I picked this book up expecting a heartwarming romance, but was surprised (in a good way!) to find a sci-fi twist woven into the story. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but the more I read, the more invested I became in the characters and the unique premise. Sophie Cousens blends humor, emotion, and just the right amount of wonder into a story that feels both unexpected and heartfelt. How would you feel if you could build "the perfect partner", would you really want what you asked for in the long run? If you enjoy romance with a little something different, this one is worth picking up.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. The characters and plot didn’t keep me invested at all and the AI was a strange twist. I’ll definitely still read SC’s books, but this one was a major miss

What a delightfully weird story (in such a good way)! My first Sophie Cousens book was Is She Really Going Out With Him? which I LOVED, so when the ARC for And Then There Was You hit my kindle, I knew I wanted to dig into it ASAP. Overall, there were some aspects I loved and some that I liked, which in summation made for a 3-star review. My favorite aspect of this book was the premise - And Then There was You asks the question of what happens when you get the absolute perfect boyfriend? The absurd premise and shenanigans that followed were so humorous and fun - exactly what I look for in a Sophie Cousens book. The aspects I was less excited about were more tied to the romance elements of the story - overall, I found the love story to be perfectly serviceable, but nothing that particularly swept me off my feet. I honestly found the mmc to be less likable in general, which made the romance fall a bit flat for me. But, all this to say, And Then There Was You was another lovely novel from Sophie Cousens that I would certainly recommend.

I liked that this was a non conventional romance with a few curveballs and a philosophical debate on AI and robots. There was a lot of questions I had on how Perfect Partners worked but figured best to suspend my disbelief.

Chloe was one of those girls who was voted most likely to become famous and then had to watch as her ex-bFF made it big in Hollywood as a director as she worked as an admin and lived at home with her parents. Despite her talent, Chloe never had her big break as an actress and has been struggling with a severe case of writers' block ever since graduation. With nothing to show for her last decade, she almost tosses her university reunion invite in the trash. But when a chance encounter with an old acquaintance introduces her to an exclusive, mysterious new dating service, she thinks a handsome fake date make solve some of her problems. But this seemingly perfect partner comes with a few quirks...

Well, it's challenging to write a review of this one without spoiling it. I went in blind and I think I'm glad I did, but I also might not have picked it up altogether had I known the twist. It's a little bit... out there... for my tastes and traditional contemporary romance readers might not enjoy this one as much as Cousens' prior books. But she is a master with words, and this one was just as fun and romantic as her previous works. Just be prepared to expect the unexpected...

Thanks to Putnam for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

And Then There Was You is a heartfelt second-chance romance that balances nostalgia, personal growth, and just the right amount of drama. Chloe’s struggles with career setbacks and insecurities about her reunion are relatable, and her complicated history with Sean adds an emotional undercurrent that keeps the story engaging. The addition of Rob, her too-perfect match, adds an intriguing twist that makes you question along with Chloe what she really wants.

The pacing is strong and the characters are likable, though at times some developments feel a bit predictable. Still, the writing is warm and witty, and the emotional payoff makes this a very satisfying read. Perfect for fans of reunion romances with both sweetness and depth.

Wow wow wow! Contemporary women’s fiction mixed with magical realism, romance and a midlife crisis? Love! I love her takes on rom-coms and couldn’t put it down! Stoked I got to read this early ARC

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★.5
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I love a good Sophie Cousens book and this one proved to be even better than the last one I read. This was a fun adventure of a read. Fast paced friends to lovers that is set place in such a stunning place…Oxford England…could it get even more fitting for this book. I’m going to give you one sentence that will make you want to dig right in. Our FMC tries using a professional dating service to find a date to a school reunion and everything gets wild and crazy thereafter… The characters were all superb, storyline capturing and the ending was everything I could hope for. If you’re looking for a fast paced cozy little romcom that will warm your heart then you need to put this on your TBR.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Friends x Lovers, Fast Paced, England Backdrop, Cozy, Rom-Com, Second Chance, College Reunion, The One That Got Away

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

This book felt very relevant with the topic of AI being in so many spaces. I enjoyed Chloe as the main character and how she was in such a crossroads at her life but figured it out by the end. This was my first Sophie Cousens book, but I look forward to reading more!

I have to start by saying I love Sophie Cousens as a romance author. I’ve read several of her books, and while they aren’t meant to be literary masterpieces, they’re reliably light, fun, and charming. And Then There Was You is no exception. What makes this one stand out, though, is the subtle whisper of science fiction woven in.

The story unfolds in two timelines: Chloe’s Oxford university days and the present, where she is heading back for a reunion. In the current timeline, Chloe feels insecure and embarrassed about how her life has turned out. Once expected to be a rising star in theater and film, she now works as a PA at a small film company. In an effort to put her best foot forward at the reunion, she signs up for a matchmaking service and brings along Rob, the algorithm-approved “perfect” partner, as her date.

At the reunion, Chloe finds herself face-to-face with two men from her past, Sean and John. As her past and present collide, she is forced to grapple with her insecurities, question who she really is, and decide what she wants for her future, both romantically and otherwise.

This was such a fun, easy read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted romance with a unique twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read other books by this author and loved them! This was definitely different and 30% through it didn’t know which was it was going to go.

I loved Akiko, I think their friendship was important to the growth of the FMC, realizing that even her best friend needed her in a way she didn’t even know.

Rob was the perfect partner , he was exactly what she needed when she needed it. Was I thrown off by the AI stuff? Yes sometimes, but then even I would forget what he

John, no words 10/10 I think they needed the space and time to learn what they actually needed from a partner. And it was great to see the flashbacks to their college days.

This book had me in a choke hold. I couldn't stop reading it once I started. The whole robot AI thing totally freaks me out. At first I thought there was no way I would ever be okay with a robot boyfriend.... but I feel like it was exactly what Chloe needed at this point in her life. It made her "wake up"! I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with our own Rob situations in the future the way things are going with AI at this point. This book was perfect and I finished this one in two days and couldn't stop thinking about it whenever I wasn't reading it. I have read all of Sophie Cousens' books and I think this one is right up there with my top 2! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, fun read, especially if you are already a fan of Sophie's other books!

I normally really enjoy Sophie Cousens’ books, but And Then There Was You just didn’t land for me. The whole idea of dating an AI robot in a romcom was just too strange of a plot line for me to get behind. On top of that, I didn’t feel like the sparks or chemistry with the love interest were built up enough—it all lacked connection for me. I also didn’t see much growth in the main character, which made the story feel flat overall. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t it for me.

Chloe Fairway is a 30-something who isn’t where she wants to be in life. She doesn’t have the job, the apartment, or the man. She’s going to her 10-year college reunion and wants to save face, so enter her fake date Rob. Rob is not what he seems & Chloe ends up re-connecting with many people from her past.

The premise of this book was interesting. I was not expecting the sci-fi twist to this book. And had to stop reading when that occurred to determine if I did in fact want to continue with the rest of the book. I understand why that’s not listed in the summary of the book, however it was quite the twist for what I was expecting to be a pretty typical romance book.

I enjoyed Chloe’s story enough to continue reading. I appreciated reading Chloe’s story of self discovery. In the end this was just an okay book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for my eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC! And Then There Was You was a sweet and heartfelt story that drew me in with its warmth and charm. Sophie Cousens has a way of writing characters who feel so real, with all their quirks and vulnerabilities. It’s a feel-good read that left me smiling long after I finished.

I absolutely loved Sophie Cousens’ book ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?,’ so I knew I needed to read her newest release!

‘And Then There Was You’ tells the story of Chloe, who is a 32-year-old TV production assistant and still lives in her parents’ basement. By now, she figured she would be a famous TV writer. At Oxford, she was an aspiring actress and voted most likely to succeed by her classmates, but now she feels stuck. Even dating has felt daunting.

After multiple first date fails, Chloe takes the advice of a friend and signs up for a program called Perfect Partners, which has a staggering 98 percent success rate — so what’s the catch? Well, this “dating service” is not at all what it seems…

Even so, Chloe wants to look successful in at least one aspect of her life at her Oxford class reunion, so she signs herself up for a perfect partner for the week and surprisingly finds herself falling for the man she was least expecting.

Author Sophie Cousens has become an auto-buy author for me, and this story was such a unique concept. There were so many one-liners in this that had me laughing out loud! I really enjoyed the shenanigans that Chloe and her quirky companion got into throughout the course of the book.

I also loved how relatable the main character was. She’s in her thirties and feels like she should have her life figured out by now. Even though I’m the exact same age as her, I still don’t feel like an adult most of the time either. We’re all just trying to figure the world out as we go, and in a constantly evolving society dependent on technology, it can blur the lines even more when we are able to easily compare ourselves to others on social media.

‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’ is still my favorite book of Sophie Cousens, but if you’re looking for a fun friends-to-lovers romance full of grand gestures, silly one liners, and an underlying theme of how dependent we’ve become on technology, I would recommend picking this one up! It was cute!

This was so odd 🤣 I was not expecting to be reading a book about a robot. To be fair, I didn’t read what the book was about. I like to go into a book blind so I usually don’t. If I read what it was about, I probably would have skipped it. I really liked Sophie’s other books but this just wasn’t it for me. Some people might really enjoy it.

I think we live in a world right now where this could happen and that just makes this book feel yucky. If it was something I never had to worry about it might have been more enjoyable.

I’m also very confused what Rob’s chapter was?? Was they real or was it an error? Very weird

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Charming Premise, Mixed Execution

And Then There Was You has a heartwarming concept and all the ingredients for a memorable rom-com—quirky meet-cutes, emotional depth, and a touch of fate. Sophie Cousens definitely knows how to craft a whimsical setting and build characters with potential.

That said, while the story had its sweet and funny moments, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some plot twists stretched believability a bit too far. The emotional stakes didn’t always hit as hard as they could have, and a few character decisions left me scratching my head.

Still, if you’re a fan of light romance with a bit of magic and don’t mind suspending disbelief, this one might hit the spot. A pleasant read, but not one that fully delivered on its promise for me.

There is always such a nostalgic and longing feeling each time I read one of Sophie Cousens' books and this one is no different! It was a unique take on being "Perfect Partners". There were parts where my heart hurt, I laughed out loud, and I cheered along with the characters. The characters are likable and raw. Highly recommend this one!

I have such mixed feelings about this book!

The plot twist really threw me for a loop and made the story way too far fetched for my liking. It had me wishing for more time devoted to Chloe and her eventual love interest instead of Rob.

I did enjoy the journey of self discovery that Chloe had throughout the book—confronting her own expectations of where she should be at this point in her life, realizing who was always there for her and figuring out what she really wants in love and in life.

I wish the plot twist wrapped up sooner so that we could spend more time on the relationship between Chloe and her eventual love interest.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced reader copy!