I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fixie Farr can’t help herself. Straightening a crooked object, removing a barely-there stain, helping out a friend . . . she just has to put things right. It’s how she got her nickname, after all. 

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. To thank her, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, scribbles her an IOU – but of course Fixie never intends to call in the favour.

That is, until her teenage crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and needs her help – and Fixie turns to Seb. But things don’t go according to plan, and now Fixie owes Seb: big time.

Soon the pair are caught up in a series of IOUs – from small favours to life-changing debts – and Fixie is torn between the past she’s used to and the future she deserves. 

Does she have the courage to fix things for herself and fight for the life, and love, she really wants? 



I really wanted to enjoy this book, I love Sophie Kinsella novels, however the last few she has written I felt have really let me down. This one unfortunately for me didn't give me the full enjoyment I came to expect from a Sophie Kinsella novel.

There were a few things, which annoyed me in this book. To begin with the main characters name Fixie, it just irritated me, I understood why she is called this and it is only a nickname but it just grated on me the more I read of it.

The second thing was the love affair with Fixie and Seb, how they got together just wasn't very believable for me, one minute he was with Bryony, which I'm guessing he has been her for some time and then literally the next minute Seb is asking Fixie out and they end up staying the night at his.

Fixie is left to deal with her families business while her mum is on holiday with her aunt, there is a lot about family in this book and how you support each other.

This was a very quick read, I read over a couple of plane journeys and it kept me entertained. I just felt it didn't have the humour I have grown accustomed to with Kinsella's novels.

I am hoping that Sophie Kinsella gets the spark back to her writing like she had when she wrote Can you Keep a secret and The Undomestic Goddess as personally I feel these were her best standalone novels.

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After being together for ten years, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, beautiful twin girls, and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it's casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years... and panic sets in.

They quickly decide to create little surprises for each other, to keep their relationship fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me - anything from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to photo shoots - mishaps arise with disastrous and comical results.

Gradually, the surprises turn to shocking discoveries. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all...

I love Sophie Kinsella/Madeline Wickham chic lits and was eager to read this latest book. I must confess that although usually easy to get into her novels this one seemed to lack something and never really got going until chapter 5. I stuck with it and it did get better.

The premise was a bit silly to start with: after a check up they are told they are both so healthy they will likely live to be over 100. Freaked out as how to keep their marriage fresh, they decide to constantly surprise each other. Predictably these surprises don't always work out as intended and our hapless couple Sylvie and Dan blunder through disasters along the way.

Some humorous and some silly situations arise but I have to say not my favourite Kinsella book. I think mainly the problem was that I couldn't connect with the couple, Sylvie was moany and self obsessed and Dan seemed a little dim and boring. Can only give this 3 stars - it was disappointing.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To Las Vegas . . . and beyond!

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is on a major rescue mission! Hollywood was full of surprises, and now she's on a road trip to Las Vegas to help her friends and family.

She's determined to get to the bottom of why her dad has mysteriously disappeared, help her best friend Suze and even bond with long-time enemy Alicia Bitch Long-legs (maybe...).

As Becky discovers just how much her friends and family need help, she comes up with her biggest, boldest, most brilliant plan yet! So can she save the day just when they need her most?

Becky is setting out to make things right in this laugh-out-loud, feel-good conclusion to her American adventure that began with SHOPAHOLIC TO THE STARS.


We have waited a long time to find out what was going to happen at the end of Shopaholic with the Stars. I am a huge Kinsella fan and have been from the moment I discovered her books but being left on a cliff hanger was very disappointing and it felt like I was growing out of the Shopaholic Series. We have had to wait for a year to find out how Shopaholic to the Stars was going to finish and finally we have got the ending. If you are new to the series I do not recommend starting with this one. It flows straight from Shopaholic to the Stars and you would need to have read that one at least to understand what is going on.

This I thought was very different to the other shopaholic books in the series. They mostly focus around Becky and Luke, however I felt this was more centred around Suze and Tarkie. This was again a little disappointing for me and I was hoping to get back the Becky and the stories from the earlier books in the series. I think if like me that is what you are expecting you will be disappointed. Saying that it does not mean I didn't enjoy this one as I did but it was just completely different to what I thought it maybe like.

Although I think this book is very different to the others, there is still witty lines and humour within it. The story line isn't a great one to be honest and has little depth to it, but personally I don't read shopaholic books for the story line, so this didn't bother me. This definitely feels like this is the book that Becky has grown up in and perhaps this is the end of the series? This is a relatively easy read, which you would be able to finish in a couple of days.

I am extremely glad I had the opportunity to read and review this before publication date and if like me you are a huge Kinsella fan you will enjoy this one and want to add it to your collection. I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meet Audrey: an ordinary teenage girl with not so ordinary problems.

Aside from her completely crazy and chaotic family, she suffers from an anxiety disorder which makes talking to her brother's hot new best friend a bit of a challenge.

But Audrey has a plan to help her face her fears and take on the world again. First stop: Starbucks.




When I heard that Sophie Kinsella was releasing a YA book I knew I had to read it and the fact I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC I needed to read it right away. Personally I feel this was a bit of a risk from Kinsella, we have all grown to love the Shopaholic series and although I thought the last book in particular was not up to usual standards I wouldn't change her writing style for anything.

Finding Audrey, is written in a different style and to be honest if I had covered the authors name when I picked up the book I would not have known it was written by her. I think this really shows how talented as an author Kinsella is. For her to be able to step inside the mind of a 14 year old and tell the story so brilliantly and make you as the reader believe everything Audrey is going through makes this a success.

The plot centres around Audrey and her family, Audrey is suffering from social anxiety order, which the more you read you begin to see into her past. Her mum seems to be obsessed with Frank (Audrey's brother) for always being online playing a game and listens to everything that the Daily Mail print! The story is mainly told through Audrey's perspective and through this you can see an insight into how she sees the relationship of others in her family. Audrey also films as part of her progression and some of the book is laid out in script format.

I enjoyed reading about all the characters in the story and I really loved reading about Linus and Audrey when they are exchanging notes through the door, I found this really heartwarming and I could see this playing out in my mind. I felt that Kinsella really allowed me, the reader to get inside the characters head and feel what they were feeling. Before reading this book I knew nothing about social anxiety order but from reading this I could begin to understand how people with this condition feel.

Throughout the book there were moments of humor, however it was more of a heartwarming tale about a family going through something traumatic and how they deal with it as a family, and I think family is the key in this book, they do all work together and look out for one another. This was something I really enjoyed reading about.

I feel that although this was a risk for Kinsella she has done the book justice, it is clear she has researched this topic well and got as much information as possible on the theme before sitting down to write. I this it was a bold move but one that has been a success, Kinsella's old and new fans are going to enjoy this novel and I hope to see more YA from Kinsella in the future.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Shopaholic to the Stars - Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic on Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The new Mr and Mrs Brandon are on honeymoon, and Becky has big plans! They’ve got a whole year to explore Venice, learn yoga in India, sleep in little wooden huts in South America… maybe even see penguins in the Arctic. And of course they’ll need to buy just a few essential souvenirs along the way (everyone needs a set of Murano glass goblets, after all).

They’re not just tourists, they’re travellers. Becky is sure it is just the thing that Luke needs – time to unwind. He’ll come back a changed man… with all the good bits still intact of course.

But it soon becomes clear that Luke has different plans entirely. Can Becky help him let go, or will this little disagreement threaten their whole honeymoon?



When I heard that Kinsella had bought out a short story - Shopaholic on Honeymoon, I couldn't wait to read it. I was disappointed with her latest story - Shopaholic to the Stars but I was hoping this would be back to her usual standard.

I was not disappointed with this short story, I felt Becky was back to the old days, witty and I could hear her voice coming through. That is something I rely enjoy about the Shopaholic series, Becky has a voice and only by reading the first page I know if she is there.

This is the story of Becky on her honeymoon. As a traveller I have always wondered about her honeymoon and love the prospect of Becky travelling. (ONE of my favourite shopaholic' s was Shopaholic Abroad.

I loved every aspect of this short story, even though it was. Short story I felt there was a lot packed into it. It could have easily been a lot longer, something I would have loved! It would have nice to have Becky and Luke visit a few other places.

Kinsella was back with this short story, her writing style and her quirky aspects to the book were all present. I particularly enjoyed reading the letter response from the Mayor of London.

This is a must read for any Becky fan, and after being disappointed with the latest novel by Kinsella, she has managed to convert me back again and made me realise why I loved the books so much.

If you have not read any of the series, this is not th one to start with. If you have then you must read this one. This was a perfect gift from kinsella this Christmas for all her fans.

After reading this I cannot wait for the next story.

Shopaholic to the Stars - Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is in Hollywood! It's as if all her life has been leading to this moment. She's hanging out with the stars … or at least she will be, when she finally gets to meet movie superstar Sage Seymour, whom husband Luke is now managing.

There's so much to see and do! And getting Minnie through the hurdles for her A-list Hollywood pre-school will require some…er…help.

Becky sets her heart on a new career - she's going to be a celebrity stylist. Red carpet, here she comes! But Becky soon finds it's tough in Tinseltown. Luckily her best friend Suze comes over to keep her company, and together they embark on the Hollywood insider trail. But somehow...things aren't quite working out as they’d hoped.

Then Becky's big chance comes, and it's an opportunity that money can't buy. But will it cost her too much?

I have been a HUGE Sophie Kinsella fan and would shout from the rooftops how good the Shopaholic series is, however after the long anticipated wait for Shopaholic to the Stars I have been left feeling flat and bitterly disappointed.

I honestly don't know what has happened to Becky and the series, the Kinsella spark that we all know and loved seems to have gone. The last book I read by Kinsella was Wedding Night and I also felt Kinsella was beginning to get a little lost in her writing.

Kinsella had a formula for writing books, one which worked, they were funny, characters were loveable and people felt they could relate to the stories. Something has happened, especially with this book and that is a shame.

Normally when I read a Kinsella book I cannot put it down, it is read in a matter of hours. This one took me a good few weeks, this should have started to set off alarm bells for me; I was clearly not enjoying this a much as I had hoped and expected, I did stick with it as I wanted to finish it. The more I read though, the more disappointing it became.

I felt the book started well and strong, Becky was still the character we all know and love. I enjoyed reading the introduction to Tarkie and Suzie, characters that we had previously learnt about and grown to love. I also enjoyed reading about Luke's mother; however as the story progressed I became annoyed with Becky, she was behaving in an irrational and in a selfish way. A character that I once love I was beginning to dislike very quickly...

I kept with with book for the main reason I could not allow myself to give up on Kinsella and I was hoping it was going to improve. Unfortunately for me it didn't. The ending felt confused, unresolved and 'lost'. It almost felt Kinsella ran out of ideas and then just needed to end the story abruptly.

When I have read all the other Shopaholic books, I have felt satisfied at the end; they are light hearted reads that we know are going to be wrapped up nicely, this one was not this. I feel very unsatisfied and actually considering not to bother with any more that are released. This is a huge shame as I have all the Shopaholic' s taking pride of place on my bookshelf. The other thing I have been thinking since I have been reading it is, have I just grown out of them? Looking back though this is definitely not what they were like, I am considering re reading the first in the series to remind myself why I love the books so much.

Kinsella was my all time favourite authors, she is quickly slipping from this ranking. Maybe I have just had really high expectations of this book, Kinsella created those expectations though and it seems like she has lost her mojo. If you are a die hard fan like I was, I am sure you are going to read this one; if you are not and are discovering Kinsella, I would urge you not to start with this. Mainly because it is in th middle of the series but also because this is not her best, start with a stand alone or Secret Dreamworld of A Shopaholic.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Wedding Night - Sophie Kinsella

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


'Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.

Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.'



I have read all of Sophie Kinsella's books and I am a huge fan. I was so excited when I knew she had bought out this new book - Wedding Night, I thought it had been long awaited and was so excited when I was sent it from the publisher to review.

Sophie Kinsella has a unique way of writing, she is the queen of chick lit and can link hunour with serious issues, this book was slightly different; it had laugh out loud moments but some of the storylines within it I felt were a bit false.

This story is written in the perspective of two sisters, Fliss and Lottie. This way of writing was new for Sophie Kinsella as each chapter was from the perspective of one of the sisters. To begin with in chapter 1 where you meet Lottie,it was funny and I thought the writing style was excellent. I was laughing out loud, this then I felt let down by Fliss in the following chapter. As time went on I began to enjoy the way it was written but this I feel is not one of Sophie Kinsella's best books in the writing style.

Lottie is at a turning point in her life, she is 33 and has been with her long term partner Richard for a few years, so when they go out for a romantic meal Lottie assumes that this is the time, he is going to propose to her. Things do not exactly go to plan and they end up going their separate ways.

Fliss is Lottie's older sister, she has been married, got a child and now is currently going through a divorce. She is feeling bitter about this and is constantly trying to get her lawyer to realise how bad of a husband and father her partner was. Fliss is very close to Lottie and knows that now everything isn't plain sailing with her, she is vulnerable and could go off the rails (this is something she always seems to do after a break up.)

When Lottie calls Fliss to tell her, her good news about bumping into an old flame and them getting marries. Fliss feels it's her duty to protect her, and she will go to any means to do this, including following her across the world to try and put a stop to their 'wedding night'.

All characters in the story are well written, you really feel for them, Fliss that she is deranged and insane, the men are written well, you begin to sympathise with Richard and actually hate Ben for being selfish and rude.

Although the story was well written I feel there was something missing, Sophie Kinsella has a spark when writing and this was not present. I really hope it returns as she writes wonderful books. The story has been left open ended so perhaps we could see more from Richard, Lottie, Fliss and Ben? Over all I did enjoy the story, just not as much as her others.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the copy.