Series
Publication
The Dial Press (2014), 496 pages
Description
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns to her beloved Shopaholic series with Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) newly arrived in Hollywood and starry-eyed. She and her two-year-old daughter, Minnie, have relocated to L.A. to join Becky's husband, Luke, who is there to handle PR for famous actress Sage Seymour. Becky can't wait to start living the A-list lifestyle, complete with celebrity sightings, yoga retreats, and shopping trips to Rodeo Drive. But she really hopes to become a personal stylist--Sage's personal stylist--if only Luke would set up an introduction. Then, unexpectedly, Becky is offered the chance to dress Sage's archrival, and though things become a bit more complicated, it's a dream come true! Red carpet premieres, velvet ropes, paparazzi clamoring for attention--suddenly Becky has everything she's ever wanted. Or does she? Praise for Sophie Kinsella and her Shopaholic novels "Faster than a swiping Visa, more powerful than a two-for-one coupon, able to buy complete wardrobes in a single sprint through the mall--it's Shopaholic!"--The Washington Post "Kinsella has a genuine gift for comic writing."--The Boston Globe "Kinsella's Bloomwood is plucky and funny. You won't have to shop around to find a more winning protagonist."--People"--… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Twink
3.5/5 I've been a fan of Sophie Kinsella from the beginning - starting with Confessions of a Shopaholic.
The latest (#7) in this series - Shopaholic to the Stars is newly released.
Inveterate shopper Becky two year old daughter Minnie have accompanied her husband Luke on a business trip to
I've always enjoyed Becky's imaginings of what she could do or be and her complicated machinations to rationalize and explain her (over) spending. At the root of it all, Becky is a kind and good person with a bit of a shopping problem. Kinsella again gives us lots of evidence that although Becky has good intentions, old (shopping) habits die hard.
Kinsella does an excellent job skewering Hollywood, stardom and more. Although I still found many laugh out loud moment in Shopaholic to the Stars, I also found a Becky that wasn't so kind. She's determined to succeed in Hollywood - at the cost of almost anything, including her marriage, her friends, her parents, and more. Some of the situations weren't so funny - it wasn't quite the Becky I've enjoyed in the past. Instead, she's quite selfish and self-centered.
There are numerous sub-plots - Luke's relationship with his mother, Becky's dad's quest, the reappearance of Becky's dreaded nemesis Alicia and the whereabouts of Tarquin. But - and stop here if you haven't read the book......nothing is resolved! I turned the last pages and went back, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I hadn't. The book ends with "Becky will return soon" and a road sign pointing to Las Vegas. I will of course be picking up the next book as I do want to find out what happens. And I like Kinsella's writing. But, I just felt a little cheated after 473 pages. This is probably my least favourite Becky book so far.
The latest (#7) in this series - Shopaholic to the Stars is newly released.
Inveterate shopper Becky two year old daughter Minnie have accompanied her husband Luke on a business trip to
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Hollywood. Well, there are stars in the streets and stars in Becky's eyes. She sees this trip as a fantastic opportunity to shop (natch) and kick start her career as a Hollywood stylist.I've always enjoyed Becky's imaginings of what she could do or be and her complicated machinations to rationalize and explain her (over) spending. At the root of it all, Becky is a kind and good person with a bit of a shopping problem. Kinsella again gives us lots of evidence that although Becky has good intentions, old (shopping) habits die hard.
Kinsella does an excellent job skewering Hollywood, stardom and more. Although I still found many laugh out loud moment in Shopaholic to the Stars, I also found a Becky that wasn't so kind. She's determined to succeed in Hollywood - at the cost of almost anything, including her marriage, her friends, her parents, and more. Some of the situations weren't so funny - it wasn't quite the Becky I've enjoyed in the past. Instead, she's quite selfish and self-centered.
There are numerous sub-plots - Luke's relationship with his mother, Becky's dad's quest, the reappearance of Becky's dreaded nemesis Alicia and the whereabouts of Tarquin. But - and stop here if you haven't read the book......nothing is resolved! I turned the last pages and went back, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I hadn't. The book ends with "Becky will return soon" and a road sign pointing to Las Vegas. I will of course be picking up the next book as I do want to find out what happens. And I like Kinsella's writing. But, I just felt a little cheated after 473 pages. This is probably my least favourite Becky book so far.
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LibraryThing member bearette24
Really fun book about Becky's jaunt to L.A. and infatuation with the stars, replete with embarrassing and hilarious Becky moments. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, though, so I hope the next installment comes soon.
LibraryThing member ethel55
Turns out there are still a few frontiers for Becky (Bloomwood) Brandon to check out in her slightly obsessive way! A new client of her husband's sends the family to live in LA temporarily. With Rodeo Drive nearby, there's not much hope that Becky won't spend some of her time shopping and trying to
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fit in to the latest LA fads, from food to rehab centers. After her stint at Barney's as a personal shopper, Becky is hopeful she'll be able to become a stylist to the stars. There's just utter nonsense and humor going on as always, making it another enjoyable addition to the series. I always like to see the various secondary characters gain traction in these books, and was happy to find Suze and Tarkie off their estate and in the wilds of LA with Becky. No spoilers, but the cliffhanger is almost too huge and I wonder how long it will be before we discover the conclusion to it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
After what I felt was a lull in the series, Becky is back with all the extravagance, frivolousness, resourcefulness and kind-heartedness we have come to know and love. She is off to her greatest adventure yet: become a designer to the stars. But at what cost? By the end of the book we are not sure
Lovers of series will reconnect with Suze, Tarkie, Luke and the dreaded Alicia. It's all good. It's like the family never left. All we need to do now is go find Graham.
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the price Becky will have to pay for her antics - Kinsella plays a trick by giving us a cliff-hanger (and yes, I'll be in line to by the sequel) - but it seems that she may have gone overboard, her fault for once overcoming her qualities. Kinsella holds no punches for the world of Hollywood: vapid and vain actresses, superficial spiritual seekers, money grubbing agents; all provide an opportunity for spoofs and laugh-out-loud situations.Lovers of series will reconnect with Suze, Tarkie, Luke and the dreaded Alicia. It's all good. It's like the family never left. All we need to do now is go find Graham.
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LibraryThing member wareagle78
If you're familiar with Becky and the Shopaholic series, you know where you are going with this one. Becky is her lovable self, charging off with her great capacity for self-deception that is eventually overwhelmed with a dose of common sense (from someone else) and a return to reality. That this
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episode happens in Los Angeles makes it different from the rest, but not much. There is a side order of New Age and a full snifter of celebrity chasing to Becky's obsessions, but the basic premise of the series holds. Either you love Becky or she annoys you without end... but if it was the latter you would never have picked up the book, would you? Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
I have read and enjoyed all of the previous entries in this series. Becky is a modern, English, I love Lucy type. Her lack of financial control is always getting her into some kind of humerous scrape. In this outing, she with family in tow, set out to take Hollywood by storm. Whether endulging in a
I usually enjoy this series very much but for some reason this novel started dragging for me around page 300. Becky started coming off as too selfish and Luke'sreactions were unbelievable. I can't imagine that there is a husband on earth who would put up with some of the shennigansshe was dishing out. The part of the story I was most intrested in, the mystery of Becky's father looking up his long lost "friend", was not even resolved and was left as a cliff hanger. I guess I will tune in to the next installment to see how it wraps up but I do hope Becky will return to the more lovable incarnation she was given in the earlier novels.
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self help spa, finding Minnie the perfect preschool, or acting as stylist to two of the hottest stars, whenever Becky is involved, highjinks abound. Along for the ride is her long suffering husband Luke and best friend Suze. Although her good intentions often go awry, Becky's good heart always strives to put things right at the end of the day.I usually enjoy this series very much but for some reason this novel started dragging for me around page 300. Becky started coming off as too selfish and Luke'sreactions were unbelievable. I can't imagine that there is a husband on earth who would put up with some of the shennigansshe was dishing out. The part of the story I was most intrested in, the mystery of Becky's father looking up his long lost "friend", was not even resolved and was left as a cliff hanger. I guess I will tune in to the next installment to see how it wraps up but I do hope Becky will return to the more lovable incarnation she was given in the earlier novels.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
I'm not sure how Luke can do, loving Becky despite her shallow, shopping ways. Becky certainly is naive and silly - at times it is almost painful to read about her. But there is a good heart buried in there somewhere and if she would only be more true to her self she'd be more fun to read about.
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This novel is unique in the series because it definitely leaves the reader hanging and there will certainly be a follow up to this installment in the Shopoholic series. Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Seventh in the Shopaholic series, this book is quite high in action. Becky seems naively star-struck at first, determined to make friends with famous people, walk on red carpets and make a name for herself...
As with the other books, there are places where I smiled, and places where I felt
The book gives a good picture of life in Hollywood and there’s a surprisingly serious message about the shallowness of the movie industry, the selfishness and likes that are necessary to become famous.
What I didn’t like so much is that the novel finishes without a conclusion, leaving Becky on a quest, and several threads entirely unresolved. That meant I find the sequel…
Recommended if you’ve enjoyed others in the Shopaholic series, but not if you prefer your heroines to be rather less shallow in outlook.
As with the other books, there are places where I smiled, and places where I felt
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frustrated at Becky’s over-the-top addiction to shopping and inability to do things in moderation. They’re all told in the first person, and it’s a testament to the writing that we see so much further than Becky’s specific focus. The book gives a good picture of life in Hollywood and there’s a surprisingly serious message about the shallowness of the movie industry, the selfishness and likes that are necessary to become famous.
What I didn’t like so much is that the novel finishes without a conclusion, leaving Becky on a quest, and several threads entirely unresolved. That meant I find the sequel…
Recommended if you’ve enjoyed others in the Shopaholic series, but not if you prefer your heroines to be rather less shallow in outlook.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
Becky is state-side, and trying to use Luke’s Hollywood connections to begin her desired career as a personal stylist. But more things seem to go wrong than right. This installment in what is normally a light-hearted series is much darker, with problems between Becky and her best friend Suze,
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between Suze and her husband, and even between Becky and her husband Luke. There is a bit of a mystery concerning Becky’s father and his past that is not resolved, with the book ending on a cliffhanger. This story was not what I was expecting, but was still entertaining. It is unclear if the author is taking the series in a different direction or is just momentarily sidetracked. Maybe book eight will clear things up. Show Less
LibraryThing member lhaines56
becca really does it this time. I think this book is imminently better than shopaholic to the rescue. becca is never afraid to go in there and try and botch things up royally! that is what makes her so human and likeable!
LibraryThing member pegmcdaniel
I received an ARC from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
I have read past novels by Ms. Kinsella including some of the Shopaholic series. I had not read the last two or three though so was anxious to my dose of Shopaholic with this one. I found it to be mostly routine but
I like having characters from earlier novels show up occasionally and a lot of them are included here. The entire Hollywood scene and why anyone would want to get involved is way beyond my comprehension. But lots of things Becky does in unbelievable and that's why it's called fiction!!
I have read past novels by Ms. Kinsella including some of the Shopaholic series. I had not read the last two or three though so was anxious to my dose of Shopaholic with this one. I found it to be mostly routine but
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enjoyable overall. It was fun to read with plenty of humorous moments. I've come to expect that Becky will never mature as she grows older but that's what makes her fun.I like having characters from earlier novels show up occasionally and a lot of them are included here. The entire Hollywood scene and why anyone would want to get involved is way beyond my comprehension. But lots of things Becky does in unbelievable and that's why it's called fiction!!
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LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
Hated the abrupt ending and the story wasn't good enough fro me to get the next book to find out if the situations in this one get resolved.
LibraryThing member magickislife
These books are always so much fun. Becky is a great character and I love her so much. Light fluffy reading.
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I have read all of the Shopaholic books and I have to say that I did not enjoy this one as much. It was not as much "fun" as the others. Becky, Luke and Minnie set off to LA where Luke is working with an actress to try and re-brand her and get her some positive publicity. Becky decides that she
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wants to become a stylist to the stars and tries various ways to meet A-Listers. She gets Minnie into a very exclusive pre-school, only to find out it was with the recommendation of Alicia, her sworn enemy. Alicia is married to the wealthy owner of the Peace Spa thing. Becky ends up attending classes to meet up with "Sage", the actress Luke is working with to discuss her style. When Suze and Tarquin show up, he meets up with an employee of the spa and becomes Brainwashed. Becky's dad shows up to make something from his past right and he and Tarquin disappear. Suze is mad, Luke is mad, her mom and dad are disappointed in her and Becky is really, really selfish and self-centered in this book. The ending is a cliff-hanger which means there is another one coming, but not sure if I will even read it. Very disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member AngelaLam
Not my favorite book in the series, but a solid one. I just wish I was laughing before page 80.
ISBN
0812993861 / 9780812993868