Title: Christmas Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: Shopaholic, #9
Published: October 2019, The Dial Press
Format: ARC E-copy, 427 pages
Source: Netgalley
Summary:
’Tis the season for change and Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is
embracing it, returning
from the States to live in the charming village
of Letherby and working with her best friend, Suze, in the gift shop of
Suze’s stately home. Life is good, especially now that Becky takes time
every day for mindfulness . . . which actually means listening to a
meditation tape while hunting down online bargains.
But Becky
still adores the traditions of Christmas: Her parents host, carols play
on repeat, her mother pretends she made the Christmas pudding, and the
neighbors come ’round for sherry in their terrible holiday sweaters.
Things are looking cheerier than ever, until Becky’s parents announce
they’re moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch—unable to resist the draw of
craft beer and smashed avocados—and ask Becky if she’ll host this year.
What could possibly go wrong?
Her sister demands a vegan turkey,
her husband insists that he just wants aftershave—again, and little
Minnie demands a very specific picnic hamper: Surely Becky can manage
all this, as well as the surprise appearance of an
old-boyfriend-turned-rock-star and his pushy new girlfriend, whose
motives are far from clear. But as the countdown to Christmas begins and
her big-hearted plans take an unexpected turn toward disaster, Becky
starts to wonder if chaos will ensue, or if she’ll manage to bring
comfort and joy to Christmas after all.
My thoughts: There are some series that no matter how long it is between books, you can pick up and feel as if it’s been no time at all since you last read the previous book and that is exactly how it is with the Shopaholic books. Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood is that type of friend that you can go weeks or years without talking to and than suddenly you meet up and it feels as if no time has gone by. Oh how I’ve missed her – it has been four years since her last book, but as soon as I started reading this book, I felt like it was just yesterday!
These books are pure enjoyment and exactly the type of light-hearted reading I love to lose myself in after some of the heavier thrillers and historical fiction that I have been reading lately and this latest Shopaholic installment was no exception! I so enjoyed catching up with Becky who is back in the UK after her jaunt in the states. As is usual, there were equal parts laugh-out-loud moments and touching heartwarming moments. Yes, Becky is still the flawed character we have all come to love and yes, she still makes outrageous decisions at times, but she has a good heart and shows that when it really matters.
I loved the holiday theme in this book. It really makes you wonder just how out of control we can get with our planning and buying, but in a light-hearted, funny way. It’s not preachy or anything, it just brings to light the fact that perhaps we put the emphasis on stuff rather than on people. Just a little food for thought and I liked the message. I also liked that we see Becky have a few breakdowns as the stress gets to her, but at the same time, she also is able to be there for others when it really matters. She may get sidetracked by a really good sale, but when a friend is in need, she is there.
I am so glad to have been reunited with Becky and I really do hope we haven’t seen the last of her.
Books in this series:
- Confessions of a Shopaholic
- Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
- Shopaholic Ties the Knot
- Shopaholic & Sister
- Shopaholic & Baby
- Mini Shopaholic
- Shopaholic to the Stars
- Shopaholic to the Rescue
- Christmas Shopaholic
Thank you for the review. Much appreciated as I haven't read any in the series.