Season 5 E 12 • 08/28/2018

With the fate of Empirical on the line, Liza considers leaving the company as her relationship with Charles forces him to make a crucial decision.

Watching

40-year-old Liza (Sutton Foster) passes herself off as 26 to land a job in the field of her dreams. Now she just has to make sure no one discovers her secret. Also stars Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Nico Tortorella and Miriam Shor.

As she settles into her new 26 year-old life, Liza is tasked with marketing an older writer to a younger audience. Although she has a perfect date with Josh, she tries to convince herself to aim for someone more age-appropriate.

Liza struggles with the anxiety of sex with Josh and gets a little help from Maggie. At work, Kelsey pulls out all the stops to land a hot new author, while Diana dips her toe into the online dating pool.

Liza tries to keep Josh at arm's length, but a surprise run-in leaves her reevaluating her feelings for him. Kelsey asks Liza to keep her in check as she celebrates her new author acquisition with innumerable shots of tequila.

After lending Kelsey a hand in the bathroom, Liza joins Kelsey's inner circle and neglects Maggie at the worst possible time. Diana's excited by the arrival of Empirical's handsome and potentially soon-to-be-divorced publisher.

Liza gets to prove herself when Diana tasks her with running a book launch party for a notoriously demanding author. Maggie runs into an old crush, who's finally single, while Kelsey starts to fall for her new author, who's not.

When her ex comes up short on a tuition payment, Liza has to swallow her pride to earn some quick cash without arousing suspicion from Josh. Kelsey continues to blur the line between editor and mistress with her prize author.

As the grind of 20-something life continues to wear Liza down, she glimpses a more age-appropriate world when her publisher needs her to babysit. Kelsey's affair with her author finally comes to a head at an award ceremony.

Liza returns to her New Jersey book club hoping to incite interest in an unpublished author she discovered at work. Meanwhile, Josh freezes Liza out when she insults his intelligence.

The Boy With the Dragon Tattoo

After a bedbug scare forces Liza into some uncomfortable and illuminating sleeping arrangements, she struggles to close the deal on her first literary find.

Liza learns of a potential new career option while Lauren throws the outlandish bat mitzvah she never got to have. Kelsey deals with the fall-out from her affair.

The Old Ma'am and the C

Liza's lies come to a disastrous head on multiple fronts, threatening to ruin her professionally and romantically.

Liza tries to sort out her relationship with Josh as her daughter Caitlin returns from school.

Liza questions Josh’s interest in her while another publisher courts Kelsey.

Liza and Kelsey prepare the launch of their new imprint amidst a wave of online criticism.

Liza and Kelsey pursue their first author, a temperamental fashion blogger whose interest in them isn’t purely professional.

When Josh wants to learn more about Liza's life, she takes him to dinner in Jersey and gets a hard dose of reality.

When their first author proves to be more trouble than she’s worth, Liza and Kelsey worry their imprint might be over before it ever gets started

Into the Woods & Out of the Woods

Liza accompanies Josh to a musical festival and helps Charles with a work assignment.

Josh’s inclusion in a NY Times profile puts strain on his relationship with Liza.

Liza pursues an author whose minimalist, off-the-grid manifesto appeals to her.

Liza leans in at work, joining an assistants’ networking group where she learns more than she’d like to about Thad.

Empirical rolls out the red carpet for its biggest author as Liza tries to coerce Thad into telling Kelsey the truth.

No Weddings & a Funeral

When tragedy strikes, Liza wonders if it's time to say goodbye to her 26-year-old life forever.

A Kiss Is Just a Kiss

Liza sends Caitlin off to college and struggles to weigh her feelings for both Josh and Charles.

The Marshmallow Experiment

Liza’s identity is under threat by Thad’s laptop and Kelsey being exposed to the truth. A Silicon Valley billionaire invests in Empirical.

Liza rallies the Empirical team to save her hometown bookstore from closure. Kelsey dips her toe back into the dating world.

Liza has to bridge millennial divides in the workplace and in her personal life when Empirical’s new investor tasks her with signing YouTube stars.

Kelsey dates a seemingly perfect guy, but Liza and Lauren think it’s too soon. At a party of doctors, Josh puts his relationship with Liza under the microscope.

Liza and Kelsey pursue an erotica author writing under a pseudonym, and are shocked to discover their identity.

Liza and Kelsey try to preserve their author’s anonymity, but a women’s erotica event threatens to expose the truth.

Liza finally makes her divorce official and Diana meets a hot stranger outside of work. The two worlds collide as Liza ends up in the hospital.

After Liza and Kelsey strike a deal for Colin’s novel, an unexpected publicity hype leads to a bidding war. Emboldened by her therapist, Diana introduces herself to Richard, the therapist who works next door.

Pigeons, Parrots, and Storks

Liza and Josh’s future together is thrown into question after having opposing reactions to a near miss.

A Book Fair to Remember

While facing an impasse with Josh, Liza draws closer to Charles at the Hamptons Book Fair. Kelsey feels erased from Colin’s narrative.

Liza returns from the Hamptons and has to deal with the aftermath. A famous life coach, whose book Empirical is pursuing, forces Liza to face some hard truths.

Liza deals with the aftermath of coming clean with Kelsey, and Charles tests their synchronicity. Kelsey and Josh become unlikely allies.

Gettin’ Hygge With It

Liza faces further fallout with Kelsey, who is infuriated by Liza’s lack of millennial know-how.

Liza and Kelsey reach breaking point at a work retreat. Liza receives news that changes everything.

Liza and Kelsey dive back into the dating pool and quickly discover it's much more complicated than they'd hoped.

The Gift of The Maggie

Liza hunts for a new romance author, bringing her closer to Charles. Maggie slashes an art competitor.

The success of Liza and Kelsey’s latest title spurns a Twitter feud, ending in disaster. Maggie meets a woman with a little something extra.

Liza discovers an exciting new author, whose pitch takes an unexpected turn. Kelsey avoids the wrath of Charles, and escapes upstate with Josh and Lauren.

The Gelato and the Pube

Liza receives a great opportunity at work, but there’s a catch. Josh meets someone new. Maggie ruffles some feathers.

The Incident at Pound Ridge

Sparks fly at the annual Empirical Publishing picnic. Liza finds herself caught between Josh and Charles.

Liza is drawn into her author’s Upper East Side life, forcing her worlds to collide. Kelsey comes to Lauren’s rescue.

Liza pursues a new relationship, as Kelsey revisits an old one. Diana learns the truth about Richard. Lauren encourages Josh to follow his heart.

Liza and Maggie meet Josh in Ireland. Kelsey is forced to play nice with a new colleague. Charles’s personal life is thrown into the spotlight.

Sexual harassment allegations against a high-profile author spark unsettling revelations for Liza and Empirical Press.

Liza and Kelsey make a deal with Reese Witherspoon's production company to work with Empirical Press, and Josh returns to Brooklyn.

Liza and Diana convince Pauline to lie about her marriage while promoting her book, and Kelsey and Zane compete for a former presidential speechwriter's prospective memoir.

The Talented Mr. Ridley

Liza gets to know a charming journalist and confronts Charles, Diana agrees to a date with a familiar face, and Josh wants a reset.

Liza worries about her daughter's online activities, Kelsey's relationship with Jake crosses a professional boundary, and Josh contemplates a long-term decision.

Sex, Liza and Rock 'n' Roll

Kelsey is torn between Jake and Zane, Liza helps Charles retrieve an eccentric rock star's manuscript, and Diana ventures to Staten Island.

At Christmastime, Liza must attend a party with her ex-husband, Kelsey struggles to keep both her relationships under wraps, and Charles glimpses Liza’s other life.

Liza and Charles take their relationship to the next level, Kelsey tries to change a familiar pattern, and Maggie hears some hard truths from an ex.

Liza and Kelsey find themselves at odds over two book offers, Kelsey is honored with an award, and Lauren works her magic as a publicist.

Josh celebrates at his launch party, Liza is tired of keeping secrets, Caitlin's new boyfriend raises eyebrows, and Diana meets a challenge head-on.

In a last-ditch effort to save the company, Charles takes Empirical and Millennial to a book fair in Germany where Liza receives an offer that could uncomplicate her life.

With the fate of Empirical on the line, Liza considers leaving the company as her relationship with Charles forces him to make a crucial decision.

Kelsey realizes Millennial is in trouble on her first day as publisher, Liza comes clean to Diana about her affair with Charles, and Josh learns the paternity of Clare's baby.

Kelsey and Quinn don't see eye-to-eye, Liza sets a boundary with Charles, Diana's confession offends Enzo, and Lauren throws a gender-reveal party for Josh and Clare's baby.

Millennial gets the scoop on a sought-after true crime tell-all, Liza worries Charles is hiding something from her, and Kelsey takes a stand against Quinn's dishonesty.

Liza worries about Charles's possible business venture, the stress of being publisher takes a toll on Kelsey, and Millennial has a new competitor.

07/10/2019