I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

As everyone knows I’m a diehard fan for the paranormal, but even I need a break from that genre from time to time.  When I’m in need of something different, light and comical I always turn to a Sophie Kinsella book.  She’s the type of author that you can just sit down with your glass of wine, martini, chocolates, etc and read without riding an emotional roller-coaster, freakouts, tantrums etc.  I love that I can just sit back, relax and giggle away till my hearts content and thinking, yeah I can see something like that happening to me.  Her characters are funny, quirky, clutzy, down to earth, and just make you smile.  I’ve Got Your Number is no different.

I knew from the little excerpt on the back of the book that I would enjoy this tale.  It sounded fun, silly and comical to me and it didn’t disappoint.  Here’s what the book cover says;

“I’ve lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

 Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier.  She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her ‘happy ever after’ begins to fall apart.  Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers!  Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

 Well, perfect except the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn’t agree.  He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.  

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages.  As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents… she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.”

This had me chuckling to myself and thinking, yup I can totally see something like this happening to me. Oh come on, admit it, you were thinking the same thing.  Who hasn’t had something crazy along these lines happen to them. I totally related to poor Poppy as she found herself in dilemma after dilemma trying to keep the news of the lost ring from her fiancé.  Just when you think Poppy’s going to be found out she manages to pull another rabbit out of her hat and save the day, thus keeping her secret safe for now.  Each and every hair brained idea of Poppy’s had me laughing out loud wondering what was next.

One of my favourite parts of this book were the text messages back and forth between Poppy and Sam.  That part of the book was brilliant and just goes to show you how much we depend on our cell phones in this day and age.  It’s like they’ve become another part of our anatomy and heaven forbid we are ever without them. Seriously, when did we become so attached to them??? I knew exactly how Poppy felt without her phone.  I feel like there’s something missing when I don’t have my phone with me, or the battery has died.  Kinsella hit the nail on the head with that part of the book. Plus the messages from Poppy and Sam as we begin to see him changing are down right funny and playful.

I really liked Sam and Poppy, they made me like them from the start.  Both characters are strong in their personalities and Kinsella does a good job of developing these two characters through the story.  She balances the two personalities brilliantly, while at the same time creating the hilarity and chaos that ensues around the two of them (eg. the scrabble game scene with Magnus’ family, her ‘burned’ bandaged hand). Watching these two personalities grow and develop keeps the storyline moving, and makes the reader want to keep reading to see just where this new relationship developing between Poppy and Sam may be heading, seeing as Poppy is engaged to Magnus.  It’s pretty much a guessing game for the reader up to the very end of the book.

It’s an interesting setup that Kinsella has developed by creating a triangle between the couples (Sophie and Magnus, Sophie and Sam) without it becoming your typical soap opera couple triangle.   We get to see Sophie with her fiancé Magnus, to which I don’t see how these two are even compatible.  Magnus bored me every time he was in a scene, I much preferred Sam and his up tight personality to Magnus’ stuffy fuddy duddy personality.  At least Sam had a little bit of humour in the beginning, which grew as the story progressed, and he liked Poppy’s quirkiness even though it annoyed him at first. Unlike Magnus who doesn’t really seem to get Poppy for who she is.  I felt Magnus and Poppy were polar opposites and by bringing Sam into the mix, you get to see Poppy for who she really is.

I really enjoyed this book. It satisfied my need for change from the paranormal and had me laughing out loud to the very end. It’s another classic feel good book from Kinsella.  She keeps it light, fun and down to earth.  She writes characters that are real and allows the reader to identify with them, and see themselves in similar situations.  For every Kinsella book I’ve read, there has always been one moment where I’m going, yup been there done that, or, oh yeah, surprised that hasn’t happened to me yet.   It’s a fun book and I guarantee you a good laugh.  You won’t be disappointed, and I would never steer my fellow friends and book-aholics wrong.  For a change in your everyday reading, Kinsella would be my pick for you.  Happy reading 😉

Reviewed by Marcie