This was my first Sophie Cousens book and it won't be the last. I have to say that I loved everything about this novel. I loved the setting of Bath and its Jane Austen connections. I loved the main characters and the secondary characters (can I be friends with Loretta too?). I loved the premise of the divorced heroine's children picking dates for her as a gimmick for her magazine article, and the Fleetwood Mac analogy that helps the heroine see things more clearly. It was just the mood adjustment I needed for these tumultuous times.

I loved this story from the very beginning. Anna is a journalist going through a divorce while taking care of her two kids. Her job is the only stable thing right now, except for now that’s on the rocks too. Her rival, Will, is gunning for her column so Anna devises a plan to make sure she doesn’t become redundant and lose her job. She pitches going on dates, all found offline by her children, to help build the magazine audience. Will pitches a mirror column of finding online dates of the same theme. Of the course of writing the columns, Will and Anna are forced to work together (and we know what happens next).
I was a little bit scared about me being able to relate to Anna as I am the furthest thing from a divorced mother of two, but her personality is so well written and developed outside of that role that relatability wasn’t really an issue. I loved the premise of the book. Following along on all the different dates, meeting the different personalities while still exploring the main side characters (and Will) kept the book interesting and the reader hooked. Chapter 15 was so rude, but I think Chapter 23 made up for it. I will be recommending this to everyone.

The only thing I was alittle bummed about was the closed door intimate scenes. There was a great deal of tension and slow burn built up, and when it finally happened, I felt slightly cheated having it all implied and not seen on the page. Even with that minor glitch, I truly loved this story. I highly recommend this book; all of Sophie’s catalog is excellent if you haven’t picked up one of her works yet. Add this to your shelf in November; I know I will be!

I loved this book, I felt very identified with the main character. This book is much more than a love story, it is a story of reconciliation, self-love, empowerment, acceptance and new beginnings, as the author says "there is a whole new chapter waiting for you, all you need to do is keep turning you pages". The writing is so engaging, witty and easy to read, it is full of phrases to mark and treasure forever.
And it also has many of everyone's favorite clichés, you will surely love it, highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for a digital ARC.

Cousens is one of a gem. The writing is engaging and witty, effortlessly blending humor with moments that tug at your heartstrings. The characters are refreshingly real and endearing, making this book a joyful and sometimes emotional ride. Perfect for anyone looking for a fun, relatable romcom with a touch of sentiment!

Sophie Cousens is an insta buy for me. I don’t know how to possibly convey the way her stories and her words make me feel, but oh my god she’s amazing. This one is, obviously, no different. I thought it would be had to love this as much, coming off the completely perfect The Good Part, but it’s just so lovely and all around beautiful and messy. It’s a love story in many forms and I adored it. Can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelf with all her other books!

This was my first Sophie Cousens book, but I’ve heard plenty of good things about her last book, The Good Part, so I was excited for the chance to read this one! The main character is a divorced mom of two kids, who starts going on dates chosen by her children, for the sake of a magazine column she’s writing. So a pretty fun premise, with plenty of bad date stories along the way!

It’s not the most fast paced read. There’s not really a lot of excitement and the romance is pretty slow to come about. I was a pretty good ways in before I was even certain I knew who the main love interest was going to be. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, though!

It’s a pretty realistic viewpoint on being divorced, having kids, and dating again in your late thirties. It has bits of humor and several awkward dates, but overall, it focuses a lot more on the journey of enjoying being single than on the romance aspect. Although the main couple is sweet when they finally do get together!

Two other things to note, just in case you’re specifically looking to read or avoid these types of books. It’s based in England, and the writing is very reflective of that, which took me a bit to get used to. And it’s a closed door romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this book!

I loved this book so much; I didn’t want it to end! Will and Anna are my new favorite characters. I loved their relationship and the character development. Is it too soon to re-read?!

Sophie Cousens ' latest book, Is She Really Going Out with Him?, is a pleasing story of a 38-year-old woman's attempt to pull herself out of the doldrums after she and her husband have divorced, and he is now living with a much younger woman. Anna is also trying to save her job as a lifestyle magazine writer/columnist by meeting the new owner's demand for articles that skew younger and more vulnerable. She and Will, her handsome but pesky rival, come up with the idea of connected columns investigating very different ways to find new love. In Anna's column, she analyzes each of seven dates with men suggested by her children--aged 12 and 7--rather than relying on dating websites.

It's fun to see Anna asking a series of diverse men out on some interesting dates, and the relationships she develops with a few of them. Along the way, of course, it becomes obvious that there is also a spark between Anna and Will, although he is younger and apparently has very different life goals.

I found both protagonists appealing and relatable, although there were the usual communication issues. Anna's children are adorable--Jess going through typical tween angst at school and Ethan just being a happy 7-year-old who takes in stride the changes in his life after the divorce. And supporting characters such as an ebullient woman who has survived a deadly disease and becomes a new friend are delightful. The ending is satisfying, even though it might not be exactly the one you might expect.

My thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of the book.

***Book Review for ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’ by Sophie Cousens***

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Would you ever let your kids pick your dates? Probably not, but if you want a really great laugh and a heart warming love story and the outcome of kids picking dates for their Mother; than this is the book for you!

This was my first Sophie Cousens book, and boy oh boy.. I really really loved this book!! It was undeniably sweet and hilarious! I would recommend this book till the end of time.

She almost makes me want to let my kids pick my dates, if I end up with a love story like this one!

*DISCLAIMER* This is NOT a paid review. This was a voluntary early access read made possible by NetGalley the Publisher and Author Sophie Cousens. I want to extend a huge thank you for allowing me access to this E-Arc! I hope my review provides helpful insight.

*PLATFORMS* This review is available on Barnes & Nobles (if applicable), Amazon, Walmart, NetGalley, GoodReads & Facebook.

Anna's brave. She is getting back into dating... but plot twist, her kids are picking out her dates.. not sure I would ever let my kids pick out my dates. There were a lot of different dating tropes so I do think this will appeal to most readers who enjoy romance books. It has a lot of your favorite rom com moments and overall was a cute story. This is not my first novel by the author and certainly will not be my last! Can't wait to discuss this book with my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for a digital ARC of Is She Really Going Out with Him?

This was my first Sophie Cousens book, and now I'll be going back and reading her others. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this one delivered! The pacing was perfect, the characters were fleshed out. Subplots were on point. Writing was great. Tension was top-notch. I appreciated that the spice was closed door. This was a great read, 10 out of 10!

An adorable and charming love story.

Anna hasn’t ever really dated as she met her ex-husband while at university. Her sister and even her children are ready for her to find love again, or at least go on dates. While trying to come up with an exciting pitch for her column, Anna agrees to go on dates with men her children select for her…

I’m a big fan of the author’s previous novels and I very much enjoyed this one as well. It has the author’s signature charm and humor and a lighthearted feel. Overall, this is a cute, fun read. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This was a fun rom-com with tropes including enemies to lovers, office romance & age gap. Anna is divorced with two tween-ish kids and while she kept mis-reading cues & situations, I thought in her case it was reflective of her post-divorce vulnerability. Normally the mis-cues drive me nuts, but I think it works here. I was in Anna’s corner the whole time. Her progression comes through as genuine and realistic. Overall, this story had all the feels- some laugh out loud moments, lots of heart, & a brave, hopeful romance.

Hilariously heartwarming! This love story is an absolute gem, centered around a single mom who reluctantly lets her children play matchmaker. The result? A charming, angsty and a witty romance that sparkles with humor and chemistry. The writing is sharp and engaging, perfectly capturing the blossoming relationship between the leads. Their banter is delightful, and the romantic moments are swoon-worthy. In short, an endearing and laugh-out-loud read that will leave you smiling long after the last page.

I am a huge sucker for a Sophie Cousens book! I have read them all and have enjoyed every single one. I am happy to report, Is She Really Going Out With Him? is just as amazing as all her other works!



Anna Appleby is a recent divorcee and mom of two just trying to make it through life. When her job as a journalist at the local newspaper is put in jeopardy, Anna pitches a wild idea for a column: dating 10 men chosen by her children. Her work nemesis, Will, pitches the opposite: dating 10 women from a dating app. As the two battle it out for the best column, they find that maybe they’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places.



Is She Really Going Out With Him? was chock-full with the specific brand of heart and humor I’ve come to expect from a Sophie Cousens book. I had the best time laughing out loud while reading it! The high jinks Anna gets in to on each date were hilarious! I also really loved Anna’s personal growth and her relationship with her kids. Will’s family was so precious and Loretta was a hoot. But the best parts of the book were the tension and banter between Anna and Will. It leaped off the page!



Please do yourself a favor and preorder this one or request from your library. I promise, you won’t regret it!



Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC!

Romance lovers, fiction readers, people who just like joy: put this on your TBR list immediately!! This book was seriously SO DELIGHTFUL and uplifting that I devoured it in 2 days. The story was funny and witty and I could not stop laughing out loud. The main character, Anna, is a divorced mom who is incredibly relatable (even though I'm not a divorced mom??) and I couldn't help but root for her in all of her shenanigans. The main love interest, Will, is a **swoonworthy** rival at work who turns out to be a big softy with a surprising amount of depth. Seriously the author could not have written a funnier, sweeter, or more heartwarming man. And their chemistry was off the charts!! Highly recommend if you want an easy read with some fun British banter and an uplifting rediscover-yourself storyline.

Now to the author - please write a sequel featuring Noah the neighbor!!

Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book.

Sophie Cousens can do no wrong in my book (pun intended). I really loved watching Anna find love and find herself. The banter was perfection, and Will was a dreamy hero. This one was super fun!

I have read all of Sophie Cousens’ books and this is by far my favorite. It was so engaging and I wanted to read it in one sitting. I appreciate that her fmcs are starting to be a little older (mid to late 30’s) and have lived life. It gets tiring with a lot of romcoms thinking the characters need to be 25-30. In this book, Anna is 37, recently divorced, full-time working mom. Along the way, she forgot herself and her focus became the kids and work. This story shows her coming into her own via an article series at her paper where her kids pick out her dates. Her coworker, who she has a contentious relationship with, worms his way onto the article and they have to learn to work together. This story has some really funny moments and you genuinely root for main characters. This is a book buy.

Thank you Penguin Group PUTNAM for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Cute, but on the slower side of happenings. The story kept me engaged just enough so I continued it, but it wasn't a "OMG, I can't put it down!" Kind of boo