Julie's Review: The Party Crasher

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 12, 2021
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 352
Obtained: Dial Press
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: For anyone who has had to deal with the moving on from your childhood home
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Summary: t’s been over two years since Effie’s beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she’s become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie called home her whole life, has been sold.  When Krista decides to throw a grand “house cooling” party, Effie is originally left off the guest list—and then receives a last-minute “anti-invitation” (maybe it’s because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds aren’t just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light. Then she runs into Joe—the love of her life, who long ago broke her heart, and who’s still as handsome and funny as ever—and even more truths emerge. But will Effie act on these revelations? Will she stay hidden or step out into the party and take her place with her family? And truthfully, what did she really come back to Greenoaks for? Over the course of one blowout party, Effie realizes that she must be honest with herself and confront her past before she’ll ever be able to face her future. ~amazon.com 

Review: For any of us have been through a divorce of their parents as adults, it comes with certain loss that I feel is different than if you are in your youth. As an adult you have to stare what you thought you knew to be true and solid to questioning your own memories. This is what is going on with Effie in The Party Crasher, as her dad and his girlfriend decide to sell the only home she's ever known, Greenoaks. 

Not only is Effie still dealing with her parents divorce, but now her dad is dating someone much younger who doesn't have an appreciation for Greenoaks uniqueness. She's also cut off her dad from all his children and they can't get direct answers from his girlfriend, Krista. Now her dad is selling the beloved home and there's a home-cooling party to send it off into the sunset. Except Effie hasn't been invited to the party and she remembers her most treasured childhood item is still in the house. What's a girl to do but go ninja to get them back. 

Of course hilarity ensues immediately upon coming up on the house and finding it's not just going to be as easy as popping in and out to get her item. Her step-mom has hired a bouncer to check people in from a list and she won't be on there. So, of course Effie has to find hiding spaces in different areas to avoid all the people she loves and of course, the ones she doesn't. 

What Effie doesn't expect to happen is to find out things about her family, friends and most of all herself while she hides. She comes across truths and secrets abound. In the end she learns that family really is everything and that while losing a family house SUCKS, it's the memories made there that she won't lose. 

Ms. Kinsella has always done a bang up job on getting me to giggle and laugh but she's also so awesome at getting the heart of what matters no matter how crazy it is to get there.

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Julie's Review: Love Your Life

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 27, 2020
Publisher: Dial Press
Pages: 432
Obtained: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: A quirky and yet endearing heroine who finds love with a non-quirky but endearing hero
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Summary: Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers’ retreat in coastal Italy. She’s determined to finish writing the novel she’s been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind. At the retreat, she’s not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch. But then their real identities—Ava and Matt—must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there’s the prickly situation with Matt’s ex-girlfriend, who isn’t too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can’t love each other’s lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together? ~amazon.com 

Review: I read Sophie Kinsella' new book every time they publish, minus the Shopaholic becuase well I got tired of Becky's antics and lack of awareness. I have my favorites of her stand alones and I really wish someone would snap a few of them up and do a movie but I digress. Love Your Life features a Ava, who you could all a Jill of all Trades but yet to master one. She's off to the Italian Coast to write her Victorian novel but even though the focus should be the book, she's suddenly found herself distracted by "Dutch", a good looking fellow who she doesn't even truly know but hey they fall in love. Of course that's where the comedy comes in because while Ava's fictional name for herself is "Aria", Dutch is no where close to his real name, Matt. Plus on vacation aren't we the best version of ourselves or perhaps whom we want to be?

It doesn't take long for their romantic bubble to take a bit of a deflation but Ava, an ever optimistic person, believes that they can push through it by approaching their differences as cultural, like if moved to a different country. While that might work for smaller issues, it's not going to resolve the bigger ones that make or break a relationship. So, maybe some things are supposed to stay in the vacation bubble and not return to the real world. 

I will admit that Ava might even be a bit too quirky for me. There were a couple of times where I found myself going "Come on, Ava." I don't mind perpetually happy people or optimistic but you have to understand that not everyone has the same outlook. Also, while I appreciate someone trying to find what they are good at, Ava literally likes to try anything that comes into her thought pattern and that would be tiresome. It might be a bit different if the skills needed for them were somehow related but they weren't. 

I do think that Matt was the version he wanted to be when he was playing Dutch in Italy. Sometimes we all get caught up in our lives they way they are and the expectations we have of ourselves and the expectations by others, that it is hard to break free of that as well. This is what I think Matt was tied into; he didn't want to let his family down. 

I really liked the ending of this book and Ava ended up growing on me because she grew up and learned something about herself. If you are a fan of Sophie Kinsella's novels, you won't want to miss this one. 

Julie's Review: I Owe You One

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: The Dial Press
Pages: 448
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Heartwarming and full of laughs
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Summary: Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will? It’s simply not in Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she? But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants? ~amazon.com

Review: Ah, Sophie Kinsella strikes again and in the best way possible. If I ever need to a laugh she's my go to. Her characters are always charming and flawed so that you laugh with them (ok sometimes at them) but always cheer for them. Enter Fixie Farr, who's flaw is to try to fix everything or anyone where she seems fit. It doesn't always work out for her though. Sometimes she over steps her bounds and sometimes she's just out of her depth. Although, those 2 things have never stopped her before. The one thing she has trouble doing is speaking up and defending herself to her older siblings, Jake and Nicole.

She's also only had eyes for Jake's best friend, Ryan, since she was 10 years old. So when he comes back from LA she's hoping they can pick up where they left off when he was back for a visit. Never mind the handsome stranger who's laptop she saved when the ceiling collapsed at a cafe. She puts him aside even though she's intrigued because well Ryan is back. We've all had a "Ryan" in our lives and as a reader you see the writing on the wall.  You know it's going to take a bit for Fixie to see it though.

Sibling relationships can be trying at times and she truly struggles with hers. She's always been the one to bend over to help her family but yet gets pushed aside when she speaks her mind. Both of her siblings run over her to get what they want, they don't listen to her and more importantly they don't respect her. This is evident when their mom decides to take some time off from the family store. They quickly move in on it.

Fixie finally realizes that she has to take control of her life and that means standing up to her siblings and taking charge of the store. It also means figuring out who and what she wants in the romance department.

I laughed out loud at certain points in this book. Whenever I want a good chuckle, I always go back to Sophie. So until next year and a new book, I'll keep Fixie and her life in my head for a good chuckle.

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Julie's Review: Surprise Me

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: The Dial Press
Pages: 432
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5
Bottom Line: Not one of her best but still entertaining
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Summary: After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they communicate so seamlessly they finish each other’s sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it’s casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years . . . and panic sets in. They decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me—from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to sexy photo shoots—mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all. ~amazon.com

Review: Sylvie and Dan are worried about their marriage becoming boring, after all they've been together for 10 years and based on their health will be together for almost seven more decades; so how will they keep that spark? Of course when you tell someone to surprise you, you don't always get what you bargain for. Plus I would think that it would be impossible to keep that up on a regular basis.

Sylvie has lived in a bubble her whole life. In many ways, she still lives in a bubble. She really doesn't know what real problems are and honestly this is what leads her to perhaps blow things out of proportion. She's got a husband that adores her and 2 lovely young girls. She's got a job that she enjoys even if it's not challenging. All in all her life is pretty good.

So when Dan starts acting closed off and secretive, Sylvie's alarm bells go off and she's off thinking the worst...an affair. As the reader this seems a little too obvious and I was hoping that we weren't going to be falling into that cliche here. I am pleased that it wasn't that cliche.

Honestly, I read Sophie Kinsella to laugh out loud but at least chuckle and with this one there wasn’t a lot of that going on. It’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, I did but it’s just different than her other books. I did enjoy that instead of a singleton, her main character is married and a working mom. There were a couple moments where I could feel the story shift into a different direction, which I was happy for. Overall, Surprise Me isn’t her best book in my opinion but I’ll still keep reading her. Her characters are at least silly and fun.


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Julie's Review: My Not So Perfect Life

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Dial Press
Pages: 448
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Light fun read about figuring out that life isn't always what it seems either in the flesh or on social media
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Summary:  Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world. New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has written her most timely novel yet. Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud. Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life. Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth. ~amazon.com

Review: My Not So Perfect Life is clever, funny and touching; pretty much everything I expect from a novel from Sophie Kinsella.Katie Brenner or Cat as she's known in London, is low man on the totem pole for a company that specializes in branding. She works for a high-profile woman who is slightly scary and a bit scatterbrained, but she's brilliant at her job. Katie hopes that she'll mentor her but Demeter is in her own world. Since Katie was small she's dreamt of living her life in London and even if she has to enter survey answers into a data base all day she's going to make it happen.

Of course, life always has to throw you a curve ball and Katie loses her job. At the same time her dad and step-mum decide to create a glamping (glamorous camping) business on the family farm. When Katie hears that her dad is just going to throw up some tents and call it a day, she jumps into action. She even offers to come out and help by taking a "sabbatical" from her job. Katie forces them to really make the farm a destination and takes charge of all the branding for it. Even brilliantly designing the pamphlet and website. They are quickly booked and business booms for them. Of course, someone from Katie's past has to show up to throw her game off.

Katie is a wonderful character who grows up a bit as the book goes on but never loses her positive outlook on life or on her talent. She doubts herself at times but never gives up hope. Demeter is a complex character as well. She's complex and not at all what she seems as well. How Katie and Demeter interact on the farm is hilarious and poignant as well. Katie want to exact revenge on her for chucking her out the door at her job; while Demeter is gullible and has no clue what is coming at her.

What I loved about the book is that Ms. Kinsella makes some very valid points: not everything you see on social media is representative and people aren't always what they seem (in the best way). Sometimes when you take the time to be honest with yourself and get to know those around you good things will happen. Get to know people because you want to instead of listening to the opinions or gossip of others.

Ms. Kinsella never disappoints me and I love breezing through them in a couple of sittings. My Not So Perfect Life is a wonderful addition to my collection of her books. If you haven't read her, you must and if you have, you will definitely will want to read this.

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Julie's Review: Wedding Night

Summary: Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.  Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse. ~powells.com

Review: For this reader, I can almost never go wrong with a Sophie Kinsella novel. I've loved her since the first Shopaholic book came out. She makes me laugh and shake my head at the characters she writes.

In Wedding Night we are introduced to dreamy and romantic Lottie, who is sure her boyfriend of 3 years is about to propose to her. I think you know it doesn't go as planned. This launches her into a spiral of emotions and irrational behavior. Luckily for us the reader, we can get a few good laughs because of her antics.

Enter Fliss, Lottie's older sister and a bit bitter due to her impending divorce from a scoundrel of a husband. She's trying to balance work and a young son plus now she's got to manage Lottie. It's not easy and you can tell that she needs a release. Enter Lorcan.
As in all of Ms. Kinsella's novels hilarity ensues. I couldn't help but seriously laugh at some of the things that happen to Ben and Lottie. It would be enough to make anyone a little mad and a bit crazy.

What I loved about this novel was the sister aspect of it. How different Fliss and Lottie were but how they truly cared and loved each other. As an older sister I related to Fliss but admired Lottie's spontaneous personality.

If you've never read Ms. Kinsella's books( why?!), Wedding Night wouldn't be a bad place to start. Although I recommend having a chunk of time so you can read it cover to cover.

Final Take: 4.25/5


 

Julie's Review: I've Got Your Number

Summary: I’ve lost it. :( The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day! Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive :) !! Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect! Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life. ~amazon.com

Review: In three words: vintage Sophie Kinsella. Poppy is hilarious. Right off the bat I knew I'd like her. She's a good person, she's happy and she's getting married to someone she's dated for a few months; Magnus. The thing about Poppy is she's a little scatterbrained, which leads to her misplacing her engagement ring...a family heirloom! She's in such a state that she's not aware of her surroundings and her phone gets snatched. Like most of us, her phone is the ties to her life. Somehow she finds a phone that was pitched in the trash and decides to use it. This is where the story gets funny and endearing.

I think we all know where the book is going to end up but it's the ride that carries the book. Poppy gets herself into all sorts of trouble by trying to be helpful. She's just that kind of person to try to help someone she views as needing help. She sees Sam as uptight and made of stone. He sees her as a people-pleaser with an inability to stand up for herself. Are they both right? I'm not going to spoil that for you.

The way that  Ms. Kinsella tells a good portion of the story is through the text and emails that Sam and Poppy send back and forth, along with commentary by Poppy. We also get to know more of Poppy's thoughts through the use of footnotes. I have to say at first I found them a bit annoying but I did get used to them and they did add a bit of humor to the story (not that it didn't have it in the regular text).
Of course there is always some kind of misunderstanding but it was clever and charming. As always, the secondary characters were colorful and different from each other. No one was a cookie cutter or stereotypical character.

This is definitely high up there on my list of favorite Sophie Kinsella books but I will always recommend
Can You Keep a Secret?, Twenties Girl and The Undomestic Goddess religiously.

If you are a fan of Sophie Kinsella's books, then you definitely shouldn't miss out on I've Got Your Number.

Final Take: 4.75/5

Book to Movie: Confessions of a Shopaholic

Summary: Fall in love with the adorable Becky Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) in the hilarious romantic comedy Confessions Of A Shopaholic. Becky s desperate for a job writing for a high-fashion magazine in glamorous New York. She gets her stilettos in the door writing a personal finance column at a sister publication. Much to her surprise, her column, The Girl In The Green Scarf, becomes a hit, and she falls head over high heels for her handsome, overworked boss (Hugh Dancy). But Becky has a secret that leads to some hilarious high jinks that could unravel it all. From the best-selling novel, and featuring the perfect comedic cast, it s the feel-good romantic comedy you'll fall in love with over and over. ~amazon.com

Review: Ok so I was a huge fan of the Shopaholic Gift Set (Shopaholic Ties the Knot / Shopaholic Takes Manhattan / Confessions of a Shopaholic) until Shopaholic & Baby. Needless to say I wanted to hate this movie because they had changed so much about it. London = New York and other nuances. But I loved it! Sure, it didn't stick to the book but what book to movie does?? Isla Fisher was perfect as Becky Bloomwood and while Hugh Dancy is not Christian Bale, he is quite dreamy as Luke Brandon.

The one thing that really bugged me about it was that I don't remember Becky being a fashionista. I just remember her having a shopping problem, not necessarily because of Prada. That being said the character of Becky was as I remember her. Not really a complete space case but just unable to handle her finances. She's hilarious and really quite smart if she'd only take her own advice. Krysten Ritter is great as her best friend Suz. And parents are played quite well by John Goodman and Joan Cusack. Now that's some great casting!

The movie had me laughing out loud in several different parts (see the dancing scene) and had me feeling for Becky when she realized just really how bad it had gotten for her. I'm actually hoping for a sequel and that's coming from someone who didn't want to see it.

Book to Movie Final Take: 4/5 (I'd give it higher but it wasn't similar enough to the book, although it captured the spirit.)

Julie's Review: Twenties Girl

Summary: Think Topper, that impossibly sophisticated and goofy 1937 ghost tale of blithe spirits bugging the only living soul who can hear them. Kinsella creates an equally vexing and endearing shade, Sadie, a wild-at-heart flapper with unfinished earthly business who badgers 27-year-old great-niece Lara into doing her bidding. Predictable mayhem and the most delicious and delightful romp a ghost and girl-at-loose-ends could ever have in 21st century London ensue. Sadie discovers just how loved she really is, and Lara channels her inner '20s girl to discover the difference between wanting to be in love and finding love. Kinsella, a master of comic pacing and feminine wit (see: the wildly successful Shopaholic series), casts a bigger net with this piece of fun and fluff, weaving family dynamics and an old-fashioned mystery into the familiar chick lit romance. And there's a sweet nod to old folks (All that white hair and wrinkled skin is just cladding.... They were all young, with love affairs and friends and parties and an endless life ahead of them). It's a breath of crackling fresh air that may well keep readers warm right through winter. ~amazon.com

Review: Sophie Kinsella's books always make me laugh but it's been a while since I've truly loved one of her books. Twenties Girl is unlike any book I've read and definitely different from the rest of Ms. Kinsella's books. It's simply in one word...delightful. The title itself has a couple of different meanings as you can come to find out during your read. Lara, the main character, is a bit flighty. She's made a lot of changes in her life recently, not all of them by choice, and seems to be struggling to find her way. Enter, the ghost of her great-aunt Sadie Lancaster. Of course things are going Lara's way and now her family think she's crazy because she can, frankly she's acting a little skittish.

This is wear the fun begins, you see Sadie can't be buried until she finds a specific necklace and until she does she reeks havoc on Lara's life. I can't give too much away because well it's not like the plot is complicated but there are a few twists and turns. Some of it likely, some of it unlikely.

As character's go, both Lara and Sadie are immensely likable and relatable. I loved all the 1920s references and how they had to each learn the other one's "lingo". I really enjoyed how they both taught each other something about themselves and how Lara learned about her family after never having an interest.

In my opinion this is her best book since Can You Keep a Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess. I enjoyed Remember Me? (you can read my review here). Sure I've read every single Shopaholic book but honestly what else can Becky bumble her way through?

I must say something about the cover, it's simply brilliant! I love it. The picture on the post doesn't do it justice at all. Whomever designed it did a bang up job capturing the essence of the novel.

If you are looking for a great weekend read, go and pick up Twenties Girls right away. You won't be disappointed.

Final Take: 5/5

Confessions of a Shopaholic on the "Big Screen"

Well, it's here, the official movie trailer for Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic .

The movie stars Isla Fisher as Becky Bloomwood and Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon. I'm quite glad they decided on non-American actors for the leading roles (Except they're all speaking with American accents!) ~ the rest of the casting made me do a double take. Becky's parents are being played by Joan Cusack and John Goodman!!! Krysten Ritter is cast as Becky's faithful friend Suze (anyone else have trouble seeing her as anything but Gia from Veronica Mars or Lucy on Gilmore Girls???).

A little out there as casting goes? What do you think?

The movie is currently scheduled to release in February.

Personally, I prefer Kinsella's NON-shopaholic stuff, but I won't mind taking a gander at the film... maybe when it comes out on DVD.

Thoughts from Trashionista: http://www.trashionista.com/2008/12/more-anti-becky.html

Julie's Review: Remember Me?

Summary: After taking a nasty bump on the head, Lexi Smart awakens in a hospital convinced that it's 2004 and that she's just missed her father's funeral. It's actually three years later, and she no longer has crooked teeth, frizzy hair and a loser boyfriend. Initially wowed by what she's become—a gorgeous, cut-throat businesswoman—Lexi soon finds herself attempting to figure out how it happened. As her personality change and lost memory threaten her job, Lexi tries to dredge up some chemistry with her handsome albeit priggish husband, Eric, though the effort is unnecessary with Eric's colleague Jon, who tells Lexi that she was about to leave Eric for him. Amnesia tales may be old hat, but Kinsella keeps things fresh and frothy with workplace politicking, romantic intrigue and a vibrant (though sometimes caricatured) cast. Though the happy ending won't come as a surprise, readers will be rooting for Lexi all along. ~amazon.com/Publishers Weekly

Review: I admit it, when I hear that Sophie Kinsella is releasing a new book I get excited. I've loved her since my girlfriend gave me Confessions of a Shopaholic series, but I like her non Becky Bloomwood books more. So when I heard that she was coming out with a new book before there was even a summary, it was on my Wish List at Amazon.com. I ended up buying the book at Target a few weeks ago and knew it would move to the top of my TBR pile because I knew that it would be a good, quick, light read and after some of the books I've read lately I needed that. Remember Me? is quite a funny book and Lexi is a great heroine to route for. I found myself wondering what I would do if I lost my memory and how I would handle it. The supporting cast of characters are interesting and fun but the story is pretty typical. There was a good twist that I didn't see coming but other than that it wasn't Ms. Kinsella's best book. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend that you read it? Yes. Would I tell you it was the best "chick-lit" book I've read? No, but you will be entertained.

I expect Laugh out Loud moments from Ms. Kinsellas' books and while there were a few, there were less than in her previous books. The ending is predictible but nice just the same. It seems that amnesia is the illness dujour lately in tv and in books but that doesn't mean that it isn't refreshing for a subject matter.

If you haven't read Sophie Kinsella yet, I would recommend either Can You Keep a Secret? or The Undomestic Goddess to read first.

I'll keep reading Sophie Kinsella because I like her style of writing and her books typically don't disappoint. I don't ever feel like I've wasted time reading one of her books.

Final Take: 3.5/5

Coming Soon: Remember Me (Book Summary)

Well that didn't take too long.

Trashionista (the British chick-lit blog) has posted a summary for Remember Me from Amazon U.K. (What's up with that?)

It goes:

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??! She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage', which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up...and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

Sounds like a fun read.

Coming Soon: Remember Me?

Sophie Kinsella's new one is due February 26, 2008. It's called Remember Me and no summary is available for it, so one can only guess what it's all about. I do know one thing, though - this one probably won't feature Becky Bloomwood. Thank God.

Ms. Kinsella's non-Shopaholic novels have been pretty good, so I hoping for good things.

Book to Movie: Confessions of A Shopaholic

This morning, I read on TV Guide that Isla Fisher will be the lead in Disney's adaptation of Confessions of a Shopaholic. Finally! After all this time, someone's making a movie!

So, Isla Fisher as Becky Bloomwood. Hmmm, let me see... it could work, I suppose. I've only ever seen her in "Wedding Crashers" where I found her comedic instincts dead on, but I don't feel that's enough for me to form a full opinion. Truthfully, I'd never really picked out an actress to play Becky in my mind so it doesn't bother me much. I just always assumed that if a movie was made, it would be with a British actress unknown to me. Speaking of which, Ms. Fisher is most certainly not British - though that means diddly. Renee Zellweger earned herself some kudos and a Golden Globe nomination for the Bridget Jones movies, after all. Further investigation reveals that Isla grew up in Australia and is engaged to Sasha Baron Cohen and though neither of those makes her anymore British, they both make me think she'd be able to fake it and fake it pretty darn well.

As for Luke Brandon... let's just go ahead and call up Christian Bale's people. Please and Thank You.