Is She Really Going Out with Him?

The novel is set in Bath, a location rich in historical, literary, and cultural significance. Located in Somerset in southwest England, Bath’s history and natural hot springs have drawn settlers, royals, and tourists for nearly 2,000 years. Bath’s historical context not only serves as a picturesque backdrop for the story, but the city’s connection to literature, social hierarchy, and reinvention also mirrors the protagonist Anna’s journey as she navigates love, career, and motherhood. Anna’s date with Noah takes them to the city’s famous Roman Baths, which were once a site of healing, and metaphorically, both Anna and Noah experience healing after their visit as they mend their neighborly dispute and forge a friendship that helps both feel less alone.

In the 18th century, Bath became a fashionable retreat for Britain’s aristocracy, its revival driven by rediscovering its hot springs’ supposed health benefits. Wealthy visitors flocked to Bath for “the season,” a time of socializing, gambling, and attending balls in venues like the Assembly Rooms and The Pump Room, where visitors would drink the mineral-rich spa water. Jane Austen, who lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806, immortalized this era in her novels Northanger Abbey (1817) and Persuasion (1817), capturing the city’s grandeur and rigid social conventions. Austen depicted Bath as a place of societal expectation for women as they sought a “match.” Anna’s journey echoes these themes as a woman trying to reshape her life in a society that values women only for their beauty, wealth, and social standing. Moreover, Anna is a writer trying to find her voice in a town that sometimes feels stifling and overwhelming in its expectations, something Austen felt during her time in Bath. Anna’s friendship with Michael brings her to the Jane Austen Centre for their date, reinforcing Bath’s literary legacy as the birthplace of romance writing. The novel plays with these literary associations by placing Anna in a modern world where dating apps replace Austen’s marriage markets. Still, the core question of how to find love and compatibility remains timeless. Anna’s hesitation to trust romance aligns with Austen’s heroines, who often resist conventional romantic ideals until they find a partner who truly values them.

By the 19th century, Bath’s popularity declined as seaside resorts like Brighton became more fashionable. However, the city continued to develop, benefiting from the industrial revolution by introducing railways and new infrastructure. While Bath did not become heavily industrialized like nearby Bristol, it adapted to modernity while preserving its historical charm. The city shifted from leisure to education and civic improvements during this period. The establishment of institutions like the Royal Victoria Park (which Anna visits) and improvements to public health and sanitation reflected Bath’s efforts to maintain its reputation as a desirable place to live. From the epigraph, a quote from Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811), to the vivid setting, Cousens weaves Bath’s historical and literary connection throughout the novel, as Anna’s dating project helps her engage with the city’s culture and how it blends its past with modern lifestyle (Eschner, Kat. “Five Things to Know About Bath, Jane Austen’s Home and Inspiration.” Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jul 2017).