Mini-Shopaholic

July 5, 2010
In the latest installment to the wildly popular Shopaholic series (Shopaholic and Baby; etc.), Rebecca Brandon returns with willful two-year-old Minnie, who has taken after her mother in her fierce determination and her addiction to luxury brands. When the financial crisis finally hits the Brandon family, Rebecca vows to stop shopping until she's worn everything in her closet at least three times; Luke scrambles for new business directions; and Minnie remains exceptionally difficult. Still, Rebecca wants to throw Luke a surprise birthday bash, but planning it behind his back and on a budget proves almost impossible. As in all previous Shopaholic books, Rebecca is loud and proud about her luxury-brand obsession and equally at ease being a flighty, sometimes annoying lead, though her well-meaning secret birthday mission scores her much-needed points in the sympathy department. Series fans know what to expect and will get it by the Birkin-load.

August 1, 2010

Plucky über-consumer Rebecca Brandon has her work cut out for her as mum to tiny terror Minnie.

With a job she loves (personal shopper, natch), happy marriage and an adorable little daughter, Becky Brandon certainly seems to have it all. Sure, two-year-old Minnie is a bit of a handful. Her spirited behavior gets them banned from various shopping malls. And Becky's PR whiz hubby Luke might be a tad overworked and distracted. But things are generally good, until the global financial crisis has to come along and really put a damper on Becky's lifestyle. So as a money-saving concession to her husband, she agrees to stop shopping until she has worn everything in her wardrobe at least three times. Torture! She also throws herself into a new project—planning an over-the-top surprise birthday party for Luke. With visions of fire-eaters, jugglers and a live band, it is clear that Becky's desires don't mesh with financial reality. But when has that ever stopped her? She enlists Luke's trusted assistant Bonnie into her schemes, and tries to "barter" party supplies for slightly used Marc Jacobs bags. Meanwhile, she sees an opportunity at work and starts to offer a "discreet" shopping service for her wealthy clients, where she disguises their purchases in computer paper boxes. It is a big hit, although she neglects to tell her bosses about the subterfuge. And then Luke's estranged mother, the imperious (and fabulously rich) Elinor, reappears and wants to have a relationship with her granddaughter. The two meet, but well-meaning Becky cannot tell Luke about this, adding to all the many things she is keeping from him. But he has a few secrets as well, and getting him to his own party will take all of Becky's considerable skills. Chock-full of the kind of sitcom shenanigans Kinsella's fans expect, this latest in the series (Shopaholic & Baby, 2007, etc.) keeps the silly plot moving along. A little more growth from her iconic heroine, though, might have won over new readers as well.

Another giddy ride, with no end in sight.

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

August 1, 2010
The follow-up to Kinsellas Shopaholic & Baby (2007) finds Becky and Luke Brandons daughter, Minnie, hitting the terrible twos. More than a handful for Becky, Minnie is already picking up on some of her mothers bad habits, particularly when it comes to shopping. With frequent cries of Miiiiine! Minnie is the embodiment of the voice in Beckys head that wont let her say no to bargain buys and designer clothes. Beckys far more financially conscious husband, Luke, wants Becky to cut back on her shopping, forcing the fashionista to become a recessionista and actually wear the many clothes in her closet more than once. Not to be deterred, Becky channels her energy into planning a huge surprise birthday bash for Luke, which quickly gets out of hand. She is also determined to convince him that, despite their difficulties with Minnie, they should have another child. Its been three years since readers last enjoyed the company of Becky Brandon n'e Bloomwood, and this lively, good-spirited romp is bound to please fans of the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)