Christmas Shopaholic

August 26, 2019
Kinsella’s popular heroine, Becky Bloomwood Brandon, is back for a delightful ode to shopping, in the engaging eighth Shopaholic novel, this time with a Christmas theme. These days, Becky is in lovely, leafy suburbia and living happily ever after with her husband, Luke, and young daughter, Minnie. When her parents take an apartment in the trendy Shoreditch neighborhood in London, Becky is stuck with planning Christmas festivities for friends and family alike. While running her best friend’s gift shop at grand Letherby Hall, Becky encounters an old boyfriend, who’s now a musician, and his obnoxious girlfriend, who is determined to go into business with Luke. The villainess of this tale and her devious actions are a teeny bit far-fetched, but Becky is as whimsical and wonderful as ever. With hilarious scrapes only Becky could get into—including being locked into a pet store while buying a last-minute hamster for Minnie, integrating an all-male billiards club, and using a permanent Sharpie to mark names of new aftershaves on Luke’s skin as he sleeps—Kinsella delivers a solid and laugh-out-loud funny installment that longtime readers and new fans alike will gleefully devour. Agent: Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell Management.

Becky Brandon (n�e Bloomwood) is back, and Nathalie Buscome honors this long-running series with her spirited narration and charismatic English accent. While Becky is determined to have her first time hosting Christmas go well, the stressful situation with warring guests that ensues is a comical delight for listeners. Becky runs into an ex with a too cool, bored voice whose musician lifestyle inspires her to change up her routine a little--and inspires Buscome to do the same with her narration. She also gives daughter Minnie an adorable childlike voice, and husband Luke a composed and charming manner. Suze is kind but quick to get in jabs as only a best friend can. With Buscome's delivery, this audiobook is reminiscent of a favorite Christmas movie. A.L.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine