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Review: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is the second book in the Shopaholic series. It really is hard reviewing a sequel, but with a series as popular as this one, it probably doesn't matter. I first heard of the Shopaholic series when the movie came out. They chose a tempting cover for the poster - tempting for shopaholics like me. Shopping makes me crazy. Just like the protagonist, Becky Bloomwood, I look at stuff and imagine what I can do with it. It takes a lot of conscious thinking to look at stuff and actually ask if I need to do something with it.

Confessions of a Shopaholic was a delightful laugh-out-loud book that showed Becky's obsession so well. Sophie Kinsella writes her heroines really well - she makes them unabashedly funny and yet not pitiable. They are strong characters, who happen to be human in their wants and desires. And Becky just wanted to buy stuff. If there was a price tag on something, that surely got her excited. In the second book, we pick up where we left off in the first book. Becky has managed to pay off her debts only to find herself in deeper debts again. In addition, her boyfriend, Luke is opening a branch in New York, so Becky is all excited to crash into the shopping scene in the city of skyscrapers.

I loved this book better than the first one, which I read last year. I'm not exactly sure why that is, since I don't remember much of it, but I guess it has to do with more hilarity and better jokes. In fact, I could barely put the book down, because I was laughing too much. I also ended up talking to the book and to Becky so much whenever I sensed potential disaster, which for Becky happens too often.

Becky tries to be better, true. In fact, she invents excuses for the same. She goes shopping for a business outfit, and adds a cocktail dress to the bill, because she "knows" that she may need to wear it at "some" point. She also walks into a greeting cards shop and buys $100 worth of cards because, you never know when a card comes in useful. Right? She also falls into the same trap I did when I first came to the US - the number being spent is so much less compared to the currency back home. What is $90 when the same thing costs a larger number back home (not necessarily larger price)? And she goes around saying that you can't expect to gain something without putting in something - so she spends a lot, convincing herself and others that she'll only gain by that.

I love Becky, and how she stands up for herself. It's probably an all-things-end-well story, but it works for me, because it's funny, it's about shopping, and Becky is a wonderful character. Plus, I think we book lovers will see something of ourselves in her - how many times have we bought books for the last time ever, for that week? How many times do we keep promising to do clean-up-the-shelves challenges? Don't we all need help with that - everytime? At the same time, we don't let it get to us too much - we know when to put a hold on things.



I am a bookaholic and I bought this book.


Anonymous said…
I love Becky as well! I can identify with her in soooo many ways even though she exceeds me in craziness! :-)

I reviewed the whole series before the new Shopaholic came out. Have a look:
Mystica said…
I can so identify with getting the shopping madness. It does not happen very often but when it does, its not very good.
I only saw the movie of the first book and didn't even know there was a second one until you mentioned it on your blog! The movie was fun and this one sounds like more of the same.
bermudaonion said…
I enjoyed this whole series. Becky's logic is so convoluted, yet it always makes perfect sense to me. I think the weakest book in the series is the one with her sister, but I still enjoyed it.
nomadreader said…
I wasn't a huge fan of the first one, which I read on vacation years ago, but I have heard the series improved after it. I'm curious about the rest of the series, but I don't have a sense of urgency to read them. I'm glad you liked it, and I agree about the movie poster!
Marce said…
That does sound lovely, I keep saying I am going to read this one, I will get to it.

Another great review of course, you always do a great job.
S. Krishna said…
I tried to read the first one years ago and didn't really enjoy it, but you've reminded me I should give it a try again! Thanks for the review!
Tales of Whimsy said…
I love how this characters seems to make an impression on everyone that reads her. Great review. I should try reading this series some day.
Anonymous said…
I've read Kinsella, but not the Shopaholics book yet. They sound fun.
Lisa said…
I haven't read any of Kinsella's books but it sounds like they'd make one of those great "break" books between the heavier stuff.
Jon said…
Manhattan does have a lot of shopping venues. You can take a walk around.

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