The Shopaholic series always puts me in a good mood. Really all of Sophie Kinsella's books put me in a good mood. They are just so light, fluffy and fun. Sophie Kinsella's writing is like ice cream on hot July day. I reread The Shopaholic series every couple of years and I always like it. It's a sweet harmless little book that I can read with my brain turned off. And that's not a bad thing.

The very first novel of the series ‘The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic’ was published in 2000. It is also known as ‘Confessions Of A Shopaholic’ and with this name it was released in 2001. It was followed by the second novel in the series ‘Shopaholic Abroad’ published in 2001 and this part was also released with the name ‘Shopaholic Takes Manhattan’ in 2002. The Secret Dreamworld of A Shopaholic Nearly,” I lie. As she’s watching me, I feel forced to summon it up on my computer screen, just to show I’m willing. Sophie Kinsella has sold over 40 million copies of her books in more than 60 countries, and she has been translated into over 40 languages. I must confess that I was expecting more similarities, the book took a different direction, many situations changed.

Details on The Series

Sophie was born in London. She studied music at New College, Oxford, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She now lives in London, UK, with her husband and family. I reach gaily into the envelope, but my fingers don’t quite pull out the bill. They remain clutched around it while my mind is seized – as it is every month – by my secret dream. The thing is, for me, the story went about for too long before I managed to see anything other than the bling-bling obsessed Rebecca. In fact, it took so long to drive this to an interesting point, I nearly lost interest (which, considering how short this book is, says a lot).

However, this novel has several weaknesses. The first is a plot that is inconsistent in describing the situation in a narrative that is too long, and sometimes the explanation is too short. The second is a story that is not clear in the end. With these strengths and weaknesses, The Secret Dreamworld of Shopaholic is still a book that is recommended for readers to read. This novel is entertaining, very light, full of joy, and consist of rich content. The Secret Dreamworld of Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella can teach readers to think before they do something, especially about spending money. This is my third Kinsella book, and so far the women are always complete idiotic dip-shits that only barely manage to bumble through their careers while managing to make an ass of themselves at every turn. I find it's quite painful to read and not at all amusing. And if that's not unbearable enough, in this one Rebecca Bloomwood personifies materialism---AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THAT IT'S OKAY! There will always be a sexy, successful, intelligent, no-bullshit kind of guy who will find your stupidity and poor impulse control endearing. You can rely on the fate and good-fortune of womanly endowments to make all the trivial problems in your little, frivolous bubble of world disappear. Visiting her parents in Surrey, to whom she would never confess her money problems, they advise her to buy an apartment. As she replies she is not rich enough , their common-sense answer is that she has to choose between save or make more money.No. This isn't Angela's Ashes, people. Anyone who believes that a maxed out credit-card is the definition of strife deserves this book. These are the superfluous qualms of the privileged. If I ever read another review of a book like this on how "sad it was beneath the surface" all I have to say is how sad you are beneath the surface. It has to be said and there’s no nice way to say it: Rebecca, the protagonist of this book, is shallow and a fluff-head (as her head is always full of recently bought clothes, it couldn’t be otherwise). Honestly, is this kind of stuff supposed to be funny? I have a great sense of humor, and usually find many things funny that I probably shouldn't, but this wasn't funny to me. I find idiotic people like Rebecca Bloomwood's type to be frustrating and annoying, not funny. Plus, did I mention that she gives me a bad name? Because for any normal woman (or man) with above average impulsive shopping tendencies, this book will make him/her feel better about his/herself. Until her neighbors get in a bit of a financial mess by Rebecca's advice, and she turns out to have a little brain.

I feel my smile disappear. Oh, bugger. Of course. The blue anorak for Michael. The blue sodding anorak from Millets. The main charter was English so I didn't relate the stores that she was bragging about shopping at and it didn't have the SAME"sex in the city" LUSTFUL MATERIALISTIC effect on me . So, her prideful continuous description of these clothes she "owned" and was in debt for became ridiculous. And her constant shopping while in debt, actually started to physically stress me out. Ok. don’t panic. Don’t panic. It’s only a VISA bill. It’s a piece of paper; a few numbers. I mean, just how scary can a few numbers be?The film omits the Webster family who are good friends of the Bloomwoods, as well as Martin and Janice's son, Tom, and his then fiancée, Lucy. This is where it all begins. Meet Rebecca Bloomwood. She’s a financial journalist who spends all day writing articles on how to manage money wisely. Her own method of managing money is to hide her Visa bills under the bed and hope they’ll disappear.

She has a great flat, a fabulous wardrobe full of the season's must-haves, and a job telling other people how to manage their money. She spends her leisure time ... shopping.

Overall Experience

If you know anyone that is impulsive, spendy, and irresponsible, do not let him/her read this book. In a weird, twisted way, it's kind of entertaining and a little harrowing. Who hasn't felt that guilt before, buying something on a whim that is inessential to survival? It's a very touchy issue, but the author explores the mentality of a woman trapped by the glitter and glam of a highly materialistic society very well. It's a bit exaggerated, but I bet the core issues resound in the minds of millions of people. This book was a waste of my time. And I spent far too much time on this book that I really didn't like.