(Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

Rating: 4 stars

'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' is an utterly fun and heartwarming rom-com about a divorcee rediscovering herself amidst the ups and downs of dating. 

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Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I picked up this book expecting a light, cute listen, and it delivered just that, along with hilarious and touching moments that kept the story engaging throughout. Despite exploring some serious themes, the story maintained a light tone, making it an easy read that I could envision as a modern rom-com movie. The use of pop culture references added to the story's charm, and I loved the nods to popular movies, TV shows and other books. I also loved the whimsical Google searches in each chapter, as these injected humour into Anna's daily escapades. What's more, Kerry Gilbert's narration impressively brought the characters to life, conveying their emotions and distinct personalities with remarkable vocal nuances.

"you don’t have to be good at something to find joy in it."

We first meet Anna Appleby right before a breakdown, and her raw, complex emotions immediately made her character realistic and relatable. While her journey may not be groundbreaking, her struggles with co-parenting, relationships and her career as a recent divorcee in her late thirties made for a compelling narrative. Her character also shows both vulnerability and strength, making her easy to like and root for, even when she makes mistakes.

"True love does not cower in the shadows; it roars, loud and proud, until it has given it's all"

The secondary characters are equally vibrant, bringing unique quirks and dynamics that add depth to Anna's journey. In particular,  I loved how the male lead encouraged Anna to pursue her desires, and this made their enemies-to-lovers relationship a standout element. Although their miscommunications were slightly frustrating, I enjoyed the adorable development of their connection as they spent time together. Their banter and petty teasing also constantly made me smile and kick my legs in delight - it was just too cute! Only readers looking for a steamy romance will be disappointed by the fade-to-black sex scenes, but these suited me just fine.

Absolutely loved this! It was sweet, romantic and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny in places. With a lot more depth than many books in this genre it tells the story of journalist Anna who, after a painful divorce, embarks on an off-line dating experience to help her write a column. Many hilarious. uncomfortable and heartfelt dates ensue, whilst in the background is her handsome colleague Will,. This was a great book., well written, interesting characters, a lovely humorous touch and lots and lots of heart. I will definitely be reading more of this author.

The narrator of this book was brilliant, lovely voice and beautiful read. She had a great way of differentiating the characters without it being too distracting. I will absolutely be checking out what else this narrator has recorded.

I love romantic books and especially anything by Sophie Cousens. I’m not usually an audiobook person but this is too good to pass up! I love the narrator and it was so fun listening to a story told by one of my favorite authors! Highly recommend

3.5 Stars. As a mother I really connected with Anna and her journey of finding herself throughout this book. It was a funny and light hearted read which I have come to expect from Sophie.

I loved this book so much, I loved the characters and the storyline and how it all came together! Gripping, heartwarming and hilarious!

I found this really enjoyable and relatable in parts. The audio was very engaging. Loved the banter and all the dates. Some really hilarious moments and also so touching sweet ones. Couldn't put it down.

Firstly, I want to thank the author Sophie Cousens and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to an arc of this book.

This is a beautifully written, laugh out loud romantic comedy about 2 colleagues Anna and Will. Will is young, single and carefree, whereas Anna is a recently divorced mother of two who navigates her life via Google searches.

They begin the story as arch rivals, since it appears that Will is trying to steal Anna's column space. Unbeknown to Anna, Bath Living Magazine has been taken over and the new owner wants to change the target audience of their readers. How will it work out when the two of them are tasked to write a column together?

As with many romcoms, this story ends with a wedding but thankfully, not the one you expect. This was such a pleasant surprise.

I listened to this as an audiobook and personally I feel that the narrator chosen was perfect. Her voice has a note of Bridget Jones about it, which fits perfectly with the stories narrative.

After a blow out with her difficult colleague Will, journalists Anna and Will start a dating column together which leads them both learning what they want in life and love and whether they can get along better than they first thought.


This book really grew on me. As the narrative developed I became nicely invested in Anna and Will’s relationship. I liked how gently it developed and that it wasn’t conforming to romantic literally stereotypes. It was very sweet and tender and Anna’s bond with her children and sister is really beautiful.

I felt it got a bit lost along the way and the narrative wasn’t as tight as it could have been. I loved the concept of her children selecting her dates for her but that seemed to fade as the storyline with Will enhanced. A few of the dates end quite abruptly and aren’t referenced back to. It’s a shame that wasn’t used as a more succinct drive to the whole story as I think it could have helped tie up loose ends.

I did enjoy this though as a cute easy read.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? has an interesting premise, with the potential to explore complex issues surrounding relationships and self-worth. However, the story ultimately fell short in terms of emotional depth and character development, leaving me with mixed feelings.

The main character, Mia, is a high school student caught in a toxic relationship, and while this could be a powerful narrative, I struggled to connect with her. Her decisions often felt frustrating, especially in the context of her romantic relationship, which seemed to lack the nuance I was hoping for. I found it hard to empathize with her struggles, as some of her choices felt repetitive and didn’t always serve the deeper themes the book aimed to address.

The pacing of the book also felt uneven. At times, the plot seemed to drag, with certain scenes feeling overly repetitive or drawn-out. In other moments, the story rushed through important emotional beats, which made it difficult for me to truly engage with Mia’s journey. I would have liked to see a more balanced pacing, with more time spent on character development and emotional moments.

That said, I do appreciate the themes the book tackles—self-worth, peer pressure, and the complexities of relationships. These are topics that will resonate with many readers, especially younger ones who may find Mia’s experience relatable. The book also shines a light on how toxic relationships can impact one’s sense of self, and while I felt it could have delved deeper into this aspect, it’s an important message.

In terms of writing, Jess Valance has a good grasp of creating relatable situations and dialogue, though I wish the emotional depth had been more consistent throughout the book. There were moments where I could see the potential for a powerful story, but it didn’t always land as strongly as I’d hoped.

Overall, while Is She Really Going Out With Him? wasn’t a standout for me, I think it could still be enjoyable for readers who are looking for a quick read about relationships and self-discovery. It’s a solid entry in the genre, but it could have benefited from a bit more character depth and emotional nuance.

Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote?

Anna is a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker to keep her journal column. Thing is, she is competing with her office rival - charming, popular, younger, and into the dating scene.

I loved the funny voice of Ana. She is a busy, stressed mother who is dealing with an awkward divorce situation, her children growing up, and a job that is tightening the budget.

There are some bizarre dates - Regency attire, sucky celebrities, weird kinks. Yet, Ana never lets anything affect her relationship with her kids or friends.
Her characters definitely stand out.

I loved the additions of the search history recaps at the end of each chapter. It really tells you a lot about a person and it made me snort multiple times.

I definitely preferred the first 30%. After that, I think it got repetitive and obvious. Of course, it’s a romance book so the latter is to be expected, but it wasn’t pulled off in a unique way for me. I might be burnt out because the last couple of romance books I’ve read have followed similar arcs to this.

Not to mention, I feel like this disappoints as a romance book in what it actually delivers. Like the resolution happens, I swear to you , in the last 2%. What about the kids? The future? Planning? Maybe it is showing that there is never a happy ever after, a final answer.

It was fun when I was listening to it, but I didn’t feel drawn to listen to it and struggled to stay invested.

Arc gifted by Hodder & Stoughton Audio.

I love Sophie Cousens' novels and 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' is no exception: it's great fun! Anna, our main character, is engaging and relatable - recovering from a divorce, raising her two children and navigating work/co-parenting stresses all at once, while trying to make space for herself. Her kids are well-rounded characters, and the love interest is a fun and attractive enemies-to-lovers arc. There's lots of fun scenarios and settings, and a smattering of comedy. Highly recommended!

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Sophie Cousens

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I'm actually ashamed to say that although I have plenty of this authors' books on my tbr shelf - this was my very first Sophie Cousens read!
And wow! What a great one it was too!

Journalist Anna needs to perk up her lifestyle column - with jobs on the line and rival Will taking all the praise, she'll really need to come up with something great.
After the news that her recently divorced ex-husband is moving on nicely, Anna swears she doesn't need a man - but her need to keep her job spurs her to try dating again - just for the column of course.....or is it!?

I instantly connected with Anna. Being a mum myself, it was so easy to relate to the struggles of motherhood, holding down a job and navigating the post divorce issues.
However, these were dealt with in a way that had me feeling sorry for Anna, empathising too but also sniggering through some of the scenes.

I loved the idea that Anna find her dates for the column through old fashioned means - ditching the online dating after only a couple of terrible tries.
I honestly couldn't bear to do the online dating thing so this was a refreshing adventure, finding dates through people you already know - despite there being no real attraction.

When her kids get involved with picking Anna's men, we see some disastrous, some hilarious and some heartwarming interactions.
I won't give any spoilers but you will love the results!

I loved our main characters so much, but also loved the side characters just as much - with all of them adding something special to the storyline.

This was the perfect romcom and although an obviously 'done before' theme, this had some unique elements along the way - and who could really ever get fed up with the joy and fun they bring, every single time!

Beautifully written with characters you won't forget - I just couldn't stop reading this!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I'm captivated by Sophie Cousens' books; in my view, she is flawless. Her narratives brim with warmth and sentiment, yet the defining feature for me is the humor she weaves into her novels. Her most recent work is side-splitting, featuring the protagonist Anna conducting internet searches at the beginning of each chapter—a touch I found delightful. It echoes other books that employ this technique, providing a comedic interlude to the story.

I enjoyed reading this book, and found it fun, if however a little predictable. I liked the characters, particularly the humour that the children brought and thought some of the realities of dating shown were hilarious.

This book has quickly become one of my top reads this year, especially in the "friends to lovers" genre. The story delves into the complexities of dating, where the characters face obstacles not entirely of their making. This challenge adds a layer of authenticity and depth to their journey, making their transition from friends to lovers all the more compelling.

The narrative's exploration of second chances is masterful. It vividly portrays how closing one chapter can lead to unexpected new beginnings, and this theme resonates deeply. The characters' struggles and triumphs are depicted with emotional richness, offering a profound reflection on the nature of timing and opportunity.

Each character is intricately developed, and their growth throughout the story feels genuine and heartfelt. The romance unfolds with a combination of humor and poignancy, creating a connection that is both realistic and touching. This book not only explores love and personal growth but also captures the beauty of embracing new possibilities despite life's uncertainties.

A sweet, hilarious, relatable romcom that is wonderfully narrated. Five stars. I love Anna and Will.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

A rivals-to-lovers age gap workplace romance plays out between Anna, divorced mum of two, and Will, a serial dater as they compete for a column at their magazine and end up spending more time together than anticipated. It was interesting to see Anna's dating experiences, with some fun moments thrown in there as well as some ones that made me cringe in sympathy. There;s also more to Will than Anna thought and we get to know him through Anna, over different meetings and some forced proximity. While there were parts of the story I enjoyed, it overall fell flat for me. I didn't feel any spark or chemistry between Will and Anna and so it was a little lacklustre and though there were moments where we see them connecting, they didn't feel to me like a good fit overall and I felt more as though we were being convinced of a non-existent romance which was such a shame. However, I'm sure this is something other people won't find in this book so don't take my word for it. A side note to say the audiobook is well-narrated so a great option for audiobook lovers.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This was a cute, fun easy listen and the narrator did a really good job as I found it easy to listen to and I wanted to know what happened next in their story. It was a bit hallmark at times but sometimes that isn't a bad thing and could definitely see this being made into a movie. This also made me laugh out loud in parts and I really overall enjoyed listening to this and will definitely be checking out more by the author in the future. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc.

Anna is a 38-year old magazine journalist trying to navigate life with two children being recently divorced from Dan, who is now living with his 25-year old Swedish girlfriend.

When her struggling magazine company has a takeover she finds herself competing with her colleague, Will, to prove her worth to her new bosses. In an attempt to offer something modern and different she ends up agreeing to do a feature on dating with the twist being that she will go on seven dates chosen by her children - twelve–year-old daughter Jess and seven-year-old son Ethan. What could possibly go wrong?!

The seven dates introduce us to a host of different characters all with their back stories bringing both depth and humour to the offerings. Alongside the dates Anna's competitive and intriguing relationship with Will continues culminating in them having to attend an eco retreat together. Perhaps Will isn't the person Anna thought he was after all!

Humorous, light and very entertaining. Rom-coms aren't my usual genre but this has a bit more maturity about it giving it that something extra that made it a compelling read.

The banter between Anna and Will was communicated well through the excellent narration and I thoroughly recommend this audiobook.

I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this book and will certainly read more of this authors work in the future.

I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to enjoy this one but the premise intrigued me so much that I had to request it because I had hope that it would be a lot of fun - and it was! The pacing was a little off because at points I kind of thought ‘oh it should probably end here’ but then it carried on which did make it feel like it was dragging just a bit, BUT the fact it was so heart-warming and the scenes towards the end were so sweet made up for the pacing problems.

The narration was great and so easy to listen to. I also loved that it was set in the UK because it felt so cosy and familiar. Overall, it was a lovely, easy read and I actually think it would make a pretty fun movie.

I would recommend it if you like a book that feels like a fun rom com film, heart-warming moments or a swoony but closed door romance.