"Mayhem and Sample Sales"

Rebecca Bloomwood's life should be perfect; a career on the fast track, a blooming love life, and a great social life. But under the surface lurks trouble. No one believes she's actually dating the dashing, successful Luke Brandon; she has a nagging suspicion that something is afoot with said work-obsessed boyfriend; and she just can't seem to stop shopping - an addiction that's gotten her into a jam before. Thus sets the stage for SHOPAHOLIC TAKES MANHATTAN, Sophie Kinsella?s brilliant follow-up to last year's CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC.

Devastated by the news that her easy going, long-suffering bank manager is retiring, and is being replaced with a manager who won't "baby" her, and those never-ending phone calls from creditors, Becky joins Luke on a fact-finding trip to New York City. Luke, a financial public relations whiz, is hoping to find the backing needed to open a new office in the Big Apple. Becky comes along naively thinking that if she's overseas, the creditors can't possible catch up with her. Once in New York, Becky sees that she has truly found her "homeland". In between interviews with television producers she discovers Saks, Barneys and the infamous Manhattan "sample sales". Before long, she's knee deep in shopping trouble again; only this time it affects more than her own bank account.

SHOPAHOLIC TAKES MANAHATTAN engages all the reader's emotions; unpredictable dialogue, hilarious high jinks, enough melancholy to inspire sympathy, with an undercurrent of poignancy that ties it all together. Readers of Kinsella's previous story will be delighted to know that Luke plays a larger role. His character has been skillfully fleshed out and comes with a few surprises of his own. The slight intrigue involving a business colleague moves the story along without detracting from the main plotline. On the contrary, it plays an important role in Becky's journey to financial maturity. You'll laugh at Becky's antics, weep for her when her world comes crashing down, and cheer for her when she triumphs over life's dilemmas. While this book can conceivably stand alone, I recommend getting the first SHOPAHOLIC book to give you a firm background on Becky and Luke and what leads them to each other.

Reviewed by Kelly Jones
Posted February 24, 2002

Summary

In this latest novel, Becky has become a successful TV financial guru in Britain, and her boyfriend Luke is about to embark on the business deal of a lifetime. He is going to New York: land of Barney's and Bloomies, sample sales and Fashion Avenue! When he asks Becky to join him, she doesn't hesitate.

The glitz and glamour intoxicate Becky, as her dreams of life in the Big Apple all se to be coming true. But then, an unexpected act of betrayal forces Becky to come to terms with her actions and her relationship with Luke, and her penchant for purchasing.

This light-hearted adventure featuring the irrepressible Becky Bloomwood is the perfect antidote for these complicated times.