Book Review - Sophie Kinsella's Mini Shopaholic
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Published by: Dial Press
Publication Date: April 19th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 448 Pages
Rating: ★★
To Buy
The economic downturn has everyone in England in an uproar. Everyone except Becky Brandon, who instead of looking at it as a problem that is effecting her family, views it as a way to introduce a new buying scheme at her work. The Look, unbeknownst to the higher ups, and on Becky's say, starts having their really expensive products sent to their customers houses in inoffensive packaging, such as computer paper boxes, so their husbands won't be in an uproar that they are spending when they should be saving. This kind of deceit against ones husband is second nature to Becky, she's been doing it for years. The economic downswing isn't the only problem though. In the past year the Brandons have been unable to find a home and have taken over Becky's parents house, their dinning room table is now her makeup area. Luke's step-mother, who was always more of a mother to him has passed away, and his real mother is now estranged to him. But let's not forget Minnie. Luke and Becky's daughter is a terror, or so everyone thinks. They even get a consulte from TVs super nanny. So instead of dealing with anything that might actually be productive Becky decides to spend all her time and tons of money she doesn't have planning a birthday party for Luke which almost doesn't happen and almost gets people fired, she herself gets put on leave. Becky being Becky, she will somehow pull it all off and be loved by all despite being a truly vile person.
Yes, Becky is a vile person. She lies to her husband, has serious issues that each book sets up as being resolved but then never is. She actually ditches therapy at the end of this book because she is moving to LA, aka, the inevitable next book wherein she will have all of Beverly Hills and Rodeo at her disposal. She takes over her parents house, never thinking that it's an inconvenience. Sure they can't eat dinner at the table, but what's that to Becky's beauty regime? She makes her co-workers and clients complicit in her lies, as well as Luke's employees, almost getting his assistant fired and not realizing that she is crossing the bounds of acceptable behaviour. I am no better than Becky... ok, yes I am, but the problem is I keep picking up these books. WHY!?! I have some sort of compulsion... I don't know if it's like watching a train wreck and I'm just hoping that one of these days everyone will gang up and kill Becky instead of having a big group hug and a spectacular party. Also, how callus does it look to have all the people partying while the banks are collapsing? Becky would still be shopping if London was burning, she couldn't resist a fire sale.
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