(2.5) I was very excited when I received a review copy of this book from the publisher as I have enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's books in the past. Unfortunately, this one didn't click with me as her other books have. The characters were a little annoying to me, and I struggled a little at the beginning of the book thinking I was not going to finish it. I hung in there, though, and did finish it in a couple of days. I was determined not to give up on it. There is some romance, though I found the relationship between Fixie and Seb a bit strange, and there were some humorous moments but I didn't find myself laughing out loud as I have reading Kinsella's other books. I'm a bit disappointed that this one didn't do it for me, but that won't stop me from reading her next one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I fell in love with this story right away! Fixie Farr is such an endearing character that you cannot help but fall in love with. I mean she is literally a hero from the beginning of the story saving Sebastian’s laptop from water damage, hence the beginning of the “I Owe you One” story!

This was the story of Fixie becoming the woman she was meant to be. She was working at her family business, living at home with her Mother, Single; in love with her first crush and shy to speak up around her own brother. As this story unfolds, Fixies learns that she must believe in her own strengths to find her own destiny. The question is what is that destiny?
I often could not put the book down.

I had never read a Sophie Kinsella story until this one and I am very excited for my next!

I Owe You Won by Sophie Kinsella is a story of a woman so self-effacing that she is willing to sacrifice anything in service of others. Her family and “boyfriend” are all too-ready to take advantage of Fixie’s inclination to transform herself from a smart, capable and creative individual to a well-worn doormat. The first half of the book was difficult, almost painful reading, and readers might be tempted to give up. Don’t do it!

The second half of the book is Fixie’s path forward to taking hold of her own life. It is fun, and more than once, laugh-out-loud hilarious. I confess that I was not persuaded in the miracles that Fixie apparently wrought in the people around her. Nonetheless, I won’t be surprised to see this story on screen, and I expect I will enjoy it. Pick this book if you are looking for a light read that will divert and amuse.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the electronic ARC and the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for a copy of I Owe You One for review, out now!

I can’t say I really loved this one, though the second half really was better than the first.
Fixie has some very toxic character traits that made me just angry with her. She was really down on herself, she believed everyone was better than her, and she put her family over everything, even herself. She fell over backward for her brother and her high school crush (both of whom were self absorbed and used her knowing she would worship them no matter what).
Eventually she figured out that she could do something for herself but it wasn’t soon enough or redeeming enough for me to love these characters.

Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite authors since the Confessions of a Shopaholic- so I'm always excited to see her have a new release. I Owe You One had everything I love in a her novels- flawed but fun characters, great dialog, and a unique premise. I enjoyed that this book was a bit more focused on an entire family and the setting of the family-owned shop was delightful.

Fans of Kinsella’s other novels and her style will certainly enjoy I Owe You One. Looking forward to her next release!

I think one of the main reasons I loved this book is because I related a lot to the main character, Fixie, who feels a compulsive need to fix everything... vases askew, situations she messed up with her words, other people’s lives- everything! It gets her into trouble but it’s also a huge asset. As is the case with most thing, our greatest strength can be our greatest weakness.

I wish the novel had spent just a little more time on how Fixie's need to fix everything was The Thing That Saved Everything in the end. It just felt a little rushed/brushed over.

The love story was a little weird and I would say a lot of people aren’t going to love this one, but I definitely have read much worse. It seems to happen really fast, which is typical of this genre, but there was something about it that felt slightly unrealistic.

All the characters in this novel are fun (or terrible) and feel like they could be people you know in real life. Kinsella did a great job with the characters. I've read a few of her other books and I didn't feel like I was listening to the same old people again. That is quite an accomplishment considering how many books she has!

Will definitely be recommending this to my friends who need a lighter, fun read!

What a wonderful leading man ... Kinsella has created the perfect book hero. Sebastian is kind, considerate, but vulnerable, and of course tall and handsome.

The protagonist, Fixie, I had more trouble liking. Just because push-over personalities are a pet peeve of mine.

This book was a great improvement over Surprise Me, because the romance was swoon worthy, but still... what's lately with Kinsella, dead fathers, and obnoxious families? At lest the mother was likable in this one, but she stays on the page far too shortly. I wish the book had been more about Seb and Fixie.

A special mention goes to Leila, one of the best supporting characters ever.

The second half of the book was ten times better than the first half.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite writers! Whenever I need a book to cheer me up, I always gravitate toward her books. Her last book was also one of the first books that I ever reviewed on this account. So I was incredibly excited to get a chance to read I Owe You One early.

I really enjoyed this one! I think Kinsella just keeps getting better with each book. It was fantastic to see the main character come into her own, particularly toward the end. But you’ll be rooting for Fixie from page one!

Plus the romance was so cute! There was bad timing, mistakes, and an absolutely adorable meet-cute. The characters were all multi-dimensional and the plot was highly engaging. There were a few moments where there was a bit much going on and there was one moment toward the end where I wanted Fixie to have a bit more agency. Anyway, I’d recommend this one to Kinsella fans or anyone looking for a fun, cute romance.

I am always hesitant when starting a new Kinsella book because I have found them to be very hit or miss. I’m happy to report this is a hit! It’s Brit Chick Lit at its best! Some very funny moments but also some very sweet memorable ones. I liked her cast of characters especially Leila. The scenes felt vivid without being too wordy. I could have done with less store talk but otherwise I highly recommend for lovers of chick lit 😍

This is exactly what I expected when I pick up a book by Sophie. Silly moments, a family that grows together, and a love story.

Fixie is a hands on woman who is always busy fixing things. Part having grown up being the one who does it all and part trying be a people pleaser she runs nonstop fixing anything and everything.

When she saves the day for a handsome stranger she ends up with the ultimate IOU. Fixie continues to run herself crazy as she tries to fix family, her job, and her love life. When she uses the IOU she sets off a chain of events that touch the lives of herself and all those she cares about.

Super cute read that reminds us that standing up for ourselves isn’t always easy, but is worth everything.

I have enjoyed many Sophie Kinsella books in the past, but unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. It kind of felt all over the place and I didn't really enjoy the romance aspect of it as much as I was expecting to.

Fixie was just not the type of heroine that I like. She kind of let people walk all over her and I spent half the book mentally telling her to toughen up. I didn't understand her relationship with Seb and the on and off again pattern was a little annoying.

I just kind of gave up on this one, but I definitely tried as I really have liked this author's work in the past.

I Owe You One is another enjoyable novel by Sophie Kinsella. Fixie Farr is just as her name describes. She is a young woman who can't leave anything undone. She meets Sebastian in a coffee shop when she saves his laptop from imminent destruction. Sebastian declares he must repay Fixie's kindness-he owes her a favor. Romantic sparks don't fly between Fixie and Sebastian because Fixie is more concerned with her former crush Ryan. In fact, Fixie cashes in her favor with Sebastian to help Ryan. Fixie is an extremely thoughtful woman and that is what makes her an interesting character. Kinsella has written a fantastic novel about friends, family and love.

Fixie Farr is a young woman who works in the family business (retail store). She and her mother more than carry their own weight since her father died years before. His motto was “Family first” and Fixie tries to adhere to it, though her siblings are a bit of a trial.

Neither her brother nor her sister seem to have the same work ethic. Brother Jake is busy making posh deals that seem more like pie in the sky than anything concrete and meaningful. Sister Nicole is into appearances over substance and has a fixation on yoga and Instagram.

Fixie does the works and fixes things that her siblings and co-workers at the family business cause to “break”. When her mother leaves for a vacation, she leaves all three in charge with their uncle to keep things running. Without her mother’s vote, Fixie has to keep things from coming unglued.

In her personal life, she has had an almost life-long crush on her brother’s friend, Ryan. After many years, it seems like a relationship can become a real thing. Problem is, Fixie is once again having to fix everything, including helping Ryan get a job.

Fixie, as usual, helped a complete stranger and the stranger, Seb (Sebastian) gives her an IOU. Fixie is put into the position of calling it in and the rest of the story ensues.

I really enjoyed the book but was a little surprised by a somewhat graphic sex scene. At that time, it seemed out of place, but as the story developed, it showed the way a relationship was going to end up.

The only thing that I wish had been dealt with more emphasis was the obvious OCD issues that Fixie has. There are physical manifestations that show a deep-rooted problem. It would have been nice to have Fixie seeking some counseling to help her control her tendencies in this area.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

This book was so much fun! I just love Sophie Kinsella's sense of humor in her writing. Her characters are so animated, its easy to imagine them.
I think a lot of readers will identify with Fixie and her life. So many moments during reading I could pick out things in my own life that were very similar. Sophie Kinsella is great at bring characters to life that are all too real feeling!

Fixie Farr is a fixer of all things, so when she feels responsible to keep the family business going, chaos ensues. This was a charming story by the amazing Sophie Kinsella, who write such wonderfully captivating and witty characters. A delightful, fight for what you want romance!

I received an advanced reader copy of I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella from Random House through Netgalley

What It’s About: 'Family First' is the motto of the Farr family and something Fixie lives by. She prioritizes everything over her own interests and helps run the family store her father left behind. She gets nervous by confrontation and aims to please. Therefore, when she saves an investor's computer, and he offers her a favor, she decides to use it to help her longtime crush. From there a bunch of circumstances happen.

What I Loved: I really related to Fixie and her desire to please everyone eve at the sacrifice of her own interests. The ability to relate to Fixie makes you hurt for her and get angry on her behalf which makes it a more worthwhile read. I really liked Seb and also loved some of the secondary characters like Greg, Hannah, and Fixie's mother.

What I didn’t like so much: I didn't like a few of the characters because they were painfully awful. Fixie's siblings and her uncle's behavior were frustrating and rude and while I know they were meant to be, it didn't make it easier to read. Also, Ryan is annoying, the whole time. I don't want to give to much away but let me just leave it this way. You have a character who puts people first and rarely sees a return.

Who Should Read It: People who love good 'chick-lit'. People who don't mind frustrating antagonists. People who love to cheer for a genuinely nice character.

General Summary: A book about learning the importance of taking care of yourself.

I have really enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's books in the past (and I still love Can You Keep a Secret?, I've Got Your Number, and The Undomestic Goddess) but this one was a serious disappointment. First of all, it was hard to get over the MC's name - Fixie? I don't know, it was attempted to be explained but it felt weird for the entire book. Second, Fixie was so oblivious for at least half of the book as to her own friends and family and their true selves that it was beyond frustrating. I just kept thinking, REALLY?! to myself and being upset. I don't know - this just felt boring, rehashed of previous plot devices from SK's books and overall could have done with more editing.

I Owe You One comes out next week on February 5, 2019, and you can purchase HERE. Hopefully you have better luck with this one than I did!

Two weeks later Mum is in St. Tropez with Aunty Karen. She keeps sending me long texts about the marina and the boats and the sunshine, and I know I should send her a proper reply--but I can't fact it. Once I start typing to Mum, everything will pour out, and I'll start sniveling all over my keyboard.

So instead I'm zapping her lots of smiley faces and emojis of shiny suns and sailboats and dodging the truth altogether. (Maybe that's what emojis were invented for in the first place, and I've just been using them wrong. They're not there to convey thoughts in a fun way; they're there to lie to your mum.)

I literally laughed out loud at several times while reading this book and loved each of the characters. Fixie , Seb and the whole family are just Wonderful. "I Owe You One" by Sophie Kinsella is a funny, sweet story about love, family, loyalty and the hard choice of living the life you really want. Sophie Kinsella always writes fun, witty books and this was no exception. Each character reminds me of someone I know and is endearing and pulls you in. Such a wonderful read!
.
Thank you Random House and Netgalley for this advance reading copy for my honest opinion and review.
This review is posted on my social media site where I review and promote books I enjoy. Posted on 2/5/19

Overall, I enjoyed this latest release by Kinsella. But while reading it, I had to ask myself why so many heroines in women's fiction/chic-lit depicted as such doormats in the start of their story? It *is* possible for a heroine to have character development/transformation without having to go from doormat to butt-kicking superwoman.

I will say that the way that Fixie's family treated her was so bad, it actually made it somewhat hard for me to read initially. I really wanted to throat-punch someone on more than one ocassion. They were just horrible. I get that parents can have blind spots with regards to their children and their behavior, but it seems like Fixie's mom just chose to have blinders on and ignore how abysmally her older children treated (bullied?) her youngest.

However, true to the requisite character development, Fixie finally "grew a pair" and stood up to her ridiculous family. The overnight about-face change in behavior from her brother and sister once she DID stand up to them is probably somewhat unrealistic, but I was willing to overlook it.

Fixie's relationship with Seb seemed a bit odd as well. One minute he was dating someone else, the next he and Fixie are essentially living together and then the pendulum swung the other way again. It seemed a bit "quick" for me. Their ultimate reconciliation was sweet and overall, I liked the message about family, love and values that was conveyed through the course of the story.

*eARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

I thought the way Fixie and Seb met was definitely interesting and showed what kind of person Fixie is. She's a fixer and can't help herself. She wants to make things better for those around her. But her fixing doesn't always have the intended results. I'll let you find out what she gets up to! I enjoyed the fact that Fixie and Seb kept seeing each other and kept a running tab. (You'll understand this when you read it) But they seemed to be there for each other when it mattered most. Their meeting was unconventional and funny, but it lead to something neither one expected. I enjoyed the family aspects of this book and I really appreciated and enjoyed the way Fixie grew throughout this story.

So I'm going to be honest with you, reader. Full disclosure ... I usually love Sophie Kinsella reads, but this one started out really slowly for me. I wasn't all-in, in terms of Fixie. She kind of made me crazy. However, I gave Fixie a chance, and I'm SO GLAD I did! So, reader, please give Fixie a place on your TBR list and grab this book! This was a cute, sweet, a little maddening, and endearing read.