Sophie Kinsella has millions of books in circulation chock full of her trademark chick-lit charm. Her familiar formula continues to work despite how often she churns out books. Her easy style and wit shine through again in this story about family and trust as Sylvia and Dan’s navigate their path to marriage longevity via Project Surprise Me. Fresh characters, an interesting predicament and a few surprises made for a good read.

*will post in additional online venues upon release.

At the start of this novel, our main character Sylvie and her husband Dan, who have been together for 10 years, go for their physicals for insurance purposes and are told that they're both so healthy, they probably have 68 years of marriage still ahead of them. This seems a little long, so they decide they need to introduce some surprises into life, and life gets interesting in ways both expected and unexpected. This book, had some laugh out loud funny moments, but poignant moments too, and some surprises for the reader as well. Definitely Sophie Kinsella's best book in my opinion (though I've only read 2 of her Shopaholic books as I didn't enjoy them the way I do her standalone novels). 4.5 stars.

I want to give this book 2.5/5 stars. The whole idea of it sounds cute, until it gets boring. Sylvie and Dan have been together for a few years now, and they even finish each other’s sentences. They go to a doctor’s appointment and realize they’re in such good health, they’ll have 68 more years together happily married! They both freak out, as they’re THAT couple. So, they incorporate some surprises into the marriage for fun. For a book that’s supposed to be full of surprises, it’s really not that interesting. Honestly, it gets quite boring. Sylvie is SO annoying. I mean, she has nice character development, but she’s a grown woman acting like a 17 year old. I tried so hard to get into this book, I really did. Hence my harsh review. I almost didn’t finish it. The book shifts focus halfway through and is completely different and has nothing to do with the actual plot. It does, but doesn’t. Honestly feels like two different books smushed together to create some drama. I forced myself to finish this one and while Dan and Sylvie are cute, their plot line seemed to be pretty boring. Maybe it’s just me with high expectations for romances, but I just wasn’t s big fan.

Surprise Me is a standalone novel written by Sophie Kinsella. I have read My Not So Perfect Life and I’ve got Your Number. I am not a Shopaholic Series fan but these seem more enjoyable to me. So, when Netgalley offered this one, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. I liked this book. It is a little more series but a good romantic comedy. There were twists I saw coming but still liked the book. There is nothing wrong in suspecting something is going to happen and then it does.
Seven more decades of togetherness can be daunting. I liked the story, the twists, and the characters. It gave me time to contemplate my own marriage and what I may or may not know about my spouse.
I considered this a great escape from the political controversy our country is in and the news media.

Sylvie knows everything about her husband, Dan, and vice versa. They can predict each other's actions, finish one another's sentences and have shorthand conversations. A dream, right? Until one doctor's visit turns their ideal marriage into a long bad dream. The doctor predicts they are both healthy and have a long life ahead. Until death do you part means another seven decades. EEK! The glossy veneer begins to dull. To keep the boringness out of their marriage, the couple concocts a plan: Project Surprise Me. Keep the marriage exciting by surprising each other with spontaneous dates and untold truths.

This has to unfortunately be the first Sophie Kinsella novel that I did not fall in like with. Surprise Me lacked the signature Kinsella charming wit and humor. It took almost the whole novel to gain interest in the main character and the superficial story line. For once, chick lit was annoying. Be happy you're living another 60+ years with the person you love; don't dread it! Usually I like light chick lit reads but this was a major eye-roll until the last chapters.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sophie Kinsella! Surprise Me will be available Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

LiteraryMarie

**3.5**(increased to 4 stars)
I have been a long time reader of Sophie Kinsella’s books and do look forward to each one but this one took me a long time to get into.
Sylvie and Dan were perfectly happy until a trip to the Doctor’s indicated that they were exceptionally healthy and may have up to another 68 years together. How can they keep their marriage alive for that long?.......well, with surprises of course!

I must admit that I struggled a little with the first half of the book. I felt there was a lot of setting up and at one stage it seemed that the ‘surprises’ were getting a bit desperate, it was actually putting me off the story. I was also frustrated that Sylvie idolized her father so much, not knowing much about their relationship except that he had died in an accident a few years earlier and he was famous.
But somehow that all changed just after the 50% mark and suddenly there was a different slant on Dan and Sylvie’s relationship and the story became a bit more substantial. In fact I flew through the second half of the story in an afternoon and was transfixed by it. I’m so glad I stuck with it, as I really enjoyed it in the end.

...I did search ‘Ottolenghi Slow Cooked Lamb’ and it sound’s fantastic.... you’ll have to read to at least 50% to know what I’m talking about.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC copy to read.

The thing about reading a Sophie Kinsella book is that you know your going to have a fun reading experience . In this book, we meet married couple Dan and Sylvie. They have just been told that they're healthy and may live a long married life. So they decide that if they are going to have 68 years together , that they should have surprises for each other so their marriage doesn't get stale. The thing about surprises,though, is that you may get more than you bargained for. There were a few laugh out moments and the premise of the book was cute. I absolutely hated that 32 year old Sylvie called her parents mummy and daddy! That grated on my nerves. If you're looking for a cute fluffy book, then I recommend this. Even though I enjoyed moments of the story, I didn't love it as much as I do other Kinsella books.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

I was really excited for this book and honestly it fell a little flat for me. I did enjoy the characters and the whole idea of the plot but I felt as though everything was rushed and then once the 'main' plot was over it dragged on. The 'surprises' only happen for like a couple of chapters, which I was not expecting. Other than the surprises there was really no other exciting part, so once they ended I got bored. The characters were amazing and complex so I really enjoyed that aspect and that's why it got a 3.5 instead of a 2.
I would recommend this book to people who are huge fans of Sophie Kinsella or people who are big on characters and their development.

Dan and Sylvie are happily married, with twin daughters, when they go in for their annual physicals and get the news that they could live past 100 and hence be married for 60+ years. This sends some shock-waves through their marriage. The couple prides themselves on knowing each other inside and out, even being nearly psychic with one another, so they decide to help pass the years of marriage by "surprising" each other with various things. Needless to say, it doesn't go as planned. Meanwhile, Sylvie has a (perhaps unhealthy) attachment to her late father, who died two years ago in a car crash, and is still dealing with her grief. She works at Willoughby House, a museum run by an older woman, Mrs. Kendrick, who is quite set in her ways. Robert, her nephew, has been called in to modernize museum operations, much to everyone's dismay. Suddenly, Sylvie's well-planned life is upside down in every possible way.

A good Sophie Kinsella book is a great treat and a wonderful break from stressful thrillers. I enjoy her characters and a chance to get away in the world she creates. Sylvie and Dan, have five-year-old twin daughters, just as my wife and myself, so I was immediately drawn in. "When you have baby twins, you're in the trenches together... You hone your routines. You don't waste words." Exactly. I figured I would grow attached to Sylvie pretty quickly, and I wasn't wrong.

She's an interesting character, too. I won't lie--both Sylvie and Dan are a bit dramatic at first about the health news. I get that hearing your increased life expectancy and marriage time might come as a bit of a shock, but these two really took it to the limit. Sylvie was also a bit clueless and spoiled at times, but I like that she knew that about herself and sort of embraced it as part of her personality traits.

The book really kept me befuddled at times where things were headed. It's not your typical romantic comedy where you can sort of tell how everything will work out. At some points, I was quite surprised by some of the plot turns. I found parts of it tense. I was so invested in Dan and Sylvie that I didn't enjoy when they were fighting or having issues--Kinsella does a good job of getting you involved in these characters and their lives. You're along for the ride with Sylvie, trying to figure things out. I had an inkling of some of what might have happened, but I was certainly flipping the pages frantically, trying to work it all out.

I loved that parts of this one were just really very funny. Sylvie has a sense of humor and I just enjoy the dry wit that comes across. As the surprises backfire (you just know they will, right?), you can't help but feel sorry for both Sylvie and Dan. And, yes, laugh at a little at their expense. There's also a great supporting cast of characters -- Sylvie's best friend, her co-workers, the next-door neighbors. They are humorous and really add to the book, versus standing in as props.

Overall, this one really grew on me as I was reading. It was a great diversion and a quick read.

I'm generally a huge fan of Kibsella, so I was really sad to find myself so disappointed in this one. The premise sounded so interesting, but it's execution just lost me from the very beginning. I don't think there was enough really deep exploration done here to elevate the book to a level where it might have been a meaningful insight into the realities of marriage, rather than just your average, what some might deem, "chick lit" release.

"Surprise Me" has the fun and humorous protagonists that we are all expecting from a Sophie Kinsella novel. As a big fan of her work, I was excited to be given the opportunity to read and review a copy of Sophie Kinsella's newest book. Often in Kinsella's novels, the protagonist falls in love, or in some way develops a romantic relationship, however "Surprise Me" does not follow that typical theme. The protagonist definitely learns about life, relationships and trust, but if you are hoping for a happy cozy romance, then this book is not for you.

Sylvie, the protagonist, is a witty but naive woman who feels like her relationship with her husband Dan is pretty much perfect. They can even read each others thought patterns and guess each others orders in a restaurant. After celebrating a minestrone in their marriage, Sylvie and Dan are informed by their Doctor that they both are expected to live long healthy lives and have many decades (maybe too many) of marriage left. This revelation shocks their relationship and puts both Sylvie and Dan on the defensive. They are not sure if they are ready for so many years committed to each other. Sure Sylvie and Dan fell in love and made vows, but did they really intend to be married for so long?

As a side-note, Sylvie appears to be almost obsessive about her late father. Her father was an influential and wealthy individual who thought the world of her (ie. Princess Sylvie). This thread in the story is predictable and over accentuated in my opinion. I understand as a reader that we need to get the point early on that Sylvie's father was all consuming in her life, but I think it just got overdone and became unnecessary.

Sylvie and Dan's relationship struggle leads to many humorous moments and I love Sylvie's quick wit. That being said, I did find "Surprise Me" to be too predictable from the very beginning and to have a weak conflict/storyline. I felt like their should have been more tension, more exciting unpredictable events and that the "surprises" theme could have been better utilized. I enjoyed the surprises, but they are not what I will think of when I remember this novel. What I will remember is the humour of Sylvie and Dan's relationship when they realized they would be married for the next 6 decades. I will remember Sylvie's quirky character, but I will likely forget about Dan and forget about Sylvie's family conflict.

I am giving this book a 3 out 5 because I am not sure I would ever reread it and it fell short in a those few areas. I LOVE many of Kinsella's novels and always laugh out loud when listening to them on audiobook.

I also want to thank NetGalley and Penguin/Random House for the opportunity to read and review "Surprise Me" by Sophie Kinsella.

This one had a little more meat that her usual books. Superficial girl finally grows up and realizes what's important in life.

Fans of Sophie Kinsella will love this latest rom-com. As ,Sylvie and Dan, a happily married couple try to keep their relationship fresh by surprising
each other, the inevitable unintended consequences ensue.

This is my second Sophie Kinsella novel, and I must say they are predictably enjoyable. I enjoy that her characters are realistic, her storylines are current, and that I always find myself laughing out loud. She has a way of wrapping a meaningful message in humor and making it that much more meaningful. And while the plot of this one--a couple that is overwhelmed with the prospect of a long lifetime together--seemed silly and unbelievable in the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised in the end.

Sylvie and Dan have the kind of relationship everyone wants. They are always on the same wavelength, they finish each other's sentences and seem to fit perfectly together. When they go to the doctor together for a physical for their new insurance policy, the doctor remarks on their excellent health and predicts 68 more years together. This throws both of them into panic mode..... 68 years is a long time! So, trying to keep their marriage alive they start trying to surprise each other. And I will stop here because I don't want to give any more away.

This book was delightful. It started out a little slow, with Dan constantly computing how many more bowls of cereal he would be eating & how many more times they would make love, but the book quickly picked up from there and it was a whirlwind to the very end. I could not put it down. I would say this is definitely a must-read!

You have the perfect marriage and family. Or so you think, until your doctor gives you both even more good news...you are both perfectly healthy and will live to be 100. Sylvie and Dan, having just celebrated their 10 year anniversary of being together, realize this news means they will be married for 68 more years. The prospect of being with one person this long dismays them...how will then continue to stay interested in each other for so many years? Sylvie decides they should add surprises to their marriage. As you can expect, sometimes surprises, although well meaning, go wrong...sometimes very wrong. Surprise Me was a nice blend of chick lit and contemporary fiction. It was an easy, enjoyable read with humorous scenes speckled in between some of the serious subject matter.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! During my child rearing years, I didn't always have a lot of time to read. So, I only followed a few authors. Sophie Kinsella and Madeleine Wickham (Sophie's pen name) were one of the few. I could not, and did not, miss Shopaholic book. I loved them! Becky Bloomwood was hilarious. I always knew they would make good movies.

However, not since "Twenties Girl" have I not been able to get into a book by this author. I could not connect with the characters, at all. I did so much page skipping during this book that I'm not sure if it's a lie when I say I've read it.

I could not relate to either the husband or the wife. I felt nothing for them. As a matter of fact, they were driving me crazy with their "surprise me" theme.

I was so looking forward to enjoying this book. Unfortunately, the outcome was very different for me.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

2.5 STARS

I've read several books from Kinsella and have always enjoyed her light hearted humor and silly antics. Sadly, this one was a struggle and left me feeling disappointed in one of my beloved chick-lit authors. The first half of the book was slow and uneventful. While I enjoyed the closing chapters a little more, it was not enough to recover from my overall boredom and irritation at Sylvie and Dan.

I was excited about the premise of a book featuring a married couple. However, this one completely failed in execution. The heart of the book relies on misunderstanding after another. It annoyed me immensely that a couple who supposedly knows each other so well, really didn't. Also, so much of the issues were completely glossed over at the end.

The are girls are adorable, and I enjoyed seeing Sylvie and Dan interact with them as a family. I wish there had been more of those moments to compensate for the overly dramatic ones. Maybe my reading style is changing, but I didn't have the warm feelings I've experience previously with this author. If you are fan of Kinsella, I wouldn't discourage you from reading. If you're new to this author, I would recommend her other works over this one.

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for my advanced review copy.

I usually look forward to reading Kinsella's books but I'm sorry to say; I felt slightly disappointed by this title. I couldn't quite put my finger on my disappointment, it just didn't read as good as previous titles. Maybe there was some humour missing, some quick wit that normally raises a wry smile from me, I just felt let down.
The storyline was interesting but didn't make it a page turner that I couldn't put down. I think that if you're new to this author, you would find this book perfectly fine, it follows a normal family life with a dark secret and does hold attention. However, having been an avid reader previously, I just felt that this was missing its normal charm.

As a fan of the Shopaholic series, I was excited to read this advanced copy of Surprise Me, by Sophie Kinsella. Unfortunately, I didn't love this one. Young happily married couple, Sylvie and Dan get the "upsetting" news that they are both healthy and should expect to live a long time and be married for another 60+ years. The horror! They freak out and start causing all kinds of calamity in their relationship. I found both characters pretty annoying.. I just didn't get it. Maybe it's because I'm happily married to my best friend (22 years and counting) or maybe it's because I'm a cancer survivor, but I could not relate at all. Just be happy and rejoice in your good fortune. Ugh.