A review by jcstokes95
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The single most annoying protagonist I've read so far this year (and I read Mosfegh's Eileen this year). The writing here is readable and fast-paced. But at no point does Becky learn a single lesson and her irresponsibility is played as cute. I think society may have moved a bit beyond seeing pretty white women do irresponsible, self-involved things and thinking it's charming fun. At every fuck-up, this girl gets saved or forgiven. Which make the stakes feel nonexistent, like, even for a frothier book, it feels like nothing will bad that happens will ever drive character change. 

There are things that I appreciate here. This book and the movie aren't just different stories, they are, like, different genres. There is very little romance here. Instead, Becky gets time to be a full, albeit irritating, character. This books weirdly passes Bechdel test with flying covers. Which, isn't what you might expect from something that might be perceived as a bit...er... vapid. I like that in the end we get to see that Becky isn't totally brainless, but man, it felt like quite the delayed gratification on that front. I don't know. I enjoyed my time here, but don't think I'd return to this universe. 
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