I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Synopsis
Poppy Wyatt is engaged to handsome Magnus Tavish, a brilliant academic from a brilliant, nerdy, academic family. They're all set to get married in just a few weeks, though she struggles with feeling inadequate and inferior to her fiancee and his family. But then she loses her phone, and her engagement ring, on the same day. Luckily she finds a spare phone in the rubbish, which happens to belong to Sam Roxton, a practical and often socially inept executive at a prestigious company. He agrees to let her keep the phone if she helps him with some work while he looks for a new assistant (the last one having ditched the phone in the bin when she quit). Poppy begins to find out more about Sam's life, and begins to interfere little by little, her actions having often hilarious consequences. As Poppy juggles wedding prep, hiding the missing ring from her fiancé, and meddling with Sam, she begins to really think about what--and who--she actually wants.
Review
This is one of those books you don't need much brain power to read, which is exactly why I picked it up. Sometimes I just need a book like this, especially after reading something heavy that really takes a lot out of me emotionally or forces me to think about deep topics. I don't dislike books like this, but nor do I think they're that great. For what it is--a lighthearted and humorous romance novel--it's pretty good.
The main character, Poppy, though extremely flawed, was not as one dimensional as she first comes off. Neither was Sam, the charming and very handsome executive. Her fiancée and his family and her friends, however, showed multiple layers to their personalities, but much it came off as forced, like, "They are this way" and then "SURPRISE! They're actually not like that at all, but are THIS way!", rather than a nice gradual mix.
In terms of plot, it's a series of barely held together crazy random screwball events. Situations that would never happen in real life, or wouldn't happen if all the characters didn't just lie about stupid things all the time. Seriously. Sometimes the main character, Poppy, will tell a lie rather than just say the truth and clear up a misconception. I get that Poppy's character is very insecure and trying to feel validated and accepted by her brainiac future in-laws and other people around her, but sometimes I just wanted to slap her for making just really stupid choices that led to huge consequences where she had to lie even more. It goes from being endearing to being a bit annoying. But, of course, the book wouldn't be what it is without the hilarious and pointless drama, and so it needs its characters to make bad decisions. That hasn't kept me from reading some of the author's other books either.
Because I often read things that force me to analyze and think critically, it's hard for me to turn it off. Reading books like this one are an exercise for me in just letting go of being overly analytical and just enjoying something light and flirty without much substance. I did enjoy the book. It had moments that made me laugh out loud. It's the book equivalent of watching a rom-com, and thus great for a relaxing read.
Overall, the story is fun and comes to a happy and satisfying--thought slightly weird--conclusion.
Rating
I give this book 3 stars
Details
Genre: Romance, humor
Sex: Characters have sex and talk about having sex, but nothing is ever graphically described.
Violence: None
Language: One or two swear words dropped here and there.
Synopsis
Poppy Wyatt is engaged to handsome Magnus Tavish, a brilliant academic from a brilliant, nerdy, academic family. They're all set to get married in just a few weeks, though she struggles with feeling inadequate and inferior to her fiancee and his family. But then she loses her phone, and her engagement ring, on the same day. Luckily she finds a spare phone in the rubbish, which happens to belong to Sam Roxton, a practical and often socially inept executive at a prestigious company. He agrees to let her keep the phone if she helps him with some work while he looks for a new assistant (the last one having ditched the phone in the bin when she quit). Poppy begins to find out more about Sam's life, and begins to interfere little by little, her actions having often hilarious consequences. As Poppy juggles wedding prep, hiding the missing ring from her fiancé, and meddling with Sam, she begins to really think about what--and who--she actually wants.
Review
This is one of those books you don't need much brain power to read, which is exactly why I picked it up. Sometimes I just need a book like this, especially after reading something heavy that really takes a lot out of me emotionally or forces me to think about deep topics. I don't dislike books like this, but nor do I think they're that great. For what it is--a lighthearted and humorous romance novel--it's pretty good.
The main character, Poppy, though extremely flawed, was not as one dimensional as she first comes off. Neither was Sam, the charming and very handsome executive. Her fiancée and his family and her friends, however, showed multiple layers to their personalities, but much it came off as forced, like, "They are this way" and then "SURPRISE! They're actually not like that at all, but are THIS way!", rather than a nice gradual mix.
In terms of plot, it's a series of barely held together crazy random screwball events. Situations that would never happen in real life, or wouldn't happen if all the characters didn't just lie about stupid things all the time. Seriously. Sometimes the main character, Poppy, will tell a lie rather than just say the truth and clear up a misconception. I get that Poppy's character is very insecure and trying to feel validated and accepted by her brainiac future in-laws and other people around her, but sometimes I just wanted to slap her for making just really stupid choices that led to huge consequences where she had to lie even more. It goes from being endearing to being a bit annoying. But, of course, the book wouldn't be what it is without the hilarious and pointless drama, and so it needs its characters to make bad decisions. That hasn't kept me from reading some of the author's other books either.
Because I often read things that force me to analyze and think critically, it's hard for me to turn it off. Reading books like this one are an exercise for me in just letting go of being overly analytical and just enjoying something light and flirty without much substance. I did enjoy the book. It had moments that made me laugh out loud. It's the book equivalent of watching a rom-com, and thus great for a relaxing read.
Overall, the story is fun and comes to a happy and satisfying--thought slightly weird--conclusion.
Rating
I give this book 3 stars
Details
Genre: Romance, humor
Sex: Characters have sex and talk about having sex, but nothing is ever graphically described.
Violence: None
Language: One or two swear words dropped here and there.
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