By Sophie Kinsella

I’ve read almost all of Sophie Kinsella’s stand alone novels and enjoyed them all. I have avoided the Shopaholic books because people being irresponsible and wasteful with money really frustrate me. As predicted, despite her charm and good heart, Becky made me angry and contemptuous. It was amusing in places and the end salvaged the book for me. She finally sees herself for what she is, acknowledges the ruin she has brought upon herself and innocent bystanders and makes it good. I got 10 % into the sequel to realize she had not learned her lesson and was worse than before. I couldn’t take any more. I quit reading Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and skipped through to the end. I won’t be reading anymore of these, going by the reviews of the rest in the series.

But I simply can’t tell my kind, loving parents that their so-called successful daughter with her so-called top job is in fact a disorganized, deceitful mess, up to her eyeballs in debt.

You forgot selfish, gluttonous, thoughtless, delusional, lazy, foolish, shallow, and just plain dumb. But Hey, if these are traits you don’t mind in your leading lady, knock yourself out! **3 stars out of 5**

June 28, 2017