Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic, #3) by Sophie Kinsella

Feb 21, 2013 Meg ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, 2013-reads

These books are seriously addicting. I know the main complaint people have about these books is how annoying Bex can be, but I don't mind her. She has her moments where I would like to smack some sense into her, but overall I like her funny, awkward moments.

Bex is basically running around like a chicken with her head cut off throughout this whole book. She has promised both her mother and her mother-in-law that they could plan her wedding, and nobody knows...Not even Luke. Also, both weddings a...more

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Oct 04, 2007 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

One of the best chick-lit series I've read! Becky Bloomwood is a delight and adorable! She has her issues, of course, but somehow you can't help loving her! Part of what makes these books so funny and cute is the ability Becky has to justify every purchase she makes. And her shopaholic problems aside, she's a sweet, kind and big-hearted person.

My sister and I were actually able to go to an author talk with Sophie Kinsella, and she's just as adorable as Becky!

So far there are 5 books in the seri...more

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Dec 05, 2007 Rena rated it 2 of 5 stars

I love Kinsella's books, and I loove Becky, but this one was my least favorite. The way she had to drag on the wedding decision totally wore out my patience. What sucked was that THAT was basically the main part of the story. At some point, I was so irritated at her that I wasn't really concentrating on what I was reading because I wanted to hurry up and get to the conclusion. And it's too silly how Luke was so unaware of the chaotic wedding planning, don't you think? Almost pretentious. I mean,...more

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Jun 19, 2008 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-books, contemporary-brit-lit, annie-and-katie-bookclub

I've decided that, since I'm pretty preoccupied with wedding stuff as it is, what could be more fun that going through the adventure with an old friend? Hence, some of my joys and stresses will be meshed with Becky's--and I'm grateful for the companionship! :-)

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Mar 18, 2008 Ashley (mac&chip) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I really wanted to like this book - I was planning my own wedding at the time and thought this would be an easy, relatable read - nope. This book was by far my least favorite in the series. I thought Becky came off too strong and annoying in the Manhattan book, but apparently she had a lot more "character" in her.

In this book, Becky and Luke are planning their wedding. Becky accepts Luke's icy mother's offer to throw them a top-notch New York wedding and has all the glitz and glamour Becky dream...more

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Jul 22, 2007 Myrna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Lucu..seger..jadi tau rasanya gimana jadi orang yang ga bisa nahan keinginan dan berusaha terus menerus untuk membohongi diri sendiri..hampir sama sih aku juga boros dan susah kalo pegang duit banyakan dikit..tapi tetep tau batas dan ga sampe ngutang2 gitu..hebatnya cewek ini kan dia selalu bisa nyelesaiin masalahnya dan tahan hidup dalam kebohongan >_< kekacauan yang dibuat bener-bener ga terduga hihi

Tentang penulisannya sih aku suka gaya nulisnya si Sophie Kinsella..beda dari yang lain.....more

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Mar 11, 2008 Christina Stind rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, fiction, series, library

I think this is my favourite of the series so far. Still not that impressed with these books but it's a light easy read and sometimes you need that to escape the daily rutines.
Becky and Luke are still living in Manhattan and after Luke proposes (a very romantic way to propose, btw), Becky starts planning her wedding. And as always, being incapable of saying no - she ends up with two weddings, one back home in England and one in Manhattan. Two different dreams that she is unable to choose from. I...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Michele rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well, I'm definitely glad Becky is off on her round the world honeymoon. I was so stressed by the time this book was over, I thought it would never end! Not as funny as the first two, there was just too much tension. I can't say I enjoyed this one a whole lot.

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Mar 06, 2009 Stinkydiver rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-and-other-borrowed-books

This book was somewhere between a 2 and a 3 for me. If you are in the mood for a silly book, it's all right.

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Feb 04, 2009 Kath rated it 4 of 5 stars

fun book, but not my favorite in the Shopaholic series, July 1, 2008
I really have found the Shopaholic series to be quite fun and enjoyable. The character Becky Bloomwood is fabulous, witty, quite sweet, but a bit insecure with herself. As with all of the Sophie Kinsella books, it's fun and I found myself laughing out loud in some parts. I must confess that I found this book a little less enjoyable than the first two, but still quite fun.

I know Becky is quirky and loves to shop, and that's wh...more

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Jan 31, 2009 Christine Antonios rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended-to-me

Unlike Kinsella's previous two novels, the third is primarily about the relationship between Rebecca and Luke, with shopping being an unfortunate side-effect. Kinsella keenly stayed away from just reproducing Bloomwood's previous shopping addiction in this book (although they were never so far away that we forget). Instead, the author takes those same methods of obsession, justification, and splurges and redirects it to the wedding.

The novel is set in New York and Luke and Rebecca are getting ma...more

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May 08, 2013 Irish rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Apr 05, 2013 Jama Jack rated it 3 of 5 stars

Despite the furrowed/raised brows and sometimes unbelievable gapes I gave to Becky's decisions and actions in the first two books, I found myself missing them in this third one. I'd made a mental note earlier that the author could do with more details on Becky's relationship with Luke and stop cutting out the juicy bits *wink*. Well, book three answered my prayers... at least as far as focusing on their relationship goes.

Becky's bestfriend Suze gets married, with the former as her bridesmaid. Th...more

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Jan 17, 2013 DubaiReader rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, abridged-audiobook

Abridged audiobook.

I have read (listened to) one other Sophie Kinsella book, but it was not from the Shopaholic series. This was the first time I had met Becky Bloomwood. She struck me as totally divorced from the realities of life and it is this that makes her both endearing and frustrating. Bills for clothes do not become any smaller because you drop Tippex on them!

When Becky's boyfriend, Luke Brandon, proposes, Becky's mother is thrilled and immediately starts to make arrangements for her onl...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

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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Dec 28, 2011 Roberta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2007

Ho letto quasi tutti i libri della Kinsella, non li ho comprato ma li ho letti, e mi sono anche piaciuti. Dopo il primo si Becky Bloomwood, che mi aveva creato un po’ di ansia con tutto questo spendere, mi sono anche abituata, anche se i momenti alla Fantozzi non sono mai i miei preferiti. Premesso questo, devo dire che per quanto simpatico ed adatto ad un pomeriggio di spensierata lettura, il romanzo in oggetto mi ha un po’ infastidito. Un po’ come lavorare in un ipermercato nel periodo nataliz...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Brina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirkl...more Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirklich?

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der dritte Band der „Shopaholic“-Reihe von Englands Erfolgsautorin Sophie Kinsella.
Wie auch schon in den Bänden zuvor, dreht sich hier alles um das hektische Leben der 27-jährigen Rebecca Bloomwood, die sich in New York bestens eingelebt hat.
Ihre Shoppingsucht ist nach wie vor vorhanden, allerdings wirkt sie nun weitaus weniger verschwenderisch und überlässt das lieber ihrer zukünftigen Schwiegermutter.

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der erste Band, bei dem mich Rebecca ein wenig genervt hat. Sie ist zwar nach wie vor absolut liebenswert, jedoch stört mich hier ihre Unentschlossenheit und die wiederkehrende Naivität. Anstatt sich für eine Hochzeit zu entscheiden, lässt sie sich von dem Plaza Hotel blenden und kann sich nicht überwinden, eine der beiden Hochzeiten abzusagen.
Dadurch wirkt die Story ein wenig unrealistisch.

Eine sehr gute Entwicklung ist allerdings bei Luke sichtbar, der nun weitaus weniger unnahbar wirkt. In den anderen Bänden war er zwar immer recht charismatisch und charmant, dafür aber auch unnahbar, sodass ich ihn nur sehr schwer einschätzen konnte.

Der Schreibstil ist wie immer sehr gelungen. Orte wie das Plaza Hotel werden hier sehr gut beschrieben, sodass man schnell das Gefühl bekommt, selbst in New York zu sein. Bei Rebeccas Elternhaus in England ist es genauso.
Auch der Humor kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Auf witzige Art und Weise beschreibt Sophie Kinsella erneut Rebeccas hektisches Leben, dass chaotischer nicht sein kann.

Über das Cover möchte ich nichts mehr sagen, da habe ich bei den Bänden 1 und 2 bereits genug gemeckert. ;)

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist eine würdige Fortsetzung, bei dem jedes Chick-Lit Herz aufgeht. Unbedingt lesen!(less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Brina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirkl...more Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirklich?

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der dritte Band der „Shopaholic“-Reihe von Englands Erfolgsautorin Sophie Kinsella.
Wie auch schon in den Bänden zuvor, dreht sich hier alles um das hektische Leben der 27-jährigen Rebecca Bloomwood, die sich in New York bestens eingelebt hat.
Ihre Shoppingsucht ist nach wie vor vorhanden, allerdings wirkt sie nun weitaus weniger verschwenderisch und überlässt das lieber ihrer zukünftigen Schwiegermutter.

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der erste Band, bei dem mich Rebecca ein wenig genervt hat. Sie ist zwar nach wie vor absolut liebenswert, jedoch stört mich hier ihre Unentschlossenheit und die wiederkehrende Naivität. Anstatt sich für eine Hochzeit zu entscheiden, lässt sie sich von dem Plaza Hotel blenden und kann sich nicht überwinden, eine der beiden Hochzeiten abzusagen.
Dadurch wirkt die Story ein wenig unrealistisch.

Eine sehr gute Entwicklung ist allerdings bei Luke sichtbar, der nun weitaus weniger unnahbar wirkt. In den anderen Bänden war er zwar immer recht charismatisch und charmant, dafür aber auch unnahbar, sodass ich ihn nur sehr schwer einschätzen konnte.

Der Schreibstil ist wie immer sehr gelungen. Orte wie das Plaza Hotel werden hier sehr gut beschrieben, sodass man schnell das Gefühl bekommt, selbst in New York zu sein. Bei Rebeccas Elternhaus in England ist es genauso.
Auch der Humor kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Auf witzige Art und Weise beschreibt Sophie Kinsella erneut Rebeccas hektisches Leben, dass chaotischer nicht sein kann.

Über das Cover möchte ich nichts mehr sagen, da habe ich bei den Bänden 1 und 2 bereits genug gemeckert. ;)

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist eine würdige Fortsetzung, bei dem jedes Chick-Lit Herz aufgeht. Unbedingt lesen!(less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Brina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirkl...more Rebecca und Luke sind zurück in England, um an der Hochzeit von Suze und Tarquin teilzunehmen. Nichtsahnend erwartet Rebecca eine faustdicke Überraschung, denn Luke hält um ihre Hand an.
Für Rebeccas Mutter wird damit ein Traum wahr und sie stürzt sich prompt in die Hochtzeitsvorbereitungen. Nichtsahnend organisiert Lukes Mutter in New York ebenfalls eine Hochzeit – im teuersten Hotel der Stadt: dem Plaza.

Rebecca ist hin- und hergerissen. Beide Hochzeiten haben ihren Reiz, aber was will sie wirklich?

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der dritte Band der „Shopaholic“-Reihe von Englands Erfolgsautorin Sophie Kinsella.
Wie auch schon in den Bänden zuvor, dreht sich hier alles um das hektische Leben der 27-jährigen Rebecca Bloomwood, die sich in New York bestens eingelebt hat.
Ihre Shoppingsucht ist nach wie vor vorhanden, allerdings wirkt sie nun weitaus weniger verschwenderisch und überlässt das lieber ihrer zukünftigen Schwiegermutter.

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist der erste Band, bei dem mich Rebecca ein wenig genervt hat. Sie ist zwar nach wie vor absolut liebenswert, jedoch stört mich hier ihre Unentschlossenheit und die wiederkehrende Naivität. Anstatt sich für eine Hochzeit zu entscheiden, lässt sie sich von dem Plaza Hotel blenden und kann sich nicht überwinden, eine der beiden Hochzeiten abzusagen.
Dadurch wirkt die Story ein wenig unrealistisch.

Eine sehr gute Entwicklung ist allerdings bei Luke sichtbar, der nun weitaus weniger unnahbar wirkt. In den anderen Bänden war er zwar immer recht charismatisch und charmant, dafür aber auch unnahbar, sodass ich ihn nur sehr schwer einschätzen konnte.

Der Schreibstil ist wie immer sehr gelungen. Orte wie das Plaza Hotel werden hier sehr gut beschrieben, sodass man schnell das Gefühl bekommt, selbst in New York zu sein. Bei Rebeccas Elternhaus in England ist es genauso.
Auch der Humor kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Auf witzige Art und Weise beschreibt Sophie Kinsella erneut Rebeccas hektisches Leben, dass chaotischer nicht sein kann.

Über das Cover möchte ich nichts mehr sagen, da habe ich bei den Bänden 1 und 2 bereits genug gemeckert. ;)

„Hochzeit zu verschenken“ ist eine würdige Fortsetzung, bei dem jedes Chick-Lit Herz aufgeht. Unbedingt lesen!(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hopefully you've acquainted yourself with the spending habits (it's a sickness really) and rationalizations of one Becky Bloomwood in Kinsella's series Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. In this 2003 follow-up, Becky is up to her old habits by the 8th page, where she finds a lovely antique trunk for her best friends Suze and Tarquin as their wedding gift. But why not also get an antique cocktail cabinet for her and Luke, a combined total of $800!

Becky's been living in Ne...more Hopefully you've acquainted yourself with the spending habits (it's a sickness really) and rationalizations of one Becky Bloomwood in Kinsella's series Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. In this 2003 follow-up, Becky is up to her old habits by the 8th page, where she finds a lovely antique trunk for her best friends Suze and Tarquin as their wedding gift. But why not also get an antique cocktail cabinet for her and Luke, a combined total of $800!

Becky's been living in New York with her handsome, successful boyfriend Luke for about a year while she works at Barney's as (you guessed it) a personal shopper. Now engaged, Becky and Luke are getting married in 5 months and Becky's not going to get carried away. Yeah, right! Her mum's very excited about doing the planning herself back in England. However Luke's upper-crust birthmother, Elinor, is causing tension between everyone with her above-it-all attitude. Elinor is hosting an engagement party (well, that's ok), has hired her own wedding planner (without consulting Becky and knowing full-well there's another wedding being planned in England) and has booked The Plaza! You heard me, The Plaza! Plus the little fact that the owner of Becky and Luke's apartment building is selling, forcing them to move. So far, very stressful. Wait, it gets worse (or better, for the reader). One the one hand, obviously, The Plaza. On the other hand, a wedding back home in England with her family and friends, familiar surroundings, her home. And her mum's so into the planning. She's had her house interior re-done! Which wedding will Becky choose? In which country will they exchange their vows? How long will she wait to make a decision? How many dresses will she buy?

Here's a little taste:
"This isn't exactly how I pictured my engagement party would be. First of all the door people try to stop me going in. Then I don't know anybody. Then the only things to eat are low-fat, high-protein cubes of fish and, even then, the wait staff look taken aback when you actually eat them."

At the Bridal Shop:
Cynthia smiles at us and surveys her clipboard. "So we're after something either simple or elaborate, with sleeves or strapless, possibly with beading and/or embroidery and either with a train or without."

"Exactly!" My eye follows hers around the shop. "But you know I'm quite flexible."

"How many have I tried on now?"
"That takes us up to ... thirty-five."
"And how many have I marked so far as possibles?"
"Thirty-two."
"Really?" I look up in surprise. "Which ones didn't I like?"

Sophie Kinsella's books are so well written. Not everyone can write humor. Some characters are outrageous while others you'd be proud to call your friend. I've enjoyed all three Shopaholic books, laughing all the way, and can't wait to read her next series.(less)

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Jun 03, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit

It's been a few years since I read the last book in this series and I kind of forgot what happened in the last one. Kind of annoying when the book mentioned some characters that I assume we are supposed to remember, but luckily they where few and far between. The main problem with all these books is that the protag, Becky is somewhat annoying. I remember in the first two just wanting to scream at the book, JUST STOP SHOPPING!!!!! It was something I could not relate too, but apparently, all my si...more It's been a few years since I read the last book in this series and I kind of forgot what happened in the last one. Kind of annoying when the book mentioned some characters that I assume we are supposed to remember, but luckily they where few and far between. The main problem with all these books is that the protag, Becky is somewhat annoying. I remember in the first two just wanting to scream at the book, JUST STOP SHOPPING!!!!! It was something I could not relate too, but apparently, all my sister's shopaholic friends said the same thing. It just got annoying after a while. Luckily, this book was fairly shop-free and just called continued in the series because it had to do with the same people.

Becky gets engaged at her best friends wedding back in England to her boyfriend Luke. Her mother immediately starts planning for a down home wedding in the UK. As soon as Becky and Luke arrive back home in New York, Luke's uptight (think Tray from Sex and the City's mother) starts planning a lavish affair at the Plaza. Since she doesn't want to disappoint either family, she doesn't cancel either wedding and both continue to plan them. Luke's mother, whom Becky doesn't really like, asks her to sign a prenup, which she signs in haste, without even looking at the papers because she doesn't even care. She just wants to get married. When Bex's best friend, Suze finds out and Becky tries to cancel, she finds out that one of the papers she signed was an agreement that if she tried to cancel all the plans for the Plaza, she would have to pay $100,000 penalty. She freaks out. And like with all the past books, just shoves it underneath the bed and tries to forget about it, as the date approaches. As usual, at the last second something/one comes and saves her. Luke and his mother have never been on the best terms and he has spent most of his adult life trying to please her and never living up to her expectations and in the end pretty much says fuck it, I'll pay the penalty as long as I don't have to get married at her wedding. Becky is glad, but at the same time (as usual) not happy because she doesn't want Luke mad at his mother because she is afraid he'll regret it later. So they have the wedding at the Plaza, but don't legally get married and no one notices. They fly back to England on a client of Becky's private jet and get married in her mother's dream wedding. And everything works out in the end. Of course. As always.

While this book wasn't about major shopping addictions as the previous two were, it was still annoying in that Becky kept going back and forth on which wedding to cancel and in the end everything worked out for her and she hardly did anything. I also never could understand how a character who was so into shopping and material items could also like and put up with all the country things her mother did.

Grade: C+(less)

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Mar 02, 2011 rebellyell666 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt:

Becky Bloomwood wird heiraten! Wären da nur nicht die Mütter der Vermählten, die jeweils gänzlich andere Vorstellungen von einer Hochzeitsfeier haben als die andere. Beckys Mutter möchte es familiär, Lukes dafür umso presseträchtiger gestalten. Und schon sitzt Becky mittendrin.

Schreib-/Erzählstil:

Kinsellas witzige Pointen und kleine Wahrheiten über das eigentliche Glück zweier Menschen rücken mal wieder die Charaktere ins richtige Licht. Ich musste wieder mehrmals über Beckys Erfindungsre...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Rhonda rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Noone

Becky Bloomwood has her dream job as a personal shopper at Barney's and is living with her successful boyfriend, Luke Brandon. She has everything she could want...or so she thinks until she attends her best friend's wedding. When Luke pops the question, she is unreservedly excited about getting married and regestering for her gifts. When both mother's get involved in the wedding planning, Becky ends up in a mess that involves two very different weddings, on two different contntents on the same d...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Eva Nickelson rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Oct 28, 2010 Nina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I promptly read and finished this book after finishing the second book of the series.

I did not like this book. I think it's my least favorite out of all the books of this series. I found that I preferred reading about Rebecca's money problems rather than her decision whether to marry in New York or in her home country, England. I did like the starting, though. I found it sweet how Luke proposed to Becky by planting the ring in Suze's bouquet. I also love Suze! It's typically thought that proposi...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Bree T rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone looking for a fun read with lots of laughs

Shelves: library-reads

Yesterday, although clear and sunny, came with a chilly biting August wind that the south-eastern part of Australia is known for. I have in my new house, a designated ‘reading room’ which is a little family room off the kitchen/dining room that has big windows. It has no TV access point so we put our second couch in there, along the windows and I made it my quiet room. The sun pours in there in the afternoon and it’s perfect for curling up and enjoying a book.

I finished this book in one afternoo...more Yesterday, although clear and sunny, came with a chilly biting August wind that the south-eastern part of Australia is known for. I have in my new house, a designated ‘reading room’ which is a little family room off the kitchen/dining room that has big windows. It has no TV access point so we put our second couch in there, along the windows and I made it my quiet room. The sun pours in there in the afternoon and it’s perfect for curling up and enjoying a book.

I finished this book in one afternoon, they’re just that easy to read. As I said in my Library post, this is the first time I’ve read one of these novels as previously I’ve listened to the audiobooks and the woman who reads it is very good. I was happy to discover that my like for them transferred over just as much and I really enjoyed this book. So much so that my fiance, upon wandering into the room totally unnoticed by me, commented several times on the fact that I was laying on the couch giggling to myself.

I do love Becky Bloomwood. This novel picks up with Becky and Luke still living in Manhattan, Becky is still working as a personal shopper at Barney’s, although that hasn’t stemmed her passion in shopping for herself. Luke spends some time wondering how their household account keeps getting overdrawn and where their joint statement is – Becky has hidden it, and then in a last ditch attempt to prevent Luke from finding out she’s been buying shoes and clothes from their household account- spills white out onto it.

This could be portrayed as an unhealthy relationship, in that Becky hides her purchases from Luke and attempts to deceive him about the statement, but this book addresses more than once Luke’s tolerance and even his joyful amusement in Becky and it’s pretty obvious he has every idea what she’s doing. Luke, up until this book, is a workaholic – driven and dedicated to his company, Brandon Communications and it’s clear in this book that he regards Becky as his antithesis and someone who keeps him from taking life too seriously. She reminds him to have fun, and he finds her take on life refreshing and funny.

Becky’s former flatmate Suze is marrying her cousin Tarquin (in something I found a fraction icky, but apparently legal) and Becky is the bridesmaid. A misunderstanding leads to her proclaiming that she never wants to get married, well not at at least for 10 years! She’s lying of course, which is just as well, as Luke is quite obviously planning to propose. Becky joyfully accepts and Becky’s mother starts planning the ultimate wedding in Becky’s hometown.

The problems begin when they go back to New York and meet with Luke’s mother, the repressed and icy Elinor and hear of her plans. She intends to give them a huge, extravagant wedding, booking the Plaza Hotel and hiring a wedding planner with no expense spared. Becky of course, is totally seduced by the idea of a big and lavish wedding with four hundred guests, a thousand dollar cake, the Philharmonic orchestra, a stunning designer dress instead of her mother’s wedding dress and she finds herself agreeing to both weddings, one on each side of the world which are due to be held on the same day in less than five months. She’s soon in so deep that she can’t bear to back out of the Plaza wedding and risk not only Elinor’s wrath but also being sued, nor can she break her mothers heart. Her mother has been working diligently on the other side of the Atlantic, and when Becky visits home, she finds that the whole house is being done up for the wedding, which just makes her guilt and misery even worse.

Luke undergoes an interesting character growth this book. In the first book he’s kind of distant and amused by Becky and although it’s obvious he’s attracted to her, he’s always exactly the same: in control, composed, capable, dynamic. In this book, his drive to impress Elinor, the mother who left him, desert’s him when he realises that she didn’t leave him by force, but by choice. This coupled by a friend of his who has a medical issue, leads to him completely falling apart, questioning life, what it means, why he bothers to work so hard. He is going through a semi mid-life crisis: he stops shaving, stops going to work and starts giving away his money and shoes to random people on the street. This only adds to Becky’s stress level, as not only does she have to figure out how to cancel one of the weddings without being sued or destroying her parents, she also has to ‘fix’ Luke and get him out of this slump that he’s in.

Although the book is a tad over the top, as someone who is planning a wedding (albeit a very relaxed and casual one), it’s easy to see how things can just completely snowball. Everyone wants to take over a wedding, and sometimes it’s very hard to get your voice heard on what you want. Becky is bullied into the Plaza and the wedding at home because she never once sits down (with or without Luke) to think about what she wants her wedding to be and she ends up being swayed on everything because she’s just indecisive and eager to please everyone. Elinor is very concerned about public image and the lavish wedding she’s throwing isn’t so much about Luke and Becky’s wants or happiness, but more about the publicity for her charity.

This book was a lovely 2hrs or so of escapism. I really need to own them all as I enjoy them so much. I do love Becky’s voice. Even though she’s completely frivolous and obsessed by shopping, she’s warm and so easily likable. I think I’d love to have a friend just like her.(less)

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Apr 06, 2010 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I can't help it--I totally root for Becky Bloomwood. She's so gosh darn plucky. And I love Luke--sweet, handsome, totally stays out of Becky's way as she screws up then fixes her life. Actually, now that I think about it, he's kind of very flat, but whatever, sometimes I just need a strong, smart man who loves his woman unconditionally (I'm looking at you, Edward Cullen). And how can we not love Becky's parents? Ugh, I want English parents like this (this is what I imagine all English parents to...more

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Aug 28, 2009 Cara and Ashley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cara-finished-reading

Oh no! Oh no! What happened to Sophie Kinsella when she wrote this book??!!!
Needless to say I wasn’t really pleased with the third novel. The problem book series have, especially when the first two novels were really good, is that the reader is hungry for more good story telling. But unfortunately, with Shopaholic Ties the Knot, it seems like the author has lost her fire….OH NO!!!
Okay, what didn’t I like about it? Well, for starters, the plot seems really ridiculous. Becky Bloomwood’s character...more Oh no! Oh no! What happened to Sophie Kinsella when she wrote this book??!!!
Needless to say I wasn’t really pleased with the third novel. The problem book series have, especially when the first two novels were really good, is that the reader is hungry for more good story telling. But unfortunately, with Shopaholic Ties the Knot, it seems like the author has lost her fire….OH NO!!!
Okay, what didn’t I like about it? Well, for starters, the plot seems really ridiculous. Becky Bloomwood’s character builds a certain level of expectation particularly readers she was introduced to in two prior novels. She is a Shopaholic, right? Then why would she allow two other people to plan her wedding? I mean, if she loves to shop, then what better way to start the story with Becky not being able to resist the huge million-dollar industry of Weddings? There are tons of irresistibly spending sprees she could have done and could have used the excuse, ‘Hey, I only get married once!’ to explain her splurges. But instead Ms. Kinsella takes the reader to a bizarre scenario where two weddings are being planning for Becky to occur on the same day. How weird is that! I know this is fiction, but at the very least try to think of the readers and how they would relate to the main character! I just got married very recently and I was hoping for the book to indulge me with wedding (mis)adventures so that I can relate, laugh, and recollect about my own wedding planning (not that I splurged…well, maybe a little…)!
The new characters Ms. Kinsella introduced are annoying and incomprehensible. First there is Becky’s NYC bestfriend, Danny. He is supposed to be an up and coming designer. Hmmm, really now…then why does he leech off his older brother (who pays the rent) and lies about having his clothes being sold in Barney’s? And when he does design Becky’s outfits, the clothes come apart!!!?? Becky wears one of his ‘T-shirt Gowns’ (what the heck is that???!!!) when she walked down as Suze’s maid-of-honor, but the pieces of the outfit were coming off!!! Isn’t the criteria of a good fashion designer not just in the creativity of the work but the WORKMANSHIP and innovation of the sewing! Danny also creates Becky’s wedding gown by making ‘denim’ ruffles? WHAT?????!!!! What bride in her right mind would wear such a thing in a supposedly posh wedding at the New York Plaza, where Hollywood Stars get married? The theme of the wedding is Sleeping Beauty, but Becky has DENIM material on her gown? I am completely appalled at the ridiculousness of all this! Ms. Kinsella should have done some research in dress-making…OR should have not created the Danny character and stuck it out with Suze, whom I always found to be super cool!
The character of Luke’s Mom, Elinor, is incomprehensible. Did Ms. Kinsella do this on purpose? Are we really not suppose to understand her? She is rich, snobbish, and very narcistic (she has ‘secret’ surgeries in Switzerland), who apparently does not really care for Luke and is in fact using him for his time to build up her charity work. However, if she really doesn’t care much for him and is using him for money, then why would she pay six figures to throw them a wedding? Why not be consistent and have him pay for the wedding? The falling out Luke eventually had with Elinor causes him to break down, which Becky calls ‘mid-life crisis’. I find this part of the story very unconvincing. In the end, Luke and Elinor made-up in such a casual way that I end up shaking my head and asking the question, “Why go through the trouble of putting a crisis in the story when it is clearly half-baked crisis?”
The part I like the best was whenever Becky would find ways to ‘cover’ her expenses on the bank statement. One of the arguments she and Luke had was “Is a Miu-Miu skirt a house hold expense?” I found that quite funny, but everything else in the story, I shrugged in disappointment.(less)

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Jun 09, 2009 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read the whole series this spring. I needed something light-hearted and funny, and these books fit the bill. What I liked about them: they made me laugh. I could identify with some of the rationalizations the character makes when buying things she doesn't really need. I loved her friendship with Suze. Her parents are a hoot, and she has a good relationship with them.

Things I didn't like: her boyfriend/husband is loaded, so after the first couple of books, there really is no consequence of her s...more

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May 14, 2009 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I'm not a big chick lit fan, but find Sophie Kinsella's work to be a real guilty pleasure-- slight but fun. However, Shopaholic Ties the Knot is definitely not her best.

In the other Shopaholic books, protagonist Becky Bloomwood, is ditzy and self-indulgent, but basically a fun and sweet girl that you can sort of identify with. In this book, that mostly goes out the window. Here, Becky gets engaged and is torn between having the simple English wedding her mother is planning and the big society w...more

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Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3)

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