Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella

[Gyre]

Title of book: Shopaholic & Baby

Name of author: Sophie Kinsella

ISBN Number: 0593053877

The blurb:

Becky's life is blooming! She's working at London's newest fashion store, The Look, house-hunting with husband Luke (her secret wish is a Shoe Room)...and she's pregnant! She couldn't be more overjoyed - especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery...to the latest, coolest pram...to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician. But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke's glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She's shopping for two...but are there three in her marriage?

What can I say?, I have read all of the shopaholic series now and the rest of Sophie Kinsella's books ('Can you keep a secret' and 'The Undomestic Goddess') and I have enjoyed them all, but 'Shopaholic and Baby' is the best by far.

Welcome to Becky Brandon's (nee Bloomwood) world, the unforgettable shopaholic who sees everything with a silver lining, you can not help but love Becky, she spends money professionally and has a reason behind every one of her purchases such as Christian Dior baby bottles, etc.

There is so many funny moments in this book such as the part when Becky decides to scan her own stomach to see what the sex the baby is and is overjoyed to find out she is having a boy, only to be caught by the midwife and then told that she has actually been looking at her bladder! :lol:

As I said this is the best book of the shopaholic series, so read it as soon as you get the chance, you will not regret it.

Rating: 10/10

[Sofia]

great, thanks for the review! I am looking forward to this one as well:)

[Gyre]

Hope you like it Sofia, looking forward to hearing your thoughts x

[Icecream]

mmmmmm, women who have no sense and have to have everything they want just because they have been told so by the government.If only they had the money to fund their stupidity..

sounds very interesting. Not sure if I'll read it though.

[Gyre]

Well its just a bit of fun for me, the book, I didn't put a lot of thought into it but I know where you are coming from Icecream x

[Icecream]

Good. I thought you might shout at me:hide: .

[Gyre]

Good. I thought you might shout at me:hide: .

Goodness no Icecream, its not often I get annoyed, and I don't like shouting :D

[Jeannette]

The title itself is a spoiler! :motz:

Actually, I've only read the first one in the series so far...I really should read the rest.

[scottishbookworm]

That was a great review!:friends0:

[buzzybee]

I've read all of these and I cant rate them highly enough, I think they are really enjoyable, light hearted and easy to read and at points had me laughing out loud. I love the fact that its series and you are following each stage and cant wait for any more.

[Gyre]

That is what I like about the shopaholic series as well buzzybee xxx

[Bunny]

I've just gone and bought it and can't wait to start reading it, got £6 off at the mo in Waterstones and if your lucky you might even get the free shopaholic bag as well

[Gyre]

I bought mines from Waterstones and it was 6 quid off but no bag...:D

[Sugar]

Just picked up the first shopaholic book to take on holiday with me. Despite being recommended by a few people, what swung it for me was hearing Sophie Kinsella (real name Marion Wickham) being interviewed on Open Book on Radio 4 a couple of weeks ago. She seemed like a lovely lady, really funny and likeable!

[Janet]

I've finally read this (I can't get on with hardbacks so had to wait for the paperback version).

I wouldn’t go so far as to say to anyone that they must read this book as it doesn’t have a lot of substance, but it’s funny and light-hearted and was the perfect antidote to the gloomy (even though I enjoyed it!) previous book that I read!

7/10

[happyanddandy]

I couldn't get past 30 pages of Domestic Goddess - read the first 2 Shopaholics which were ok - wouldn't choose to read another of hers :smile2:

[prospero]

All I can say on this series is: I decided to read it to see what all the fuss is about. I'm constantly asked, "Why do you read this genre if you don't like it?" Well you don't know whether or not you like individual books until you have read them, so I decided to do just that.

Becky Bloomwood is one of the least sympathetic characters I've ever read. She gets herself into trouble through her own selfishness and waits for a series of unlikely coincidences to get her out of it. It amazes me that people think she's funny - she's in her late 20s for goodness' sake! Is this any way for a grown woman to behave?

I know, I know, "It's only a book, they're only words." Not sure I'd be so dimissive of the medium I love most, but there you go. Each to their own.

I do like the chick lit genre when it's done well, but I resent the implication by Kinsella and others of her ilk that "There's a bit of Becky in all of us." Well no. I'm financially responsible and I don't act like I'm a stroppy teenager (most of the time). ;)

I know plenty of people who read these books for entertainment but I just don't find Becky entertaining or funny. She's too selfish and unrealistic for that. If I knew her in real life I'd want to slap her.

But I wanted to have the freeness of speech of knowing what I was talking about, hence my reading of this series. I'll carry on reading the genre in the hopes of finding the few gems that must be out there, though, but lately I'm leaning much more towards YA, Urban Fantasy and Literary Fiction.

[Janet]

I didn't enjoy Undomestic Goddess either H and D.

[prospero]

I haven't read that but it's on Mount TBR, as is Can You Keep a Secret?

I recommend that people read both good and bad books, which is why I have novels by an author I'm not keen on - that said I don't know whether or not I'd like TUG or CYKAS yet as I prefer to base my opinions on each individual book. Based on what I've read of Kinsella's work so far, though, I'm not hopeful.

They're quick reads but her characters usually infuriate me.

[Janet]

I'm nothing like Becky and never have been. Even if I were rich I don't think I'd be in the least interested in shopping (unless it was for books!) and I wouldn't know a Gucci from a Prada if it bit me on the nose.

I don't read them because I identify with the character in any way - I read them because they're complete escapism, and as I said, I don't tend to read this genre much now anyway.

I'm not sure why I feel the need to justify myself, but all of a sudden I feel like I'm either very thick or very shallow... :(

[prospero]

Good god no, that's not the impression I wanted to convey. I just imagine if Becky was real, would I like her? And the answer's no. You said you're nothing like Becky and I don't know anyone like her either.

I honestly don't know why these books get me so riled; I suppose it's because their popularity makes me wonder if we're descending deeper into a consumer society or pandering to the lowest common (shopping obsessed) denominator.

If I had that sort of money, I'd still hate shopping.

Except for books, natch.

Meet you in Borders. :D

[happyanddandy]

I enjoy good chicklit - I am also stubborn about finishing a book already started but Undomestic goddess was a tale too far contrived - it had to go! See what you think Prospero - I'm sure you can polish it off in a day.

[prospero]

Eek! I filled up my library card today, H&D - ten lovely new books to read, so I'm afraid Ms Kinsella will have to wait a while longer for my attentions. :)

[Michelle]

Hmm.. sometimes I like the characters, sometimes not, but if I don't like them, there's generally something there I can identify with.Personally, for me, I need to have one or the other.

However, there's nothing wrong with reading a book simply for the enjoyment factor.. and different people find humour in different things.

prospero, I can understand trying a genre but if chick lit books get you so riled, I still have to ask why you continue? :)

[prospero]

A good question; I've found a few gems as I mentioned before and they tend to make the genre worth it, but perhaps I should avoid my 'hot button' authors in future! ;)

[Spooncat]

I really enjoyed this book ,in fact I love all her books including her other books written under her other name which escapes me at the moment:tong:

[prospero]

Madeleine Wickham?

[Spooncat]

Madeleine Wickham?

Thats it!:smile2:

[awriter]

I may hate shopping and be something of a tomboy but that doesn't stop me loving The Shopaholic Series and Kinsella's stand alone books, Can You Keep A Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess and her latest, Remember Me.

They are the perfect slice of escapism that I, and no doubt other readers, want in a world full of death and misery. So what if the stories are far fetched and unrealistic, so what if things just happen to fall into the lap of the characters. The readers wish it would happen to them.

Shopaholic and Baby isn't the best in the Shopaholic Series but it's damn good read all the same. Roll on the next one please.

Oh and if it wasn't for Sophie Kinsella I wouldn't be a writer. I wouldn't be as obsessed with books as I am now.

[happyanddandy]

You sound a bit upset at the previous comments although I am not sure why and there is no reason to be - we all like different things. I too read chick lit for escapism and enjoyment. Marian Keyes and Jane Green to name but a few.

Sophie Kinsella just doesn't do it for me. :smile2:

[Gyre]

I did not like 'Remember me?' x

[Karen]

I did not like 'Remember me?' x
I haven't read that one yet, but have heard mixed reviews about it.

[Gyre]

Its readable Karen it is but it is not her best book. x

[prospero]

I'm going to wait for Remember Me in the library or to be published in paperback as I think it's got an interesting premise but I don't want to shell out on the hardback.

[Karen]

Same here. I'll keep an eye open for it in the library or I may get the paperback version if I haven't already read it by then but I'm not going to bother too much about it in the meantime.

[flowersarah]

Love this book. All the series are great. I can't remember if I cried during this one, I know a did in a couple of them but mostly laughed a lot. Always makes me want to go shopping too!

Can't wait for the film :D

[awriter]

I did not like 'Remember me?' x

Haven't read the book yet but I have listened to the bridged audio book. Remember Me is okay. It's not in the same league as Can you keep a secret but still a very good yarn.

[Stephanie2008]

I love the Shopaholice series and the Baby edition is the best yet. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie starring Isla Fisher (but the movies don't usually do the book justice. I hated the film of PS I Love You).

I haven't read Remember Me yet but it is on my list.

[carm]

I loved the Shopaholic series- I really identified with Becky- a girl after my own shopaholic heart!!

[Karen]

I love the Shopaholice series and the Baby edition is the best yet.
I personally think the earlier ones are better. I must reread this series soon though.

[bookworm44]

I love the Shopaholice series and the Baby edition is the best yet. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie starring Isla Fisher (but the movies don't usually do the book justice. I hated the film of PS I Love You).

I haven't read Remember Me yet but it is on my list.

I love Sophie Kinsella's books, but I could only get through three (Confessions, Takes Manhattan and Ties the Knot) of her Shopaholic series. I love to shop, but it was the money thing that irked me. I'm not one that spends money I don't have and it just drove me crazy when she did, which was all the time. lol!

Stephanie, ITA with you about PS I Love You. Loved the book, but didn't care for the movie all that much. I'll probably check out the Shopaholic movie though, I love Isla Fisher.

Right now I'm in the middle of Remember Me? and I love it!! I think it will surpass Can You Keep a Secret? as my favorite Kinsella book.

[ChickLitMom]

I love Sophie Kinsella's books, but I could only get through three (Confessions, Takes Manhattan and Ties the Knot) of her Shopaholic series. I love to shop, but it was the money thing that irked me. I'm not one that spends money I don't have and it just drove me crazy when she did, which was all the time. lol!



I read the first few pages of the first one and couldn't read on. I think it made me feel so uncomfortable because it's an awful feeling to be in credit card debt and I didn't want to spend my free time reading about that! ha!!

But I LOVED The Undomestic Goddess!!!

[Spooncat]

...and she always comes up with quick fix scemes that earn her loads of money which pays off the debt she has run up .....ahh if only real life was like that!;)

This one brought back happy memories of fighting the crowds at the NEC Baby show.

[emily]

By the time I had finished Shopaholic & Sister, Becky really annoyed me. She just seemed to be acting like a child all the time.
I read Shopaholic & Baby anyway though, because I didn't want to leave the series unfinished. It wasn't a terrible read but Becky still annoyed me.