Out today!! 📖✨ I thought this was so cute! I enjoyed the other books I’ve read by this author, so I was excited about this one.

Anna is a journalist, mom, and recent divorcee who starts a new column about dating after divorce for the magazine she works for. Instead of online dating, Anna’s children get to pick her dates. Through dating, Anna finds pieces of herself that she thought were gone after marriage and motherhood and builds a connection with someone she didn’t expect.

I don’t really love the title—it almost makes the story seem a little cheesy, when it’s actually really sweet and relatable.

Thank you to the author and Penguin for the eARC copy for review consideration.

I absolutely love Sophie Cousens and her books, and her newest is no exception.

Anna and Will work together as journalists, and Anna’s new column (and whole basis for the story) is so cute and unique. We see the two grow closer, and I’m glad for it for many reasons. Glad Anna finds confidence in herself, becomes more in tune to herself as a person outside of her titles/roles, and opens her heart again post-divorce. Glad Will is able to open up about his aspirations, and becomes a likable, relatable character. Their banter is amazing, I found myself giggling a few times, and I love the representation of an established woman.

I loved all the cute and funny Google searches at the beginning of every chapter. What a clever way to further relate to the character!

🌸Enemies to lovers
✍🏼Workplace romance
🌸Reverse age gap
✍🏼 38 y/o divorcee FMC

Aside from the romance aspect, I LOVED all the other relationships throughout the book. I loved her relationship with her sister, her children, and even mending her relationship with her ex. I loved the friendships she forged, including those with some of the men she dated for her column. They were so beautiful and wonderful to read.

& (IYKYK):

“I say no because it’s less scary than failing or being disappointed”. How much better would our lives be if we just said yes instead?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Anna, a divorced mother of two and magazine columnist, is a wonderfully relatable character. She's smart, funny, and juggling a ton - her kids, her ex-husband, and her own love life. The premise of her column (dating men picked by her children) is funny and endearing. You can't help but root for her as she figures out her life. Her relationship with her ex is messy but realistic and adds an extra layer of complexity to her journey. The book does a good job exploring how real relationships develop and the inner conflict of whether to take a chance on someone new. This book is ideal for readers looking for a romance that balances humor, family dynamics, and personal growth.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? is such a great read. I have been a big fan of Sophie Cousens for years and this book is exactly why. Her characters feel so real. They are messy, have rough edges, and are totally relatable. The story has emotional depth, and is also so funny. I have not laughed this much at a book in a while.

The book is about a single mom who is trying to prove her worth (and keep her workplace rival from stealing her column) at the local paper where she works and ends up writing a series of articles about dating after marriage. The hook is that the dates are being chosen by her two kids. The book is so well written and such a fun read. It also takes place in Bath, which is one of my all time favorite cities. It's a town with so much history and I loved feeling like I was back there while reading this.

I loved this book so much and highly recommend this and all of Cousens' books. They have all been completely wonderful reads. Thank you to Sophie Cousens, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

This was the first novel I have read from Sophie Cousins and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had me laughing out loud and smiling so much that this book was so much fun to read. I immediately fell in love with the main character's children, they were hilarious and definitely stood out to me in the book. If you are a fan of enemies to lovers, workplace romance, single parent and forced proximity, you will love this book as it had it all. The main female character Anna is in danger of losing her job as a writer of a column for a local magazine. To save her job she is tasked with writing about dating but with a twist. Her children get to pick the men she goes on dates with. As a divorcee she is struggling with getting back out there and getting out of her comfort zone. Going on these dates, little by little she is breaking out of that comfort zone and enjoying life again. While some dates or more of a disaster than others, she learns something along the way from each of dates with these men. At the same time she is battling it out with her work nemesis Will, who she thinks is trying to take her job. She is forced to work with him on the dating column. Working together she learns there is more to Will then she thought. Overall this is a cute rom com that has an endearing message that will have you rooting for the characters to find love and happiness.

I loved this book! It was so cute and so well done. It’s my first time reading Sophie Cousens’s work, and I’m a fan.

This story follows Anna Appleby, a recent divorcée and journalist as she takes on a new column for the magazine she works at: letting her two children play matchmaker.

After the hot new talent comes in vying for her column, Anna makes a bold play: seven dates, all people she meets “the old fashioned way” (offline), and chosen by her children.

During these weeks, Anna makes unexpected connections and begins to put herself back out there! When a romantic connection she wasn’t expecting emerges, Anna’s hesitant to go for love again. Can she move past her past and let love in?

Oh my gosh! This book had me giggling and smiling like an idiot the whole way through. It gave How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days vibes and I was here for it. I loved everything about it! Not only was it fun and flirty, but there were some great messages about getting back out there after a big life change, doing things for you and not others, and finding connections where you least expect them.

I literally cannot recommend it enough.

This book is a great romance in the enemies-to-lovers trope. I enjoyed the main character as she figures out life as a recently divorced mom of two; the dates she has, her kids, and the relationship she has with her ex and his partner are both real and a riot. I also found the references to Bath and its landmarks delightful, as I recently visited there. This is a definite recommend for fans of the rom-com!!!

This is what I mean when I talk about top-tier romance.

While I knew who Anna would end up with from the first mention of his name, the journey to that happy ending was so fun and definitely worth it. I really enjoyed the family dynamics at play between Anna, her kids, and her ex and his new girlfriend; it felt very realistic to how many people feel about divorced parents and the frustrations each party experiences as time passes and hearts move on.

Family was such an important aspect of this story, not only for Anna, but for Will too. Sophie Cousens handled it all so well and didn’t overlook how much of an impact our families can have on our lives and experiences, shaping us and contributing to our actions even as adults. I appreciated that the two main characters were willing to let each other in and get to know the families behind the person, while still expressing Anna’s concerns about her children getting attached to Will only for him to not stick around — a concern most single parents have.

The concept of Anna letting her kids pick out strangers for her to go on dates with was a fun and interesting plot device that I hadn’t seen before and gave something new to the work rivals romance that truly sets this story apart from all of the others out there.

I haven’t read any of Cousens’ other work, but if this is any reflection of how amazing her stories are, then I definitely will be looking to pick them up.

Thank you netgalley and Putnam Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Is She Really Going Out with Him, in exchange for an honest review.

"'Is She Really Going Out with Him?' by Sophie Cousens is a truly heartwarming romance that will enamored you with its relatable storyline. Anna, a single mom navigating life after divorce, embarks on a series of dates chosen by her kids in a bid to revive her love life and to save her writing career. While the plot may follow a predictable path, the strength of the book lies in its mature and authentic portrayal of adult relationships.
The absence of teenage drama will allow you to connect with the characters on a deeper level, and the realistic approach to love and its complexities adds a refreshing spin to the genre. Sophie Cousens' writing style is effortless and engaging, making this book an easy, quick read. If you are looking for feel-good and relatable romantic story this is the book for you.
3.75 Stars!

By far my favorite book I've read this year. This book was heartwarming, funny, and emotional. I loved reading about Anna's column and her exploring new experiences to get her out of her shell. I don't normally laugh out loud while reading, but this story had so many parts that made me giggle!
I truly enjoyed all the characters- they were (mostly) likeable and relatable.

JUST READ IT! You'll love it!

I enjoyed reading Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Such a heartwarming story! I loved seeing the development of the FMC navigating life after a messy divorce, finding herself again, and reclaiming her power. It was funny, and sweet, and left me feeling hopeful. One of my favorites from Sophie Cousens. 💕

Happy Pub Day!!!

I always enjoy books by Sophie Cousens so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an early reader copy of IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? It was such an adorable quirky and lighthearted read. I binge read in two days! I laughed at some details like how the kids picked out the dates for Anna. I enjoyed the characters in this book. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens

My sincere thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Will and Anna work for a print magazine that is in trouble. Anna has been recently divorced and needs her job to support herself and her two children. Will is a young new hire who seems to be after her place at the magazine so the atmosphere between them is strained and the banter is pretty snarky at first. They are tasked with a series of articles on the difference between dating online and dating in the wild. Anna is to write about dating men chosen by her kids in particular. As they work together, the banter turns from snarky to flirtatious and jealousy over who the other is dating rears its ugly head. They can't get together. Or can they?

I found this story totally delightful. While enemies to lovers is not my favorite trope, I enjoyed this. The humor was fun and not over the top or slap stick and the romance as it developed was sweet and believable. The subject of handling a divorce with children and new partners was realistic and sensitively written. I loved reading about all of Anna's dates and wished there was a male point of view so we could have seen some of Will's too. All in all, it was everything I expected and love about Sophie's books and I look forward to her next.

Just finished Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens, and I am absolutely in love! This book is a delightful mix of humor, romance, and relatable moments that had me hooked from the very first page.

Cousens has a fantastic way of capturing the ups and downs of relationships, and the characters felt so real and relatable. I found myself laughing out loud at their antics while also feeling deeply connected to their struggles. The witty dialogue and charming scenarios made it such a fun read!

What really stood out to me was the exploration of self-discovery and the importance of being true to oneself. The journey of the protagonist was both inspiring and heartwarming, reminding me of the power of love and friendship.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you smile and tug at your heartstrings, Is She Really Going Out with Him is a must-read!

“Is She Really Going Out with Him?” follows Anna, a single mom tackling post-divorce life, motherhood, and a career crisis. Enter Will: her charming (and infuriating) rival determined to snag her column. Desperate to keep her job, Anna lets her kids set her up on ten real-life dates to explore offline dating culture—with Will co-writing the chaos.

Anna was such a great MC. She felt real and relatable, and I loved how honestly she was portrayed. Her journey is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious, with her kids adding plenty of charm and mischief. The family dynamics, complete with modern blended-family drama, enrich the story without overshadowing the flirty, messy, and wonderfully vulnerable chemistry between Anna and Will. This one’s a perfect mix of romance, humor, and real-life feels.

This book gave me the feels and excitement of falling in love.
I love when I read a book and it’s the perfect combination of reality and coziness from a classic romcom.
This follows a recently divorced columnist that allows her kids to set her up on dates for a column and through that process she tries to find herself and yes, love too.
This story is personal and swoony. It’s the perfect read to sit down on a Friday night after a long week and sip on some wine or tea or coffee and just relax.
This was a joy to read! 💕

(I added my review on Amazon as well but it takes a bit to approve so once it’s there I’ll add it!)

Happy publication day!! This book, like other Sophie Cousens books, is SO, so cute! I have adored her stories, and this is no different!
The synopsis of this story is so unique, and in a way, relatable. I love when characters are in my age bracket, have similar experiences with being mothers, and although I am not divorced, I felt I could relate to Anna in such a realistic way!
After an awful divorce, with her job being threatened by a rival columnist, she decided to let her children pick her 7 dates from online dating profiles. This excursion is so cute, hilarious, and often wildly entertaining!

The plot gives us giggles, enemies to lovers, and snarky banter. I love all these things, and this book, too! I need to read more of Sophies work, because I have thoroughly enjoyed the two I've picked up. This is a quick, fun, lighthearted read!

Sophie Cousens did it again! What a wonderful book that is easy to devour. It was a fun story and very How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days-esque at the beginning, but really stood out on its own with how it developed. I loved the family aspect of dating and was a huge fan of Will and the depth behind him.

Anna Appleby is a divorced mom and columnist, and suddenly competing with a coworker for her own dating column. So she pitches a fresh idea: her children pick men from real life for her to date.
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I loved 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 earlier this year so I was excited going into this new book but was not expecting to love it as much as I did. I actually stayed up past midnight to finish it one night and I don't think I've ever done that for a romance. I loved both main characters and the fact that they're 30+. I still read and enjoy rom-coms about 20 somethings but it is nice and more relatable to read about characters your own age sometimes. FMC Anna is trying to navigate work + mom life post-divorce and I really enjoyed her development throughout the book. Sometimes I leave a book wishing it had been dual perspective but in this case, I felt it was perfect through Anna's eyes because as she gets to know (and fall for) MMC Will, so do we.

This is so minuscule but I think my favorite thing about the whole book were Anna's Google searches at the beginning of each chapter. They were hilarious and I found myself guessing while reading what she would be searching for next.

Lastly, there's not many books that literally make me laugh at loud but the fishing date gone wrong was so funny. It's exactly the kind of thing that would have happened to me during my horrible dating life.