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.

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!