Title: What Happens Now?
Author: Sophia Money-Coutts
Published: August 8th 2019
Publisher: HQ Fiction – GB
Pages: 384
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
RRP: $29.99
Rating: 3 stars
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…
Review:
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.
What Happens Now? by Sophia Money-Coutts was published on 8th August 2019 by HQ Fiction – GB. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of What Happens Now? Sophia Money-Coutts, visit here.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
