Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic and Sister

What a great story Shopaholic and Sister was, there must be another instalment of Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood soon

Shopaholic and Sister

Sophie Kinsella

Dial, Oct 2004, $23.00, 355 pp.

ISBN: 0385338090

Becky Brandon has traveled the world on her honeymoon with her spouse Luke, but in reality, inside Becky remains a Bloomwood which means to Bex that she still is a shopaholic, whose global tour was a humongous shopping spree. However, walking hot coals or trying to obtain a twelfth dynasty ring from the Royal Cairo Institute of Archeology is Bex doing what she does best, shop until her "opponent" drops even when the advice is not to ship six huskies from Alaska to London

Bex and Luke return to London, but he is not quite the cool hand anymore as her international bundles begin arriving at their penthouse. News on the home front is quite a shocker when Bex learns that dad sired a half-sister. Bex pictures a shopping partner, but Jessica is her diametrical opposite as a prudent environmentalist who thinks shopping ranks with pollution. Luke walks out on Bex, figuring there is not enough room for him and her packages. Bex joins her sibling on a protest against an environmentally incorrect corporation, but that impacts Luke's job. Bex seeks a commonality with her sister and tries to persuade Luke to come home.

This shopaholic sequel contains some of the wit and humor of the previous tale, especially when Bex corresponds with various people, including those who refuse to sell an item that she has decided needs buying. However, Jessica's caring about the environment even as an extreme tree hugger makes Bex look immature and shallow. Still, fans will laugh at the antics of the SHOPAHOLIC AND SISTER as they both wonder how they share any part of the gene pool.

Harriet Klausner

Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic and Sister - Sophie Kinsella does it again. Rebecca, now home after ten months on honeymoon, comes home to find her former life is no more. Mom and Dad are acting strangely. Suze, her best friend has a new best friend - with kids. Danny her friend in New York has no time for her as he has become an overnight fashion success. And Luke gets right back into workoholic mode. Sophie is alone and sad until she finds out she has a sister... or does she?