How to find a man in ten dates…chosen by your children. Anna is a column writer and her job is in jeopardy. To spice things up she pitches this crazy idea where her children will pick her dates in real life and she will write about the experiences. As a recent divorcee with zero interest in online dating, this could be just thing to help her get back into the dating pool. Along the way, she makes great friendships, flirts with her colleague/nemesis, and finds herself 👩‍💻🎣💕

This was my first Sophie Cousens book and I really enjoyed her writing style. The google searches before each chapter were such a fun touch too!

“The baggage we carry isn’t a bad thing; it is our substance, our history, the experiences that make us who we are”

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Is She Really Going Out With Him will be published November 19th.

This was a cute book. I definitely wish there had been more between the two characters. It seemed rushed while also slow at the same time.

Another disappointing Sophie Cousens book for me. I read and reviewed her first book last go around and wasn't a fan, unfortunately - have to say the same for this one. Shallow characters with lack of development. Story line wasn't good for me. Nothing could get me invested in this story line

Gah! This was the cutest read. I gobbled this up so fast! Anna was hilarious and I love her and Will together!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I didn't know Sophie Cousens was an auto buy for me but looking back she is. I found this author when she was a choice with book of the month club. All her books have been 4 or 5 stars for me and this one is now the top of the list.
I loved all the different interactions the character had. I laughed and cried and hoped for a happily ever after and not just for Anna. I loved the band of friends she made along the way and how they were all brought together.
The Google searches at each chapter was genius.
Highly recommend and I will be buying a copy or two. I need for myself and another to add to our free little library

The relationships between these characters felt so real. With her ex-husband, her sister, her boss, her kids. I loved that the kids played such an important role in this! They had great personalities. Cousens nailed what kids are really like at those ages. And Will. He was fantastic. I was ready to give this 5 stars until the very end - I wanted it to end more concretely. But it still gets a raving 4 stars from me.

Anna is a divorced mom in her her late thirties who work as a journalist along side Will, a man eight years her junior who appears to be her work rival. They get assigned a joint column centered on dating where they fake date…but not each other. Will uses online methods while Anna dates men her children choose. A new spin on fake dating!

The book took me a little while to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Anna’s dating adventures were humorous and sweet, all the while watching her and Will discover new sides to each other as they get closer. I really liked the perspective of an older woman who wrestles with romance with a younger person who may want kids (while she’s done) and wants a life bigger than their town. They appear to be at different points in their life and this struggle from Anna’s view was written really well.

This is a closed-door romance, which is fine, but…this was such a SLOOOOOOW burn and when something finally ignites, it cut off too quickly for me. Just a little bit more connection, a little more relief that the feelings are mutual…

I also felt the storyline with Sylvie was too much. We have the kids, a sister, an ex-husband, several dates for the work assignment, & Will…I felt ex’s girlfriend was a distraction and just not needed. Storylines with her would pop up & I was disappointed to leave the other characters.

Overall, a sweet romance with a new twist on the fake dating trope. I enjoyed it!

Sophie Cousens has a way with writing an endearing love story. The stakes are high enough to provide some drama and emotion, but the romance is there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. In terms of chemistry, this wasn’t my favorite couple from Cousens, but would absolutely still recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for the early look at this November 2024 release!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel early. It was a super enjoyable read. This rom com you don’t want to put down. It had classic and predictable tropes but the characters are very endearing and well developed. A very fun read.

I have read Sophie Cousens books before and they were cute, so I figured I'd give this one a try too. I really liked the chemistry between Anna and Will. They had an age difference and were at different places in their lives, she having been divorced with 2 kids and he focusing on furthering his career after caring for his family. I felt that the character and relationship development needed a bit more and it went fast, but it was a cute palate cleanser. Probably won't be especially memorable long term though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books Putnam for this ARC! Coming November 2024! #IsSheReallyGoingOutWithHim #NetGalley

I really loved this book! I often enjoy Sophie Cousens' books, but this one might be my all-time favorite. Anna was fun and funny and fallible, which made her really likable without her feeling unrealistic. I loved the premise of her column and what it turned into. I wanted to smack Dan often (and Sylvie too). Anna's kids were adorable and moody and I loved their interactions, also her relationship with her sister was fun to read (I think I'd read a whole book on her sister). I loved the unplugged retreat, the ball, everything. This was a really good book, and I'll be recommending it a lot. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!

What I have come to love about Sophie Cousens is the way she builds her romance stories. The premises are unique, and I love the way the paths to that happily ever after twist and turn. That was once again the case with Is She Really Going Out With Him. Anna is a journalist who is recently divorced. Her employer is looking for something new with their content, and Anna suggests she write about her dating life - She pitches the unique premise that she'll go on dates with people picked by her kids. As a complementary column, her rival Will is going to write about online dating. And Will keeps making his way into her story in unexpected ways. I loved the variety of Anna's dates and just all the facets of Anna's story. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this November 2024 release!

Is She Really Going Out with Him, the latest laugh-out-loud romcom by Sophie Cousens is as amusing as it is tender. When recently divorced Anna agrees to let her two children play matchmaker to help her with a work assignment, all bets are off. What results is a funny and playful journey from "who needs love anyway" to "this may just work out, after all". The encounters in between and Anna's growing dependence on her young kids are what make the story unique and enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this delightful, advanced eCopy.

A fun read for folks who enjoy little British romances, a la Sophie Kinsella. I enjoyed this light read. In fact, brought it on vacation with me, a perfect pick!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book was the cutest romcom that had me laughing and staying up late to read. I couldn't put it down and was obsessed to see what Anna's next date would ensue. Cousens wrote a divorcee drama that didn't feel overly woeful but also maintained the realism and life in the aftermath. It was beautifully balanced between heart break and hope, rebuilding her life, reconnecting with herself and her kids, and finding balance in all aspects of her life.

I loved the work enemies to lovers and absolutely adored Will. Cousens had a effortless way of getting us from disdain to actually enjoying his character without us noticing. It felt like falling in love with him ourselves. The series of dates chosen by her kids were hilarious and entertaining. This is my second book of hers and she will be an auto-read from now on. Her books feel so genuine and realistic, like a cozy hug. The story felt like a journey and the ending, a coming home. I loved this book from start to finish and will be rereading in the future.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!

This had How to Lise a Guy in 10 days vibes. Just gave it a family twist. Fun story. Fast paced. I finished it in a day and wanted to read it again!

This was a clever story line that kept my attention. I liked that the main character was in her late 30’s with a realistic picture of life for a divorcee in terms of challenges. Her relationship with her children and family was also well described and believable. I love enemies to lovers and the loved how things unfolded with the love interest. There were lots of layers to this book and I would recommend it to others.

This was my first Sophie Cousens book, and it definitely won’t be my last! I absolutely loved it! The premise of the book was so unique, I don’t think I have ever read a rom-com with the same plot line.
Anna is a newly divorced 30s journalist with two kids. When her struggling magazine decides to push her column in a different direction, Anna finds herself writing about her non-online dating adventures, with her dates being chosen by her children.
I loved the character development of Anna, how she pulls herself together after her life is upended by divorce. I also loved the real life aspect with her children and their struggles.
The book was funny, clever, unique, and romantic. The love story was done perfectly.
I really enjoyed it, and will now begin reading through the rest of Sophie Cousens’ books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my second Sophie Cousens book. Great read! I really enjoyed it. I loved the "realness" of this book. Anna finds herself in a chapter of life she never thought she would be ... divorced in her late 30s. She decides to navigate the dating waters through dating sites, but quickly finds out that isn't for her. The next step in her new chapter is semi-forced upon her via her job as a journalist. My favorite part of the book was how when Anna opened herself up she realized that she had a great support system around her. She also learned the valuable lesson that not everyone is as they seem. I would consider this book as cracked door. There is spice, but not graphic. This will not be my last Sophie Cousens book.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

1⭐️ - DNF at 26%

I just simply couldn’t get into this book. To me the writing felt rushed and childish considering the POV is a middle aged divorced mother of 2. There was one scene that I can only describe as “written by my 60 year old mother who is trying to seem funny and cool to her Gen Z kids” and it just ended up being cringey.

I didn’t get far enough to see how it would play out but the two main characters that I assume are going to end up together just do not seem to have anything in common or any chemistry whatsoever. Even the basis of the “workplace rivals” and reasons why she doesn’t like him doesn’t feel genuine and none of it feels believable.

I honestly just couldn’t bring myself to read anymore. I thought this would be up my alley and the idea seemed fun and cute but it ended up just giving me second hand embarrassment from the scenarios that play out in the book.