Audiobook Review: Mini-Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Mini Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Published: September 2, 2010
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 11 discs (approx. 12.5 hours)
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Becky Brandon thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true: a shopping friend for life! But it’s trickier than she thought. Two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. Minnie creates havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is “Mine!” and she’s even trying to get into eBay! On top of everything else, Becky and Luke are still living with her parents (the deal on house #4 has fallen through), when suddenly there’s a huge financial crisis. 

With people having to “cut back,” Becky decides to throw a surprise party for Luke to cheer everyone up. But when costs start to spiral out of control, she must decide whether to accept help from an unexpected source—and therefore run the risk of hurting the person she loves. Will Becky be able to pull off the celebration of the year? Will she and Luke ever find a home of their own? Will Minnie ever learn to behave? And . . . most important . . . will Becky’s secret wishes ever come true?

My Thoughts: I was unsure if I wanted to read this last book in the Shopaholic series, since it seemed like each book just got a little worse than the one before. But, I didn't want to leave the series unfinished, so I went ahead and picked this one up from the library. I should have followed my instinct and left this one alone because this might be one of the worst books that I have ever read. The book is pretty much divided into two sections (which is unintentional by the author), with the first part mostly being about how awful Minnie, Becky's daughter, is and how her parents are unable to properly rear a child. The second part of the book, it's has if Minnie doesn't exist anymore and Becky throws a surprise party for Luke. It was very disjointed and odd because I really disliked the beginning of the book, but enjoyed hearing Becky plan this huge surprise bash for Luke. So, that's why it was given the rating that it was. I loved hearing about the party and all the planning that went into it. Having to read about Becky's inability to raise a child? Not as humorous and definitely dragged on for way too long.

I enjoy Kinsella's writing and it typically has me laughing, but I am glad that this series is finished. Becky Bloomwood started the series as a girl who wants to change her ways and is all about being a good person. By the end of the series, her materialism is rather sickening and it's awful how she actually never changes and continues to blow money as if there is no tomorrow. I don't know if I would recommend the Shopaholic series to anyone, but her standalone books are very good and will have you entertained.

Waiting on Wednesday (4-3-13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella (release date: April 23, 2013).

Synopsis (from Amazon): Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago. Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.

I love Sophie Kinsella's novels and enjoy listening to them in audiobook form, so I cannot wait to get my hands on this one! What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

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.

Audiobook Review: Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic and Sister (Shopaholic #4)
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Josephine Bailey
Published: September 28, 2004
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 discs, approx. 12 hours
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): What’s a round-the-world honeymoon if you can’t buy the odd souvenir to ship back home? Like the twenty silk dressing gowns Becky found in Hong Kong…the hand-carved dining table (and ten chairs) from Sri Lanka…the, um, huge wooden giraffes from Malawi (that her husband Luke expressly forbade her to buy)… Only now Becky and Luke have returned home to London and Luke is furious. Two truckloads of those souvenirs have cluttered up their loft, and the bills for them are outrageous. Luke insists Becky go on a budget. And worse: her beloved best friend Suze has found a new best friend while Becky was away. Becky’s feeling rather blue—when her parents deliver some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky is thrilled! She’s convinced her sister will be a true soulmate. They’ll go shopping together, have manicures together.…Until she meets Jessica for the first time and gets the shock of her life. Surely Becky Bloomwood’s sister can’t…hate shopping? 

My Thoughts: As you may (or may not) have realized by now, I love Sophie Kinsella's audiobooks. They are light and funny and easy to get through during my commute to and from work. So, I was anxious to read this fourth book in her Shopaholic series. The description of the novel left me nervous that this wouldn't be the Becky Bloomwood I was used to and that it might not live up to those other novels. I should have listened to by instincts more because about a third of the way through the book, I realized that I was right. This one is unlike the other books in the series, and I don't mean that in a good way. Discovering she has a long lost half sister, Becky decides that they will be great friends and do everything together, even before they have met. It's obvious that everything will not work out as Becky has envisioned, but of course, Becky never realizes that. 

I've always liked Becky and how she was written. However, this story is a huge departure for her as a character. She seems to be regressing, going backwards in her development. When returning from her honeymoon and realizing that she doesn't have a job, she just decides to work for her husband, Luke. She's shocked when he says no and pouts because she is upset by his decision. It was just too childish! Actually, all of Becky's behavior through this book was childish, from the way she spent her money to get the "it" bag of the moment, to her climbing a mountain in kitten heels. It was just too much fluff and not enough story. Becky just became dumber as the novel went on, which was frustrating for someone who has enjoyed the other novels in this series.

Now, it was still a funny read. I mean, Becky taking Jess shopping for the first time was pretty funny. And her discovery of eBay was also a good laugh. There were redeeming qualities in this book, but it's definitely my least favorite one in the series (so far). But, now that Becky is pregnant, I can't wait to see what trouble she gets into. 

Review: Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sohpie Kinsella

Shopaholic Ties the Knot
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: July 1, 2002
Genre: chick lit
Paperback: 406 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She's become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan's West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer!. But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice her own ring finger is bare? Not that she's been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything...
The Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky's head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky's overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum's frilly old gown. While Luke's high-society mother insisting on a glamorous, all-expensed-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can't seem to turn down either one. Can everyone's favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Shopaholic series and the more I read of this series, the more I love it. In this book, we follow Becky as she attends her best friend, Suze's, wedding. At the wedding, Luke proposes to Becky and what ensues is hilariousness. Becky's mother starts planning an English wedding while Luke's mother starts planning a grand wedding at the Plaza hotel. Both happen to fall on the same day. Two weddings on two different continents. Obviously, we see Becky in her element of trying to rationalize everything in her life while avoiding her problems. By the end of the novel, Becky finds the perfect solution that pleases Luke's mother and her own while not being involved in a huge lawsuit.

The characters are becoming very familiar in this series and it's nice to see them all mature over time. Suze's wedding to Tarquin is cute and we see the two of them start a family together. It's also nice to see more of Luke, especially on a personal level. He seemed very uptight in the first two books, but Kinsella shows him in a different light in this book. And of course, there is Becky. Her growth from one novel to the next is great because it isn't huge but it's noticable enough to continually engage you in the series. The only fault I could find with this book was the reappearance of Alicia Billington, a former employee of Luke's. I thought it was a bit of a stretch to continue to use her in the story. I look forward to reading more of Becky's adventure but am sad to see this series end!

Review: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: January 1, 2001
Genre: chick lit
Paperback: 325 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru thriving, Becky’s biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend. And worse, figuring out how to “pack light.” But packing takes on a whole new meaning when Luke announces he’s moving to New York for business–and he asks Becky to go with him! Before you can say “Prada sample sale,” Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury department stores. Surely it’s only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society. Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky’s bills miles away in London. But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line! Shopaholic Takes Manhattan–but will she have to return it?

My Thoughts: About 10 months ago, I read Confessions of a Shopaholic (well, I listened to it). It was my first introduction to Sophie Kinsella and I fell in love. I loved the character of Becky Bloomwood and I love Kinsella's writing style. I was hooked on her books after that, but hadn't read any other books in the Shopaholic series. I decided to remedy that situation and read the next book in the series, where Becky Bloomwood goes to Manhattan. To say it was hilarious would be an understatement. I was laughing so much while reading this novel! From Becky and Luke's weekend away to her few days in Manhattan, Becky had me laughing hysterically with her antics. 

All of the characters in this novel are so well developed. Becky is funny but you also witness her grow as a character. She realizes what it is that she must do to change her situation. Luke, Becky's boyfriend, is a great foil to Becky. Where she is serious and banking on everything working out in the end, he is a workaholic, throwing himself entirely into his job. They make a great couple and balance one another throughout the story.

While not great literature, Kinsella has written a novel that pulls you in and makes you never want to leave Becky Bloomwood's world. If you feel like you are in a reading rut, then check out this series. It will have you laughing outloud!

Audiobook Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Jayne Entwistle
Published: January 1, 2012
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 11 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect! Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life. What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.


My Thoughts: It's no secret that I love Sophie Kinsella audiobooks. They are one of my guilty pleasures. They are so good and they just pull you in ... I truly believe that Sophie Kinsella could write her own version of the dictionary down, and I would listen to the audiobook version of it. Her newest novel doesn't disappoint and had me laughing throughout the entire reading. Poppy Wyatt loses her engagement ring and cell phone, all in the same day. Luckily, she finds a cell phone just lying a waste basket in the lobby of a hotel and invokes that rule of "finder's keepers", against the wishes of the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton. A rapport builds between the two over several weeks, with Poppy helping (or her believing that she is helping) Sam with handling business is a more personal manner, and Sam offering advice to Poppy on how to be a stronger person. This mostly takes place over text messages and phone calls here and there.


The characters in this novel are just like the ones in Kinsella's other works (but not in a bad way). Every single character is relatable and real. I could imagine any of them being people in my own life (maybe not the wedding planner, but just because she is nasty). My only complaint with this novel? The beginning was a little far fetched. The finding of the cell phone in a bin in a hotel lobby was a little weird, and the fact that Sam didn't really protest Poppy keeping the phone for her own personal use. Other than that, it was just a great read (or listen) that I was sad when it ended. I cannot wait to listen to more of Kinsella's work in the future and hope that she continues to create real characters.

Top Ten Tuesday (7-3-12)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Books for People Who Liked Sophie Kinsella

1) Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - a greatm hilarious novel about a woman in her 30s, living in Manhattan and making shoes by hand. Great read!

2) Always Something There to Remind Me by Beth Harbison - a romantic comedy, almost like a Kinsella novel, where a girl meets up with her high school sweetheart years after they graduated and moved on from one another.

3) any Emily Giffin book - I haven't reviewed any of her novels on my blog, but they are all so good! If you like Kinsella's writing, you would like Giffin's work, too.

4) Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan - four girls who graduated college together and reunite for one of their weddings. It's written in a way that you learn about each girl's experiences in college and where they are in their lives now.

5) If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster - a hilarious novel about home remodeling gone awry. Seriously, it will have you laughing outloud!

6) True Colors by Kristin Hannah - Hannah's novels aren't as light as Kinsella's, but they do share one common feature: all of their characters are real. They aren't really crazy or out there. I love Hannah's novels and I bet you would too.

7) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling - this is becoming my favorite book of the year, I think! Such a good book and hilarious. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!? Go and grab a copy right now!!!

8) A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand - a great summer time read. It's light, easy to get into, and there's some humor thrown in there too.

9) Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews - a good chick lit novel where four women all share a house at the Outer Banks for a month. Pretty funny with some action thrown in, too.

10) The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - one of the best chick lit novels out there. If you love Kinsella, then you will love this one.

So, which author did you choose? Let me know! I can't wait see everyone's lists this week and maybe find some new books to read!

Audiobook Review: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

The Undomestic Goddess
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Published: July 19, 2005
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?


My Thoughts: Another Sophie Kinsella audiobook and another great story! Kinsella never disappoints, and this novel had me laughing outloud and wishing that this book never had to end. Following Samantha Sweeting, a high powered London lawyer who has just made a huge mistake and lost her job, Kinsella takes you on a hilarious journey through Samantha's new job as a housekeeper. Kinsella weaves a story that shows that life doesn't always turn out as you planned it, and that can be a good thing! She also shows how having an open mind to new things can lead you to unexpected places.


I loved all of the characters in this book, from the leading lady to her employers to her new love, Nathaniel. Kinsella crafts characters who are real, who are based in reality. And her ability to create a leading lady is uncanny. She creates these women who are flawed and imperfect. They aren't always looking for love (but they won't turn it down!), and who are confident in themselves. That's something that I greatly admire in a main character (I personally hate women who are looking for love and feel like a man will compelte who they are. So having that in a book is a sure turnoff for me.) 


I've said it once, and I know I'll say it again: if you haven't read any of Sophie Kinsella's books, then go and get one immediately! If you enjoy reading something that will make you laugh and that you will find difficult to put down, then you will love her work.

Follow Friday and TGIF! (5-11-12)

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoying May so far? It's cooled off here over the past few days, but I can still feel summer right around the corner. Are you all ready for Mother's Day? I just have to go and buy the things that I'm giving my mom and then I'm all set (which I know sounds like it's not done, but it pretty much is.) Now, onto the Friday fun ...

Parajunkee asks:

This Sunday in the US is Mother's Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

The one that comes to my mind immediately is the Weasley family from Harry Potter. Seriously, Mrs. Weasley had a special clock to keep track off everyone in her house! And who didn't love, in book number seven, when she screams, "Not my daughter, you bitch!" One of my fave book quotes!

GReads asks:

Supporting Characters: We tend to gush over those main characters the most, but what about those supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites?

Once again, my favorites are probably the ones in the Harry Potter series. They are all so rich and well developed. Another favorite of mine is Sadie in Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.

So, which are your favorite mother/child relatioships? Favorite supporting characters? Let me know, and have a great weekend! 

Audiobook Review: Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham

Sleeping Arrangements
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Published: January 1, 2002
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook 7 CDs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 2.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Two families, one holiday villa – who’s sleeping with whom? Chloe needs a holiday. She’s sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain – perfect. Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in her new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he’ll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain – perfect. Both families arrive at the villa and realize the awful truth – Gerard has double-booked. What no-one else realizes is that Chloe and Hugh have a history, and as tensions rise within the two families, old passions resurface. It seems that Gerard’s ‘accidental’ double booking may not be an accident after all.


My Thoughts: Madeleine Wickham, aka Sophie Kinsella, is my go-to audiobook author. Her work is funny, light, and a great listen. While parts of Sleeping Arrangements had it's funny moments, it was just a little too much for me to enjoy. Following two families who are accidentally booked at a friend's villa for the same week, you come to learn that Chloe and Hugh, who are with different partners now, have a history. It never seemed like much of a history for me, though, and Hugh seemed to overplay their relationship in his mind (at least, that's how it felt to me). The chemistry between the four adults was off and wasn't what I've come to expect in Wickham/Kinsella novels. To me, the best part of this book was Phillip and his job. His company was recently bought out and he will find out when he comes back from vacation whether or not he still has a job. As it turns out, Hugh works for the company that bought Phillip's company. I thought this could have been explored more and made for a more complete plot.


While I certainly won't stop reading Wickham/Kinsella novels because of this one, it does make me a bit skeptical to pick up another Wickham novel. I think they are a bit more serious than the Kinsella ones.

Audiobook Review: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Remember Me?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: February 26, 2008
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? 


My Thoughts: I love listening to Sophie Kinsella audiobooks, and this story is exactly why I love to do that. Kinsella has an independent leading lady (in this case, Lexi Smart), a situation that arises but isn't completely out there or unrealistic (here, Lexi developed amnesia) and throw in a good guy and lots of laughs, and you have Kinsella's books. They are never completely predictable, as the ending in this one was not what I expected, and they keep me laughing throughout the entire reading.


I loved the character of Lexi. She was so real to me and I could see myself in her shoes (if I were British). Kinsella always makes her lead characters believable and relatable, which is yet another reason why I love her novels. Lexi developed throughout the story, which you think would be hard to do since she's suffering from amnesia, but you can see how she matures in her thinking and how she sees the world. I won't put any spoilers in here, but the ending was not what I thought it would be, which I really liked. I kept on waiting and waiting for the story to finish up how I thought it would, but Kinsella doesn't wrap it up perfectly with a bow on top. It's definitely wrapped up, but not at all what you would expect.


I cannot wait to get another Kinsella audiobook to read. If you are wondering about audiobooks or what are some good ones to listen to, then I would recommend Sophie Kinsella. They are perfect for listening to while driving!

Audiobook Review: The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

The Wedding Girl
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Published: June 23, 2009
CDs: 8 discs
Genre: chick lit
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): At the age of eighteen, in that first golden Oxford summer, Milly was up for anything. Rupert and his American lover, Allan, were an important part of her new, exciting life, so when Rupert suggested to her that she and Allan should get married to keep Allan in the country, Milly didn’t hesitate. Ten years later, Milly is a very different person and engaged to Simon—who is wealthy, serious, and believes her to be perfect. Milly’s secret history is locked away so securely she has almost persuaded herself that it doesn’t exist—until, only four days before her elaborate wedding. To have and to hold takes on a whole new meaning when one bride’s past catches up with her and bring the present crashing down. 


My Thoughts: Madeleine Wickham, also known as Sopie Kinsella, is one of my favorite authors to listen to on audiobook. Her stories are engaging, funny, and easy to listen to. While this story was good, it wasn't as good as some of her other books that I've listened to. For me, the characters were not as strong as they typically are in one of her books. Milly was so weak, it was maddening! She seemed to go through life with no backbone, just doing whatever her mother thought was best for her. And she never corrected her finace, Simon, when he made assumptions about her, which were inaccurate. Simon seemed a bit bullish, which really turned me off to him. The only two characters that I actually enjoyed were Milly's sister, Isabelle, and her father.


So, why did I give this book three stars if the characters were so lacking? The plot was interesting, and I couldn't help but get caught up in it. Milly married a gay man when she was 18 so that he could stay in the country with his lover. When that comes back to haunt her present, the story becomes interesting, and I wanted to know what happened to all parties involved. It was a bit sad but still something that was a fun read. If you are a Sophie Kinsella fan, then I would still check this book out because it's not awful, but it's also not her best work.

Audiobook Review: Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep a Secret?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: March 1, 2005
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 5 CDs
Narrator: Emily Gray
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 2.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:
Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.
Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks.
I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.
From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.
Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.
I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger. But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do.

My Thoughts: I love listening to Sophie Kinsella's audiobooks. They are so easy to listen to, the narrators are always entertaining and bring the book to life, and it's so easy to come back to after not listening for awhile. So, I was expecting the same things from this book that I have come to expect from Kinsella's work. And while it was nice to listen to, it wasn't my favorite book. The concept is interesting, so you think that the whole book would be that way. Emma is working for Panther Cola in the marketing department as an assistant. She is really hoping for a promotion since she's worked at the company for a year, so her boss sends her to a business meeting in Glasglow, thinking that it's a simple meeting that even she could handle. Well, she loses the client and on her return flight, experience turbulence during the flight and thinks that she is dying, so she starts sharing all of her secrets with the man sitting next to her. The flight lands safely and Emma thinks she will never see this man again, until he shows up to her office a few days later and she realizes that he is the CEO of Panther Cola. Hilarity ensues as she realizes what this might mean to her career and her personal life.

It's a typical Kinsella novel, which is good, but it wasn't as gripping as her other works. I felt like Emma was too wish-washy. She wanted Jack to know about her, then she didn't, then she did. It was just too much back and forth for a main character. And Jack's secret was such a letdown! The novel is building up to this moment where Jack finally tells Emma why he was in Glasglow, and it wasn't even that big of a secret (at least to me)! It was unclimatic and I was left feeling like I listened to this book without getting something out of it. It wasn't an awful book, but not what I've come to expect from Kinsella. 

Audiobook Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Twenties Girl
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: July 21, 2009
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads):  Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they? When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man. Sadie, however, could care less. Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.


My Thoughts: I listened to Confessions of a Shopaholic about a month ago and enjoyed it. I hadn't read anything by Sophie Kinsella before and was unsure if I wanted to read this series or not. So, I decided to try another of Kinsella's works, but not from the Shopaholic series. I was a bit skeptical as I was reading the description, but about five minutes into listening to this book, I was hooked! The plot is fantastic, the characters engaging and charming, and the growth in Lara is something that is rare to find in a chick lit novel.


I loved the relationship that Sadie and Lara had. It was just like a relationship between sisters, the way they would argue and bicker with one another and then be happy and content with one another the next. Even though Sadie is a ghost, you could see that each girl was learning from the other one. Sadie was teaching Lara how to let loose, not be so focused on work, to just have fun and not try to seek out the person she believes to be "the perfect man." Lara taught Sadie about modern women, about business and how important it is to make your way in the world. It was wonderful seeing these two characters grow with one another.


Another thing that I absolutely loved was the growth in Lara. In most chick lit novels, the girl ends up with the man. I won't give anything away here, but Lara realizes so much about herself that the relationships with men almost take a back seat in this novel. You are able to see Lara grow from an insecure, unsure young professional to a woman who is confident in herself and where she is headed in life. I loved that Kinsella gave Lara depth instead of just writing another bland main character that is so often found in chick lit.


After listening to this book, I plan on listening to all of Kinsella's books. They are engaging, the narrators have the perfect tone, and they make me want to sit in my car and listen to the story all day, instead of going into work (although I would probably sit in my car for anything to avoid going into work, haha). If you haven't read any of Kinsella's works or are looking for something fun to listen to, then you should definitely add Sophie Kinsella to your TBR list!

Audiobook Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella (Madeline Wickham)
Published: November 4, 2001
Genre: chick lit
Narrator: Emily Grey
Audiobook: 10 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): If you've ever paid off one credit card with another, thrown out a bill before opening it, or convinced yourself that buying at a two-for-one sale is like making money, then this silly, appealing novel is for you. In the opening pages of Confessions of a Shopaholic, recent college graduate Rebecca Bloomwood is offered a hefty line of credit by a London bank. Within a few months, Sophie Kinsella's heroine has exceeded the limits of this generous offer, and begins furtively to scan her credit-card bills at work, certain that she couldn't have spent the reported sums. In theory anyway, the world of finance shouldn't be a mystery to Rebecca, since she writes for a magazine called Successful Saving. Struggling with her spendthrift impulses, she tries to heed the advice of an expert and appreciate life's cheaper pleasures: parks, museums, and so forth. Yet her first Saturday at the Victoria and Albert Museum strikes her as a waste. Why? There's not a price tag in sight. Eventually, Rebecca's uncontrollable shopping and her "imaginative" solutions to her debt attract the attention not only of her bank manager but of handsome Luke Brandon--a multimillionaire PR representative for a finance group frequently covered in Successful Saving. Unlike her opposite number in Bridget Jones's Diary, however, Rebecca actually seems too scattered and spacey to reel in such a successful man. Maybe it's her Denny and George scarf. In any case, Kinsella's debut makes excellent fantasy reading for the long stretches between white sales and appliance specials.


My Thoughts: I originally borrowed this book since it seemed like a meaningless chick lit book that I could zone out to while reading. After getting through the first few chapters, though, I found myself really enjoying Becky Bloomwood's story. Told with lots of humor and lots of heart, Sophie Kinsella tells a story about a charming, if financially aloof, girl who is tackling her shopping addictions and coming to grips with her reality. It's not the most meaningful book that I have ever read, but it does show how easy it is to get caught up in today's world where stores and banks make it so easy to get credit cards to spend money that lots of us don't have. Becky is one such person who is swept up in the many credit card offers that she receives after graduating from university and ends up spending way more than she makes. And Kinsella makes the situation even better by having Becky work as a financial journalist. It provides for many funny moments in the book.


Becky is a very likeable character, even though she may not always be the smartest. She does try to do what's right and I could definitely identify with her in certain scenarios. She did seem to be a bit over the top at times, but it didn't ruin my experience of the book. I also loved the narrator, Emily Grey. She told the story PERFECTLY! She was so dead on and I didn't feel like I lost anything listening to the book instead of reading it. In fact, I feel like I got more out of it by listening to it.


Now, I have a question for all of you. I'm not that big into series, but I do look for audiobooks that are typically chick lit. I really enjoyed listening to this book, but I don't know if I should read the next book in this series or try another book by this author. If you have read the series, I would love to hear from you! I want to know if this is a series worth reading, or if the rest of the books are basically just the same story as this first book. Please let me know your feelings!