Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella # 1

· Pages: 450

· Published: August 8th 2005 by Dell

· Genre: Women’s Fiction/ Chick-lit

· Format: Mass Market Paperback

· Date Finished: 17^th February 2012

Synopsis:

MEET BECKY BLOOMWOOD, AN IRRESISTIBLE HEROINE WITH A BIG HEART, BIG DREAMS --- AND JUST ONE LITTLE WEAKNESS ...

Becky Bloomwood has what most twenty-five-year-olds only dream of: a flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is, she can't actually afford it --- not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. Still, how can she resist that perfect pair of shoes? Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy boutique? But lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank --- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read --- and they're getting ever harder to ignore. She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something ...

Finally, a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life --- and the lives of those around her --- forever

Review/ Thoughts:

To kick start our book club over at my collaborative channel with Debra we decided to read the first book in the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. What a rollercoaster ride of emotions it has been for me, reformed kleptomaniac and self- confessed impulse shopper. Reading about Rebecca Bloomwood and her hilarious and outrageous story was like offering me a whole new world of shopping while teaching me some very important lessons as well- the biggest being; Never ever get a credit card.

Finally a character I can identify with to hilarious levels. The way she rationalizes and is impulsive is something I myself have had to deal with when it comes to shopping and this alone I can guarantee would resonate with all of us at some point in our lives. But she is not just wild and outrageous. Becky has a good heart and was for the most part always doing something that would benefit the people around her or at least trying to save them some pain. However there were times when she was downright selfish and I wanted to slap her or shake some sense into her and for this reason I highly enjoyed her character because she had me laughing, and crying and cringing and flipping the pages fast enough to give me paper cuts.

I loved everything about this novel from its characters to the situations Becky put herself into and of course the slow coming romance that draws you in. I was glad that the overall romance aspect of the novel did not saturate the rest of the story and I loved Becky’s journey through realizing that she has a problem till the end where we are not quite sure what is going to happen.

Sophie Kinsella’s writing is so easy to read and yet full of everything I look for in a chick-lit. I will admit there were times when I had to put the book down because it was stressful reading about the hole she was digging for herself and her shopping sprees [I scoured Amazon for a lot of free books while reading this book] However I loved every minute of it and I am eagerly awaiting time to read the next book in the series Shopaholic Abroad.I would certainly recommend this to anyone who loves a good chick-lit with a little more meat to it.

Check out our Collaborative Channel which is all about Women reading Women’s Fiction.

★★★★★

Brewing Tea Bag

Books I plan on reading in March

Books I want to read in March

Ebooks

These are the Net-Galley books that I am looking forward to reading in March. I am hoping to get to all of them. Time might be tight due to us looking for a house.

The Stubborn Dead

Don't Bite the Messenger

Priestess of the Nile

First Time, Forever

Forbidden Fantasies

Wicked Weekend

Gentlemen Prefer Nerds

Croak

Juicy Joy

Hearts that Survive

Brewing Tea Bag’s March Book Club Book

This is our monthly read-along book for March

Something Borrowed

Keri Arthur Book Chat

Circle of Fire

First Books in a series I planned to read [But may not]

First book in series that I want to read that have releases coming out in 2012

Delirium

Hex Hall

Evernight

TBR Pile Killer

Books off the shelf before 2012

There You'll Find Me

Shopaholic Abroad

Wither

Pretties

Library Books I Borrowed

Supporting my local library and my addiction – Of course these aren’t set in stone.

Lenobias vow

Twilight Graphic Novel

Impossible

Moon Over Manifest

The Devil Walks

Saved By An Angel

Books Baguettes and Bedbugs The Left Bank World of Shakespeare and Co_

The Cookie Club - Ann Pearlman

Pages: 288

Published: January 7th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Ltd (first published October 1st 2009)

Genre: Women’s Fiction/ Chick-lit/ Contemporary

Date Finished: 20^th December 2011

Rating/ Recommendation: 4 Stars **** [Perfect for remembering what Christmas is truly about]

Synopsis:

A riveting and highly commercial debut novel about the rich and complicated friendships between twelve women who meet for a cookie exchange.

Review:

When I picked this book up, I’m not sure what I was expecting. A jolly Christmas tale with lots of baking, laugher and gossip, but even during the first few pages I knew there was more to it, and I could hardly hold back the tears. Still once I got past it, and I loved that it made me feel those emotions; I curled up in the comfort of my bed and began to enjoy the blended stories unfolding.

This novel is based off the authors own experiences with her membership in the cookie club and it starts off with a recipe her own grandmother shared with her and which she shared with her club and a charity they chose to gift. I am a big fan of giving, not only during Christmas, but during all times of the year so this element felt heartwarming and inspirational.

I really liked the added elements in the novel like the history and facts of some of the everyday ingredients we use and take for granted and the recipes at the start of each woman’s perspective. It’s a novel and recipe book in one and I for one cannot wait to try out some of these recipes. With each recipe the story of their lives unfold and I loved that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you feel like you are part of the story. This feeling certainly resonated for me throughout the The Cookie Club.

It did get a little confusing at times and I did my best to keep with up with everyone especially when there was so much attention to stories and their lives and how their friendships were built, but once I re-read some pages and was able to recall certain characters it didn’t really bother me.

Anne set up great tension in this novel, with the underlying question of whether the main character Marine’s eldest daughter’s pregnancy would carry to full term. Every so often I read just to know how it all panned out. And I enjoy a book with a little mystery.

Overall definitely not a light read, but one that really makes you question what love and friendship means. And I admire that women can share friendships throughout so many decades through all the trials and tribulations and still be there for one another and love each other unconditionally. If you are looking for great Christmas read, or a fantastic contemporary escape I would recommend picking up The Cookie Club.

TBR Intervention

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by Dani@RefractedLight , Ayanami@Whatever you Can Still Betray, and April@Books4Juliet

***

The Cookie Club [ AKA The Christmas Cookie Club]

A riveting and highly commercial debut novel about the rich and complicated friendships between twelve women who meet for a cookie exchange.

I picked this one up a few months ago for 5 dollars and it looks so freaking delicious. When it came time to picking the books that I wanted to do for my December Romance Challenge and TBR pile I had to choose this. It looks so festive and is apparently meant to be a Christmas book. So it ties in wonderfully. I am hoping to get started on this over the weekend.