I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

☆☆☆ 1/2
Kindle Edition, 432 pages
Expected publication: February 19th 2019 by The Dial Press
About the Book:
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?

Whenever Mum smiles, lines appear all over her face. They stretch like sunrays from her eyes; they score her cheeks and mark out her forehead in deep creases. Grief brought extra lines to her face. I saw it happen. And maybe some people think the lines are ugly, but I see love and life in every one of them.

This book is not great literature, it won't win the Pulitzer or the Nobel Prize for Literature, it is a piece of fluff. And I enjoyed every minute of it, it was fun. It was a nice change from all the mysteries and thrillers I have been reading lately. I loved Kinsella's Shopaholic series, I read them years ago. I don't know why I havent read anything by this author since. Maybe I became a book snob?

I did enjoyed this book. It was funny and endearing, and well-written. Not a sophisticated book, but good fun nontheless. Some of the storylines came a little too easily for the characters but I overlooked this point because the rest was so good - and entertaining. You really emphathise with the main character, Fixie, and the plot keeps you turning the pages. This was an endearing read. The main character, Fixie, is down-to-earth and always means well. Sophie Kinsella has a warm and highly addictive way with words, I also love how the main character did have to suffer some - it made the story more realistic.

Failing doesn’t mean you are a failure; it just means you’re a human being.

At first I suspected this might be just another mushy, romantic type novel. I was grateful to find out that it is really much better than that. The author manages to squeeze quite a bit of stuff in there, ultimately, one woman's choice between two men. While the reader will likely be able to develop a good idea of what is really going on, Kinsella manages to keep the reader turning the pages to find out if they are correct in their assumptions.

Overall, an enjoyable and engaging read. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Kinsella, in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, The Dial Press and Sophie Kinsella for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#IoweYouOne #NetGalley