Sophie Kinsella – Book Dust Magic

Funny and romantic: I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella (Book Review) #BookReview #Comedy #Chicklit #IOweYouOne

Title: I Owe You One

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK, Transworld

Date: February 7th, 2019

Pages: 384

Format: eARC

Source: from Publisher for a review

Review:

For the last three years in a row, Sophie Kinsella puts a smile on my face every time I finish her newest book. I mean, there is a reason why she’s my favourite author, but I have to admit, I wasn’t in love with every book she ever wrote.
However, ever since she published My Not So Perfect Life it’s like we’re on a happy train and we’re not getting off. Every book she writes is pure perfection, and I Owe You One is one of those treasures.

The thing is, when you read a book by your favourite author, your expectations are high. You can’t help it!
So going into I Owe You One, I expected to like it, I wanted it to make me feel better, make me laugh, swoon and root for characters… and it delivered.

The story follows Fixie who got her nickname because she likes to fix things. She wants to make everything better for everyone, and to her, family always comes first.
One day in a coffee shop a stranger asks Fixie to watch his laptop while he goes away for few minutes. In that amount of time, the roof above starts to sink, but Fixie can’t leave the laptop, so she protects it with her body, and even though she ends up wet to the bone, laptop ends up untouched.
The story goes from there. The stranger, who’s name is Sebastian writes her a note with which she can ask him anything in return, because now he owes her one.

Going into the story, after few chapters readers can already assume how the story might end, because it is obvious from the start what a douche Ryan, Fixie’s love interest, actually is.
I mean, it’s been a while since I read about that kind of jerk in my books. A perfect character to hate, if you ask me!
However, it’s not always about the end, it’s about the journey!

I like how I Owe You One is characters based story, and we get to see not only different type of persons who functionate together, but also their development through the story.
I like how all of them have their flaws and the author really made them real, so by the end of the book readers will probably have the feeling like they know them. At least, that’s what happened in my case.

The writing style was amazing, as always. I flew through this book.

In the end, without spoiling anything, I just have to say there is one scene closer to the end of the story, that made me feel chills while reading (and they were good chills!). They were more like tingles.
It was such a beautiful scene, and out of everything this novel provides, I think that scene is how I will remember it.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes funny scenes, romantic moments and family dynamics in their books.

Best books I read in 2018 #BookBloggers #BookLovers #reading #BestOf2018

2018 was a good year for me reading wise. I managed to read 75 books which I’m pretty satisfied with.
When I look back at all the books I read, there are some I rated 5 stars that I don’t remember much about, but there are also some I rated 3 stars that left a huge impact on me.

I was thinking about doing my Top 10 books I read in 2018 list, but in the end I decided to go with 13 that now seem like the most important ones I read. I just couldn’t force myself to leave behind any of those books.

Not all of them were 5 stars, but they all left a big impression on me, and I am very thankful that I had a chance to read all of them.

1. The Olive Branch by Jo Thomas

This year I was fortunate enough to discover Jo Thomas, and out of all of her books I read, The Olive Branch was my favorite.
This book was perfect in any way, and it made me happy. It was well structured, with good story, great characters and so many positive vibes.
A chick lit novel at it’s best!

2. One Day in December by Josie Silver

You know a story is good when it makes you feel all kinds of emotions and you think about it again and again, even days after you finished it.
This is the book I finished two months ago, so it is the “freshest” in my memory, but I feel like it will stay with me for a long, long time.
If I could recommend only one festive book to my followers, it would be this one.

3. Darcy Burdock by Laura Dockrill

This middle grade comedy made me laugh out loud so many times that I lost the count. It won my heart and it is now one of my all time favorite books. It’s the one I recommended the most when it comes to middle grades, and I am so happy to know that there are so many sequels with Darcy to enjoy.

4. Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

Good Me, Bad Me surprised me, because I never expected to like it that much. What I liked the most when it comes to this novel is it’s writing style. I wish more psychological thrillers were written in a similar way.

5. While I Was Sleeping by Dani Atkins

If I should pick only one book that put me on an emotional rollercoaster, While I Was Sleeping is the one. It made me sad in ways I didn’t even know was possible, and it made me care about one character like I knew her from my real life.
Even though I was mad the story didn’t took a path I was hoping for, I am still so in love with this novel because I remember the feels, and it is the book I will be coming back to.

6. Five Years from Now by Paige Toon

Speaking of emotional stories, this list wouldn’t be complete without Five Years from Now. It made me cry, and not many books can do that.
It contains my favorite theme: two people who love each other but can’t be together, finding their ways to each other.
It is also very realistic, especially with the way it ended.
This novel is also one I want to re-read many times during my lifetime.

7. The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton

The Perfect Girlfriend is definitely the most unique story I have read in 2018. Written from the perspective of a psychopath, it made me understand and even root for the main character, even though I knew what she was doing was wrong.
This book is the one I recommend to everyone who likes thrillers, and I am so happy that it was also translated into Croatian.

8. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Going into The Cruel Prince my expectations were very high, but I was not disappointed. In fact, I was kinda surprised how good it was. I already knew I would like it, because I liked books by Holly Black before, and since my favorite creatures, faeries, were involved, I knew I would love the world too.
I fell in love with the characters, the story and of course, with the world.
This book is next on my to be re-read list, because the sequel comes out in a few days.

9. Give the Dark my Love by Beth Revis

Another ya fantasy I fell in love with, another series I can’t wait to continue. What I liked the most about Give the Dark my Love was character development, the dark atmosphere and the unique world.
I hope next books in the series will also be good, because there’s a big chance this could become one of my all-time favorite book series.

10. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

I feel like everyone and their mothers read this book already, and in 2018 I joined the club. Everyone from my colleagues also read it, and we discussed it many times. This book stayed with me, and even today I caught myself thinking about one scene.
I feel like books that you go back to again and again in your thoughts deserve to be on the best one’s list.
I can’t even count how many times I recommended this book to people around me, and to clients at my work.

11. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

Of all the Mistborn books I read this year, I decided to feature the last one from the original series in this list, because of it’s conclusion.
This series is probably the best fantasy series I have read, it is certainly the most unique and Brandon Sanderson is an incredible writer. I love the creatures he created in this universe, called kendra. I am not sure if kendra is his own creation, or was it inspired by some mythical creature, but it is worth of admiration in any way.

12. Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Surprise Me was one of my most anticipated books of 2018. and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it even surprised me, because it took a turn I didn’t expect. I liked how different it was from Kinsella’s other books, and it is now in my top 3 of her novels.

13. I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I read this novel back in January, but it stayed with me the whole time. I certainly didn’t expect what a huge impact on me this book will have, not even after I finished it. Sometimes we are not immediately aware of the quality in front of us, but time shows us what our subconsciousness recognized. This book is the proof, and it is now one of the best books I read.

That is it!

Please tell me what are your favorite books that you’ve read this year?
Also, if you have similar post to this one, feel free to leave your links.

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.

The This is My Genre Tell Me Yours Book Tag

the-this-is-my-genre

I was tagged by lovely Inge from The Belgian Reviewer book blog.
I really enjoy reading this tag on other blogs, so thank you Inge for tagging me.
If you’re not familiar with Inge’s blog, please do check it out because it is really, really good!

Here are the rules:

Credit Drew @ TheTattooedBookGeek as the creator of the tag, use the created tag name graphic and link back to his blog.
Answer the questions.
Tag as many people as you want.

Questions & Answers

1). What’s your favourite genre?

I read variety of genres, I find it really hard to stick to just one, but I’ll go with women’s fiction, because I read that one the most.

2). Who’s your favourite author from the genre?

Jane Costello. Her books always bright up my day and I absolutely love her.
Her next book, You Me Everything will come out under the pseudonym Catherine Isaac. I simply can’t wait to read it, because obviously it’s Jane Costello, but also there’s already so much hype around that novel. It is optioned to be made into the movie, and rights for translation have already been sold to publishers all around the world, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Korea, Russia, Serbia, Israel, Brazil and Portugal.

3). What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?

I think the fact that I can relate to many things that are happening to main characters or their friends, but also books in women’s fiction genre often can prepare me how to react in certain situations and how to understand people better.
They are also fun and enjoyable. The main reason why I read so much is to be entertained, and books in this genre always amuse me.

4). What’s the book that started your love for your favourite genre?

I still remember the first book I ever read from this genre. It was Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella and I had so much fun reading it, it made me realize reading can actually be fun.
As soon as I finished it I borrowed Shopaholic series from the library (at that time there were only three books in that series and I read them in wrong order, but I didn’t care), and I was hooked.

5). If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?

I’d recommend Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe because it is one of my all time favorite books. It talks about injustice, revenge and strong women.

If you need to read one book from this genre, I highly, higly recommend you to read Scandalous. I learned a lot from that novel.

6). Why do you read?

Because books entertain me – simple as that.
They also make me learn things, understand people, expend my knowledge.
They also help me learn English, and I want to be able to understand and use that beautiful language the best I can.

I won’t tag anyone, but if you like this genre feel free to do it.
I would love to hear what you think and what your favorite genre is.
Also, if you already did this tag, feel free to leave your links and I’ll make sure to visit you!