I Owe You One - Sophie Kinsella

Description

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 favours 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

I have read all of Sophie's previous novels but something about this one just felt a little jaded. It didn't help that I hated the lead character's name of Fixie - sure she can't help fixing things but it was not endearing the character to me at all. For the first third of the book I really struggled to get into it, usually I would be reading away and finish a Sophie book in a couple of days. It was a little de ja vu from previous books with a slightly dippy character who can say anything in her head but not in real life. Her childhood crush Ryan was such an awful character that I couldn't believe she couldn't see through him.

Luckily just after the third part of the book I began to enjoying reading it. Things changed up and it actually became a good story that I wanted to read. The characters began to be fleshed out a little more and it seemed with the liberation of Fixie the book also became a little more liberated itself. I particularly liked the sparing between Fixie and Briony who is Seb's girlfriend. The skating scene was fabulous and I really felt like I was there watching it all. A good ending - so all was ok in the end and I await the next Sophie book. 

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC to review.