Sophie Kinsella is a writer and former financial journalist. She is the number one bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, Wedding Night and My Not So Perfect Life, the hugely popular Shopaholic novels, the Young Adult novel Finding Audrey, and the children's novel Fairy Mom and Me. She lives in London with her husband and family. She is also the author of several bestselling novels under the name of Madeleine Wickham. Visit Sophie at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and 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. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
Tell us about a time someone surprised you.
My husband once surprised me by buying me a ring that had belonged to Agatha Christie. I am a massive Agatha Christie fan, so to own something that was once hers is incredibly special. He went off secretly to an auction and bid for it, then presented it to me. I was absolutely blown away.
Tell us about a time you surprised someone.
I once threw my husband a surprise party. I gathered a whole load of friends and we had a private screening of Brief Encounter which is one of his favourite films. I’m pretty sure he knew I was planning something - but he certainly didn’t expect that!
Which movie surprised you the most (without mentioning spoilers)?
Anyone who loves surprises has to watch The Usual Suspects. I won’t say any more than that! I was recently really surprised by the Lego Batman Movie. I went along with my children, thinking it was very much a film for them - but I loved it myself!
What is something you'd like to be surprised with?
I’d love to wake up with a fully formed book plot in my brain. Still waiting for that one…!
Have you ever experienced/received a surprise you didn't want?
The worst example I know of a surprise going wrong was actually a friend of mine whose husband organised her a surprise baby shower. She arrived home with no contact lenses in and her hair scraped back anyhow - to discover all her friends waiting. She really wished she’d been given at least a little warning!
Thanks to Sophie for chatting with us and to Random House for sharing her book with our readers.
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When I was a young, my dad, sister and I excitedly planned my mom's surprise birthday party only to have the party cancelled and rescheduled on account of a major blizzard that year! My sister and I were devastated and as a result, my sister ended up telling my mom about the party!
ReplyDeleteMy husband surprised me Sunday morning with a birthday card. Usually he forgets about it and has to come up with an excuse to leave the house that morning or picks one up during his lunch break at work. But this time he already had one ready that morning.
ReplyDeleteWe were trying to pull off a surprise 50th birthday party for my husband, but he found out and nixed the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteOne of the times someone tried to surprise me was a birthday party that my parents were going to have for me. Someone came up to me a few day before (I knew nothing) and they stated they would love to attend my party. I was just a bit confused and then got it. It was a great party none the less.
ReplyDeleteMy husband surprised me with my engagement ring.All these happy years later still my favorite surprise.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be surprised with a trip to Hawaii for a second honeymoon!!
ReplyDeleteMy two kids surprised me with tickets to a Dwight Yoakam concert.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised with a new and improved engagement ring from my husband as the original was not secure.
ReplyDeleteMy husband bought a picture we saw on holiday in August and managed to keep it a secret for Christmas. It hangs in my bedroom and I 💖 it
ReplyDeleteMy sister surprised me with a black lab puppy on my birthday one year. It was a great surprise because I had planned on getting one as a birthday gift for myself.
ReplyDeletefor Christmas
ReplyDeleteMy son surprised me with a bunch of flowers yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI got a big surprise on my 50th birthday , my sister and her husband turned up at our house, my husband had organised it , had our dinner all sorted as I had been away all day . Then others started to arrive , it was a great party,my husband had also organised a birthday cake and I knew not a thing.
ReplyDeleteMy friend recently surprised me with a painting she did just for me. We are book buddies too, and she painted a picture of an open book with a beautiful garden inside. She said it reminded her of me. I was so touched by that, and now I proudly display it in my reading room. ( :
ReplyDeleteLast night my friend surprised me with a gift of hand lotion and soap. I shared her small business on social media a few times, and so she gave me a little gift in return. Totally unexpected!
ReplyDeleteMy 30th birthday party.
ReplyDeleteMy 40th birthday was the best ever! Myself and 3 of my friends went to NYC and partied up a storm. We went a little crazy, dancing in the streets and running through the rain. It was an incredible time that I will always remember and treasure.
ReplyDeletetried to surprise my friend for her bridal shower, but it didn't quite work
ReplyDeletedenise
I planned a surprise bridal shower for my sister but someone told her about it about a week before the event. I then made a big deal about calling her fiance and telling him the surprise was of. Meanwhile, we changed the day to a few days earlier, then got a bunch of the women to hide out at the mechanics. When she went to pick up her car, we jumped out and "kidnapped" her and took her back to our house where the rest of the ladies were waiting. It all worked out in the end!
ReplyDelete"Tell us about a surprise you tried to pull off that went wrong, OR, Tell us the last time someone surprised you." My life must be very dull--I can't think of an answer to either!
ReplyDeleteFeb. 8th was my 70th Birthday & my Son, Daughter-in-Law surprised me by taking me to a special restaurant I've been wanting to go to.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we try to surprise my mother it doesn’t work. 😉
ReplyDeleteI planned a surprise 25th anniversary party for my parents and invited all of my parents friends and relatives. They went away for the weekend, so I had the whole weekend to prepare their house for the party. Everyone showed up at the scheduled time, but my parents were 2 1/2 hours late due to a road being closed caused by a bad accident. Everyone stayed and waited patiently and we all had a wonderful time after my parents arrived. Deb Brennan
ReplyDeleteKinsella’s ability to weave a story and inject the right amount of humor never fails. It’s good to know that she keeps her formula fresh and viable.
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