0
0
For the last few years, author Sophie Kinsella has taken a break from her beloved Shopaholic series, taking time off to work on standalone novels and a series for kids. But now, with Christmas Shopaholic, she catches up with Becky Bloomwood Brandon for a busy holiday season filled with romance, laughs, and shopping.
The story finds Becky Brandon back from the States and settled with her husband, Luke, and their daughter, Minnie, in the quaint village of Letherby. No longer living the bustling city life in London, Becky now works for her best friend, Suze, in the gift shop of Suze’s home. With the holidays approaching, Becky is looking forward to another relaxing Christmas with her family. But when Becky’s parents announce that they’re setting in the city while Becky’s sister stays in their home, Becky ends up preparing to host the holidays.
Anyone who’s ever hosted a family event will understand the stress that poor Becky experiences in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Everyone has different expectations and requests—from Becky’s vegan sister, who expects a sustainable Christmas, to family friends, who decide that they want to incorporate holiday traditions from around the world. And the requests just keep getting crazier and crazier as Becky tries to juggle it all—while also keeping everyone’s relationships from falling apart.
Fortunately, though, Christmas Shopaholic isn’t just about Becky trying to buy the right vegan turkey and get the must-have ornament of the holiday season. Becky may spend her daily “mindfulness” sessions hunting for bargains online, but there’s more to the story than just the shallow quest for name brands at a good price. In fact, there’s even more than the usual comical mishaps, too. Becky’s holiday season also involves trying to patch up the relationship between her mom and her best friend, getting her emotionally closed-off sister to open up about what’s been bothering her, and helping a newly single mom through a difficult season. Her methods may sometimes be misguided, but she’s got a good heart—and that gives the story a good amount of warm and cozy holiday cheer mixed in with the usual hilarious misadventures.
For fans of Becky’s previous adventures, Christmas Shopaholic is a fun-filled holiday reunion with a beloved character. But even if you’re new to the series—or have taken some time off—you’ll find plenty of holiday spirit in this laugh-out-loud Christmas rom-com.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
