User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
*Sigh*
This review is difficult to write. I adore Sophie Kinsella’s books for many reasons. Unfortunately, I found I Owe You One to be a letdown. I had an issue with the characters, the plot, and the romance. I started off reading with an eye roll with the introduction of Fixie and her cliched nickname. Right away, I knew something was off. I would have appreciated something a little bit more clever and nuanced than a character who is defined by a stupid nickname. Fixie’s character annoyed me in the beginning, but she did grow on me. She does go through the typical Kinsella transformation and develop somewhat. The side characters are uneven and encompass one cliche after another.
Then there is the plot. It’s just one giant mess. The romance: Fixie’s relationship with Seb was bizarre, to say the least. One minute he’s dating someone else, then he is dating Fixie, then they break up and he is back to the old girlfriend, and then he is back with Fixie--just like that. There was very little tension and depth to their relationship, leaving much to be desired.
There are some bright moments that shine through and reminded me of classic Kinsella. However, these moments were not enough to save
I Owe You One. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
this video i'm working on is the gift that keeps on giving
and the never ending gift is
suffering apparently
Rating: really liked it
I can’t seem to get enough of this author’s audiobooks.
This is my third ‘listen,’ to one of her books, and while not my favorite of the three, I still enjoyed, still grinned from ear to ear, still didn’t want it to end.
I have no idea if what I am ‘hearing’ translates into just as fantastic ‘reading,’ but once again, the characters are endearing and quirky; the storyline is unique; the narration is mesmerizing.
If you are in the mood for a sweet rom-com with a touch of naughtiness, Sophie Kinsella has written what you are looking for!!
Rating: really liked it
DNF at 25%: This is the third Sophie Kinsella book that I've DNFd, so I think it is officially time to call it quits on her books. She clearly is just not for me. Womp :(
Rating: really liked it
3.75*If there is one word to sum this book up with, it would be...
“cute”! Fixie matches her name perfectly. She has an intense drive to always fix something if she feels it’s out of place. An itch that unless scratched will dive her crazy. Sometimes this obsession will get her in way over her head.
Sitting in a coffee shop she saves a strangers lap-top from a sudden rush of water seeping from a collapsed ceiling. Which introduces Fixie to the lap-tops’ owner, Sebastian. He’s so grateful he immediately writes an IOU on her coffee sleeve.
Fixie never really considered cashing in the IOU, but when an old crush, Ryan comes waltzing into town desperate for a job...Fixie wants to help. It’s what she does. It’s who she is. She immediately seeks out Sebastian to cash in her IOU for Ryan.
Do you believe in fate?It was sweet, it was cute and oh so endearing! While it was somewhat predictable, that was ok! I mean most rom-coms are! That’s why we love them! As the story-line unfolded I grew to love Fixie and all her quirks!
This was my first ever read of Sophie Kinsella and I am a new fan! I will definitely be watching for her next release!
A fun buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing House and Sophie Kinsella for an ARC to read and review.
Rating: really liked it
For the last three years in a row, Sophie Kinsella puts a smile on my face every time I finish her newest book. I mean, there is a reason why she’s my favourite author, but I have to admit, I wasn’t in love with every book she ever wrote.
However, ever since she published My Not So Perfect Life it’s like we’re on a happy train and we’re not getting off. Every book she writes is pure perfection, and I Owe You One is one of those treasures.
The thing is, when you read a book by your favourite author, your expectations are high. You can’t help it!
So going into I Owe You One, I expected to like it, I wanted it to make me feel better, make me laugh, swoon and root for characters… and it delivered.
The story follows Fixie who got her nickname because she likes to fix things. She wants to make everything better for everyone, and to her, family always comes first.
One day in a coffee shop a stranger asks Fixie to watch his laptop while he goes away for few minutes. In that amount of time, the roof above starts to sink, but Fixie can’t leave the laptop, so she protects it with her body, and even though she ends up wet to the bone, laptop ends up untouched.
The story goes from there. The stranger, who’s name is Sebastian writes her a note with which she can ask him anything in return, because now he owes her one.
Going into the story, after few chapters readers can already assume how the story might end, because it is obvious from the start what a douche Ryan, Fixie’s love interest, actually is.
I mean, it’s been a while since I read about that kind of jerk in my books. A perfect character to hate, if you ask me!
However, it’s not always about the end, it’s about the journey!
I like how I Owe You One is characters based story, and we get to see not only different type of persons who functionate together, but also their development through the story.
I like how all of them have their flaws and the author really made them real, so by the end of the book readers will probably have the feeling like they know them. At least, that’s what happened in my case.
The writing style was amazing, as always. I flew through this book.
In the end, without spoiling anything, I just have to say there is one scene closer to the end of the story, that made me feel chills while reading (and they were good chills!). They were more like tingles.
It was such a beautiful scene, and out of everything this novel provides, I think that scene is how I will remember it.
I would recommend this book to everyone who likes funny scenes, romantic moments and family dynamics in their books.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
Rating: really liked it
Sophie Kinsella has a formula for her books:
Step 1: The heroine. She’s an exceeding accomplished doormat and/or highly stupid.
Step 2: She excels at being doormatty and stupid and things don’t go well for her. She’s surrounded by clichéd obnoxious humans.
Step 3: She has this huge epiphany and she changes and magically alters the entire character and behaviour of people (the said obnoxious ones) around her, overnight.
Step 4: She gets the guy and there’s a happily ever after.
In the meanwhile (before she has that epiphany), you feel like wanting to bang your head against a wall because you can’t stand her stupidity for a second more. But you push through, because hey! You know all about the formula!
Rating: really liked it
I have been wary of trying this author because I've heard mixed reviews on all of her books. I decided to take a chance on this new novel and it didn't turn out the way I hoped.
Where do I start with this novel? This really was a bit of a mess.
Should I begin with Fixie's character? Wow... talk about annoying, having men walk all over her, and making ridiculous decisions because she's so blinded with wanting a man that badly?
Fixie is a character that tries to "fix" everyone but yet she is such a giant hot mess that the entire novel she let's people walk ALL over her. Fixie is presented with a situation of trying to save the family business.. .but can she do it instead of focusing on fixing everyone else?
All of the characters in this novel were SO beyond basic. Can I talk about how much of a douche bag Ryan was? Seb? Ok... seriously I felt like the conversations were robotic between Fixie and Seb. The author tried to add a romantic aspect between Seb and Fixie... What was that? YIKES.
The downfall of this book was characters. So surface level and there was zero feeling to any of the characters. I was beyond disappointed in this book. This book definitely wasn't for me.
2 stars for me on this one.
Huge thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/5/19
Published to GR: 12/2/18
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars
I've read most of Sophie Kinsella's novels (even some that she wrote under the name Madeleine Wickham) and this one ranks right near the top. It really seemed to showcase all the things I have previously loved in her books but yet also didn't feel something I have read countless times before. The main character clicked with me and I enjoyed her interactions with her family and love interest.
Fixie Farr has always tried to follow her late father's wishes with putting family first. But why should she always be the one pulling up the slack at the family's housewares store when her brother and sister get to do whatever the hell they want? The problem with Fixie is she just can't say the word "no" and everyone likes to take advantage of that fact.
While in a coffee shop, Fixie manages to save the day and a handsome stranger thanks her by giving her an IOU on a coffee sleeve. She brushes it off as a joke, but the more she gets thinking the more she actually considers taking the man up on his offer. He might be able to provide a solution to her problems and get people to stop coming to her because she is "Ms. Fixit".
It was pretty easy to relate to Fixie because most of us have felt like our kindness was being taking advantage of at one point or another. So right off the bat she was an easy person to root for and someone you wanted to be happy. Sometimes with the author's books I feel like the stories and characters can be a little over the top but this one seemed toned down in that respect. It had a little bit of quirkiness but in a fun way and in no way did it hurt the story.
While Fixie growing as a person is certainly a key part of the story, the romance is really what kept me reading. I thought Fixie and her love interest had good chemistry and I liked seeing the ups and downs of their relationship.
Overall, another fun read by Sophie Kinsella! If you have loved her other books, I highly recommend checking this one out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
All of the snow we've been hit with recently has given me the opportunity to read like a mad woman, so I've been flying through my NetGalley backlist in hopes of keeping up with my arc schedule. I'm not sure if reading
The Lost Man by Jane Harper has put me in a slump, but I've been finding it difficult to get into a new book and enjoy it from beginning to end. Perhaps it's my growing sense of noticing the little things I was previously able to overlook, or maybe it's just the fact that I'm needing to space out my ARCs with some older reads, but I thought for sure this one would be a hit as it's been ages since I've picked up anything romantic or humorous. I struggled to connect with Fixie and found it difficult to root for a woman who lets everyone walk all over her. This one wasn't for me, but I'm still a huge fan of Kinsella's and will give her next book a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy for review.
Rating: really liked it
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 Fixie's 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.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Rating: really liked it
A fun escapist read full of whimsy and charm! This book was quintessential Sophie Kinsella! Full of fun flawed realistic characters, wity dialogue, and loads of humor... I can always count on a Kinsella book to take me away for a few fun hours, make me feel good and induce me into laughter until tears are coming down my face, and this book was no exception... sophie’s books never take themselves too seriously and are full of many laugh out loud moments... warning: don’t pick this up unless you have your sense of humor intact, don’t read while drinking, especially a carbonated drink, and don’t read around other people, unless you’re OK with them looking at you strangely because you’re laughing at what appears to be nothing....
Fixie was a kind caring sweet girl who really needed to find her backbone... I really liked her and I think she would make an amazing friend, but the girl sure did frustrate me! Fixie is a people pleaser she wants to make sure everyone around her is happy... her friends, her family, her coworkers, and of course the men in her life.... One day Fixie was at a local coffee shop when a man asks her to watch his laptop when he steps out to take a phone call... the ceiling starts to cave in, Fixie throws herself on top of the laptop and saves the day... The man who’s named Sebastian and of course is handsome issues her an IOU to repay her for saving his laptop and livelihood... Fixie is pretty sure she will never use it, that is until her lifetime crush Ryan enters the picture like a wounded puppy... what ensues is Fixie being walked all over by Ryan and her siblings, add in the stress of trying to keep the family business afloat while her mom is out of town... thank goodness Fixie has some good friends in her life who eventually help her see the light and get a back bone... as in all SK books there was some major much-needed character growth in the story, and that extended to most of the secondary characters as well....
The romance in the story was sweet but slightly confusing... Sebastian who I really liked was a little all over the place when it came to relationships, it was something that confounded me and I had trouble wrapping my head around... I felt there was real chemistry and respect between Fixie and Seb, so I cannot understand why a certain bimbo (whose name I cannot remember) was around for as long as she was, really kind of threw a wrench into it for me... having said that though I thought this book wrapped up perfectly and that final chapter was book perfection!
A perfect romcom with wonderful characters and plenty of humor! Absolutely recommend!
šµšµšµ Song Running Through My Head
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
You tell me that you love me every day
When we're alone I really feel in love
But when you're out with friends I see a change
You treat me bad, I feel like second best
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
That's how I feel, I want it to be real
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
I need your touch and I, I owe you so much
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
(Oh) A-E (I really care) A-E-I (I really care) O-U-U
(I really care, care, care) I sometimes lie
Do you realize some things you say
I know you do, it makes me so confused
I'm sure this ain't the way that love should be
Let's get… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h1MDlJM...
*** many thanks to Random House for my copy of this book ***
Rating: really liked it
Fact is, I could not tolerate this silly story. 1 of 10 stars
Rating: really liked it
Sophie Kinsella is like book comfort food for me.In my early twenties, I read every book as it came out, and I can remember where and when I read them. They are fun and funny and always have lovable characters you come to know as friends.
In recent years, Kinsella has added an emotional edge to her stories crossing over more into domestic fiction than rom com, and I’ve enjoyed that adventure, too. So where did I Owe You One measure up?
Fixie is the main character, and her motto is “family first.” Her father owned a housewares store, but he has passed away and left the store to Fixie’s mom and her siblings. And Fixie is the one left holding the bag all the time, being the most responsible and making sure the business stays afloat.
Fixie is asked to watch a stranger’s laptop in a coffee shop, and she saves it from being destroyed… The owner of the computer is an investment manager, Sebastian, and he’s in her debt for saving his laptop, so he gives Fixie an IOU.
Ryan, Fixie’s childhood boyfriend, comes back into her life, but he’s jobless, so she puts that IOU to work, hoping that Seb will hire Ryan. But things unfold and snowball, and Fixie is at a crossroads.
Will she take on life on her own terms, finally?
I found Fixie a trademark Kinsella main character. Zany, cute, warm, endearing, and I loved her, flaws and all! The romance was fun, and I loved laughing while I read.
Overall, I would say I Owe You One landed more in rom com land than domestic fiction, and I am totally ok with that. I felt like I had my classic Kinsella back!
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Rating: really liked it
As always I had such a fun time reading Kinsella's books! They make me laugh on more than one occasion and always make me swoon with romance.
I owe you one wasnt one of my favorite of hers strictly because the majority of the characters made me so upset with their actions and words to Fixie. I wanted Fixie to stand up for herself and say what she truly meant, we did get that but I feel like it was to late in the novel.
Overall I did enjoy this book. Fixie was a well rounded character who you couldnt help but root for but her siblings and lovelife took a little to long to turn around.
