Parents' Guide to

Confessions of a Shopaholic

By Stephanie Dunnewind, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Chick-lit fave gets a movie tie-in.

Book Sophie Kinsella Contemporary Fiction 2001
Confessions of a Shopaholic Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

joolz_43344
joolz_43344 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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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?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (12):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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.

Book Details

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