Classic Kinsella - charming and adorable.... a good read for a quiet weekend. I thought it might have been better wrapped up in a fewer pages because it dragged in bits, but overall I would recommend.

RATING: 1 STAR
DNF@ 40%
Feb 2019; The Dial Press/ Random House Publishing

Sophie Kinsella is a hit or miss author for me. I really enjoyed her Can You Keep a Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess, but am not a big fan of her Shopaholic series. I was looking for something fun and cute, and decided to try this novel. There wasn't anything wrong with the novel, but I just could not do any more storylines like Fixie and Ryan. Maybe I have dated too many Ryans. And/or, maybe I have been Fixie too many times. Letting men you like take advantage of your kindness, openness or willing to "fix" things for other people. As much as I wanted to see Fixie and Sebastian fall in love, I just could not go through the heartbreak that comes first with Ryan. It is just way too triggering. I am not the best one to review this book, so I would recommend reading other reviews to make up your mind.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Blog

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

I Owe You One was everything that I have come to expect from Sophie Kinsella's books. It was a cute, adorable, light, complicatedly fun read. A perfect ChickLit fix!

This novel was incredibly delightful, wonderful, and an emotional read. Kinsella really nailed it with this one and Fixie may be one of the best protagonist from Kinsella. She’s fun, sympathetic, and genuinely cares about the people in her life. She may try a bit too hard to see the good in people, but when she fixes something, it gets fixed. As with most of her novels, the characters tend to lean a bit too much into their main characteristic, but that's what makes Kinsella's characters so much fun.

Sophie Kinsella's standalone stories have become my go-to women's fiction reads. I always have some character and story quibbles, but the writing and humor are strong enough for me to not care.

Fixie Farr is a typical Kinsella heroine, and I can't deny the fact that her stories are formulaic. I guess I'm a sucker for big character arcs. *shrugs*

To be clear, Fixie doesn't always make it easy to root for her—she is a spectacular doormat for a large portion of the story—but I think it's partly what makes her growth that much more satisfying in the end.

There are laugh-out-loud moments and flashes of truly brilliant writing, which I have also come to expect from this author. So long as she writes stories, I'll continue to read them.

Rating: B

I Owe You One has all the makings of a Sophie Kinsella story. A bubbly heroine with a cast of secondary characters that leap off the page. Except in this story, you want to strangle everyone. Including the main character — Fixie. Outside the terrible name, Fixie always has to fix everyone while ignoring her own wants and need. It doesn’t help that her father’s dying wish was for her to put her family first. It led to a lot of doormat behavior that was difficult to read through without rolling ones eyes. And tbh, the book was 400 pages and you don’t see growth from any characters until at least 350 pages in. Plus the growth we do see was unearned and felt shoehorned in. Looking at you Jake.

Also, Ryan was a sleaze from page 1. It was frustrating reading her pining for him while being SO oblivious to his true character. In the end, I ended up not rooting for anyone and that’s the last thing you want in a romance.

I loved every Sophie kinsella book I read in the past, and this one is no exception. It was fun, cute, witty, and you just cannot not love the main character. I Don't know but it took me a while to get into it. I started reading it a few times and it was hard for to get into,. This time, I got hooked from the first line. I guess my life needed a fell good book and this one was waiting for me.

I love all of Sophie Kinsella's books and this one was no different. It was a light, fun read that had me laugh out loud a few times. I would and have already recommended to friends! Thanks Sophie for another gem!

Fixie has always been the fixer in her family- hence the nickname, Fixie. When her lifetime crush comes back into her life, Fixie is drawn immediately right back into his arms. Jobless, homeless, and hopeless, Ryan is the ultimate fixer upper and Fixie can’t help but try to work her magic on him. When a chance encounter with a big-shot business investor, Seb, lands her an IOU, Fixie takes it upon herself to see if that IOU would extend as far as a job for Ryan. When Seb agrees to hire Ryan, Fixie gives him an IOU for the huge favor he did her, and so ensues the ever-growing chemistry and IOU’s between the two.

“I just can’t help fixing things. It’s my flaw. It’s who I am.”
I really wanted to love this book as whole but sadly I only really enjoyed bits and pieces. Fixie was annoying as a main character in general. And her family is atrocious! Luckily, we did get to see some exceptional growth in all the characters but unfortunately, it did not come until the very end of the book. In the meantime I had to endure the repetitive inner monologue of Fixie, constantly(CONSTANTLY) letting everyone walk all over and put her down. Like come on Fixie, I know they’re family but that doesn’t give them the right to treat you like poo!

“Family is it, Fixie. Family is what drive us. Family is everything. Family loyalty is basically our religion.”
Argh. Luckily, we got the bit of romance with the handsome Seb. The romance with Ryan, thankfully, is brief as he is also garbage. Seb and Fixie had fun banter and chemistry and I liked their relationship. He helped her learn she could stand on her own and that her opinions mattered. Yay Seb! Their back and forth IOU’s were fun and I loved the ending!

So with that, I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Really enjoyed this book, all of her books are a fun read. She is laugh out loud funny. Her characters are likable and relatable

I received a Digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella’s books are always light but never frivolous and this was no exception. Fixie, like all of Kinsella’s protagonists, quickly endears herself to the reader and I flew through this story in one afternoon as I anxiously waited for Fixie to get the life she deserved. A lovely story.

I really don't like story lines with weak women and bullying men. This had a number of both. It just wasn't for me.

Such a cute novel! Everything that you can expect a Sophie Kinsella novel. Fixie Farr tries to fix everything. When she disaster about to strike at a coffee shop, she steps up to save a businessman's laptop from a very large leak in the roof. From then on, Seb, whose laptop she saved, tells her that he owes her one. They then have a cycle of owing each other until it starts to cause problems in both of their lives.

This was a cute book—typical Sophie Kinsella. It takes place in England. The main character has a meet cute. She’s awkward and insecure. He’s gorgeous and smart. Etc., etc., etc.

Sophia Kinsella’s newest book, “I Owe You One,” is a love letter to any woman who ever felt that she needed to just sit back and “keep sweet,” for the sake of not making waves. Society tells women to just take whatever life throws at them, and at first Fixie, the main character does, but the book represents her taking control and it’s a fun-filled journey - filled with Kinsella’s signature humor and romantic misadventures.

Fixie Farr works in her family’s store and, like her name implies, feel a need to “fix” everything. But things begin to spiral out of control when she saves a stranger’s laptop and he gives her an “I.O.U.” At the same time, her mother, the glue that holds the family together, goes out of town AND an old flame returns to London. Can Fixie fix her way out of this one?

Fixie is an interesting character because I really liked her, but sometimes I wanted to slap some sense into her. She could get herself into such a tizzy about things, that she couldn’t see the forest for the trees, if you know what I mean. But eventually she did “get it,” and that was a really satisfying moment - seeing her finally shoving her politeness and taking control.

I just wish she had maybe stuck it to some people a teensy bit more, but hey, you can’t get everything!

I loved the ending, which of course, in true rom-com fashion, works out perfectly and sweetly and the chic-lit lover in me was so happy with it. Fixie definitely had a lot of character development and it was great to see that rewarded and come to fruition.

Fans of Kinsella’s other work or fans of romantic comedies (of the Jennifer Aniston/Reese Witherspoon/JLo variety) will love this cute story, which makes the perfect airplane or beach read - I think it only took me three days to read the whole thing.

Can Sophie Kinsella do any wrong? Not my favorite book of hers, but still good.

I won't rehash the plot, I hate that in reviews. I will just say that if you love Sophie Kinsella's work, you won't be disappointed here.

Thank you so much to Sophie Kinsella and NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc of I Owe You One. I love Sophie's novels and this one was no exception. I really enjoyed it!

I adore Sophie Kinsella, especially when I want a light-hearted read. It annoyed me that the main character went by Fixie and that was ok with everyone? But I loved her inner monologue and how she tried to fight "family first" and finally realized what that meant. The characters were so fleshed out that almost immediately you got a sense for them and felt visceral reactions based on their actions.

Sophie Kinsella has written another delightful read with an engaging protagonist in her novel I Owe You One published earlier this year.

The novel opened with the following paragraph:

“The trouble 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.”

And I was instantly hooked. Many people—including myself—are “fixies”. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Fixie feels compelled to fix things. Even in strangers’ homes and offices. A crooked vase here, an out-of-place book there, her family and friends’ problems. But she is not compelled by bossiness, instead she is compelled out of unselfishness and her true love for others around her. This is a large part of what makes her a protagonist that the reader truly cares about. Much more than the main character in Kinsella’s last published book: Surprise Me.

The quirky humor in the book and Kinsella’s engaging style of writing also help.

Fixie is the youngest of three siblings. And it is she and her mother who keep the family store—Farrs—successful after her father’s death. Her other siblings are more of a detriment than a help. So this contributes to one of the main plot lines of the book when her mother takes a break in Spain with her sister after an illness leaving Fixie and her two siblings and an unhelpful uncle in charge of the store.

Of course, another plot line involves romance. Fixie meets the hero of the book, Seb, on a rare coffee break. She is drawn to a handsome stranger' and ends up saving his laptop from being ruined when a leak collapses the ceiling of the shop. Seb in turn presents her with an IOU:

““There must be something I can do to thank you,” he insists.
“No, really, nothing,” I say, equally firmly. “I’m fine.”
I smile politely, then turn and head toward the door. And I’m nearly there when I hear him shout, “Wait!” so loudly that I swivel back.
“Don’t go,” he adds.
“Please. Just … hold on. I have something for you.”
I’m so intrigued, I take a few steps back into the coffee shop.
He’s standing at the counter with a cardboard coffee sleeve and a pen, and he’s writing something.
“I always pay off my debts,” he says at last, coming toward me. “Always.”
He holds out the sleeve and I see that he’s written on it:

I owe you one.
Redeemable in perpetuity.

As I watch, he signs it underneath—a scribbly signature I can’t quite make out—and puts the date.
“If you ever want a favor,” he says, looking up. “Something I can do for you. Anything at all.”
He reaches in his pocket, pulls out a business card, and then looks around, frowning.
“I need a paper clip … or any kind of clip …”
“Here.” I put down my cup, reach into my Anna’s Accessories bag, and pull out a diamanté hair grip. “Perfect.”
He affixes the business card to the coffee sleeve with the hair grip.
“This is me. Sebastian Marlowe.”
“I’m Fixie Farr,” I reply. “Fixie.”
He nods gravely and extends a hand. “How do you do?”
We shake hands, then Sebastian proffers the coffee-sleeve IOU. “Please take it. I’m serious.”

I quite enjoyed this latest offering from Kinsella and highly recommend it.

Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel and for allowing me to review it.