I am glad that I re-read this book, but feel disappointed overall with how the earlier books in the Shopaholic series no longer stand up. I think it's because I have already read these books and the latest, that I just feel nothing but flat out annoyance towards Rebecca (Becky) and her hare-brained schemes to not pay her bills, to cover up when she's in over her head, and somehow through sheer luck to get out of trouble. And then somehow is in the right in the end when she is 100 percent in the wrong.

I read the first book several years ago and remember being charmed by it. In this second book, we now have Becky and Luke dating. Becky has convinced Luke to go off and take a mini-break to the country. While there she realizes that Luke has plans to expand his company to America, specifically New York. Becky after the events in the last book has paid off all of her debts and thinks she finally has her shopping bug under control.

Spoilers, she does not.

Pretty much Becky acts as if she has paid her bills off, that apparently if she uses her credit card that means her balance stays zero. Considering that Becky is a financial expert (seriously this was always funny to me) on a morning television show, you would think she be a bit smarter. I think readers are supposed to find Becky endearing. I just found her to be hopelessly immature.

Becky's relationship with her parents is to keep them in the dark (though you of course realize they are not that dumb) and she wants Luke to make a public declaration of his love for her. Honestly, I never got to be much of Luke fan until the later books. He feels like a non-person in these earlier books. We are given bare bone facts about him and you can feel yourself sympathizing with him. But then we are supposed to ignore his need to prove himself in America cause Becky gets her feelings hurt when they go to New York.

There are secondary characters long time readers know about like Tarquin and Suze. They also don't age very well in this second book in my opinion.

The writing was okay, but the flow was pretty bad. I think it is because you are just waiting for the characters to move along to New York. Of course once we move from London to New York I was bored senseless. You don't get a real sense of the city, crowds, movement, the uniqueness of New York. That's cause all Becky is focused on is shopping and hiding it from Luke.

The ending at first I thought redeemed itself. But when we go to two months later and things are just kind of hand-waved away and Luke telling Becky how right she is (after once again having her finances get to threat level midnight levels) I just yawned myself through it.

I read this for Romance Book Bingo 2017 square: Second Chances

This fits that square because the main couple breaks up and then gets back together at the end of the book..

Hey hey hey everyone and how's it going? I'm doing pretty good myself! I know this is crazy that I'm posting a blog on a Tuesday, yesterday was my dad's 50th birthday and so I decided to not post. Now, I'm here to do another review!!! Yay! Of course I will be reviewing Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella.

 

This one took me awhile to finish, because of Becky and how she is to herself! Don't get me wrong this one turned out a little better then the first one. Becky is a hard character to like, but after awhile she started to grow on me a little. I mean she does care about helping people and her best friend. 

 

Luke is still handsome as ever and charming, but he pretty much acted really douchey when it came to handling things outside of work, but he isn't so bad.

 

Suze is still supportive and caring and is successful by designing frames!

 

This one didn't turn out as bad and there was a lot of good moments to it! Becky is just being who she is and I can't get mad at her for being who she is. I too love to shop, but I go for the cheap things lol! So, that's all I have to say about this book. I know kind of short, but that's all I have. I might end up getting the rest of the series and see where it takes me!

 

Well, that's it from me and I'm just excited to finally having another review and also, tomorrow I will have another one yay!!! I hope you all have a great day/night where ever you are and til tomorrow!

 

IN SUMMERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

 

At A Glance

Genre: Chick lit
Love Triangle/Insta Love?: nope.
Cliff Hanger: nope.
Rating: 4.5 stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 7
Plot: 8
Characters: 8
World Building: 7
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: 8
Writing: 8
Ending: 8

Total: 8

In Dept

Best Part: New York!
Worst Part: Again, too clean an ending.
Thoughts Had: yay new york!; that witch!

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: yah!
Recommending: yah

Short Review: I think that the fact that i read two of Sophie's books in just 1 day should be reason enough for others to pick up her books! I'm so glad to be getting into the Shopaholic series again. They flow so well from one book to another. I was on the edge of my seat for this one, i knew something was going to go down but i didn't expect two things! Again, a too clean ending, especially since it's a series and the ending could have a been a huge cliff hanger but instead i got some cleanness. Oh well, on to book 3 :D

Review in GIF Form:

I liked this book as much as the first. It was a good second book. I liked seeing Rebecca find herself. She turned the negatives into positives and I admire that a bunch. Onto the third book!

Book Review #2

Title:Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Shopaholic#2)

Author:Sophie Kinsella

 

Summary

Becky Bloomwood has returned with her financial problemes——Yes, she is in debt again.

How can she resist to go shopping in New York?

You know, some souvenirs for friends,

some new clothes for interview is just a investment.

And when you shop in a sale, is absolutely saving money. 

But she got herself into a big trouble this time,

it ruined her glittering career and her relationship with her boyfriend.

Can She handle all these mess and survive in this disaster?

 

My thoughts

First of all, I felt a little bit disappointed about Becky in debt again. Why can't she just learn a lesson? She just keep buying things and keep extending her budget limit.

Then what is the purpose to set a limit to herself?

However this book is better than the first one. Because the first book mainly focus on Becky's financial problemes but it  has more plot about her relationship with other people this time. I love the romance between Luke and Becky. Also, Suze is such a best friends to Becky, always supportive and caring.

At last,This story is so inspiring.When you see how Becky get through all the difficulties and find a job which she truely love. It makes you think about your life again and  ask youself if you are doing something you really love. Moreover , it's not easy to confront frustration. But you can learn the courage from Becky. Everyone can break away from plight if they have determination to change.