Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This was a lovely and endearing read by Sophie Cousens. The characters were vulnerable and likable with a compelling story arch. If you like any of Cousens other books, you will definitely love this!

Please please make this into a movie!! I absolutely loved Is She Really Going Out with Him. I had high hopes having loved The Good Part, and I was NOT disappointed! Sophie Cousens is definitely one of my new favorite authors. Her characters are laugh-out-loud funny while also painfully true to life (the Google searches - absolute perfection). Anna felt like a close friend, and Will was the perfect guy. I loved that there was both romance and personal growth.

Somewhat spoiler-y review so if you don't wanna know about certain tropes that ate in this book - don't read below. Long story short: I liked it, but didn't love it (sadly).



Ohk, spoiler-y review below
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Ohkkkkk, I adoreddddd The Good Part - it was easily one of my favorite books from last year & so I was a little bummed when I didn't love this one quite as much. The writing was incredible as always & the kinda different take on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days-esque was such a unique premise - just fell a little flat for me at certain parts. I also think I have sadly confirmed a trope I just really don't like: co-workers who are seemingly fighting over the same job but also sparks fly. There is something about the kinda fighting over the same job, even though it always ends ok, that just doesn't vibe with me. Also there was something about most of her children set up dates that just kinda fell flat for me for some reason. That being said, about 1/2 way through I enjoyed it a lot more & adored Will a lot. The premise of this book was just so fun, intriguing & different, but I think I also just saw the writing on the wall for who Anna would end up with so it took the wind outta the sails for the "dates" a little bit for me. So I liked this one, but didn't love it.

3 stars

This was an enjoyable read, but not my favorite, compared to some other recent books. It definitely had its funny and heartwarming moments, but I just didn't like the chemistry between the main characters. It is a closed-door romance with focus on bouncing back after a divorce and facing the dating scene again, with a little help from the kids. That element was definetly cute!
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Sophie Cousens’ latest rom-com 𝘐𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘮? follows 38-year-old magazine writer and single mother Anna Appleby as she navigates post-divorce life. Things are already difficult enough co-parenting two children with her ex-husband, but then changes at work forces her professional and personal lives to collide. When her editor lets her know that her work rival Will will be writing an online dating column in place of her arts & culture one in an attempt to attract a younger readership, she pitches her own dating column with a different twist: she will go out with men selected by her son and daughter offline. She doesn’t feel quite ready to date again, but she is desperate to keep the job now that she’s running a household on her own.

Though the dates are awkward with sometimes hilarious results, it is satisfying to see Anna put herself out there and learn to open herself up again to new people and new experiences. Of course, there is a “surprise” romance with an “unexpected” person—I put those words in quotation marks because it’s fairly obvious what is going to happen and with whom. Unfortunately, her chemistry with her love interest didn’t quite hit the mark for me—there were too many miscommunications and unclear motivations for me to become too invested in them.

But overall, this is a sweet, light, readable story perfect for a relaxing weekend. 3.75 stars rounded up. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Slow burn romance, about life after divorce and trying to find love again. I couldn't stop reading this book, it's so good!

Post divorce columnist Anna tries to get her life and job back on track. Then she is required to write a column about her dating life and her kids get to choose who she dates.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4/5⭐️
this book!!!! I was blushing, kicking my feet, & giggling. my heart is so full. I loved these characters. They felt so real and like long lost friends. This is one of those books you wish is longer because you aren't ready to let go of the characters 💕

Anna Appleby is a recent divorcee and lifestyle columnist. She is navigating her new life as a single mother and is "totally fine alone." But when her work rival is out to get her column, she has to step up her game. She pitches a "7 dates idea," where she must find people to date without the help of the internet. She allows her kids to pick the dates for her which leads to awkward encounters and unexpected connections. She finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance she didn't see coming. Still wounded from her divorce, she doesn't know if she's ready to take the leap into a new relationship. Reminiscent of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" meets "The Proposal," this book has it all.

The Good Part was one of my absolute favorites from 2023 so I was super excited to receive this arc. While this wasn’t quite as good as TGP, I still enjoyed it.

It was a fun read about a single mom named Anna who might potentially lose her journalism job so she begins to date again, at the mercy of her children who handpick all of her dates. Her coworker, Will, is also writing alongside her going on online dates. Anna and Will begin as enemies but slowly start to learn and understand one another as the story progresses.

It was enjoyable and well-written as Sophie Cousens’ stories typically are.

Tropes:
Single mom
Age gap
Enemies to lovers

Thank you Netgalley!

I have loved all the Sophie Cousens books I’ve read, so when I saw this as an ARC I jumped at the opportunity to get a copy and so happy I did! I loved this whole story, the main characters I instantly loved and Loretta was probably one of my favorite characters in this book as well! I can’t wait until this book comes out so everyone can read this story!

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anna is a divorced single mom of two and journalist who can’t stand Will her handsome younger colleague. When the two are paired to write collaborating columns, hers on dating offline and his online she begins to see the other side of him. Through her dating adventures she makes great friends and forms a community of her own.

Is she really going out with him is a sweet romance that explores dating after divorces and a classic enemies to lovers trope.

Predictable? Yes. But I enjoyed the main character and she felt like a real person, which is always nice.

Sophie Cousens is an adorable romantic comedy! This British novel has a couple of main characters to swoon over from their enemies to lovers plot. Cousens writes flawed but likeable characters who remind the reader of people you know in real life. Anna is starting over after her divorce and her magazine column is in danger of being cut with downsizing at work. Unless she can spice it up, Anna will be out of a job. Her boss wants her to write a dating column and her wacky idea is to allow her kids to choose the men she dates. This romance is a slow burn, with witty banter between Will and Anna, who go from competitive co-workers to lovers. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I firmly pledge my allegiance to Sophie Cousens and her brilliant, heartwarming, and charming storytelling. I have yet to read a book of hers and feel anything other than delighted and touched.

Anna is a recently divorced mom of 2 who writes a column for a local publication. Will is her 30 year old office rival who also happens to be good looking, ambitious, and gunning for Anna’s job.

When the publication is bought by new investors, Anna finds her job on the line. She pitches the idea of going on a series of dates but rather relying on apps Anna’s children will pick her dates. Will suggests he writes a parallel column from a “man around town” perspective and so begins the work relationship Anna did not want.

As she navigates dating again, dealing with her ex and his new 25 year old girlfriend, and parenting her kids through their own struggles, Anna slowly comes back to life and remembers how good it feels to be connected to others.

Is She Really Going Out with Him is a great enemies to lovers story with some forced proximity and only one bed sprinkled in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Thanks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Great dialogue and storyline. Funny and kept me intrigued the whole time. Dating is an adventure and loved the kids picking her dates for the column. Tension between the two was great and loved watching it play out. Highly recommend!

Another lovely romance by Sophie Cousens! This one was so much fun and as a mom I enjoyed how much the children were a part of the story and helping our main characters find love and happiness. Beautiful!

I have to admit I’m fairly new to Sophie Cousens books. I read “The Good Part”earlier this year and really enjoyed it. So when I saw “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” available to request for review I knew I had to jump on the opportunity. And I’m so thankful for NetGalley and Penguin Books Putnam for providing me an e-arc to read in exchange for my honest review.

Anywho back to our book. The story follows Anna a newly divorced mom in her her late thirties who works as a journalist. All was going fine until Will, her new work rival, that is also 8 years younger than her, shakes things up at the office. They get assigned a joint column centered on dating where they go on fake dates but with not each other.

Now right off the bat let me tell you this book took a bit for me to get into. But, overall I’m really glad I stuck with it. My main struggles fall with Anna. I had a really hard time relating to her. Anna is a 38 year old divorced mom. I am none of those things so trying to get into her mindset and connect to her was difficult at times. But once we got into Anna’s dating adventures I was all here for it. Because let me tell you some of those dating adventures were hilarious and pull at your heart strings sweet.

Another thing I struggled with at times was Will. Like I know he’s supposed to be our love interest. But at times he was a brat especially in the beginning. Don’t worry eventually he won me over but it was not a fast process.

Also last but not least, I feel like I should mention the romance in this book. Because I know BookTok and I can already tell this book will probably not be for 50% of BookTok because it’s not “smutty” enough. This is a closed-door romance folks! Which means slow pacing and things happening behind the scene. So if you aren’t looking for PG romance this isn’t for you.

Even though I had my ups and downs with this book. I still real enjoyed this sweet romance with a new twist on the fake dating trope. And I recommend you checking it out when it releases November 2024!

Ok this might be my favorite Sophie Cousens yet! Never thought I’d say this but I’m really warming up to this whole idea of divorced moms finding love again. It was a little bit sexier than I’m used to but still not explicit (openly talks about sex though). It’s a rivals-ish to lovers and their tension filled banter got me good. I laughed out loud several times while reading this. The ending/resolution was a bit ‘meh’ but overall still loved it!
*comes out in November. Got an ARC from NetGalley
*open door with a handful of F words

5 big fat stars ⭐️
The first thing I did after reading this book, was preorder a hard copy. Thank you @netgalley for sending me one of my top reads of the year. This book was so much fun. I love me a character with inner monologue, two main character with hysterical banter, and the over all storyline was just wonderful. The main character Anna, who’s a recently divorced mother for two, gets into a heated battle with a handsome rival writer for their local magazine. As they battle to keep their jobs as the magazine switches ownership, Anna suggest revitalizing her column by going on one date a week of her children’s choosing which leads to chaotic, comical, and heartfelt adventures. Also, each chapter starts with a quick google search of Anna’s thoughts that are equally as laugh at loud funny, but as the battle wages on with her coworker Will, who is also on the task of dating to counter her column, the two grow closer…
I seriously want everyone I know to read this and I’d easily read any @Sophie Cousens book in a heart beat. I adored her writing style and how the storyline progressed so naturally.

wow… just WOW!! This is one of those books that you will wish you could read again for the first time. All of the characters were so relatable, it felt like i was reading real life events! The author doesn’t leave a stone untouched when it comes to descriptions and the relationships throughout the book. The author knows how to pull emotions from the reader and she does it every time! Will be recommending on my tiktok account.