This! This is how a romance should be written! What a heartwarming, humorous, and touching story.

This is the first book I've read by Sophie Cousens and it definitely won't be the last.

Anna is in her late 30s, divorced with two children and a columnist for a magazine. She's content with her life the way it is. Anna finds out that the magazine is having financial difficulty, the owner is looking for "fresh" content, and her office rival Will is ready and willing to take over. She knows she has to do something original, so she proposes that the two of them write dating columns: he will explore online dating and she will go out on a series of dates found by her children.

This book is realistic and funny, I immediately warmed to Anna as a character and her life seemed very relatable. What happens with the dates was very unexpected--there are some good, bad, and ugly dates and all of the results seemed so true to life. Even Anna's children acted exactly like I would expect children to act and it was a refreshing part of the story.

I know it's a cliché but I literally couldn't put this book down. It's one that I found myself reading late into the night, picking up the minute I woke up, and when things took me away from it I longed to start reading again. The romance is hot and heavy, but it's mostly behind closed doors so that it's not overly graphic. That takes supreme writing talent because I felt the heat, the romantic tension and the passion even when it wasn't directly described.

You will definitely not be disappointed in this fantastically written, beautifully developed romance novel.

So refreshing to read a fun romance with a single mom as the main character! The kids were darling, the dialogue hilarious, and I loved the ending! Looking forward to reading more Sophie Cousens.

I am obsessed with Sophie Cousens. I have loved everything I've read by her. I loved the "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates" angle this took, but adding the kids into it was extra fun. At the end, I was going to be OK if Will and Annie didn't end up together long term because both were adults about the situation, which is a testament to how well this was written. Not very often am I OK with the couple not getting a HEA. I did like how Cousens chose to end this, and the Jane Austen ball scene was a cherry on top.

I expected this to be another fluffy rom-com, but "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" is a delightful, laugh-out-loud read that will capture your heart from the very first page.

The story follows Anna, a recently-divorced mother of two who is trying to save her journalism career at a local magazine by writing a column about dating in real life, with suitors chosen by her children. If that isn't enough of a catch, Anna is also pitted against her work nemesis, Will (who can only find his dates on the apps), and the best columnist gets to keep their jobs. As both parties write their respective columns and compete for the same job, their enemies-to-lovers attraction deepens, a spark ignites, and they must navigate the complexities of flirtation, careers, and family. Cousens' witty British banter and heartwarming moments will leave you smiling and rooting for these endearing characters.

What truly sets this book apart is its authenticity. The characters feel real, their emotions genuine, and their chemistry is undeniable. Plus, the storyline feels realistic enough that their romance doesn't come across as fluffy or staged. Cousens masterfully weaves together humor, romance, and heartfelt moments, creating a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. If you're looking for a feel-good, slow-burn romantic read that will make you smile, tear-up, and swoon, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" is a five-star choice.

Anna has been thrust back into the dating pool after going through a divorce and things have completely changed. To keep her job, Anna has to go on dates and write a column each week. Her work nemesis, Will, has to also do the same and write a complementary article to match. I loved how Will was able to slowly breach Anna's grumpiness and Anna's transformation was nice to see. I went from not really liking her character to seeing her in a much more pleasant light. I loved Will from the start. Overall, I enjoyed their story and had a few laughs along the way.

Sophie Cousens has become an auto-buy author for me. She has a talent for writing women's fiction, romance, comedy and found family and intertwining it all seamlessly. I binged this book. I loved Anna and Will.

This one was good! Right up my alley if romance and typical reality. I’m always a mix with the books I read but this one made me laugh and smile all at the same time. Good read !

Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens
Publishing date - 11/19/24
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOTM add on for November

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, & Sophie Cousens for this e-ARC.

This is a cute, feel good story! Had me laughing out loud and I didn’t want to put it down. Could definitely see this one being made into a movie. Loved the characters and the storyline. Highly recommend this one when it releases.

A romance novel with the most comedic plot - Anna, a newly divorced journalist, must create a column for her local magazine where her children choose her dates. She sees all the usual suspects - her son’s classmate’s dad, the package delivery man, her disgruntled neighbor, and even manages to score a date with a celebrity (although that one may have been better left to fantasy. All the while, she must publish these “dates” alongside a mirroring column by her work nemesis Will - who also just happens to be incredibly attractive. With every new assignment Will and Anna find they have more in common than they thought - are they maybe becoming friends? Or something more?

If you’re looking for a cute, feel good story, look no further. This one had me laughing out loud and I didn’t want to put it down! This was my first book by Sophie Cousens but it definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for access to an eARC copy of this book!

I absolutely loved this book! It is everything that Sophie Cousens does so well! Might be my favorite of hers yet! Loved the characters and storyline!

This was good but definitely not a favorite. I enjoyed the first part of it a lot more than the rest of the book. The idea of her children getting to choose her dates was cute and made for some funny moments. I think Sophie Cousens is a funny writer, and there were multiple times towards the beginning that I laughed out loud at something that happened. I also enjoyed seeing Anna make a lot of new friendships throughout the story and feel more confident in herself.

My big issue was with the main love interest. He just really rubbed me the wrong way a lot, and I never felt invested in their relationship. I wish their relationship had been more of a slow burn too; once they got together, it was too much of a friends with benefits situation for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for a review!

Divorced, single mom Anna is faced with a job layoff since her Arts & Humanities magazine column is falling flat with the younger demographic. Anna's snooty co-worker Will swoops in to steal her column space with an edgy look at online dating. Threatened by losing her job to Will, she pitches a dating column that will feature her meeting people OFFLINE, specifically chosen by those who know her best- her kids.

The magazine loves the new direction, but asks Will to also write a 'matching' column each week focusing on meeting people ONLINE. Will and Anna are forced to work together on their columns and attend the same events. As Anna goes on one lackluster date after another, she begins to see Will in a whole new light.

I absolutely loved this book and how Sophie Cousens crafted relationships between Anna and her failed dates, even after their 'chapter' had closed. I'm always a fan of Sophie's (she's an auto-buy for me!) but this one in particular touched my heart, and I even cried during the choir scene. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Sophie Cousens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

What can I say? Sophie Cousens has done it again! She manages to take cringeworthy situations and make them enjoyable!! If you've read enough of my reviews- you know I love later in life heroines- so it should be no surprise that a thirty something divorcee, mother of two pleases me to no end! The gimmick of having to go on dates as selected by her children was SO charming. The interactions with her ex-spouse felt frustrating and realistic and the MMC was a younger, deserving man. I just ate this whole book up!

Once I started this book I was hooked. The writing grabs you right away and you are invested in following along with Anna, a divorcee surviving life. She is a journalist who is tasked with writing a column about her dating life. Plot twist her children get to choose her dates. This book had me laughing out loud and crying happy and sad tears. The author knocked it out of the park with this fantastic book.

Charming story of a newly divorced woman in her late thirties dating men her children choose. We get an inside view of what it means to reenter the dating game after being on the sidelines for a while. The dates are by turns funny and sweet. our lead character, Anna, learns something from every date. She eventually realizes that her office competitor is her true love.

Thank you GP Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC!

Plot: Anna is a recently divorced mom of two grade school-aged kids. She is also a writer for a local column. When her employer is restructuring and her job is on the line, she agrees to write a column where her children choose 7 days for her, and her office rival Will writes a complimentary column where he goes on 7 days from online sources.

Review: This was honestly adorable. I haven’t read a rom com involving a divorced woman in her late 30s, and this perspective felt fresh and fun. I fell in love with all of the characters from the first chapter. The writing was great, and the pacing was perfect. The story outside of the romance was also special. I can’t wait to read this author’s backlist!

5🌟

This book is absolutely great and now I need to go read more of her books. I’ve read one of her other books but now all her other backlist books are for sure on my radar. If given the time and opportunity I probably could have binged this book in one sitting! I loved that the FMC was an older divorcee with kids which is not usually a common character in books. I also loved the unique plot because the fact that her kids got to pick out her dates made it so cute and funny, one pick was literally just because they both hate bikes haha. I looked forward to reading her Google search history in each chapter, it was like being inside her head. This book might be a romance book but it not only had a happily ever after, it also lead her to better friendships, more friendships, better family dynamic and character development for herself. All around it was my favorite read from October and I hope you add it to your TBR, it comes out in two weeks on November 19th. Thank you to Netgallery and Putnam for the eARC in return for an honest review.

This might just be my favorite romance novel of the year! The story centers on Anna, a newly single mom who embarks on a delightful journey of self-discovery by agreeing to go on seven dates, all chosen by her children. The premise is both hilarious and surprisingly wholesome, striking a perfect balance between humor and heart.

This was my first experience with Sophie Cousens’ writing, and I was wowed. Her writing style and incredible banter between the characters kept me hooked from start to finish. I’ve already added her other books to my TBR list! Without a doubt, this one deserves a solid FIVE stars!

I was in the mood for something lighthearted and Is She Really Going Out with Him fit the bill. While it still deals with more difficult topics like co-parenting and dating after divorce, it was fun and funny with plenty of swoon-worthy moments between Anna and Will. I laughed out loud at some of the dates Anna went on and couldn't wait to read what was in store for her next--so much so that I finished the entire book in one sitting. Like most Sophie Cousens' books, the focus is really on the interpersonal relationships and not just the romance. However, the book hits some of the most popular romance tropes--enemies to lovers and only one bed--and did it in a way that I truly enjoyed. I also really enjoyed that Anna is close in age to me and her life felt very real and relatable.

Don’t you just love when you find a book that you can recommend to absolutely everyone? IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? Is a swoony single-parent/workplace romance that follows Anna’s languishing love life after her divorce. Anna has agreed to allow her children to choose seven dates to salvage her column and preserve her job.

This story delighted me! I’ve found that I prefer my romance books to have characters that are firmly in adulthood. They know who they are, what they want, and the angst and immaturity is noticeably absent. While there are some classic romance elements (I'm looking at you “one bed” trope), I loved the fresh take featuring mature characters finding love.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-cringe when you think of a terrible first date experience
-prefer fade to black/closed-door spice level
-have ever sung along to Fleetwood Mac

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: November 19, 2024

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.