From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella 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?

Book Type:

Romantic Comedy

Review: I Owe You One

A heroine who can’t help but fix everything, an IOU from a handsome stranger, a cunning old boyfriend, and thorny family dynamics—the perfect setup for another irresistible Sophie Kinsella novel.

Fixie Farr fixes things… that’s what she does. She fixes situations, she fixes things around her family’s shop, she basically does everything possible to avoid confrontation, putting family first, always.

So when a handsome stranger asks her to watch his laptop, she not only agrees to, but she also saves it from certain death. Indebted to Fixie, she gets a handwritten IOU fated to change everything.

But troubles continue to plague Fixie. Before taking a holiday, her mom left her and her siblings in charge of the family shop, and her brother and sister are complete mooches. They do nothing but spend money, insist their terrible ideas are put into motion, and pretty much guarantee a downward spiral for their store.

To make bad matters worse, Fixie’s long-time crush (Ryan) is back and sans a job, and Fixie collects the IOU on his behalf. She’ll really owe the stranger (Sebastian) back for that colossal favor.

Nothing is going as intended, though. Her family is messing everything up, Ryan is being sketchy, and she can’t stop thinking about Seb—who she runs into again. This time, he owes her again, perhaps for a debt impossible to repay.

As they spend more time together, she can’t help but wonder if he could be the one? But with her life a mess, Fixie must be able to stand up to her family before she loses the store, and the man she loves in one fell swoop.

If you’re a long-time fan of Sophie Kinsella (like I am), you’ll love this one. Quirky characters, witty dialogue and Kinsella’s singular magic bring this delightful story to life. It’s fast-paced, charming, so much fun to read, and another reason I’ll keep reading Sophie Kinsella books for years to come.

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