Mini Shopaholic: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Sophie Kinsella (Author)

Book Description

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Sophie Kinsella's I've Got Your Number and a sneak peek into all of the Shopaholic novels.

Becky Brandon thinks that having a daughter is a dream come true: a shopping friend for life! But two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. The toddler 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 nationwide 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?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the latest installment to the wildly popular Shopaholic series (Shopaholic and Baby; etc.), Rebecca Brandon returns with willful two-year-old Minnie, who has taken after her mother in her fierce determination and her addiction to luxury brands. When the financial crisis finally hits the Brandon family, Rebecca vows to stop shopping until she's worn everything in her closet at least three times; Luke scrambles for new business directions; and Minnie remains exceptionally difficult. Still, Rebecca wants to throw Luke a surprise birthday bash, but planning it behind his back and on a budget proves almost impossible. As in all previous Shopaholic books, Rebecca is loud and proud about her luxury-brand obsession and equally at ease being a flighty, sometimes annoying lead, though her well-meaning secret birthday mission scores her much-needed points in the sympathy department. Series fans know what to expect and will get it by the Birkin-load.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The follow-up to Kinsella’s Shopaholic & Baby (2007) finds Becky and Luke Brandon’s daughter, Minnie, hitting the terrible twos. More than a handful for Becky, Minnie is already picking up on some of her mother’s bad habits, particularly when it comes to shopping. With frequent cries of “Miiiiine!” Minnie is the embodiment of the voice in Becky’s head that won’t let her say no to bargain buys and designer clothes. Becky’s far more financially conscious husband, Luke, wants Becky to cut back on her shopping, forcing the fashionista to become a recessionista and actually wear the many clothes in her closet more than once. Not to be deterred, Becky channels her energy into planning a huge surprise birthday bash for Luke, which quickly gets out of hand. She is also determined to convince him that, despite their difficulties with Minnie, they should have another child. It’s been three years since readers last enjoyed the company of Becky Brandon née Bloomwood, and this lively, good-spirited romp is bound to please fans of the series. --Kristine Huntley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 2030 KB
• Print Length: 433 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0385342047
• Publisher: The Dial Press (September 21, 2010)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003EY7IUY
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,535 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #25 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British > Contemporary
  • #39 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mothers & Children
  • #48 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British > Humor & Satire

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Immature and irresponsible November 26, 2010

By Citylights

Format:Hardcover

I have read all the Shopaholic books and loved them, but was disappointed in this one.

Becky used to be young, silly and funny. But now she's an adult, she's a mother and what was cute when she was in her early twenties is now really immature and sad. It made me almost sick to read about how she put her daughter in debt (not serious debt to the bank, but still) and effectively passed her shopping addiction on to Minnie, lied to her family and friends and put on a huge expensive party when she was supposed to cut back on her spending.

Obviously the books are about shopping and about Becky getting in trouble and how she gets out of it, but I would like to see some growth in her character. She should realize she has an addiction and deal with it. I can't believe Luke is still letting her run around spending so much money, isn't he supposed to be the reasonable one?

In Becky's defense she did wear all the clothes in her wardrobe. And the storyline with Minnie and Ellinor was interesting, I'd like to hear more about that.

If there's a next book I'll read it, but I hope Becky matures in it. It's ridiculous to read about a grown woman being as irresponsible as this and her sensible husband letting her.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars The Shopaholic Series has run its course November 14, 2010

By Eric A. Hofstetter VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I have read all of the books in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. I enjoyed them in the beginning, but I found the last two to be repetitive and boring. How many times can someone manipulate and lie her way out of a situation before it catches up to her? Apparently, there are no limits to that for Becky Bloomwood Brandon. I found this book boring and disappointing. Becky and Luke are raising a spoiled brat. If Ms. Kinsella continues the series, Minnie will grow up to be more self-absorbed and obnoxious than her mother. It was hard to read, and I would not recommend this book.

42 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Original Shopaholic is Back and Trying To Mend Her Ways (But Not Too Much) September 21, 2010

By Rachel Kramer Bussel VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

First, let me be up front: I'm a Sophie Kinsella fan. I discovered Confessions of a Shopaholic when it first came out and was instantly hooked. Becky has a charm all her own, and in this latest installment, she's a mom, there's a recession and she's trying to save money, plan a party for her husband, Luke, and do a little detective work. Of course, hilarity ensues.

The addition of her daughter, Minnie, who has acquired her mothers acquisitive ways, is entertaining, if over the top, though watching Becky rationalize Minnie's pin money is familiar and fun. The real magic here is the way Luke can read Becky like a book, even as she tries to shop less. Her attempts at bartering are quite entertaining. I don't want to spoil the book too much but will say that Becky's relationship with her family and most everyone she knows wind up extremely strained by her sneaking around ways. Kinsella works in the financial woes of the world and tries to put Becky on a budget. Zany fun that'll have Becky surely winning over new readers and wooing old ones. The only thing I didn't think was on par with previous books were Becky's formal letters; they were very Becky, with suggestions to government leaders about the economy, but didn't quite have the zing of the early ones to her bank managers. That's a very minor quibble in what could be called recession chick lit, or just plain page-turning escapism.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A "Half Star" wasn't available October 16, 2010

By irishlass72

Format:Hardcover

I was annoyed by this book. Becky doesn't appear to have grown or developed as a character since I first met her in "Confessions."

My problems with this book ****SPOILERS******

1) Lying to parents
2) Lying to Luke. He STILL doesn't know how Elinor helped Becky out.
3) Her obsession with another baby. Why? Another accessory?
4) Despite the title, Becky still doesn't realize she is truly addicted to shopping.
5) Ho-hum. Off to LA. Haven't we done the "across the pond is a new experience for Becky" plotline before?

I think the author is DONE with this series. Please, end it now.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Maybe I outgrew Becky .... September 29, 2010

By momazon

Format:Hardcover

... because now I am just bored and annoyed with her. She's really not fun anymore, I feel horrible by how she burdens her parents and husband with her lies and childishness. I picked up the book at the library, and I know I won't read the next Becky book for love or money.

I should add that I loved Kinsella's recent book "Twenties Girl", and thought the characters and storyline there were very fresh and captivating.

40 of 48 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I love Sophie Kinsella but... September 22, 2010

By Cate

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In this newest book Becky Bloomwood has a two-year-old daughter who Luke worries is out of control, so much so that he wants to call the equivalent of a Super Nanny; a part-time job as a personal shopper to feed her clothing addiction; and as much of a spending addiction as she ever did -- worse, in fact, because now she can say she's buying for Minnie. Add a global recession and her determination to throw the biggest most lavish party she can, and you've got a typical Bloomwood scenario, with the potential to go enormously wrong. Sophie Kinsella manages to keep it funny, with some lovely poignant moments, and she still manages to work in some surprises, but what was humorous and charming in book one is becoming a little stale. And where readers could sympathize with the early Becky, it's hard to feel for someone who spends too much when she has a wealthy husband. Not to mention that at this point the reader has to wonder: Is she ever going to learn?

So, in short, still enjoyable -- but I'd love to see something new!

More About the Author

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series as well as the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I've Got Your Number, and Wedding Night. She lives in England.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#42 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

#50 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary

#80 in Books > Romance

#97 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#42 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

#50 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary

#80 in Books > Romance

#97 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance