Based on the reviews, a lot of readers loved this book. While me on the other hand hmm... I'm not on board with this one. The characters are likeable and very real. Sylvie and Dan were blessed with long life. Sylvie got so focused around her family life, that she didn't notice What is lurking hidden behind.
The book was funny and entertaining, but there are times that the book is boring that I skipped or skimmed through the pages. I almost did not finish, however I kept on reading thinking that I love her previous books and that this book deserves a fair review. It has its ups and downs, and sadly the story just keeps going down. Would I recommend this book? Probably not. I am a big fan and still am, I felt very honored to be given this chance to review her book. It makes me sad to give this a low rating and unfortunately, I can't give this a 👍.

3.5 out of 5. It was a good read but not as good as her previous novels.

I love to read anything by Sophie Kinsella so I was excited to receive an advance copy to review. This book started out a little rough to get into and seemed to be somewhat confusing at times. I stuck it through and was pleasantly surprised and relieved to see the story come together. Once again, the author was able to weave a truly enjoyable story, just give yourself a little time to delve into the tale, you won't be disappointed.

I am usually a big fan of Sophia Kinsella's stand alone novels. And I was super excited to get this ARC. However, I was not a fan of this novel. I felt like the book had alot of unneeded fluff and I found myself skimming it just to be done. It wasn't horrible but often times it was super boring.

When you have been married to someone for a long time, it is easy to become complacent and believe that you know everything there is to know about your spouse. But do you really? Can we ever know all there is to know about another person? Surprise Me! explores this question and the ties that bind us for better or worse. Dan and Sylvie seem to be the perfect couple. Sylvie is princess pretty and she and Dan both have good jobs, a lovely home and beautiful twin daughters. However, a ripple in the seemingly perfect pond of their marriage grows ever wider after an annual doctor’s visit when they discover that their good health may enable them to live to one hundred years of age or possibly even longer. Questions about the meaning of aging, how couples adjust and readjust their relationship as they age, and what exactly is a perfect marriage are all asked in laugh-out-loud scenes. Handled by another writer, these questions could become ponderous and even maudlin, however under the deft hand of Sophie Kinsella these questions become totally relatable and hilarious. This is absolutely the funniest book that I have read in some time and I have been recommending it to everyone. Put this one on your reading list now!!

Gotta love me some Sophie Kinsella. The plotlines of her books never fail to amaze, and the quirk and comedy of the writing is always guaranteed to be a winner.

I've been a fan of Kinsella for years, and I have to say that while this isn't her best, it's certainly up there. The progression of the story was surprising, but satisfying. I'd read the excerpt well over a month ago and it got me really excited for this. I was expecting a story consisting of just hi-jinx after disaster of husband and wife trying to one up the other with surprises to keep the marriage fresh. I was pleasantly surprised (pardon me) to find that not only was there a much more deeper thread winding through the story in regards to couples and marriage, but there was also a larger character changing plotline that gave the story a big twist. I'll admit, I somewhat guessed the twist that came, but nowhere near the extremes and consequences of what played out. Kinsella downright astounded me with the last half of this story. It was weirdly intense for such a light start and hard to put down.

As far as main characters go, I think this is a change for Kinsella. This is the first novel where the main character is married with children. And before you pounce on me, yes, I'm aware Becky, star of the Shopaholic series is too, but it took a few books to get to that point. I have a feeling it's almost a glimpse into Kinsella's own home life, and I quite enjoyed that. While the focus is not on a twenty something, independent working woman trying to fall in love, this was no less better. The focus of Sylvie already being in love and established in life was a nice change. I really enjoyed being inside Sylvie's head. Kinsella's written voice is as strong as ever, but sometimes I do wish she would switch it up a little or tone it down a bite.

While I thought the entire story would be just hi-jinxes and disasters, the first half filled with it was a delight. There are few authors that make me laugh out loud while I read, and Kinsella did not disappoint. Where she gets her idea, I'll never know, but I'm envious to say the least.

While an enjoyable read, this isn't my favorite of Sophie Kinsella's stand alone books. There's a lot going on - many different plots that do eventually blend together, but it takes a while to get there. I found less laugh out loud moments in this book than one of her other titles such as Undomestic Goddess or My Not So Perfect Life. I think that might have to do with the main characters. Sylvie didn't leap off the page in the way Becky Bloomwood does, and Dan seemed kind of one dimensional. However, there is something magical about Sophie Kinsella's books. Even if they're not my favorite I still have a hard time putting them down! Once I started this book I wanted to keep devouring it!

So I love a cute, contemporary read, and Sophie Kinsella usually delivers. But this one I couldn't even finish. It was just dreadfully boring. I had no desire to find out what happened, and after two weeks (yes, really) of trying to get through this story I finally gave up. The characters were annoying, and honestly the story line was a bit idiotic. Sorry Sophie, but you win some and lose some, and this was definitely a loss in my book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC. I’m a huge fan of Ms. Kinsella’s and with this book, she didn’t disappoint me. I loved the story and the characters especially Dan and Sylvie and the girls

I’ve never cried or laughed so much in this book

5 Stars

I did not realize this author wrote the Shopaholic books until the end. But I haven't read those, I only saw the movie, so it doesn't make much of a difference. Anyway, I thought the beginning of this book was kind of dumb. Like, what did they think when they got married, that they wouldn't be together for their whole lives? And it seemed like cooked up drama--but then the real drama got started and the plot got heavier and by the end I was sucked in. Also, just the sassy British humor was amazing and that's really what kept me reading even when I thought the plot was kind of dumb. So, overall, I was pleasantly surprised.

This is the first book I have read of Sophie Kinsella's. She writes in a very hands-on, happy style. The characters are all people you would be interested in having as friends. The trouble in the story starts with the realization that our main character and her husband, albeit in an extremely close relationship, have been given a clean bill of health and a lifespan that will take them another 67 or so years to use up. This opens up a realization that they will be with each other for another 67 or so years and how to make that sustainable. The book then gets a little comical in the various methods successful or not they each employ to "surprise" each other geared to help maintain interest in each other for the long run. Of course mayhem ensues as well as secrets which in a relationship never bode well. On the surface the book is lighthearted but in actually it deals with really getting to know your partner and being in love with them for who they actually are. The very act of seeing each other. The same with the other people in your life.
I liked this book, and was very happy to have the opportunity to read it thanks to NetGalley and copy they sent me. I look forward to reading other stories by Sophia Kinsella.

“The secret to humor is surprise.” ― Aristotle

I was eager to read this one after reading My Not So Perfect Life, and was ecstatic when NetGalley and Random House granted my request for this ARC! As of right now, Sophie Kinsella has become my go-to author when I need a pick-me-up. Surprise Me has a bit of everything and was exactly what I have come to expect from this author.

The book gets your attention from the very first page and it holds on to you with a relentless grip all the way though. The story follows Sylvie and her husband Dan who are happily married with two beautiful five-year-old twin girls. When faced with the reality of just how long their marriage might last, Sylvie wants to create fun ways to spice up their marriage. She comes up with an ingenious idea and creates Project Surprise Me. Reluctantly, Dan agrees to give her idea a try and this is when are taken on an amazing ride!

What started out as innocent fun soon turns into a fiasco. Small surprises turn into unbelievable ones and Sophie Kinsella has managed to keep the reader engaged. When you begin to feel the emotions, the anxieties, hopes and pains of the characters then you know the writing is on another level. This book made me laugh, think, cry and cheer from start to finish.

One of the things I enjoy about Kinsella’s writing is her creation of realistic and relatable characters. The way she develops each character is outstanding. I truly enjoy a book that allows the characters to grow and change, become better and find themselves.

As I mentioned above, this book has a bit of everything. There will be moments when you will laugh until you cry then suddenly the story takes a turn and breaks your heart. You will ride a roller-coaster of emotions that will leave you wanting more.

I always love Sophie Kinsella books and this one was no exception. Her heroines are always witty and sharp. I didn't understand the initial crisis here-Sylvie and her husband Dan find out that they will probably live another 68 years-oh the horror! How will they be able to stand it?? First of all, how can any doctor know this and second of all, why is this is crisis?? That being said, there were a number of different story lines that while interesting, didn't seem to fit together but no worries, eventually they all worked out! Sylvie was engaging, her twin daughters were adorable and all of the side characters felt lovable and interesting in their own ways. I would give it a 3.5 stars-a little slow at first because I didn't understand the dilemma but definitely speeds up as the marriage angst starts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Everyone knows that Sophie's books are my guilty pleasure! And this one didn't disappoint.

Sylvie and Dan have been married 10 years now. With adorable girls and jobs they enjoy. After an annual check up they are both given a clean bill of health and told they would probably live a nice long life. Which leads them to question how they are going to keep this thing going for the next 7 decades!

The characters in the book are all hilarious in their own way and some of the "surprises" they come up with are beyond funny! And embarrassing.

When Sylvie suspects Dan of an affair things come out that have been hidden for years. Which leads Sylvie to ask if she ever really knew her family at all or has she been carrying around a little girl's view of her family?

This was great fun with a bit of mystery thrown in, so go ahead and Surprise Me! anytime Ms. Kinsella!

February 13, 2018  Netgalley/DialPress

I was looking forward to reading this as I've enjoyed some of Kinsella's earlier books and the premise for this one sounded promising. However, this one left me cold. I couldn't finish it. Sylvie is so incredibly shallow and not in a funny way. Just plain irritating. I couldn't finish it.

This is my second Sophie Kinsella book. Having loved “My (not-so) Perfect Life”, when I saw this one I knew I HAD to read it. I won't lie, it was very different to her previous book and different from what I thought, but it was good.
Sophie has a very talented way of telling a story, in a fresh, light and enjoyable way. I love her characters and I truly liked Sylvie in the beginning, her voice was so funny, I love that type of characters and I love that we get to know their thoughts, know them from the inside. As the story went on I started to like her a little bit less, and in some point on the story I really couldn't understand and I thought it was going off-topic and everything was confusing. But then...oh! I definitely understood why all that happened and why things were the way they were, everything made sense!
In the end Surprise Me was a very funny and lovely story, it's a story about REAL love, no fairytale love, no sugarcoated love, and I liked that. I deeply enjoyed and I'd definitely love reading more of Sophie's books.

I received this as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book is a fun romp through a marriage and the trials and tribulations of spending every day with someone for the rest of your lives. What does that really mean? How do you keep something fresh when, by definition, it is decidedly not fresh?

This book was fun, and it's been a while since I've read something by Kinsella. The premise was intriguing. The characters were quirky, the various plot lines melded well, and the end wrapped things up nicely - albeit a little oddly. I definitely didn't see that coming, which is always satisfying in a book. It wasn't my favourite Kinsella book, and I wasn't as invested in the characters or the outcome as I would have liked for a book like this.

All in all, would recommend as a fun summer read, or something to keep you occupied on a long flight or quiet day at home.

It was a cute book, but the part that really would have made it standout and be interesting (Sylvie coping with her father's affair with a 16 year old girl) was glossed over at best. Many of the marital troubles she had with Dan would have been solved by decent communication skills, so that was frustrating to read sometimes. I wish that rather than having Dan and Sylvie's marriage at the core of the book, it was about the relationship with Sylvie and her father, and dealing with betrayal after his death.

Reading Surprise Me I thought that it was a book about a couple rediscovering themselves after drifting apart in their marriage. While it was that, I was not expecting it to be deeper. The blurb did hint at it but that hint barely scratches the surface of this book. Barely scratches it. Put it this way, I was surprised at what came out in this book.

Surprise Me starts off with Sylvie and Dan coming out of a Dr's appointment stunned. They had been told that they had 68 more years together. Shortly after that, Sylvie notices that Dan is very stressed out. That he is hiding things. He starts to come home late and is acting sneaky. After witnessing a moment between Dan and his ex-girlfriend at a dinner party and finding a secret cell phone, Sylvie comes to one conclusion. Dan is cheating on her. While Sylvie is dealing with her personal issues, she is also dealing with issues at work. Her boss's nephew has come and is making changes to the museum she works at. Sylvie's personal and work issues catch up with her. But, everything is not what they seem. The truth behind why Dan is acting the way he is and the nephew's changes will come out. Will Sylvie be able to handle the truth once it comes out? Or will she lose everything?

I liked Sylvie and thought she was hilarious. Her reaction to living with Dan for another 68 years would have been the same reaction I had. I was dying laughing when I read those scenes. I also felt bad for Sylvie. She had a breakdown when her father died. She hero-worshipped her father. The growth of her character during this book was amazing. She came into her own in all areas of her life. She went from this sheltered spoiled princess to a confident woman who could handle everything that was thrown at her. I loved it!! What I also liked is that she was willing to do anything to keep the spark in her marriage. Her "Surprise Me" take on that was very good. Except Dan kept one-upping her....lol.

I was with Sylvie with Dan cheating on her until she got to the lawyer's office. Then I had the same reaction that she did when confronted with the truth. I wanted to hug her. I also wanted to smack her mother upside the head. I thought she was a selfish person. 

I mentioned above that I liked Sylvie's transformation. It was not only physical (cutting her hair) but mental too. When she discovered the truth about things, it was like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. I loved reading that.

The end of Surprise Me was wonderful. I loved seeing Sylvie's complete transformation. Her acceptance of everything was wonderful (she did have help). 

Surprise Me is written in 1st person and is told only from Sylvie's perspective. While I liked it, I do wish that the book flashed to Dan so we could get a hint at what was going on. Other than that, I loved the book. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 16. While there is a couple of sex scenes, they aren't graphic. There is language, but it is mild. I would reread this book too.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, The Dial Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Surprise Me.

All opinions stated in this review of Surprise Me are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**