I first fell for Sophie Cousens when I randomly picked up Just Haven’t Met You Yet, and Is She Really Going Out with Him? only made me fall harder. So getting the chance to read And Then There Was You early? Beyond honored (thanks NetGalley and Putnam!)

And wow—this one hit different. Where her last book was all about openness and connection, here Cousens dives deep into nostalgia, 'living in the past', and the ways it shapes who we are. Throw in an AI dating service (yes, literally AI—and yes, it gave me full-on Black Mirror vibes, the book even calls it out) and you’ve got the perfect setup for fantastic realism at its finest.

I was 20% in and already obsessed, but then came John. What I thought would be a sweet side character turned into one of my absolute favorites, with an arc that completely surprised me. By the time the “it's him!” moment hit, I was all in, heart stolen.

Chloe is messy, vulnerable, and oh-so-relatable. Facing your past, your old dreams, and the version of yourself you thought you’d become? Cousens captures that tug perfectly. It’s not fate she’s writing about here, it’s nostalgia, that feeling of living in the past. It’s AI's role in our society, expanded, discussions on creativity and creating in an AI age. It made me reflect on what we think we want, and forced me to wonder if maybe the answers have been inside me all along.

Top 5 reads of 2025, no question. Couldn’t put it down until the end. Sophie Cousens proves once again why she’s an insta-buy for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — warm, witty, nostalgic, and utterly unputdownable.

I love a British rom-com and Sophie Cousens is one of my favorite writers in this genre. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the Oxford and London settings, the friendships, the romance and even the surprising sci-fi angle. I do wish the main character was a bit more developed, like how did she evolve from who she was in college into who she was at the reunion? Still, I loved this one and flew through it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Cousens is an expert storyteller, and this new title captured my attention from the start. I love the anticipation of a high school reunion in books. The angst and self-doubt of young adulthood, but with the responsibilities of adulthood. This book was enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely adore Sophie Cousens, however, this book fell flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters and felt like there was too much going on with the AI BOT, Sean and then John. There wasn't an MMC that I was rooting for or wanting the characters to get together. Overall, I did not feel invested in this story and felt disappointed. I am sure I overhyped it up on my end, because I am such a fan of Sophie, but this was something I just didn't feel connected to.

This book is pure rom-com perfection! Chloe is such a relatable heroine—stuck, second-guessing herself, and dreading her reunion until one twist changes everything. The setup with the mysterious dating service instantly hooked me, and Rob is the dreamiest plus-one you could ask for. I loved the witty banter, the second-chance tension with Sean, and the heartwarming exploration of how our paths aren’t always what we expect. The mix of romance, humor, and self-discovery made this impossible to put down. Charming, clever, and full of heart—an absolute must-read!

I will intentionally avoid summarizing the plot in order to avoid spoilers for the book. However, I do think it’s important for readers to know that the blurb and summary don’t accurately covey what the book is about. If I had known, I may not have chosen to read it because it is so different from Sophie Cousens’s typical work (which I adore)!

I made it about 60% of the way through this book before deciding to stop reading. It began to feel repetitive and just wasn’t something I wanted to pick up anymore. I found that I didn’t enjoy the two MMCs, and the FMC was very focused on appearing successful and what others thought of her at a college reunion, which just felt so shallow and made her difficult to empathize with. I wasn’t expecting a sci-fi type of read either and that just isn’t something I enjoy. Although I won’t recommend this particular book, I love many of the author’s other books and will gladly recommend those to readers instead (Is She Really Going Out With Him, Before I Do, The Good Part, This Time Next Year are all great reads).

Thank you to Sophie Cousens and Putnam books for the arc and opportunity to read and review.

Sophie Cousens serves up delightfully messy millennial anxiety in And Then There Was You, where thirty-something Chloe faces her college reunion armed with a mysteriously perfect fake boyfriend.

The setup is peak relatable cringe: unsuccessful woman, looming reunion, ex-best friend now living her dream life. Enter Rob, who's so flawless he practically comes with a "too good to be true" warning label.

The college reunion backdrop creates the perfect pressure cooker for all those "where did I go wrong?" feelings we pretend we've outgrown. While the "one big catch" might be visible from space, Cousens keeps you invested in Chloe's journey of figuring out what she actually wants versus what she thinks she should want. There's a cute dog too :)

A charming reminder that sometimes looking backward is exactly what you need to move forward. Perfect for anyone who's ever felt like they peaked in college and has been sliding downhill ever since.

While I this isn't my favorite novel by this author, I thought it was an interesting, compelling read about a woman stalled in her personal and professional life. She was an enigmatic theater student at Oxford and has faltered in recent years.

Also, the dating scene is atrocious. Bleak. Terrible. When an old acquaintance sends a life line for. a lead on a date to her upcoming reunion, she accepts. She just wants to save face around people that once respected her.

Cousens often includes elements of magical realism into her novels. This one is no different. However, I think there are story lines included that are unnecessary and confusing. Overall, this is an enjoyable, fun slow burn romance. It's not realistic, but I think Cousens says some things about heavy topics like emotional abuse in relationships, parasocial connections, and faltered expectations in an absorbing package.

Thank you GP Putnam's Sons for early access to this one. It debuts 11, 18, 2025.

This was my first Sophie Cousen’s book and sadly was not for me. I could not get over the AI storyline at all. There was no love triangle in sight so I’m not sure why that was advertised or why the FMC thought that when her thoughts were very clearly the opposite. I feel like the blurb of this book was very misleading. I enjoyed the ending of the book & will be giving this author another shot as so many people love her other books.

*Thank you to Netgalley & Putnam Books for the ARC e-copy*

I throughly enjoyed the story of Chloe & her love(s). This story is very much “right person, wrong time” and I had never read a story like it before. I loved the new age elements of AI and the pros/ cons of using it. This also was my first Sophie Cousens’s book and I really enjoyed her writing style and story telling.

Thank you again for this early copy!

This was a different spin on one of Sophie Cousens novels. I found it really hard to get into the first half of the book. I thought the AI robot was a strange idea and wasnt really getting into it. However I did laugh at some of the parts during the college reunion like when he danced or fell rot he floor in front of John. I did wish there was a little more with John and Chloe towards the end of the story for them to be together.

Ughhhhhh an AI robot boyfriend was not what I was wanting for this new one from Sophie Cousens. The story lacked any excitement or pacing. The Good Part and Is She Really Going Out With Him are two of my favorites in this contemporary genre, and And Then There Was You was sadly, not it. The story was predictable and often times, straight up dumb.

I typically like this author but this story just fell flat for me. It is advertised as a love triangle? Where was the triangle? The sci-fi element was just plain weird and I did not like it at all. I honestly think if they would have made Rob’s character a male escort, it would have made the book way better. I think maybe if someone has interest in AI and that type of technology, they might enjoy this. It just felt a little too predictable and cheesy. Like there was not much at stake.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I have adored some of Sophie Cousens' past books and was undoubtedly looking forward to this one.

I felt the blurb of the book was a little misleading - no mention of the odd twist with "the perfect man". Chloe feels forlorn about where she is in life when it comes time for her college reunion. Not wanting to show up alone, she seeks out a partner service promising the perfect partner. Well, she gets him in the form of an AI robot.

Not only did I not like the AI robot twist, I didn't like Chloe's character at all. She was self absorbed and very shallow. She wanted to reconnect with her good friend Sean who she had some feelings for, but then decided instead she was interested in her old friend John. There were never any real connections, no romance, and it was just an all around weird book. The whole story completely fell flat for me, unfortunately. I was really disappointed with this one, because as I said, I have adored Sophie's past books. I do hope I can connect more with the next one.

I do thank Sophie Cousens, Net Galley, & G.P. Putnam Sons Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for honest opinion.

I usually love Sophie Cousens’ books, but this one just wasn’t for me. The whole AI boyfriend storyline kind of killed the romance vibe—I just couldn’t get into the idea of a robot dating plot. It felt a little too juvenile and unrealistic for what I wanted out of a love story.

That being said, the book still had Sophie’s signature humor and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Chloe is relatable—stuck in a job she doesn’t love, back living with her parents, and not excited about facing her classmates at her 10-year reunion. The setup had me hooked, and I was especially invested in her history with John. Honestly, I wish we had gotten way more John and less Rob.

If you can roll with the quirky AI twist, you might actually find it charming and fun. For me, though, it just wasn’t the swoony rom-com I was hoping for. Still, Sophie’s writing is witty and engaging, so even though this wasn’t my favorite, I’d definitely pick up whatever she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley for my eARC.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are always my own—100% authentic and unpaid.*

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
3.5/5 Stars - Good
Read September 2025

And Then There Was You is a unique novel about futuristic charm and how messy real-life love can be.

**I will try my best to label spoilers, but there are a lot considering that the entire plot is sort of a spoiler! 😅**

Positive messages: 4/5
People aren’t perfect. They’re messy and they can hurt you, break you, and disappoint you. They come with no guarantees. Real love, connection, passion comes with a fire that can burn everything down to the ground. The most precious things in life are worth the risk. If you love someone—truly love someone—you will do anything for them. Success is not defined by marital status or how much money you make. If you’re a good person and you love your life, you are successful. Admit your mistakes to those you care about. Characters realize that when they are willing to admit that they aren’t perfect, that’s when real conversations and relationships happen.

Characters
Positive role models: 3.5/5
Chloe, the main character, isn’t married, lives with her parents, and has settled for a job that is not her true passion. She feels like she needs to prove her success, which is why she takes Rob, a biobot, to her college reunion as her boyfriend Readers will connect with her in that she’s not perfect and that life doesn’t always end up how you want it to. But sometimes it can take a turn for the better—and lead to a place you could’ve never imagined before.
Akiko, Chloe’s best friend, is a mother and she loves her children very much. However, motherhood is busy and Chloe and her don’t talk as much as they used to. They are close, though, and this is proven when Chloe agrees to go to the reunion to find out all the drama to fill Akiko in. 😂 She’s a good friend and always loving and patient.
Rob, A ‘biobot’ comes to the reunion with Chloe. He’s caring and forgiving, incapable of hurting or becoming angry at Chloe. He’s so handsome, too, with an Irish accent 😋The only problem is THAT HE’S A ROBOT! He’s perfect except for that BIG DETAIL! Anyhow…readers will like him despite this but I didn’t root for him because I don’t think people should date and sleep with robots 😒😒
Sean, Chloe’s close friend from college, is (at the time of the book) very successful and well-known for his films. He’s kind and hard-working and readers will learn from him that success doesn’t create happiness.
John, one of Chloe’s old friends from college. He’s hard-working and cares deeply for his friends. He’s quiet and picks up on things other people wouldn’t because he listens. He was my favorite character by far, and I’m sure readers will love him. 11 years prior to the start of the book (in college) he left Chloe messages and small gifts, always signing off as the ‘Imp.’ She always thought that it was Sean, but when she realizes it was John, she loves him for it. She kept all of the Imp’s notes.
Richard, John’s dog, I felt like I should include in the ‘characters’ list simply because…he’s adorable. And he’s important! He is John’s emotional support dog (although readers find out at the end that he isn’t really an emotional support dog…John just can’t be without him 😂)

Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 2/5
Characters drink throughout the book. A character smells of smoke. Characters get stuck in a wine cellar and drink until drunk.

Language: 2/5
‘S—t,’ ‘hell,’ ‘damn,’ and ‘d—k’ are used very infrequently.

Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 0/5
None present. The robot passes out and a character believes that he has actually fainted and tries to revive him

Sex, Romance, and Nudity: /5
Characters talk about having sex with a bot and how it feels ‘completely natural.’ Other sexual comments/hints at sex are made jokingly. Kissing and flirting between characters. There is one closed-door sexual scene (at the end)

What You Should Know:
I saw this book scrolling through Netgalley ARCs and instantly wanted to read it. I love Sophie Cousens (view my profile to see the other books of hers that I have rated/reviewed) and was so excited to see another one from her. She’s a talented writer—I 100% recommend her books to you (especially The Good Part, my favorite of hers so far)
Well…I must say that this definitely is unlike any other book I’ve ever read 😂Lots of romcoms are similar from the cover to the characters and plot. I liked that this one was different, but the AI person who could do literally anything did go a little far for me. It doesn’t say anything about a biobot in the book description, which I thought was weird because it is the plot of the book.
At the end of the book there’s a Q&A about who your ‘Perfect Partner’ would be, which I thought was cute.
If you are into what I have described above, go and read this book! It’s cute, for sure, and will keep you hooked. I found it unrealistic (but it isn’t supposed to be realistic so…), and I usually prefer realistic fiction. ALSO it lists the book as 'contemporary' in Goodreads when we won't be having the technological advancements until decades from now (if ever!) so I found that weird. It felt like sci-fi, futuristic fiction placed in a contemporary world, if you know what I mean. However, I did enjoy it and I’m sure that some readers will like it even more than I did.

Sophie Cousens books (that I have reviewed/rated)

Before I Do - 4⭐
Just Haven’t Met You Yet - 3.5⭐
The Good Part - 4⭐

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this book or any others that I have rated/reviewed, feel free to reach out to me in the comments section below this review or through my profile!
Happy reading! 💗

Age Range Recommendation: 14+ A Romance/Futuristic Fiction
TRIGGER WARNINGS/ADULT CONTENT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/FUTURISTIC CONTENT, LOSS OF LOVED ONE (SIDE CHARACTER’S FATHER), LANGUAGE (MINOR), SEXUAL CONTENT (MINOR), DRINKING (MINOR)

I AM NOT PERMITTED TO ADD QUOTES UNTIL ARCHIVE DATE
There are some sweet quotes, so I will try to remember to add them after the book has been published. If it’s past November, just remind me in the comments and I will add them ♥️

And Then There Was You follows Chloe Fairway, a young woman whose life hasn’t quite turned out the way she expected. When she runs into an old acquaintance after a particularly bad date, Chloe decides to take up the acquaintance’s suggestion to contact Perfect Partners, a dating service that will apparently change Chloe’s life. Enter Rob: a partner that Chloe finds too good to be true because he is, in fact, not real. Despite her reservations about dating an AI boyfriend, decides to take Rob to her Oxford reunion as a way to make her seem more successful to her college friends. During the reunion, Chloe reconnects with John, an old friend who stirs up new feelings and makes Chloe question if perfection is really all it’s cracked up to be.
There is so much to like about this novel: the fresh story, the quirky characters, and the commentary on the importance of real emotion, despite the uncertainty and messiness that often comes with it. As the world becomes increasingly tied to technology, this novel reminds us that real connection may be imperfect but that it is also more beautiful and rewarding and complex than any factory-created relationship could ever be.

Sophie Cousens has not had a miss for me yet! I didn’t expect this book to feel so timely and yet futuristic at the same time. I’m already a fan of a love triangle, add in believable and relatable characters and one part of the triangle being an AI robot and I was sold. Can’t wait to recommend this to others once it’s out! Prepare for a story that is a little insane, incredibly unique, and difficult to put down.

I always love books by Sophie Cousens and this one didn’t disappoint! Creative, unique, creative realism, all during a college reunion. I loved the characters and it was incredibly heartfelt - highly recommend!

I adore Sophie's books but this one with the AI plot killed the whole story for me. I felt like the AI robot dating made the plot feel too juvenille and unrealistic for a love story. If you can look past that, then you will find the story possibly charming!