Sophie Kinsella (1969–2025)

Kinsella's stand alones have always been unique, and not quite as madcap as the Shopaholic books have become. Katie (Cat) Brenner is trying to make her way in London, working at a branding agency and fulfilling her Instagram with wishful thinking. Her flatmates seems horrible, her job seems thankless and life seems to be on hold. The boss from hell scenario plays out well, with scatter brained but brilliant Demeter running the office. Once Katie's fired, the story picks up steam as she heads show more home to Somerset and her father's farm, all the while hiding the fact that she has been sacked. I loved the second section of the book. Her dad and stepmom Biddy were great characters and the idea to turn their farm into a glamping site plays out very well. This is where Kinsella shines, just when you though this would be another Becky-like character, Katie comes into her own, in a way that makes me wish this would hit the big screen. It turns out, in looking at her booklist, I've read all of Kinsella's books, except for her young adult one. I may have to make time for that as I wait for her next, always fun, novel. show less

Finding Audrey is the perfect example of how prejudice works: Sophie Kinsella is mostly known for her Shopaholic series of chick-lit novels which by their description alone appeal to me just as much as root canal treatment. So, to persuade me to take a chance on this book, it has taken several great reviews from reader friends, a free copy off the library shelves, and a sample chapter right there and then at the library.

Fortunately for the book, it started with one of the funniest scenes I show more had read in a while: a mother is threatening to throw her son's computer out of the window.

As the story unfolds, we learn that her son's computer addiction is not the only difficulty that the parents have to deal with - there is also their daughter's anxiety disorder. While it sounds like a drab story of parents living in teenage hell, the story is actually narrated by Audrey, the daughter who, tho reclusive, sets out to explore her surroundings and find herself after a traumatic experience left her in hiding.

It may be the author's "chick-lit" background that gave her an advantage in making light of what is a difficult subject, but it really works. As we follow Audrey, we discover a backstory that is at points difficult to read, especially when reading at an age that may afford (slightly) more wisdom on how to deal with difficult situations. I say may afford, because even tho this book was written for a YA readership (yes, another genre I try to avoid), Kinsella's approach to telling Audrey's story also holds a few aspects for older readers to ponder about - such as issues relating to schemes that try to reconcile victims with offenders by letting them meet face to face; or the uses of medication in PTSD.

In short, I would not have believed it, but Finding Audrey was a thoughtful and thought-provoking read, and while I am probably not going to read the Shopaholic series (ever), I have no issues recommending this one to friends and fellow readers. show less

My Not So Perfect Life/Sophie Kinsella Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world. New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has written her most timely novel yet.Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears show more the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth.
 
I was sooooo excited to receive this book, and it exceeded my expectations! As kismet would have it, I received it one year to the day after I'd seen Sophie Kinsella speak in London (an experience that, if possible, made me fall even more in love with her!) I've yet to read a Kinsella book I haven't loved, and while this admittedly fell into her old patterns, it was nonetheless brilliant.
 
Sure enough, by the third page I had laughed out loud. Reading a Kinsella book is like having a chat with an old friend who gets you, putting on that sweater that's cosy and makes you look good, or sinking into a warm bubble bath. I felt like I knew Katie like an old friend and was rolling my eyes at her antics affectionately. She deals with the very real problem of having a not-so-perfect life that I totally related to.
 
One aspect of this book that I loved was how the entire romantic plot took more of a backburner than normal. Katie didn't let herself be defined by any men. I also had a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings inspired by her dad and her step-mom, and I loved the way Katie's feelings towards them and her relationship with them evolved.
 
Her career exploration was a lot of fun. The design details were much more interesting than I thought they would be. I have no desire to work in marketing, but Katie's descriptions of her work and the way she used her eyes for detail was really fun to read about. Her job search felt very real, as did her struggles with unpaid internships, long commutes, and expensive flats. Mainly, I thought that the job advice she received was important and widely applicable.
 
I went through a lot of emotions at the ending, but was ultimately disappointed. To be entirely ambiguous so as not to give spoilers, the ending flipped on me multiple times and I wasn't sure what was going to happen, which was a plus, but I texted my friend at 95% with a lot of excitement just to have what I thought had happened reversed. But then again, most readers I assume will find the ending very satisfying.
 
This addresses a lot of aspects of our world and how we portray it, and I really enjoyed how she made the book modern and relative to life today. She even threw in a reference to Trump, which could not be more timely. While a lot of books go overboard with texting and social media, I felt like this one had a stellar amount.
 
If you've liked any other Kinsella books, this will hit the spot. If you like any type of chick flick/rom com lit, you'll love this. Definitely something I'll read again, and I highly recommend it.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

In addition to being your tradition fun and flirty Kinsella book, this was a really cool ghost story that said a lot about family, heritage, and culture.

I jumped into this book without reading the blurb, and as such was a little alarmed when I read that there was a ghost--I felt like this would be gimmicky and take away from Kinsella's normal charm. However, Kinsella made it work. The mystery that was intricately woven through the book was so subtle at first that I didn't realize there was a show more more complex plot going on until I was already deep in. The ghost aspect was a lot of fun and provided some very humourous scenarios.

Kinsella's books often feature a main character with dissatisfied parents. In this one, there was more depth as Lara's uncle was also deeply entwined with Lara's relationship with her parents. I enjoyed the concluding scenes that showed how their relationship strengthened in their common problems; this differed from other Kinsella books where the daughter merely proved herself.

I really loved that in this book Lara ultimately focused on making Sadie happy and not herself. I feel like Lara really matured as a charaacter, and was someone I'd really like to meet and know. She gained a lot of empathy and let her stubbornness appear in a productive manner.

Lara's relationship with Josh and her subsequent relationship with Ed was fascinating. I enjoyed seeing how she wanted to give Ed advice that people had given her regarding Josh, and seeing the moments of truth dawning on her.

The subplots that wove themselves together also kept this book fresh and original. Lara's business ventures were ambitious at best, but I loved the way her naivete gave her a new perspective and correspondingly a chance at success.

I think writingwise this was one of Kinsella's 'best' books as it contained more subtle lessons and intrigues, and I definitely had a lot of fun with this one. show less