Shopaholic to the Stars (Shopaholic, #7)

by Sophie Kinsella

[Leah]

For all of us Sophie Kinsella fans it’s been a LONG, LONG wait for the next installment of Becky Brandon’s (nee Bloomwood) fabulous adventures, especially since Mini Shopaholic left us with the tantalising notion that Ms Brandon was off to LA! LOS ANGELES! THE LAND OF CELEBRITY! In fact, I’m surprised Becky hasn’t already been there, but she hasn’t. In celebration of the new Shopaholic novel – Shopaholic To The Stars, I was planning to re-read the entire series, in preparation, and because they never go out of style, but the proof copy arrived, and I couldn’t fathom reading six books before I got to this one… So my re-read will have to wait (and I can’t WAIT, because Shopaholic To The Stars brings back so many early Becky B adventures that you can’t help smiling) and the world of the Shopaholic is the same as ever… Utterly delightful.

What can I say that hasn’t been said before about the greatness of Becky Brandon? It doesn’t matter what kinds of scrapes she gets into, how deep a hole she digs herself, you still love her because she has that charming personality you just love. And as with the rest of the series, Shopaholic To The Stars is a delightful romp through LA, with everyone’s favourite Shopaholic. But, as it’s a Shopaholic novel, it’s not all plain sailing. Becky struggles to find herself a job in LA-LA land, Luke won’t introduce her to his client, actress Sage Seymour, and Becky’s worst enemy has returned – Alicia Bitch Long-Legs. (Oh how I missed ABLL!!!! NOT!!!) Then Suze and Tarquin arrive, and Tarquin is taken under the wing of a hippy. I mean, someone who works at Golden Peace, the place to be if you’re stressed (or on drugs, or have a shopping addiction *cough* Becky *cough*). There’s a lot that goes on during Shopholic To The Stars and Becky gets herself into a lot of scrapes – she comes close to divorce in every book, I’m sure (and I panic about it A LOT) but I was literally frightened while reading Shopaholic To The Stars. Because Luke is cool, the coolest husband ever, and I just fear one day Becky will push him too far!

The book is just totally LA, totally Becky. Compulsively readable, hard to put down, everything I love about a Kinsella book. It’s funny, as well, actually. Genuinely, snortingly funny. When Becky accidentally ends up acting as a seamstress and tells the girl she’s actually had a change of career I snorted with laughter. I just can’t talk about the book enough, there’s so much chaos, so much Hollyweird stuff going on, it’s exactly what you’d expect if Becky B ever ended up in Hollywood, let’s be honest. No one else can do it quite like she does, and it’s awesome. So awesome to be back in Becky’s world, to see Luke and Minnie (whose new favourite word is “Pleeeeeeeeeeease”), to have Suze and Tarquin come to LA (Tarkie! IN LA!!!! Insane). It’s like being back with old friends again and it’s delightful. Even when it’s all going wrong, you know it’s going to be okay, because Becky will save the day, and because she always does and I just loved it.

The ending nearly killed me. Kinsella likes her cliff-hangers, at least where Becky is concerned, and when I got to the last page and saw “Becky will return soon”, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, because so much was left unsaid! So much was left unravelled. What the heck is up with that? What is going on with Becky’s dad? WHAT’S GOING ON? I really hope Becky is returning soon – and not two or three years soon, because that’s not soon. I could do with it, like, yesterday to be perfectly honest ;). I loved Shopaholic To The Stars, it’s like your favourite blanket on a cold, rainy night, or the perfect pair of slippers (or Manolo’s, if you’re Becky). So good, so so good. Kinsella is a genius, and I love that she never lets me down, with her books. Shopaholic fans will ADORE this novel. It’s Becky’s most adventurous, dangerous adventure yet, and I wanted MORE.