Long live Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood)!

Imagine my joy, when I received an email saying I was approved for a galley of her latest novel, Christmas Shopaholic, due to be published in October,2019. I could not read this one fast enough.

Becky finds out that her parents are not only moving away for some time to live in a “hipster” neighborhood, but they will not be hosting Christmas this year. It is time for Becky to do so! Becky’s half sister, Jess, is staying in her parent’s house while they are away, so she is invited as well. And you can’t have Christmas without Janice and her husband. Suze, of course, is also invited with her family. And Becky needs to buckle down and shop smart. Is that even possible with a shopaholic?

Planning for Christmas would be easy, except Becky suspects something is wrong with Jess’ marriage, her rock-God ex-boyfriend has appeared out of nowhere wanting to be friends with Becky again (but…why?), a fellow mom at school is struggling with her personal life where Becky wants to help, and Luke’s perfect present would be so easy to get, if she can just get admission to a men’s only club.

I loved reading this adventure. Becky’s world feels like home to me, and this time around I found myself laughing literally out loud. That wasn’t good for me, as I was sneakily reading it while I was supposed to be working because I couldn’t put it down. This is another classic Becky book that has made me feel festive in August. I cannot wait for Christmas this year, where I hope life will be like a Hallmark movie.

OK. Don't panic. Becky is back! I was so excited to get an advance copy of this book through NetGalley. It is wonderful! I cannot remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud so much. Just like you'd expect from a Sophie Kinsella book, this one will have you laughing hysterically one minute and tearing up the next. It is absolutely perfect!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

I loved this installment of the Shopaholic series! I've read them all and this is probably one of my favorites. Becky is up to her usual antics and it is laugh-out-loud funny! The ending sets up for another novel in the series, so I hope Sophie Kinsella keeps writing!

When the humidity reaches 100% and the temps soar into the 90s, I want to imagine myself somewhere cooler. Much cooler. Someplace where it is Christmas.

Sophie Kinsella’s CHRISTMAS SHOPAHOLIC is the perfect antidote, a Hallmark movie in book form. A cheerful, sparkling story of the disasters—and shopping—that ensue when Becky Brandon agrees to host the family holiday celebration.

It has been quite a while since I've read one of the Shopaholic books and it's safe for me to say that Becky has grown (somewhat). She still makes bad choices with her shopping, and now she is also making bad choices about how she appears to others. ( maybe she always has, but mainly I'm reading this as a 'standalone' instead of part of the series; it has been that long since I've read one of these)!

Becky may be flighty at times and worry too much about what others think of her, but she is a good mother, a warm person and a very caring friend daughter and sister.

She has a lot of cringe-worthy moments in this book, and at times the book seems to make little sense (for me it was the hamster scene). However, everything works out in the end.

I think one of the reasons I had some problems with this story-line is that I see too much of myself in Becky's character. I also shop for what I think I'll need in the future-store things away and then forget about them and do most of my shopping from the computer and get stuck with things that aren't quite right! Another problem I had was with her sister (half?step?) Jess, and her ridiculous (to me) demands on what is appropriate to spend your money on; after all, it's your cash and your business what you do with it.

A fun, funny, light and fast read that brings the spirit of Christmas to the fore.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

When I was 19 living in my first apartment with no money my sister introduced me to the world of shopaholic and Becky Bloomwood. This was 2003 and I have been enamored ever since. From the intriguing way the book is written with letters to and from credit card companies and banks (I'm talking about you Derek Smeath) to the situations I felt like I have a best friend in Becky. I could relate to the situations and the stuffing of credit card bills and the rush one feels when one shops. Fast forward to several years and books later Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood and I have went through adulthood together. From marriage to babies there was always a new shopaholic book that related or resonated with me. I was missing Becky ever since the last book and our road trip adventure of sorts in Shopaholic to the Rescue. When I found out that Sophie Kinsella was writing a Christmas book with Becky I did cartwheels in excitement. (Well not really because this 35 year old would be sore for days after a cartwheel) Regardless you get my point. This book did not disappoint and I gobbled in up quickly. When this releases in hardback in October I know I will be reading it again because its the holiday time and lets be honest its Becky. There are no books like the shopaholic books and I hope they continue for a very long time.

You know how some retail stores start putting out Christmas decorations the second the 4th of July is over, even though we still have Thanksgiving and Halloween to get through? That's me with books set during Christmas time, I am itching to read them mid-July every year and I am always excited to read the first one to kick things off. Christmas Shopaholic was a great novel to kick off my Christmas reading because it's a familiar character so I can easily dive into Becky's world. This book was hilarious. The whole book was laugh out loud funny and although I am not one to re-read books usually (there are just too many good ones out there that I will never get around to if I do that) this is definitely one I could see myself re-reading in the future. I love all of the shenanigans that Becky gets into in this book, and I am hoping that we get more of her adventures from Sophie Kinsella in the future!

If you think the holidays are crazy with your family, try being Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood)! Once again, Becky has found herself in a situation that she can't shop her way out of and it is wonderfully fun. This festive addition to the Shopaholic series is one you don't want to miss!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Shopaholic is a superb novel especially resonating with all of us who have been put in the position of now holding your "mother's" place in the family tradition of hosting family affairs. Of course, she has numerous family obstacles, to overcome as the 'shopaholic' always does, making this a quirky and hilarious read, but one to which we can definitely relate.

4.5 Stars

I haven't read the Shopaholic series in sometime. I think the last book I read was Shopaholic and Baby and after I half lost interest, and half didn't realize there weren't any more titles to read. So I'm jumping in after a break. I loved the first book, and most of the others as well. The movie didn't do it justice, although Isla Fischer was pretty good as Becky Bloomwood. I read these books back when I was single and a bit of a shopaholic myself so I was worried now picking this up in the age of minimalism, as a mom of 3, how I would feel.

First off, I did love it. Becky Brandon née Bloomwood is now the mum of a preschool aged child, living in the quiet village of Letherby and working at the gift shop on the estate of her bff Suze. There's all mummy wars issues, women handling too much, and of course shopping. But Becky is at least trying to be a bit more conscious thanks to the influence of her vegan non-consuming sjw sister Jess, so that's something. I did for bit think all this shopping and crazy spending has gotten so old. I'm over it and it reads a bit irresponsible. But in the end that's Becky and it does make for some crazy plotting. I guess Luke is once again loaded. I thought he was down in his expenses for awhile when he branched off on his own but I guess he is once again back in the money.

It was slow to get into and to be honest I expected more Christmas feel to it in the first half. If you put Christmas in the title and have a holiday themed cover, you need to deliver the goods. The first half is just build up to that, and I understand they are British, so for us Americans, the "holidays" is now basically Labor Day through New Years. (Labor Day-Back to School-Fall Break-Halloween-(sorry Veterans)-Thanksgiving-Christmas-NYE) It would be a shopaholic holiday extravaganza. But this is England, so the first part of the book is cold weather and planning for the Nativity. I forgot how these books often build up - Becky's capers getting crazier and the strings all weaving together into the denouement, where everything pays off in a heartfelt way. We have that here. I just got a bit bored and anxious because there wasn't much holiday spirit in the first half.

The major storylines here are Becky is hosting Christmas herself for the first time, an old flame moves to town and he's a rock star, and Becky's dealings with a men's social club. The last of these is my favorite and I wish it had been more of the focus. The rock star bit, I realized too late, fits the same model as all the books with a side love interest for Becky and some catty woman rival as well. Ah well again, this is the Shopaholic series book 9, so if you're picking it up, this is what you want and Kinsella is delivering.

The book went from a 3 to a 4 to a 5 at the end. Bit slow to start, picked up and the craziness in full swing and I'm loving the ride and then the end where all of Becky's capers collide but we realize that she's all heart and that's what always saves her. It's surprising honestly that there wasn't already a Holiday Shopaholic since the plot pattern aligns so well with the genre. All in all, I'm glad Shopaholic is back and this is a fun new entry to the series which is a good read anytime, with a dash of Christmas Spirit.

Becky as a modern/online frugal shopper is so us - most women currently, and I totally related to her. I was all smiles when she makes her lists, on seeing her search history and her actual purchases of course where she scores amazing deals. Importance of creating awareness about eco-friendly lifestyle is so relevant in these times.

It’s a book with all the cuteness plus three important topics - happiness in little things with family, gender equality and eco-friendly lifestyle. It calls itself not a typical Christmas story but it does give beautiful Chistmas-sy feels. If you are a fan of this series, you wouldn’t want to miss this one. It ends up so nicely making the reader emotional and bursting with love for your loved ones. All of contribution from Luke and Minnie is absolutely beautiful as well.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It was so wonderful to spend some time with Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood again, and I flew through this book. I've read all of the other books in the series, so it was like being reunited with old friends. True to form, Becky found herself in lots of different scrapes and awkward situations, some of her own making, but some just because it seems that she attracts chaos! Having the story take place around Christmas added a really fun element, and I could definitely relate to some of the madness. Sophie Kinsella writes Becky as maddeningly, impulsively silly, yet she's also intelligent, and she has such a big heart! I so enjoy the relationship between her and Luke as well. I loved this book, and I'll read it again around Christmas!

When first seeing that there is another book to the Shopaholic series, I immediately request it and then am elated to received this ARC. But then I wonder...will it be the same? Will it grab me like all the other Shopaholic books? Thank God the answer is YES YES YES! Sophie Kinsella has done it again- bringing the delightful Becky Bloomwood to life and this time with a holiday spirit that I think a lot of us can relate to. There are plenty of LOL shopping moments throughout and it's so wonderful to see this character mature (now married with a child) but still be able to bring us to giggles with her antics! This is a must-read for anyone who has loved the previous Shopaholic books...its such a fabulous escape into Becky's world! Such a fun way to kick off the Christmas season! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love the Shopaholic books, and this one did not disappoint. Yes, they can be a bit predictable but I find them enjoyable just the same. A Christmas volume is just what the series needed, and I am looking forward to the next installment of Becky’s adventures!

It was great to jump back into the Shopaholic series. This book had plenty of laugh out loud moments and this was a quick, enjoyable read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I didn't realize how much I had missed becky brandon née bloomwood until i read Christmas Shopaholic!! 🎄 i smiled and literally laughed out loud through the whole book. Thank you @sophiekinsellawriter and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I will probably read it again at Christmas. 📚💕

Another charming installment in the Shopaholic series. Cute, fun and laugh out loud funny the entire way through. I truly enjoyed this next chapter for Becky!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Love, love, love! Christmas Shopaholic is classic Sophie Kinsella, and classic Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood). If you can't get enough of Becky's funny, well-intentioned but usually wrong-footed antics, this is a can't miss title. Fabulous!

A fun read in keeping with the author's previous books and styles.. Predictable but makes for a good easy going page turner for this genre.