaft, also auch für seine aufkeimende Liebe zu dem Ungeborenen. Dann hätten wir noch Lils Freunde: Clem und Jess: ein herrlich chaotisches Gespann, aber sehr liebenswert dargestellt.
Lil wird ungeplant schwanger – die Geschichte beleuchtet ganz realistisch die Überlegungen von Lil: was spricht für und was dagegen. Es ist sehr nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Auch die Schwangerschaft an sich: fern jeglicher Romantik wird hier angesprochen was bei einer Schwangerschaft und Geburt passieren kann!
Jetzt zum Negativen: ich bin mit einer völlig anderen Erwartung an das Buch rangegangen. Durch den Kappentext und das Zitat auf dem Cover („Ein Lacher pro Minute – genial.“) habe ich ein viel lustigere Geschichte erwartet. Ich musste schon schmunzelt ab und an, aber richtig gelacht habe ich nicht.
Deswegen gibt es von mir nur
3 von 5 Sterne
Vielleicht wäre es anders gewesen, wenn die Erwartung eine andere gewesen wäre.
January 7, 2020
I’m giving my first read of the year a 3 stars. Hope that doesn’t set a precedent.
Y’know what, I quite liked this book. It was no Mhairi McFarlane or Sara Manning, but it was light and funny and the perfect palate cleanser between genres.
Character wise, I really liked Lil. She was so strong and independent and she didn’t take other peoples shit, but she was kind about it. I loved the friendships she had made and nurtured and the way she approached everyone and every scenario with an open mind.
The friendship dynamic between Lil and Jess was adorable and honestly I hope I get to experience something like it some day.
As for Max and Lil? I’ll be real, I didn’t think they had any chemistry what-so-ever. In fact, Lil had more chemistry with Hunters mum than she did with Max.
All in all it was light and enjoyable and I think 3 stars is pretty fair.
Y’know what, I quite liked this book. It was no Mhairi McFarlane or Sara Manning, but it was light and funny and the perfect palate cleanser between genres.
Character wise, I really liked Lil. She was so strong and independent and she didn’t take other peoples shit, but she was kind about it. I loved the friendships she had made and nurtured and the way she approached everyone and every scenario with an open mind.
The friendship dynamic between Lil and Jess was adorable and honestly I hope I get to experience something like it some day.
As for Max and Lil? I’ll be real, I didn’t think they had any chemistry what-so-ever. In fact, Lil had more chemistry with Hunters mum than she did with Max.
All in all it was light and enjoyable and I think 3 stars is pretty fair.
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