Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars - I first came across Sophie Cousens on Netgalley and am now a huge fan. I saw she had a new book coming out this Fall and was so excited to be given the chance to read an advanced copy. I started reading as soon as I got it and finished it the next day. Is She Really Going Out with Him is about a divorced single mom who is trying to save her job as a journalist while raising two kids with her ex who is already dating. She is given the assignment to write a dating column from the perspective of someone who doesn't want to use dating apps so comes up with the idea of going on 7 dates, all chosen by her kids. I liked her, I wanted her to be successful. I liked that she was open to her kids choices and gave it some effort even when she really wasn't interested. I found her dating experiences to be relatable, funny, and sweet. This wasn't my favorite title, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to friends.

This book had me giggling from the start, and hooked me with the adorable banter. I absolutely loved the pop culture references, and the past google searches were such a fun way to start each chapter. The book read so easily and quickly, and left us swooning. This is my second by Sophie Cousens, and she delivered again! I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Oh Sophie Cousens, you charmer you. I was once again positively delighted by an SC work of art. Is it just me, or does her writing feel effortless? She takes you along the path of the story in a way that is just so natural. The characters come to life. You always want the best for them. You want to know what happens, and you’re truly invested in the story. I found this (workplace, enemies to lovers, second chance, slow burn, age gap, only one cabin) romance endlessly endearing and charming. It’s one I would recommend to anyone, but especially women who are on the other side of age 30. It’s nice to have “older” characters experience romance! We’re not all 24 out here!

My one complaint is that she leaves the door mostly closed, with only a few hints of what happened between the sheets. Or, as it happens, in the archive room. But that is her prerogative as an author and I suppose I can use my imagination!

Thanks for this ARC…. I loved it!

Is She Really Going Out with Him? is a delightful blend of funny laugh out loud moments, navigating life after divorce, and a slow burn romance that makes you feel like there is hope after heartbreak. This is a perfect second chance rom-com with the cutest HEA. Anna, a recently divorced journalist disillusioned with love, faces off against Will, her younger work rival, in a battle for a coveted dating column. Their competition, reminiscent of films like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30, combines elements from The Spanish Love Deception and The Hating Game, with a nod to classics like Sleepless in Seattle and Jane Austen.

Anna’s column, driven by her kids' matchmaking efforts and Will’s focus on app dating create the perfect tension at work between the two. The story is both thoughtful and hopeful, capturing the essence of finding love in unexpected places. Anna’s relatable journey and the playful rivalry make this book a fun, refreshing, and heartwarming. This would make the cutest movie ever!

💕One bed
💕Forced proximity
💕Work rivals
💕Age gap
💕Second chance
💕Slow Burn
💕Spice 1/2 🌶️ Closed door

*really wanted more 🌶️ after all that slow burn 😭

Loved this a lot! It is maybe my favorite Sophie Cousens book so far. It reminds me of Annabel Monaghan's Summer Romance in that it is a single, newly divorced mom finding love and herself again. It's also a really clever concept. I love the dating column, and I think it's a clever way to get Anna on dates where she learns about herself while also allowing her relationship with Will to develop organically. It also gets an HEA where it doesn't feel like one character is giving up too much to make the relationship work.

Another point I want to bring up that I really appreciate — British romances tend to be overly whimsical, which I sometimes find irritating and over the top. Is She Really Going Out With Him? doesn't do that at all, and I find it really refreshing. It can have a fun story while still not feeling juvenile.

Sophie Cousens has a new romance releasing 11/19 called Is She Really Going out with Him? I have read all but one of Sophie Cousens books and this is my favorite by far. Meet Anna. She’s a recently divorced mom of two working as a journalist at a magazine. Enter Will. He’s a new hire seemingly wanting to one up Anna at every turn. When the magazine is at risk for shutting down permanently, the staff are tasked with creating new, modern, hip columns to attract readers. If they don’t, they become redundant. Anna’s children come up with a way to help Anna. They challenge her to go on date with men she meets in real life and write about her experiences in an article every week. This starts a series of dates where so are good and others are cringeworthy. I loved this book. I love the workplace romance trope. We get to see Anna rise from the ashes of her divorce and become a thriving mom and a woman who is confident in who is she and what she wants. I also love stories where the characters thoughts are penned as though we can see what they are thinking in real time. Anna’s personality is hilarious so getting a glimpse into her though process has me giggling. I also loved how she would go on dates with men she may not have ever given a chance had it not been for the article. This book is heartwarming, funny, and a really good time.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did! It has fun tropes of workplace romance and age gap (she’s older). The story was so sweet! The banter and wit was unmatched. It was also closed door, so spice wasn’t even half a pepper which was perfect for me. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a rom com pallet cleanser!

I’ve read several books by Sophie Cousens and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This one was no different! I really connect with her writing style and found this to be an enjoyable read. My only real criticism is that I wished there was more storyline between Anna and Will as a few times I had to remind myself that he was in the picture. Definitely recommend!

Anna Appleby Is starting over, and who better to tell her story than the amazing Sophie Cousens? Hilarious and touching, this book is a gem. Laugh out loud and full of meaning and hope. Recommend!

Another excellent novel by one of my favorite authors! Despite the plot being similar to a few other books I’ve read before, this story was fresh and interesting because of the characters Sophie writes and the perspective of the main character, Anna. I laughed so much during this book. It continually had me smiling and looking forward to more of Anna’s dates and interactions with her ex and his girlfriend. There were so many tropes in this book that I think it has something for everyone:
-age gap
-workplace romance
-fake dating (somewhat)/dating for an article
-dating after divorce
-single mother
-enemies/nemesis to lovers
Sophie managed to take so many cliche romance situations and write them in a totally different, refreshing, heartfelt story that makes you think about motherhood, self worth, aging, trying new things, taking risks, and finding yourself, all while laughing the whole way through. I also teared up several times over Will’s sweet reminiscences of his mother, the neighbor’s wife, and even Anna’s cat. Overall, this story had everything I’m looking for in a rom com!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolute perfection! This book had me laughing, giggling, swooning, and feeling all the feels. The main character, Anna, is so relatable as she navigates life post-divorce as a single, working mother. I enjoyed every second of this book and genuinely did not want it to end! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for their next great Rom-Com to read!

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

PROS:
*Our heroine is a 38 year old divorced mom of 2 (as an ancient 37-year-old, I appreciate a good romance where the lead is not barely out of high school)
*Hot guy in glasses
*Flirting through a window
*Glamping... with only one bed!
*Workplace "shenanigans"

CONS:
*I wanted more from the ending. It was a little abrupt, but I loved everything leading up to it so much that I still give the book 5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and penguin group for the ARC

4.5 out of 5. This books has all the vibes. Sophie Cousens never disappoints and this is just adorable. First of all the concept that online dating is vile - i can relate and so true. and thy way hey tell the stories is hilarious. The fact that her kids were then setting her up on these dates was at the same time cringe and brilliant and such good storytelling. and the obvious romantic connection that evolves is actually beautifully developed and not cliche at all. vibes all around. There is some actually deep family thoughts in this book, I enjoyed the analysis on how old and youngest child expectations and personalities differ.

i also really loved this art quote: " there are forgeries on people's walls all over the work. If they like the art, it hurts no one. If they bought it for the value it holds to others, then maybe they're valuing the wrong things."

And loretta's question im still thinking about, what is my most treasured possession? what do I covet the most?

‘A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.’

Is She Really Going Out With Him? was cute, light, charming, sweet and demure with a HEA, that also served quite well as a palate cleanser. This was my first by Cousens, but certainly not my last. I look forward to playing catch-up on everything I’ve missed!

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub date: 11.19.24.

Columnist Anna Appleby is navigating a painful divorce and trying start dating again, but quickly realizes that online dating is not the way for her to go. When her office rival is potentially up for taking Anna's column, she creates a unique pitch, letting her children find her seven men to date. But when a connection comes from where she least expects it, will she allow herself to follow her heart?

Sophie Cousens does it once again! The premise was so silly - Anna's kids picking out dates for her to go on and then write about in her column - but I enjoyed every second of it. Their kids were really well written and written to their ages very well. The Google searches at the top of each chapter were so real and relatable and all around a fun touch to the book. There were SO MANY amazing quotes in this book; I had pages upon pages of them written down.

While Anna and Will were technically "enemies," this book is so much more than a typical enemies-to-lovers. I giggled and kicked my feet when they arrived at the campground and discovered there was, *gasp*, only one bed. Despite this one being closed door, the tension was done so well. Beyond the main characters, all the side characters (LORETTA) were great, and I loved watching Anna form her little community.

I'm a little surprised that no one got upset about Anna writing about them in her columns, although I guess she technically disclosed everything. I do wish all of Anna's columns had been written out in the book for us to read, I think that could have added a little extra something to the story.

I recommend reviewing the various trigger warnings for this one before reading.

I was skeptical due to not knowing about the author, but once I dive into the book, I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for romance books. It goes to the point where I will probably read more of her books later on.

I picked up The Good Part, also by Sophie Cousens on a whim earlier this year, having read nothing by her before and was blown away when that was an instant 6 star read. Because I loved that one so much, I had super high hopes for this one and thankfully, I was not disappointed!

This book does enemies to lovers SO right. I feel like too many authors spend the first 50% of the book creating an enemy that is horrifically unlikable and then jump right into the lovers part without giving you enough chance to warm up to it but the pacing in this one was so perfect. I also looooved the found family/Brady bunch of characters we got in this one—it’s very reminiscent of Clare Pooley’s story formula!

I also really want to praise Sophie for the way she writes families. The shining star on The Good Part for me was the main character’s relationship with her son and the same is true for Ethan and Jess in this book. They were such darling, 3D characters and it really lends authenticity to the story.

If I had to be nitpicky, I’d say it was quite slow to start and I didn’t know if I was going to like it but once it got going, I flew through it. I also wish we would’ve gotten a little something more out of the epilogue but I guess life would be pretty boring if we got the same cookie cutter ending!

Still a solid 5 stars, omw to read everything else she’s ever written!

Anna es una periodista, madre de dos hijos que paso por un divorcio y que se está dando cuenta como dejo de ser una persona para convertirse en la mamá de y la esposa de.

Me gustó lo de las citas, fue divertido y disfrute que saliera de su zona de confort. También me gustó como se fue dando cuenta que merecía más en su trabajo y al final aprendió a valorarse.


Lo que no me gustó fue con quien se quedó, tal vez si esa persona tuviera povs caería mejor y se entenderían sus comportamientos porque desde el punto de vista de Anna hay varias cosas que no cuadran.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved loved loved!!!

When I see an advance copy of one of Sophie Cousens’ books, I jump at it. She is an auto buy author for me. Her books are heartwarming fun with so much substance. I always love her main characters. So witty and likeable!

In this book, Anna Appleby, a divorcee with two kids, decides that for her column, she will date people her kids pick out. Her column is paired with another column by a writer at her publication, Will, that she has a bit of a rivalry with.

Anna was the best, as were (almost) all of the men she dated and people she met along the way. Each chapter also starts with her google searches, which are hilarious.

This was such an uplifting joy to read.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy. My (glowing) opinion is entirely my own.