Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: Dell
Publication Date: November 4, 2003
ISBN: 0440241413
MEET BECKY BLOOMWOOD, AN IRRESISTIBLE HEROINE WITH A BIG HEART, BIG DREAMS --- AND JUST ONE LITTLE WEAKNESS ...
Becky Bloomwood has what most twenty-five-year-olds only dream of: a flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is, she can't actually afford it --- not any of it. Her job writing atSuccessful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. Still, how can she resist that perfect pair of shoes? Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy boutique? But lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank --- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read --- and they're getting ever harder to ignore. She tries cutting back; she even tries making moremoney. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something ...
Finally, a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life --- and the lives of those around her --- forever.
This is an older book that I have seen around forever. I saw the movie once and liked it for what it was, a fun somewhat silly book about a girl who loved to shop. I don't really enjoy shopping for clothes, it's not my thing but BOOKS. Those are my thing, and I could relate due to this form of retail therapy.
I picked this up for fifty cents not too long ago, and found myself wanting something fun... and this book is definitely fun. You begin by meeting Becky Bloomwood, a girl who has a real need for retail therapy to an extreme while being a financial journalist. The irony among ironies. She spends $300 on a scarf. A SCARF. The cheap girl in me cried when this happened, but seeing the over the top lifestyle this woman lives is a true disconnect from the reality we are all probably used to. In this way, this book was a true joy to read.
I sped through the pages with enjoyment, partly because I needed to know what other ridiculous thing Becky was going to do. At times I wanted to walk into the pages and just take her credit card from her and cut it up. The things she chooses to do at times seem so obvious against what is right and good for her it almost drove me crazy. Ultimately though, it was an enjoyable, fun and light read for a weekend.
This is a good New Adult book (before New Adult was a thing) that expresses a woman's life as she struggles to find who she is (and how much money she has.) Becky is a woman in her first real job after college who is wistful and longs for great things... and is a financial journalist. She is unhappy with where she is and spending seems to fill up a void that makes her the person she actually wants to become... if only on the outside.
For any recent college grad, or anyone who has ever questioned what they want to be, this book is worth the read. The book strays very far from the movie in all respects, so coming to it with an open mind is very, very possible.
This is a quick, fun read that will have you laughing out loud... and at times make you long to pull Becky Bloomwood away from all her ridiculous endeavors.
