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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
For the majority of this story I thought, “oh no; I’ve outgrown Sophie Kinsella”. I’ve been reading her novels since high school (around the time Moses wore short pants) and to think perhaps this would be my last read…and then the final 50 pages happened. You got me.
this book was really sweet, funny even at some points. i felt like it dragged on a bit and could have been shorter. but i did enjoy listening to it, definitely kept me company for several days.
DNF. The main character could be charming if she wasn't just such an incredible doormat, and the supporting characters total cliches. Gah, very disappointing, since I normally love Kinsella's books.
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whilst I truly appreciate a flawed main character and accompanying them as their circumstances and people around them challenge their strongly held beliefs, this book left me thinking the book could have been 50 pages shorter or longer. One of the main issues I have with this is that this book is marketed as a romance, when I think it should be labeled as fiction. The book is a deep dive of our main character Fixie's journey from a people pleaser to someone who stands up for herself. Yet, we barely see her settle into this new mindset before the book ends. The main love interest is underexplored. We hear it's good, and we hear that the feelings between them are deep and strong, but we barely see it. The relationship ends pretty close to the end, with the breakup serving as a catalyst for our character to make real changes in her life. They then briefly see each other and solidify the conclusion of their relationship. When this occurred, it all made sense to me. This book was not about Fixie and Seb’s relationship, it was about the relationship she had with herself. Only for them to abruptly reunite in the second to last chapter.
The vast majority of the secondary characters were insufferable. While they all had their redemption arc, again, it only occurred in the final four? chapters of the book.
For 2/3 (if not more) of the book the things in Fixie's life that needed to change, painting a strained family relationship, and her pushover tendencies were masterfully highlighted and beaten into the reader. Had Fixie's breaking point occurred in the middle of the book, and not the very end, I could've left the book feeling satisfied. Instead, I left this romance book barely knowing the main love interest and unsure whether the changes in Fixie's life will stick.
Had another author wrote this book, I suspect I wouldn't have finished it. This is the first book I have read by Kinsella, and can truly say she is a talented wordsmith, definitely knows how to keep a reader engaged and had me laughing at different points of the book. The plot was promising, the execution left me wanting more. I truly believe had this book been approached by Kinsella as fiction and the romance serves its intended purpose as a catalyst, this could've been an amazing book.
The vast majority of the secondary characters were insufferable. While they all had their redemption arc, again, it only occurred in the final four? chapters of the book.
For 2/3 (if not more) of the book the things in Fixie's life that needed to change, painting a strained family relationship, and her pushover tendencies were masterfully highlighted and beaten into the reader. Had Fixie's breaking point occurred in the middle of the book, and not the very end, I could've left the book feeling satisfied. Instead, I left this romance book barely knowing the main love interest and unsure whether the changes in Fixie's life will stick.
Had another author wrote this book, I suspect I wouldn't have finished it. This is the first book I have read by Kinsella, and can truly say she is a talented wordsmith, definitely knows how to keep a reader engaged and had me laughing at different points of the book. The plot was promising, the execution left me wanting more. I truly believe had this book been approached by Kinsella as fiction and the romance serves its intended purpose as a catalyst, this could've been an amazing book.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started this book and had to drop it not long after. I think I may be done giving Sophie Kinsella chances. Once again, we meet another protagonist that is childish and flighty in nature and after so many years, it gets old. Her characters need to grow at some point. As mentioned earlier, I dropped the book so I won't be rating it. But my unofficial rating is a 1.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan and I looked forward to her new book each year. Last years book Surprise Me was a big disappointment to me. This one was much better and I really enjoyed it. Fixie and her family run a General Store in the town that she grew up. Unfortunately, Fixie's siblings are pretty horrible to her but she believes that family comes first and bites her tongue. When she saves a strangers computer at a coffee shop he writes her an IOU to be redeemed later. Once she does, the two of them begin to help one another in their own lives. This was very cute.
Not my favorite. The ending was way too rushed and I could have used a little more romance between the protagonist. But overall it was enjoyable and very family oriented.