Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens
This romance novel is easy to lose oneself in. Anna Appleby is a journalist who has a arts and culture column in the magazine Bath Living, and has lived in Bath most of her life. She and her ex, Dan, separated a few months ago, and he's moved on, travelling to all the places Anna wanted to go to. She's busy with work and their two children, Ethan who is seven, and Jess, twelve.
She is doing a volunteer stint, reading for Ethan's school class when an email comes through with her divorce decree, and she loses it.
The story jumps to eighteen months later, and we see her adjusting to her change in circumstances. She and her sister Lottie are close, and Lottie and her husband Seb are expecting their first child. Anna still lives in the marital home and hasn't really changed anything, but we see that change begin as the novel unfolds.
Changes are also up at Anna's work, where the magazine has changed ownership and the staff are being challenged to engage with a younger demographic. One of Anna's colleagues, Will Havers, seems to have lots of ideas, and Anna finds that he has eyes on her column space. She makes a strong case for a new concept that the magazine editor agrees to, but still finds herself sharing that space with Will.
Anna tries online dating, but finds unexpected challenges like AI responses as well as the tech barrier she expected. She changes her theme to dating men that her children pick for her, and finds herself making new friends, engaging with her community in new ways, and reconnecting with herself.
Her relationship with Will also changes, becoming more collaborative and the chemistry between them grows, especially after a weekend assignment or two.
I really enjoyed seeing Anna bloom into her new life, taking risks, and finding friendships in unexpected places. Her kids are fun, and I enjoyed seeing a little of Jess's growth as well.
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