Can You Keep a Secret? By Sophie Kinsella.

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0-552-77110-4
Genre: Fiction ~Chick Lit
Publisher: Black Swan.

"Emma is sitting on a turbulent plane. She's always been a v. nervous flyer. She really thinks that this could be her last moment. So, naturally enough, she starts telling the man sitting next to her - quite a dishy American, but she's too frightened to notice -all her innermost secrets. How she scans the backs of intellectual books and pretends she's read them. How she does her hair up like Princess Leia in her bedroom. How she's not sure if she has a G-spot, and whether her boyfriend could find it anyway. How she feels like a fraud at work - everyone uses the word 'operational' all the time but she hasn't a due what it means. How the coffee at work is horrible. How she once threw a troublesome client file in the bin. If ever there was a bare soul, it's hers. She survives the flight, of course, and the next morning the famous founding boss of the whole mega corporation she works for is coming for a look at the UK branch. As he walks around, Emma looks up and realises...It's the man from the plane. What will he do with her secrets? He knows them all - but she doesn't know a single one of his. Or...does she?"


I was looking forward to reading this book, as I loved Sophie's previous Shopaholic series and Undomestic Goddess. So I knew what to expect from this book. Overall I enjoyed this book and it did make me laugh. But, The Undomestic Goddess still remains my favourite book of Sophie's individual novels. Whereas, Shopaholic and a Sister is my favourite from the Shopaholic series.

There is one thing about Sophie's books that I have noticed, imo I sort of feel like in all the books; I'm reading about the same character. They all have great jobs, they're all a bit dizzy and they all find love. This isn't such a bad thing as with Sophie Kinsella you know what to expect, but I would like to see her do something a little bit different next time.

I know she has written other books under the name of Madeleine Wickham, so may be these are a bit different to the books I have read under the name 'Sophie Kinsella'. But atm I'm not in a rush to read them, but will be interested to hear if anyone else has.

My Verdict: Predictable Sophie Kinsella book, but still loads of fun to read!

Shopaholic & a Sister by Sophie Kinsella.

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552771112
Genre: Chick Lit
Publisher: Black Swan

"Becky Bloomwood thought being married to Luke Brandon would be one big Tiffany box of happiness. But to be honest, it's not quite as dreamy as she'd hoped. The trouble started on honeymoon, when she told Luke the tiniest little fib, about the teeniest little purchase. Now she's on a strict budget, she doesn't have a job - and worst of all her beloved Suze has a new best friend. She's feeling rather blue - when she receives some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky has never been more excited. Finally, a real sister! They'll have so much in common! They can go shopping together... choose shoes together... have manicures together... Until she meets her - and gets the shock of her life. It can't be true. Surely Becky Bloomwood's long-lost sister can't... hate shopping? A sister. A soulmate. A skinflint?!"


I totally loved this edition of the shopaholic series. It was for me, by far the best!
It had all the laughter and the emotion that goes with Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood!). But this one I thought was just a little different and this difference, made it that more enjoyable for me. It was a little bit more realistic. Of course, the Shopaholic series will always be far fetched and yes this book was far fetched, but, I felt it was more realistic due to the the story of how she meets her sister and how different they are. I found this one so enjoyable, I laughed so much at the one-liners, but I also cried! (especially when she goes to see her sister and then, goes mountain climbing and then speaks to her hubby Luke on the phone) It tugged at my emotions a lot in this book and I so felt for Becky!

My Verdict: The very best of Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood). Fantastic!

Shopaholic Ties The Knot by Sophie Kinsella.

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552999571
Genre: Chick Lit
Publisher: Black Swan.

"Rebecca Bloomwood has the dream job. She's a personal shopper, so is able to spend other people's money all day instead of her own. And she gets paid for doing it. The perfect job, the perfect man - gorgeous Luke Brandon - and now...the perfect wedding. Yes, Luke has proposed and wedding bells are in sight. No excuses are needed to start the shopping trip of all time. And Becky's parents are just assuming that the wedding will be at home - a marquee in the garden and Becky in her mum's wedding dress, which she's been saving specially for the occasion. But Luke's mother has very different ideas - a huge affair in New York in a forest glade setting - or perhaps a Venetian Ball, or a fin de siecle extravagance? Now Becky's getting confused. She doesn't want to say 'no' to anyone. The plans are going ahead, and soon it will be too late to turn back - from either wedding... "

I really liked this installment of the Shopaholic series. It was fun to read and exciting and yes as usual, you find yourself shouting down to Becky in the book trying to make her see sense! LOL.

Delicous Luke is as gorgeous as ever, but in my opinion he's not in it enough!
I loved how the story kept you gripped, you really want Becky to do the right thing, but being Becky she's always going to talk herself out of it! Hmmmm.

If you have an interfering Mother inlaw, I think you'll be able to relate to Becky in this one, at times you'll feel frustrated and at others times you'll be shouting "Go Beck, you go girl!!!"

I laughed loads throughout this book, it made me happy, sad and anxious. All my emotions were being brought to the surface.

This was for me the best installment of the series so far.

My Verdict: Fabulous!

Shopaholic Abroad by Sophie Kinsella.

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552999407
Genre: Fiction - Comedy
Publisher: Black Swan

"For Rebecca life is peachy. She has a job on morning TV, her bank manager is being nice to her, and the icing on the brioche is that she has been offered work in New York. The Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and she does intend to visit them all, but first Saks, then Bloomingdales..."

This book for me was slower than Sophies first book of the Shopaholic series. I found it to be a little slower and I wasn't as gripped. It was only the last 100 or so pages that I became gripped in the book and I have to say in this point I neary cried for becky. It was still enjoyable to read though, and I've picked up her next book in the Shopaholic series 'Shopaholic Ties the Knot'


Verdict: An enjoyable read.

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552998877
Genre: Fiction-Chick Lit
Publisher: Black Swan


"Meet Rebecca Bloomwood.

She's a journalist. She spends her working life telling others how to manage their money. She spends her leisure time...shopping.

Retail therapy is the answer to all her problems. She knows she should stop, but she can't. She tries Cutting Back, she tries Making More Money. But neither seems to work. The stories she concocts become more and more fantastic as she tries to untangle her increasingly dire financial difficulties. Her only comfort is to buy herself something - just a little something...

Can Becky ever escape from this dream world, find true love, and regain the use of her Switch card?"


I love Sophie's books and this is the first of the Shopaholic series, and it was a good read. It had me laughing and was easy going. I love the way Sophie writes.
May be not as good as her 'Undomestic Goddess' but still has laughs and during some time in the book you can't help but feel sorry for Rebecca Bloomwood.

Verdict: A good Chick Lit

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Author: Sophie Kinsella.
Publisher: Black Swan
ISBN 0-552-77274-7
Book Type: Fiction

"The story of a girl who needs to slow down. To find herself. To fall in love. And to discover what an iron is for...Samantha is a high-powered lawyer in London. She works all hours, has no home life, and cares only about getting a partnership. She thrives on the pressure and adrenalin. Until one day...she makes a mistake. A mistake so huge, it'll wreck her career. She walks right out of the office, gets on the first train she sees, and finds herself in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she is mistaken for the interviewee housekeeper and finds herself being offered the job. They have no idea they've hired a Cambridge-educated lawyer with an IQ of 158 - Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. Disaster ensues. It's chaos as Samantha battles with the washing machine...the ironing board...and attempts to cook a cordon bleu dinner. But gradually, she falls in love with her new life in a wholly unexpected way. Will her employers ever discover the truth? Will Samantha's old life ever catch up with her? And if it does...will she want it back?"

A fantasic book that will have you laughing out a loud all the way through it. It did me. I totally loved this book.

It's about how a lawyer finds herself in a situation which causes her to run away from her well paid job. She finds herself in a villiage with a total different lifestyle, before she knows it she's been hired as a House keeper, and not having any experience in domestic matters she doesn't know where to start!

Will she enjoy her new life or will she realise she's made the biggest mistake of her life? Well you'll just have to read to find out won't you ;)

I can't go into too much detail about it, as it is such a fabulous book I don't want to give anything away. A great Chick Lit.

10/10