Surprise Me

A Novel

By: Sophie Kinsella

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one best-selling author Sophie Kinsella's emotionally charged new stand-alone novel about marriage and family and how those we love and know best can sometimes surprise us the most.

After being together for 10 years, Sylvie and Dan have all the trimmings of a happy life and marriage; they have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. However, a trip to the doctor projects they will live another 68 years together, and panic sets in. They never expected "until death do us part" to mean seven decades.

In the name of marriage survival, they quickly concoct a plan to keep their relationship fresh and exciting: They will create little surprises for each other so that their (extended) years together will never become boring. But in their pursuit to execute Project Surprise Me, mishaps arise, and secrets are uncovered that start to threaten the very foundation of their unshakable bond. When a scandal from the past is revealed that questions some important untold truths, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all.

With a colorful, eccentric cast of characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella crafts a humorous yet thoughtful portrait of a marriage and shines a light on the danger of not looking past the many layers of the ones you love to discover how infinitely fascinating - and surprising - they truly are.

©2018 Sophie Kinsella (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Fiona Hardingham's rich British intonation complements the story of Sylvie and Dan.... She's equally skilled at the high-pitched voices of the couple's precocious daughters and deftly captures Sylvie's tech-fearing boss, who says the word 'selfie' as if it were foreign. The distraction in Dan's voice is evident and helps to build tension as the story reaches its climax." (AudioFile)

Easy to jump into

I pretty much love all Sophie Kinsellas books. I normally do get frustrated with the main character by the end, just want to yell just communicate! But the main character was definitely more even and steady. Always an easy listen and this was no different.

This book DID surprise me.

I was interested in the book but then thought it may be too cheesy or just a romance novel. I eventually used a credit on it and I'm glad I did. Starts off a bit cheesy but has much more substance to it than anticipated. It deals with many different important topics and it was a great story. The narrator Fiona was incredible as well which made it even better.

Bridget Jones Cousin

There is a class of chick lit which seems to exist entirely in the upper classes of London. Feather headed blondes do impossibly stupid jealous things and continue to win the undying Amorous attentions of their beloved. this is one of those.

Good book

I liked this book and could relate to the main character. I also enjoyed the funny way the author described the little nuances of marriage and addresses how some small issues can really be blown out of proportion when things aren't confronted head on or communicated.

Gotta love Sophie!

I love Sophie Kinsella's books! They are always fun, a little serious and a little quirky!

just eh...

The beginning and middle were very slow and a bit annoying. the end was good though. don't know if I would want to listen if I knew this up front.

Wonderful story

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was funny and entertaining. I loved being inside Sylvie’s head as she reasoned, argued and plotted within herself in ways to spice up her marriage. The narrator was great for Sylvie
although a little lacking in the other voices but it didn’t stop me from loving this book.

A huge fun of Kinsella but ...

A little disappointed. Very weak story line and very predictable. I expected a little more from Kinsella

Sophie does it again!

Sophie never fails to have a wonderfully realistic storyline. Fiona was spot on with the reading!

great story

I love it !! as all Sophie kinsella's books you can't stop reading or listening