Shopaholic & Baby: A Novel, Book Cover May Vary

Becky Bloomwood Brandon is back and this time her shopaholic nature is directed towards her unborn baby. Can't decide between strollers? Buy them all! Worried about childbirth? Arrange for a water birth with lotus flowers and Thai massage! Searching for the perfect birth locale? Ask your favorite boutique if you can give birth there! Becky shops her way through pregnancy, but also is in a competition with her husband to make the wisest investments for the baby. Will Becky's "antiques of the future" purchases - hot trendy items she thinks will one day be valuable - put her ahead? All is not fun and cash register receipts though - Becky wonders if her marriage is in trouble and if the store she is a personal shopper for is going to make it. Zany as always, warm-hearted, and very creative when it comes to finances, Becky is the heroine you'll want to read more and more about. This is a terrific, fun read for all women, but moms and expectant moms will get a particular kick out of it.

Becky Brandon nee' Bloomwood is back again with a new shopping excuse - a baby! From Baby Dior to 5 prams - Becky does not leave a single store without something in her hands. She's on a mission to be the yummiest mummy in all of Vogue (and England... and why not the world?). Yes, you read it right - Becky manages to get herself into Vogue. Besides all of the all-important shopping, Becky is also managing a career (ok so there really isn't any clients) and homelife (even if Luke hasn't been home much lately) with a breeze. Everything is going swimmingly until the "it" OB that Becky manages to get in to see ends up being Luke's ex-girlfriend... and she's on the prowl. Luke is blind but Becky isn't and she isn't going down without a fight! Hilarity ensues as Becky finds ways to make sure Luke's being a good boy and meanwhile she still is trying to figure out the sex of the baby at the same time (but don't tell Luke!). This book was a fun read and a pageturner (finished in 1 day). I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and of course the ever present, somewhat of a cliffhanger. It was nearly redeemed though by Becky telling off Luke's Mom - the purchase of this novel was validated with that single scene!

I could not put the book down! I stayed up until 1:00 am to finish it. I absolutely loved it. I found myself hysterically laughing at so many parts in the book (Becky's mum and Janice talking about what labor was really like & the names Becky told Elinor they were considering.... so funny!). The story brought so many memories back of my own first pregnancy and the fears I felt about labor and being someone's mother. Also, that first time you see that little baby and the feeling that comes over you - Sophie Kinsella hit it on the head! Then there was the serious parts too when Becky thought she had lost Luke (and I don't blame her for feeling that way either). All around, it was just a FABULOUS book! I know Sophie Kinsella has said she will bring Becky & Luke back, I really hope this is true (she just HAS to - too much is left unfinished)and that she does it sooner rather than later (that's for my own selfish reasons - LOL). In fact, I hope she brings them back in several more books (for those who think the story is over, you don't have to buy them - there are plenty of us who will GLADLY keep on reading them).

This book was the most emotional book out of all of them I think. It may have been because Becky was pregnant so her emotions spread to me, or because her marriage was being threatened, but it did make me cry. I usually don't cry over books, but for a couple seconds I truly believed that Luke was cheating on her, but I quickly snapped out of that. It was kind of hard to imagine Becky pregnant the whole book, but she reminds you constantly of her big belly and swollen feet. This book might have had some of the funniest parts too Kinsella has written. I would frequently laugh out loud while reading it and run to the nearest person and tell them all about what Becky was up to now. She has matured a little since the first book, for she is a mother now, but her childlike ways always come back at the worst times, making for a hilarious novel that will grip your emotions to the fullest.

I'm only about 5 chapters in but I'm having a hard time staying with this book. Not so much because of the story but because of the narrator. She makes our still fairly young Becky sound like an old woman and Luke as a grumpy old grandfather, not our sexy handsome man. The voice does not fit the age. I loved the previous narrator on the earlier books, which I've read them all. Big disappointment in this book.

I'm in love with this whole series, I'm going to be sad when it ends. There should be no question in your mind if you should or should not buy this book. If you are looking for a book full of laughs then this is the one for you. How on earth Sophie Kinsella was able to create such a clueless, self centered character and make her so charming and adorable that you are actually entertained by her superficial obsessions is pretty impressive. Yes, there are a few coincidences that fall into place a little too perfectly but you'll find yourself totally overlooking that fact simply because Becky is such a well developed character and the story overall is just so cute. The only part I didn't care for was how she went into labor. It was waaaay too coincidental to the point it was tacky, but that's just how Becky is. I would've like to have seen her get herself out of that mess but she is famous for backing herself into corners and somehow it always works out.

How cool to meet up again with Becky and Luke on my kindle. I've read the first four books in print and honestly had the feeling that the series started to weaken, especially nr.4. But now she's back! The new sequel is as funny and light-hearted as nr. 1. I absolutely adore Kinsella's vivid and witty writing and I so enjoyed how Becky manouvers herself into disastrous situations and how she always gets out of these difficulties. It makes you smile and giggle constantly and leaves you wanting to read more. Plus, I could SO relate to all the baby stuff. Can't wait to download nr. 6 and 7!!!

Bex is always full of surprises and this book is great and a laugh out loud novel ! I never get tired of her adventures !

Love, Love LOVE this series of books, wish there were more, could keep reading Beckie's adventures.

This is the fifth book in the popular 'Shopaholic' series. Given the original premise of the series you might expect that Sophie Kinsella would have run out of ideas by now but that is most definitely not the case: "Shopaholic and Baby" is every bit as fresh and funny as its predecessors. There are two things I particularly love about the Shopaholic books and that I feel elevate the series above other chick lit novels: the first is the way in which Becky manages to be such a likeable person despite her many flaws. She makes mistakes and can be selfish and shallow at times yet you can still appreciate why her friends and family love her so much. She is a much more believeable heroine than many of the apparently perfect characters you meet in other chick lit books. The second thing I like is the way in which Kinsella develops her characters and plotlines as the series continues. Earlier characters are not just forgotten and we see how their lives have progressed alongside Becky's. Luke and Becky continue to face challenges in their relationship and we understand them both better as a result. On top of everything else Becky must cope with impending motherhood - and not just the shopping part! Overall this is a fabulous read that is funny, sad and heartwarming all at the same time. If you have enjoyed the earlier Shopaholic books then you will love this one too. If you haven't read the previous ones then you could probably still read this one on its own but I would recommend starting with "Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic" and reading the rest in order.

Fun chick lit book.. Go for it.