Book Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Title: Surprise Me

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: Bantam Press, Penguin Random House UK

Date: February 8th, 2018

Pages: 368

Format: Physical

Source: Gifted

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 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…

Review:

Do you know why Sophie Kinsella is my favorite author?
Because she can take anything, and I mean ANY-FREAKING-THING and turn it into gold (figuratively speaking, of course, even though I think she wouldn’t mind if it was true).

Take this novel for example. Have you read it’s synopsis?
Young couple finds out they are healthy enough to spend another 68 years together.
What do they do?
They freak out, because they kinda (how would I say it right…) feel nervous to be in a marriage for that long, with only one person, have sex for another 68 years with only one person and to be annoyed occasionally with each other for another 68 years.
Haven’t they ever heard about divorce?
I guess that’s how it goes when you don’t have (or are not aware of) real problems in your life. You make the problem out of anything that’s going on in your life at that time.

This is what the first half of the book is about: Sylvie and Dan being afraid that they will bore each other with time, and making a new habit in their life: surprising each other (to avoid boredom).

It’s all fun and games until secrets start to reveal and Sylvie will ask herself does she really know her husband to the core, as she though she did.

When I read the synopsis of this book, no matter how silly it sounded (if I’m being completely honest) I have not doubted in Sophie Kinsella’s talent.
I have read every book by her except one (If you wonder, it’s The Undomestic Goddess), and honestly feel like she can write anything, and still make it interesting and funny.
So I had a feeling I would like this book, and I was more then right! 

I loved it, and it scored the place in my Top 3 favorite books written by Sophie (when you take a look how many novels she has written, it’s a pretty high achieve for a book).

The second part of the book is what made the story exceptional, it captured me with every page and I was invested with all my being to figure out what was going on.
This might sounds like I’m describing some kind of thriller or something, but it’s true. Even though this is not a suspense, nor it’s a thriller, it still thrills you, because there is so much going on, so many secrets you try to figure out along with Sylvie.

The end is what took this novel on a whole another level when it comes to Kinsella’s work.
I know some readers are not fans and it kinda ruined the story for them (because they probably expected jauntily adventure through the whole book), but I think it is the best end and it makes the book stand out.
I was moved by it, and I wouldn’t change one part of it.

The writing style (as usual) is perfect. As you probably know, her writing style is my favorite because it pulls you in, does not let go, and it’s interesting and fun at the same time.
I think many writers, when they start, try to reach the voice similar to hers (until they find their own voice) and it’s for a reason.
There is a reason why her books are loved by millions of people all over the world.

The characters in Surprise Me are interesting, to say the least.
They are all gray, and have many layers to them, and I appreciate it so much.
I feel like if I say who I liked the best and who I think it’s villain of the story, I’ll spoil the book for you, so I’ll keep quiet.
But I have to say I loved one side guy, a neighbour who’s name I forgot (Amanda please don’t kill me, I know he was your favorite, but my memory sucks!).

In the end, I want to recommend Surprise Me to all of you chick lit and women’s fiction lovers, because it is an amazing book and it would be a shame if you’d miss it.

At the very end, I want to thank my dear friend Amanda from ChocolatePages (she is an amazing blogger and you should all visit her blog)  for giving me her own copy of the book, because she knew I wanted to read it so much.