patchworkbunny reviewed I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Review of "I've Got Your Number" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Mobile phones contain entire lives within their circuits. Poppy has just lost her engagement ring when her phone is stolen. The timing couldn't be worse but as she's waiting for assistance, she spies a phone in the bin, carelessly tossed away. If it's in the bin, no one wants it right? Turns out it belonged to the PA of Sam, a bigshot in a PR firm and he's not too happy that Poppy is now using it. But they come to an agreement, Poppy can keep the phone until she finds the ring and she promises not to read his emails...only who could resist? Slowly, Poppy becomes his uninvited PA all the while preparing for her wedding.
Sophie Kinsella is back on form with I've Got Your Number. I laughed, I cried and it's a thoroughly modern tale. We rely so much on our phones these days and managing work …
Mobile phones contain entire lives within their circuits. Poppy has just lost her engagement ring when her phone is stolen. The timing couldn't be worse but as she's waiting for assistance, she spies a phone in the bin, carelessly tossed away. If it's in the bin, no one wants it right? Turns out it belonged to the PA of Sam, a bigshot in a PR firm and he's not too happy that Poppy is now using it. But they come to an agreement, Poppy can keep the phone until she finds the ring and she promises not to read his emails...only who could resist? Slowly, Poppy becomes his uninvited PA all the while preparing for her wedding.
Sophie Kinsella is back on form with I've Got Your Number. I laughed, I cried and it's a thoroughly modern tale. We rely so much on our phones these days and managing work through email. It highlights the misunderstandings made through lack of inflection in emails and pokes fun at some people's phone habits. There's a contrast between the formal world of academics and the informal world of every day life. I loved how the footnotes became a running joke.
Of course, there will always be a central romantic plot, although I didn't think the outcome was overly obvious from the start. One thing I like about her female leads is that they always feel real, even if the plot isn't. They are imperfect and they think absurd things at times but this is something actual real people do.
If I had to nit-pick, I'd say the circumstances around the phone are a bit unbelievable. I got the feeling it was a bit of an outdated model but she is still emailing from it and taking photos. If it had been an iPhone, I think Sam would have retrieved the data and be shot of her within an hour. And really, would you let a phone thief have access to your business' confidence information? You really have to try not to think about this and allow some artistic license.
The book is “augmented” with an app which animates the cover and a short video message from Sophie. It does seem a token gesture to do something digital with a print book. I think something like that would work better with children's books.
