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Having It All
Primary school teacher Annie Yates has a great job and friends she can count on, but her love life has never worked out the way she wanted. I’d it wasn’t bad enough that, years ago, she fell madly in love with Jack Delaney before realising he was gay, now her new fiancé has walked out on her. Her world has come crashing down. All she’s ever wanted was security, love and a family of her own. Her plans for motherhood have gone out the door… or have they?
Jack, now Annie’s best friend, wants to co-parent together. Plenty of women have babies and end up co-parenting, so what’s so bad about starting out that way? This is a second chance she never expected, but nothing ever did go smoothly for Annie. Throw a couple of new relationships, a lot of sleepless nights and plenty of arguments into the mix, and you might have a recipe for disaster.
Is having a baby with your gay best friend a completely crazy idea, or could this be the platonic love story Annie had never imagined?
Jack, now Annie’s best friend, wants to co-parent together. Plenty of women have babies and end up co-parenting, so what’s so bad about starting out that way? This is a second chance she never expected, but nothing ever did go smoothly for Annie. Throw a couple of new relationships, a lot of sleepless nights and plenty of arguments into the mix, and you might have a recipe for disaster.
Is having a baby with your gay best friend a completely crazy idea, or could this be the platonic love story Annie had never imagined?
252 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2020
3 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2020
A must read
I have never read a book so quickly, I've abandoned all housework and even my plans of binge watching The Crown on Netflix, because I couldn't put this down, I needed to know how things would work out.
A great read, I really felt I wanted the best for the characters and smiled and got watery eyed on several occasions throughout the book.
Highly recommended!
I have never read a book so quickly, I've abandoned all housework and even my plans of binge watching The Crown on Netflix, because I couldn't put this down, I needed to know how things would work out.
A great read, I really felt I wanted the best for the characters and smiled and got watery eyed on several occasions throughout the book.
Highly recommended!
January 13, 2021
Started and finished on the same day because I could not stop reading!
The beautifully written, Having It All, immerses the reader in the life of Annie Yates. I felt completely connected to Annie and enjoyed so much experiencing the ups and downs of life alongside her. I became completely invested in what would happen to Annie and wanted to scream in frustration when things weren’t going her way! I laughed (out loud), I cried and I smiled through every page.
It’s a story of love (not just the romantic kind either), friendship and motherhood (the good, the bad and the ugly of it all). Having It All refreshingly embraces the not so perfect realities of life. Everyone needs to read this - but you might need to clear your calendar because you won’t want to put it down!
The beautifully written, Having It All, immerses the reader in the life of Annie Yates. I felt completely connected to Annie and enjoyed so much experiencing the ups and downs of life alongside her. I became completely invested in what would happen to Annie and wanted to scream in frustration when things weren’t going her way! I laughed (out loud), I cried and I smiled through every page.
It’s a story of love (not just the romantic kind either), friendship and motherhood (the good, the bad and the ugly of it all). Having It All refreshingly embraces the not so perfect realities of life. Everyone needs to read this - but you might need to clear your calendar because you won’t want to put it down!
January 10, 2021
‘Having It All’ is the debut novel for author Larissa Johns and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I was surprised at how attached I became to the characters, having strong dislike for anyone that dared to hurt Annie! I loved the unique family dynamic the book addressed, promoting that family isn’t always traditional, it’s the people you choose to surround yourself with and who love you despite a blood connection. I’m looking forward to see what Larissa has in stall for her readers next!
August 31, 2021
Work sadly got in the way or I would have just sat and read this in one go.
Been a long time since I’ve said that as my reading mojo had been low.
Such a good story.
Been a long time since I’ve said that as my reading mojo had been low.
Such a good story.
December 12, 2020
Great debut!
Having It All is Larissa Johns' debut novel - and it's fantastic! Beautifully written, it's the story of Annie and Jack. Two best friends who decide to brave the world of parenthood together.
It's a little bit of My Best Friend's Wedding, and a little bit of The Next Best Thing. It's a story of love and friendship, of going after dreams to make them a reality, of working together to make a family work, of not being afraid to go against societal norms in order to create the life you want.
I read this in a single setting - I was fully invested in the characters and story from the first page to the last. I loved the epilogue (and may have indulged in some suffkes and teary eyes). Congrats, Larissa on a very good debut! 💕
Having It All is Larissa Johns' debut novel - and it's fantastic! Beautifully written, it's the story of Annie and Jack. Two best friends who decide to brave the world of parenthood together.
It's a little bit of My Best Friend's Wedding, and a little bit of The Next Best Thing. It's a story of love and friendship, of going after dreams to make them a reality, of working together to make a family work, of not being afraid to go against societal norms in order to create the life you want.
I read this in a single setting - I was fully invested in the characters and story from the first page to the last. I loved the epilogue (and may have indulged in some suffkes and teary eyes). Congrats, Larissa on a very good debut! 💕
December 10, 2020
'Having It All' is a light read, but raises important societal topics about planning out your life, what to do when life doesn't exactly go to plan, and what family is really all about. It was a sweet book, and I highly recommend it. I saw a review on Goodreads that said that it was a bit 'My Best Friend's Wedding' which I can see, but I had been thinking a little 'Will and Grace' as I read it. I'm sure you'll love hearing all about Annie and Jack and their mission to 'have it all'! Five stars :)
December 12, 2020
I absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put it down! Such an important story line of non stereotypical families and what happens when life doesn’t exactly go to plan. I would recommend this to anyone, it was beautifully written. I really loved all the characters and the friendships they shared together. It makes you think that no matter what, life can be amazing whether it goes the way you expected or not!
December 15, 2020
Having It All is the debut novel from Larissa Johns. It is a story of friendship, love and co-parenting in the modern age. The story hooks you from the first page and has you feeling like you are hanging out with your best friends. I highly recommend you giving Having It All a try. Once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down. Congratulations on a great first novel, Larissa. I can’t wait to read more of your work! Five stars from me 😊
January 4, 2021
A very nice, easy read that asks the question if women can have it all these days.
I loved the friendship between Annie, Carrie and Georgia as well as Annie’s relationship with Jack. The book captures the struggles and hard choices that women have to make about careers, friendships and motherhood whilst also being an entertaining read.
Thank you to the author, Larissa Johns, for an electronic review copy in exchange for a review.
I loved the friendship between Annie, Carrie and Georgia as well as Annie’s relationship with Jack. The book captures the struggles and hard choices that women have to make about careers, friendships and motherhood whilst also being an entertaining read.
Thank you to the author, Larissa Johns, for an electronic review copy in exchange for a review.
January 13, 2021
Larissa Johns has created a great first book. The characters are easy to identify with. I enjoyed the friendships she has with her teaching friends, Georgia and Carrie. Annie has dreams about how she would like her life to turn out and she discovers things don’t always go to plan. During the book you live the highs and lows of Annie’s life as she struggles to co-parent with her best friend, Jack. Annie grows as a person during the book and you can enjoy the changes.
April 15, 2021
An easy "summer reads" book, but filled with thought provoking commentary on society, and the challenges of trying to "have it all". I really enjoyed following the development and challenges/changes in relationships between the main character and support cast.
The story flowed with a nice pace, and the characters were crafted with thought and care. A great first novel from Larissa!
The story flowed with a nice pace, and the characters were crafted with thought and care. A great first novel from Larissa!
April 11, 2022
Enjoyable
I read this because I liked another book by the author, but it was totally different to what I was expecting. I read it in two days so it was pretty dang good and a nice, easy weekend read. The epilogue is cute and a wonderful way to end the book.
I'm a teacher (middle school though) and could totally relate to all the references to teacher life. :)
I read this because I liked another book by the author, but it was totally different to what I was expecting. I read it in two days so it was pretty dang good and a nice, easy weekend read. The epilogue is cute and a wonderful way to end the book.
I'm a teacher (middle school though) and could totally relate to all the references to teacher life. :)
February 23, 2021
Very interesting story
I absolutely love this unconventional family story. The characters are amazing, and it is very well written. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good life story.
I absolutely love this unconventional family story. The characters are amazing, and it is very well written. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good life story.
December 8, 2020
What an amazing read , absolutely loved it ,laughted and cried as i read ,truly wonderful book 🤓📓😍
December 24, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in one day. Its a lovely heart warming story and the characters all felt very real and relatable.
February 9, 2021
A wonderful debut novel, highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews