[Review] I Owe You One - Sophie Kinsella

Summary: 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? (Pub Date: Feb 05, 2019)

Fixie was raised to think of her family first even when her sister has crazy ideas and her brother won't stop spending, also neither will help at the family shop. When their mother needs to take some time off and the three become in charge, she'll reflect on what it means to keep her family first. To make things more problematic the love of her life is back in town and his behavior isn't much different. The only good thing going for her was being able to help a stranger and getting an IOU back, even if she would never want to claim.

This is hard to rate. I really loved part of the book, I could see Kinsella tried to make it a bit closer to the types of stories I like from her. But it was as if she went through some crisis in which she wanted to write the story I like but the moment she wasn't paying attention, all my issues with her books would surface. In other words, I loved some parts, I got bored of others.

Even though I remember feeling more excited while reading Surprise Me, I think this is my favorite book by her in the last few years. Her exchange with the IOU guy reminded me of I've Got Your Number, as well as her crazy siblings and good-for-nothing initial romantic interest.

Also, I think it's a book you can read quite fast, although it is a bit on the long side. But there are some parts that dragged. All of Fixie's conflicts brought back what I like the least in Kinsella's books. Yes, they happen, I identified a lot with her issues, but it had a serious, almost dramatic tone I don't want in chic-lit. I prefer how Poppy and Becky reacted in their books.

So while this was better than at least her two previous books, it's still not one of the best by Kinsella. I do recommend if you're a fan of both her styles because this book was actually a mix of them. Also, the romance is cute, I guarantee that part.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.


Rating: 3 out of 5.