Shopaholic Blues

With the new movie about to come out, I thought I would do a triple deck review for the first three books in the Shopaholic series.  Rebecca Bloomwood is just a hoot.  In her first adventures in Confessions of a Shopaholic, she is a London socialite who just can’t say no to a good deal.  Especially those with the vogue labels.  From sample sales to buying luggage, she has not only maxed out her closet space but all of her credit cards.  And on top of that, Becky is supposed to be the so-called expert on how to save your money and spend wisely.  But after getting numerous statements from her creditors and bank, Becky either hides them away so they don’t really exist or write letters back asking for extensions. The more she tries to cut back, the more she spends.  Can Becky survive the credit crunch?

Then there’s Luke: the perfect, handsome, wealthy English businessman who can’t seem to get enough of Becky’s unusual quirkiness and at first finds her shopping obsession to be amusing.  But will he find it amusing when she’s spending his money?

I really enjoyed Confessions as well as her shopping trips in Manhattan, but I found Becky’s wedding story to be my least favorite so far of the Shopaholic books.  What I loved most about Becky in the first novel, just doesn’t seem to work now in the third.  She’s older, married, and supposed to be more responsible.  While I found Becky’s fun shopping mishaps and her inability to curb her use of her credit card in the first Shopaholic book funny and even a bit relatable, it seems to be completely disrespectful to her husband and herself the way she nonchalantly shops.  Also I really hated the dilemna between picking between her mother’s garden wedding in London and an extravagent million dollar wedding in NYC thrown by Luke’s mother.   I didn’t find this situation funny.  Becky really let the ball drop on this one so I’m hoping Shopaholic and Sister will improve my Shopaholic blues.

I’ve read a few other reviews on this one raving about Becky, so am I the only one with the Shopaholic blues?

I am, however, looking forward to the new movie coming out.  I just love Isla Fisher.

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Catching up with the Shopaholic:

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic Series #3

Fiction, Published 2003

Read Dec. 2008

3/5

From the Cover:

Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer!  But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare?  Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything…

Then Luke proposes!  Bridal registries dance in Becky’s hand.  Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown.  While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza.  Both weddings for the same day.  And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one.  Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?

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Confessions of a Shopaholic (#1)

Fiction, Published 2000

Read June 2007

4/5

From the Cover:

Becky Bloomwood has what most twenty-five-year-olds only dream of: a flat in London’s trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves.  The only trouble is, she can’t actually afford it – not any of it.  Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn’t pay much at all.  Still, how can she resist that perfect pair of shoes?  Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy boutique?  But lately Becky’s been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank – letters with large red sums she can’t bear to read – and they’re getting ever harder to ignore.  She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money.  But none of her efforts succeeds.  Her only consolation is to buy herself something…just a little something…

Finally, a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events  that will transform her life – and the lives of those around her – forever.

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Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (#2)

Fiction, Published 2001

Read Aug 2007

4/5

From the Cover:

With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru thriving, Becky’s biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend.  And worse, figuring out how to pack light.  But packing takes a whole new meaning when Luke announces he’s moving to New York for business – and he asks Becky to go with him!  Before you can say “Prada sample sale,” Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury boutiques.

Surely it’s only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society.  Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky’s bills miles away in London.  But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line!  Shopaholic Takes Manhattan – but will she have to return it?

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