Reviewed by Chun Yin Wah
Persistent in her foibles, the protagonist Rebecca Bloomwood returns in Shopaholic Ties the Knot (2003, Dell Publishing, a division of Random House Inc, New York, 409 pages), the third novel in Sophie Kinsella’s popular Shopaholic series.
After mishaps in the previous book, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Rebecca works as a personal shopper at Barneys in New York. For her, it’s a perfect job because she loves to shop, all the better with someone else’s money.
Boyfriend Luke, the boss of a public-relations firm, soon proposes marriage. His disagreeable mother tries to throw a lavish New York wedding to impress her friends while Rebecca’s Mom enthusiastically plans for “the big event” in her British hometown. Confusion reigns as Rebecca tries on wedding dresses, samples cakes and compiles “bridal lists” at prestigious stores.
Sharing a joint account creates a big advantage. Rebecca can shop without worrying too much. She needs to hide the bills from Luke, but that doesn’t stop her from spending.
Rebecca struggles to cope with the stress of two weddings planned and organized independently in two countries on the same day. The book also assesses Luke’s relationship with his mother, how hard he tries to impress her although she walked out on him when he was a boy and how she uses him for her own purposes. Rebecca faces an extra challenge to mend this mother-child schism.
Fuel for the Shopaholic series runs low in this story. But many readers who enjoyed Kinsella’s earlier books want to know what Rebecca does next. This tale may disappoint them a little.
Approval rating: 59 per cent
For more information: www.readsophiekinsella.com or www.bantamdell.com
(January 24, 2008)
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