Well, I absolutely adore Sophie Kinsella, but she tends to be very hit or miss on her books. And this book falls into the miss pile, although it's not as disappointing as a few of her other books I've read (looking at you, Undomestic Goddess and Remember Me). I think the premise of this book was slightly weaker than some of her other stories, which hurt the entire book. Fixie is in charge of running her family's store once her father passes away and must deal with all of the shenanigans and obstacles that are thrown at her by her family.

I also really disliked many of the book's characters and didn't find anything redeeming about them, which made some of the reunions/resolutions near the end of the story less impactful and more annoying than anything. Even Fixie, the protagonist, was a weaker character than the protagonists in most of Kinsella's other books, as she let people walk all over her and kept running back to her terrible boyfriend. Another letdown was the lack of humor in this book, which is one of the biggest reasons I run to Kinsella books. Even if their premises are wacky and the plots are questionable, I can expect a number of laughs and awkward situations. This book had fewer of those and more overall cringe-y moments.

Personally I quite liked the romance in this book (for the short amount of time it happened), so at least that was one positive aspect of the book.

I think I need to take a break from romantic comedies. Sophie Kinsella is a very reliable author, her books have always brought the humor and the promise of engaging characters. I Owe You One has a smart premise, and the story was entertaining, it just seemed very uneven to me. I did appreciate that the characters seemed to experience growth through the story, but it wasnt enjoyable taking the journey with them as it was such an uphill climb.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Classic Sophie Kinsella. I absolutely loved this story. There were parts where I just wanted to reach through the book and shake some people LOL. Loved the characters - quick wit, charm, funny, clueless, rough around the edges...there was a personality for everyone.

Cute book. Kept my interest. A good rule to learn people are not always who they say they are. Fixie Farr works for her family’s business, and has been in love with Ryan her brothers’ friend for years. She thinks he might be the “one” even though he leaves her behind and goes to Hollywood. She meets a really nice young man in a coffee shop, when she minds his laptop while he takes a call and the roof collapses due to water damage on top of his laptop, where his entire business is held. He writes her an “IOU” that she thinks of as a joke until she decides to use it to help Ryan when he comes back to town and says he’s broke. This book has a really interesting story along with quite a few “lessons” that anyone should realize when reading is the backbone of the story. I did enjoy it, I give it 4 Stars and recommend it for light reading to anyone loving these types of stories….

I received this book from the author, Goodreads and the promotional people, in hopes that I would like it and give it an honest review which I’ve done. The thoughts above are my own. #GoodReads #IOweYouOne #SophieKinsella

Description from Good Reads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” But 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 her nature to say no to people.

So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. Turns out the computer’s owner is an investment manager. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, Sebastian scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

Then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. She wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. And Seb agrees, until 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? (less)

Not my favourite Sophie Kinsella novel that is for sure. I could not get over Fixie's character flaws in the first half or so of the book, although she was more tolerable in the latter half.
Her relationship with Seb seemed and I was not a huge fan. Overall a fun read, but definitely have read by her I have loved way more

Not the best Sophie Kinsella book. Really enjoyed the Shopaholic series at the beginning. This one I got about 35% through and had to set down.

Just okay. A big let down. Maybe I've had enough of Sophie. It's a cutie book and not much else.
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. Has and epiphany, then rules the world.

Fixie Farr helps her family run their housewares store in a London suburb. She has two siblings, each with their own unique personalities and problems, and neither is much help at the store. Her mother becomes ill and then leaves for Spain to stay with her sister, and the children are left in charge of the store. Conflict occurs, putting the store in jeopardy. The other storyline in this book has to do with a mysterious man that Fixie meets in a coffee shop. She saves his computer from a leaking ceiling, and he writes her an IOU. The fate of that IOU is an interesting story in itself.

I loved the characters in this book, and the fact that Fixie is portrayed as a person with flaws in judgment. Her growth throughout the story is significant, and leaves one with a good feeling by the end of the book. This was one of those books that combines humor, family drama, and some mystery for a very enjoyable read!

While I usually adore Kinsella's books, I didn't fall in love with this one. I had issues with the plot, characters and what felt like forced romance. The introduction of the main character, Fixie, already had me worried. Naming a character with a cliched nickname of Fixie? Something already felt off. Add in messy side characters and cliches and I was disappointed. While I didn't love this one, it won't stop me from reading more Kinsella titles in the future. .

Fixie Farr saves a stranger’s laptop from disaster at a coffee shop and ends up with an “IOU” that changes everything... eventually. Prepare for these characters to test your patience on every page. The heroine’s nickname comes from her desire to “fix” everything around her, but she really needed to focus on fixing herself. The hero and other secondary characters weren’t any better, and that was the downfall of the book for me. There were classic Kinsella elements I enjoyed (humor, personal growth, heartwarming ending), but I was So Okay With It overall. It's hard to root for a heroine who let everyone in her life take advantage of her!

Every main character in Sophie Kinsella's books starts out as an actual mess, but then they grow and are able to get their lives together (+pick up a nice man on the way). I honestly was recluctant to pick up this book, but it was so much fun and made me realize how much I have missed Sophie's books. This book is funny and Fixie, despite being very naïve in the beginning, becomes aware of this.

It was very frustrating seeing everyone walk all over her, but that made the ending that much better.

I hate to say this but this was a DNF for me.

For some reason I couldn't connect with the main character. I felt the story was too slow.

I am disappointed in this book. I do like Sophie Kinsella's latest work.

What's up with me and romance novels these days? I've read a bunch by Kinsella and usually like them. This was a pretty good one, if a little predictable. (Aren't most romance novels though?)

The characters are entertaining, the plot is pretty good. It's a little cookie cutter, but it has some good sprinkles to spice it up a bit. Are we surprised [spoiler] Ryan wasn't the guy for her? Not for one second!

If you need a beach read, this would be a good one.

I loved Confessions of a Shopaholic so much. This was my second Kinsella so I had high hopes diving into this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. I was upset that because I really loved the premise of the story, a young woman, bogged down by responsibilities, a door-mat, living for others but silencing her own voice. I think many of us can sympathize with this persona. I just hated to see it done and not having the protagonist find her voice until the end. It didn't seem to vindicate everything she had to put with. I don't mind unlikeable characters but I do mind a resolution that takes forever to settle and feels rushed in the end. One of the things I look for in a book is a strong ending and I didn't find it here. It was a bit of a struggle to read through the book and then I didn't feel the journey was wroth with the rushed ending.

Sophie Kinsella is always a fun read - I feel lately, she's written with more emotional and social touch points but still with the same levity and quirky, flawed characters. Tough to root for someone who lets herself be so walked all over ...

The second I knew that Sophie Kinsella was publishing another standalone, I jumped all over the chance at reading it. I'm a huge fan, except this one gave me a little pause...

As I started reading <I>I Owe You One</I>, I immediately thought that it was a very close resemblance to <I>Bridget Jones' Diary</I>. The main character, Fixie, seems to have similar nuances with the unlucky in love because she's been pining over the wrong guy, the awkward situations, the almost helpless about life aura that surrounds her.

There really wasn't a likable character in the book. Everyone was manipulative, selfish or awkward (and not in the endearing way), except maybe Sebastian, the tall and handsome male lead.

I really, really wanted to like this book but it fell a little short for me. Also, the amount of times that Sebastian's eyes were described as "woodland eyes" may have almost caused my own eyes to stay in a rolled position because I rolled my eyes each time it was mentioned.

All that said, I am still a huge fan and look forward to the next Shopaholic installment!

Rating 2.75/3. I don't know what it is with Sophie Kinsella books lately but I have not enjoyed them like I used to. I mean she sure can write infuriating characters. I could not stand our main character Fixie for much of the book or her family who were the worst. The only parts I really enjoyed were the parts with Fixie and Seb interacting. It reminded me of what I loved about her writing in the first place, but I don't think there was enough of that relationship to make this an enjoyable book for me.

Admittedly, this is not one of Kinsella's best. Same light style that we have come to expect, but it just didn't flow well and was not entirely engaging.

Sophie Kinsella's latest novel, I Owe You One, - which I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review - is the story of Fixie, a young woman who would do anything for her family and the house good store she, her mother, and two siblings inherited when her father died. She lives by her beloved father's motto of family first and her family takes advantage of her devotion sometimes to the point of cruelty.
I Owe You One holds a great message about balancing the needs and demands of those you love with your own happiness, and about standing up for what you value while valuing others. It is also a sweet romantic comedy. Fixie's dedication to being the family doormat wears thin quickly as does her naivete when it comes to her longtime crush, Ryan. I was often angry while reading I Owe You One because of the way Fixie is treated by her siblings, Ryan, her uncle, and even, to an extent, her mother. This only meant that I cared about Fixie, no matter how annoying I sometimes found her. I also recognized myself in her as I'm certain many readers, especially women, will.
The romance storyline is lovely but the message is the reason I would recommend I Owe You One, which is not Kinsella's best but still enjoyable.

This is the Sophie Kinsella I have missed for a few years. Great vacation read. Light story about sibling dynamics. A book where you root for the good girl as you sip your morning coffee.