Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is Sophie Kinsella’s follow-up to Confessions of a Shopaholic. Becky Bloomwood is back, after paying off all her high flying debts she accumulated on her multiple shopping sprees. Since paying off those debts, along with her new job of financial advisor on a morning talk show, Becky has the mind set that she is free and clear to shop her fashionable little heart out again. You see it coming: the collection letters in the mail, her new bank manager offering no sympathetic ear, and the continuous downward spiral of her shopaholic life.
Something Blue, Emily Giffin’s follow-up novel from Something Borrowedgives a spectacular narrative twist. Instead of following through loveable Rachel’s eyes, whom we all came to adore and sympathize in the first book, we now follow Darcy, the best friend whom was betrayed by BFF Rachel. But as we learned from Something Borrowed, Darcy wasn’t as loveable or relatable as Rachel proved to be.
Confessions of a Shopaholic. All chick lit readers should be well aware of this fabulous Sophie Kinsella novel turned movie starring the red headed beauty Isla Fischer. Becky Bloomwood is the lovable main character, with a weakness for designer labels and debt chasing her to the extreme. Her thought processes can make you laugh for the entire duration of the book, with crazy schemes running wild in her head. You cringe as she continues to rack up debt after debt, and can do nothing else but shake your head as the tales she tries to feed to her bank manger.
Though the writing wasn’t completely stellar, I think it showed how much effort Nicole Richie actually put into writing this chick lit novel, and not wanting to have a ghostwriter. Some of the language perplexed me, and more than once was I confused at where the plot was going, but a strong finish kept me thinking about the characters and their lives even after I turned the last page.
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin is an incredibly relatable chick lit novel. Rachel, our lovable main gal pal, is an attorney living in Manhattan, enjoying…
Bliss by Danyel Smith is a head scratcher. I tried with all my might to finish to the last page, even the last chapter, but only made it as far as Chapter 10. I understand that Smith wants to “write with music” and the book is based on Eva Glenn, a powerful, fierce record executive who may or may not be pregnant with the father unknown, but with every other line quoting music, I just could not follow the plot. The characters, aside from Eva, were not powerful. Not one stood out to me, and I had to constantly go back and try to re-read about the supporting characters in order for me to understand what was happening. And I still couldn’t quite grasp the story. The more I read, the more confused I would become.
The First Assistant by Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare is a chick lit riot. Attempt to keep up with Lizzie Miller as she powers her way through the Hollywood elite as an assistant to a scurvy boss with a thing for young models, who also happens to be the husband of Lizzie's bestie. Travel to Thailand as Lizzie watches over her hotter than thou young client, learning valuable lessons about Hollywood, love, and life in general. As Lizzie’s own love life collapses when her and her wealthy almost-fiancée, Luke Lloyd, are forced to work on separate continents, Lizzie has to decide what is best for her- continue the circus ride that is Hollywood, or throw it all behind to be the housewife that Luke wants her to be. This tale draws you in ‘behind the curtain’ of the Hollywood scene, making you feel that you are right in the mix with the elite and wealthy.
Kinsella published her first six books under the name of Madeleine Wickham, and those titles are: The Tennis Party, A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, and Cocktails for Three. Under Sophie Kinsella, there are ten titles published; titles are: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sleeping Arrangements, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Can You Keep a Secret?, Shopaholic and Sister, The Undomestic Goddess, Shopaholic & Baby, Remember Me, and Twenties Girl.
Emily Giffin married at the age of 30, and also signed a two book contract with the well known St. Martin’s Press. Something Borrowed and Something Blue were released at their respective times and both became best sellers. Giffin is also author of titles Baby Proof and Love the One You’re With, and has sold the film rights of her first two novels to Hilary Swank and the production company Wild Ocean Films. She is currently writing her fifth novel, Heart of the Matter, due for release in the spring of 2010.
