Surprise Me: A Novel

Sophie Kinsella

Feb 2018 · Sold by Dial Press

About this ebook

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Party Crasher and Love Your Life comes a witty and emotionally charged novel that delves into the heart of a marriage, and how those we love and think we know best can sometimes surprise us the most

“Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter.”—Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover
 
After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they 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 decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me—from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to sexy photo shoots—mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all.
           
With a colorful cast of eccentric characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella presents a humorous yet moving portrait of a marriage—its intricacies, comforts, and complications. Surprise Me reveals that hidden layers in a close relationship are often yet to be discovered.

Praise for Surprise Me

“Genuinely funny.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
“A delightful take on the mixed blessings of marital longevity.”—People

“Unexpected and wholly satisfying.”—USA Today

“In her signature fashion, Sophie Kinsella brings a cast of quirky, funny characters to this new work. [She] keeps the laughs coming. . . . Readers will follow the story with bated breath as the couple struggle to make their marriage right after everything they thought they knew about each other proves wrong.”—Library Journal
 
“Heartfelt . . . What at first seems like a light novel about familiar woes turns into a deeper story about trust, family, and perception.”—Publishers Weekly

“Winsome and zesty, Kinsella’s latest delivers all the hallmarks her many fans have come to expect.”—Booklist
 
“Pure fun . . . a hilariously moving look at marriage and the power of mixing things up.”—Kirkus Reviews

Ratings and reviews

I am voluntarily submitting my review after receiving an ARC of this ebook via NetGalley. I should preface my review by saying that I am a HUGE Sophie Kinsella fan and await each of her books with baited breath. Surprise Me, while not my favorite of her novels, did not disappoint. In this latest standalone novel, Kinsella explores marriage, love, trust and the disillusionment that inevitably comes with comparing your life to an ideal built in your mind as well as confronting the truth when the clay feet of your idols are revealed. Necessarily, by virtue of the topic, Surprise Me is somewhat darker than many of Kinsella's previous novels, but Kinsella manages to retain the humor her fans know and love. Her signature style and "snark" pervades the entire novel, keeping the overall tone upbeat and fun. While this book seems to be a move toward more serious subject material, fans of Sophie Kinsella will recognize and appreciate her deft and humorous handling of subject, character and language.

Fast-paced, witty, and entertaining. After reading the blurb, I'll admit that I went into this one expecting more fluff than substance, but the prologue had me rethinking that assumption. Then I get to the first chapter and was worried again - Sylvie and Dan are just a bit too perfect. And then the story takes an interesting turn. As this couple is faced with what should be good news from a physician, they react differently than what most would expect. They freak completely out. They then set about on a mission to surprise each other in order to keep things interesting in their marriage, but these surprises don't turn out quite like they planned. Ranging from the simple and sweet to outright hilarious bungles, these surprises lead to some miscommunication and suspicion. That's when the story takes a more serious turn. While the last part of the book is more serious, that same sharp wit is still present to keep things from getting too heavy. All in all, the story is a bit over the top at times, but it's well written and a surprisingly entertaining and at times compelling read.

4.5 stars Surprise Me is a funny well-written novel with quirky characters, witty dialogue and a unique plot. I’ve read several of Sophie Kinsella’s books, and she never fails to spin a funny tale. Although her books are a little over-the-top, as well as her latest one, Surprise Me, they always make me laugh. The first half of this book is a bit silly, but the second half is anything but; it’s emotional, character-driven, and utterly absorbing. Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, a loving marriage, and twin five-year-old girls. However, after their GP mentioned that they could live long enough to be married for another sixty-eight years, Dan and Sylvie began to panic. Neither one of them could fathom being married to the same person for that length of time. So the two of them started to brainstorm ideas to spice of their marriage and keep it fresh, for their long-expected years together. The two decide that surprising one another with exciting adventures, loving gestures, and romantic outings, was the way to go. The problem was, though, that sometimes, surprises don’t have the expected positive outcome that a person is looking for; something Dan and Sylvie, unfortunately, discovered for themselves. Sylvie thought she knew her husband thoroughly, but to her surprise, she learned that there was a lot that she didn’t know about Dan. When family secrets were on the verge of being exposed, Sylvie and Dan became stressed to the max. Marriage isn’t always easy, as most couples find out, but then again, nothing worthwhile and precious usually is. Loving someone is looking for the good in that person, and never losing sight of what they mean to you. Surprise Me is a well-written and thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you, Dial Press and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy. I loved it!

About the author

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series, as well as the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, Wedding Night, and My Not So Perfect Life. She lives between London and the country.