Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens | 368 pages | 2024

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Good Part

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens | 338 pages | 2023

At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet roll. She could quit her job for a better living, but she's not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she's got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.

When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and storybook perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can't believe this is real--especially when she looks in the mirror, and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she's always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she'll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

I love a good "would you change your life" scenario, so this was a fun read. The author handled the mechanics of the time jump - and subsequent search to go back - really well. At various points I even started to question whether she actually jumped or if she really did have amnesia.

This book is about a lot of different kinds of love, and I really appreciated that. The plot of Lucy and Sam getting to know each other was really sweet and well done, but the love between friends, the parent-child relationships, and the support of coworkers were all beautiful too. I'm still mulling over the ending and whether I wanted it to end the way it did, but I can't be mad either way. This one will be fun to discuss in book club!