Shopaholic and Baby

Becky and Luke are back in another hilarious book in the Shopaholic series. As their relationship is progressing, now they are expecting a baby. Becky wishes to know the sex because (of course), shopping! Luke wants it to be a surprise. Couldn’t stop laughing at the scene at the doctor’s office (the narrator in this one does a fantastic job as well!) Additionally, they need to move into a house now that the baby is coming (more issues to negotiate) and when Becky finds out that there is a “obstetrician for the stars” she can have rather than her fussy old family obstetrician, she connives a way to get an appointment… only to find out the new doctor is Luke’s ex… awkward. Venetia the obstetrician is so horrible that I show more can’t even, and the scenes with her and Becky made me shiver. Sophie Kinsella completely has a gift for writing villains that make you want to throw the book across the room! I loved that Becky and Suze were back together in this one, and also that she and her sister had a warmer relationship as well. So many hilarious scenes, particularly at the baby shopping market. show less

Fifth in the Shopaholic series featuring Becky, the compulsive - but very kindhearted - shopping addict. In this story, she and Luke have been married for about a year and are expecting their first baby. So, naturally, Becky finds herself visiting a whole new selection of shops, looking for prams, baby clothes, and vast arrays of other paraphernalia that are apparently necessary to bring a new person into the world.

She is also determined to register with Venetia Carter, a famous obstetrician... only to find that she's an old Cambridge flame of Luke's. And Venetia seems determined to captivate Luke all over again, while making Becky feel as unattractive as she possibly can. Luke appears distracted and Becky worries that she's losing show more him.

It could be dreary, it could be nothing but fluff... but Sophie Kinsella is a gifted writer. In the first few chapters I actually laughed aloud a couple of times - very unusual for me! - and then found myself reading late into the night, wondering what would happen. While some of the people in the book are undoubtedly caricatures, including Becky herself at one level, I can't help liking her very much and rooting for her throughout.

The baby isn't actually born until the final pages, so the book could perhaps have been called 'Shopaholic and Bump'; however I like the way that the baby is considered as a person throughout.

I read the first four books in quite the wrong order, but it didn't really matter - and look forward now to reading the sixth and final Shopaholic book. show less

This is a quick and light hearted read that didn't involve a lot of thinking if you catch my drift. The whole Shopaholic vehicle I think has run past its course. I have read all the others in the series and after two the novelty has worn off. But nevertheless, Bex's antics still make me laugh and I hope that there aren't too many people out there that are truly like her. I have always thought that the series reminds me of an updated I Love Lucy and interestingly enough USA Today on the back of this book says as such. This story obviously revolves around Becky and Luke and the impending birth of her baby. She has not given up her spending ways...they are just now centered around the new baby and less on items for her. She manipulates show more Luke into agreeing to switch OBs mid stream as she learns about an OB to celebrities that specializes in holistic births including Thai massage. And it comes as no surprise that this OB just so happens to be the single former college girlfriend of her husband. And shenanigans ensue. If you want to escape and have no expectations of reading a Pulitzer prize novel, then this book is for you. show less

Entertaining.

This was fun, an entertaining read while driving. I was listening to the abridged version though, so I can't be sure whether the longer one would have been an improvement or not, but journeys didn't feel so long while this book was playing.

It is actually book 5 of a series, but that didn't matter much, the characters all introduced themselves pretty effectively. I'd previously listened to Shopaholic Ties the Knot (3), also out of order, and that wasn't a problem either.

Becky Bloomwood is now Becky Brandon, married to heart-throb Luke. Long-suffering Luke! I couldn't help wondering how he could be quite so patient with her mindless spending. Still, he's well on his way to making 'squillions', so it's not too much of a show more problem...until everything goes pear-shaped.
Becky has to have the top Hollywood gynaecologist, along with her designer boots and specialist prams, and this gynaecologist turns out to be an ex of Luke's. Problems are bound to ensue.

Sophie Kinsella is an entertaining writer, one of the better chick-lit authors. And although this is not a genre I tend to favour, it passes mindless hours on the roads quite effectively.

Previously read as abridged audio-books:
Shopaholic Ties the Knot (3.5 stars)
Remember Me (4 stars) show less

Sometimes I want to just shake Luke and Becky. They are incredibly clueless and dysfunctional...but I can't put these books down. I love how Becky always finds a way, even if she creates a disaster to get there.

franchement l’accro du shopping déçoit jamais
ça commence nunuche et jsp je m’attache, elle fait ressentir des émotions et dans ce rocambolesque de vie se retrouve nos pensées délirantes d’ego et d’imagination débordante
elle est très emo en fait
girly emo tradi
lu en 2 ou 3 fois comme d’hab j’arrive pas à m’arrêter

The same quirky characters and breezy plot with a lot less of the covering-up-a-lie, endless-shopping-designer-brand-name-dropping and horrific-hidden-credit-card-bill stuff that was getting a little old. Shopaholic series is one you will love or hate (regardless of how into designer labels you are). I still like.