When Sophie and her husband Dan’s doctor gives them a clean bill of health at their annual check-ups and tells them they could conceivably live another 68 years, they panic. They are already so in sync that they finish each other’s sentences and anticipate each other’s actions on a regular basis. How will they keep from getting bored with each other over the next 68 long years? They decide they must start surprising each other on a regular basis and they must start immediately. Because this is a Sophie Kinsella novel, none of their surprises for one another goes as planned, with humorous results.

I’ll admit that when I started this book, I was mad at Dan and Sophie. As someone with a multitude of health problems who will definitely not live another 68 years, I found them to be extremely ungrateful. And I thought that the premise that they freaked out about spending the next 68 years being in a relationship with the same person weird. That’s marriage folks, whether you have five or one-hundred years left.

Luckily, the freaking out and surprising each other didn’t last too long. After one of his surprises for Sophie, Dan becomes distant and secretive. Sophie must find out what has happened to turn her perfect husband into a stranger. Not only does Sophie have to deal with that, the non-profit where she works is struggling. How much more can she take?

After getting off to a somewhat silly start, Surprise Me took a fairly serious turn as Sophie tried to figure out what was going on with Dan. That was a mystery to me as well and I could not figure it out. I was just as surprised as Sophie when it was revealed.

There was some comic relief in Sophie’s friend and neighbor Tilda and her son Toby. Still, I don’t think this book is as light as a remember Shopaholic being. Of course, it’s been a long time since I read that – pre-blog!

If you pick up this book expecting a fun chick-lit book, you might be disappointed. However, if you’re in the mood for something just a bit darker and mysterious but not too heavy, this would be a good choice.

Surprise Me is kind of a spin on the whole "stale relationship is injected with new life due to wacky foibles" type of romance (and yes, that's a whole genre of romance on it's own). But it is enjoyable, distracting, and fun. That's exactly what I wanted.

A quick read that focuses on life inside a romance instead of one just beginning. Different view, but this seems aimed at middle aged married women.

Love this author and the characters in this book. Can't wait for the next one!

Ugh, I wanted to enjoy this book. And I just couldn't. I didn't care for the characters at all and the book read young adult to me as opposed to one for adults. While the content was clearly adult, the characters felt about 19 to me. I just couldn't connect to it

I DO appreciate the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I wish I could have written a nicer toned one.

I have not felt well lately and it has slowed my reading pace down quite a lot.  Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella was the perfect book for me at this time. It was fast paced keeping me curious about what was going to happen next but most importantly it made me laugh.  Laugh out loud funny. That is rare.

For insurance purposes, Sylvie and Dan have physicals and learn that due to good genes and good maintenance they will live longer than most people can expect.  This throws them for a loop because it changes everything: when they can retire, how much money is needed to save, but most importantly will they be able to stand each other and be married that long.  Over the course of the story, there is growth individually as well as a couple. There are serious matters tackled but also quite a bit of humor is thrown in as well.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.  I truly enjoyed this book.

The Dial Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Surprise Me. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Having been together for ten years, married for seven of them, Sylvie and Dan seamlessly work together to provide a comfortable household for their twin girls. The magic is gone, however, and the couple starts to feel the pressure of being together for the rest of their lives. To spice things up, they come up with Project Surprise Me. When it becomes clear early on that the element of surprise can cause more trouble than they thought, will Sylvie and Dan start to fail as a couple? Will the pair be able to get their lives back on track?

Readers who are looking for quirky and charming dialogue, like the author's main character in the Shopaholic series possesses, will be disappointed. Surprise Me takes a sharper edge and, although the author tries to use situational mishaps to lighten the mood, the story has a pessimistic tone. I did not fall in love with Sylvie and Dan, nor did I feel fully vested in their outcome. Even the surprises to each other did not come across as playful or lighthearted, as the dark cloud hovering over brought the book down. The plot was a bit repetitive and the book dragged in the middle as a result. Readers who are unfamiliar with author Sophie Kinsella should not choose Surprise Me as their first read, as it is not at all representative of the usual charming plot lines and endearing characters. Returning readers should be warned that this book is nowhere near as good as the author's previous offerings.

3.5 stars. What do you do when "til death do us part" is longer than you think? That is the dilemma that Sylvie and Dan face. For the most part, this is a typical SK story with the usual laugh out loud moments and quirky characters. Towards the end, it does take a surprising (get it?) turn though. But in true Kinsella fashion, you get your satisfactory ending.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

This was so different than Sophie Kinsella's other books. It was more serious and less goofy, but still full of the heart and humor I expect from her. I hope this represents a new direction for her. It almost reminded me of a Kristan Higgins book.

Kinsella delivered another entertaining read, suitable for adults and young adults alike. After hearing from her doctor that she and her husband have at least 68 more years together, Sylvie and Dan, a married couple with two girls, try to surprise each other to make those years a bit more interesting. The struggles that happened along the way were laugh out loud hilarious at times, and a bit more serious at other times. I loved the positive messages this book included about trust, relationships, and getting to know what others are going through. I would definitely recommend this book.

Not quite as lighthearted as some of Kinsella's other offerings, Surprise Me tells the story of two families whose vacations takes quite the unexpected turn. This 'study of marriage' examines, with Kinsella's trademark humor, how people cope with not only awkward and difficult situations, but how marriages evolve and change over time. As usual, her characters are original thinkers struggling to get to know themselves better.

Let me start by saying I LOVE Sophie Kinsella! I have loved everything she has written...until Surprise Me. It wasn't bad but I just didn't love it the way I have loved all her other books so I was a little disappointed. Sylvie and Dan have a happy marriage....until they realize they may have another 70 years together. Neither realized "til death do us part" meant 70 plus years. In order to keep things interesting Sylvie decides they should surprise each other with special gifts/dates...something to keep the marriage exciting but of course nothing goes as planned. I didn't hate it but I just didn't love it but it was a quick read so if you have the time you will get some good laughs from this book.

Sylvie and Dan have been married for ten years. They have beautiful twin girls, a house, jobs and a good life together. After a routine doctor visit they realize that their marriage could last another 50 years. Worried about their marriage getting stale they decide to start surprising each other to keep things fresh. Some fun and crazy antics ensue!!

After some old family secrets are revealed Sylie realizes that maybe she and Dan don't know each other as well as she thinks they do. This is a very well written book that looks at the longevity of a marriage and the things we do for those we love. Another winner by Sophie Kinsella.

FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK!!!! *screams hallelujah from the highest mountain top* I mean it almost took me a month but whatever it’s done. I am so happy to have this completed. Now for the review. I always enjoy Sophie Kinsella’s writing and how she brings her stories to life with a realistic setting. Life isn’t perfect and her books have always exemplified that to me. I enjoyed following Sylvie and Dan through this book however I did have a few issues with them in the first half of the book. They find out that they have 68 more years of marriage and they both go into this almost midlife crisis over it. And all I could think was how that wasn’t really a big deal and why get married in the first place if you don’t plan on being together forever? I ended up having to take many breaks while reading this due to that but once I got passed about 60% of the way through it was much better and I loved the last quarter of the book.

It's through Project Surprise Me that Sylvie realises she doesn't know Dan as well as she thought she did and the unpredictability of what was once predictable totally throws her. I have to be honest, I didn't know if her suspicions were correct or not, they were very plausible and I was swayed by the evidence in front of us! The surprises - oh how I chuckled when Robert caught her internet browsing at work and Toby coming home early to find Sylvie in Tilda's house. Sooo funny! (I think setting up surprises with partners, friends and family could be a LOT of fun - as well as the disasters).

Sylvie comes from a privileged background but she didn't come across as a 'princess' to me. Naive and protected by her family and then Dan maybe but not expecting everything to fall into her lap. From the beginning I knew there was much more depth to Sylvie, if only she would stop being what everyone expected her to be (especially in her job at Willoughby House!). I understood the judgments and comparisons she made even though I knew they had to be wrong ... nothing is that good.

As Sylvie's life changes on an outer level (Willoughby House in financial trouble, Dan not available, her mum acting strange) we see a change on an inner level too. I had guessed something was going to rear its head and when it comes, I was with Sylvie in that room and my heart broke alongside hers. This had such an impact on me! So much positivity as a result of the crisis though - Sylvie finds her strength, becomes who she really is and of course it has a positive impact on her relationship.

Surprise Me is a story with a great pace and entertaining storyline. I thought it had a powerful message of empowerment. Claim your history, it's a part of who you are and gives you control over your life. A recommended read from me.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors. I'm a huge fan of her work, and I eagerly dive into her new books. This book is a little different, but it is still great. In this book, Sylvie and Dan have been married several years and decide to start surprising each other in an attempt to bring some excitement into their marriage. This starts out well, but then Sylvie uncovers some information that makes her believe she is headed for a divorce.

Sophie Kinsella described the feelings her heroine was experiencing so deeply, I honestly thought she was the one getting a divorce. I was relieved by the credits at the end of the book explaining that she is still happily married. While this book does have some humor, it doesn't have as many laugh out loud parts as some of her other works. This book is an opportunity to experience Sophie Kinsella's skill as an author. For awhile this novel reminded me of when John Grisham writes books that aren't legal thrillers such as A Painted House. While Grisham is great at writing legal thrillers, they are somewhat formulaic. Books such as A Painted House allow readers to experience the beauty of Grisham's writing. Surprise Me had a similar impact for me. It wasn't what I was expecting, but I definitely enjoyed the surprise!

I had a bit of hard time at first getting into this book, mainly because of the topic. It is a very truthful and interesting book because many people are living longer and being married for a long time. It is about how to live a interesting life and how to share it while still being faithful, and having fun. Another interesting and funny read by Sophie Kinsella.

A couple, when faced with the idea of 68 more years of marriage, try to shake things up a bit by “surprising” each other. But each surprise doesn’t quite work out as expected.

Excellent, light heated read. I am normally favor psychological thrillers, but every now and then, I need a something light and humorous in between. Surprise Me, was the perfect go to! The main character Sylvie had me laughing out loud, her hysterical worrisome thoughts, hiding from her husband as she is trying on a sweater, to obsessing about the future of her marriage. While Surprise Me, is basically a fun, light read not to be taken too seriously, I loved that the characters were so well developed, and surprisingly had a wonderful unexpected ending!

Surprise Me started off strong with Sophie’s wonderful voice shining through. I was dying from the beginning with laughter. I was really enjoying it until about the middle. Some things fell flat with me and some were drawn out way too much. I don’t want to give anything away about the story, but I was a little disappointed. I also had some unanswered questions at the end. Overall, this is a fun book to read and you will laugh.