Sophie Kinsella has written many novels but this is the first book of hers that I have read. I give it a solid 3.5 stars. The story is about relationships including those with friends, family and romantic partners.

Main characters include the three Farr siblings; there is self-centered Jake, dreamy and unfocused Nicole and the main protagonist, Fixie, who earned her nickname by, you guessed it, always wanting to fix things. But can she? How much should she fix for others and how much for herself?

Early in the novel, Fixie fixes something big for Seb. She saves his work computer from a flood. He, in return, writes an IOU on a coffee sleeve, vowing that he will do something for her. A big favor is asked for. There is a lot of score keeping as other favors occur. Because of this, over the course of the novel, the author asks the reader to consider how transactional relationships should or should not be. Even if you know the answer, you may enjoy following the story of Seb and Fixie.

A major setting in the book is Fixie's family business, a housewares store. I am pretty sure that as you read the novel you will wish that you had access to the goods and could shop there.

I enjoyed this novel. I found myself reading more quickly the closer I got to the end. The Farr siblings change and grow over the course of the book and, even though you know how it will end, getting there is entertaining. If you enjoy light fiction, you might want to give this one a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. All opinions are my own.

Fixie Farr can't help herself. She has to fix things. Everyone in her life certainly needs some fixing too. She works in the family business, Farr's, a store with a variety of things. Her mother, brother Jake and sister Nicole share in the life their late father dedicated himself to. Fixie has some real challenges which seem to weigh her down until her brother's friend and her childhood crush, Ryan, comes back to the area after living in the U.S. Around the same time she comes to the rescue of a handsome businessman, Seb, who makes out an IOU of sorts as thanks.

I liked the way the story started. I saw Fixie as the main character who had struggled with loss and the hard place of the shadows made by the overpowering personality of her brother and beauty of her sister. I felt sympathetic toward her. Then she makes choices that kind of irritated me. I will be honest, I came very close to setting the book aside. I'm not going to give out spoilers and perhaps many readers won't agree with me. I found it hard to care about Fixie. She is long-suffering but oh, so naive. Things got better about three quarters of the way through the manuscript and I became interested in how things would work out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of the book.
Be advised that there is adult language and mild sexual content.

A classic Kinsella novel! There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, which I always appreciate, as well as a few silly-smile-swoony ones :) And I really, really adored the meet-cute!

This book was so fun! I look forward to reading Sophie's book each time one is released. What a treat. Full character, an interesting plot and fantastic prose. Thank you so much~

I absolutely adore Sophie Kinsella as an author. She writes such lighthearted and fun books that are quick to read and even more enjoyable. I expected no less from I Owe You One, because by the synopsis it sounded like so much fun.

Fixie Farr was such a funny character. She kind of reminded me of myself in the way that she couldn’t let things go. She felt like she needed to fix everything, and I mean everything. Even though she had romantic things going on she still continued to live her life and to the best of her ability fix what she could and I absolutely adored her.

If you are fan of Sophie Kinsella’s other books I absolutely recommend that you pick this one up, because you will not be disappointed. While having similar qualities to her other books this one also is unique in its own way because the main character is different than what you might think. I feel like this is a great read if you are just wanting a fun lighthearted story that you can jump right into.

I have been a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella in the past but I just could not get into this book at all. I think the characters didn't endear themselves to me right away and then there was phrasing that just kept throwing me off. Unfortunately, i did not finish this one.

Usually I enjoy Sophie Kinsella books for the most part. This one, not so much. Everyone just walked all over poor Fixie. Why couldn't she tell anyone no?! That does me nuts. Why must she try to 'fix' everyone else's problems? I understand that is pretty much the point of this book, but when is enough enough? This book just made me roll my eyes and think 'ugh' the entire way through. Her relationship with Sebastian was also very weird to me. Her dad always said 'family first' but her siblings are horrible. And her childhood crush? He wasn't too great either.

As always, Sophie Kinsella delivers a fast paced romantic comedy that makes you wanting more. She is a pro at creating relatable characters that help you become immersed in the story. The siblings were SO cringy - I honestly couldn't stand them, which I think was Kinsella's purpose so she did a great job there. Over all, I highly recommend this book. It's a perfect summer/beach read.

I Owe You One is a predictable, easy chick lit read that goes down fast but has little substance. I've been reading Sophie Kinsella since the very first Shopaholic book and I'm afraid that her books have each successfully become thinner copies of the last. Fixie's story could be so much more compelling if the characters were more than just one-dimensional caricatures.

Fixie's older brother Jack, is the Golden Boy who hasn't made good. Her older sister Nicole, is the Gorgeous Girl who hasn't made good. Both are flighty, vein, insubstantial, and of course fixed by Fixie.

Fixie is -- of course-- the girl who can do just about anything but doesn't believe in herself enough. Sadly, she learns--through the help of a man--that she is someone to be believed in. I wish Fixie had learned to believe in herself on her own .

Even more sadly the previously mentioned man, Sumeb, is himself a total caricature--a perfect man (rich, handsome, kind, etc.) trapped in a relationship with a shrewish woman.

It makes no sense to have a character like Seb be in a relationship with a woman that he doesn't respect or even like. Why should Fixie settle for someone who can't even stand up for himself? And how can he really help Fixie when he can't even help himself?

It's problems like this (which are very problematic) and the one-dimensional caricatures of characters that make I Owe You One a disappointing read.

DNF

I read and enjoyed Kinsella's Finding Audrey, but I couldn't get myself to like thisone. Fixie annoyed me, I didn't like the romance, and the plot was slow going, if at all.

I Owe You One

by Sophie Kinsella

I have read and enjoyed a number of books by Sophie Kinsella who is perhaps most famous for her Shopaholic series. Then I read one that just didn’t have the same zing and humor, so I entered I Owe You One with some trepidation. I am pleased to report that Kinsella’s latest book lives up to her standards and my expectations. At first I was a little concerned there would be too much predictability. The main character’s name is Fixie, derived from her penchant for fixing things ranging from the placement of objects to personal relationships. OCD is definitely in play as she struggles not to rearrange things or declare her every thought. As Fixie’s high school heartthrob reenters her life, the reader is watching a foreseeable train wreck: “No, Fixie, don't do it!”

The plot leaves the anticipated pathway soon after with lots of surprises in store. It does not focus solely on Fixie’s love life. Fixie also struggles with family relationships which are closely tied with the family business. You will like Fixie if for no other reason than she tries so hard in everything she does. She feels like a failure, is loaded with unwarranted guilt, and carries the torch for making everything turn out right and keeping everyone happy—a big burden for one person.

There are many other interesting major and minor characters you will meet, but not all of them are likable, of course. The setting is West London where the denizens range from scruffy to posh. The book flows nicely with lots of humor and is a fast and enjoyable read.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Dial Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Women’s Fiction

Publication: February 19, 2019—Dial Press

Memorable Lines:

When I think how I believed his version of everything, how I rationalized everything he said and did, I feel warm with stupidity. But he was so convincing.

Ryan’s pathological, I’ve realized. He says anything to anyone to get out of whatever situation he’s in. Truth doesn’t count, integrity doesn’t count, love doesn’t even figure. Yelling at him would be like yelling at a rock. It’s never going to change.

I learned that failing doesn’t mean you are a failure; it just means you’re a human being.

Living by the motto: "Family first" often means that you put one's own needs and desires last. In the case of Fixie Farr, she has spent a lifetime of fixing things for her family members instead of sticking up for herself. As a reader, it was difficult to watch Fixie have all of these family members and acquaintances walk all over her throughout the novel. I typically like strong female leads in the books that I read so when a character isn't one it's a little bit irritating. The premise of this book wouldn't exist, however, if Fixie was telling off people from the start and making great relationship choices from the get go. Fixie has to develop and grow over time as she learns more about what unconditional love truly looks like. I thought the IOU written on a coffee sleeve that gets transferred back and forth between Sebastian and Fixie throughout the book was a clever idea. I'd love to see this book be made into a movie someday. It would have all of the parts for a perfect romantic comedy. This book might not be my favorite Kinsella book, but it will definitely not be my last. You can always count on Kinsella to give you several laugh out loud moments when you read one of her books. This book was no exception. There were lots of good quotes about love near the end of the book too. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts expressed in the review are my honest opinions of the book.

DNF at 20% - I loved Kinsella's earlier work but her last 2 books just haven't worked for me at all.

This is my first Kinsella book and i was delightfully surprised!! I loved this boo...I smiled the whole way through and didn’t want to put it down!!
I’m now going to read all her novels!!!!

Fixie's family runs a neighborhood store, filled with all kinds of things that the locals wants. Her mother runs the show, but it's really Fixie who turns out to be the glue of the family. When Fixie saves a local businessman's laptop from disaster at a coffeeshop, the meet cute is ended with an IOU. Sebastian needs someone in his life like Fixie, he just doesn't know it at first. As usual, this was a really fun, comedic romp by the author of the Shopaholic books. You could almost see Becky getting into some of these scrapes.

I am not going to lie, the narrator was annoying, the situations she found herself in were predictable and preventable, but, as with most of the Kinsella books I’ve read, I was able to overlook all that and enjoy this one.

Arrrrrghhhh! This was such a tough readfir me and it’s because the main character reminds me SO much of me. I’m a fixer by nature, a people pleaser, and reading about Fixie (the name is a little too on the nose for me) and her family was TOUGH. How they treat her! How hard she struggles to have a voice in her own family! Guys, I felt so seen. And I hated it. It was a deeply uncomfortable, resonating read.

This is also trademark Kinsella: cute romance, lots of heart, and laughs. I admit that sometimes her female leads can sound the same but overall, there’s something just so comforting about picking up a Kinsella book.

4.5 stars

A heroine who can’t help but fix everything, an IOU from a handsome stranger, a cunning old boyfriend, and thorny family dynamics—the perfect setup for another irresistible Sophie Kinsella novel.

Fixie Farr fixes things… that’s what she does. She fixes situations, she fixes things around her family’s shop, she basically does everything possible to avoid confrontation, putting family first, always.

So when a handsome stranger asks her to watch his laptop, she not only agrees to, but she also saves it from certain death. Indebted to Fixie, she gets a handwritten IOU fated to change everything.

But troubles continue to plague Fixie. Before taking a holiday, her mom left her and her siblings in charge of the family shop, and her brother and sister are complete mooches. They do nothing but spend money, insist their terrible ideas are put into motion, and pretty much guarantee a downward spiral for their store.

To make bad matters worse, Fixie’s long-time crush (Ryan) is back and sans a job, and Fixie collects the IOU on his behalf. She’ll really owe the stranger (Sebastian) back for that colossal favor.

Nothing is going as intended, though. Her family is messing everything up, Ryan is being sketchy, and she can’t stop thinking about Seb—who she runs into again. This time, he owes her again, perhaps for a debt impossible to repay.

As they spend more time together, she can’t help but wonder if he could be the one? But with her life a mess, Fixie must be able to stand up to her family before she loses the store, and the man she loves in one fell swoop.

If you’re a long-time fan of Sophie Kinsella (like I am), you’ll love this one. Quirky characters, witty dialogue and Kinsella’s singular magic bring this delightful story to life. It’s fast-paced, charming, so much fun to read, and another reason I’ll keep reading Sophie Kinsella books for years to come.

I'm a big Sophie Kinsella fan, but I just did not love this book. It was difficult to get into and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I wanted to love it, but it fell flat for me. Bring back the Shopaholic!

This book was adorable, and (for me, at least) harkened back to classic Sophie Kinsella titles of years ago. Fixy is an adorable heroine, and Seb is swoony without being too "perfect". Fixy's siblings are great comic relief. If you love your chick-lit as light as a souffle, then do yourself a favor and check this one out.