January is still going strong with good books and lots of reading time. I just finished reading Sophie Kinsella’s newest novel, I Owe You One.
Sophie Kinsella has become an automatic read for me. I just need to see her name on the cover, and I know I will enjoy the book. I was thrilled to learn that Kinsella has a new release coming out in February and couldn’t wait to dive in.
The main character in Kinsella’s newest novel, I Owe You One, is Fixie Farr. “Fixie” is a nickname she’s acquired due to her overwhelming need to fix everything – from cleaning a stain to righting a crooked statue to repairing relationships. Fixie was an original and pretty likable character. Unfortunately, she lacked self-esteem and found herself unable to stand up for herself in both romantic relationships as well as family relationships. Fixie was a sweetheart but frustrated me in the beginning due to her lack of a backbone. But the character didn’t let me down and learned a lot about herself throughout the story.
I Owe You One had less of a romance factor than other stand-alone novels of Kinsella’s. There were multiple couples and relationships throughout the book, but they lacked romance and read as though they were there for character study rather than to add a romantic element to the story.
The book also had more of a serious tone than previous novels – yes, there was comedy as we’ve all come to expect and cherish in Ms. Kinsella’s novels. It just didn’t feel quite as light-hearted as her other novels. Some serious issues are tackled in this story including dealing with loss, financial struggles, and low self-esteem to name a few.
Overall, I Owe You One is everything I’ve come to expect from a Kinsella novel. It was entertaining, heartwarming, funny, and featured a woman learning about her strengths, appreciating her uniqueness, and learning to stand up for herself. It was an enjoyable read, and I loved the ending. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just say it was satisfactory without being too clichéd.
I Owe You One releases on February 5th!
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Kait's Bookshelf