MADreads

Shopaholics

March 28th, 2007 Mary K. - Central

Shopaholic and Baby is the fifth book in the popular and appealing Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.  All of the books feature Becky Bloomwood Brandon, starting when she was a single financial writer who distinctly does not have her own financial house in order, progressing through her marriage to handsome and rich Luke Brandon, discovering a long lost step-sister and other adventures, including of course attempting to deal with her shopping addiction.

There is no avoiding the fact that these books are “chick lit.”  In this case it means that there is a happily ever after romance, many mentions of brand names, and lots of discussions of relationships.  For me, it is the portrayal of Becky herself who makes these books better than many others in this genre.  Becky is a compulsive shopper, but Kinsella inserts a lot of humor into the story.  No one but Becky would go to a baby fair and purchase a pram solely to cart her numerous purchases around, and then also lie about the presence of a baby in the carriage.

Becky has always had a job, most recently as a personal shopper and has always had a lot of good ideas about promotion and products.  And even though she still has trouble with her shopping addiction, she has a good relationship with her husband.

The book ends with the birth of a baby (no surprise there) and we should expect the next in the series to showcase the Shopaholic as a mother.

These humorous books are the perfect light reads for those times when nothing will do but  a good entertaining book to curl up with.

Entry Filed under: Recreational Fiction