Customer Reviews

She Who Shops

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Six months after her lover Michael, of five years, leaves her claiming he's too young to settle down, Weslee moves from Chicago to Boston to finish her MBA. She wants to put distance between her and Michael and give her heart a chance to heal. Among her new classmates is Lana, a wealthy young woman who loves to party. There are things about Lana that Weslee doesn't particularly care for, such as her sharp tongue and her snobbishness, but Lana introduces her to a whole new world that includes friends and up-scale parties on Martha's Vineyard. Lana also introduces Weslee to upscale dressing and shows her how to buy expensive, name brand clothing. As a result, Weslee becomes addicted to shopping.

Weslee meets several handsome men and one of them is Lana's cousin, Duncan. She also meets William, a friend of Lana's, and finds him attractive as well, but puts him on hold in favor of Duncan's charm, grace and good looks. In a very short time, she's head over heels in love and she begins to spend more and more money on clothes and shoes. Her carefully planned school budget takes a huge hit.

Joanne Skerrett has written a wonderfully suspenseful love story about a young woman who has a tendency to rush into relationships before she really gets to know the man. In addition, when things begin to go sour, she doesn't hesitate to blame herself. SHE WHO SHOPS is stunningly realistic and all of us have known someone like Weslee, or have even behaved this way ourselves. It is a book that can entice anyone who likes finger biting suspense.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Not many authors write about Boston in a way that gives you its full flavor--from Copley Square to the heart of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, you come away from this book with both an intimate knowledge of its central characters and of the diversity of Boston's communities.

This novel is fun and engaging but don't let the "chiclet" packaging fool you. There's some serious themes in there as well and the main character ends up having to take a break from shopping designer labels and do some deep soul searching about who she is, what she wants out of life, and who she wants to spend her life with.

Overall I found the book to be an interesting read. The story flowed well, however I found it to be a bit too cliche. Its the typical story about someone who gets caught up in a whirldwind and then must realize what things in life are really important. There are already a million stories out there along this vein and this is not unique in any way. The main twist is that this book attempts to delve further into the lives of the black upper middle class. I do question the author's actual experiences with the black upper class. she chose to develop the character of Lana along the lines of the typical rich, spoiled brat. While there are members of the black upper class that are like this, the author seems to have missed the ones who are equally as ambitious as the main character Weslee. I feel that the author;s unfair critique of the black upper class detracted some from the book which is why I gave it only three stars. Perhaps next time the author will come up with a more unique storyline besides what is already tried, tired, and true.

I really loved reading this book. I didn't want to put it down because I was so interested in learning what happens to Weslee and her friends. It's a book about life situations that I'm sure many can relate to: being single and trying to make it on your own in a city, finding a good job, and having healthy relationships. But it's also about experiences that are less talked about: prejudice, classism, and racism. The writer, Joanne Skerrett, manages to weave these more serious topics into a story that is enthralling. (Plus, if you've ever visited Boston, you'll get a kick out of the many references to places in the area.)

Watching the journey of Weslee Dunster - a no-nonsense, pay-your-own-way Chicago girl who crashes headlong into Boston's black upper crust - is an intimate portrait of metamorphosis. You're rooting for Weslee as she explores a new path that allows her access to a fast-paced but often brutal social scene, and at the same time you're watching her unravel emotionally even as her savings account dwindles. Will she morally bankrupt herself to satisfy her new lifestyle? Or will she find the courage to rescue herself, listen to her instinct, and follow her own path?

It's a vividly told story every woman who's ever tried to make it on her own - on her own terms - can relate to.

Anyone who has ever moved to a new city and struggled to make friends and "fit in" would enjoy this new novel by Joanne Skerrett. Meet Weslee Dunster, an athletic and wickedly smart newcomer to Boston where she has decided to pursue her MBA at Boston University and begin a new life after a relationship falls apart. The conservative but down-to-earth Chicago/Caribbean girl befriends a high-strung, light-skinned wealthy spoiled classmate named Lana who introduces her to the in-crowd of Boston's upperly black social scene. The closer friends the pair become, the more Weslee starts spending her hard-earned savings on the latest Prada and chi-chi designer clothes at Boston's Newbury Street shops. Lana gives Weslee a much needed makeover, and in turn, changes Weslee for the better - or perhaps, worse. Skerrett beautifully weaves the history and charm of Boston's diverse neighborhoods and takes the reader to Martha's Vineyard for some social hobknobbing as well as Chicago's working-class immigrant neighborhoods. Lively, fun characters such as local reporter Sherry help anchor Weslee -spiritually and morally - and bring her back down from her compuslive out-of-control shop-a-thons to her homey, middle-class, Gap-clothes wearing roots. A fresh voice and fluid writing-style, this is a great debut by a new author.

I was hoping thias was a good book because I like dthe cover lol well its not! the book was boring and I love to read but I stopped after like 30 pages because I got bored. The book dragged and it seems this writer is trying to copy a style that didnt fit her very well I love girly books (like by shophie kinsella) and this was jus not gooD!

Comparing this book to the popular 90's movie, "Pretty Woman" might actually be doing the book a little bit of dis-service. This book actually has a lot more to offer, and certainly has more substance to it.

The author, Joanne Skerrett, successfully captures the lives and styles of a new generation of ambitious, young, urban adults through her title character, Wesley Dunster. Joanne describes with a simple eloquence the lives of trendy New England "buppies" caught in a class divide fueled by love, jealousy and lots of "bling"

This story could very easily apply to the lives of yuppies of any age or race in America.

This is a very well written book, but more importantly, its delightful fun reading every line of every page.

First off let me say that I love chick lit and I love shopping so I figured I'd love this book. I was completely wrong. I couldn't relate to the main character of this book. She is an African-American Republican and her political views are mentioned frequently throughout the book in a very judgmental manner.

All of the characters are completely one dimensional to the point of being cartoonish. The rich characters are beautiful, selfish, mean and self centered the poor characters are average looking, upstanding, moral do-gooders who only think of others and improving the world. Real people are 3 dimensional- no one is all good or all bad- but the author would have you believe otherwise. Much of the book is spent on the main character feeling sorry for herself to the point that you want to tell her to just get over it and get on with her life.

I am amazed by the number of good reviews. They must have read a different book. I picked up this book expecting that was light and fun. This book is depressing and the plot is so formulaic I kept wondering if I had read it before. About 1/3rd of the way through I wanted to stop reading but I figured that it couldn't get any worse. I was wrong. The book ends abruptly with minimal resolution and I wish I had not wasted my money or time on this novel.

I just finished this book today, and I enjoyed it. I felt for Weslee. I could relate to the character, and it was good to see her go on her journey and how much she grew in the spanse of a year. It's interesting to read this case study on Blacks and class, and how it all intersects. This would make for a great read at the beach or during a cool autumn day.