NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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“A delightful take on the mixed blessings of marital longevity.”—People After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they communicate so … 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
“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
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I had never read Sophie Kinsella before this book, although I had seen/heard of her. Frankly, I thought it would be chick-lit and not appeal to me. When I got the notification that I was invited to review this title, I thought it would be a fluffy quick read – entertaining enough, but I didn’t expect much. I was so pleasantly surprised!
This IS chick lit. But it’s not JUST that. It’s also surprisingly insightful, funny, and breathtaking in its ability to capture what it means to be married… I literally laughed out loud every few chapters, at some insane but totally relatable tidbit of behavior or internal monologue. The characters were real and flawed and completely believable for all that. The situations they found (put?) themselves in were at times hilarious, heart-breaking, and touchingly poignant. The writing is easy-going and feels like dishing with friends – it makes the pages fly by and pulled me completely into Sylvie and Dan’s world.
I’ll definitely look up Sophie Kinsella the next time I want to laugh and cry in equal measure!
My review copy was provided by the Penguin First to Read program.
I usually love Sophie Kinsella’s books, but I found this one to be a bit slow moving compared to her “Shopper” books. The story was still very good, and I had a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. She is still one of my favorite authors!
Surprise Me is a standalone novel written by the fabulous Sophie Kinsella. As I began this book, I noticed a few separate plotlines that didn’t seem to blend together very well at all and I had the initial feeling that Ms. Kinsella didn’t quite know where she wanted to go with the overall story. I found it distracting and a bit confusing to be honest, but please rest assured that all these pieces fit together flawlessly later on. It does take a while but the end result is a lovely message about loyalty, appreciation, partnership [and the consequences of the annoying art of not communicating] within a marriage and embracing the future, challenges and all, instead of stunting your growth by living in the past. Surprise Me contains a bit of mysterious/emotional suspense, a few jaw-dropping revelations, family drama, both lighthearted and deep perspectives on marriage, and Kinsella’s classic humor and shenanigans.
Looking back on the experience as a whole, I very much enjoyed Surprise Me. I always end up laughing and broadening my way of thinking when reading this author. Thank you Sophie Kinsella for surprising me! with the depth and substance you added to this story. Check it out!
Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Surprise Me. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group/The Dial Press
Pub Date: February 13, 2018
Surprise Me! was a refreshing turn from my normal heavy genres. I was quickly pulled into the story. Sylvia and Dan have been together for 10 years with twin girls. While at a doctors office, they are told they could have another 68 years of marriage left. In an attempt to keep their marriage from becoming boring, they start surprising each other. When a secret from the past is revealed, the couple must fight for their marriage
Suprise Me was witty, wacky, and wonderful in many ways. (If the H hadn’t been absolutely perfect, I’d have enjoyed it more.) FIVE STARS for every Kinsella book for writing excellence, believable yet original plots, and surprises at the end.
This is my second Sophie Kinsella novel, and I must say they are predictably enjoyable. I enjoy that her characters are realistic, her storylines are current, and that I always find myself laughing out loud. She has a way of wrapping a meaningful message in humor and making it that much more meaningful. And while the plot of this one–a couple that is overwhelmed with the prospect of a long lifetime together–seemed silly and unbelievable in the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
When I think of Sophie Kinsella’s books, I smile because she always creates such believable characters and places them in such wacky situations. In her upcoming book, Surprise Me, Kinsella introduces us to Sylvie and Dan, who have a great marriage, beautiful twin girls, and enjoy their careers. But when a physical exam reveals that they are in great shape, so great that they can expect to spend the next sixty-eight years together, they panic. Sure, they’re in love. And they believe the whole “til death do us part” bit. But…what if death doesn’t come for another sixty-eight years?
As Kinsella characters are wont to do, Sylvie gets an idea in her head that really seems brilliant. At first, that is. Sylvie decides that she and Dan can truly enjoy the next sixty-eight years together by mixing things up, by surprising each other to break up the everydayness of the many, many days they have ahead of them. But when exotic animals, strange garden sculptures, and exes come into play, Sylvie finds herself in a mess that she must find her way out of in order to save her marriage and her sanity.
I really enjoyed this book. There was a good mystery involved in it, which is something else I enjoy about Kinsella’s writing. She is good at weaving twists and laughs together to form an entertaining and intriguing read that keeps me turning the pages. I also really enjoyed the focus on relationships in this book. It’s not just the husband/wife relationship that gets attention in this story. But parent/ child is also touched on quite a bit as well as employer/ employee, neighbors, and friendships. All in all, I consider this a classic Kinsella read – humorous and heartfelt!
Read full review at: KaitsBookshelf.com
Surprise Me
Another comical installment on the Sophie Kinsella rom-com shelf! I happened to listen to the audio and Fiona Hardingham is always a pleasure to hear.
Sylvie is delightful. Funny and a bit oblivious, willing to sacrifice for her family and relationships. With her husband Dan, they go to the doctor and discover – gasp! – they’re both in excellent health and may be together for another 68 years. Sylvie and Dan’s equilibrium goes out of whack and they question their ability to keep boredom at bay. Their decision to try to surprise each other ends in multiple hilarious hiccups.
It’s always refreshing to pick up a romance with a couple already dedicated to each other. Sophie’s humorous touch is reliable and keeps me coming back for more.
I’m not gonna lie – it took me FOREVER to finish this book. Part of that was life stuff and part of that was the fact that the book is just a bit slow until we get about 60% in. I liked the idea of dealing with a married couple and I ultimately I really liked the moral of the story (something about growing as a person and beyond people’s expectations of us, seeing and appreciating your partner for who they are, and making the DECISION to love someone everyday). I really wish that Dan and Sylvie had spent more page time together. I also really liked that I sort of didn’t see the plot twist coming, so that was definitely a surprise (for) me. So, while this wasn’t my favorite Sophie Kinsella – I did ultimately enjoy the experience. 3.5 out of 5 wine glasses.
I received it as a gift and I had figured out a big chunk of the story by page 40 and really only kept reading to see if I was right. (I was). I prefer books with clean language, and this one dropped a few too many foul words for my preference.
“Surprise Me” is Sophe Kinsella’s delightful novel about a couple whose lives and marriage are turned upside-down. Their family doctor has informed them of the wonderful (?) news that due to their lifestyle habits and modern medicine, they will probably have 68 more years of marriage together! Sylvie and Dan aren’t sure whether to be ecstatic or alarmed, but they decide that with that many years together, they will try to make a habit out of keeping things interesting. Thus the idea to surprise each other regularly. Some of the surprises go awry, and some evolve in unexpected way. But Sylvie and Dan are not the only ones who have surprises ahead of them; so does the reader. Great book!
When Dan and Sylvie have everything in life. They are happily married, like their jobs, have twin daughters, and a home. After being told by a doctor that they are in excellent shape and will live long and happy lives, they realize that they will be married over 60 years. Now they are trying to figure out how they will live with each other so long. Dan and Sylvie try surprises and that did not turn out so well. As they learn to live, the surprises of life that really do come up, and how they cope, made the story.
As a recent Sophie Kinsella convert, I was hesitant to pick this one up. Some of the reviews on-line were brutal. But I’m happy to say that I disagree with the complaints. I loved this one. It wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny as some of her other books are, but it was a good story, well-told, with enough of a twist that I was satisfied with the overall story.
I highly recommend!
Don’t let nay sayers sway you!
Clever and surprising!
MINOR SPOILER ALERT MAY BE NECESSARY. I found original premise a bit far-fetched: to find you and your husband will probably live long and healthy lives is unlikely to cause the total freak out experienced by two relatively happily married people. The search for ways to freshen their relationship was destined to bring complications which, to me, were more annoying than amusing. The other subplot, was also ridiculously complicated— why keep that secret from a functioning adult? Crazy premise. Some mild humor kept rating at 3 rather than lower.
Worst Sophie Kinsella I ever read. SO DISAPPOINTED. Nothing funny…nothing. I don’t know what the reviewers or editors were on, but the sad desperation of a broken woman/life/home is not a humorous event.
Shows why you shouldn’t over think a subject.
Another winner from Sophie Kinsella! Fun to read with some great funny bits — I actually laughed out loud and few times. Characters to really like and relationships that really matter. Wonderful story!
Delightful is the best word for SURPRISE ME
much less fun than most of this author’s one-offs.