Shopaholic to the Stars

Starred review from October 27, 2014
Kinsella brings the irrepressible Becky Bloomwood Brandon back for a seventh time (after Mini Shopaholic) in this latest installment of her hilarious Shopaholic series. Becky's public relations guru husband, Luke, has just started to represent Hollywood A-lister Sage Seymour, so Becky, Luke, and their daughter, Minnie, are off to Los Angeles where Becky's convinced it'll all be red carpets and movie-star sightings. After a personal shopping job falls through, Becky decides to become a celebrity stylistâand wants Sage to be her first client. Sage's interest level is low until Becky gets involved with Sage's rival, Lois Kellerton. In between her own dramas, Becky is forced to deal with those of othersâincluding her father's and her best friend Suze's. And there's even an old nemesis who may have changed her waysâor not. It's impossible not to fall in love with Becky and her antics, and this latest offering doesn't disappoint. With appeal for fans of Kinsella's prior Shopaholic books, this one will draw in new fans as well. Like the first six in the series, this new entry is screamingly funny and lots of fun.

October 1, 2014
Becky Brandon and her shopping habit head to Hollywood in the latest book in Kinsella's series (Mini Shopaholic, 2010, etc.). Shopaholic Becky, her husband and their daughter move from London to LA so Luke can tackle a new job doing PR for celebrities. Becky, however, is mostly interested in the celebrity part of his job-she wants to use Luke's connections to become a stylist to the stars. After a lot of work (read: shopping) and a chance run-in with a thieving celeb, Becky winds up with a gig styling a real live actress...who just happens to be the nemesis of Luke's client. Predictably, the entire situation gets out of hand, especially when Becky discovers that things aren't always what they seem in Hollywood. Luckily, Becky's best friend, Suze, is around to support her-that is, if Becky can manage to think about anyone's problems but her own. Becky soon finds herself doing whatever she can to advance her career and stay in the press, even if it involves causing problems with Luke, neglecting her family and letting down her friends. With so many plots to keep straight (Becky's dad's mysterious quest, Becky's BFF problems, Becky's desire to be a stylist, the relationship between Luke and his mother), the book starts to feel a bit bloated and hard to follow. Luckily, Becky is a truly engaging narrator. She may be self-centered, a shopping addict and a bit flighty, but she's also good-natured and genuinely funny. It's a joy to accompany her on her journey, no matter how tangled it seems at times. A light, enjoyable read that's pure escapism.

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2014
After a four-year break, Kinsella returns with another entry in her popular Shopaholic series (Mini Shopaholic, 2010). British shopper extraordinaire Becky Brandon is thrilled when her husband, Luke, is assigned to handle PR for Hollywood starlet Sage Seymour. As the family plans to relocate temporarily to Los Angeles, Becky sets her sights on becoming a celebrity stylist. But Los Angeles isn't quite the paradise Becky hoped for. Luke is on Becky's case to curb her spending; Sage is less than receptive to Becky's style suggestions; and Becky's nemesis, Alicia, is not only living and thriving in L.A., she's also the reason Becky's daughter, Minnie, has been admitted to a tony preschool. Becky finally makes some headway with Sage, but only by breaking a confidence she vowed to keep. Her decision inadvertently puts her in the spotlight and sends the paparazzi straight to her door, which initially excites Becky but puts a strain on her marriage. Winsome Becky's romp through Hollywood will thoroughly entertain readers, and the novel's conclusion neatly paves the way for Becky's next adventure. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Multiple-platform publicity efforts will alert best-selling Kinsella's fans to this long-awaited Shopaholic installment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

June 15, 2014

In this first Shopaholic novel in four years, Becky heads to Los Angeles to join husband Luke, who is managing the career of famed actress Sage Seymour. Becky sees herself as Sage's perfect personal stylist, then complicates matters considerably by joining the team of Sage's greatest rival. Of course there will be demand.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014

In the latest installment of the series, Becky and her two-year-old daughter, Minnie, relocate to Los Angeles because Becky's husband, Luke, is doing short-term PR consulting for Sage Seymour, a famous actress with a bit of an attitude problem. After a job offer to be a personal shopper in a store falls through, Becky decides to aim higher and become a personal stylist to the stars. She just needs to find a way in, so she sets her sights on Sage. In typical Becky fashion, chaos ensues at every turn, and she is immersed in a multitude of dramas with her father, old friends Suze and Tarquin, Luke and his mother, and even someone at Minnie's preschool. VERDICT Fans of the series who love Becky just as she is (and has always been) will enjoy this seventh series entry (after Mini Shopaholic, released in the United States in 2010). Becky still loves to shop, of course, and still makes ridiculously bad decisions. In fact, L.A. possibly brings out the worst in Becky, as her desire for stylist stardom seriously clouds her already questionable judgment. Shouldn't she have learned something by now? Lack of character growth aside, Kinsella expertly plots this story and deftly drops in some unexpected twists. [See Prepub Alert, 5/19/14.]--Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.