I was lost in the flowery, bushy and blooming with color lush Coulee with five of my Traveling Sisters. We all settled in at different spots and times in the juicy, delicious berry bushes in the lush coulee. We were surrounded by color, charm, and quirkiness with this story and these characters and we gobbled up this story as fast as we could. At times the seriousness got a little prickly for us in the thorny bushes with our likable and loved characters.

Like Norma, I am a big fan of Sophie Kinsella but somewhere in the flurry of thrillers, I forgot how great it is to read one of her books and how she always brings on a feel-good feeling with her signature wit and charm. I have not yet read My Not So Perfect Life but I have now bumped it up my list to read soon.

Surprise Me is a bit different from other books by Sophie Kinsella's girl meets boy storyline and in this one, she explores a marriage. We meet our very likable main characters Sylvie and Dan at a Doctors appointment and the doctor predicted that they will live long enough to be married 68 years more. This sends some fear of routine and boredom to them and they decided to spice things up by doing a few surprises for each other. This brought on some laugh out loud moments that could be heard from us within the coulee and we really enjoyed discussing this and some of our own stories of surprises with each other. Along with the fun, there is some seriousness to this story and it has some layers to it and we see a deeper side to this story. We start to see Sylvie and Dan grow apart and come together as a couple.

Sophie Kinsella does such a fantastic job of creating some likable, colorful and eccentric characters here. She does a great job developing an interesting and quirky character with Sylvie who we loved following along within the coulee. I highly recommend this clever, witty and charming story that just might surprise you with how deep and layered it is.

Published: February 13, 2018

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House, and Sophie Kinsella for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book to read and review!

All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

I've always been a Kinsella fan but I feel like the Shopaholic series has kind of run its course, or maybe I've outgrown it. So I was happy to see a new character who is at a similar place in its life as I am.

Sophie and Dan, who are the perfect happy couple the visit the doctor and find out they are healthy and could live to 100, which give them 68 years of being married. Both start to panic a bit when they worry maybe the spark will dim after that much time. So Sophie cooks up the idea to start to surprise each other in the marriage - whether it be with dates, gifts or in the bedroom. Some are high notes and some surprises fall short, but it's cute to see how they come up with their ideas.

However, Sophie gets a surprise of her own when Dan comes back in contact with an old girlfriend and Sophie suspects that there is more to it than just innocent meetings. Chaos ensues as she follows the evidence to find out that Dan is involved in something much more secret than an affair that he'd be keeping from Sophie for quite some time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars

I've been reading Sophie Kinsella books since she first started writing as Sophie Kinsella instead of her pseudonym and I don't think I've missed one since! While this was not my very favorite of hers, it was enjoyable nonetheless.

This book was a bit of a departure from her previous books in that she abandoned her "single girl, blundering" typical storyline (not typical in a bad way, just saying..) for a tale about a married couple and what happens when they look to the future of their marriage and what it means to say 'forever'.. and how to keep that fresh when you feel like you already know all there is to know. Like she says, Surprise Me! :) Surprises come, some sweet and silly and some that will give you a pause.

I will always grab a book by Sophie Kinsella and know that I am in for a good read and a fun time.

Sophie Kinsella has made me laugh out loud ever since I first read Confessions of a Shopaholic. My husband always knows when I'm reading one of her books because I simply can't stifle my giggles. Surprise Me definitely had me in stitches.

Dan and Sylvie are celebrating 10 years together. Their marriage is one for the books. They finish each other's sentences, can communicate without even speakings and have two beautiful twin daughters. How could life get any better? Things take a slight turn when during a routine physical for life insurance, they receive the news that their health is so excellent, they should have 68 more years of wedded bliss. Dan and Sylvie never really thought about it like that and it isn't long until they begin overthinking those long 68 years together. Sylvie vows to keep things interesting by instituting Project Surprise Me so that their lives together will never get boring. Well, boring it is not! The various mishaps and events that occur are truly laugh out loud funny.

At the heart of the Surprise Me though is a beautiful story of love and personal growth. I love how Sophie Kinsella can create these hilarious relatable characters that show true heart as well. This one really is worth the read because not only will it make you laugh, it will warm your heart as well and we all need a little of that.

I received this book courtesy of Dial Press Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really exited to read this book because first, I loved sophie kinsella, i read most of her work and enjoyed it every single time. She has a talent to write books with characters that women can relate to, that are funny, and loveable. Second, The description of the book made me want to read it and escape in the story. I really enjoyed reading it, but found that some parts were too slow… We know from the first chapter that something will happen and shatter sylvie’s existence, and it felt like forever before it does happen. I found myself skipping a few pages to get to the point. But other than that, I did enjoy the book.

Not my cup of tea. I didn’t care for the writing style or the overall plot.

3.5 stars

My advice when you pick this book up is to view it as you would a rom-com movie. Turn off your inner critic and just have fun with it.

I confess I had a slight problem with the premise: a young couple panics when their doctor tells them they will likely live to be over 100, which would mean another 68 years together. If you're happily married who wouldn't be delighted at that news??? (True story: As I'm writing this review a news reporter is on TV interviewing a couple who have been married for 73 years! Synchronicity! )

But Ok, the couple decides to spice things up by planning surprises for one another. As you would imagine, things don’t always go as planned. Very amusing. The last half of the book turns a little more serious with lessons to be learned about married life, and the ending is as you would expect from this genre.

All in all, a light, enjoyable, predictable book and a nice break from more serious heavy reads. I liked it but not as much as the only other book I've read by this author, My Not So Perfect Life.

* thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-galley of the book

4 Surprisingly Delightful Stars!

SOPHIE KINSELLA has always been one of my favourite go-to authors, so I was pretty excited when I was approved to read her latest novel, SURPRISE ME.  I have enjoyed all of her books and to me they are such a treat to read inbetween reading so many thrillers.  I like to be able to just relax and enjoy the humour within the storyline.  SURPRISE ME definitely surprised me and I kind of liked the idea of Project Surprise Me too except for one of the surprises that Dan gave to Sylvie in the book which had me totally creeped right out!   

SURPRISE ME by SOPHIE KINSELLA is a charming, warm, humorous and a feel-good story that even had a touch of mystery to the storyline and a surprising twist.

SOPHIE KINSELLA delivers an engaging, lighthearted and entertaining read here with well-developed and likeable characters.  The storyline even had an element of seriousness to it with some thought-provoking issues that took me a little by surprise as I wasn’t expecting that at all.  I loved it though!

To sum it all up it was an engaging, fun, moving, fast-paced, and an enjoyable read that surprised me, made me laugh and had an ending that made me smile! Would recommend!

Published: February 13, 2018

Thank you so much to my fellow Traveling Sisters for another wonderful reading experience!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House, and Sophie Kinsella for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Warm, affecting, and extremely entertaining!

Surprise Me is a lighthearted journey into the lives of married couple Sylvie and Dan who have it all, beautiful girls, successful careers, and a rock-solid marriage until the suggestion of another 68 years of marriage sends them into a tailspin that makes them question their goals, dreams, and each other.

The writing is smooth and effortless. The characters are quirky, comical, genuine, and lovable. And the plot is an engaging, moving tale bursting with witty banter, embarrassing situations, awkward moments, hilarious hijinks, and sweet romance.

Surprise Me is, ultimately, a story about marriage, secrets, commitment, family, introspection, and enduring love. It’s classic Kinsella with well-crafted characters, humour, heart, a surprising twist and a delightful ending that will definitely make you smile.

Sylvie and Dan are both thirty-two, have been together for ten years (married for seven) and have five year old twins. When their doctor tells them they are healthy enough to have another 68 more years together, they are freaked out. To keep things alive and exciting, they decide to plan surprises for each other, which comically don't have the effect they had anticipated.

Sylvie's father had been larger than life and everyone idolized him. He passed away in a car accident two years ago and Sylvie and her mother are still grieving CONSTANTLY. Sylvie can't understand why Dan doesn't grieve for him as well. Sylvie still wears her hair long long long because that's the way Daddy like it.

Sylvie is working for a small museum that still functions as if it's still the 1980s ... the owner refuses to function with modern conveniences and make them use a fax machine, share a computer and write everything in books. When the owner's nephew turns up, Sylvie is sure he is there to close the museum and sell the land to condo developers.

I've read a lot of Kinsella's books over the years and they are usually a fun escape. This one started out that way but got really serious about halfway in. Instead of getting closer together, something is ripping Sylvie and Dan apart. It's written in first person perspective from Sylvie's point of view. As a head's up, there is swearing.

I wasn't overly crazy about the main characters. I found it weird that Sylvie and Dan had married until "death do us part" but freaked out at the thought of having to spend the next 68 years together. I thought it was a bit much how Sylvie worshiped her father and held Dan to the same standard, which was tough for him considering Sylvie came from money and Dan didn't (and he refused to accept any of her family's). Sylvie's mother (Sylvie called her "Mummy") was very annoying and stuck-up and didn't seem to have any sense of reality (and everyone let her). Dan seemed like a nice guy but put up with her snotty family. Sylvie's boss and nephew were stereotypical in that she was a rich dotty elderly woman and her nephew was the young jerk with no appreciation for the past. I did like the neighbours, Tilda and her son, Toby ... they added some humour to the book.

I have long been a fan of Sophie Kinsella, beginning with the first I read by her “Undomestic Goddess”. Her stories always seem to tie to my own life in some fashion. In this, her latest, novel, I easily relate to the issues which come up and evolve in a married life.

Sylvie is a 32 year old woman who, along with her husband Dan (also 32) has just found out from their doctor that they should plan on another 68 years of married life based on their great genetics. They both respond with a fear of that kind of longevity with a single partner and how to keep from getting bored with each other.


Their attempts to make their lives together more exciting kicks off other events which seem to be even more threatening to the couple and their two daughters than simply a long life together.

As always, Ms. Kinsella’s protagonist is a humorous woman who is trying to make sense of her life. We sees from her standpoint and each of the other characters take on their life from her point of view of them. When her opinion is changed, as a reader, my view of them changes as well.

I always enjoy reading one of Ms. Kinsella’s books. The humor is there but there is also an underlying topic that is being addressed. I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I just want to say first, I love this author's books and read all the Shopaholic series. Also, several others under Madeline Wickham which I adored. The only reasons I am giving these 2 stars is again I love this author and the last 4 chapters of the book were the best part. When Sophie finally woke up from her princess fog. The first 13 chapters were about whining and complaining by the main character Sophie. She and her husband Dan were trying to spice up her marriage due to it being boring and bland. She kept whining about if Dan was cheating on her due to the dynamic in place before her father died. I don’t want to give the ending away, read it for yourself and see if I’m right.

I loved Sophie Kinsella's [book:I've Got Your Number|12033455], so I was excited to read this book. I have to say I was disappointed with this book.

Sylvie and Dan are the "It" couple. They can guess what the other is going to order at a restaurant. They can finish each others thoughts. After 10 years together, they go to the doctor for their checkup. The doctor tells them they are both healthy and could live til 100 years old. Which would be another 68 years together. Instead of happiness, fear and panic sets in for both of them. Since they have so many years together still, Sylvie comes up with Project Surprise Me to make life together more exciting.

I couldn't stand any of the characters in this book, which made the book difficult to read. Sylvie comes off as whiny and such a daddy's girl. Honestly all that adoration for her deceased father wanted me to throw the book out the window. Telling her husband about all her vacations as a child and all the famous people her dad knew, and then when Dan wants to expand his business, she says it was because he was jealous of her dad. You would think I would feel for Dan but I thought he was just an ass. What kind of person panics and freaks out when you are told you have a long future with your wife?

There were some laugh out loud parts in the story which got me through the whole book.

Thank you to NetGalley for supplying me a copy of Sophie Kinsella's "Surprise Me" in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy a good fluff read every so often. And, some writers are just better at writing that fluff, you know? Sophie Kinsella has pretty much mastered her own niche – novels that are romantic comedies that involve plots that are slightly ridiculous, but entertaining. Her latest novel, Surprise Me, is no different.

A key difference in this novel compared to many of her previous novels is that it is focused on an already married couple. Particularly, a couple who has been together for ten years and when things begin to get a little bit commonplace.

The novel’s main character, Sylvie, becomes desperate to put surprises back into her marriage after learning that humans are living longer than ever before – meaning she will be “stuck” with her husband for a much longer amount of time than she originally imagined. To deal with the extra years ahead of them, they decided to surprise one another.

In typical Kinsella style, these surprises run the gamut – and leave the reader feeling quite proud of herself for not being as silly (or dumb) as the characters in the novel. And, Sylvie, makes some really REALLY dumb calls. The results of a boudoir photo session are hilarious, but the some of the surprises cause the couple to reevaluate what they think they know about one another.

This novel was standard Kinsella rom-com flair, but it wasn’t my favorite of hers. For me, it took a bit to get off the ground. I wasn’t thoroughly engaged until about halfway through. Also, I picked up on a major plot point very early on and spent most of the time just waiting for Kinsella to finally reveal what seems so obvious. (I’m not just a great reader – it really is that obvious.) But, it must be noted, predictability is part of Kinsella’s charm.

However, any fan of Kinsella will eat this one up, as well as anyone who needs an escape from reality and an opportunity to feel better about herself in comparison with the characters. Plus, Kinsella fans who are married or in long-term relationships will appreciate her take on this situation as compared to the stories about finding love as a single woman.

Overall I struggled with this book. The premise didn't pull me in, I thought it was a little too over the top. I found Sylvie to be somewhat irritating and whiny and her obsession with her dead father became annoying. I've read Sophie Kinsella's books in the past and loved them but there was something off putting about these characters and this story. I wish I could've connected with them and cared about their story but I didn't.

“Longevity, Loyalty, and Partnership...” This is how the author describes her motivation for writing Surprise Me and with that thought, she did an excellent job. The storyline was interesting and I can say I did enjoy it, however, I really felt no emotional pull from either Dan or Sylvia. That was the part of the book that was missing to me. I felt like I could have been reading an article from a magazine instead of a story that pulls the reader in and makes them not want to put the book down. This is just my opinion and I believe that most people will love this story. I liked it, but did not love it.

Dan and Sylvie have been together for 10 years, and they have two beautiful daughters. They finish each other's sentences and know exactly what the other one is thinking or is going to do. But when they hear they will probably spend the next 68 years together, they completely freak out. It's a lot of time to spend with the same person doing the same things. So they decide to spice up their lives with a few surprises that not always have good results, from awkward photoshoots to snakes to booking double appointments. Then Sylvie starts to suspect that Dan is hiding something from her.

This is another successful novel from one of my favourite authors. The female characters are funny and engaging and I wish they were my friends. There is never a dull moment, with a few dramatic scenes, a few awkward occasions, and hilarious situations that made me laugh out loud - especially the scene of the sexy photoshoot. Despite the laughs, I found this book a bit more serious than Kinsella's other novels, but it still has her captivating writing, lovable characters and witty dialogue.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her books are always feel-good with lots of humor. That being said, this was not my favorite book of hers. I liked the concept of a married couple wanting to spice up their marriage by surprising each other. However, I found the main character Sylvie to be so annoying. She was selfish, paranoid, and delusional for most of this book. She was so unlikable and not relatable in the least which was a shame because I really liked Dan. She just came off as such a spoiled rich girl who was so single-minded. I literally almost DNFed this because I found her so annoying. It's such a pity because I usually love Sophie Kinsella's female protagonists. The story was also repetitive and predictable. If I had to read about how great a man her father was another second I would have thrown the book. Overall, not my favorite but I am still looking forward to reading Sophie Kinsella's next book because I generally enjoy them. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Love is finding one person infinitely fascinating. And so... not an achievement, my dear. Rather, a privilege."

Hi, long time Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickam fan here. I've been reading her books for close to a decade now; they are just the right amounts of tender cheese (and that's a good thing so don't knock it) to insert between my gritty crime novels and psychological thrillers. I know many readers hate on the light and fluffy crowd, but I say why can't we read something simply for all the feels? There's no shame in my game and I'll heartily embrace a  pleasure read when I feel like it. While I was a bit wary going into this one after last year's My Not So Perfect Life, I should have known from the blurb alone that this was going to be the book for me. Sophie, you came through and for that, we thank you!

One of the first things I noticed was how eerily similar my own marriage is to that of our main characters' *insert Sylvie and Dan*. No, Mr. Humphrey and I don't finish each other's every waking thought, but we are of roughly the same age and we have also been married for 7 years (8 next month!) and have a "dating" anniversary of almost 10 years. How's THAT for creepy? (It's creepy because those are the exact statistics of our couple in the book; obviously you wouldn't know this yet DUH CHELSEA!) Maybe this set up made it possible for me to get lost in the book, but at 450+ pages (which is neither a light nor fluffy count last I checked) I was expecting a struggle. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, and I found myself giggling and gasping right along with Sylvie. I didn't even care that the story wasn't wholly realistic or plausible; I had to know what would happen dang it!

Also, for a light and fluffy, this had a substantial ending. I wasn't expecting the story to take its unpredictable turn, and this really impressed me. I feel that most women's fiction novels containing this scenario have a handful of options on how to end the book, and this wasn't one of those standard filler conclusions. I guess what I'm trying to say is, this was a fluffy with some substance. This is the type of "guilty pleasure" book that you can read and drop the guilt. Although, why people expect us to feel guilty about any genre we choose to read I'll never understand. I'm surprised at how connected I feel with the characters, as I'm still reminiscing about the story and feel a little blue about having to leave them behind and move on to something else. Recommended with gusto to those looking for a romantic read that's soft, moving, and hilarious.

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy.