NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A gem of a novel.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things
From the author of Surprise Me comes 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.” 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?
Praise for I Owe You One
“This book is a shot of pure joy!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Corner
“A humorous exploration of family life, finding love and the difficulties of coming into one’s own as a young professional woman . . . The entertaining cast of characters . . . will certainly remind readers why nineteen years after her first hit Kinsella remains one of the reigning queens of women’s fiction.”—The Washington Post
“I Owe You One is another impossibly delightful story by Sophie Kinsella, a must-read for her die-hard fans and new readers alike.”—PopSugar
This is my EIGHTEENTH Kinsella book. Obviously, I'm a fan, and I Owe You One had all those ingredients which keep me coming back. It was funny, charming, heartwarming, endearing, and everything I have grown to expect from a Sophie Kinsella book.
• Pro: Fixie was wonderful. She was sweet, kind, considerate, and fiercely loyal. I loved how she was rather selfless, even if she did make some decisions, that drove me bananas. She learned a lot, though, and the Fixie at the end of the book was better for the experience.
• Pro: The idea of "owing" someone was explored in multiple ways with respect to friendship, romance, and family. Fixie's struggle with this and how it related family loyalty was interesting, and I really appreciated the way she questioned how it affected the family dynamic.
• Pro: Seb was a great character. He and Fixie meshed so well together, and I shipped them quite hard.
• Pro: As I expected, this book was packed with lots of fun antics and was downright hilarious at times. I absolutely let out some laughs, and there was a lot of grinning too.
• Pro: There were quite a few beautiful moments in this book as well, and I really adored the way Kinsella let the characters evolve over the course of the story. I was extremely pleased with the way the relationship between Fixie and her siblings changed, and was proud of her for making those changes happen.
• Pro: I actually had a lot of fun in the store. Kinsella packed it with some oddly fun characters, and they provided lots of amusement.
Overall: An humorous and heartfelt story of a woman navigating family, romance, and professional life, which made me laugh out loud and smile from ear to ear.
