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Book Review: I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

Fans of Sophie Kinsella will be excited to learn she is back with another book chock full of quirky characters, eye-rolling situations and snappy dialogue. I Owe You One hits the shelves today, the perfect escape read! I must make note that there are affiliate links in this post, and if you click one, it just may contribute to my coffee fund. NetGalley kindly gave me an advanced reader copy for review purposes, but all thoughts and typos are my own.

Read on to learn more about her newest release, I Owe You One!


Book Review: I Owe You One by Sophie KinsellaI Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
Published by The Dial Press on February 5, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Women, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Family Life, Siblings
Pages: 432
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“A smart lesson wrapped in a gem of a novel.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great ThingsFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella comes 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.” 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?

Advance praise for I Owe You One

“This book is a shot of pure joy!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Corner

“A delightful, irresistible romp.”Booklist

“[A] fun story about family, loyalty, and taking charge of your own life . . . Kinsella creates a charming story full of quirky characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue. . . . [Her] many fans will devour this warm and hilarious read.”Kirkus Reviews

I Owe You One is another impossibly delightful story by Sophie Kinsella, a must-read for her die-hard fans and new readers alike.”PopSugar, “24 of the Best New Books Coming Out This Winter”

four-half-stars

I Owe You One was delightful. Sophie Kinsella brings us another great character, and as someone who is always taking care of everyone else (at my own expense), and as someone who suffers anxiety, I definitely connected with this book. Overly trusting, running to make everyone happy even while things seem to fall apart around her – Fixie’s character was believable (if quirky) and relatable. (Although, I confess, at first, every time I read her name, I gave a little sigh because the name is a bit too…twee.)

Fixie saves a stranger (and his computer) from disaster, and to show his thanks he gives her an IOU written on a coffee sleeve. She keeps it – although she has no intention of using it. (Would you?)

But when an old boyfriend comes to town and discovers the IOU, he encourages her to use it – to help him. You can imagine how that goes, and Kinsella gives us all a reminder that while we may want to help others, we can’t save them. There is quite a bit of back and forth as, instead of the IOU being paid-in-full, something happens that another IOU is needed. The story sees its share of ups and downs.

Complicating the story is her equally complicated family situation. Mum is out of town recuperating, and the rest of the family has other plans for the store (in which she is the only one actually working). But Fixie is a people pleaser who finds it hard to say no, and we painfully watch her wishes and efforts get trampled by selfish aspirations of her brother, sister, and her greedy uncle.

True to form, Kinsella puts Fixie in a few situations that are truly cringe-worthy, there are face-palm worthy misunderstandings and disappointments, but in the end, Fixie pulls it together.

I Owe You One truly was a feel-good read (and I appreciate that it doesn’t say that on the cover.) It also is a tale of loyalty (to family and self), of finding your voice and standing up for yourself, that we can’t fix everyone/thing, and on how sometimes, the person we need to save is ourselves.

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