Shopaholic and Sister

Shopaholic and Sister (2004) is the fourth in the Shopaholic series. It is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a pseudonym of Madeline Wickham. It follows the story of Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) and her husband Luke as they return from their ten-month long honeymoon.

The Books

• The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000) also published as Confessions of a Shopaholic (2001)
• Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (2002) also published as Shopaholic Abroad (2001)
• Shopaholic Ties The Knot (2002)
• Shopaholic & Sister (2004)
• Shopaholic & Baby (2007)

Plot synopsis

The novel commences with the protagonist, Becky Brandon, on her ten month-long honeymoon around the world with her husband, Luke. Although the newlyweds have been enjoying themselves, Luke and Becky (nee Bloomwood) decide it is time to return home to England. Before returning home, the couple embark upon a brief trip to Milan, where Luke is due to meet a potential client. After agreeing with Luke that she will not buy anything in Milan, Becky explores the city. Her resolve is weakened, however, when the chance of a lifetime comes along - the opportunity to possess an Angel handbag, the bag of the season which Becky simply is determined to purchase. A wealthy businessman, Nathan Temple, helps Becky jump to the head of the waiting list. Becky shows her gratitude by promising to pay him back somehow.

Back in England, Becky and Luke stop to visit the Bloomwood family and surprise them with their early return. Becky is shocked and dismayed when her parents appear to be hiding something. Not only that, but they are not impressed with Becky's gifts and don't seem as excited as Becky had hoped. The next day, Luke and Becky attend the christening of Suze's twins. Unfortunately, Suze has befriended a local woman,Lulu. Becky feels isolated from Suze because Lulu is a mother of four and she feels that Suze and Lulu have more in common.

Becky's troubles become worse when two trucks full of her souvenirs arrive. The bills for them are outrageous. With her new job not due to start for several months, Luke orders Becky to sort things out around the house with her spare time. Luke immediately switches back into business-mode, cutting his hair and donning expensive suits.

Becky's parents arrive with big news. They explain that they did not want to tell Becky initially, but she has a half-sister from a previous relationship of her father's. Becky is ecstatic - she claims that she has felt a hole in her life and has always wanted a sister. She imagines shopping, girls' nights in, and a new best friend to replace Suze. Once she meets her half-sister Jess, she is disappointed: Jess is studious, thrifty, and a bit standoffish. Jess tries to encourage Becky to save money; Becky can't comprehend why Jess doesn't want to do anything fun. When Becky overhears Luke saying that she is hard to live with, Becky is shocked and thinks that her marriage is falling apart.

After a falling-out with Jess, Becky decides attend her half-sister's home in northern England to learn to be thrifty. Jess has departed on a mountain climb on a gloomy day, and Becky follows to try to catch up. She ends up off the trail and has a nasty fall in dreadful weather. Luckily Jess watches over her and the two girls discover that though their interests are different, they have the same level of passion for their hobbies. The book concludes with Becky helping Jess organize a protest against a new shopping mall (which turns out to be one of Luke's new clients) and Becky discovering that she is pregnant.

External links

• Sophie Kinsella's official website- http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/

• Sophie Kinsella's official U.K. website- http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/