Saturday 2 April 2016

Book Review - Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

Amazon UK
Title: Shopaholic to the Rescue
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Format reviewed: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Publisher: Black Swan
Publication Date: 10th March 2016
Rating: 5 Stars


To Las Vegas . . . and beyond!

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is on a major rescue mission! Hollywood was full of surprises, and now she's on a road trip to Las Vegas to help her friends and family.

She's determined to get to the bottom of why her dad has mysteriously disappeared, help her best friend Suze and even bond with Alicia Bitch Long-legs (maybe...).

As Becky discovers just how much her friends and family need help, she comes up with her biggest, boldest, most brilliant plan yet! So can she save the day just when they need her most?

Becky is setting out to make things right in this laugh-out-loud, feel-good conclusion to her American adventure that began with SHOPAHOLIC TO THE STARS.

I firmly believe this is the best Shopaholic book I have read for many years, and definitely makes up for my annoyances with the previous book Shopaholic to the Stars. This is definitely Sophie Kinsella back to her best, and when the book opens with a letter from Derek Smeathe (Becky's old bank manager), and had me laughing as well as reminding me of where we are in the story, I knew this was going to be good. 

This is a direct continuation of the previous Shopaholic, and although this could be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading the To the Stars before this, to get a full sense of just why it is Becky and her friends and family are on  road trip. 

I spent most of the book laughing and smiling at various observations, things Minnie (Becky's 2 and a half year old) comes out with, and generally the whole sense of humour of the book. There is just something about mutton bustin that will have you laughing out loud when you get to it. 

I fell that Becky has matured a bit in this book, given how frustrating I found her in the last release, I couldn't believe how she has changed, although for how long is anyones guess. She is trying her hardest to not spend money, remembering to ask herself whether she needs something before buying it. In fact from that question, there is a fabulous scene in a Las Vegas souvenir shop, that really did feel like classic Becky Bloomwood. 

Of course there are plenty of mad cap schemes, as well as all of Becky's usual wacky correspondence. And then there is the setting for this book, I had a real sense of  Las Vegas, and loved Becky's first ever attempt at gambling, and then there were the other towns that they go to, which also had their charms. 

I know I am going on a bit about Becky, but this book is not just about her, in face although she is the central character, the focus is on her dad, what he got up to on this same road trip many years ago, and also on her best friend, her arch enemy, and all the other recurring characters I've grown to love over the years. 

There is a small part of me that wonders whether this is the end of a series, and of a fabulous era, and I hope I am wrong but I have no idea where the series could progress from here. 

Loved every second of Shopaholic to the Rescue, its well paced and a great addition to the series, in Sophie Kinsella's usual easy to read style. 

6 comments:

  1. Lovely review Rachel. I am a true Kinsella and Becky fan. I read this when it came out, and I was pleased too that it was better than the last. I loved Becky's first try at gambling! And how about Suze and Tarkie!!!??? who'd have guessed. Brilliant, I love it. I wonder if the next Shopaholic will be about Becky's want for a second child?
    Amanda.

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    1. Thanks Amanda, I'm just hoping there will be more Shopaholic. And I know what you mean about Becky's first try at gambling, hilarious.

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  2. I have to admit to loving the 'Shopaholic' books too, Rachel. Fab review! xx

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  3. Ooh you've perked my interest! I gave up on this series several books ago as I felt it had really lost its sparkle, and I just wasn't enjoying it anymore. But this makes me wonder if it's worth a retry!

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    1. I'll admit I have had my doubts with the series at times too, but since my mum likes them regardless, I keep buying them in paperback so she can also read them. This is definitely one of my favourites of the whole series, and certainly a lot better than the previous offering.

      I think like with all series, there are some stronger books than others.

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