Wow, this book brought so many emotions out in me. Being a married woman, I felt I could relate so much. Much more than I thought, when I first decided to read it. Sophie never fails to disappoint with her books, and this was no exception. Even though it was fiction, I felt like there was so much that married folks can relate to and understand. What a great read -- cute, funny, witty, heart felt, moving...

Sylvie and Dan are that couple. They finish each other's’ sentences. Parenting is a breeze with their perfectly adorable yet not overly intrusive twin daughters. All the gears and widgets of their marriage are in place and running smoothly.

At a routine checkup, they learn that with today’s technology, they have approximately 65 remaining years together. Instead of basking in the warmth and security of long-term love, they freak out. Suddenly, they’re not sure if their up-to-now perfect marriage can make it quite that long.

Can the flame burn hot and bright for 65 long years?

“Surprise me,” Sylvie says. They try to outdo each other in a series of increasingly outlandish and desperate surprise dates and events. After several wrong turns, they realize that maybe they don’t know each other quite as well as they thought. Now the question isn’t whether the marriage can last 65 years. It’s whether the marriage can list this year.

Sophie Kinsella is a bit of a hit and miss author for me. Some of her books are frustrating to the point of stressing me out. Case in point: the Shopaholic series. Why doesn’t she get help for her addiction? Why doesn’t she just tell the truth?

Many of the calamities the more hapless characters face could be easily rectified with an honest conversation. Instead, they dig themselves into these crazy situations in which I can practically hear the slide whistle and “doop de doop” soundtrack.

But other times, Kinsella hits it right on. Can You Keep a Secret, for example, made me laugh out loud. When I come to Kinsella, I expect at least some escapism and fluffiness. But stressy fluff = not fun.

Surprise Me is a refreshing change of pace and shows growth for the author. We get to visit a couple who has already fallen in love. It’s nice to see what happens after happily ever after. Even with the pratfalls of dates gone wrong, Surprise Me still manages to hit on some real issues couples face.

It’s surprisingly delightful. A lovely and recommended read.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Sylvie and Dan have been together for ten years, married for seven of them. They've got twin girls, a nice life, and they know each other so well that they can predict what the other is thinking or about to say. They're comfortable in their relationship, safe. When they receive physicals their health is good and their doctor reveals they could expect to live for another seventy years. This gives each of them pause as the reality of how many years together they may have starts to set in.

Fans of Sophie Kinsella are going to enjoy this one. Sylvie is a new character but is like the female leads that Kinsella creates. Sylvie is like Lucille Ball - funny, bighearted, well meaning, and often in silly situations. She intends to add some surprise to her marriage, but she gets unexpected surprises and not all of them are good.

This is the chick lit you're looking for! This is a lighthearted read that has a few surprises along the way. The characters are likable and relatable.

I'll give it a 3+ stars, this was unnecessarily and dramatic, but Kinsella still has a very funny way of telling stories. Thanks to it, I had a good time from beginning to end.

The things is that this book is actually about a young couple together for ten years when they realize they still have more than sixty until death finally takes them apart. Even though Kinsella is as funny as she can be, it still didn't make me want to strangle the two main characters the entire read. How can that be The Conflict? I wonder if even in a parody that would work, but we're talking about a serious book, as humorous as it can be, it's still a down-to-earth story.

But the plot, luckily, doesn't end there. The thing is that when Sylvie decides their marriages needed more surprises, the plan turns against her and she notices there were things about her husband she had no idea about. What with a college ex-girlfriend he's forgotten to mention, his long lost hobby with botany and veiled conversations with her mother about something she mustn't know.

I have to say this mystery was what I loved the most in this book. I don't remember feeling this curious about any of Kinsella's endings as I was for this one, and this was my forth time reading her. Now that I mentioned it, I also noticed some elements in this book different from what I've come to understand as her usual, for example, this being about a married couple trying to find happiness together, and not some girl with a worthless boyfriend.

Unfortunately, the reactions here were too much for me to relate. Sylvie is indeed a little too sheltered but she seems quite in control of her life to be seen as a proper adult. And yet, her train of thoughts reminded me of a YA's main character's. A lot of the characters would act like it's the end of the world when something bad happened.

Another problem was that the book could have benefited from some editing. There are so many pages, and so many scenes didn't even have to be there. Even the ending felt a little long.

So this isn't a book I recommend. I'll say that, if you have low expectations as I had, then you could enjoy it. And a Kinsella bad book is still better than an average book by Who Was It. But we all know she can do better.

I usually like Sophie Kinsella books, but I have to say this one was not a favorite. I felt like I was reading two different books - one about a couple trying to add Surprise to their marriage (so the title works) and one about a secret between another couple. The two just did not mesh. The Surprise Me part got lost along the way. And WHAT COUPLE goes into marriage not thinking FOREVER?? and one minute they're crazy in love and in a split second hes brooding and mean and terrible to her?!! It just doesn't work. Sorry. Granted though - it got 3 stars because I was dying to know why the hell the switch flipped and Dan became psycho. I couldn't put it down cause I wanted to know what the secret was. It was so annoyingly crazy that I just wanted to get it over with and find out WTF was going on. The job thing almost felt like a third story and the neighbor and her son a 4th story! Things were just not meshed together very well and I felt like I was all over the place, with no real ties.

Surprise Me by Sophia Kinsella falls flat compared to her other works. The premise of the book is interesting but the characters are not ones that you can get invested in. They use the typical tropes of fiction and it really adds nothing to the story. Overall I would not recommend this book but would sell it in the store for fans of her other books.

Dan and Sylvie are THAT couple, with a great marriage, beautiful twin girls, and successful jobs. Forever doesn't seem long enough for such a perfect couple .... until a doctor tells them that forever might be 68 more years. Dan and Sylvie each begin to wonder about the monotony of spending decades more with a partner who has become so predictable that the two of them often talk in shorthand, completing each other's sentences. But when Sylvie decides to spice up their marriage with project "Surprise Me," she gets more than she bargained for. What if she doesn't know her husband as well as she thought?

Fans of Sophie Kinsella will love this new novel, and may be surprised by Sophie Kinsella's creative plot twist.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this interesting novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I have read some from Sophie Kinsella, but not all of them. This was a delight, and I was happy to receive and read it. I think I'll be reading more of her previously published titles. This was really cute, about marriage and family. The characters were well done, and this was not only funny, but touching. It also felt real.

Compared to the first books this is a little bit boring, it drags and drags for a while and then, as a long time reader of Sophie Kinsella, I was waiting for the final clarification and of course there was and the regular happy ending, but in a way I was a little bit disappointed just because.

Paragonati con i suoi primi libri, questo non é il solito spumeggiante romanzo dove é facile scoppiare a ridere almeno una volta per ogni pagina, anzi mentre aspettavo la chiarificazione finale da dove sarebbe emerso il regolare e tipico finale felice, mi sono accorta che mi stavo annoiando. Quindi direi che questo libro mi ha un po' deluso, forse perché piú noioso o forse perché.

This author never disappoints — she puts terrific characters in believable situations, and she lets them (and the reader) feel just the right amount of discomfort. When a young couple’s doctor tells them on their tenth anniversary that they’ll probably live long enough to be married 68 years, they panic: how will they keep it fresh? But their manic, hilarious (and expensive) attempts to surprise each other come dangerously close to breaking them up. A fun read.

Sylvie and Dan are married with twins, but on visiting a doctor they find they are so healthy they have a possible 68 years together. Panic sets in and neither is sure how they should feel, on one had that great but on the other, that’s a long time. To keep their marriage alive and to stop it getting dull, Sylvie decides they should surprise each other.What happens is typical of most women and Sylvie can’t not know when Dan tries to surprise her and nothing goes to plan.
The book is funny, caring and heartfelt. It deals with emotions and family, it is powerful to make the reader think, but not to strong to feel you are being preached to. The characters are warm and friendly along with cuckoo where some are concerned. I seriously loved Mrs Kendrick who Sylvie works for & found myself thinking of ways to drag in the 21st century but keeping the tradition she loves. Totally brilliant & easy read, completed in one day. Read all Sophie Kinsella books and this Is another one of hers that I would definitely recommend.

Sophie Kinsella always creates such fun and believable characters and this book is no exception. I snorted I laughed so loud. I’m never disappointed with her books and I highly recommend this one.

Imagine getting your annual physical and learning that you and your husband are both so healthy that you are going to have 60+ more years of marriage together. That’s a lot of years. It can make one pause and think about how many more meals they will have together, how many more times they will have sex with the same person and hope that you continue to make one another happy and satisfied for all those decades. Forever is a long time.

Kinsella’s witty characters, Sylvie in particular can’t help but freak out a little bit. She wants to spice up the marriage. After all she and Dan know everything about each other and are perfectly able to complete each other’s sentences. She decides that they need to start surprising each other and that its when the fun really begins.

The surprises don’t always delight, they aren’t always appreciated but they are certainly memorable. Sylvie gets so wound up. She lets her imagination run rampant and quite possibly her husband isn’t who she thought he was after all. Kinsella takes us and her characters on a funny emotional roller coaster ride and it’s a surprise for sure!

I received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a well-done novel that starts off with a light, chick-lit tone. Sometimes you just need a book that has a humorous take on life and love. After Dan and Sylvie, who have been together for ten years since they were twenty-two, are told by their doctor they can each live to be one hundred, they have mutual breakdowns thinking about how they will possibly fill that much time together. Already, they can finish each other’s sentences and they seem to be able to read each other’s minds. So, to keep things fresh, they decide to make an effort to surprise each other. No easy feat when they are parents to rambunctious five-year-old twin girls and busy with careers of their own.

For a time, this does seem like a frothy novel about keeping the spark alive in marriage before it becomes a deeper look at relationships between family, husbands and wives, work, and yourself. It’s when this novel goes deeper that I really enjoyed it.

They start off by surprising each other with exotic lingerie and sex in unlikely locales, but ultimately they surprise each other discovering that there is infinitely more to learn about each other—and themselves.

This book is touching and funny and fun. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this novel.

"Surprise Me" by Sophie Kinsella

Unlike some other books by Sophie Kinsella, this book is a standalone.

I was attracted to this book firstly because of the author, and second the description. A young couple who comes to the sudden revelation that they have the rest of their life together (68 years with one person). It was fun to read what they went through to improve and renew their relationship.

The secondary story is an undertone of a historical scandal that comes forward again. This underling story kept the lives of the characters interesting.

It was a nice, light read but I wasn't 'wowed' by the story. Certainly give it a read!

Netgalley #SurpriseMe
Book Published: February 13, 2018
Review Published: January 19, 2018

This is my second Sophie Kinsella book and I really enjoyed it. Her writing is fun and fresh while taking on an undertone of seriousness about some serious matters.

Sophie Kinsella does not disappoint. This is a funny clever book. Fun reading and lots of good laughs.

No other author provides an escape from reality for me quite like Sophie Kinsella, I’ve been a fan of hers for years and picking up one of her books is always a treat for me. Her books are pure, lighthearted, entertainment and are always fun, and though I didn’t like Sylvie as much as my beloved Becky Bloomwood I did enjoy her and lost myself in her story easily.

This definitely had Kinsella’s signature charm and wit, she has the ability to craft quirky, lovable heroines who are the every woman that any of us can relate to. Sylvie is a typical wife and mother living a typical life and her struggles in her marriage were all too familiar. Her and Dan have been together for ten years and are happy enough, but they find they can always improve on that happiness, right? Enter project surprise me and in true Kinsella style hilarity ensues.

I found parts of this to be predictable but sometimes there’s comfort in predictability. I may be annoyed if I can spot a twist in a thriller but in a lighter, easy read, I’m not bothered and I surely wasn’t here. I suppose that’s because I was lost in the story and just having such a good time reading this, but whatever the reasoning was I adored every page.

Surprise Me in three words: Witty, charming and amusing.

Surprise Me was just an all-around delightful read. This novel was brimming with all of the humor, interesting, charming characters, and clever, witty writing that I expect from a book by Sophie Kinsella, but it was also filled with so much heart. I am always drawn to books about married life, and this one piqued my interest and captivated me right from the very beginning.

When we exchange wedding vows with our significant other, I think that we all believe that the relationship will last forever, but how long is forever? When Dan and Sylvie Winter learn that they are the epitome of good health, they also discover that they could have another sixty-eight years left to live. While this news would sound good to most people, Dan and Sylvie didn’t exactly rush off to crack open a bottle of champagne to celebrate. They immediately begin to worry, do calculations, lose sleep, and dwell on how stagnant and monotonous their lives will become. But if they can come up with ways to surprise each other, this will keep their marriage vibrant and interesting, right? Well…it certainly made it entertaining for readers.

What made this book work so well was that it was all very relatable. Sylvie and Dan were a normal couple with all of the normal responsibilities, challenges, and family woes – with some added shenanigans to make it interesting, of course. After ten years together, their marriage was solid, but their lives had become predictable and routine. The story is told from Sylvie’s point of view, and I loved being inside her head and witnessing everything unfold from her perspective. Despite all of the mishaps and miscommunication, this couple’s journey was rife with sincerity and love.

I think I spent the majority of my time with a smile on my face, laughing, or reading passages to my husband. I was completely invested in this couple’s marriage. While much of the story was lighthearted, there was also a deeper emotional aspect to it. I’m not sure if there are many authors who can make me teary-eyed one minute and then have me giggling a couple of pages later. Surprise Me had sweetness, sexiness, angst, tension, and even a few shocking revelations. Sophie Kinsella even ended up surprising me!

*4.5 Stars

Sylvie and Dan are *that couple.* They finish each other’s sentences, read each other’s minds, and know everything about each other. At their annual checkup, the doctor informs them both that they are in extraordinary health and will live a full, long life together - 68 more years. To keep things fresh and add a little mystery, Sylvie suggests Project Surprise Me, and after a few failed surprises, a real marital mystery unfolds.

Not my favorite Sophie Kinsella book. As always, the characters are really fun and the writing is great, but I felt like the plot of this one was a little more predictable and not that exciting (especially given it's a book called "Surprise Me"). Still an enjoyable read, but I didn't fly through it like I have some of her other books.