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Surprise me A Novel. Cover Image E-audiobook E-audiobook

Surprise me [electronic resource] : A Novel. Sophie Kinsella.

Kinsella, Sophie. (Author). Hardingham, Fiona. (Added Author).

Summary:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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"A delightful take on the mixed blessings of marital longevity."—People 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.Praise for Surprise Me"Genuinely funny."—The New York Times Book Review "Unexpected and wholly satisfying."—USA Today"In her signature fashion, Sophie Kinsella brings a cast of quirky, funny characters to this new work. [She] keeps the laughs coming. . . . Readers will follow the story with bated breath as the couple struggle to make their marriage right after everything they thought they knew about each other proves wrong."—Library Journal "Heartfelt . . . What at first seems like a light novel about familiar woes turns into a deeper story about trust, family, and perception."—Publishers Weekly "Winsome and zesty, Kinsella's latest delivers all the hallmarks her many fans have come to expect."—Booklist "Pure fun . . . a hilariously moving look at marriage and the power of mixing things up."—Kirkus Reviews

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780525531791 (sound recording)
  • Physical Description: 1 online resource (9 audio files) : digital
  • Edition: Unabridged.
  • Publisher: New York : Random House Audio, 2018.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Unabridged.
Participant or Performer Note:
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham.
System Details Note:
Requires OverDrive Listen (file size: N/A KB) or OverDrive app (file size: 322841 KB).
Subject: Fiction.
Humor (Fiction).
Literature.
Romance.
Genre: Electronic books.

Electronic resources


  • AudioFile Reviews : AudioFile Reviews 2018 March
    Narrator Fiona Hardingham's rich British intonation complements the story of Sylvie and Dan, a happy couple who are overwhelmed at the prospect of 68 more years of marriage. Laughs abound as husband and wife work to keep boredom at bay by continually surprising each other. But when Sylvie finds out that Dan is hiding a dark secret, she realizes she'd she'd happily go back to their predictable earlier days. Hardingham's portrayal goes from chatty to introspective and wrought with worry. 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. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
  • PW Annex Reviews : Publishers Weekly Annex Reviews

    Hardingham turns in a charming performance in this light confection, capturing the winsome humor of Kinsella's novel. When young Londoners Dan and Sophie are informed by their doctor that they might both live to be 100, they begin to question whether their marriage is built to last that long. Thus is born "Project Surprise Me," in which each attempts to invigorate the marriage by surprising the other, often to disastrous and comic effect. Hardingham is at her best when handling the over-the-top humor of these situations, which range from an inedible breakfast in bed to sexy lingerie that's inadvertently revealed to the wrong person. Hardingham magnificently captures the bright demeanor of Sophie, whose people-pleasing tendencies mask long buried sadness and insecurity, as well as the working-class pragmatism of Dan and the cheerful tenacity of their five-year-old twins. The host of quirky neighbors and coworkers are rendered with affectionate individuality. Hardingham's entertaining performance subtly reveals the novel's more serious themes even as it revels in the many droll moments. A Dial hardcover. (Feb.)

    Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly Annex.

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