Shopaholic & Sister (Hardcover)

by Sophie Kinsella (Author)
Key Phrases: daily world, hotel launch, peppermint creams, Nathan Temple, Arcodas Group, Sri Lanka (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) returns with a vengeance in bestseller Kinsella's fourth Shopaholic novel. Her 10-month globe-trot with hubby Luke was a shopping spree disguised as a honeymoon—heck, Becky will walk across hot coals for an aquamarine necklace (and thereby trick her Sri Lankan yogi into thinking she's achieved enlightenment)—but the problems of the real world (sort of) surface once the happy couple lands back in London. ("Luke's penthouse has its own lift right to the front door, which is just so cool!"). Even lovely Luke's patience is supremely tried when those two truckloads of purchases show up. What's worse: Becky's best friend, Suze, has found a new best friend, and her parents have discovered another daughter. Seems Dad had a fling with a train stewardess back in the 1970s—and Jessica was the result. Becky is over the moon, picturing heart-to-heart talks, shopping excursions, sisters' nights out and so forth—so she's totally unprepared for the actual Jessica, a frugal environmentalist who (gasp!) actually hates shopping. Prattling Becky tries to charm her sis, but it doesn't seem to be working; meanwhile, Luke is preoccupied with his job, and then there's that stranger from Milan whom Becky owes for getting her that impossibly perfect Angel bag... what does he want with Luke? Of course everything will work out in the end—and there will be a nice message about the importance of friends and family—but this installment isn't as winning as its predecessors.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Becky Bloomwood, shopaholic extraordinaire, is back. She and her new husband, Luke Brandon, have been on a whirlwind ten-month honeymoon that's taken them all around the world, but both are itching to get back to London. When they do return, Becky is disturbed to discover that her best friend has a new good buddy, and Becky's parents are acting strangely. It turns out that they've just learned that her dad fathered a child a few years before he met her mother. Becky is thrilled to learn she has a half-sister, until she meets Jess. Jess is nothing like Becky: her clothes aren't fashionable, she prefers dank caves to shoe stores, and she is incredibly frugal. After an awkward weekend together, the sisters part company on bad terms. To make matters worse, Becky's gotten herself into a pickle with a purchase that could put a strain on her marriage. Like the previous installments, Shopaholic & Sister is hilarious fun for Prada and Gucci aficionados. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Dial Press; First Edition edition (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385338090
• ISBN-13: 978-0385338097
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (226 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #212,135 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Shopaholic Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becky Bloomwood Is Back and Funnier Than Ever, October 10, 2004

By	Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Becky Bloomwood Brandon is back and as funny, vulnerable, and lovable as ever. I am amazed that Sophie Kinsella can keep the humor and laughter coming with this ditzy character, but she does. Frankly, I felt this was the best of the series thus far.

We meet up with Becky and Luke in the 10th month of their round-the-world honeymoon. When an invitation to the christening for Suze's twins arrive, the travellers decide to head back to London. Of course, there are a couple of stops along the way, like Milan where Becky studies "local artifcacts" (Versace shoes) and lands the biggest fashion coup of the year by claiming a genuine Angel handbag thanks to a lot of help from a somewhat shady character who will, needless to say, be back for a proper thank you.

Becky's return is not what she envisioned, however. Not only has Suze acquired a new best friend, but her parents are acting very strange. For good reason as it turns out. A previously unknown sister has emerged from the past. Seems Daddy Bloomwood was quite the rogue before he met Mama Bloomwood. Becky immediately begins to fantasize about replacing Suze with this new sister. She dreams of watching chick flicks, eating peppermint creams, laughing, and most of all, shopping with her new-found sister Jess. Alas, Jess is not at all compatible with Becky. Not only is she a dedicated activist and rock collector, she is....dare we use the word.......FRUGAL! And she does not approve of Becky's addiction to shopping at all.

Their relationship makes for lots of laugh-out-loud moments and even a few misty-eyed ones. Following their relationship's development and explosion is a true trip into the heart of Becky Bloomwood and what makes her a character millions have fallen in love with.

So if you want to see Becky running barefoot over hot coals to get a 5-carat aquamarine at half price, interfering in Luke's business and placing him in an insufferable position, and taking the hiking trip to end all hiking trips, pick up the latest issue in this always-delightful series.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kinsella Does IT Again!!!, October 6, 2004

By	Tiffany Celeste "Shopaholic Addict" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Shopaholic & Sister is the newest installment to what was supposed to end at a Trilogy. Rebecca Brandon (nee Bloomwood) and husband Luke Brandon have just decided to end their year long honeymoon around the globe. When they arrive back at Luke's penthouse they are bombarded with the more gifts and mementos than they could remember buying. Along with that, there are things that get thrown at the newlyweds to juggle. Bex finds out her best friend forever Suze has replaced her with a snooty Lulu, her parents are in counseling, and she finds out about a long lost half sister. Bex has been put on a strict budget due to her vast spending habits. On top of that, she owes a very important man a favor for getting her fab Angel bag. Her sister is a rock loving fanatic that would rather due her accounts than go shopping. Becky doesn't understand why her sister hates shopping I mean after all they are sisters. Becky pulls crazy antics yet she's lovable, funny, and able to turn what seems like the worst situation into one that is unforgettably hilarious and becomes a shining star in the end. The entire Shopaholic series including Shopaholic & Sister had me gripping the covers in anticipation. I hope that Sophie Kinsella will continue to write about my most favorite characters including Rebecca Brandon (nee Bloomwood) again and again.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEXTER IS BACK WITH A BANG!!!, October 7, 2004

By	Dana Y. Bowles "DYB" (West Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This latest in the Shopaholic series begins with the ending of Luke and Becky's "round-the-world" honeymoon. They've been everywhere, and Becky loves her new "laid back" husband. But some things never change--like Becky's spending habits. By the time the couple returns to London, Becky has all but forgotten about many of her purchases--until they are shipped home; in TWO trucks. The couple arrives back in London early, to surprise their loved ones (especially Becky's beloved Suze, who is about to have her new twins christened)--and are more suprised themselves. Becky's parents share some shocking news with her--she has a half-sister!! And in typical Becky fashion, she fantasizes about her sister--and pictures them getting their nails done, sharing sisterly secrets, and of course shopping together. The announcement of a long-lost sister comes none to soon--as Becky has discovered that in her absence, her best friend Suze has replaced her with the insufferable Lulu, who shares her love of horses and of motherhood.
But Becky's meeting with her sister does not go at all as she pictured; and despite Becky's best efforts, she fails to win Jess over. A disastrous weekend spent at Becky and Luke's flat results in a heated argument--and the sisters part ways.
A joy to read, this is just a tidbit of the fun that awaits fans in this fourth installment of the series. Becky's shopping obessessions become entangled in Luke's business ventures in ways that readers just cannot see coming. Laugh out loud FUN!!


DYB