Julie's Review: I Owe You One

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: The Dial Press
Pages: 448
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Heartwarming and full of laughs
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

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? ~amazon.com

Review: Ah, Sophie Kinsella strikes again and in the best way possible. If I ever need to a laugh she's my go to. Her characters are always charming and flawed so that you laugh with them (ok sometimes at them) but always cheer for them. Enter Fixie Farr, who's flaw is to try to fix everything or anyone where she seems fit. It doesn't always work out for her though. Sometimes she over steps her bounds and sometimes she's just out of her depth. Although, those 2 things have never stopped her before. The one thing she has trouble doing is speaking up and defending herself to her older siblings, Jake and Nicole.

She's also only had eyes for Jake's best friend, Ryan, since she was 10 years old. So when he comes back from LA she's hoping they can pick up where they left off when he was back for a visit. Never mind the handsome stranger who's laptop she saved when the ceiling collapsed at a cafe. She puts him aside even though she's intrigued because well Ryan is back. We've all had a "Ryan" in our lives and as a reader you see the writing on the wall.  You know it's going to take a bit for Fixie to see it though.

Sibling relationships can be trying at times and she truly struggles with hers. She's always been the one to bend over to help her family but yet gets pushed aside when she speaks her mind. Both of her siblings run over her to get what they want, they don't listen to her and more importantly they don't respect her. This is evident when their mom decides to take some time off from the family store. They quickly move in on it.

Fixie finally realizes that she has to take control of her life and that means standing up to her siblings and taking charge of the store. It also means figuring out who and what she wants in the romance department.

I laughed out loud at certain points in this book. Whenever I want a good chuckle, I always go back to Sophie. So until next year and a new book, I'll keep Fixie and her life in my head for a good chuckle.

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