I adore Sophie Kinsella, especially when I want a light-hearted read. It annoyed me that the main character went by Fixie and that was ok with everyone? But I loved her inner monologue and how she tried to fight "family first" and finally realized what that meant. The characters were so fleshed out that almost immediately you got a sense for them and felt visceral reactions based on their actions.

Sophie Kinsella has written another delightful read with an engaging protagonist in her novel I Owe You One published earlier this year.

The novel opened with the following paragraph:

“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.”

And I was instantly hooked. Many people—including myself—are “fixies”. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Fixie feels compelled to fix things. Even in strangers’ homes and offices. A crooked vase here, an out-of-place book there, her family and friends’ problems. But she is not compelled by bossiness, instead she is compelled out of unselfishness and her true love for others around her. This is a large part of what makes her a protagonist that the reader truly cares about. Much more than the main character in Kinsella’s last published book: Surprise Me.

The quirky humor in the book and Kinsella’s engaging style of writing also help.

Fixie is the youngest of three siblings. And it is she and her mother who keep the family store—Farrs—successful after her father’s death. Her other siblings are more of a detriment than a help. So this contributes to one of the main plot lines of the book when her mother takes a break in Spain with her sister after an illness leaving Fixie and her two siblings and an unhelpful uncle in charge of the store.

Of course, another plot line involves romance. Fixie meets the hero of the book, Seb, on a rare coffee break. She is drawn to a handsome stranger' and ends up saving his laptop from being ruined when a leak collapses the ceiling of the shop. Seb in turn presents her with an IOU:

““There must be something I can do to thank you,” he insists.
“No, really, nothing,” I say, equally firmly. “I’m fine.”
I smile politely, then turn and head toward the door. And I’m nearly there when I hear him shout, “Wait!” so loudly that I swivel back.
“Don’t go,” he adds.
“Please. Just … hold on. I have something for you.”
I’m so intrigued, I take a few steps back into the coffee shop.
He’s standing at the counter with a cardboard coffee sleeve and a pen, and he’s writing something.
“I always pay off my debts,” he says at last, coming toward me. “Always.”
He holds out the sleeve and I see that he’s written on it:

I owe you one.
Redeemable in perpetuity.

As I watch, he signs it underneath—a scribbly signature I can’t quite make out—and puts the date.
“If you ever want a favor,” he says, looking up. “Something I can do for you. Anything at all.”
He reaches in his pocket, pulls out a business card, and then looks around, frowning.
“I need a paper clip … or any kind of clip …”
“Here.” I put down my cup, reach into my Anna’s Accessories bag, and pull out a diamanté hair grip. “Perfect.”
He affixes the business card to the coffee sleeve with the hair grip.
“This is me. Sebastian Marlowe.”
“I’m Fixie Farr,” I reply. “Fixie.”
He nods gravely and extends a hand. “How do you do?”
We shake hands, then Sebastian proffers the coffee-sleeve IOU. “Please take it. I’m serious.”

I quite enjoyed this latest offering from Kinsella and highly recommend it.

Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel and for allowing me to review it.

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have to say I love love love this book! I do enjoy most of Sophie Kinsella books but this one was so sweet and had a great main character. (Someone that has been in dumb love before).

Fixie, who takes after her father, has always listened to his family motto, family first! But it seems like she is the only one of her siblings that abides by this. Her brother is simply a money hungry jerk and her sister is self centered and only cares about her looks. Maybe it's seeing them and how they behave that makes Fixie such a nice person. You see, Fixie got her name because she feels she needs to fix things and try to make everything better for everyone.

When Fixie's mom has some medical problems, she goes away for awhile to relax and enjoy herself with a family member she hasn't seen in a long time. She puts Fixie and her siblings in charge of the family store. Only, Fixie, is the only one that wants to keep it as is, while her siblings want to totally change everything. It doesn't help that right before all this happens her childhood crush, and her brothers best friend, comes home from Hollywood pretty much telling Fixie how much he has screwed up and wants to be with her.

Fixie stops at a coffee shop to get some coffee and saves his computer. He writes an IOU, I owe you one, on his coffee sleeve and gives it to her. What happens next? I won't spoil it for you. Read the book to find out. I was able to read this book in two days because I had to know what was happening in this 'love triangle', or more than a triangle I should say. This was another great book by Sophie Kinsella and I look forward to many more great reads. I would also love this to become a movie!!

I owe you one is another fun read by Sophie Kinsella. Overall, her books are usually a quick but delightful read and this is no exception. I read this on vacation by the beach!

I have loved Kinsella since I first read all the Shopaholic series! In I Owe You One, Fixie tries to manage life and her father’s legacy all on her own. Ms. FIX IT for everyone else except herself. This one is witty and cute! Very easy read! Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

This was a fun read from Sophie. I have become a fast fan of hers, this one is in line with her others. A bit quirky, but a fun looks at empowerment and love in these characters. Recommend as a great summer read when you don't want anything too heavy.

This was very much a Sophie Kinsella book, which if you've read anything by her before, means you likely know what you're getting into. She's modernized some aspects (i.e. less cringe-worthy social faux pas), but others, not so much, (i.e.the terrible SOs and family relationships that most definitely do not deserve time or forgiveness) and they haven't aged quite as well. It was enjoyable, though--very much a comfort tea read.

I LOVED this book! What an adorable meet-cute between Fixie and Seb! Then his IOU and how they just kept running into each other 😊 This has to be up there with some of Sophie’s best books. I was so glad to see Fixie stand up for herself, but to do it with kindness and love in the end. I am also glad that both of her siblings grew to understand, and really grow from Fixie’s “tough love”. This book just gave me all the feels! 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book and thank you to the publisher as well. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella was a fun read for me. I always enjoy her books. She’s been a favorite for many years. I will not give any spoilers but I really recommend this book. It’s just the perfect bit of romance and drama.

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

Fixie Farr has had to step up in the family business, after her father's death. Taking up the slack for her siblings, who always find excuses not to help Fixie and her mother, the young woman always puts everything and everyone else first. When her crush comes back into Fixie's life, will anything be different? After helping a stranger, will Fixie's life be changed? Will she ever come to the realization that not everything can be fixed or controlled and sometimes the best way isn't always her way?

Fixie Farr tries so hard to win the approval of her family, which makes I Owe You One hard to read in places. She is meek and insecure, despite the fact that she always tries to fix everyone's problems. Usually author Sophie Kinsella injects a little humor into the dialogue, but Fixie's antics come off as desperate and sad instead of funny. Her wish for approval from everyone in her life can hit a little close to home for some readers, so perhaps Fixie's lesson can help her real life counterparts. I Owe You One is a fast read, but just not as good as I was expecting.

Everything is not going perfectly for Fixie Farr. Which is not ok. Fixie got her nickname from her inability to leave things be, she has to fix them. Blindsided by her father's death, she is the only one of her siblings that appears to want things to be as her father would want them in the family-owned store. She runs the shop with her mom, who is going on her first long-term holiday in a long time. When her mom leaves, her siblings and other family members try to step in and take over with their dominant ideas which clash with Fixie wanting things to stay as her father would want it. On top of that her former flame comes back into the picture, she rescues a stranger's laptop, and she briefly gets back in touch with her old ice skating queen self. With everything falling apart, can she fix it in time for her mother's return?

Another favorite book by Sophie Kinsella! I have read many of her standalones under this surname and under her actual name: Madeleine Wickham. All of them are fun romantic adventures and this one just may be the most fun yet deep one. I think it is the most perfect romantic comedy. It has highs and lows, character building amongst all characters, deceptive villains, and family bonding.

The characters are so clearly identifiable with their own nuances that I felt like I really knew them. And they had personalities of people that I have met in my life! They are so finely tuned from beginning to end that it really becomes a masterpiece.

There was an undertone of grief and how it presents itself differently for every person. Furthermore, it depicts how simply pretending that the void is not there does not allow for healing. I also enjoyed how pride and appearances are thin veils of insecurity that can easily be torn-particularly by showboating and by social media.

True love does not mean fixing everything. True love does not just mean between lovers, it involves family too. Furthermore, a family is not just blood and sometimes we don't even truly know those closest to us.

There were misunderstandings on many levels and so many characters that I rooted for. I thought the book had reached its conclusion and then I realized I was only about 2/3 of the way through! Once I had read further then I realized that the focus of the book, although a romance, is not on romantic love but on love in its many forms. This story further proves that love isn't just the romance between lovers. This love story encompasses romantic love, familial love, and self-love.

In conclusion: I laughed, I cried, I snickered, I felt secondhand embarrassment, and I felt so proud of Fixie and her family, not just those related to her by blood. I absolutely loved this book.

I would recommend this book for adult readers who love romances, comedies, romantic comedies, and fiction in general. On the other hand, I would not recommend this book for readers who may be triggered or offended by the following: grief, parental death, sibling death, stealing, foul language, alcohol use, and/or sexually suggestive scenarios.

Please note: an Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided for free by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Cute story, easy read, but not as good as Sophie Kinsella's other books. This is one to grab from your local library!

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

I give this book 3/5 stars.

I have read all of Sophie Kinsella's books and though this one was not my favorite books of hers, it was still light and entertaining which readers typically expect of a Kinsella read. The main character, with her tendency (obsession?) to please others at the expense of her own happiness, is a character that I can relate deeply to. At times I found the lead character's spinelessness irritating, and the obliviousness of the other characters deeply annoying, but in a way only Sophie Kinsella can, the irritations and annoyances of the characters become endearing in the end. I love how Kinsella always ties things up neatly at the end of her books, and this novel is no different. I continue to be a huge fan of Kinsella's and will forever devour anything she chooses to publish.

I just want to start off by saying that I’m a huge Sophie Kinsella fan. Her books are always so funny and a feel good read.
This book definitely takes a while to really get going, but once it does, it’s great.
As usual Sophie Kinsella knows how to create an eccentric cast of characters.

This was an enjoyable read for the most part. It started out with a main character, Fixie, that was annoyingly passive. Everyone just walked all over her and she was constantly saying, "family first," even though no one else in her family seemed to go by that motto. I wanted to shake her and snap her out of it, especially in her romantic interactions. She was constantly making excuses and blind to everything going on around her. Of course, she grows throughout the book.

I'd love to get into details about what I liked or didn't like about the book, but I don't want to add any spoilers in this review. I will say that nothing really shocking happened. I knew almost everything that was going on or going to happen well before Fixie figured anything out and, as often happens in this genre, there were quite a few coincidences in the story that you just have ignore to enjoy it. These minor issues aside, it was a fun story and an easy read. I think would be a great beach or vacation read when you need something light that you don't need to think too much about.

3.5★

This was so cute! It took me a while to get through it for 2 reasons: 1) I had a ridiculously busy work schedule and 2) I honestly wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters and story! I love Sophie Kinsella... she is an instant buy for me every time and, I Owe You one is definitely worth one clicking or using a credit on. So ready to start it over again!

Found this book hard to finish, the characters just didn’t come to life. I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did sadly.

Another great story from Sophie Kinsella. Great family dynamics in the story. At times I didn’t really like Fixie, wanted to tell her to just speak her mind, glad she finally got her ninja on. Would like to read more about the Farrs.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite Authors to date. I thought this book was fresh and fun, definitely a unique premise. I always feel transported to wherever her books are set, that's how realistic the writing is to me. I enjoyed seeing how this unfolded and would absolutely recommend it.

Sophie Kinsella's books tend to be hit or miss for me...

and this one was a big, fat miss.

There are far too many things going on with the plot. Fixie* is running her father's old store while constantly feeling the need to help everyone else with their problems.. Her mother has mentally checked out and ends up living in another country for most of the book. Her brother keeps trying to bring in a higher end clientele without concerns to the location or loyal customers. Her sister is being wishy-washy and not speaking to her husband (for reasons never quite specified). Her high school crush returns and is suddenly into her. She ends up in an "I Owe You One" favor circle with a random guy she met. Not to mention, a sexist uncle who does basically nothing, but helped them out back in the day, so now they tolerate his being involved.

That said, there's a lot going on with little explanation. It almost seems better suited to a sitcom than a short chick-lit novel.

The "I Owe You One" concept is cute, but it doesn't deliver. I had been hoping for quite a bit of back and forth as they slowly got to know each other, but they really only do the favor thing a handful of times.

*I cannot stress how much I hate the name Fixie.