I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Fixie Farr got her nickname from her need to fix any problems she sees.  She also lives by her late father's motto of “family first” and works at his shop to keep his memory alive.  When a stranger asks Fixie to watch his laptop in a cafe while he takes a call, she ends up saving it from disaster.  In return, Seb, the owner of the computer and an investment manager, writes her an IOU on a coffee sleeve. Fixie has no plans to use it, but when her childhood crush Ryan comes back to town needing a job, her need to fix things leads her to cash in the IOU for Seb to give him a job.  Life should be looking good with Ryan back in her life again, but things aren't going quite as she planned.

This wasn't my favorite of Kinsella's novels.  The supporting characters were a little too out there for me, more caricatures than real people.  I did like the second half of the book, where we focused more on Fixie and Seb, but that part felt kind of rushed to me.  I'd give 2 stars for the first half of the book and 3 and a half stars for the second half.

Fixie Farr's family runs Farrs, a hardwares store. Technically, it's more like Fixie and her mom run the store, while Fixie's older brother, Jake, and sister, Nicole, flit in and out, doing their own thing. Fixie has always been intimidated by her siblings. Jake is pursuing his MBA and prefers the posh side of life; he's always after one business deal or another. Nicole, recently married, lives at home while her husband works abroad. Fixie lives by the motto of "Family First," ingrained in her by her late father since forever. This means running the store and looking after family, even at the expense of her own dreams. She's lusted after the same boy since grade school, Ryan Chalker, and still lives at home, dutifully tending to her family's needs. One day a stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop. When Fixie saves it from being destroyed, he gives her an IOU. Meanwhile, Ryan returns to London from Los Angeles. At the same time, Fixie's family dynamic faces a radical change. Will all of these moments force Fixie--who earned her nickname for her desire to always fix things--to face up to her fears, to become more forceful? Or will she let her family and the people in her life still walk all over her? And will she cash in on that IOU?

"Some people hear the Lord Jesus guiding them; I hear my dad, before he died, saying in his East End accent: Family is it, Fixie. Family is what drives us. Family is everything. Family loyalty is basically our religion."

This book had to grow on me. In the beginning, Fixie drove me a little crazy. I was less irritated with her devotion to her family (perhaps I could relate there), but I was annoyed at how clueless she was in her adoration to Ryan Chalker, who was just terrible. And truly, Fixie's siblings were pretty awful to her, too. There were very few side characters in this one who were easy to like. Even Sebastian, whose laptop Fixie rescues (and who, obviously, becomes her love interest), goes back to his girlfriend a little often for my taste. Which is sad, because otherwise the Fixie/Seb dynamic is quite enjoyable and really quite funny. Still, the poor girl was clearly under a lot of pressure with her family and the store, so I get some of her behavior there. As for Ryan, I'm not so sure what her excuse was!

Still, this book wins you over with time. Fixie is an engaging character and really, rather endearing. She can't help but be who she is and she really can't help whom she is surrounded by (except Ryan--let's just all agree he's awful). When Seb enters the scene, things become more funny, and things pick up as Fixie starts to grow into her own skin. This growth is a Kinsella staple, and she does it well. There's moments of her trademark humor, as well.

Overall, this one is predictable but sweet, and once I got past some of Fixie's issues, I enjoyed it. It's a light, quick read. 3+ stars.

This is my EIGHTEENTH Kinsella book. Obviously, I'm a fan, and I Owe You One had all those ingredients that keep me coming back. It was funny, charming, heartwarming, endearing, and everything I have grown to expect from a Sophie Kinsella books. 

• Pro: Fixie was wonderful. She was sweet, kind, considerate, and fiercely loyal. I loved how she was rather selfless, even if she did make some decisions, which drove me bananas. She learned a lot, though, and the Fixie at the end of the book was better for the experience. 

• Pro: The idea of "owing" someone was explored in multiple ways with respect to friendship, romance, and family. Fixie's struggle with this and how it related family loyalty was interesting, and I really appreciated the way she questioned how it affected the family dynamic. 

• Pro: Seb was a great character. He and Fixie meshed so well together, and I shipped them quite hard. 

• Pro: As I expected, this book was packed with lot of fun antics and was downright hilarious at times. I absolutely let out some laughs, and there was a lot of grinning too. 

• Pro: There were quite a few beautiful moments in this book, and I really adored the way Kinsella let the characters evolve over the course of the story. I was extremely pleased with the way the relationship between Fixie and her siblings changed, and was proud of her for making those changes happen. 

• Pro: I actually had a lot of fun in the store. Kinsella packed it with some really oddly fun characters, and they provided lots of amusement. 

Overall: An amusing and heartfelt story of a woman navigating family, romance, and professional life, which made me laugh out loud and smile from ear to ear.

(2.5) I was very excited when I received a review copy of this book from the publisher as I have enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's books in the past. Unfortunately, this one didn't click with me as her other books have. The characters were a little annoying to me, and I struggled a little at the beginning of the book thinking I was not going to finish it. I hung in there, though, and did finish it in a couple of days. I was determined not to give up on it. There is some romance, though I found the relationship between Fixie and Seb a bit strange, and there were some humorous moments but I didn't find myself laughing out loud as I have reading Kinsella's other books. I'm a bit disappointed that this one didn't do it for me, but that won't stop me from reading her next one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I fell in love with this story right away! Fixie Farr is such an endearing character that you cannot help but fall in love with.  I mean she is literally a hero from the beginning of the story saving Sebastian’s laptop from water damage, hence the beginning of the “I Owe you One” story!

This was the story of Fixie becoming the woman she was meant to be. She was working at her family business, living at home with her Mother, Single; in love with her first crush and shy to speak up around her own brother. As this story unfolds, Fixies learns that she must believe in her own strengths to find her own destiny. The question is what is that destiny? 
I often could not put the book down.

I had never read a Sophie Kinsella story until this one and I am very excited for my next!

I Owe You Won by Sophie Kinsella is a story of a woman so self-effacing that she is willing to sacrifice anything in service of others.  Her family and “boyfriend” are all too-ready to take advantage of Fixie’s inclination to transform herself from a smart, capable and creative individual to a well-worn doormat. The first half of the book was difficult, almost painful reading, and readers might be tempted to give up.  Don’t do it!

The second half of the book is Fixie’s path forward to taking hold of her own life.  It is fun, and more than once, laugh-out-loud hilarious.  I confess that I was not persuaded in the miracles that Fixie apparently wrought in the people around her.  Nonetheless, I won’t be surprised to see this story on screen, and I expect I will enjoy it.  Pick this book if you are looking for a light read that will divert and amuse.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the electronic ARC and the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for a copy of I Owe You One for review, out now!

I can’t say I really loved this one, though the second half really was better than the first. 
Fixie has some very toxic character traits that made me just angry with her. She was really down on herself, she believed everyone was better than her, and she put her family over everything, even herself. She fell over backward for her brother and her high school crush (both of whom were self absorbed and used her knowing she would worship them no matter what). 
Eventually she figured out that she could do something for herself but it wasn’t soon enough or redeeming enough for me to love these characters.

Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite authors since the Confessions of a Shopaholic- so I'm always excited to see her have a new release. I Owe You One had everything I love in a her novels- flawed but fun characters, great dialog, and a unique premise.  I enjoyed that this book was a bit more focused on an entire family and the setting of the family-owned shop was delightful. 

Fans of Kinsella’s other novels and her style will certainly enjoy I Owe You One. Looking forward to her next release!

I think one of the main reasons I loved this book is because I related a lot to the main character, Fixie, who feels a compulsive need to fix everything... vases askew, situations she messed up with her words, other people’s lives- everything! It gets her into trouble but it’s also a huge asset. As is the case with most thing, our greatest strength can be our greatest weakness. 

I wish the novel had spent just a little more time on how Fixie's need to fix everything was The Thing That Saved Everything in the end. It just felt a little rushed/brushed over. 

The love story was a little weird and I would say a lot of people aren’t going to love this one, but I definitely have read much worse. It seems to happen really fast, which is typical of this genre, but there was something about it that felt slightly unrealistic. 

All the characters in this novel are fun (or terrible) and feel like they could be people you know in real life. Kinsella did a great job with the characters. I've read a few of her other books and I didn't feel like I was listening to the same old people again. That is quite an accomplishment considering how many books she has! 

Will definitely be recommending this to my friends who need a lighter, fun read!

What a wonderful leading man ... Kinsella has created the perfect book hero. Sebastian is kind, considerate, but vulnerable, and of course tall and handsome.

The protagonist, Fixie, I had more trouble liking. Just because push-over personalities are a pet peeve of mine.

This book was a great improvement over Surprise Me, because the romance was swoon worthy, but still... what's lately with Kinsella, dead fathers, and obnoxious families? At lest the mother was likable in this one, but she stays on the page far too shortly. I wish the book had been more about Seb and Fixie.

A special mention goes to Leila, one of the best supporting characters ever.

The second half of the book was ten times better than the first half.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite writers! Whenever I need a book to cheer me up, I always gravitate toward her books. Her last book was also one of the first books that I ever reviewed on this account. So I was incredibly excited to get a chance to read I Owe You One early.

I really enjoyed this one! I think Kinsella just keeps getting better with each book. It was fantastic to see the main character come into her own, particularly toward the end. But you’ll be rooting for Fixie from page one!

Plus the romance was so cute! There was bad timing, mistakes, and an absolutely adorable meet-cute. The characters were all multi-dimensional and the plot was highly engaging. There were a few moments where there was a bit much going on and there was one moment toward the end where I wanted Fixie to have a bit more agency. Anyway, I’d recommend this one to Kinsella fans or anyone looking for a fun, cute romance.

I am always hesitant when starting a new Kinsella book because I have found them to be very hit or miss.  I’m happy to report this is a hit!  It’s Brit Chick Lit at its best! Some very funny moments but also some very sweet memorable ones. I liked her cast of characters especially Leila.  The scenes felt vivid without being too wordy.  I could have done with less store talk but otherwise I highly recommend for lovers of chick lit 😍

This is exactly what I expected when I pick up a book by Sophie. Silly moments, a family that grows together, and a love story.

Fixie is a hands on woman who is always busy fixing things. Part having grown up being the one who does it all and part trying be a people pleaser she runs nonstop fixing anything and everything.

When she saves the day for a handsome stranger she ends up with the ultimate IOU. Fixie continues to run herself crazy as she tries to fix family, her job, and her love life. When she uses the IOU she sets off a chain of events that touch the lives of herself and all those she cares about.

Super cute read that reminds us that standing up for ourselves isn’t always easy, but is worth everything.

I have enjoyed many Sophie Kinsella books in the past, but unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. It kind of felt all over the place and I didn't really enjoy the romance aspect of it as much as I was expecting to. 

Fixie was just not the type of heroine that I like. She kind of let people walk all over her and I spent half the book mentally telling her to toughen up. I didn't understand her relationship with Seb and the on and off again pattern was a little annoying. 

I just kind of gave up on this one, but I definitely tried as I really have liked this author's work in the past.

I Owe You One is another enjoyable novel by Sophie Kinsella. Fixie Farr is just as her name describes. She is a young woman who can't leave anything undone.  She meets Sebastian in a coffee shop when she saves his laptop from imminent destruction. Sebastian declares he must repay Fixie's kindness-he owes her a favor. Romantic sparks don't fly between Fixie and Sebastian because Fixie is more concerned with her former crush Ryan. In fact, Fixie cashes in her favor with Sebastian to help Ryan. Fixie is an extremely thoughtful woman and that is what makes her an interesting character. Kinsella has written a fantastic novel about friends, family and love.

Fixie Farr is a young woman who works in the family business (retail store). She and her mother more than carry their own weight since her father died years before. His motto was “Family first” and Fixie tries to adhere to it, though her siblings are a bit of a trial.

Neither her brother nor her sister seem to have the same work ethic. Brother Jake is busy making posh deals that seem more like pie in the sky than anything concrete and meaningful. Sister Nicole is into appearances over substance and has a fixation on yoga and Instagram.

Fixie does the works and fixes things that her siblings and co-workers at the family business cause to “break”. When her mother leaves for a vacation, she leaves all three in charge with their uncle to keep things running. Without her mother’s vote, Fixie has to keep things from coming unglued.

In her personal life, she has had an almost life-long crush on her brother’s friend, Ryan. After many years, it seems like a relationship can become a real thing. Problem is, Fixie is once again having to fix everything, including helping Ryan get a job.

Fixie, as usual, helped a complete stranger and the stranger, Seb (Sebastian) gives her an IOU. Fixie is put into the position of calling it in and the rest of the story ensues.

I really enjoyed the book but was a little surprised by a somewhat graphic sex scene. At that time, it seemed out of place, but as the story developed, it showed the way a relationship was going to end up.

The only thing that I wish had been dealt with more emphasis was the obvious OCD issues that Fixie has. There are physical manifestations that show a deep-rooted problem. It would have been nice to have Fixie seeking some counseling to help her control her tendencies in this area.

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

This book was so much fun! I just love Sophie Kinsella's sense of humor in her writing. Her characters are so animated, its easy to imagine them. 
I think a lot of readers will identify with Fixie and her life. So many moments during reading I could pick out things in my own life that were very similar. Sophie Kinsella is great at bring characters to life that are all too real feeling!

Fixie Farr is a fixer of all things, so when she feels responsible to keep the family business going, chaos ensues. This was a charming story by the amazing Sophie Kinsella, who write such wonderfully captivating and witty characters. A delightful, fight for what you want romance!

I received an advanced reader copy of I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella from Random House through Netgalley

What It’s About: 'Family First' is the motto of the Farr family and something Fixie lives by. She prioritizes everything over her own interests and helps run the family store her father left behind. She gets nervous by confrontation and aims to please. Therefore, when she saves an investor's computer, and he offers her a favor, she decides to use it to help her longtime crush. From there a bunch of circumstances happen. 

What I Loved: I really related to Fixie and her desire to please everyone eve at the sacrifice of her own interests. The ability to relate to Fixie makes you hurt for her and get angry on her behalf which makes it a more worthwhile read. I really liked Seb and also loved some of the secondary characters like Greg, Hannah, and Fixie's mother. 

What I didn’t like so much: I didn't like a few of the characters because they were painfully awful. Fixie's siblings and her uncle's behavior were frustrating and rude and while I know they were meant to be, it didn't make it easier to read. Also, Ryan is annoying, the whole time. I don't want to give to much away but let me just leave it this way. You have a character who puts people first and rarely sees a return. 

Who Should Read It: People who love good 'chick-lit'. People who don't mind frustrating antagonists. People who love to cheer for a genuinely nice character. 

General Summary: A book about learning the importance of taking care of yourself.

I have really enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's books in the past (and I still love Can You Keep a Secret?, I've Got Your Number, and The Undomestic Goddess) but this one was a serious disappointment. First of all, it was hard to get over the MC's name - Fixie?  I don't know, it was attempted to be explained but it felt weird for the entire book.  Second, Fixie was so oblivious for at least half of the book as to her own friends and family and their true selves that it was beyond frustrating.  I just kept thinking, REALLY?! to myself and being upset.  I don't know - this just felt boring, rehashed of previous plot devices from SK's books and overall could have done with more editing.

I Owe You One comes out next week on February 5, 2019, and you can purchase HERE. Hopefully you have better luck with this one than I did!

Two weeks later Mum is in St. Tropez with Aunty Karen. She keeps sending me long texts about the marina and the boats and the sunshine, and I know I should send her a proper reply--but I can't fact it. Once I start typing to Mum, everything will pour out, and I'll start sniveling all over my keyboard. 

So instead I'm zapping her lots of smiley faces and emojis of shiny suns and sailboats and dodging the truth altogether. (Maybe that's what emojis were invented for in the first place, and I've just been using them wrong. They're not there to convey thoughts in a fun way; they're there to lie to your mum.)