Surprise Me is a new standalone book by the fabulously talented Sophie Kinsella.

While we loved the concept of this book and the beginning of Sylvie and Dan's story, we felt like this story was similar to other plots that we have read and not that original.

Of course we will continue to read books by Sophie Kinsella, because she is a favorite of ours!

In this book, you meet Sylvie. Also known to many as Princess Sylvie. She came from a golden family that vacationed in fancy places and was led by her Golden Daddy. Even after his death, she can't help telling everyone how amazing he is. She's married to Dan and they have beautfiul twin girls. They lived a safe and predictable life together until a doctor tells them they will practically live forever. It's an intimdating thought to both of them. They agree to begin surprising each other as a way of making life less mundane and keeping their marriage alive. Things obviously go awry from there.

As usual, Kinsella has created a set of slightly nutty but wonderful characters. Sylvie is a woman that was put in a guilded cage and guided into being who everyone wanted her to be. They treated her like she was fragile until even she believed it.
Dan is the overprotective and imperfect husband. The girls are beautifully quirky as children should be. I won't list all the other characters but they were just as well crafted.

At first the story seemed a bit chaotic to me. It felt like there were mutiple story lines going on and coming at you from all angles that were hard to match up. However, they all became tied up into a beautiful package with a really good meaning behind it. She had a lot of themes about relationships and love. "If love is easy, you're not doing it right." Probably one of my favorite quotes now.

My biggest problem with so-called chick lit is that most of the time it is very idealized and hinges on the couple getting together whether they deserve to or not. This story is not one of those. It is more than that. It spoke to me about multiple themes. Being true to who you are. Not letting other people determine how you live your life. Working together through good and bad to make a relationship work. I could go on and on. Kinsella has reaffirmed my love for her books and made me take a bit of a look at my own life through the eyes of the character formerly known as Princess Sylvie.

I do recommend this book. Even if you are not a fan of this genre, give it a chance and see if you pick up on the themes as well.

Sylvie wants to spice up her love life so she decides her and her husband, Dan, should plan little surprises for each other. Most of these surprises fall apart but they do reveal a scandal that could shatter their marriage.

The plot was well written with many different side plots. I wasn't sure where Kinsella was going with all the side plots so when they were all woven together for the shocking conclusion I was surprised, I never thought that scandal would have been that! The romance between Sylvie and Dan was a bit too mushy gushy, I hated the fact that they could finish each others sentences. The surprises Dan and Sylvie planned each other were sweet but I found the aftermath even better. I got a few good chuckles as surprises fell apart or had disastrous consequences.

Overall this was a funny and enjoyable novel. I loved the ending and the path Sylvie decides to choose and to whom she showed her loyalty for. I really liked how Sylvie showed sympathy and understanding to someone who could cause havoc for her future. I would suggest this novel to everyone who enjoys humorous romantic/contemporary novel. Thanks to Dial Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

A light hearted and enjoyable book reminding us that even in marriage surprises can still happen from those we love and those we think we know best. Quirky and fun loving characters with surprises along with way make this a must read book! Thank you for the opportunity to have read this book prior to publication.

This is not typical of the author's works which is disappointing. i enjoyed a few of her works but this was not one of them. There was nothing exciting about the characters (which may have been her point but may also be the reason the story did not interest me.) It was a "meh" read. I did not laugh out loud like I did with her other novels.

I will always read Kinsella, even when the story is not so good. I can't help it, I love her Shopaholic series so much that I will read anything she writes. So, I picked up her latest book and found myself underwhelmed by its lackluster drama. This is the story of Sylvie and Dan - a married couple who find out that they are going to live very long lives. Too long apparently - seems that decades of marriage is a frightening thought. The same person, year after year - ack! Of course, that is their initial reaction and then they realize that they do love each other and they will definitely get through this together. Sylvie decides they should plan surprises for each other - to keep their marriage from falling into dullsville. Except, all of the surprises don't turn out that great. And, Dan is being rather secretive and distant lately. Hmm...seems like he's texting his ex-girlfriend, too. What' s Sylvie to do? In typical Kinsella fashion, mixed messages are sent and drama is piled on top of drama with unexpected revelations. All in all, a mixed bag of a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book. I should disclose that I am a HUGE Sophie Kinsella fan so right off the bat this book earns a star. I think she’s a brilliant writer who manages to write novels that are humorous but also thought provoking without making the story too complex or too emotionally confusing.

If you’re not familiar with her Kinsella has a very natural writing style that is easy to read. She doesn’t try to throw in big words or make the book overly complex word-wise.

The plot of this book is also very refreshing which for an author that has a pretty long list of books already written under her name (and pseudonym) is impressive. Really, her books are akin to having a drink with an old friend: familiar but with conversation that is always new and refreshing.

If your a Kinsella fan OR looking for a new “chick lit” author to try out this book will not disappoint.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors when it comes to a humorous look at life. She once again brings humor to a relationship in her latest novel, SURPRISE ME.

Stunned by the fact that she and her spouse might possibly be married for decades longer than anticipated, they come up with a plan to keep their relationship alive by surprising each other. But the surprises begin to backfire and cause trouble instead. It is a laugh-out-loud novel that is sure to lift your spirits. Highly recommended.

This book was interesting. The first half was pretty and frothy. A typical Sophie Kinsella book along the lines of her Shopaholic books. But the second half takes a more serious turn. ThAt said, I thought the author did a good job with the transition and the book was really good. I was on a 20 hour plane trip and the book kept me entertained the entire time.

I'm a Sophie Kinsella fan, and this is another good book for her. It starts out a little slow but the plot picks up, and she draws you in the book. Somehow I always seem to care about her characters; they're well-described and realized.

Sylvie and Dan have been married for 10 years, and when they go to the doctor they find out they could live for 68 years. They are shocked at the thought that their marriage could last that long, it sounds like forever to them! They decide to try some "surprises" for each other to spice up their lives, and the results don't go the way they think.

I really enjoyed this book, it's funny and poignant at the same time. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received Surprise Me as an EARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I normally LOVE Sophie Kinsella books aside from one other one. I was excited when she announced that she was having another book come out this year and fell in love with that cover. I mean, look at that cover. That looks like nothing could go wrong, right? The colors are just so pretty and it's cute. The description drew me in also.

But...the first few chapters almost ruined the whole book for me. (Spoiler alert) I just could not understand why Sylvie all of a sudden was like... oh.... I have to be married to my husband for 68 more years? REALLY? Oh my gosh! Whatever British term fits oh my gosh would be good here too. Bullocks? Bloody hell? (Pardon my french there. I really wanted an excuse to sound like Ron Weasley.)

Anyway, she kept going round and around and by chapter five I almost gave up. But I kept pushing through. The surprises parts were really cute, and I did like how her attitude changed towards the last few chapters.

I also really liked Dan as a character and Toby really grew on me. I just wished the beginning could've been written better, but overall I was glad I pushed through that first beginning. It was a fast read for me.

This book was a three out of five star read, but Sophie Kinsella still rates high on my list of authors.

There is something so comforting about a new Sophie Kinsella book. It's one of my book, "comfort foods," if that make sense. I can count on a new Kinsella book to make me feel warm and cozy. While, I did stop reading her, "Shopaholic," series quite a while ago, I have continued to read her stand alone novels and have continued to enjoy them. Some I liked more than others and this one was one of those. (FYI, I still think the BEST stand alone novel by her is Can You Keep a Secret?. I reread it every few years and still love it just as much. It's one of my go to, "chic lit," books.)

What I like about Kinsella's more recent stand alone novels is that they have had some pretty deep issues mixed in. They are no longer just romantic fluff. She has evolved as a writer and is not afraid to try new things. This comes through in this book as it tackled grief in a way that was very real and touching. She infuses this without losing her signature sparkle and wit and I think that's pretty terrific!

I got this book for free to review and give my opinion. I've read a few books by Sophia before in the past. This book starts out a bit slow and I find myself not liking Sylvie. Her "perfect life" just how fake it seemed and how much I wanted her little bubble to break.

Sylvie has the perfect life, with her perfect kids and perfect family. Other then her father died, she is rather happy. Then something happens that changes everything, a family secret that she's been in the dark about for many years. I actually like her after she stops being her fake self and starts being her real self. The book ends far too soon. I feel like we should have seen more of Sylvie being real, and less boring stuff before that.

I am voluntarily submitting my review after receiving an ARC of this ebook via NetGalley.

I should preface my review by saying that I am a HUGE Sophie Kinsella fan and await each of her books with baited breath. Surprise Me, while not my favorite of her novels, did not disappoint. In this latest standalone novel, Kinsella explores marriage, love, trust and the disillusionment that inevitably comes with comparing your life to an ideal built in your mind as well as confronting the truth when the clay feet of your idols are revealed. Necessarily, by virtue of the topic, Surprise Me is somewhat darker than many of Kinsella's previous novels, but Kinsella manages to retain the humor her fans know and love. Her signature style and "snark" pervades the entire novel, keeping the overall tone upbeat and fun. While this book seems to be a move toward more serious subject material, fans of Sophie Kinsella will recognize and appreciate her deft and humorous handling of subject, character and language.

Sylvie and Dan have been happily married for 10 years, and settled into a pleasant routine. But when a doctor encourages them to think about how they'll spend the next 50 (or 60? or 70?) years together, panic sets in. That much time with one person? So Sylvie suggests a plan to keep it interesting: just keep surprising each other with new ideas and plans! What could possibly go wrong?

This started like the typical frothy read from Kinsella (who writes the Shopaholic series), but more became more grounded and serious as the book went on. Fans of her other works might be surprised (ha) but I liked the combo - it reminded more of the stuff she's written under her real name. The premise is a bit sketchy - I can't envision a doctor saying "oh you;ll live to 150! quite so blithely - but it's really just to get the plot going. The characters feel much more well-rounded than in some of her other books (actual people instead of movie cartoons). A side plot about Sylvie's museum job either needed to be more fully developed or eliminated and I would have liked it more if she could have settled on a tone. It felt like she wanted to do the more serious book, but was afraid of turning off readers, so she kept in the slapstick of the Shopaholic books? But overall a much better read than I expected.

I've been putting off reviewing this for SO LONG which is silly because I keep talking about this book, too--the premise REALLY stuck with me, and philosophically, this might actually be the most thought provoking of Kinsella's books.

But anyone who knows my book tastes knows that Sophie Kinsella is my favourite author in the whole entire world (other than Gabrielle Zevin, of course, let's not get carried away.) I don't expect her to be thought provoking, but I expect to laugh out loud. And of course, this had me laughing out loud constantly.

Sylvie is a significantly different character to Kinsella's normal titles, perhaps more similar to later Becky-the-Shopaholic books, but I appreciated that she felt less as though she'd been picked up from other novels. I adored the kids so much. So so much.

This isn't the best Kinsella book (ahem, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?), but I think it's the best of her more recent books and I'm really glad to kind of see that evolution.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (thank you, Dial, I think I literally cried tears when I received the invite!)

Sophie Kinsella is back with her latest novel, Surprise Me (Penguin Random House), a humorous, honest take on a marriage gone stale. When Sylvie and Dan learn from the doctor that they’re both so healthy they could be together for another 68 years, the couple, celebrating their 10th anniversary, panics. Sylvie and Dan know each other inside and out and finish each other’s sentences, leaving her to wonder if they’ll bore each other for the next 68 years. To keep things exciting, Sylvie decides they should create surprises for each other. At first, the surprises are filled with humor (including a pet snake and boudoir photoshoot gone wrong), but when the surprises unearth some shocking secrets and truths, Sylvie begins to wonder if they knew each other at all. Suddenly, Sylvie is no longer worried about being bored with Dan, but rather focused on making sure they’ll still be together in 68 years. Meanwhile, a secret cell phone and whispered conversations between Dan and Sylvie’s mom, of whom Dan has never been a fan, begin to push Sylvie to the brink, all while she must handle a work crisis. By trying to incorporate some mystery into their marriage, Sylvie gets nothing but stress, and in the end, is the only one that ends up surprised. Though fictional, and a tad naive, Sylvie is a relatable character for real women in real marriages and relationships.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

Sylvie and Dan have been together for 10 years and have a comfortable life. A doctor mentions that they could be together for another 68 years, and this brings about panic. They decide to surprise each other randomly in order to keep things interesting.

Sylvie is annoying. Dan is annoying. They are making problems out of nothing. Their situation is supposed to be humorous, but it got on my nerves. Both of them should take a deep breath and be thankful for what they have. Take up a new hobby, practice mindfulness, go exercise, do whatever. I am surprised I even bothered to finish this.

enjoyed a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite authors since her Shopaholic days, and Surprise Me unsurprisingly delivered all that we have come to love from Kinsella’s novels - wit, charm, laugh out loud moments, with thought provoking moments laced throughout.