Day: March 12, 2019

I Owe You One

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: February 5, 2019
448 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: February 22- March 5, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars

Book Description:

Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” But 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 her nature to say no to people.

So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. Turns out the computer’s owner is an investment manager. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, Sebastian scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

Then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. She wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. And Seb agrees, until 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?

Jessica’s Review:

I adore Sophie Kinsella. In fact, it was her book, Can You Keep a Secret?  That got me reading again. Unfortunately the last couple of her books have not been for me.

The premise of I Owe You One had me intrigued, but the delivery failed.  For a start, I did not connect with the characters at all. Fixie’s name did not work for me and she constantly let everyone walk all over her.  Her siblings were very annoying and I did not like Ryan at all.  I suspected him of ill will.  All of the characters had issues of some kind, and the combination just did not work. 

Yes, the scene where the ‘certain disaster’ where Fixie saves the laptop is hilarious and left a lot of promise for the novel. This scene is classic Kinsella.   Despite I Owe You One not being for me, I will continue to read Kinsella novels, I just may need to stick to her older novels.  I think I might need to give Can You Keep a Secret a re-read this year. 

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher  for granting me a copy to read and review. I wish I could have given it a favorable review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK