Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for me to read and review.

I've always been outspoken about my love for Sophie Kinsella. Her books are these little bright spots in my life. The characters are so flawed, yet so funny and endearing.

Simply put, I loved this book.

Fixie was great. Her inescapable desire to fix things and her strained relationship with her family were way too relatable to me. The infuriating brother with a super sweet girlfriend? Yeah, I know all about that. When Fixie was contemplating why his girlfriend like him so much, I nodded along and looked at my own family dynamic.

Kinsella's books have a comfortable formula, yet she manages to pull me in with each story she creates. I wanted to scream at Fixie during her interactions with Ryan (and again, my own parallels bubbled up in my mind), and I came as close to swooning as I ever do whenever Seb showed up.

Every character was fun and unique and brought something to the story. Fixie's siblings were infuriating, but watching them evolve and change was good. The employees at the shop were all hilarious and endearing - each in their own way.

The ending was not unexpected, but I still felt that deep sense of satisfaction when everything fell into place.

This was a home run for me. To be fair, I would probably read an instruction manual written by Kinsella, but this was a great read, and I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to get a sneak peek.

Sophie Kinsella's books that fall out of the Shopaholic spectrum range from awful (Finding Audrey) to really good (Twenties Girl) but mostly fall in the middle. Somewhat good fluff. A quick fun read. There's nothing wrong with it, and I admit I look forward to reading her yearly piece of fluff. I was happy to get an early copy from Netgalley.

At first this seemed a little weightier than the last book Kinsella came out with, which was so unimportant that I can't even remember what it was about (something about being bored with your spouse), but as the book went on it got so bogged down with plot that it turned into another so-so Kinsella book. There was a LOT happening in this book, and it flew along so quickly that I didn't have time to get the bigger picture of the plot. I found I didn't really empathize with the characters and their situations enough. It helped to read through the book again once I had finished it the first time, because there are little clues that are mentioned once in the book that are never brought up again, that made me realize why one character did something later in the book, and why another character had a strong reaction to it.

It was a good read. I didn't mind reading it twice back to back. I will probably read it again in a few years when I have forgotten most of the plot, and I expect I will mostly enjoy it then too.

Mini Review:

While this book has an excellent premise, it overall just isn't for me. The prose felt clumsy, as well as the female protagonist's personality. Her internal thoughts didn't feel like they flowed or followed her own, signature tone. The cover is so gorgeous! But the content just didn't deliver this time. That inherent investment one feels for a great book wasn't there this time.

*Longer review on Goodreads/Blog to come!

You know Sophie Kinsella from her Shopaholic novels and many more hilarious books that we have loved for years. I really enjoyed I Owe You One, it’s just what you’d expect from Sophie. Its funny, sweet, heartwarming and the main character has a heart of gold though she’s a bit dysfunctional. Sitting down with a book by Sophie Kinsella is like hanging out with an old friend.

SYNOPSIS:

Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will?

It’s simply not in Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?

Its a quick read and lots of fun. It was a great break from all of the thrillers I have been reading!

Due out: February 2019

I am a Sophie Kinsella fan. Her books are heartwarming, charming, and a favorite of mine in women fiction. However this book didn’t connect with me. I tried to love the characters but found them hard to like. I loved the plot idea of a small family business, but didn’t enjoy the execution of it. I will still forever be a Kinsella fan but was definitely disappointed.

I felt this was a typical Sophie Kinsella book. It will do well as an easy to read chick-lit. I'm not a big fan of the genre, but this was okay. The usual stuff kept it entertaining while not surprising

Kinsella has created another heartwarming story about a young woman named Fixie Farr, her family, family business and love life. In typical Kinsella fashion, it is impossible not to fall in love with this funny protagonist. The Farr family own a general store, that was initially the love child if Michael Farr, aka Dad, who is now deceased, and has been picked up by Mom and Fixie with a little help from her siblings Nicole and Jake. Nicole however is wrapped up in her own world of Yoga and missing her husband who went to Abu Dabi. Jake has his own business in which he does "deals" like the big deal he did on nude nickers, that brought in a lot of money. On her Mother's birthday, the love of her life, Ryan returns, after leaving to go to LA to find his fortune as a movie producer. This is just one of the things that turns Fixie's life upside down. Another thing that Fixie loves is the family store, and she works there full time. All was well with the store until Mom's birthday dinner. Mom works way too much and focuses on the care of everyone else., Unfortunately, all work and no play catches up with her and she does not fair so well at her own birthday party causing her sister to swoop in and ,recommend that she comes away with her on holiday. This would mean that the Farr siblings would need to be in charge of the store. To make life even more interesting, she ends up meeting Sebastian at a coffee shop, whose computer she saves from an unexpected flood of water. Seb gives her an IOU - he wishes to repay her kindness for this good deed. She does not want to take him serious about the IOU.... but who knows... it could come in handy.
I greatly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what Kinsella comes up with next!

I have read other books by Sophie Kinsella and have enjoyed them, but I didn't connect with this one. She is a talented author, there is no doubt, but you can't win them all. There are others who won't agree with me on this particular book, that's okay. However, I will give it 3 stars for her creativity alone.

This is quite possibly my favourite Sophie Kinsella book, period. Yes, there are certainly some cringe-worthy moments, but Fixie Farr is one of the most lovable and realistic characters that I've met in a novel.

Fixie makes a lot of mistakes and gives in to a lot of people because it is very difficult to say no to friends and family that you have known your entire life. I'm sure that all of us would love to say that we never budge on our principles, but that is easier said than done. She is trying to balance the expectations of her mother, brother, sister, uncle, customers, friends, and love interest all at once, and the balancing act is equal parts entertaining and heart-wrenching.

I had many laugh-out-loud moments- far more so than in the Shopaholic books! Fixie is relateable and you can see yourself being showered in red rubber balls or having to explain to someone that a yoga/meditation session in a shop won't convince customers to buy baking products. Sophie is an incredibly talented writer and can take you to some pretty outrageous situations, and make you feel like you are right there with them.

I will absolutely be buying this when it publishes!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love. Love. Love. There is nothing Sophie Kinsella can't do! Her quirky characters are a delight! The Shopaholic books are fun, but her stand alone books are even better. After meeting in a coffee shop, are Seb and Fixie destined to trade IOUs? Read it and see for yourself.

I’ve read enough books by Sophie Kinsella to know that the main character, whose nickname is Fixie because she’s always trying to fix other people and situations, will eventually have character growth. In her case, she lets her family and a man she’s been crushed out over since she was ten years old walk all over her. Even though I had faith she’d grow a backbone at some point, it was still hard to read all the ways she’s refuses to see things clearly or speak up for herself.

One of the things Fixie does is rescue a fellow coffee shop patron’s laptop when the ceiling caves in from water damage. Sebastian writes on a coffee sleeve “I owe you one.” The ways the two pay each other back is a big part of this novel, as is the way her relationship with her older brother and sister and the family business play out.

As with other Kinsella novels, this is an easy, fun read. Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 19, 2109.

So many twists and complicated family issues keep you on your toes amd turning pages. Sebastian and Fixie are amazing people.

Nice quick, engaging read. Love the hardware store theme. Sophie is almost too good at writing horrible characters; often with her books my dislike towards the antagonists overwhelms the good parts.

A young woman's favor for a handsome stranger she meets in a coffee shop turns her life upside down in a wonderful way. Another great romcom from Sophie Kinsella!

Sophie Kinsella's books are always a reliable read but this one was one of my favorites! It was funny and touching and had some twists I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed it so much I had a hard time putting it down and ended up staying up half the night to finish it.

Sophie Kinsella has written a great book with all the charm, characters and confusion in a real life family...with a touch of romance to tie it in a bow!

I can always count on Sophie Kinsella for a feel-good read. I was rooting for Fixie, and the ending did not disappoint.


*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

It would be disingenuous of me to not say, right off the bat, that I am a Sophie Kinsella fan. I just enjoy her writing and books and she is very consistent in writing enjoyable, fun stories. One of the things that I like best about her is that in the midst of her light, funny books are threads of truth and ultimately self discovery and redemption. I would almost be tempted to call this pattern a bit formulaic at this juncture but for her it still just works.

I had a bit of trouble at the very start with the characters. I even got a little stuck over the name "Fixie." I mean, Fixie? It just seems a little too 'twee' and I am getting a bit tired of reading books in which the characters have some of the most ridiculous, out-there names I have ever heard. But before long I had adjusted and I was in for a penny, in for a pound.

I woke up during the night and could not go back to sleep until I read the last quarter of the book and sighed happily at the conclusion.

Well done, Sophie Kinsella! I can't wait until your next one!

I needed a ‘nice’ story as s break from all my murder novels but I’m sorry to say I just didn’t care for this one. I didn’t find the characters interesting nor kind

I always enjoy her books and this was no exception. I always get slightly frustrated by her characters- but that’s part of the charm I guess! Her female leads always struggle with self worth - but the author always handles it in such a funny and real way. Recommend!