Score: 3.5/5 Bookmarks

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella is the ninth book in the Shopaholic series which follows Rebecca (Becky) Bloomwood through her (mis)adventures in life, always including some shopping drama. This is the first Sophie Kinsella I’ve read, but I hear good things about the rest of the series.

In this book Becky is married, has a daughter, and finds herself thrust into the role of Christmas host for the first time. Not only will she be hosting her parents, her friend’s family, but also her sister Jess is back from South America, and expects Christmas to be a vegan, low-waste affair.

This book is often laugh-out-loud funny as well-meaning Becky gets distracted, puts her foot in it, and makes all manner of bad decisions which result in chaos all-round. On occasion I found myself a little frustrated at the obvious misunderstandings she kept flinging herself into head-on, and the mailable nature of her personality, but overall the book was quite charming.

It’s the perfect book to help you escape your own holiday drama. Just click the button below to grab your own copy, then find a quiet reading chair out of the chaos, sit back and enjoy!

Synopsis:

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) adores Christmas. It's always the same – Mum and Dad hosting, carols playing, Mum pretending she made the Christmas pudding, and the next-door neighbors coming round for sherry in their terrible festive jumpers.

And now it's even easier with online bargain-shopping sites – if you spend enough you even get free delivery. Sorted!

But this year looks set to be different. Unable to resist the draw of craft beer and smashed avocado, Becky's parents are moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch and have asked Becky if she'll host Christmas this year. What could possibly go wrong?

With sister Jess demanding a vegan turkey, husband Luke determined that he just wants aftershave again, and little Minnie insisting on a very specific picnic hamper – surely Becky can manage all this, as well as the surprise appearance of an old boyfriend and his pushy new girlfriend, whose motives are far from clear . . .

Will chaos ensue, or will Becky manage to bring comfort and joy to Christmas?