Becky and Luke are now engaged and Becky is planning their wedding. I didn't really care for their romance in the first two books but seeing as this is all about them, I started liking their romance a little.

Luke's character felt a little different in this somehow and I found myself liking him. Becky was still annoying but I didn't care for that much and she kinda grew on me. I liked the friendship between Becky and Suzie. Luke's mom was a complete B but it was entertaining.

I enjoyed reading this more than I initially thought I would.

3.3 stars

Review

Shopaholic ties the knot is the third book in the Shopaholic series. As it says in the title and the blurb, this book is all about Becky Bloomwood getting married to her boyfriend Luke Brandon and the hardcore preparation going on the backdrop of their wedding.

Becky’s life is just perfect and she is about to get her perfect dream wedding but the problem is she is confused between the classic countryside wedding that her mother is planning for her and the grand extravagant princess kinda wedding her mother-in-law, Elinor Sherman offered to host. If she chooses Manhattan wedding over her mother’s Oxshott wedding, her mother will be deeply hurt, on the other hand, if she chooses her mother’s wedding over her Mother-in-law’s extravagant Manhattan wedding, she will regret missing out the best opportunity to have her dream wedding. The confusion, dilemma and unsettlement of Becky Bloomwood was ultimately understandable and relatable, the author has beautifully portrayed these feelings of Becky through her wonderful words.

Usually weddings are fun to attend and experience and this book just does the same. It broadcasts two different weddings and it’s preparations at greater extend by showing all the minute details of it. Shopaholic ties the knot will make the readers experience both the weddings magnificently. The way Becky’s mom and her neighbor Janice Webster does the preps was lovely and heart touching. The book also focus on the way The Wedding Planners in Manhattan works and Becky’s Manhattan Wedding Planner Robyn is a star, her working style and everything about her work was commendable. The upcoming fashion designer and Becky’s new friend cum neighbor, Danny graciously occupied the spot of a funny friend in the absence of Suze but that doesn’t mean Suze wouldn’t make her appearance in this book, she played a remarkable role as always in this book too. She has grown more matured and acted as the responsible one between both Becky and her.

Throughout the past two books in the series, Luke has been portrayed as someone who knows his shit and an epitome of perfection but in this book the author has managed to showcase the human side of Luke, it was really personal and was good to know him at that level. His relationship with his mother Elinor was also penned down elaborately, how that affects him as well as his relationship with Becky shaped the course of the story. Certain characteristics and behavior of Elinor Sherman will make the readers hate her as much as Becky does.

In this book Becky wasn’t overspending too much which was a good character development but her other stupidities remained the same, which was so Becky and that’s of course her trademark which isn’t worth losing. Her job as a personal shopper was exciting, this job was something tailor-made of Becky. And her relationship with her clients was really nice to read.

The most exciting part of this book was the way in which Becky and Luke gets married. The entire wedding procession was so good to read and experience. This kind of fulfillment can only be experienced by Sophie Kinsella’s writings. Also the way Luke believes Becky blindly and follow her lead throughout the wedding was adorable and it will make the readers fall in love with him deeper. (Told you, he is a worthy book boyfriend)

And as usual all the supporting characters played their role perfectly. Though the book mainly revolves around Becky Bloomwood, without the supporting characters supporting the plot like scaffolding, this book wouldn’t have been as great as it is now.

My views

I loved the way Luke proposed to Becky and I also really loved how the book ended with a perfect wedding. Throughout the book I was as confused as Becky and couldn’t think rationally because both the weddings were too good and it was really hard to leave one behind for another. The author has tremendously sketched the plot with everything falling into the right place in the end. And like in all the previous books in the series this book too has got funny letters from bank, stores, law firm and stuff and I really enjoyed reading those letters. If you are too lazy to read this book or any book, start reading with these letters in the series, I’m sure you’ll end up reading the whole series.

As usual I would suggest Sophie Kinsella’s books to anybody who wants to have a happy and humorous read. Chicklit and rom-com lovers will ultimately enjoy it. If you are someone who loves watching wedding processions and simply loves weddings itself, then this book is definitely for you.

My rating for this book would be 4 / 5 stars

Hope you will love this book.

Happy Reading Folks!!

~Meenu

(read in french, under the title « L'accro du shopping dit oui »)

First of all, know that even if this is a 3rd book, it can perfectly be read as a standalone without ever feeling lost.

Also, thanks to the unknown neighbor who abandoned it in the building's hall, because it's clearly my best read since a while.

ALRIGHT, Becky and I where meant to get along. She craves clothes and furniture, me books, but the result is the same : bank accounts eternally in the red, apartment so full of stuff that moving around is complicated and a totally-desilusioned boyfriend. However, Becky's shopping addiction is not the subject of the novel, more a funny personality trait. And if, like me, you really don't know ANYTHING at all about fashion, you'll appreciate not being flooded under brand names, unlike in some other chick-lit novels.

Because veeeery far away trivial things, Becky's wedding organisation is a disaster from start to finish, mostly because as soon she gets engaged, she sees herself spoiled of HER day by her relatives. Her mother and Luke's are determined to take things in charge – separately –, friends and others rush in to offer their not-always-wanted services... And Becky, unable to hurt people – or risk a major diplomatic incident –... lets them all do. Of course, she'll soon be in BIG trouble.
About that, the solution wasn't the one I thought of, proving the suspense is carefully kept until the end !
For a romantic comedy, the atmosphere is often heavy, but Becky's personality keeps the book as light as a meringue, even in the darkest moments. On the opposite, her indecisiveness might be understandable on some points, but can also irritate for some others, like the dress. Her tendency to exaggerate too.
But the one thing we can really deplore is how lightly is depicted her alcoholism (because IT IS). No, a vodka shot is not a miracle way to temporarily forget problems. And no, it's not funny.

But except that, the book is, overall, full of positive vibes like how important it is to take time for oneself, to listen oneself (if possible before the situation get worse and worse), to know how to treat oneself, to never forget who we are.

A funny read, complicated, more serious than it seems under its sparkly varnish and which didn't aged at all since – already – twenty years !

This series always makes me laugh. Becky and Luke are dating and living together and now Becky must figure out how to hide her spending when they share a joint account. And an apartment. Oh dear. Her best friend Suze and cousin Tarquin are getting married and they’ve been invited and suddenly Becky is engaged and getting married as well! But between two crazy mothers, a fashion designer and one wedding planner who all want to manage the details of her special day, can she keep the wedding… make that TWO weddings… from spinning out of control? The characters absolutely make the Shopaholic series, and as soon as I finish the book I’m reading, I can’t wait to pick up the next one. Another heartwarming installment that was just what I needed for a dose of hilarious British humor.

Becky seems less lying in this book. she is just not telling full truth. umm...that's fun. gosh! I am so in love with this series.

I know a 2-star rating is typically an automatic: "she didn't like it", but I am using the formal goodreads definition for the rating here. It was OK. To be honest, I am playing catch-up on this series now that my library has finally added the audiobooks, and reading about Becky's epic avoidance-laden screw ups back-to-back was not the brightest idea. The cute is quickly turning to annoying, so I'll wait a few weeks before continuing to the next installment.

Overall, it's a great series, but I wouldn't recommend a Shopaholic bingefest. Everything in moderation, right Becky?

Ack, Becky mostly peed me off in this one. Yes, the previous situations in the first two books have been rather fat-fetched, but this was farcical. Also, it represents Luke - who is supposedly a real mover and shaker in PR - seem like an idiot, if he wasn't able to spot something going on of this nature. Slower to read.

The middle felt really drug out. But the characters and laugh out loud moments still earn it 5 stars!

I'm on a roll

Oh, Becky! What a mess you got yourself into. Planning two weddings because it is hard to say no? Luckily you always manage to land on your feet again!

Even after reading all this book and seeing Becky progress more than only just shopping (even though I hope just like Luke she never looses the Bloomwood) I'm sure I wouldn't want a joint bank account with this woman, she'd also drive me a little crazy but in a good way in small dozes.

The shopaholic's life is on the up and at her friends wedding Luke proposes and Becky is now engaged. Tasked with planning a wedding (or shall we say two). The whole problem from the start is everyone interfering, Becky should have just chose what she wanted from the start, it's there wedding no one elses. I felt like shouting for much of this book it's Becky's Wedding so she should be deciding.

I love all the letter again including the one about divorce before they are even married.

Luke's mum even with the back story I still think she's a cow no wonder it took me a while to warm to Luke when he has some of her genes. It starts with the prenuptial agreement it's just the way her manner is in anything she's asking I don't like the woman one bit. The one person I hate as much as his mother is Robyn the American wedding planner she's more like an axe murderer and I'd happily sue the woman for 100 thousand dollars like she does for a cancellation fee. It's like blackmail, she'd have you marrying an axe murderer which Luke is not but still there is a much more preferable wedding to be attended.

Luke was a character in the first two books I did not warm to however this one really changed my opinion of him, you took away his outer appearance of being always confident and replaced it to me with the real Luke. He's very raw in this book and it's like he's having a mid life crisis but it's the best I've ever thought of him and I've never liked him better.

I like Micheal again in this book and i'm pleased he gets over heart attack. Suzie is another great character and the addition of the baby is an interesting one with where this series will be heading. Alicia is still a bitch and I love it when Luke kicked her out (another good thing to add to why i'm not warming to Luke). Back in England it's interesting to see Tom and Lucy split up and for Tom to still be in love with Sophie. Danny is also a great character even with some of his dodgy sewing.

The wedding at the end is much more perfect for them just due to it being not perfect with the sausage roll dress. Becky and Luke at the end are set to go on a round the world trip for a honeymoon and in true Becky style two large suitcases to bring things back in, wherever there home will be.

3.5 stars