Confessions of a Shopaholic

Review

Common Sense Media says

Chick-lit fave gets a movie tie-in.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Kids say

AGE
11
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, as the title suggests, this book features rampant consumerism; it describes shopping trips the way a chef might wax eloquent about a gourmet meal or an artist rhapsodize about a masterpiece. The main character, Becky, is shallow and self-absorbed, though by the end she's a little less so. There are several references to adults drinking and sex (nothing explicit). It's implied that couples have sex by the third date.

  • Positive messages0
    Becky lies constantly, whether to avoid looking stupid (pretending she knows something she doesn't), to impress someone (saying she likes something she doesn't), or to dodge her bank and bill collectors (a range of inventions from a broken leg to post-dated checks). She tells a man she needs money to buy a gift for her sick aunt when she really plans to buy a scarf. She lies to her parents, boss, friends, and co-workers. Becky goes out with a man because he's rich, and looks through his checkbook while he is gone from the table (she does, at least, resist taking a check he's written to her to donate to a charity). Working at a clothing shop, Becky refuses to let a customer try on a pair of sale pants that she herself covets (she gets fired, but still asks if she can use the employee discount). Before a big date, she doesn't eat anything all day "so I'm nice and thin."  
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex3
    Becky breaks up with a man who says he doesn't believe in sex before marriage and tells her roommate what happened on their "crucial third date." They start kissing and she reaches for his trouser zipper. "He actually had to punch me in the face to get me off him. . ." When he asks her if she is prepared to wait for him, she tells him she's sure he won't be able to resist her for long. Her roommate calls her a "man-eater" and makes fun of what she suspects is the small size of the man's penis. When a man kisses Becky for the first time, his hands cup her bottom and fingers under her skirt hem. The next morning she is in his bed, feeling "sated" and noting that "God, he really knows how to . . ." She doesn't share any specific details, noting, "Can't you use your imagination?"  
  • Language3
    Though the British curse words come across as charming ("sodding," "bugger," "shagged," "todger"), there are a few recognized on this side of the Atlantic: "f--k," "s--t," "t-ts," "bitch."
  • Consumerism4
    As one might expect, the book is pretty much about shopping. Pages drip with high-end brand names of everything from luggage to clothes to shoes to lotion to perfume. The first thing Becky does is size up what a person is wearing; she comforts herself by shopping. She cares very much about what other people think; "if I buy something from a shop that's a bit uncool, I cut the label out." She compulsively spends a lot of money even when she is deeply in debt. She uses multiple credit cards (mentioned by name, particularly Visa). She tries (sort of) to cut her spending but is unsuccessful. She throws away bills or hides them in a drawer without opening them. She does eventually (sort of) learn to be a bit more responsible, but this is not a didactic tale. She finds an unlikely way to make more money so she can pay her bills; she is not a role model for stay-within-your-budget spending.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    There are multiple references to drinking mixed drinks (gin and tonic), champagne, and wine, sometimes in excess. These are adults, however. Looking over her credit card bill, she deems her three bottles of wine "essential." Becky keeps drinking to force herself to be attracted to a rich man she doesn't really like. Neighbors offer her a sherry in the afternoon -- "Never too early for a sherry!" -- and Becky decides they're alcoholics. A minor character smokes and Becky thinks "even though I don't really smoke anymore, I suddenly feel as though I could do with one myself."
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What's the story?

The first in a series, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is getting a new marketing push because it's now a movie starring Isla Fisher (out February 2009). Becky Bloomwood is so far in debt she dreads opening her mail, but her answer to everything is to shop. It would be a waste of money not to take advantage of a good sale, right? Her job as a financial reporter for a British magazine called Successful Saving doesn't pay much, so Becky has two choices: stop spending as much money, or find a way to make more. When option one turns out to be a bust, she's determined to increase her fortunes, whether through a second job or a rich husband. She'll show that insufferable-but-handsome Luke Brandon she's not the inconsequential airhead he thinks she is.

Is it any good?

 

This book is not for readers who don't know Gucci from Prada. Becky's shallow obliviousness can grow tedious after a while, but her funny charm is endearing nonetheless. The many odes to shopping are balanced by hilarious scenes such as a job interview where Becky gets caught for lying on her resume (she says she speaks Finnish -- and it just so happens the company has new Finnish clients they want her to meet!). Asking for realism in a chick-lit novel is like expecting a low-fat eclair -- Becky's solution to her financial problems could only happen in fiction -- but Kinsella keeps Becky grounded enough that readers care even when she's over the top. Teens may not understand all the British financial references, especially in the second half (and indeed, Becky herself barely does, either), but they are crucial to the plot. Knowing the exchange rate for pounds to dollars will help translate Becky's debt into its true horror.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about Becky's Scarlett O'Hara ("I'll think about it tomorrow") approach to her looming debt. Why does Becky keep spending money when she knows she shouldn't? Do teens think people can be addicted to shopping? How does Becky use shopping to cope with her emotions? Do teens feel pressured to own certain name-brand clothes or handbags? With banks plying college students with credit-card offers, high school is a great age for parents to share their approach to credit and staying within one's financial means.

This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
Kid, 11 years old
May 13, 2011
AGE
9
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best book ever
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Kid, 13 years old
October 31, 2009
AGE
10
 
Perfect for anyone from 10 to anyone
Its a good book and any people from the age of 10 to anything can read it. It sends a good message out to children and adults about how to spend their money. Yes, it might have some drinking and kissing but it has a good statement. As long as they don't start it's the perfect book and it's fine for children (from the age of 10) and adults. Give them a chance to see the movie as well as it gives them even more of an idea of what can go wrong in your life if it ends up like Becky's. Don't forget every story has a happy ending even if you don't see it.
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Kid, 11 years old
January 21, 2010
AGE
9
 
Perfect for tweens
There really wasn't anything bad except Becky downs a bottle of Vodka right from the bottle, shes INSANE about shopping and sells her friends dress for her friends wedding so she can be on TV, and if your kids don't know about debt and stuff they will not understand this at all. I'm 9 and I understood it so I think your kid should be atleast a tween to understand it.
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Adult
February 10, 2009
AGE
14
 
Look forward to seeing the movie
I haven't seen the movie yet, but I think the book will be a bit different from the movie. The movie looks like it makes the girl extremely stupid as shown on the previews that she ends up googling the word 'finance'. But, in the book, she is pretty smart about finance. It's just she has a hard time practicing it. There is some language in the book, and of course drinking and only a little sex at the end. I definately don't encourage pre-teens to read it. I look forward to seeing the movie!
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Kid, 13 years old
September 18, 2011
AGE
12
 
Awesome!!!
Great book!!! It has a good message and it helps you learn about money management. This book kept me hooked the whole time.
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Teen, 16 years old
October 30, 2010
AGE
15
 
perfect for older kids.
I love this book but it is very rude in places.If you are ever unsure about a book or a film for your kids then you could always read or watch it first and see if you think it is appropriate for them.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 4, 2010
AGE
10
 
It's a good show no matter what.
It teaches a lesson that if you lie there are some consequences you have to face and that's important for kids (and adults) to know. But again there are a lot of things to look out for like, drinking, swearing, and stuff like that.
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Teen, 16 years old
February 6, 2009
AGE
13
 
A must read for every girl who loves shopping and wants some romance in her life
This book is all about Becky Bloomwood who is totally addicted to shopping. She lands in all kinds of debts due to her excessive shopping habits and goes through life in a funny, comical fantastic way. She stands up to things which she thinks are wrong and has a sense of pride and dignity. This book is about how she handles things in her life continuously falling into 'shopahol'.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 16, 2011
AGE
10
 
Great book, funny!
This is a fantastic book! It teaches you a lot about money management in a hilarious tale that will entertain any mature reader. Language might be something some parents would worry about, but it is fine for 10+.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 2, 2012
AGE
12
 
a great book
its a great book to read and lots of things about managment that every kid can follow its a good book to read!
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This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
Author:Sophie Kinsella
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:Dial Books
Publication date:January 1, 2001
Number of pages:312
Publisher's recommended age(s):15 - 17
This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
 

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