I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃ They find out that they could potentially have 68 more blissful years together! They are both in excellent health and should expect long lives. Wait....this produces some "anxiety" for the couple. Can they really spend that many years and stay happy? This is when the surprise me plan is concocted and set in motion! Sylvie’s character wasn’t my favorite. In the first half of the book she is super whiny, which I just couldn’t move past. However her whiny tone lessens as the book progresses, which helped a lot. Of course, I loved how British this was. I’m American, but I love reading books by British authors and books that take place there. This book, like all of Kinsella’s books, had that quaint British charm. I especially loved where Sylvie worked. Willoughby House sounds like a dream. I so enjoyed the hilarity of the first half of the book and having a British son in law, I could just see him involved in some of these escapes. The second half of the story is when things got serious. It seemed that as much as Sylvie and Dan thought they knew one another both inside and out, there were many surprises in store for them as they have found out that there is a possibility given their lifestyles that they could be married for the next sixth-eight years. Could they be together for that long without a) killing one another, b) being bored to tears, or c) find themselves so far apart. So, these two set up a plan with surprises involved in which they will continue to add zest and spice to their marriage.

So I went to ask Alison who he was (‘old uni friend, works in property, really nice guy’) and made flirty conversation with him. And when that didn’t yield any results, I got Alison to invite us both to supper. And when that didn’t work, I bumped into him in the City, ‘by accident’ twice, including once in a very low-cut top (almost hooker-like, but I was getting a bit desperate). And then finally, finally he noticed me and asked me out and it was love at, you know, about fifth sight. Reflecting on the matter of really knowing someone while talking about the plants he studied for most of his life, John proffers a beautiful analogy: “These wonders will never reveal all their secrets… Every time I look at them I learn a little more. Tiny miracles. Much like people.”Surprise Me – only in the right way! I’m sure there are many of us who are not particularly fond of surprises in real life. But when it comes to books, it’s a whole different story. In fact, surprises are simply essential for a good plot. You can even go as far as to say that they “make” a book. I needed something light and humorous to entertain me and this one delivered! I loved the whole concept of spicing up a marriage with some surprises. Sylvie and Dan have adorable twin girls and are about to celebrate "ten years" together. They have a joyful marriage, but Dan has had some issues with Sylvie's father. Surprise Me opens with Dan and Sylvie at the doctor’s who tells them that they will live another 68 years. They find the number mind-boggling. Together with the same person for 68 more years? Only having sex with that person for 68 more years? It throws a wrench between them. They decide that perhaps a way to keep the thrill is to bring surprise into their relationship. It turns out to be a bad idea. As they try to surprise each other, there are bigger surprises awaiting them that will change who they are and their relationship. 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

Of course the surprises and long life diagnosis are only the beginning to Sylvie and Dan’s story and there is much more involved as the book goes on. Sophie Kinsella took this set up and brought humor and fun to love, relationships, family and marriage. There’s plenty of secondary characters that are also well done being a bit on the eccentric side to just add even more laughs to the story. I confess I had a slight problem with the premise: a young couple panics when their doctor tells them they will likely live to be over 100, which would mean another 68 years together. If you're happily married who wouldn't be delighted at that news??? (True story: As I'm writing this review a news reporter is on TV interviewing a couple who have been married for 73 years! Synchronicity! ) The two characters in the book that provide the voice of reason and priceless nuggets of wisdom in Dan and Sylvie’s stormy lives are the couple’s next-door neighbours: Sylvie’s best friend, Tilda, and Professor John Russel. This is a standalone book and starts off well with lots of laughs. Sylvie and Dan Winter, both aged thirty-two, visit a new doctor for their physical. He jokingly tells them that because they are in such good health, there is a good chance they will live to be 100 or beyond, meaning they could be married for 68 more years. Sixty-eight more years?! To the same person?! That sends them both into a tizzy! Tentery: that taut, defensive way he behaves whenever the subject of my father comes up in conversation. (He thinks I don’t notice.)

One of the best parts of Sophie Kinsella's writing that also occurred in this novel is the ability to relate. I think many people will be able to relate to many of the characters but especially to different aspects of the main character Sylvie. Her internal dialogue and struggles were real alone with her outwardly concerns. Along with this, the humour! Oh boy, there were times that this novel had me either hiding a laugh or literally laughing out loud. Sophie Kinsella does humour amazingly well and I'm happy to see that she included it so appropriately in this novel. This was a different story and somewhere around 3/4 of the way through, I realized I didn't know the direction that it would go. I hate to get cheesy with the title but there really were so many surprises! Some of the events that occurred near to the end, I really didn't predict or see coming yet I thought that it added to the story.

They start off by surprising each other with exotic lingerie and sex in unlikely locales, but ultimately they surprise each other discovering that there is infinitely more to learn about each other—and themselves. AS Dr Seuss once said “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” SURPRISE ME by SOPHIE KINSELLA is a charming, warm, humorous and a feel-good story that even had a touch of mystery to the storyline and a surprising twist.And you’ll never see Dan doing Christmas shopping. He has no interest in presents, and his birthday becomes an actual tussle. (Me: ‘You must want something. Think.’ Dan (hunted): ‘Get me… er… I think we’re out of pesto. Get me a jar of that.’ Me: ‘A jar of pesto? For your birthday?’) Surprise Me is, ultimately, a story about marriage, secrets, commitment, family, introspection, and enduring love. It's classic Kinsella with well-crafted characters, humour, heart, a surprising twist and a delightful ending that will definitely make you smile. Thank you to Sophie Kinsella, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. And I certainly won’t be giving up on Sophie Kinsella as a generally reliable palate cleanser. Anyway. Rewind to the point: our eyes met over the barbecue and that was the beginning. One of those kismet moments that influence your life forever. A moment to cherish. A moment to mark, a decade later, with lunch at The Bar.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Sophie Kinsella novels; they often serve as my break from reality. Surprise Me isn’t a bad read, it just didn’t have that special something I often find in Kinsella’s books. Still I would recommend for a light, fluffy and fun mindless read! And things do start going wrong: Sylvie's happy life starts to unravel. How well does she really know Dan? Is he keeping secrets? Is their happy marriage a sham?

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Sophie Kinsella has always been one of my go-to favourite authors. I remember the enjoyment of reading the Shopaholic series for the first time and now I have reread them countless times (along with each of her standalone novels). The conclusion was really sweet. I liked seeing the evolution of both Sylvie and her marriage to Dan. A generous dose of surprises mixed with a healthy helping of humour and sprinkled all over with beautiful thoughts, fascinating ideas and amazing quotes is what you get in the latest book from Sophie Kinsella– Surprise Me. In this particular case, you can and should judge the book by its cover. Surprise you it will!