Audiobook Reivew: Shopaholiic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic and Baby
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: February 27, 2007
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 discs
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?

My Thoughts: When I first started this series, I loved Becky and her antics, how much she could shop and rationalize her purchases. Now, five books into the series, it's just getting old, which is incredibly evident throughout this novel. Becky and Luke are expecting their first child, so there are quite a few life changes that need to happen in order to prepare for the birth. First, they need to find a nice house to move into to raise the child. Then, a doctor to deliver the baby. Then, all the clothing, diapers, strollers, cribs, and everything else that a newborn needs. Instead, Becky focuses on getting the celebrity obstretian to deliver the baby. The doctor just happens to be one of Luke's ex-girlfriends, which tests Becky's patience. And that about sums up the storyline, with Becky nervously wondering if Luke is cheating on her with his ex.

The characters are the same as always, with only the doctor becoming a new addition. All of the characters are stagnant and unchanging, which is what I've come to expect from this series and can be nice sometimes. However, in the case of Becky, it mostly gets on my nerves. How many times can she buy ridiculously overpriced sheets and not realize how upset Luke will become over it? Is she supposed to be stupid? It just becomes frustrating at points. Then are times in the novel when she has me busting up laughing. So it's a love/hate relationship that I have with Becky.

There's one novel left in this series, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to read it. After reading this one and dealing with Becky's crazy antics again, I don't know if I will be able to read another one without quitting half-way through.