This is my second book that I’ve read by Sophie Cousens and it was really great! This book is about Anna who is recently divorced going on dates picked by her children for her work column! I loved the characters and how different each of her dates were. It seems like she learned a different lesson for each of them. Will was just the best! I loved how he was her co worker, how they would bicker and fight, but how their attraction grew within each other. Definitely recommend this book and a great 5 star read! Thank You NetGalley, Putnam Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Publishing date of November 19, 2024.

Thank you to @putnambooks for the ARC which I had zero chill in reading immediately. Thank you to @sophie for the witty winner of a book and for getting Joe Jackson’s title song stuck in my head. I’m not mad about either of them.
 
I’ve read and enjoyed all of Sophie Cousen’s novels and her upcoming release is no exception. She continually delivers a heartfelt rom-com with sharp writing, well-defined characters and a compelling story. The trifecta for a perfect pick-me-up.

There were 3 stand out elements that hooked me:
* Anna is a divorced Mom in her late 30’s.
* Will Havers is impossible to cut up. He’s a keeper.
* Anna's two kids go old school (offline) to pick seven dates for her to go on with little-to-no veto power.  

It's one of those books that blends levity and humor with heft. The characters are endearing & authentic. Equally appealing are the people Anna meets along the way as she expands her community.  I loved the banter, the authentic familial relationships and kids who act their ages. I would categorize this as 'romance adjacent". Light on the steam.

I have so many feelings, but if you kept up with my status updates for this one, you'll know I mean that in the best way. The amount of times I kicked my feet, slammed my hand on my desk, and wanted to SCREAMMM into my pillow was insane. I must ask the author, how did you come up with this man? Is he real? Does he exist somewhere? Because we need more men like Will freaking HAVERS.

This story starts out introducing you to our fmc, Anna. She is 38, divorced, with two of the cutest kids. She has become quite cynical, and believes she is "completely and totally happy on her own", and has no interest in dating. That is until her career is about to take a turn for the worst if she doesn't start writing more vulnerable and relatable column pieces. The newspaper company she works for is tanking, and they need a new and fresh take to gain a younger audience, and that's where the idea of going on dates her children pick for her begins.

I personally really grew to love Anna. At first I thought "wow, she is just so skeptical of anyone and everything". I wanted her to let loose, I wanted her to stop believing the worst in people, and oh my goodness how that changes for her throughout this book. She grows, she makes new friends, she finds HERSELF. It was a wonderful journey of watching her blossom, and truly finding who she is, because her whole life up to this point was her prioritizing her children, and never taking a second for herself.

And you might be wondering who is Will Havers? How does he play into this story? LET ME TELL YOU. I would say Anna has a one sided rivalry against him, so I can't really call them work rivals, especially when all he wants is just Anna's attention. But somehow they end up having a competitive relationship, and the rest unfolds from there. He is literally the sweetest man. He pays attention to when she speaks, makes her know her worth when she can't, and FREAKING SPENDS TIME WITH HER CHILDREN. *punches the air*

I am a big mood reader, and I haven't been in a contemporary romance mood for a minute now, and I just want to say that I am so glad that this was the book that I decided to read. I loved, loved, loved all the new friends Anna makes along the way, her growth, and her freaking relationship with Will. AND I really hope we will see a certain someone's story from this book written soon, because he truly deserves it *cough* the neighbor *cough*.

Thank you netgalley and Putnam books for this e-arc!!!

Wow, just wow.

I loved how many different directions this went. I was there for each and every relationship! Every character was special in their own way and I love all of them.
I loved how organic everything was and how each character pushed when needed but also knew when the other needed space.

This book gave me nothing but happy feels and genuine smiles. Props to Sophie for being able to write an amazing story with the perfect ending.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Sophie Cousens for accepting my request for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I fell in love with these characters. It was also so fun having the kids pick the dates for Anna. Even though it seemed like there were a lot of characters introduced it didn’t seem confusing at all and they all served their part to make this such a wholesome book.

Another rom com winner from Sophie Cousens which I devoured in one sitting. Columnist Anna Appleby finds herself competing to save her column for a Bristol magazine from her younger rival Will.

Having eschewed any sort of romance after her divorce, Anna agrees to go on dates set up by her young children and write about them. All while finding herself verbally sparing with Will, whom she makes many assumptions, sometimes hurtful ones about.

Anna's dates were hilarious to sweet, sometimes within the same date, like her kid's classmate's dad. I loved that slowly Anna grows and re-discovers aspects of her dormant personality.

Sophie Cousens writes well-rounded characters. I adored Will and all the side characters, such as her sister. Anna's relationship and banter with her kids, who were written exactly as their ages, was also a highlight. I also appreciated the tightrope Anna has to walk co-parenting with her ex-husband, who, surprise surprise was such a walking middle aged stereotype and ends up in a life he walked away from (suck shit!).

With its sharp writing and characters I become deeply invested in, I hope someone turns this into a movie like her first book.

Thanks to Putnam/Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Sophie Cousens, the author you are. I was a bit nervous because I LOVE her other stories, and I was worried about trying to relate to a character with a completely different life experience to mine. However there are many parts of Anna that I connected with. I also loved all the small characters, and literally small characters in her children. Just a feel good book about picking yourself up after heartache, and making unexpected connections with the people around you.

If Andie Anderson was a British single mom whose kids chose her dates. I laughed out loud so many times and loved the chemistry between Anna and her love interest. My favorite rom-com of the year so far — Sophie Cousens is fabulous.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I have loved all previous Sophie Cousins books and this one was not an exception! I love when we get older women trying to find love while balancing a family and a job. Despite the lull in the middle of the books, I was drawn to Anna and Will's rivalry but also drawn to the side characters. I have a misunderstanding that is easily avoidable but that was my only complaint with the book. Overall 4 stars!

I LOVED this one. I adore Sophie Cousens so I was super excited to find this here and even more excited to get approved! It was obvious from the very beginning that the two main characters would get together by the end but that didn't stop me from devouring this book to see exactly how they got there. I couldn't totally relate to Anna since I don't have kids, but I definitely related to her quest for love and all her dating foibles. This was a five star read for me.

Anna is a divorced mom in her late thirties who is a journalist. She works with a man named Will who is younger than her and they have to write a column where they both go on dates with people and write about it. Anna is going on dates. with men that her children are choosing for her. This concept was very funny and created for lots of silly dates and adventures. As the love interest plot goes, it was a definite slow burn and since it is a closed door book it felt like not much happened at all and that made the book drag a bit. It also felt like there were too many characters going on with all of the men she was going on dates with, will, her children, a sister and her ex husband. it became difficult to keep up. The plot was a lot of fun but it almost feels like it would have been better if it wasn't a romance but instead explored more about Anna finding herself after divorce.

This romance novel enchants with its heartfelt story and beautifully crafted characters, immersing readers in a tale of love and longing. The author's skillful blend of passion and vulnerability keeps the pages turning. With its poignant moments and satisfying resolution, this book is a delightful read for romance fans.

Such a sweet easy read! I fell in love with the characters from the first page, the way they were written, the stories that came with them, all of it. I loved watching Anna, a recently divorced mom of 2 come into her own, come out of the shadow she’d been living in for far too long and allow herself to be happy. I loved watching her develop this raw unadulterated confidence, and use it to better her life and her kids’ lives. I loved watching her open up to love, to being loved and realizing that it’s not as scary as she thinks it is.

This was such a wonderful, sweet read, and one I can absolutely see myself picking up again.

One of my fave RomComs this year!

This is my first read by Cousens and I’ll now be reading everything on her backlist. The book follows journalist, Anna, as she navigates dating after being newly divorced. In order to save her job, she is asked to write a column about her dating life alongside her arch nemesis, Will.

I fell in love with the characters in this story and did not want the book to end. Will 😍, Anna’s kids, her supportive sister, the cranky neighbor, Loretta ❤️, even her jerky ex-husband … they all came to life within the pages and I was so invested in all of them.

One of my favorite parts of the book was how each chapter started by listing out Anna’s Google searches. They were laugh out loud funny and made this character even more real and relatable.

Read if you like:
✨More mature characters
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Loveable side characters

Thank you so much Net Galley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Will be telling everyone about this one and will post my review on my bookstagram and Goodreads on publication day.

I’ve heard a lot about this author previously but this is the first book that I read by her. I was pleasantly surprised with the dialogue, the jokes and banter were pretty high up there for me. Definitely will be recommending this one!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!

I really enjoyed this book. Such a cute quick and easy read. I loved the storyline and the characters. Great writing style. Perfect summer read. What a great work place romance!!

I've been a Sophie Cousens fan for years, and her newest novel, "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", doesn't disappoint! This was such a delightful romance featuring a journalist in her 30s who lets her children pick her dates so she can keep her column alive. I really loved how Cousens developed the characters so well, making it so I cared about each and every one of them. Five stars all around! Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

SOPHIE! You are a mastermind. You've done it again. You've swept me up into a romance that made me want it to go on forever. I want to live in all of the world's you create and I hope you continue to write a new book each year (selfishy). I will recommend this to everyone I know. This slowburn, divorcee romance is just a true gem in the world of romance.

"Is She Really Going Out with Him" is an absolute gem of a romance novel that brilliantly balances humor, heart, and hope. The story of Anna Appleby, a columnist who finds herself navigating the tumultuous waters of post-divorce life and the modern dating scene, is both relatable and incredibly charming.

Anna’s journey begins with her taking on a unique challenge to save her career: embarking on seven dates, all arranged by her children. This setup not only provides countless laugh-out-loud moments but also deep insights into Anna’s resilience and growth. The awkward encounters and unexpected connections are portrayed with such authenticity that readers can't help but root for Anna.

What makes this book truly stand out is its ability to blend the trials of single parenthood with the hopefulness of new beginnings. Anna’s interactions with her kids are heartwarming, and her dates range from hilarious to heart-achingly sweet. Each character she meets, from the quirky waiter to the surprising mailman and even her celebrity crush, adds a unique flavor to her journey.

The writing is sharp, witty, and full of life. The romantic connection that blooms where Anna least expects it is written with such genuine emotion that it leaves a lasting impact. My favorite character is Will. I love their banter and relationship.

Anna’s courage to step out of her comfort zone and her willingness to embrace the chaos of life is inspiring. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romance with depth, humor, and a lot of heart. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more from this talented author!

What a delight! Though the concept of workplace enemies to lovers is not unique, Cousen’s latest novel adds in a hefty dose of charm, wit, and humanity to an oft seen trope. Anna and her sweet kids bring a level of honesty and humor to a story about falling back in love with yourself after heartbreak. Each date that Anna went on was charming or comical, and sometimes cringey – which made the experience feel incredibly relatable to what it’s like to date in current times. Cousen’s wove surprisingly deep insights into a classic rom-com to give reader the perfect dosing of both humor and depth. Looking forward to sharing this with friends upon release (November 2024)!

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the eArc.