Member Reviews
This was my first Sophie Kinsella book, but it certainly won't be the last I read! Fixie is an engaging heroine. I loved reading about her life. I highly recommend this title!
Fixie Farr is a fixer and puts others needs before her own. She can’t say no to people and feels that she is responsible to keep her father’s legacy going.
In a coffee shop a handsome investment banker Sebastian asks her to watch his laptop while he steps out. She dives to save the laptop from disaster and he writes her an IOU. Fixie doesn’t think she will every use you but you know how the story goes.
I would lie to you if Fixie didn’t piss me off at the start. She has her old school crush Ryan that returns home crushed from his career failure and she goes out of her way to make him feel like he can do anything and that is special. She even finds herself calling in the IOU to get him a job. You realize he is using her and wonder why doesn’t she figure it out. You start to see her evolve in the book and her relationship with Sebastian evolve along with the IOU.
I did enjoy the story line and always great writing from Sophie Kinsella. A story of family, bonds, grief, and learning to speak up. To also love yourself enough and not give up on things. There has not been a story I haven’t liked that she has written. Very relatable characters and demonstrates our ability to change and grow.
I have read Sophie’s books for 15 years. They are comforting. I always know I’m going to get a sweet story with some emotional components -and that’s exactly what happened here. Sure, one may say the story is predictable but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable in my eyes.
I awkward know what I am going to get with a Sophie Kinsella book - which is both good and bad. The quirky heroine, characters who are either good or bad (but never in between), and a handsome love interest who the main character meets by coincidence and almost loses through a series of blunders and misunderstandings.
But I’m on vacation this week, and nothing screams vacation better than Sophie Kinsella. It’s mindless and fun, and while I won’t think about it again after reading it, it never feels like a waste of time.
Three stars. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start by saying I love Sophie Kinsella and will continue to read every single thing she writes. Sometimes you need a super lighthearted kinda cheesy book and she always satisfies that need. And while I love the concept of I Owe You One, it just wasn't a hit for me.
I love the idea of the initial meet-cute with Fixie and Seb and also thought the concept of "I owe you" in a new relationship is a good one. But there are so many parts of the book that just didn't feel believable to me, that were over the top, and that felt a bit forced. It also didn't really feel like there was much of a "story" until the book was practically over. Even the fact that the main character's name is "Fixie" felt super forced to me.
To be fair, I have to remind myself that most of Kinsella's books are like this and that's what most of us like about them. I mean, Becky Bloomwood wasn't a totally believable character and was super exaggerated, but we love her nonetheless. I honestly think that my serious love for My Not So Perfect Life almost ruined Kinsella for me because I thought that book was so awesome and enjoyable and I want another one of those for her!
Still, if you're a Kinsella fan, you should read this one, too, especially if you need a break from anything heavy.
This is definitely a cute, feel good story. It’s pretty predictable. I didn’t enjoy this book as much the author’s other books though..
II really enjoy Sophie Kinsella's writing style, although I felt the Shopaholic series went on way too long.
This book centers on Fixie who helps run a small everything store with the help of her mother and various eccentric clerks. Fixie feels less accomplished than her older brother and beautiful sister and has a problem speaking up for herself.
In addition, a long absent love interest returns to the scene and her mother takes a trip to find herself and recover from a health scare. With these developments, it's finally time for Fixie to learn to stand on her own two feet or watch everything her family has worked for be destroyed.
This will be an amazing beach read. It's fast, fun, and shows some real heart.
I thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley.com for a free ARC of this title.
This book was very captivating. I was hooked from the first chapter. Five starts. I enjoyed the characters and the story so very much.
Thx to Netgalley, Random House publishing and Sophia Kinsella for this ARC.
So I am a big fan of the Shopahlic series, and have read every one of all Sophia Kinsellas book.s.
I wasn’t a fan of her last few books, but this one makes up for it, I loved Fixy Farr. How could you not with a name like that . She was my kind of girl, kind, considerate and always “feet dancing” till she could fix something ! So cute. The characters were not always like able, but thats a good thing. To many books these days I find are a gooey sweetness . I laughed , I oohed and aahed, I cursed a bit too. But in the end, I cried for such a great ending. This was one of my favorite alone books by this author.
This book was a delight. Four stars!
I have to start out by saying I am a longtime fan of Kinsella's. I've been reading her since about 2004, give or take a year. I started with Shopaholic, and I've read everything she's put out (under this name; she also writes under at least one other). So when I say I'm a fan, just know that I mean it.
Now since I'm a fan, I normally automatically rate all her books five stars. However this book didn't quite get there - in my eyes the beginning dragged just a little too much. BUT. The middle of the book quickly gained momentum (the end of chapter 17 had me fist pumping the air!), and the book ended on a really strong note. So four stars it is. Old and new fans will enjoy this book greatly. I know I did!
Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley & the author for an ARC from one of my favorite light hearted authors. Kinsella is always reliable. Without a doubt when you are reading anything from her, you will experience a quirky young woman in the same vein of Bridget Jones or Georgia Nicolson. There is always self growth involved with the narrator and a lot of relatable dialogue that is always a breath of fresh air. It always seems like there is a new Kinsella out after I gorge on a million thrillers to give me a much needed reprieve. I will forever pick up a book from this author because they are always exactly what I need.
As a longtime fan of the Shopaholic books, I was eager to dig into Sophie Kinsella's new book. I devoured this new book in just a couple of days, and I actually liked it a bit more than the Shopaholic books.
"I Owe You One" has more depth and real-life situations than Kinsella's previous books. A family in complete disarray struggles against each other to work out their "stuff" and try to get along after the father of the family passes away, leaving the family with a long-established housewares business. The middle child, "Fixie" also has boyfriend problems a'plenty, along with friends struggling with their own issues. In the end, Fixie manages to rein everyone in and gets her own life on track as well.
While the Shopaholic books pictured fantasy lives of shopping sprees and quirky but lovable family and friends, this new book features more realistic family members with more serious but relatable problems: business failures, depression, infertility, money problems, widowhood. I really liked how ALL of the characters developed and changed by the end of the book in a realistic way. The book needed just a bit more sparkle, but overall, I really liked this new character and her well-developed cast of family, friends, and lovers.
For American readers, the charming use of English words we don't use adds character to the book (and gives you several new words to look up on your e-reader's online dictionary).
One of her best novels yet! I have been reading Sophie's books for years and years. Her writing has done nothing but improve over time. She has a way of bringing out characters that a lot of authors don't have.
Fixie is a fixer. She spends her life cleaning up after her siblings and living in their shadows. She is meek and insecure. She has spent years thinking herself in love with her brother's best friend Ryan. I hate Ryan. Like could you nail him any better? I hated him so much. After an incident involving a leaking ceiling and a laptop Fixie meets Seb. Seb is steady and thoughtful. He's not perfect though and he has his own skeletons in the closet. I felt very connected to the characters in this book. I felt every emotion they were going through.
I literally have nothing negative to say about this novel. It was perfect. The characters were endearing (Except Ryan). Her plot moved smoothly- no slow in the story.
5.5 stars!
(PS my comma is not working on my keyboard so ignore my errors lol)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've always enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's books (I haven't read the Shopaholic series, just the stand alone novels), with my favorites being the Undomestic Goddess and I've Got Your Number. I Owe You One has all the hallmarks we've come to expect - protagonist has issues at work / is in a bad relationship, dreamy male character, some will they - won't they, everything ends happily ever after. But I somehow couldn't help feeling that the plot didn't live up to the potential shown in the blurb. I found the supporting cast to be caricatures (Nicole?!). The story of Fixie's catering business was introduced then brushed aside. Indeed, the fact that she was a trained chef seemed to hardly feature in her personality.
Still, it's a fun, light read, and well paced. Good for a pick-me-up :) Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book!
Kinsella does it again with a fun approach to self realization and family relationships. Fixie is obsessed with fixing things, helping others with their problems while ignoring her own. The four star review is because of the slow start involving Ryan, Fixie’s obsessive love interest, who is obviously flawed and annoying. Once Fixie moves on, the story picks up with defining what family love and romantic love is in reality. Good quick uplifting read, perfect around holiday time.
What a delightful read! I am particularly fond of Sophie Kinsella's writing, and I especially loved this book. This is one of those stories that you find yourself reading late into the night, as you just can't put it down. The characters were so well-developed, I felt like I was there.
It's been ages since I read a Sophia Kinsella novel and I really enjoyed this one. Fixie's siblings drove me crazy, the extent of her "family first" motto made me angry and the final resolution felt rather abrupt but overall it was a solid read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Such a charming book! Although sometimes I felt very frustrated with the main character Fixie, overall she was a very lovable character and you couldn’t help but root for her. This novel was sweet, quirky and a great lesson about standing up for yourself and knowing when to put yourself first. I always enjoy reading novels with interesting family dynamics and a sweet romance. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've never met a Sophie Kinsella book I didn't love, and this was no exception. I had a difficult time getting into it at first, and felt it was a little too "free floating " and without direction. I stuck it out, though, and of course it got better. Fixie was incredibly endearing, if a little naive, and a little too stuck on her whole "family first " way of thinking, but watching her come into her own and grow a spine was a part of the fun. Kinsella has a formula that works well for her, and as long as she keeps writing, I will keep reading.
I Owe You One is classic Sophie Kinsella. Our heroine is nicknamed Fixie, because she has always tried to fix things for her friends and family. She is unappreciated by everyone except for her mother and best friend. Her older sister Nicole is the perfect example of a beautiful, yet self obsessed flake. Her older brother Jake is a posh wannabe who has bankrupted himself and is working on doing the same to the family business via a series of loans. Fixie eventually meets and falls in love with a good man; unfortunately, he has a few demons of his own which sideline them for a while. However, Fixie does take his advice by standing up to her siblings and using some tough love to help them to solve their problems and to get the business back on solid ground. Thanks to a little help from her reformed siblings, Fixie’s love life is also repaired in the end!