This delivered pretty much exactly what I expect from a Sophie Kinsella book – it was fun, quick, somewhat predictable with a little twist. The characters in this one were particularly well-defined and while I found the main character, Fixie, infuriating at times, the ending was really satisfying and sweet. The entire story also had some great messages throughout that I appreciated.

Another gem for Kinsella - just when you think the story is going to be predictable chick lit fare, she surprises us with a winner!
A must read for fans of Kinsella's other titles and a must purchase for adult library collections.

Another Sophie Kinsella release that does not disappoint. What I love about her books is following the characters as they develop- she does such a good job of showing a character gain strength and courage to stand up for themselves in a way that is inspiring and always funny as well. All the characters in this new book were great to read about, even the bad ones had you laughing or rolling your eyes. I absolutely recommend reading this book!

I am a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella and she delivers that same fun and light hearted contemporary read. I was concerned that it would be an "insta love" story but thankfully it was not. I did feel like the pacing dragged at a few points and questioned some of of the actions of the characters,

Overall I enjoyed the book. Not my favorite book by Kinsella but a solid book none the less.

This was a light and easy read, if you're already a fan of Sophie Kinsella and you're looking for a new book to add to your reading list then I would recommend this one, I would also recommend it as a good vacation beach read.

The plot was a little bit predictable but also relatable because almost everyone will have known their own version of a "Ryan" at some point in their list. Also, as a self-described people pleaser, I could also relate to Fixie, the main character. The characters were likable and it was nice to see them grow and evolve throughout the book.

Fixie Farr, as her name implies, likes to fix things. After her dream of working as a caterer crashes and burns, she devotes herself to the family business--a housewares store. When her mother takes a break from the business for health reasons, conflict arises between Fixie and her siblings. Her brother wants to attract a more prestigious clientele by stocking aspirational and expensive merchandise. Her sister wants to hold yoga classes in the store. Longtime clients and staff are being alienated and the rich new customers are not materializing.

Fixie's plans to save the store are complicated by the arrival of her longtime crush Ryan who seems ready to reciprocate her feelings at long last but he needs fixing too. He's unemployed but Fixie has an IOU from an investment manager (she saved his computer from water damage) and she's going to use it for Ryan.

It's a light and pleasant read.

Expected publication: February 2019

Oh Sophie Kinsella how much do I love your writing? So very much! One of my first grown up books I was nineteen and at an airport and I picked up Confessions of a shopaholic and the rest as they say is history. Her writing style is fun and engaging in a way that envelopes you and makes you forget about anything else in the world. This new novel I owe you one is everything you would expect from your favorite author. The premise of this book is fun. Fixie is burnt out since loosing her Dad, She does not know how to say no to anyone especially her family. When Fixie helps a stranger she is given a thank you IOU this can come back to bite her in the future. If you are a fan of chick lit or witty British reads give this one a go. You wont regret it.

Opening lines: The problem with me is, I can't let things go. They bug me. I see problems and I want to fix them, right here, right now. My nickname isn't Fixie for nothing.

I mean, this can be a good thing.
Reason I picked up the book: I'm a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella's books.
And what's this book about?
Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And 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 Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than 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?
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a light read or British fiction.
Favorite paragraph: I'm the one who took a loan from Mum ("our inheritance," Jake always calls it) and tried to set up a catering business and failed. And who still hasn't paid the money back.

I'm not the black sheep of the family. That would be glamorous and interesting. I'm just the stupid dumb sheep who still has a stash of dark-green aprons under the bed, all embroidered with my logo: Farr's Food. (I sold everything else, but I couldn't get rid of those.) And whenever I'm around Jake, I feel even more stupid and dumb. Like, literally dumb. Because I barely even open my mouth, and when I do, I start to stammer.

I have opinions; I have ideas. I really do.
Something to know: You can probably figure out the ending of this novel before it ends, but it was fun getting there. Most of Kinsella's characters kind of seem the same to me but they are always well-thought out and interesting.
What I would have changed: Nothing I can think of.
Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? The book will be online and in stores on February 5, 2019. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Sophie Kinsella is my go-to for light, fun romantic comedies so I was thrilled to get an eARC of her latest from Netgalley. My favorite books of hers combine her signature humor and voice with heartfelt relationships and family drama, and I am happy to report that this one was a WINNER!

Our protagonist is Fixie, a twentysomething young woman who just can’t stop herself from fixing things for everyone around her. One day she’s sitting at a coffee shop when a (handsome) patron asks her to watch his laptop while he steps out to take a call. While he’s gone, Fixie acts quickly to save his laptop in the face of impending disaster, and when he returns, he writes her an IOU. Payable anytime.

Of course, hilarious hijinks and misunderstandings abound as the two find themselves continuing to run into each other after Fixie cashes in her IOU.

But the best part of this story is the very real and raw depiction of Fixie and her relationship with her two older siblings. Kinsella did a wonderful job capturing the expectations and culture of a family and how they play out even in adulthood.

The humor was sparkling, the romance was just SO sweet (with surprising depth) and honestly, I stayed up until 1am to finish this one.

Releases Feb 5, 2019 in the US. Put it on your list!

I liked this story, although some of the characters drove me a little crazy, and there were a few implausibilities in the story that I had trouble with. Decent read but not Kinsella's best work.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. I was so excited for this book after I didn’t care for Surprise Me. Unfortunately, this book didn’t feel like a typical Kinsella either. Fixie just drove me nuts. She was such an insecure pushover, and not in an endearing way. I also didn’t feel the chemistry between Fixie and Seb either. Although it started cute with them meeting in a quirky way in the coffee shop, it fell flat after that. When they got into a huge fight towards the end, I didn’t even really understand why she wasn’t so upset. It felt like that scene was stuck in there randomly to give the book a dramatic twist. Fixie’s family were just awful, besides her Mum. Overall, I was really disappointed. Although I love Kinsella’s writing, I did not care for this book.

Loved this sweet story of Fixie and her family’s shop in London. She is still in love with her high school boyfriend, Ryan, but soon finds out that he is bad news. One day in a coffee shop, she protects a man’s laptop from the following ceiling, and they begin this back-and-forth of oweing each other a favor. While this story doesn’t have a huge climactic storyline, you find yourself falling in love with the characters and hoping for a happily ever after.

I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan! I have read many of her books and have loved everyone of them. I Owe You One is no exception! You meet the Farrs and come to love their quirky little family. The Farrs own a store and you learn that everyone has their own version of what the store should become. Fixie Farr is the main character and you follow her through her awakening as she finds her place as the head of the family. I found that this book was much like other Kinsella books but was just as enjoyable. The characters were likable and relatable. My only question was, how does a mom leave her kids and business that long?! I felt like the mom kind of disappeared and never talked to he kids on the extended holiday. Overall, I would recommend to others that enjoy chick-lit. Thanks to Sophie Kinsella and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #IoweYouOne #NetGalley

Even though the main character is a doormat for most of the book and her siblings are supremely unlikable, this is still a fun read. It helps that the characters do grow...eventually!

Thank you to Random House/Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Fair warning, the first half of I Owe You One takes real perseverance on the part of the reader. Kinsella’s characters are so vivid and real, I considered DNF'ing it in the first 25%. It was like being at a party where you hate everyone and think, why am I spending time with these people? Every character needed a kick in the pants for one reason or another -- selfishness, laziness, delusions of grandeur. By 50% I was ready to put Fixie's brother, sister, and childhood crush on a catapult.

BUT!

Then Fixie finds her voice and her backbone and I legitimately cheered for her! Her confidence builds and it was an absolute joy to watch her take charge and come into her own. It’s just that the road to get there took so long.

The romance was more prominent than in previous Kinsella books, which was a plus for me. Fixie and Seb’s meet cute is quirky and fun, and I would have loved to read their relationship as straight romance.

Ultimately, I Owe You One is an uplifting, funny story of empowerment. You just gotta be willing to stick with it.

Unfortunately, I spent a good portion of this book frustrated. Fixie was such a doormat. Personally, I prefer a spunky main character with sass and gumption. Not someone who is continuously trod upon by most characters in the book. I Owe You One was supposed to be about Fixie and Seb, but I felt like it was more about her crappy family (especially her brother Jake) and how poorly they treated her. She did finally grow a back bone and got them to listen to her, but the change was such a complete 180, it wasn't really believable.

I wanted to love this book so much but I thought the characters were not very likable, even the main character Fixie Farr. It was a relaxing read though. I was able to relate to Fixie's family and how she felt about her siblings. I actually feel a lot of the same way with my own. I just felt like there could have been more to the book or it was missing a little something.

I've read pretty much every book by Sophie Kinsella. This book is about a woman named Fixie, who...likes to Fix things. She is a people pleaser that has to confront reality when problems ensue. I was let down by this one- Fixie's character is pretty grating and you don't see much character change until about 70% through the book. I recommend Sophie's work but this one isn't her best.

Sophia Kinsella’s “I Owe You One” delivers cheerful Brit Chick Lit in spades. Fixie Farr aptly fulfills the role of a likeable and charming heroine who, despite a complicated family dynamic and confidence issues, manages to come to realize the things that matter most...and the bravery needed to grasp those things for herself.
Kinsella shines the most brightly in these types of stories - girl, boy, kooky families, villainous romantic rivals, Chance meetings and destiny lending a hand here and there. Nothing super heavy, and I do wish Fixie and Seb’s romance was a little more polished - and not feel sort of hurrriedly resolved - at the end, but fans will enjoy this latest Kinsella rom com as well

I love Sophie Kinsella’s books. Like comfort food. I actually prefer her standalone to the Shopaholic series. So glad the main characters finally stands up for herself. Cannot believe she let her siblings walk all over her for so long.