This review was first published Nob, 16, 2024 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
If you are the kind of person who steers clear of, or embraces, online dating then a Sophie Cousens book is perfect for you — so pretty much for everybody who loves a fun romantic comedy.
Divorce, separation and characters who have never been married (also a rising trend) are front-and-center in romantic comedies. Sophie Cousens’ latest romance, “Is She Really Going Out with Him?”, follows suit, and tackles questions, tropes and themes of aging and dating when there is an age gap in the mix.
“Is She Really Going Out with Him?” follows the story of Anna Appleby, a divorced columnist who has given up on love. Content with her single life and focused on raising her two children, Anna is surprised when she is asked to write a new dating column. To save her job — her in-office rival also wants the column — she reluctantly agrees, but with a twist: her children will choose her dates.
This is where some parents might shudder, and think this book took a turn into the horror genre because of the premise, but Cousens keeps it light. And even though from the beginning, a reader might feel a little bit like they’re watching a movie and knows how it will end, the ride and banter are so much fun that it doesn’t matter.
So Anna sets out on a series of unconventional dates that are at times touching, sad and/or funny, and she finds herself questioning her own beliefs about love and relationships. During one date with a 20-something she finds herself doing things her 38-year-old body rebels against.
She points out, accurately, that men her age can still have many more children. “It’s only women who have a sell-by date,” she muses.
From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna’s journey is filled with self discovery.
“You epitomize men of your generation,” she admonishes one man. “You swipe and you swipe, looking for something better. There’s always someone hotter, younger, taller, smarter, thinner. All these apps are designed to create an itch you can never truly scratch. No one is ‘mind blowing.’ It’s ridiculous to set your bar that high.”
“Is She Really Going Out with Him?” is an upbeat, page-turning good time that explores themes of love, family, and self-acceptance. Cousens’ witty writing style (banter is her strong suit) and relatable characters elevate the book from the expected.
As Anna navigates the challenges and joys of dating, readers might find themselves alternately wishing they were on a date or happy that they are reading a book safely out of the dating zone. (Unless they are reading a book at a bar or bookstore known for pickups — which happens.)
If, headed into the holiday season, a reader is in need of a heartwarming hug in book form, wrapped in a witty, romantic comedy package, this is your book. You’ll be cheering on Anna and rooting for her to find happiness.
At one point she compares her own journey to a Choose Your Own Adventure book and sums up how some readers might feel:
“I guess I always hoped I’d get to be one of those old couples you see laughing and holding hands in their eighties. Isn’t that the ending most people want for themselves? I wish I’d gotten to fall further into love rather than out of it.”
There’s a saying, “Don’t look for me in the person you met yesterday” and we see that unfold in Anna’s transformation. It feels so good that even the scary parts of aging don’t seem so scary when reflected in a timeless romantic comedy.
Meredith Cummings is a freelance journalist and teaching assistant professor of journalism at Lehigh University.