When I started this book, I couldn’t remember how the blurb described the plot. So, I was a bit surprised by the android boyfriend! As I was reading I was thinking that if I described the plot to someone they would be skeptical that it is as good as I say it is. That being said, I really loved this book. The backstory of the college experience and how that shaped their current selves and expectations and disappointments was very well developed. I loved the flawed nature of Chloe and John. It really hit home the central message of the flaws being part of the beauty of loving someone. Wonderful read! I devoured it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the arc of this book!
I love Sophie Cousens. She’s a hall pass author for me for sure. First of all, the description of the book in Goodreads is completely wrong- so weird.

The actual premise of this books was very different than her other books….she’s managed to touch on some timely discussions about AI as well as write a silly, funny rom com. That’s not easy. The characters didn’t have as much chemistry as her previous books, and that was my only real issue.

Romantic, funny, and tender, this is a love story with a clever twist of fate. Cousens charms with sparkling dialogue and heart-melting moments.

Sophie Cousens!!!! You definitely shocked me! I have read all of her other books and have been a fan. So when NetGalley had her new book, And Then There Was You, I was excited and all in. I didnt event need to read the synopsis...or did I? But there was a huge plot twist that I did not see coming. Timely, yes, but still shocked. Our main character Chloe is living at home, and looking for love. When she runs into a friend who uses a new secret dating website, she gives it a try and meets Rob. Men don't get more perfect than Rob. She brings him to her college reunion in hopes to have support to rekindle a college love, but what she finds is so much more. Rob and Chloe are fun and funny together and there is lots of rom com feels. But, the twist was just a bit over the top for me. Definitely worth reading.

Some artists strike a chord with you. So pardon me while a gush a bit on Sophie Cousens and And Then There Was You.

I know these are romance books in genre, but I have come to think of Cousens as writing Romance+. There’s always an extra layer of something—life, reflection, magic—that take her stories to that next level. Then There Was had several chances to settle into standard romance fare, but Cousens, as she does, always does something extra with it to make it so much better. So much thinkier. She’s event entertainment.

The only thing I could say even remotely negative about this one would be that I didn’t always buy the motivations or the way the action unfolded as completely on target. She has, as much as I enjoyed this, written even better stories (which is baffling to contemplate). But the emotional context was there, and it was captivating from very early on.

Then There Was yet again showed Cousens taking the framework of a very familiar story you think you may have read or seen before and doing something with it that surprises you and delights you.

Here’s what it is. She writes exactly the kinds of books I want to read. And she does it without me even being able to define what that is most of the time.

To use an analogy from this very book, if I ever met the author in person (and let’s hope I don’t because I’d most likely embarrass myself by stumbling with effusive praise), I would tell Cousens that she is the Rob of my endorphin-seeking mind. It’s like she knows exactly which levers to pull to keep this reader happy.

Recommended for all romance readers, and seekers of high-concept, high-quality storytelling. She is one of the few authors I can not recommend highly enough.

Thank you to Putnam Books for providing an uncorrected ARC via NetGalley.

Enjoyed the love triangle between Chloe, “Rob” and John; using the AI angle to highlight just how much our expectations for what makes a perfect mate are not all that they seem to be… Will never tire of the MMC pining for years and all the reveals that show how he loved her over the years. Loved the Oxford setting and all the truths revealed at a college reunion. 5 Stars

I’ll read anything Sophie Cousens writes at this point! Her books always hit that perfect balance of heart, humor, and emotional depth, and And Then There Was You is no exception. I absolutely adored it! This story follows Chloe, who’s feeling stuck in life and dreading her college reunion after a messy breakup and a stalled career. So when she hires a mysterious dating service to provide the perfect plus one. Enter Rob, a smart, funny, and thoughtful…basically a rom com dream guy. But of course, there’s a catch, and when it’s revealed, it adds this wild and fun twist to the story. What I love about this author is that even when her stories lean into the whimsical, she keeps the characters grounded and real. Chloe’s journey felt honest and messy, and her emotional growth throughout the book made it so satisfying. If you’ve loved Sophie Cousens’ other books, you’re going to eat this one up. And if you’re new to her, this is a great place to start!

DELIGHTFUL! A strange, surprising and joyful romance that literally had me laughing out loud. I will be recommending AND THEN THERR WAS YOU to everyone. What a triumph for Sophie Cousens!