I'll admit, this one took me a second to get into, but once I hit my stride, I flew through the story. Chloe's listlessness in her thirties resonates deeply within me, and I felt kinship with her desire to pretend things were better at home than they were in reality. I may not find Paul Mescal attractive, but the thought of having someone who looks like him be attentive to my needs and in love with me does sound appealing, however fake it may be.

Second-chance romance will always be one of my favorite tropes, and And Then There Was You delivers. At times, I was confused by John's behavior, but I found myself endeared to him in the end.

If you're looking for a wholesome, if slightly misguided, love story that is rooted in finding yourself again, And Then There Was You is a perfect read for you.

✨2.5 Stars Rounded to 3✨

This book was a fast, and easy read. But there were just some points that didn't make sense or didn't add up for me. Chloe was pretty self centered,
not recognizing that other people around her might need a bit of attention (like her BEST friend who just gave birth???). She ends up bringing boibot on her college reunion (Oxford ooh la la), as she tries to mend bridges with her friends she fell out with her third year.

I think I was mostly confused with her self helplessness, and her fear of being outed as a fraud? I don't know. I will say the romance interest was a twist for sure, it took a second for that to creep up on me. I also will say I did legitimately laugh out loud at boibots POV.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for providing me with this e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

At first I really wasn’t sure where the robot angle was headed but I’m so glad I stuck with this book because the payoff was so good! The tension and dry banter between the two MC’s was so good. Would absolutely recommend to any rom com lover!

This one was a bit rough for me to finish.
There were parts where I laughed and then there were parts where I was like … “ok where’s this going and why?” It was hard for me to be immersed in the story. The tech part is what it was. The characters were good. Overall I am giving this book 2.5.

This is my 2nd Sophie Cousens book. My first was The Good Part which I absolutely loved. I was expecting a lot more from this book. I went into it blindly not knowing what it was about and when I got to the big reveal in the book I quite literally pleaded (albeit with myself) that the already written book not go where I thought it was going. This being said, there were many moments where I laughed. Overall I give it a solid 3 stars.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for providing me with this e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Sophie Cousens strikes again! This book was so unique yet felt actually almost weirdly believable. Chloe doesn’t want to show to her university reunion solo feeling like her life isn’t going how she and everyone else thought it would. And she recently discovered a unique “dating service” that is giving her a perfect AI-brain cyborg boyfriend trial. So why not bring him to the reunion? Is it a love triangle? Sort of.. I’m not sure if I would consider it one. Is it perfect? Yes. John is perfect, no notes! I loved everything about this book.

This felt like a hallmark movie and Black Mirror episode had a baby. Sophie did a great job keeping her signature lighthearted tone and humor while bringing a tinge of sci-fi/tech. It’s a perfect beach read or palette cleanser.

Richard will always be my favorite character, always trust the dog!

This book was an absolute delight. It’s the kind of rom-com that makes you laugh out loud one minute and melt into a puddle of feelings the next. The chemistry between the leads was undeniable—equal parts banter, tension, and genuine tenderness—and I couldn’t stop rooting for them.

The author nails the balance between funny and heartfelt. The side characters are hilarious without being distracting, the setting is vibrant, and the dialogue is so quick and clever it feels like eavesdropping on real people. Every page had me either giggling or swooning (sometimes both).

By the end, I was grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. This is exactly what I want when I pick up a rom-com: charm, heart, and a love story that leaves me happy-sighing long after I close the book.

Rom-com lovers, add this one to your list immediately—it’s irresistible.

This book intrigued me from the beginning! It really did capture me because the storyline was unique, different than any other romance books. It just wasn’t my favorite Sophie Cousens book but it’s was a good read!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

I was really looking forward to this book because I’ve enjoyed a few other books by Sophie Cousens’ previously, but And Then There Was You didn’t quite land for me. The premise had potential and there were a few sweet or thoughtful moments sprinkled throughout, but overall, the pacing felt slow and I found myself waiting for something a bit more impactful to happen.

The characters were fine, but I never really connected with them in the way I hoped to, and the story just didn’t hold my attention in the way that I had expected. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, it was just not super memorable for me personally. I think that if you are typically a fan of Sophie Cousens, then you should pick this up because chances are you might still enjoy the familiar tone and style.

I love Sophie Cousens books and was excited to receive this ARC. This was different from a lot of her other books, but also had some of the familiar banter and lovable character.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam publishing!

And then there was you focuses on Chloe,  a thirty something personal assistant who is living with her parents and is very frustrated with her lack of professional and personal success. Because of this when she decides to go to her 10 year college reunion she decides to call the exclusive new dating company an acquaintance recommended to get a date for the reunion. After filling out pages of questions she is matched with her perfect man, but there is something a little too perfect about him.


I have loved Sophie Cousens’ previous novels but this one was not a hit for me. Some of the plot lines were interesting, such as how people act at reunions and how they opened up when one of them finally comes clean. There is also a reconnecting storyline I enjoyed. But Chloe….

I just couldn't not empathize with the decisions she was making at all. I kept waiting for her to grow up before the last 5% of the story . 


Spoiler:

The worst part, however, happened at the end for me. It is probably a minor plot point for most, certainly the author  but as a raiser of guide dog puppies with the need to socialize them until they go to professional training at the age of 18 months, I can't tell you how many fake service dogs cause issues and even injury to legitimate guide dogs and their handlers. To have a story line that encourages this behavior is so disappointing especially since in my opinion it wasn't necessary as a major plot point.


Thank you to net galley and Putnam for an e copy of this novel.

Chloe is down on her luck and starting over after a failed relationship. Votes most likely to be famous with large ambitions, finding herself in a PR job and living with her parents is not where she expected to be at 31.
A class reunion forces her to confront some issues and people she has been avoiding. She works with a dating company for a plus one to the reunion and that’s where the big twist comes in.
I have read all of Sophie Cousins books and am fine with a little magic realism but this one definitely felt more sci-fi and I just couldn’t get into it. Honestly, I was just stressed everytime Chloe was with Rob, thinking his identity would be revealed.
I’m going with 3 stars because it was well written it just wasn’t for me.

It pains me to say but 2.5 stars rounded up. I’ve been chasing the high of “Is She Really Going Out With Him” and, unfortunately, this one just missed the mark for me.

I was really excited about the premise, and even though I went in slightly spoiled about the plot twist, I thought it would still hold my interest. The idea of an AI boyfriend is intriguing, but the execution often felt uncanny (which I expected to some degree). Where it really lost me was when the story shifted into a love triangle. It felt like the plot lost focus there, and had I know, I could’ve told you wouldn’t be my personal reading taste.

I do think the themes of personal growth and the idea that relationships don’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile were handled well. But I wish more of the page time had been spent developing the central relationship instead of lingering in the awkward will-they-won’t-they triangle. I did enjoy the parts where she was reconciling with John but felt more friendship vs romantic chemistry? I also have some mixed feelings because is it cheating if your boyfriend isn’t human? Genuinely I don’t know. All in all, by the time John and Chloe did get together, it just felt a little meh.

Definitely will pick up her next book but this one didn’t hit as I had hoped.

So I must admit I am a bit conflicted about this book because the premise is absolutely hard to wrap my mind around, which revolves around the idea of an android bot boyfriend that the main character uses for a free trial, but the story and the ending are so good. The book raises so many important questions that we must grapple with in perhaps the not-so-distant future as AI continues to progress quickly. Overall, the story will definitely stick with me, but it gave me the ick in a lot of places.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

I love Sophie Cousens. Her books hook me from the very first page. They are uplifting and their characters always show growth through hardship.

I like that the first half of the book kept me wondering who is Chloe going to end up with. Is it Rob? Sean? Or John who wasn’t even part of the equation. However, as the story progressed, I found it weird how Chloe developed a sudden attraction for John. Their conversations were not cute or endearing. He felt too abrasive, always challenging her in an accusatory fashion and calling her out. For instance, I disliked how he asked her if they were really friends when she introduced him to Rob at the bus station, or how he kept asking about Rob’s accent and story. Also, the dream about John after he was mean towards her made no sense.

I liked Chloe. Even though her life didn’t turn up the way she wanted, she didn’t have a victim mentality. She’s kind, sweet, and a dreamer. However, I did find it strange that coming out of a horrible relationship, she fancies John when he’s not that nice to her. It didn’t make much sense to me that she would dislike Rob for being too sweet or perfect, but like John when he keeps calling her out because humans are imperfect. If anything, it would make sense that after Rob showed her a partner can be loving and compassionate, she would look for those characteristics in a human.

I found it really hard to like John. His attitude towards Chloe was not nice. It makes sense that she would have a soft spot for him after learning the things he did for her in college, like being the secret imp. But he acts too weird with her before she learns that. How could it be that I like Rob the robot better than him? I only liked John in the epilogue of the book. Finally I saw a sweet side of him.

I loved reading about Rob and how he helped Chloe heal and improve herself. I specially liked when he tells her how she negatively sees herself and helps her fix that. I also loved that he helped her stand up against her boss and get back to writing. As someone who has suffered from writer’s block this advice he gave Sophie meant everything: “Writing, even badly, is what makes you better at writing.” Rob became like a support robot to Sophie, and I just wanted him to be part of her life forever, not as a lover but as a “friend.” Kind of like in the Bicentennial Man movie. I was sad when they parted ways, it felt like breaking up with the perfect boyfriend because you are not in love with him. This quote felt so touching: “I don’t think I was supposed to be your perfect person,” he said, his voice steady. “I think I was meant to show you what it feels like, when it is right. To give you the confidence to trust your instincts again.” At least Sophie told us about Rob’s “happy ending.”

This topic was very hard to craft, but I commend Sophie for it. The relationship between a human and a robot felt real. I loved how Chloe kept comparing him to humans and wondering if she could have a happy ending with this perfect partner. Could she give up on her vision of a real relationship for a fake perfection?

Lastly, I loved Sophie’s authors note. I always read author’s notes and acknowledgments in every book I read, but Sophie’s are always my favorite. I specially liked this advice “So as we emerge into this brave new world, let’s all remember to touch grass occasionally, to try to and forge connections with those whose worldview might be different from ours, and most importantly, to get off our phones and keep reading.”

Thank you NetGalley and G.P Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to review this book.

I honestly am not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, I was very sidelined with the Sci-Fi twist, but on the other hand, I am not sure I would've read it if I had known? I feel like it was intentionally left out. We were finding out everything right next to Chloe which I believe was intentional and worked out well in this case.

I am glad I kept reading though. The progress Chloe made with her choices and reflections was worth it. I also loved where the title of the book came from and Richard.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Summary / Initial Thoughts:
This book was super quick to get hooked on. I really enjoyed that the big plot twist happened so early in the book so that you could see how it was going to play out. I think the title fits the book super well and caught my interest (& is really cute!)

Writing & Pacing:
 I enjoyed the writing for the most part. I thought it was paced super nicely for the timeline that took place.

Characters: Chloe was an interesting character. I think that she should have worried more than she did haha but I thought her insecurities were really on par with where she was in life and it was explained well from her past. I also like John’s character - I feel like his responses to Chloe made more sense and felt more natural than Sean’s which felt kinda random at times.

Enjoyment / Overall Impression:
 Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was cute story and definitely hooked my interest to see where the story went.


Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of And Then There Was You in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, thank you NetGalley, Putnam, and the author for this ARC!

Now, what did I just read. As someone who LOVES a good love triangle, the whole sci-fi angle and AI robot just didn’t do it for me.

The love triangle from early college days between Sean and John was so subtle and I thought Sean was her guy! And I loved that I was wrong!
I wish we had MORE flashback scenes to show us more of their relationship in college other than like 2 or 3 chapters. I wanted MORE development between John and Chloe. I felt like they had one day together and bam she loved him? When she spent half the time trying to patch things up with Sean?
Don’t get me started on the whole robot thing. I didn’t like that. I thought that was a bit too much. like brining a fake date ? Cool! A robot? Sure. But a robot who said I love you? Like WHAT? I’m sorry I wasn’t for it. He also felt a bit manipulative. I think he was designed that was so that she keeps paying the agency the money to keep him and idk it was all icky.

Over all, I give her like 2/2.5 stars which is sad because l loved her previous work.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am DNFing this @ 28% sadly. I absolutely loved Cousens’ book “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” so I was really excited to read this one early. Unfortunately, I think the description/blurb is a bit misleading. The sci-fi element to this book is not mentioned and I just could not connect with the “exclusive dating service” actually being AI-powered matchmaking. With the current cultural climate of AI threatening the arts, this just rubbed me the wrong way and completely caught me off guard. This one is not for me.