REVIEW: I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

In I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella, Fixie Farr got her nickname as a kid thanks to her perpetual need to fix things. Her compulsion to help others has served her well over the years thankfully, although to some it might seem like she’s always putting herself last. But after losing her father several years ago, Fixie has taken his words of wisdom to heart–particularly his adage of “Family First”–and made it her mission to keep the Farr family happy and their local store running smoothly. With or without the help of her oftentimes flaky brother and sister.

‘I owe you one. Redeemable in perpetuity.’

Fixie’s skills at running the family store are put to the test when things start to go haywire in her personal life. Her first crush, Ryan, suddenly appears back in London and hints at a possible relationship. And after an incident at the local coffee shop where Fixie saved a businessman’s laptop from being demolished, she has an IOU he insisted on to repay her somehow. But over the next few months, her priorities shift. As does her attitude. Soon she’s fixing her life, one choice at a time and standing up to the naysayers. And Fixie has a feeling this is only the beginning of good things to come for her and her loved ones.

“You know me,” I say, finding my voice. “I just have to fix stuff. It’s always been my flaw–” I break off as I see him shaking his head, his eyes warm and loving.
“It’s your strength,” he says. “It’s what makes you. Don’t ever stop fixing stuff.”

Part romantic comedy, part family drama, but completely entertaining, I Owe You One was a charming new novel by bestselling author Sophie Kinsella.

‘What I should do now is quietly bow out… Certainly not prolonging this back-and-forth IOU game we seem to be in. It’s gone on for long enough.’

Reading a Sophie Kinsella book is always a pleasure. Between the quirky characters, their madcap adventures, and the surprising little twists in the plot, her work always holds my attention. I Owe You One definitely fit that pattern. The Farr family, their coworkers and friends were a delight to meet as we watched them with all of their individual struggles. And I thought their issues were all pretty relatable, too. Things like money woes, career options or a lack thereof, romantic debacles, etc. Of course, Kinsella’s touches of humor made everything much more fun and lively for her cast than it would be dealing with the same problems in real life.

The only issue I think some readers might have is that our heroine Fixie was a people pleaser who didn’t stand up for herself for the first half or so of the book. Needless to say it was frustrating watching her being used and taken for granted as you kind of knew what was going to happen to her. But I love stories with lots of personal growth, so this worked for me. And I’m not ashamed to admit that when Fixie started showing her backbone in the last chapters of the book, I might have cheered and done a fist pump or two in the air, saying “Go, Fixie!!”. (lol)

The premise behind this novel was an interesting one, I thought. Fixie had an IOU given to her by a businessman after she saved his laptop from imminent destruction. And the commitment they had to “paying” each other back as random things came up in their lives was a lot of fun. But I could also see how it could become complicated for Sebastian and Fixie over time. It was how they both dealt with their evolving friendship, all while their lives were changing in other ways, that I loved to watch. There were a few romantic entanglements we followed here as well with several characters, not just Fixie, and I think readers will be fully satisfied with how it all worked out for everyone.

I Owe You One was a funny, heartfelt book that will show readers the strength of family bonds, whether blood-related or family of the heart, as well as how every choice we make has a direct effect on our life.

Book Info:

Publication: February 5th 2019  | The Dial Press | Random House Publishing Group – Random House

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

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?