A Cliffhanger!

If you're this far in the series, you enjoy these fun books as much as I. It's a whe new crazy venue, and Becky is growing...slowly. (Ok, Minnie is probably maturing more quickly.) Just beware, there is a cliff hanger ending, and the follow up book better be soon!

5 people found this helpful

A generally good read with some laughs

What did you love best about Shopaholic to the Stars?

I mostly enjoyed this book, but having read all of her previous Shopaholic and other novels was a bit let down by the ending. Not much was resolved and this may have been intentional. Still, it could have been done so with a bit more information.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Becky, I suppose. I would have enjoyed ore of Sooz and the other other characters. Shopaholic and Sister was so ripe with rich characters. This may have spoiled me. However, as satire of Hollywood and american shallowness, this is pretty right on as the characters are exactly that.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I had been overly anticipating the new one. I think this book could have been much better if it had gone on for a few more chapters, "to sort things out a bit more."

Any additional comments?

The character of Eleanor was ripe for expanding and this did not happen. Also, Minnie was a bit stereotypical and not particularly lovable. I also felt the reader/presenter was too gushy and the variations in sound level annoying.

4 people found this helpful

"OK Becky. This sucked."

What disappointed you about Shopaholic to the Stars?

Becky was so whiny and selfish throughout. She gets on the outs with every character in the book for no valid, adult reason. The end, oh my God, it was so unexpected and maddening. Unexpected in the sense that a couple of stories were wrapped up within two minutes, and there were 3-4 stories that just dropped off the face of the earth. Like the thing with her Dad... What the hell? It's just a dumb storyline that doesn't have any resolve. Not even close. It's like, "OK, I'm going to count to 10 and you're going to totally love it. Ready? 1,2,3. That's it. OK, so I just stopped at 3, wasn't that just fab? OK, tears are welling in my eyes, I can't believe you're mad that there's not more than 3. I mean, I understand you would expect 4-10, but I've got the mindset of a middle school wanker, and I simply can't control myself. Aren't I just delicious!?". And I'm like, "You just stopped at 3? What about 4-10? Now I have to buy another book for 4-10? I barely got through this book, Becky. Now go have some tea and biscuits, Bex, and make your next book set in space. "Becky-vs-Alien". I'd root for the Alien. That would be awesome.

Has Shopaholic to the Stars turned you off from other books in this genre?

It hasn't turned me off the genre, but it's turned me off of Kinsella. My husband asked me a few times, "OK, so why are you so totally still listening to this if it's not as fab as you hoped it would be?". With tears in my eyes, I would respond with, "Because Sophie's books used to be good. They really were. This one is going to get better, I can feel it in my heart and soul. Plus, I paid a credit for it at Audible and I can't seriously not follow through, my Love." Now I'm just in a bad mood all the time. I don't see how he puts up with me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Clare Corbett’s performances?

No.

What character would you cut from Shopaholic to the Stars?

I'd cut Becky, Dad, Suze, Tarkey, Sage, Lois, the bodyguards, Mini, Elenor, Alicia, Danny, the paparazzi, the preschool teacher, and Mum. I'd keep Luke. He seems 30% realistic. I liked their relationship in the first few books, but now I just want to see him divorce her and date someone with a brain. And he should take the kid with him so she has a chance at not growing up a complete idiot.

Any additional comments?

If Becky were 12 and I were 10, I would love this book. It would be totally fab. But I'm not 10. I'm 48, and I had no gray hair when I started this book 5 days ago. Now I look like a grandmother. I have no grandchildren... It's not a good look.

3 people found this helpful

Save yourself the time and aggravation

Criminally slow with absolutely no resolution. I've read every one of her books and this is absolute garbage. Stay away.

3 people found this helpful

Cliffhanger ending isn't the experience I want

What did you like best about Shopaholic to the Stars? What did you like least?

I love that this book made me LOL several times, I also as always, think Sophie kinsella does a great job with creating realistic tension in Becky and Luke's relationship. I don't like how the moral of this story seems to be that Becky's a bad person for wanting to be a stylist because it smells like the old " women can't have it all" plot line, and the whole Hollywood is shallow thing is kind of old. I like the shopaholic and I don't want her to be shamed! I also hate that there is a cliffhanger ending. These are books I like to listen too over and over while waiting for the next one to come out, and without a satisfying ending I just don't think I can do that. My only hope is that the next book will prove that Becky wasn't totally " selfish" in this one and everyone will apologize to her and she will find a way to use her shopping powers for good-- or at least good clients. Also the mysterious threads DO sound like they are leading to a classic Kinsella surprise, so my hopes are high:)

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Pissed Off.

Have you listened to any of Clare Corbett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I like her.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely, I wish this was made into a long running TV show on amazon or netflix with the tone of The mindy project with each book being a season or so.

3 people found this helpful

PROBABLY THE WORSE AT ALL OF THE STORIES

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The story was too vapid and the narrator was terrible.

What was most disappointing about Sophie Kinsella’s story?

Rebecca's shallowness was too exaggerated! The author could have delve more into the workings of Hollywood.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was terrible!! At first she sounded like a scatter brain teenager. However, she did improve toward the end of the book.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was amusing at times but could have been so much better. Rebecca is so lovable and funny!

Any additional comments?

Get Emily Gray from now on to narrate these stories. She brings Rebecca to life!

2 people found this helpful

Do NOT waste your money!

What would have made Shopaholic to the Stars better?

Plot resolution, likable characters, decent writing.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not anything by Kinsella. I need some Jane Austen to cleanse my mental palate after this crappy book.

How could the performance have been better?

Narrator could have familiarized herself with the characters & series. Danny Kovitz, for example, is NOT English, he's American. He shouldn't have had an English accent. Sage Seymour is English, not "French/American" with the weirdest, most grating accent I've ever heard.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance that I wasted a credit.

Any additional comments?

Becky is back and her self-delusion and narcissism have reached new, and revolting, heights. In earlier books, Becky had redeeming qualities that helped readers to look past her immaturity. But in "Stars," she has crossed the line from charming ditz to completely unlikeable, self-obsessed fool. What worked for the first 3 books of the series no longer works because Becky is now 10+ years older but she has not grown, developed or matured an iota. If anything, she has regressed. This character has become a monster of selfishness and a consummate liar. Dishonesty, not shopping, may be this character's strongest trait.

Most of the secondary characters in the book behave completely out of character, especially Suze, who has been transformed into a bitch on wheels. Major plot lines are started only to be left unresolved. Characters from the past reappear without any real reason for them to do so.

Probably the most disturbing, and insulting, aspect of this book is that it just ends abruptly in the middle of the story, so don't expect any resolution if you do manage to slog through this thing. In what is a clear set up to milk this tired series for more $$$$, you're going to have to buy the next piece of claptrap by Kinsella to find out what happens with the plot points she doesn't resolve.

Was this drek even written by Kinsella? Frankly, it reads much more like bad fan fiction.

11 people found this helpful

Great book, miss the other narrators

Yet another great book in a great series, easy to listen to and funny. I do miss the other narrators.

1 person found this helpful

Okay listen - not as good as the others

I'm not sure whether to recommend this listen or not. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous Shopaholic books but this was very different. It was okay. I listen to my audiobooks in my car while I'm driving, so the sound is very important. I had to turn down the volume in some parts only to crank it up in others. The narrator sound was too high in some places (Minnie yelling which was annoying), and much too low for a couple of characters in particular.

I enjoyed Eleanor and was surprised by her effort to make amends with Luke. It's hard for readers/listeners to understand how easy it would be get caught up in the whole Hollywood life unless you can try to imagine yourself in Becky's shoes - without thinking you would handle it different. Some feel Becky was selfish, some have other opinions. It's fun listening to Becky go through the trials of Hollywood drama and experience the media attention.

It seems the verdict about the ending is unanimous in that not many listeners liked the cliff hanger (myself included). If this was an attempt to set up for the next book I think the author is talented enough that she could have come up with a better ending. Hopefully the next book will be the sequel and the readers will be happy.

1 person found this helpful

Not her best

My least favorite shopaholic book. Wasn't as exciting as most, had a very abrupt ending that didn't bring closure to open story lines.

1 person found this helpful