As someone who has read every single Sophie Kinsella/Madeline Wickham book, it took me a bit to become invested in this one. Usually, I finish her books within a day, but this one was a bit slow in the beginning. Sophie Kinsella creates strong, lovable female characters that you want to root for! Fixie is no different, although a little less entertaining at first. The book leaves you feeling happy and content with the conclusion. A light, entertaining read.

I love all of Sophie Kinsella's books BUT I just couldn't get into this one. I hated the main character. This book lacked the usual light, funny wit she writes.

In ‘I Owe You One’ Sophie Kinsella introduces the reader to a group of adults in their 20’s who are trying to figure out their lives. Three siblings - Nicole, Fixie, and Jake, live in London where they work with their mother in a local shop. Each has dreams of a life that is different than what they currently have and these dreams often get in the way of their day to day work obligations, as they negotiate relationships with one another and the rest of their friends and family.

Fixie is the primary character in the book, with the story told through her eyes. She is struggling from a failed business and the belief that she is to as good as her siblings. This mindset limits Fixie from moving forward with her life, which was frustrating to read at times. It was hard to not get aggravated with how she let people walk all over her when the reader could see the truth about select individuals in the book.

Once Fixie starts to recognize that people are not who she thought they were, she starts to take stock of her life and make changes. The book really took off from there and it was wonderful to see the protagonist take charge. Though I didn’t like Fixie’s character in the beginning of the novel, I understand why she had to come from a lower place of self awareness to have such a transformation at the end. Ultimately, this is one of Kinsella’s better novels given the character development throughout the book.

I Owe You One is about an adorable, caring lady named Fixie who watches out for everyone but herself. Fixie lives by the mantra "Family First" first stated by her father when she was younger. Unfortunately, she is the only one in the family besides her mother that believes this. After saving an important possession, Fixie receives a life-changing "IOU" from a stranger. This entertaining family drama is very relatable and easy to read. I love that Fixie becomes a self-reliant woman who saves the day for her family and friends.

Thank you Penguin Random House for allowing me to read the novel. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. I am not one of the many who have read Sophie Kinsella from the beginning. I've read the last few, and I liked this one. It was fun, light reading. I felt like, Fixie, the main character was so much of a doormat that it drove me a bit nuts...but, it's exactly what it strives to be: chick lit. And, I'm not one who loves a lot of romance in my books, so this fit the bill perfectly for that. Recommended. I'd give this one 3.5

I adored this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Sophie Kinsella novel and I’ve forgotten just how addictive they can be. Once I started it I could hardly put it down.

I really expected I Owe You One to be romance-heavy, but it wasn’t as central to the plot as I thought it would be. That wasn’t a bad thing, though. The story focuses a lot on Fixie’s relationship with her family and with her own issues of confidence and self-worth. Fixie got her nickname by always needing to fix things – messes, people, etc. Her siblings, Jake and Nicole, take advantage of her, as does Ryan, the man she’s had a crush on for most her life. Throughout most of the book I just couldn’t get over how awful those three people were. I was really frustrated by how Fixie let herself get steamrolled over and how she couldn’t speak up for herself. As the story goes on, though, she learns to speak up and practice a little tough love.

Even though the romance wasn’t as central as I expected, it did still play an important part in Fixie’s story. I just loved Seb. He was such a genuinely good person. I loved his sense of humor and how sweet he was. That’s not to say he’s perfect, of course. When he and Fixie first meet he’s dating someone else – who is of course awful and very ill-suited for him and that was frustrating. There’s a point where his and Fixie’s relationship hits a rocky spot and I wish they would have communicated a little more effectively, but I liked how it all turned out.

Overall, I really enjoyed I Owe You One. I liked Fixie and Seb and the quirky cast of supporting characters. I even liked Jake and Nicole by the end of the story. I liked Fixie’s character growth and her relationship with Seb. I was a little disappointed that the IOUs didn’t really pay as large a role in the book as I expected, but I did like how it was utilized. This is probably my new favorite Kinsella novel and I definitely recommend it to fans of Contemporary and Women’s Fiction.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars

I am a newer fan to Sophie Kinsella’s work but having loved all of the books I’ve had the chance to read so far I was really looking forward to I Owe You One. Unfortunately though this contemporary romance just really didn’t live up to what I’ve come to know and expect from this author.

At the center of this story is Fixie Farr, and I was willing to try not to roll my eyes every time I read her name and give this book a fair shot. Fixie has gotten her nickname due to the fact that she likes to fix everyone and everything around her but usually has her own issues she hasn’t fixed, such as a long time crush on a not so nice guy.

So with Fixie trying to fix those all around her and ignoring her own dilemmas she ends up meeting Sebastian. Fixie happens to be in the right place at the right time to come to Sebastian’s rescue saving his laptop from some runaway coffee which leads to him giving an IOU and the couple beginning a relationship.

Now in typical Kinsella fashion our main character starts off a hot mess and does eventually make some improvements but it just wasn’t grabbing me the way it normally would. Most of the side characters aren’t that likable either which didn’t help matters but the romance was really incredibly lacking. We have a guy with a girlfriend suddenly in a relationship with the main character that is so so serious then they split and he goes back to the other woman. At this point Fixie gains the insight to not mess with someone in a relationship only to do just that yet again… sigh. In the end this one just didn’t end up a favorite of mine but I will still continue to look forward to reading more of Kinsella’s work in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

While somewhat predictable (it's obvious the stranger in the cafe is going to be a pivotal meeting for Fixie) this was a quick and delightful read like all of Sophie Kinsella's books.

Fixie can't help herself-- she has to fix things as she's done since she was a child. As an adult, Fixie is the only one of her three siblings who works full time in the family business, the one thing they all have left of their father. Her older brother Jake has turned into an egomaniac who wants nothing more than to become a posh international playboy, while her sister Nicole is a flighty yoga addict with a husband overseas in Abu Dhabi. Only Fixie's mother seems truly invested in the future of Farrs.

But a chance meeting with a stranger in a coffee shop is about to challenge everything Fixie knows about herself and about her family; not to mention her lifelong crush on her brother's best friend. Through a series of IOUs hastily scribbled on a coffee sleeve, Fixie begins to question everything. With her mother away on holiday, Fixie has to find a way to keep Farrs alive as her siblings inadvertently work to destroy it and her crush works to destroy her.

This was a quick, cute read with a few good laughs and a lot of soul-searching. I enjoyed it and it made for good filler reading.

I've read almost every book by Ms. Kinsella, her books are starting to become routine. While I enjoyed this work, and will keep reading her, you can start to see a pattern.

I love anything by Sophie Kinsella. She is one of the best at quirky rom coms. This book is no different. Fixie is aptly named, as she always feels she has to fix everything. Her family is used to that and seem to take advantage of this fact. A lost romance from the past and a possible new romance keeps Fixie on her toes, as well as taking care of her parent's shop.

I enjoyed this book and if you love British chick lit (which I adore), then this book is for you.

At first I wasn't sure about the main character in this book. Her nickname is Fixie and she was a little hard to like at times. She just lets people run over her more than anyone I've ever heard of. She grew her backbone in the end though and by that time I was rooting for her. I've read all of Sophia Kinsella's books but this one is definitely not a favorite. There was just something different about this book and characters. Anyway Fixie Farr is a young woman who is always unsure of herself and has to fix things in everyone's lives except her own. It starts out with her meeting a guy in a coffee shop and she saves his laptop from total damage. This meeting starts off a series of IOU's between them. Before they know it those little IOU's have become bigger than they even thought. Now Fixie has to figure out how to let go of her urge to fix everyone else and take control of her own life. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for my honest opinion and review. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone

I loved this book!! I’ve long been a huge Sophie Kinsella fan- since the first Shopaholic book- and this one did not disappoint! On the surface, her books seem to be typical “chick lit”, but not the case. This book, like so many of her others, had a great storyline, fully fleshed out characters, and tons of charm. I laughed out loud, felt Fixie’s heartache, and rooted for her. I would LOVE to see this made into a movie!

I give this book 3.5 stars.

While I Owe You One was a relaxing read, I think it would be best suited as a beach read — light fare that doesn’t require full attention.

I read most of the Shopaholic series years ago and enjoyed it. With those expectations, I Owe You One was a disappointment. While the story itself was interesting and the premise was unusual, the character development fell flat for me and I missed the humor that made the Shopaholic series so enjoyable to read.

The story follows Fixie, a nickname which encapsulates her need to fix everything and everyone sans herself. Yet she is the thing most in need of fixing but she seems oblivious to this fact.

The first paragraph drew me right in — I was intrigued and curious about the narrator:

The trouble with me is, I can’t let things go. They bug me. I see problems and I want to fix them, right here, right now. My nickname isn’t Fixie for nothing.

Fixie is somewhat pathetic and hardly relatable. While she is the main character, at best she is two dimensional whereas the other people surrounding her are one dimensional. Fixie makes it difficult to root for her as she is not a likable character. She’s had a crush on her brother’s bestie since she was 10 years old and let’s him treat her poorly and practically begs for more.

The plot device of I Owe You One was the most appealing aspect of this novel. Fixie saves a guy’s laptop from a collapsing ceiling at a coffee shop and he is eternally grateful and “owes her one” for saving his computer, which he describes as his “life.” The favor switches back and forth between the two and actually makes for a good plot. If only Fixie was likable or relatable, this might have been a more enjoyable read. While her brother’s life is spiraling out of control, his redemption happens too quickly and too easily, making it hard to believe and accept. Ultimately, the story is about family and its importance in one’s life.

I Owe You One is a fast read but also very predictable. While the first half of the book was slow-going, it does pick up in the second half when the reader begins to care what happens to Fixie. The secondary characters were only mildly interesting at best. The book has its moments and some of the writing, albeit not enough, was classic Kinsella — clever and witty.

Hi Greg acts in good faith, no one doubts that, but his logic is random and unnerving. He’s like a computer on its last legs that works perfectly until it suddenly decides to email your whole in-box to Venezuela.

Distantly, I’m aware that I’m not speaking appropriately. But I can’t seem to stop myself. Sense has taken a back seat for now. Alcohol is in charge of talking. And Alcohol says, “Woo! Anything goes!

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sophie Kinsella’s I Owe You One is the latest rom-com-nov to break no new ground

I don’t know. I’ve read quite a few of prolific romantic comedy novelist and Londoner Sophie Kinsella’s sweet books–the last three in fact–and they are fun (!) but always follow the same basic formula: quirky character is less-than-perfect, she meets someone interesting, life changes, she falls in love, they hit a road-bump usually the result of a misunderstanding, life gets hard but better in meaningful ways, and then they get back together.

Well, I do love that these stories are set near or around London–the subtle differences in product names or phrases make them not exotic exactly but just just sort of curious and like I said, the unique characters are always woman you’d imagine grabbing a pint with (see, I did it too!).

In these one, Fixie Farr goes too far to fix her family whose motto is “Family First” and after dating her dream guy growing up (never look back!), she finally takes charge, gets the cool guy, loses the cool guy (who equally needs to learn a lesson and change so it’s really neither’s fault), learns a lesson and changes, and gets back together with cool guy. The End … until the next installment of these bestsellers in about six months. I’m not complaining.

Wendy Ward
http://wendyrward.tumblr.com/

Let me start by saying I have a bit of an iffy relationship with Sophie Kinsella's books. I was intrigued enough to want to review this one and am left a little torn about the book.
The protagonist Fixie starts off fairly cliched - also what kind of a nickname is that and why do you want to be known as Fixie? She lets people walk all over her through the book and while she grows a bit, the transformation feels a bit forced and not realistic. Her family is alternatively dismissive and domineering and even her mom's character, who I initially liked, is all 'poor Fixie, there, there' and not really taking her seriously. Fixie's relationships are cringe-worthy at another level bordering on self-delusion and abuse - even with the main lead Seb, who seems to be attracted to her, gives her some offhand advice but otherwise not be able to have a real conversation. The other relationships depicted in the book are downright terrible as well. Overall it is meant to be a light fun lead with a fairly typical story arc, but I just couldn't wave aside all these flaws and like the characters to enjoy the book.

Sophia Kinsella's I owe you one is about a woman's struggle to move beyond the need to make everyone happy and to fix everything. Fixie's family relies on her to always be the one to step up and get things done including running the family store while their mother is away on holiday. She allows them to use guilt and the family motto, family first, to put them before herself. Until one day she meet someone who helps to realize she must love her family and herself; to deal tough love unconditionally when needed.

I can relate to this kind sweet character through her inability to always want to “fix” everything. The story is a quick fun read which touches your heart and the ending makes you smile. As always I recommend this book as well as all Ms. Kinsella's books. They bring joy and remind me of the simple lives we need to live to be happy.

Thank you Netgalley is for the advanced reader copy.

You have to do justice to a name like "Fixie."

In her latest, I Owe You One, Sophie Kinsella paints a portrait of a young woman with a problem: the near constant need to fix things. Whether it's finding her childhood crush a job when he's done on his luck or adjusting the shelves of inventory in Farr's, her family's store, Fixie just cannot help herself.

One day, that constant need to fix things lands her in the debt of a kind stranger with "woodland" eyes and "frondy" hair. (I'm still not quite sure what "frondy" means exactly. Is this a British adjective? Can someone please explain this to me?) It's the kind of meet-cute one hopes for in this age of ever-changing technology.

But when her mom goes on an extended holiday, Fixie and her two older siblings are tasked with taking care of their family's store--

You know what? There's a lot going on in this book and I wouldn't be able to do it justice by attempting to summarize it here. Just read it for yourselves.

While a tad predictable in parts (Does Fixie end up with the woodland-eyed, frondy-haired, kind stranger? Or does she run back into the arms of her douchey childhood crush?), Kinsella's novel is, nonetheless, a delight.

I really enjoyed this book! I love the author and this one didn't disappoint. The characters were well developed and likable. You wanted them to succeed. I can't wait for her next book already!

I am grateful to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. I adore Sophie Kinsella's books and was very excited to read this one. I loved the cover and just couldn't wait to read it. That is why it is difficult for me to say this, but this particular book of hers was not one of my favorites. I did not take to the main character from the start, and I could not get invested in the story or any of the other characters either. However, I am a firm believer that not every book is for every person. So, please do try it! Sophie Kinsella's books are typically fun and fabulous. Maybe this one just wasn't meant for me.

What can I say she has done it again. I read this book in a day and half. Her books always capture me and I devour them. I will admit that Fixie had me so upset I almost abandoned the book, but it also made me read faster to see how she would grow and change. I also wish we could have gotten more of the romance with Seb and less time with Ryan. It was underdeveloped in my opinion. I still love reading Sophie Kinsella's books!