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Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic #6)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 24,961 ratings · 2,064 reviews

Becky Brandon (n�e Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true - a shopping friend for life! But it's trickier than she thought - two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping.

She can create havoc everywhere from Harrods to Harvey Nicks to her own christening. She hires taxis at random, her favourite wor...more

Hardcover, 396 pages

Published September 2nd 2010 by Transworld Publishers

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Jul 21, 2011 Francie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, favorites, funny

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-list-2010, contemporary-womens-fiction

I gave this book 7/10 on my blog: Book Chick City - but Goodreads doesn't offer half stars.

I don't usually read books in this genre any more, but I will always make an exception for Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. I adore Becky Bloomwood. She's a character I find hard not to like with her scatty personality and her inability to walk by a designer store without making a purchase. It was this aspect to Becky's character that made me pick up the first book in this series, The Secret Dreamworld...more I gave this book 7/10 on my blog: Book Chick City - but Goodreads doesn't offer half stars.

I don't usually read books in this genre any more, but I will always make an exception for Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. I adore Becky Bloomwood. She's a character I find hard not to like with her scatty personality and her inability to walk by a designer store without making a purchase. It was this aspect to Becky's character that made me pick up the first book in this series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic, as I could identify well (a bit too well!) with Becky and her retail therapy issues. It also cemented Becky as one of my favourite characters.

Mini Shopaholic is basically in the same format as the other books in the series: Becky using every excuse in the book to keep shopping and up to her elbows in secrets, and fighting to keep those secrets from coming out, but of course everything goes horribly wrong.

In this instalment we see Becky as a mother, raising her two year old daughter, Minnie, who is slightly wayward and becoming too fond of materialistic items like her mummy, with her husband, Luke. Becky is still the same fun, vivid character but motherhood has not helped her become more economical. In fact, she now has excuses to shop more by buying items for Minnie. Some of the scenarios are just so funny they had me giggling out loud. Minnie is cute as a button and Luke is as patient as always.

Becky is also trying to plan a surprise birthday party for Luke, without spending any money...which of course leads to complete fiasco and a book which reads like a screwball comedy. There are many more humourous situations and a strew of events that had me shaking my head with affectionate disbelief at what Becky was saying and doing. There's also the usual great dialogue and prose, which is incredibly smooth making Mini Shopaholic a very easy, fast read.

VERDICT:

Mini Shopaholic is a wonderful escape from real life and a total roller coaster ride - this book is never dull, and although it occasionally borders on the ridiculous, I just can't help but love it!

There is nothing new here - we have seen it all before in previous books - but I didn't mind, it was like slipping on a comfy pair of slippers and it felt great. I love Becky Bloomwood with all her manic, self-destructive quirks. Sophie Kinsella is still at the top of her game and for me still the best in the genre.(less)

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Apr 17, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am very addicted to the shopaholic series- I read all five in less than two weeks!! I can't wait for this one to be released...

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Sep 10, 2010 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, books-read-2010, favorites

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze. She thought herself and Minnie would just shop all day every day. What Becky didn't count on though was Minnie's tenaciousness and determination when it comes to the things she wants (her favourite word is "mine"). Not to mention Luke, Becky's husband, has had a stressful year. In a bit to cheer him up, Becky hits on the idea to throw him a surprise birthday party but as always with Becky, things don't quite go according to plan...more Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze. She thought herself and Minnie would just shop all day every day. What Becky didn't count on though was Minnie's tenaciousness and determination when it comes to the things she wants (her favourite word is "mine"). Not to mention Luke, Becky's husband, has had a stressful year. In a bit to cheer him up, Becky hits on the idea to throw him a surprise birthday party but as always with Becky, things don't quite go according to plan and soon her surprise birthday party isn't looking like a party at all. Until salvation comes... Will Becky swallow her pride and admit she needs help, and more importantly, will Becky be able to keep the party a secret?

Since reading Shopaholic and Baby when it came out in 2007, I've been eagerly awaiting a new Becky Bloomwood adventure. She is, by far, my favourite female character ever so when it was announced last year that we were finally getting a new Shopaholic novel I was thrilled and it immediately shot up on my list of "books I can't wait for". I was thrilled to receive an early copy a month before its release and I set about reading the other Shopaholic books so I could dive right into Mini Shopaholic. And believe me, I wasn't disappointed.

I cannot get over the fact that it's been three years since the last Shopaholic book. I rather sincerely hope Sophie Kinsella doesn't wait that long next time! I love her stand-alone books, don't get me wrong, but when it comes to Becky Bloomwood I would happily read a book a month about her. Obviously with such high expectations, I was a little bit worried about whether I would love it as much as the other books but thankfully I quickly got into the book. In fact I was laughing from the first page, which is always a good sign. The laughs definitely continued throughout the book so it was as if Becky had never left!

I did think that with the title of Mini Shopaholic that the book was going to be dedicated entirely to Becky and Minnie - and their shopping exploits of course - but that wasn't the main plot at all. Minnie and her like of the word "mine" is prominent to the book but the book seems, to me, to be more focused on Becky wanting Luke to have a surprise party for his birthday after the year he's had. There's been no book between Shopaholic and Baby and Mini Shopaholic and there's a gap of two years, so a lot has gone on in the intermittent time, but Becky explains it all to us and Luke - and Becky and Minnie - have had a heck of a time so Becky decides that Luke should, for once, celebrate his birthday and decides to organise a secret party. Because it's Becky organising the party, things never go to plan and we're with her all the way as she tries to arrange it all, so there's the usual chaos which I just lapped it all up.

All of the characters from the previous books return, as you would expect. Becky is as loveable as ever, and it really does feel as if she's a close friend. Because Kinsella has inserted the financial crisis into the latest book, Becky ends up cutting back and I liked how Becky tried, very hard, to stick to the promise she made Luke. Although it does seem to be that the motto 'Once a Shopaholic, always a Shopholic' definitely applies to Becky, particularly when it comes to Luke's party. Throughout the previous books, it seems that Luke is only ever known to be working; constantly missing things and always having his phone to his ear and despite the fact it continues in Mini Shopaholic, I do think we saw a bit more of him than usual. He's had a tough time and I felt so sad for him for all that had happened while we've been away from the Brandon family. Becky's parents and friends return and I must mention Becky's parents. God, I love them. All they seem to do is bicker but it seems to be good-natured more than anything and they're hilarious. Suze, Tarkie and the kids are back, as well as Danny, Becky's fashion designer friend.

Mini Shopaholic is as well-written as the other books, told entirely from Becky's point of view, in a really easy chatty manner with letters interspersed throughout. Kinsella is such a fantastic writer, and manages to suck me in any time. She could write a book about paint and I'd love it. Mini Shopaholic has been well worth the wait and I managed to finish it pretty much in one sitting. The ending gives me hope for another Shopaholic, whenever Kinsella decides to write it, so here's hoping Becky Bloomwood will live to feature in another book! My life would be completely empty without her and I'm rather gutted I've actually finished Mini Shopaholic. I can't wait to read it again soon! An absolute must-read for all Shopaholic fans!
(less)

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Dec 06, 2010 kari rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

Becky Brandon(nee Bloomwood)got on my very last nerve in this book. She seems so selfish, so self-involved that I had trouble liking her and since the book is from her viewpoint I need to like her, at least a little bit. She lies to everyone,from her husband to her parents to her child's nanny to the administrator of her friend's child's school(although that lie was actually done to be kind).
I started to wonder if she was even capable of telling the truth or whether she even knew what the truth...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Fiona marked it as to-read · review of another edition

!!!! becky's daughter is a shopaholic too or? can't wait!!

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Jan 13, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, chick-lit, book-series

In the latest installment to the Shopaholic series, Rebecca Brandon returns with willful two-year-old Minnie, who has taken after her mother in her fierce determination and her addiction to luxury brands. When the financial crisis finally hits the Brandon family, Rebecca vows to stop shopping until she's worn everything in her closet at least three times; Luke scrambles for new business directions; and Minnie remains exceptionally difficult (Miiiiiine!!!).

Becky used to be young, silly and funny...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Birgit rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The latest installment of Sophie Kinsella's series is once again written in the best Shopaholic tradition. This time round with Becky trying to keep her little daughter under control while at the same time planning a surprise birthday party for her husband. Things that can go wrong, will go wrong, but of course there is a happy ending after all. Truly entertaining and laugh out loud funny, it's obvious that the author (thankfully) hasn't run out of ideas for one of my favorite characters.
Still,...more

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Nov 21, 2010 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Plot:

Becky and Luke live with her parents since they can't find a house. The country is suffering from an economical crisis, and people have to cut back. Becky wants to shop, her daughter Minnie is out of control and then Becky wants to throw a party for Luke. It's bound to be a disaster.

My thoughts:

The book is fun as always but by now, well I mean it's not as funny because she is an addict and she really needs help. Some serious help. Because even if it's not as bad as before she is out of cont...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Maria Giulia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, in-italian

La Kinsella torna sul mio scaffale con il suo ultimo romanzo "Mini-shopaholic", ultimo (fin'ora) capitolo della serie che vede come protagonista Becky Brandom. Ho letto la versione in lingua originale perchè sono abituata a leggere i romanzi di questa autrice in inglese e anche questa volta non mi sono smentita. Il clima newyorkese è più palpabile.

Premesso che non ho letto tutti i romanzi di Becky, ma solo il primo (in francese come passatempo durante una lunga attesa all'aeroporto di Parigi) e...more

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Jan 13, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, book-series, chick-lit

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Jan 03, 2013 Shweta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: got-an-arc-to-review

Kinsella’s Shopaholic series have always been a delight to read. Who among us does not have the urge to go crazy while shopping and regret the impulse buys when we never use them for years ? These books have been my pleasure reads. Just when I think I have seen all of Becky Bloomwood’s tantrums and craziness, Kinsella comes up with something new, fun and very enjoyable.

Luke and Becky have a handful in Little Minnie who is nothing but a miniature version of her mother. The kid loves all things ex...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Lara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Per chi non conoscesse la serie I love shopping ecco un breve riassunto di tutti e cinque i volumi precedenti. Becky Blomwood è afflitta da shopping dipendenza, incapace di resistere al richiamo delle carte di credito, le prosciuga fin oltre il limite al fine di possedere oggetti di cui dimentica l’esistenza dopo circa tre secondi. In questa corsa sfrenata allo shopping si fidanza (con Luke, un bel tipo se non fosse così ossessionato dal lavoro), va a vivere a New York poi ritorna a Londra, si s...more Per chi non conoscesse la serie I love shopping ecco un breve riassunto di tutti e cinque i volumi precedenti. Becky Blomwood è afflitta da shopping dipendenza, incapace di resistere al richiamo delle carte di credito, le prosciuga fin oltre il limite al fine di possedere oggetti di cui dimentica l’esistenza dopo circa tre secondi. In questa corsa sfrenata allo shopping si fidanza (con Luke, un bel tipo se non fosse così ossessionato dal lavoro), va a vivere a New York poi ritorna a Londra, si sposa, scopre di avere una sorellastra e rimane incinta, tutto questo finendo sempre per cacciarsi in una serie interminabile di guai e complicate situazioni, uscendone alla fine per il rotto della cuffia. Questo libro, il sesto della serie, non fa eccezione. Becky Brandon (nata Blomwood) è alle prese con la piccola Minnie, la figlia, che sembra avere ereditato la passione per la possessione della madre, un marito con il naso infilato costantemente in un BlackBerry e impegnato a risolvere l’ennesima crisi lavorativa a cui organizzare una festa di compleanno a sorpresa, la ricerca di una casa in cui vivere per poter finalmente lasciare la casa paterna con buona pace dei genitori di lei. Tutto ciò in piena crisi economica. Il personaggio di Becky, che nel primo libro mi faceva sorridere con la sua noncuranza e la mancanza di rispetto per il denaro e i direttori di banca e agenzie di credito, libro dopo libro mi è diventato decisamente antipatico. Come è possibile che ogni volta riesca a cacciarsi in situazioni via via sempre più improbabili per poi trovare qualcuno sempre pronto ad aiutarla a venirne fuori? Possibile che nessuno riesca a porle un freno? Arrivata al sesto volume una riflessione è stata d’obbligo: perché se mi sta così antipatica continuo a leggere le sue avventure? Quindi ho esaminato più a fondo il personaggio di Becky ed il perché riesca in un modo o nell’altro a cavarsela, soprattutto con l’aiuto di amici da cui è sempre circondata. Possibile che a nessuno sia ancora venuta voglia di strozzarla?
In realtà Becky è generosa, pur ossessionata dall’esigenza di acquistare cose, possedere tutto quello che vede nei negozi di nuovo e sfavillante, non è egoista o dura di cuore, come questo comportamento farebbe presagire. Alla sua famiglia, ai suoi amici, alle sue clienti, anche ai ragazzini che bussano alla sua porta pronti a tirarle un bidone, lei dà tutta se stessa. Dai suoi più improbabili acquisti ai capi firmati, fino al suo cuore, alla sua amicizia, alla sua disponibilità. Non si tira indietro quando si tratta di difendere i suoi amici, il suo figlioccio, la sua sorellastra, le sue clienti ma anche le persone che meno sopporta, come la suocera Elinor. Questa apertura verso gli altri, la sua sincerità disarmante, la sua ingenuità, fanno sì che tutti siano disposti a sostenerla ed aiutarla quando si trova in difficoltà. E’ questo aspetto di Becky che, al di là del disappunto che suscita la sua superficialità, ci permette di amarla e continuare a leggere di lei.
La Kinsella quindi con I love mini shopping ci regala l’ennesimo episodio della vita di Becky tra situazioni surreali e avvenimenti paradossali e buffi, capaci di strappare molte volte un sorriso, e nonostante il volume risenta un po’ della lunghezza della serie e anche della ripetitività dello schema della storia, sono pronta a scommettere che tra non molto incontreremo di nuovo Becky alle prese con un’altra delle sue avventure. In fin dei conti sta per trasferirsi a Los Angeles, vogliamo forse perderci il suo shopping oltreoceano tra le stelle di Hollywood????
"Okay. Niente panico. Ho la situazione sotto controllo. Sono io Rebecca Brandon (nata Bloomwood), l’adulta. Non la mia bambina di due anni."(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors, and the Shopaholic series my favorite books. . I find them witty, humorous, exciting, and so much fun to read! I personally find Becky to be the perfect blend of silly and intelligent. I find all the characters relatable and I think their flaws make them all the more endearing. Although I am definitely not a shopaholic, I could completely relate to the character and I LOVE Luke and their relationship. I get so into the stories I find myself angry or...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sophie Kinsella is back with a ho-hum continuation of Becky Bloomhood's (AKA "The Shopaholic") story in Mini Shopaholic. This time, the premise lies in passing on her shopping addiction to her two-year-old daughter, Minnie.

Becky is still living in London with her CEO husband, Luke, and working as a shopping consultant in a high-end department store for fantastically wealthy clients. Becky gets the bright idea to throw a surprise party for Luke, as he never celebrates his birthday. At the same ti...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Mayda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, romance, humor

This audio book is a hoot and a half. Expertly performed by Rosalyn Landor, this story comes alive with her various voices, especially Minnie’s “MINE!” which happens to be her favorite word and often applied to the most unusual things. Becky has her hands full with Minnie who looks like an angel but seems to be everywhere she shouldn’t be and doing who-knows-what the instant Becky’s back is turned. Living with Becky’s parents, Becky and her husband Luke are desperately trying to buy their own ho...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Spotsalots added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The fact that this seems to be on sale in every bookstore in Prague would not have been enough to get me to pick it up (what a turn-off title!), but it was also lurking in the apartment I'm renting, so I had to take a look. And just as it's hard not to read the back of a cereal box when it's on the table in front of you, there I went.

For quite awhile I kept asking myself why I was still reading this appalling tale of a brand-name obsessed shopper and her dreadful toddler, but occasionally there'...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed the Shopaholic novels, although I wondered how much lying one character could do in a book. Well, Sophie Kinsella has taken that challenge and upped the ante in this new tome.

I don't know, maybe it's the recession, maybe it's the fact that I've been out of a job for almost two years, maybe it's the fact that I can't stand bratty children, but this was not my favorite Kinsella offering.

First of all, it's probably a bit too close to reality. Becky, her long-suffering hubby Luke, and thei...more

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May 13, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...

So I started reading this series ages ago, when I was in my mid-twenties with the first one, Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was cute. It was funny. It was highly readable.

Then after a few more books I realized that the series wasn't going anywhere, or at least the character wasn't. With each new book her life had changed dramatically (she'd gotten a new job, moved to a new country, planned her wedding, met her long lost sister, gotten pregnant or quit her...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Begy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kinsella is known for the killer one-liners that could trick her avid readers to burst into laughter all of a sudden. The sixth and latest book of the phenomenal Shopaholic series reveals how Becky is still ~~addicted to~~ very fond of shopping and that her 2-year old daughter, Minnie, might inherit her mother's trait when it comes to ~~max out credit cards~~ buying things.

When I bought myself this book, I thought the story -as the title suggests- would emphasize on Minnie. Well, it's not. Yes, there is...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 11, 2012 Siaw Hui rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The last shopaholic book I read was probably a while ago so much so I can't really remember how much I liked or disliked it. Nevertheless...

I think Mini Shoapholic is the weakest book in the series so far. I remember loving the first three books, and then feeling "meh" about the books after (present book excluded). What I loved about the first three books was Becky: she was totally dysfunctional but she was funny while messing up her entire life and digging a bigger hole for herself as the plot...more The last shopaholic book I read was probably a while ago so much so I can't really remember how much I liked or disliked it. Nevertheless...

I think Mini Shoapholic is the weakest book in the series so far. I remember loving the first three books, and then feeling "meh" about the books after (present book excluded). What I loved about the first three books was Becky: she was totally dysfunctional but she was funny while messing up her entire life and digging a bigger hole for herself as the plot moved along. Plus she had such a great heart it was hard not to sympathize with her plight. Most of all though, she learnt her lesson, redeemed herself and became a better person by the end of the book.

Not so with this book.

Becky is still dysfunctional and still funny while messing up her life ... Except the charm is starting to wear thin. Why? Well for one Becky has always been a liar but in Mini Shoapholic I just felt that her lying was just way over the top (especially with her parents); it was like she was a pathological liar. And one can't help but wonder did she not learn that her parents love her unconditionally in the last few books? So why does she still feel the compulsive need to lie? Also, I felt that Becky was completely unfit as a mother; you would think that with a child she would have grown more mature about shopping and just living life in general. Not so: she's not only traipsing around with little Minnie (her daughter) in tow but she indulges her at every turn and she even fails to see that Minnie is completely spoilt. I'm sorry, I can't really reconcile with the fact that Minnie is totally normal and that she's just wild for her age; perhaps the bar of being labelled spoilt has been raised higher in this generation of kids but I'm pretty sure that when I was a kid you did NOT throw multiple tantrums and then not be labelled spoilt both by any adult in the vicinity and kids your age.

Furthermore the plot was weak. There wasn't really much of a plot other than a bunch of subplots thrown together with the most prominent of all being the surprise party Becky attempts to throw for Luke. I know Kinsella tried to throw a lot of road bumps into the party planning but really, I didn't get any sense of mounting urgency as the plot built because the stakes that were being raised weren't enough to make me care in the first place. In fact by the time I got to the party I was pleasantly surprised as to what the surprise really was (good on Kinsella for that) but I wasn't really interested in what was going to happen next. That said, I must commend Kinsella on how she wrote Elinor's character arc in this book; the changes and the decisions she made as a character were enough to melt my heart multiple times.

Overall, Mini Shopaholic is not as strong as its predecessors but I must admit, the series has been losing its luster ever since Becky got married. Perhaps Kinsella should finally put Becky as a character to rest and move on to other projects; Becky and her adventures have been great but she's had her day in the sun. (less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, reviewed

Becky Brandon (Bloomwood) is back. With her daughter Minnie now a toddler growing as a partner in shopping. But, Minnie may be picking up some habits from Becky. Her favorite word is "Mine", she is banned from multiple paces, and that is just outside the house. Combine that with Becky and Luke still living with her parents, (the houses just keep falling through) and Luke now has extra stress at work with a nationwide financial crisis int he works.
So, what does Becky do. She plans a surprise par...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Best Books To Read rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well my opinion is really divided. I have read all of the books in the Shopaholic series and have enjoyed them all. I thing the biggest winner in the series is the character Becky. She is so loveable yet clueless and she manages to get herself in all sorts of bother.

The other side of the coin for me is when I sat on a plane and decided to watch the film that had been made from the book Confessions of a Shopaholic. The film, albeit not the worst I have seen, wasn’t great either for me. As usual t...more Well my opinion is really divided. I have read all of the books in the Shopaholic series and have enjoyed them all. I thing the biggest winner in the series is the character Becky. She is so loveable yet clueless and she manages to get herself in all sorts of bother.

The other side of the coin for me is when I sat on a plane and decided to watch the film that had been made from the book Confessions of a Shopaholic. The film, albeit not the worst I have seen, wasn’t great either for me. As usual the character I had built in my head was a major disappointment as I saw Isla Fisher trying (and failing) to play the part of Becky Bloomwood. Maybe this has been what lingered in my head the longest as I picked up the latest instalment in the Shopaholic series. Overall I have rated this book lower than I expected to but I suppose every series has its limits.

When we are re-introduced to Becky we see her back to her usual tricks of shopping for ridiculous things that she doesn’t need. We also meet her daughter Minnie who was written reasonably well and had taken on all of her mother’s traits, including screaming mine at regular intervals. We also see Luke her husband busy with his business Brandon Communications. As an ever patient person he tends to ignore a lot of Becky’s strange stories as this is part and parcel of who she is.

I still love the character Becky and think she is incredibly funny and her one-liners that she uses to get herself out of trouble are funny. However, this particular instalment of the series only had that to fall back on, Becky herself. The storyline was the weakest I have seen in a long time, with seemingly no structure at all. The whole plot is centred on Becky planning a surprise party, which considering the title is not what I expected. Yes we do see Minnie and her tantrums along with the addition of Nanny Sue who is a childcare expert. But that is it, literally!

I found myself dragging my heels and wondering when something was going to happen. Sophie Kinsella definitely has the skills as a writer but I am beginning to wonder whether this series has now had its day. I think the film production was what ruined it for me and from looking at other opinions it seems I am not the only one that feels that way. There were some redeeming qualities and that was things we have seen in previous books such as the relationship between Becky and her parents as well as her friendship with Suze and Tarquin.

It only took me a day and a half to read this book but ended up feeling quite disappointed, and felt that I had only finished it out of obligation. I can only hope that Sophie Kinsella either creates a new series or continues with her stand alone novels.(less)

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Dec 16, 2011 wfpoppet rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

Sigh. I think I've outgrown Becky Brandon (neé Bloomwood). I discovered Confessions of a Shopaholic in 2004 and pretty quickly devoured the available titles. Sophie Kinsella has definitely been a guilty pleasure of mine, but I think her latest Shopaholic book has missed the mark...or maybe my reading tastes have just changed over the past few years.

I admit that at least once during every Shopaholic book I have to put it down because I'm stressed out by the scrape into which Becky's gotten hers...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Carmen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another splendid read by Sophia Kinsella from her Shopaholic series. However, there was one thing which ticked me off.

(view spoiler)...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Jacqui rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've always enjoyed the Shopaholic series, as it's a great beach read. Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is a zany character who gets in scrapes, but is ultimately lovable.

Perhaps that was true for the first 5 books in the series. By this point, the schtick has worn down to a nub. Becky is a materialistic liar and she becomes less sympathetic with each book. A more stable woman would have been deserted at this point in real life, or even in any good book. Not only is she the Poster Child for financi...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Ciara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crummy-chick-lit, read-in-2011

i wish that this series would just run its course, but tragically, the last few pages set the stage for yet another sequel in which becky & her family have obnoxious adventures in hollywood. i feel like sophie kinsella made an attempt to ground her protagonist, becky, in modern times by setting her adventures against a background of economic panic & recession, but somehow, that made becky's hijinks even more annoying.

becky's daughter, minnie, is two in this book, & well on her way to...more i wish that this series would just run its course, but tragically, the last few pages set the stage for yet another sequel in which becky & her family have obnoxious adventures in hollywood. i feel like sophie kinsella made an attempt to ground her protagonist, becky, in modern times by setting her adventures against a background of economic panic & recession, but somehow, that made becky's hijinks even more annoying.

becky's daughter, minnie, is two in this book, & well on her way to being a spoiled, materialistic brat. in some ways, she is a typical toddler who is just testing boundaries & obviously can't be expected to comprehend the value of a dollar, but becky's terrible, indulgent parenting was painful to read. & a running subplot was becky's desire for another child. her husband, luke, is reluctant to accede to this wish. he says that minnie is such a little terror, he is worried about having the energy for a second child, but eventually it comes out (through the aid of an expensive celebrity nanny consultant) that he has abandonment issues thanks to his mother & is worried that he won't have enough love to offer a second child. how about being concerned that becky is a terrible mother who should have never been allowed to have one child, let alone two?

the real plot of the book centered on becky's desire to organize a surprise party for luke's birthday. what starts as an off-the-cuff idea becomes a hysterical obsession after becky's long-suffering friends & family make it clear that they don't believe becky is capable of organizing a surprise party. her attempts to prove them wrong drive her on to new heights (read: lows) of lying & manipulation. it's not cute. it's not funny. it's not charming. in the earlier "shopaholic" books, becky was irresponsible, yes, but she was engaging & even likeable. it appears that kinsella felt the need to amp up becky's character traits with each successive book to the point that her materialism & pathological lying have become a shrill whine not unlike a dentist's drill. i don't understand why luke stays married to her or how she has any friends or supporters. becky is incapable of handling any problem in her life by employing the truth. & while she is always caught out in her lies eventually, everyone humors her by chuckling along & allowing her to believe that her hateful foibles are adorable.

sophie kinsella used to be one of my favorite chick lit authors, for when i needed a fun, fluffy novel full of escapism. but this was just painful.(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Winna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklits

I'm a big fan of the ever so hilarious Shopaholic series.

I don't know whether I'm the one who's changed, or the series are not that great anymore. It used to be so funny and thrilling. This one's still funny, and the last half of the book quite a madcap adventure, as some reviewers call it, but the rest is flat, boring, and I don't find myself loving the adventure I'm in, at all.

Becky, as a mid 20s, single woman with an independent career, albeit with a huge credit card debt, I'm fine with it. B...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Gemma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Still can't believe how brilliant these books are as I have said before the whole shopaholic thing did not appeal to me one bit but after stumbling across and buying shopaholic ties the knot I had to go back and read them all. I LOVE them so much I had to put down and the book I was currently reading (and enjoying) the day I bought this as I could not wait to read it, and it lived up to my expectations brilliant, fantastic, amazing, loved it in fact I think it was the best yet. But then again I...more

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About Sophie Kinsella

Madeleine Wickham (born 12 December 1969) is a bestselling British author under her pseudonym, Sophie Kinsella. Educated at New College, Oxford, she worked as a financial journalist before turning to fiction. She is best known for writing a popular series of chick-lit novels. The Shopaholic novels series focuses on the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her...more

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Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Shopaholic, #2)

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