Surprise Me: 06/23/18

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella is a standalone novel about a couple trying to keep their marriage fresh and interesting after hearing that they're both so healthy they might end up married for sixty-eight years or more. Beyond that, the set up is that they've been together for ten years (married for seven) and already feel like they can predict each other's every word, move, and opinion on things.

Sylvie challenges husband Dan to a "surprise me" contest where they each have do surprising things for each other. The first bunch of surprises are disastrous and Sylvie's not sure this was the right idea after all.

In the background of all these marriage hijinks is the on-going feeling of loss that Sylvie has for her father. He died unexpectedly in a car crash and she still hasn't gotten over it. Nor has her mother and it seems that Dan can't live up to the dead father's perfection.

If you've read through the Shopaholic series, you'll recognize plot elements that featured in Shopaholic and Sister but this time around they're taken more seriously. Rather that adults owning what they did when they were younger and rolling with it and the consequences of their actions, this book is about the fallout of bad decisions made worse by hiding the truth.

That said, there is still humor and Sylvie and Dan make a cute and believable couple. I would definitely read the further adventures of these two should Sophie Kinsella ever be inspired to revisit them.

Five stars

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