Christmas Shopaholic Hardcover – January 1, 2019

Poor Becky, the world is passing you by.I so wanted to pick up where we left off, but this is just painful and so, so sad.*I can’t even* (finish this book)It's not me, it's you. I deserve better.XXGigi

Get ready to make a cup of hot cocoa, put on your comfiest PJs, and read the night away with Sophie Kinsella's latest installment in her Shopaholic series that began with Confessions of a Shopaholic 16 years ago. Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is back in England and finds herself host to the family Christmas gathering. The fun begins as she tries her best to meet the request of the 8 people plus 4 kids who will be descending on her house for the holiday.What I Love About Christmas ShopaholicThe characters are deceptively well-developed. When you think of this series, you probably first think about the comedic antics that drive the plot. But what I first think about is what a complex character Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is. She appears very superficial, at first, until you begin to glean the motivation behind her antics. She has a heart of gold and would do anything to help those around her, from her determination to procure the perfect gift to her giving a child in need a costume she has slaved over for her own daughter and the myriad of good deeds in between. She always leads with her heart. It is what fuels her determination, which inevitably creates the fun we all know and love.Luke, her foil of a husband, appears to be almost a father-like person in her life. He is successful and wise and makes decisions that are well thought out and logical. AND, Luke loves Becky, not despite her antics but because of them. He understands her as few people do, seeing how she leads with her heart and protecting it whenever it needs protecting. She adds spontaneity and unabashed love to his life, which is something unknown to him before she arrived."And then I can't speak, because Luke has enveloped me in a tight hug. In fact, so tight I can hardly breathe.'There's no one like you, Becky,' he says against my neck, his voice husky. 'No one in the whole wide world.'This is something Luke says to me quite a lot. And sometimes I'm not sure if he means it in a good way or a bad way. But right now, I'm fairly sure it's in a good way."The Lucille Ball style antics keep me turning the pages and literally laughing out loud. They are antics the reader can totally relate to – such as finding more to buy so that you get free shipping, even though they are not objects that you want or need. But, of course, Becky takes it one or two steps further. As when she ends up with a pair of grotesque statues that are very large and very scary but that she can't return because they were made by a group in need.Becky has to host Christmas this year, and all that she goes through to make it happen totally put me in a holiday mood. I'm ready to get everyone words for their Xmas presents and watch hours of Hallmark movies.What I WishI can't imagine anything that would make this series better than it already is.To Read or Not to ReadYou must read it. If you appreciate a bit of tongue in cheek fun and need some holiday spirit, this book will be a welcome addition to your holiday preparations.

I was seeking fun fiction for the long holiday weekend and choose this book. The main character is so vapid and un-insightful that it was actually painful for me to continue reading. If you like your heroines to be brainy, clever and know who they are, this is not the book for you. The writing and construction is okay but the character development is nil.

I purchased this book because I recognized the author's name as being among the more popular ones. After suffering through 40 or 50 pages, waiting for the plot to improve, I realized this was one of those situations where the author writes a few very good books and earns a following, then starts writing inferior, worse than run of the mill stuff while riding on their original (few book's) good reputation. Authors take note - if your publisher is going to charge $13 for an ebook, it better be worth it or your going to receive reviews like this one. Once an author becomes known they forget that not everyone can spend $13 for an e-read, especially a schlock one. Either give us quality writing, or learn gourmet cooking.

I love reading about Becky and Luke . I laugh so much, though sometimes I cringe at what she is doing. I love how Luke loves her, but could do without one word he says when he is angry. I doesn't suit him. This book is filled with the importance of people, giving and love at Christmas and you will want to read it.

I've always been a big Sophie Kinsella fan, basically any book she writes I will read. I loved the original Shopaholic book and the next few in the series. I am still giving this book a positive review because it was another heartwarming, easy Christmas read...BUT. As much as I love her, I think it's time for Becky Brandon and the series to be finished. This book was still funny and enjoyable, but the whole Becky-gets-herself-into-some-marginal-amount-of-trouble-and-has-to-get-herself-out-of-it-way-more-difficultly-than-possible storyline is getting old. Becky is a grown woman by now and some of the albeit comedic moments in the book just made me want to cringe a bit - I could see the build up to them from a mile away and they just seemed so unlikely a situation for a regular, responsible woman to get herself into. I guess that's the premise of the series though - Becky and her shopaholic tendencies never have been very responsible to begin with. I still enjoy the characters in the book: Luke, Becky's Mom and Dad, Suze, Janice, etc. and I liked the overall message of the book: at the end of the day it's none of the minor details that matter during the holiday's - it's only about spending time with loved ones and family. All in all though, while this was a cute and quick read, Becky's charm and humor are beginning to fade for me and I think this is the last Shopaholic book I will read - better to quit while you are ahead!

I started reading Sophie Kinsella’s books because of the Shopaholic series. Becky was funny, the writing was sharp, and the storylines were relatively plausible. I laughed out loud while reading them.But I think the series jumped the shark a ways back, probably with the introduction of Jess. Moving to LA did not improve the series. I was hopeful that moving back to the U.K. would but, sadly, I think it might be time for this series to end.The storyline is more contrived than previous novels. While there are still some funny moments, there are not enough to compensate for Becky’s ridiculous spending habits; meanwhile Jess has become insufferable. I love Ms. Kinsella’s stand-alone series and hope that she focuses more of her energies on those, leaving it to the readers’ imagination to wonder what might happen to the Brandon family.

I've been a huge Shopaholic fan since we first entered her Secret Dreamworld but found the books set in America to be hugely disappointing. Becky had become self centered and the books had lost any bearing on reality. So it was with less enthusiasm I looked forward to the latest in Becky's saga however I'm delighted to say this was my favourite book in the series since Becky and Luke got married.The book was a great read that I devoured in 2 days. The ending in the pet shop was a bit too far fetched but the final sentence of the book had me absolutely delighted as if it was a real friend who had whispered their secret in my ear.I pray Sophie Kinsella continues on with Becky and her stories for many years yet!!

I am one of the biggest fans of the Shopaholic books (if not the biggest!) and have always been a loyal reader. Sadly the books based in America were a huge disappointment, (in fact I like to pretend To The Stars didn’t happen!) So I was really hoping that this book would be a return to form, and it was! I enjoyed being immersed once again in Becky’s world, with a lot of the familiar characters we have grown to love over the years.Fingers crossed for another one, just as good as this!

Without a doubt, 10000000% the best Shopaholic book to date, and my new all time favourite not only of the series but of Sophie Kinsella's.How have we not seen Becky Brandon deal with Christmas before, it seems like such an obvious fit for a shopaholic, but anyway I'm so so glad this book now exists. I was fabulous.I lost count of the amount of times I laughed, giggled, snorted and generally made mirth like noises while reading, my face hurts from grinning and there was even one rather beautiful moment where tears were pricking my eyes.I thought Wedding Night was the authors funniest book, but this one really does take the crown. It is the author at the top of her game, and my only regret is that it finished. Although with the last words of the book I can't help but hope there will be more Shopaholic in the future.If you have never read a shopaholic book book, where have you been over the last decade - the whole series is just superb and even though I sometimes find it hard to remember characters for a series, especially one that isn't released in quick succession, from the first page or two I was back in Becky's world and loving every last word of it.Dont' ask me if it can be read as a standalone, I was far too busy enjoying seeing Becky's approach to online shopping, trying to work out if she can host Christmas, making up new marketable concepts, her quest for the perfect Christmas, and all the zaniness that only she and her friends and family can provide - to worry whether anyone unfamiliar with the series would be able to follow!The mind boggles as to all of Becky's thought processes and this really is an ode to shopping, she tries to save money, she on advice of Jess tries to shop ethically, she has a massive quest for the perfect present for Luke which is beyond what I'd imagine most wives would attempt for their husbands. It's pure genius.All the familiar faces are present, and we get to see Becky's parent's in a new light as they move to Shoreditch and try to embrace a whole new, much younger person's lifestyle!This is 425 pages of pure pleasure, complete and utter joy, and why oh why did it have to end! This is a must have, must read for any Shopaholic fan, any fan of Sophie Kinsella, for fans of shopping and for hilarious rom-coms. It's easily one of my favourite books this Christmas season and possibly of the year!

Sophie is one of my favorite authors, and I've loved the shopaholic series. However, yeah Becky is back and all grown up with her family etc which is lovely, but the book did get abit predictable and I struggled with the book around 3/4 of the way in. I did finish it but was left feeling just a tiny bit disappointed like I just needed that little something extra. Its still a good read though.

There were times when I read Sophie Kinsella religiously. I loved both of them: Sophie and Becky. I bought autographed books and went to events where Kinsella spoke about her beloved heroine.And then I grew up and didn’t shy away from giving 1 star (i.e. “hate it”) to some of Kinsella’s books.And then. Suddenly and unexpectedly, I LOVED “Christmas Shopaholic”. It was entertaining, funny, fast-pasted and I didn’t want it to end!I did laugh out loud while traveling on public transport!Recommended as a Christmas present, pre-Christmas read or as a treat to yourself any time of the year!