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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
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?
Review:
In my humble opinion, Sophie Kinsella is the queen of romantic comedy!
via GIPHY
Her books are populated with compelling characters you want to get to know. There's plenty of romance, and a satisfying ending that is not too predictable. All of these elements are present in her latest book, I Owe You One.
What I Liked:
Characters:I love books where more than just the main character is a fully formed being. The Farr family is full of wonderful, annoying, and sometimes offensive people (kind of like an actual family). I loved getting to know each person, and why they were how they were. I also liked that all the employees at the shop (one of the main settings of the book) were distinct, quirky personalities.
Romance:
This book has all the elements of a satisfying romantic comedy. The main character, Fixie, is mooning after the wrong man at first. Then there's a meet/cute which was very funny. It takes a while for Fixie and Seb (short for Sebastian) to get together, but, I loved all the tension. And, this being a romantic comedy, you just know that there will be something that will tear them apart. They can't possibly be happy without a few bumps in the road, right? While I would say this book was a bit formulaic, it was so entertaining, that I was fine with that.
Love:
I also liked that the book explored the concept of love. In a family, does loving someone mean looking past one's faults? Or should we employ "tough love" in order to help them? How will we handle it when someone messes up? Do we get angry or reach out to listen and help? In romantic love, can we do the same, or should we use a gentler touch? There were no easy answers.
Family Dynamics:
There are lots of family dynamics that readers will recognize in their own lives. There's the sibling who's always trying to impress everyone. The self-absorbed sister who's checked out at family gatherings. And then there's the fixer. The main character is literally named Fixie! She's the one to always smooth things over with everyone. She jumps in when no one volunteers to help, because otherwise it won't get done.
Fixie feels a nearly physical need to take care of everything. Otherwise she gets anxiety. Although all of the antics of these personalities are taken to an extreme for comic effect, there's a lot of truth to the family roles in this book.
Rating:
Release Date: February 5th, 2019
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press
Genre: General Fiction (Rom/Com)
Page Length: 448 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A fun romantic book with many memorable characters.
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