OK, so I wound up liking the end of this book, but getting there was torture. More than the last 15% of a book has to be enjoyable. The primary conflict in the beginning of the book is that the main characters find out they're going to have a long and happy life together, and they freak. Sorry, it's hard to empathize with people who are too healthy (in a country that, you know, has health care), or that have such a perfect marriage they.... don't want it to last forever? It makes no sense.

The surprises predictably go largely wrong, but Kinsella's trademark hilarity is missing here. The things that happen are more weird and sad than funny. Which means that as I was waiting for the big surprised promised by the prologue (which is more than SEVENTY PERCENT into the book), I was bored.

The other basic conflict is that the MC (who was so uninteresting to me, I found myself just calling her Sophie for most of the book) idolizes her dead father to the point that she's comparing him to her husband and her husband is coming up short. And then she has the appalling lack of self-awareness to think her husband just didn't like her father because he was rich, and not because she constantly made him feel inferior. I get it, she's daddy's little princess, but... uggggggghhh.

Sure, the end fixes a lot, but it's too little, too late. The whole book has to be entertaining. I've read and loved everything Kinsella's written (including the Wickham books), so maybe it was time for her to miss the mark. Maybe the book was rushed, I don't know. But I'd recommend re-reading any of her other books over this one.

***I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

If you enjoy Sophie Kinsella, this book will not disappoint. Sylvie & Dan's story seems like a somewhat predictable one...married for a while with young twin girls, feeling a little bit like they are in a rut (at least from Sylvie's point of view). Trying to add some spice to their marriage with surprises leads to some interesting discoveries. Sylvie is another fun female character by Sophie Kinsella. I love how the story plays out & highly encourage picking this book up to find out what chaos ensues.

It was a solid book. A little slow for me but not bad.
Thanks Netgalley

**Review will be published to blog in end-of-year reading roundup on 27 Dec 2017 at 10:00AM EST, and full review on blog in early February.**

I chose this book because:

I was sent an email about Sophie Kinsella’s new novel Surprise Me, as I had previously read and reviewed her novel My Not So Perfect Life. Sophie Kinsella was one of the authors of my child/teen-hood, so I’m always excited for one of her books. When I checked out the blurb on Goodreads, I was skeptical/concerned(?) when I read the part about the couple not expecting to be together for seven decades, because aren’t most couples like, I’m gonna love you forever for the rest of our lives which is forever, rather than, damn I’m stuck with this person who I love for this long?? Maybe it’s different when you’re married haha. But anyways, I’m intrigued by the mishaps and secrets that get revealed.

Upon reading this book:

I was a bit skeptical of the storyline when I read the blurb, but I was open to it because it was Sophie Kinsella. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me, which is a shame because I love her books. I guess I was never able to wrap my head around the premise of this book though. I couldn’t help but think, “What. They’d rather die than continue being married for so long? How in love could they be?”

From the very beginning, I couldn’t help but think that the couple was dysfunctional. I didn’t get the sense that they finished each others sentences, except for at the beginning of the book when it was explicitly stated, but I didn’t feel that connection. Their bickering felt like the trivial bickering of high school kids and I couldn’t believe that they were married with kids; I couldn’t take them seriously and I couldn’t sympathize with the challenges of their marriage.

However, what I did appreciate about the book was how fast-paced it was. It dove right into the problem shown in the blurb and didn’t drag it out, so I was carried along with the story, rather than experiencing it like I was waiting and expecting certain things to happen.

Kinsella’s book Surprise Me is a pleasant surprise; it is thought provoking while also entertaining. The main characters, Dan and Sylvie, who have been together for 10 years, learn at their respective physicals that they are likely to live another 65+ years, based on their current health and family history. At first this is exciting news but the reality of being with the same person for six more decades starts to affect them. The spouses start evaluating their choices and decisions, both current and future oriented.

Along their journey of self discovery and re-evaluation, both realize they did not know themselves or one another as well as initially believed. Each decides to try and surprise the other with gifts and actions, to liven up their lives. However, plans often don’t go as intended, and with Kinsella’s wry humor, the story is entertaining and funny, without being predictable or too unrealistic. The couple has to figure out what they really want out of life and how he other fits in with their idea of the future. The tale unfolds with some twists and turns that I did not anticipate, and the end result was both satisfying and appropriate.

As a 50 year old, I thought I was aging out of Kinsella’s audience range, but Surprise Me showed me that I was wrong. She is able to continually develop new plots and keep the concepts fresh and new, while being relatable to many ages.

Not my favorite Sophie Kinsella--felt more like her Madeleine Wickham alter-ego. Just wasn't fun for me which I was expecting. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a very interesting book. The premise was not something I ever read before and did not expect the twist. Great characters, wonderfully funny dialogue and a lovely surprise ending!

Surprise Me wasn't quite the typical romantic comedy I'm usually looking for when I read Sophie Kinsella, but I did enjoy the story.  The main character has a nice arc and changes by the end, which was a relief because I was a bit annoyed with her at times. I was equally in-the-dark about the biggest surprise of all as Princess Sylvie herself was, so the curiosity momentum definitely kept me reading. It was nice to read a love story that didn't have as predictable a plot, even if picking up in the middle of a marriage robbed me of my beloved meet-cute. 

I suspect I'd have enjoyed this book a lot more if I was seeking stories about how married people's love lives can still have surprises, too. As it was, I enjoyed the book but don't know that I'd have picked it up on my own based on the synopsis. So, I recommend this book for anyone looking for a love story that isn't boy meets girl so much as it is man and woman with kids try to keep the spark in their marriage alive and surprise one another along the way.

This is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading her books. I took my time with this one. However, I expected something different and was disappointed. I thought it was going to be about saving the marriage of two people (and it was), but the whole other story of Sylvie's dad's past and the book didn't seem to fit in. It seemed like I was reading two different books at some points. That storyline seem to take away from the marriage problems and I wanted more funny things about Dan and Sylvie trying to surprise each other. I look forward to the author's next one.

Sophie Kinsella is a wonderfully talented author who has written some of the wittiest and most enjoyable books in contemporary romance today like her widely acclaimed "Shopaholic" series. This book is a standalone featuring Sylvie and Dan who have been together for ten years. They take a trip to the doctor and are told they they are so healthy that they could live to be very old and that would mean being married to each other for another 68 plus years! Dan and Sylvie freak out at the thought of being married that long. (Didn't care for this plot line) Sylvie is afraid that Dan will want out of the marriage so she decides that they should implement "surprises" into their relationship! There are also a menagerie of likable characters in the story like Sylvie's best friend, Tilda and her son, Toby. Sylvie's mother was also a character but I really didn't connect with her as she seemed to be out-of-touch and someone that I would never really care to be around. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Sophie Kinsella's books, this just was not one of my favorites. It was enjoyable but I really wanted more of her older style of stories like The Undomestic Goddess and Shopaholic books. I give this book 3.5 stars but still enjoyed reading it.

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella will be available February 13, 2018 by The Dial Press, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group-Random House. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I think anyone who has been married for some time can relate to the situation put forth in Surprise Me. I have been married to my husband for almost 12 years now and we have definitely been in a rut before. I think that obviously Sylvie and Dan take things to the extreme in their reaction to realizing they would be together for a long long time (didn't they already know this when they got married? lol), but marriage is not always easy and sometimes there needs to be something to shake things up. I didn't like that these two characters, who had been married for quite some time, didn't seem to know the other very well, as evidenced by their surprises for one another...but if they would have known each other better there wouldn't have been any drama to help elevate the book. I loved the idea of the surprises and didn't like how those went down, but I STILL want to try Project Surprise with my husband. The difference is, I probably won't tell him or ask him to do the same. What I loved about the book was the characters learning more about each other and Sylvie ending up surprised after all in the end in a way she would have never expected. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction.

Another wonderful addition to the Sophie Kinsella collection! I devoured every page of this book and did not want it to end! This book made me think--what would it be like if I knew I was going to be with my husband for another 68 years? At first, the thought is exciting, and then, much like the main characters, I realized that it it impossible to even think that the next 68 years will be exciting.

The couple tries to surprise each other, which is a sweet thought, but goes utterly wrong in so many ways. The overall "surprise" at the end had me shocked. When I thought about it though, Sophie had laid small clues throughout the story leading to that twist--so well written. The book moved at a quick pace and the characters were all so wonderful. I would love a sequel to know how they are after a few years have gone by.

I am so honored to have been granted the chance to review this book.

I've enjoyed every Sophie Kinsella novel I've ever read and Surprise Me was as delightful as all the others. Kinsella hallmarks of hijinks, misunderstandings, family drama, and romance all appear but I think this novel ventured into new territory by focusing in on a marriage and family secrets. It almost seemed like a twinge of Liane Moriarity had slipped in and I think it really worked for the novel overall. I like the switch from gal meets guy and shenanigans ensue to a look at the difficulties of being married for a long time and finding a different type of romance. An entertaining novel with a good blend of character growth and plot development. Highly recommended!

I Love Sophie Kinsella and was super excited to get a copy of this book.

Sylvie and Dan have been together for 10 years they have twin daughters and have a great relationship. One day they go in for a doctor visit and are told they are healthy and plan to spend a good long life together. But those words take a spin and makes them both rethink the whole “till death do us part” But to amp up their life and remember to enjoy each other they come up with Project Surprise Me. With tons of laugh out loud parts and cute moments this book pulled me and held me to the very end.

This is a great read and I would most definitely recommend it to my friends.

Surprise Me was not what I was expecting, unfortunately. And I say that as a fan of Sophie Kinsella, which is sad, because I generally like what she does. Fluffy chick lit, with a flaky (but not too flaky) main character who gets her happy ending.

And then we have Sylvie. She and her husband Dan seem like the usual married couple. Have twin girls who are cute and spunky, a nice house with a mortgage, and a backyard. Perfect little life. Oh, and they're of course super healthy and toned and gorgeous.

That's where the trouble starts. Their doctor tells the perfect couple, that oh, wow, you're going to live forever. This makes them realize how dull their lives will be in 68 years form now, and what can they do to spice it up right now?!

This leads to hijinks, bad planning, strained relationships, and things coming out of the woodworks that don't exactly help a marriage succeed. (view spoiler)

Typical chick lit fare, to be honest.

I had so much trouble caring about Sylvie though. She seemed out of her mind, paranoid, and kind of crazy. I almost felt like she didn't deserve her life, and how dare she act like she does? She's a spoiled brat, and maybe this is why she is written to be unlikable, but it's almost to the point that I feel sorry for Dan and the kids. Probably not what you want for your main character's family.

I wish the museum was hashed out a bit more, it seemed like an amazing place, but kept getting thrown off by the randomness of it all. A whole display of fans? Armour? It's a house?

I could nitpick for days, but I'll leave it at this: It's... alright. Not the greatest, and any twists and turns are kind of obvious, but a nice light read for a weekend. Just don't grind your teeth too much when Sylvie acts like, well, a princess.

Review will be posted on my blog on February 2, 2018 -- https://wp.me/pH3o8-45Z

Thank you to Random House Publishing for sending me a digital copy of this book for review. As you all know, I adore Sophie Kinsella and always look forward to reading her new books. Naturally, once I got my ARC of this I had to dig in and I loved it immediately! It had a bit of a Shopaholic vibe to it, especially the earlier books, but still had that seriousness of her newest books. I loved Sylvie's character and I also loved how this book wasn't about finding love, even though it kind of is.

Being a married person, reading this book did make me realize that it is kind of scary to think of how long marriage is - though I don't think I'm quite as worried as Dan and Sylvie were in this book. I loved how they searched for new ways to keep the magic of their marriage alive and through that search they discovered more about each other than they had expected.

This book didn't quite have the feel of her last book, which I completely adored, but I still really enjoyed it. I did wonder where it was going to go and was surprised with how the book turned out - it definitely wasn't what I had expected! As usual, though, this book had me laughing and it left me wanting to remind my husband of how much I love and appreciate him. So this book is really a love story, but more of a love story for people who might feel like "till death do us part" is a daunting amount of time.

This was definitely one of those stories that I gobbled up in no time and as usual I finished it wanting more books from Sophie Kinsella. I loved her acknowledgements at the end to her readers and it really cemented in me why she's one of my favourite authors.

I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella so whenever she has a new book out I have to get my hands on it and fast. Surprise Me did not disappoint. This time we have Sylvie and Dan who find out they are so healthy they should live for another 68 years. This freaks them out and they decide to surprise each other to keep their marriage fresh. Some of the surprises go all wrong and some are laugh out loud. There are other things happening like Sophie's workplace struggling financially and Dan getting reconnected with old friends including a former girlfriend. Secrets are kept that lead to misunderstandings. Sophie does a great job of weaving several different stories eventually into one. Definitely pick this one up and be prepared to be entertained and be prepared to look at your own relationship.

A solid read by an author that has, admittedly, become somewhat predictable in the sense that you know exactly what type of heroine and hero you are going to encounter and exactly what kind of story you'll be reading. But there's something comforting in the madcap, slightly frenetic, colorful worlds that her characters inhabit and while Kinsella will never be a binge author of mine, she's a consistent go-to author. The perfect airplane, quick , comfort read kind of book and this one did not disappoint.

Kinsella messes with form in this story, by starting pretty early with a scene where our heroine is discovering something HORRIBLE about her husband, our hero. It's pretty easy to guess as to what she's discovering, but before it's revealed to the reader the story jumps back to a few weeks earlier to give more backstory. Sylvie and Dan are married and this HUGE SECRET upsets everything about their perfect world, except, as predicted, it resolves in a neat, tidy, and an actually delightfully warm love story. There's a lot of family and marriage dynamics that provide nice backstory and depth to the characters. I knew exactly the trajectory the heroine would be taking the second she launched into her first of many glossy overtures of her deceased father (who- surprise, surprise- is not as glorious as she remembers) but the relationships felt rooted in realism and that ultimately is what drew me in. I enjoyed the read immensely.

In return for an honest review, I received an ARC.

I am a fan of Sophie Kinsella. So when I saw the opportunity to review her new book, I jumped at it. I was certain I would love it. I've read all of her books (some 2 or 3 times). This book started slowly for me. Her usual wit was somehow lacking and I had to push myself to continue reading, certain that it would be great like her other books. It picked up after about 50 pages. The premise of the story is that what once seemed like a great marriage, suddenly seems boring after learning that they will live much longer than they had anticipated. Thus the "surprise me" challenge. After some rather questionable attempts at surprising each other, the wife (Jane) discovers that her husband is keeping secrets from her. This is where the book really takes off for me. Jane begins to question every nuance of her husband's behavior and even takes to following him around. Ultimately, the surprises are revealed and they are unexpected and make her question everything. Sadly, for me at least, this book didn't fulfill its potential. The comic relief felt too forced. As I mentioned earlier in this review, I love Ms. Kinsella's books. I especially appreciate those later works that rely more on the dynamics of relationships than on comedic relief. I gave this book 3 stars because I think it's a great premise and the ending is totally unexpected.

Not as entertaining as her Shopaholic series, which I love, but it was a good story overall that makes you think about the challenges that you face over a lifetime. It did have parts that made me laugh and parts that were very serious. I enjoyed it overall.