I owe you one by Sophie Kinsella

​"I owe you one" by Sophie Kinsella - Fairy tale?

This book is published by Black Swan in 2019 and has 432 pages. 

Fixy Fa runs a family shop with her mother. She is smitten with her brother’s friend Ryan, since she was teenager, who never reciprocated and eventually left for USA to make a career in Hollywood and is now returning to England. One day in a restaurant she ends up drenched while saving the laptop of a fellow patron. This handsome and rich looking guy literally gives her an IOU note scribbled on a coffee sleeve.

Will Ryan and Fixy be together? Will the rich guy respect his IOU? What will the IOU lead to? Will there be a fairy tale end?

Fixy is a capable girl but isn’t confident at all. She is understanding and compassionate but can’t stand up for herself. Nobody takes her seriously. As a result she doesn’t get what she deserves. She’s also has OCD.  She doesn’t like things that are not perfect. Ryan is smoking hot and self centered. He isn’t bad but can’t think beyond himself. He’s overconfident, all bluster and no substance. Jake, Fixy’s brother, keeps coming up with harebrained schemes. He always belittles Fixy and has grandiose ideas. Nicole, her sister, is lost in herself, doesn’t contribute in house or shop work. Sebastian Marlowe is the owner of investment firm. He is fair, confident, good looking and taken. He’s the IOU guy. 

Return of Ryan was expected to cause much consternation, even upheaval in Fixy’s life. But that doesn’t pan out on expected lines. While reading aboutFixy, you remember someone you know who always thinks of others, works very hard to make others happy but in the processes does injustice to himself / herself and is taken for granted.

The biggest question this book asks is: Is love transactional or is doing things for each other part of love?

The characters appear extreme and unreal. Fixy can’t see what’s evident but she can be excused as she’s in love. Ryan is the big mouth. All talk and no substance. How long can it last? Jake’s ideas are grandiose, impractical. He isn’t connected to reality. Nicole lives in kind of dream. Totally disconnected from reality, as if she’s high. So much so that she can’t even operate a coffee machine at home. Uncle Ned suggests things that won’t work. He too is far from reality. He likes to play the man of the house. Seb is all measured, logical and likable but transforms in an instant and runs back to Brainy. Thus although it’s a good story the characters appear to be from a fairy tale rather than real life. The end is predictable. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. It was on hand. 

What I didn't like? Fairytale characterization. 

What did I like? Overall feel good effect. 

Recommend reading.