This book was the cutest foot poppin’ read!!

After reading The Good Part, Sophie Cousens is officially an auto buy auto author for me!

This book was charming, whimsy, relatable and just SO MUCH FUN!!

I loved the idea of her kids arranging the dates and how awkward they all were!

The google searches at the beginning of each chapter were so well done, too!

I also really appreciated the fact that Anna was in her upper 30’s, and finding love again after a painful divorce

This book is such a feel good, happy read that I highly recommend picking up!!

wait why am I so obsessed with this book. Will is everything. This was so charming, I loved the british vibes. I loved her kids. I loved the how to lose a guy in ten days writer vibes. I loved the work place romance. did I mention will is everything?!

This was my first Sophie Cousens book, and it won't be my last! I loved getting to see Anna's life post-divorce slowly flourish and step back out into the world of dating. I enjoyed how realistic her life was juggling motherhood, work, and dating. Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the workplace tension between Anna and Wil! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for providing me with an ARC of Is She Really Going Out with Him?

After reading Sophie’s first two novels and enjoying them immensely, her 3rd and 4th novels are still on my TBR but the synopsis of her latest had me very intrigued so I got to it first. I loved the idea of Anna’s kids choosing her dates for her column. The whole scenario and resulting dates were very entertaining.

Anna’s feelings post divorce were something I connected with, not because I’m a divorcée but I’ve watched the woman in my life I’ve aspired to be like (my role model!) deal with the fallout of the end of a marriage. She’s finally at a place where she’s happy and learning who she is after losing herself for so long. Seeing Anna follow the same journey was cathartic in a way.

I was glad there was some resolution with the ex-husband Dan because there were so many instances where the only L word I was thinking was LOATHEEEEEE. Every scene at his house with his new girlfriend - the minimalist decor may have been immaculate but the vibes were decidedly not.

And Will Havers!!! The banter and back and forth was so good especially being able to see how gone he was for Anna even from the start. He’s so so charming and Anna can say she’s immune but learning who he is and how her assumptions were so wrong (the monogrammed clothes - I’ll cry!!), she didn’t stand a chance.

The pacing of the resolution did feel a bit rushed - I wanted more of them together and happy BUT the grand gesture was everything.

Gonna go catch up on Sophie’s other novels now!!

Love me a workplace enemies to lovers, and Will and Anna are the perfect office frenemies. Plus the element of Anna’s kids, the crazy antics the dates get her into, and the relationships she creates and builds upon all come together into a beautiful story and entertaining read. I absolutely loved the romance, but I also adored the kooky characters that make up the rest of it.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I had this much fun with a rom com! I laughed, cringed (so hard), and cried 😂 I absolutely adored Anna, but don’t even get me started on my man, Will!!! Anna and Will are coworkers and rival journalists vying for the same column. With her job potentially on the line, and a bad online dating experience, she’s pitches a crazy idea: seven dates chosen by her children, all men they know or she meets in the wild & not behind a screen. Each date, Anna really puts herself out there and it was so beautiful to see genuine connections form in the least expected place (for her at least 😉)

Anna and Will were insanely witty and charming. The premise itself, though it reminded me a bit of “how to lose a guy in 10 days” was still refreshing and original. I think this book would make an excellent movie adaption. 😌

what to expect:
- single mom. / divocée
- workplace rivals
- slight age gap ( <10 years)

Thank you G.P Putnam & NetGalley for the early copy ❤️

Anna Appleby is a divorced mother of two and that's okay with her. She loves her children and her job, and she's perfectly happy single - just because her ex is dating again doesn't mean she needs to. Yet when her office rival, Will, starts making moves to take over her column, Anna knows she has to do whatever she can to keep it, and apparently that means dating. Pitching her idea was a bit of a desperate move, and the inclusion of her children choosing all her dates was not quite ideal, but the bosses love it so there's no going back. Through a series of first dates that range from awkward to disturbing to honestly not that bad, Anna slowly starts to do the one thing she never though she would, put herself back out there. But if she does find herself in love's path once more, will she be brave enough to give it another shot?

I really enjoy Sophie Cousens' writing and her ability to make her characters and their chemistry feel real. Anna is exactly who I wanted her to be, loving, intelligent, a bit frazzled by life, and damn good at her job. Following her through her dating adventures was delightful, her banter with Will was always a highlight, and the wonderful cast of side characters added so much charm to this already charming novel. Is She Really Going Out with Him? is a humorous and heartwarming read, and I already cannot wait to see what Cousens has in store next.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so much fun to read! I loved that the main character was in her late 30s. It was delightful reading about Anna rediscovering herself after divorce and becoming a mother. I also loved Will 😍😍 I would highly recommend this book!

Sophie Cousens does it again, she’s written a charming love story that shows us that not everyone is as they seem on the surface. I enjoy a love story where the characters don’t fall for each other until they’ve seen what goes on in real life.
Anna is a columnist trying to save her job in the tell-all age of publishing. She’s divorced but not really interested in dating, but her fellow columnist (and competitor) Will has pitched a dating column. He’ll find dates online and she’ll go on 7 dates picked by her children.
Anna is dreading the dates, but she’s pleasantly surprised. She’s also gotten to know Will, who isn’t the evil competitor she thought he was.
I highly recommend this book, 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cousens will make you fall in love with this rival duo turned unlikely but delightfully complementary couple. With a population of some of her best side characters ever, Cousens strikes gold with this 2024 release.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet and action-packed. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

Anna Appleby rode her bike into a brick wall when she was 8 and broke her collarbone. So whenever someone tells her that she should get back into the dating pool, that it’s “just like riding a bike,” all she can think is that it will be a similar disaster. But she doesn’t have a lot of choices.

Her husband wanted a divorce after reinventing himself, so he moved out of the home they shared with their two children and started over. Anna stayed in their home, raising the kids through the week, and enjoying time with her cat. She is a columnist for Bath Living, exploring the artistic and literary corners of life in Bath, England. It wasn’t until she started to feel threatened by another columnist at work that she started to consider dating again.

Will Havers had come to the magazine, and everyone loved him immediately. He was smart and handsome, and the women on staff all laughed when he flirted with them. He was also an exceptional writer and younger than Anna, so he was more in touch with the younger readers that her bosses were trying to reach.

Anna pitched a dating column, and her editor was interested in it. But she needed to find some sort of twist to it. She tried dating apps, but after a few mediocre dates, she knows she needs a different idea. She thinks that it might be better to try to meet people in real life, and her son thinks he knows the perfect person. So when Anna pitches the idea to her editor, to meet people in real life, she mentions as an example that her son had an idea of who she should go out with. Her editor loved the idea and insists she only go out with men her kids suggest. Will, meanwhile, will mirror her dating columns with columns of his own. Anna is irritated at how he injected himself into her column idea, but she knows it might get more view that way, and that is what she needs to keep her job.

As she juggles two kids, an ex-husband, his new girlfriend, and dating men chosen by her kids, Anna is reminded that she still has a lot of life to life. She’s still young (in her 30s), she’s hot, she’s smart and funny and willing to try new things. She ends up going out with a waiter who turns out to be way too young for her, the grumpy next-door neighbor, a recently divorced dad from school, and even Anna’s celebrity crush. She writes columns that are poignant and honest, showing her vulnerability and winning new fans. She finds out about Jane Austen cosplayers, hash brownies, tattoos, and dating a successful actor.

But when all this dating and vulnerability leads her to a genuine connection with someone, will she be able to ride that bike again? Or will the memories of the pain keep her home, alone, giving up on love?

Is She Really Going Out with Him? is the latest rom com from Sophie Cousens, and it’s a lovely look at life post-divorce. With humor and insight, Cousens looks at modern dating, at the ways we hold back from anxiety and the ways we jump in with an open heart.

I loved how Cousens leaned into the attractions in Bath. I did get a chance to visit many years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I was so happy to get to revisit it through this novel. I also loved that while Anna found herself on several dates that were never going to lead to love, she still made friends and made connections that she carried on with as she finally crafted the life she was always wanting. This book just made me smile all the way through. It was a delight, filled with sweetness and humor and love. It may be her best book yet.

Egalleys for Is She Really Going Out with Him? were provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley, with many thanks.

📚: Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens
⭐️: 4/5

Anna Appleby - divorcee in her late thirties. Devoted to her two children. Feeling like she’s (really) lost herself. Oh, and with a work arch-rival who’s constantly vying for her spot.

When the magazine she writes for pushes her to get more “personal” in her column — she decides to have her children choose who she dates for column content. When a connection appears - is she really open to giving love another go?

This book was so cute. It had me in stitches laughing at moments (don’t skip over the “Google searches” at the start of each chapter) and near tears at the end. I felt for Anna and rooted for her the whole way through to find not love, but herself.

Also - Loretta steals the show as a character. More Loretta, please! I’d like an entire novel with her at the center.

Big thanks to Penguin Group Putnam via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Is She Really Going Out with Him is out today, 11/19!

This is an amazing romcom story!!!!!!! Truly a great book that all romcom fans will fall in love with as well!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoy Sophie Cousens's books, but this one, in my opinion, is her best yet! Anna Applby is a column writer. She is a recent divorcee and a mom of two. She is also very much disillusioned in love. When Anna's job is on the line, she must go on ten dates with different men to prove her column is worth keeping. If only her annoying co-workers Will didn't try to steal her column.

You guys, I haven't laughed this hard reading a book in a while. This novel is hilarious! 😂 The narrator of the audiobook was terrific and the novel gave me some great Bridget Jones vibes. The banter between Anna and Will and the witty British humor were to die for! I wish this book could be made into a movie!

This is second chance, enemies to lovers, workplace romance. There is an age gap (she is older). It's a very proper, low spice read which was just perfect for my taste. This is one book you won't be bored with for a second - there is so much going on! For a romcom, this was a real page-turner. The novel is full or humor and fun. You keep thinking, what are the chances! The book also brings up the topic of working mom guilt, which is definitely relatable.

If this book is not on your tbr yet, you must add it! This will definitely be one of my most recommended romcoms.

This was a fun well written story. I loved the way the author included the Google searches - very endearing and different. I really enjoyed the author's writing style, the characters (especially the lead couple), and the plot. This was low spice and just really sweet. I'll be looking for more books from this author.

4.5 stars

“I have no interest in looking at the moon anymore, I just want to look at you.”

Reading this book was an interesting prove-me-wrong experience.
I normally know when things I’m going to like stuff from the beginning and with this one that wasn’t the case and I’m truly happy I continued on. Will’s character gave me the ick so badly from the start that I didn’t think possible to come back from that but oh my was I wrong.
I loved him because he does not hide what he is and what he wants, but mostly, I loved Anna. I though (mistakenly again) that I wasn’t going to relate with her story because I’m not a mom and not a divorcée but on the contrary, she’s very relatable as a woman with all her complexities.

What’s magical about the story is that it makes you want to be friends with the characters and gossip about it so bad!

If you’re looking for something lighthearted, fun, with meaningful non-cliché relationships, this is it friends.

This is the first book that I have read by Sophie Cousens, and wow what an amazing read! This story focuses around a divorced woman with two children who decides to step back into the dating world thanks to her job as a journalist. Times are changing and the world wants more heartfelt columns, so she and her rival co worker work together on a dating column. The twist is that Anna's children get to pick out who she dates! It is so fun reading about the different characters that she dates throughout the book and its funny being able to relate to some of her horror stories with dating.

The banter between her and her rival coworker Will is perfect. I loved watching their friendship/relationship blossom and how they overcame certain obstacles. The no cell phone retreat was my favorite part. When they finally realized that they couldn't continue to fight the urges and either did something or didn't. While I understood Anna's doubts on how things would work, I was glad that she was finally able to fight her doubts and dive right in.


One of my favorite parts about this book were the Google searches and the beginning of every chapter. It was hilarious to see some of the things that Anna googled and relatable. I feel like the first thing we do when we want to know something is head straight to Google. This was easily one of my favorite reads this year. I will absolutely be purchasing this book for my mother for Christmas! Thank you to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Sophie Cousens for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

Happy pub day to Is She Really Going Out with Him! This is my third Sophie Cousens book and I have become such a fan of hers. She writes these feel-good closed-door rom-coms that are the perfect for a weekend escape.

In Is She Really Going Out with Him, Anna, a divorcee, mother, and writer, has to figure out how to revive her writing career to avoid her column (and job) getting cut. In a desperate moment, she agrees to write about her (non-existent) dating life and to do so, she agrees to go on dates set up by her children. What follows is a series of comical and cringey dates. And along the way, Anna maybe finds love somewhere unexpected.

I loved Cousens’ depiction of Anna as an older single woman. Having reached forty myself, it’s refreshing to read a rom-com featuring a main character who is established and knows herself. Anna felt relatable and realistic.

But what stood out to me here was the chemistry. Cousens used the story to explore chemistry, writing:

“What is it that creates that chemistry, that attraction to another human being? Meeting Dan so young, I took it for granted that if it hadn’t been him, I would have met someone else. But maybe the perfect confluence of factors that makes for a good relationship is a rarity. To have real chemistry, to be at the same stage of life, to want enough of the same things and be compatible companions—maybe that doesn’t come along very often.”

My only complaint is that I’ve come to know and love Cousens for the magical elements she infused in her last rwo books, The Good Part and Before I Do. I went into this one blind and was a little disappointed to not find any magic here. But, setting that aside, Is She Really Going Out with Him does exactly what it’s supposed to: reminds the reader that love and magic in the every day are possible.

(Thank you as always to @netgalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review!)

This took me a little time to get into, but I really ended up enjoying the characters!

There was a lot going on plot-wise: divorce, single mom, age gap love interest, enemies to lovers, lots of random dates (side characters).

It was a bit spicy, but not overtly explicit. Lots of sweet moments that made me smile!