chrissireads's review
Carmen Reid's writing is just so addictive. It reminds me in some ways of Sophie Kinsella's (which I really enjoy). What surprised me about this chick lit is that there was an element of surprise and a tear-jerking moment. It was well written, easy to read and enjoyable! Definitely one to recommend.
adivashukla's review
3.0
I loved how the protagonist Annie was independent and knew what she was doing. it wasn't cringing or cliche and barely had any embarrassing scenes which I loved and is one major thing I usually hate in chick lits. I didn't like her daughter much but I guess that is because she was portrayed as an actual teenager- and they're annoying. One thing I didn't like was the length of this book when we knew EXACTLY what was going to happen and who she was going to end up with. Plus, I don't understand why everyone in the reviews names her daughter Lana, but in the book, I read it was Lauren. It was a good book as a one-time read and a stand-alone but I'm not willing to read the next few parts of it.
titan3lla's review
4.0
First half: I like the tone of it, but it's not really my world I'm afraid.
Wow.
I'm really close to the end, just ending Chapter 30. I cannot really put it down. It's so controversial to me! First, I could not really read it, because it was all about clothes and that's just really not what I'm interested (but now thinking about the Queen Of Babble series had also a huge clothing line...). Now it revealed that Roddy actually died!!! I'm just furious. I was on the bus heading to uni when I reached that part and almost couldn't stop myself from crying.... Such a blast!!! I mean I was suspicious that we do not know why he left, or they did not have any contact not even with the kids, and he is not helping her paying for school, but since he was an actor I just assumed he just ran off or something. I wasn't expecting this!
Wow.
I'm really close to the end, just ending Chapter 30. I cannot really put it down. It's so controversial to me! First, I could not really read it, because it was all about clothes and that's just really not what I'm interested (but now thinking about the Queen Of Babble series had also a huge clothing line...). Now it revealed that Roddy actually died!!! I'm just furious. I was on the bus heading to uni when I reached that part and almost couldn't stop myself from crying.... Such a blast!!! I mean I was suspicious that we do not know why he left, or they did not have any contact not even with the kids, and he is not helping her paying for school, but since he was an actor I just assumed he just ran off or something. I wasn't expecting this!
tessa_talks_books's review
5.0
What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid is the story of Annie Valentine when she is trying to make sense of her life and take it to a new, more secure place for her and her children.
What I Enjoyed:
I initially would have given this story a lower rating, but at around the 80% mark, I experienced a twist that blew me away, moved me to tears, and reframed the whole story. I, of course, had no choice but to give it the extra star it deserved. I love the twist and how it made the story much more meaningful and less of simply frothy good fun.
There is plenty of fun in this novel, and I laughed out loud frequently as situation after situation added wit and wisdom to Annie and the reader alike. I found the story and the characters relatable, which is good since this story is largely character-driven. Narration is third-person but focused through Annie's point of view, and both dialogue and exposition flow quickly, keeping the pace relatively fast.
I also enjoyed the personal shopper angle and how each chapter began with evaluating the clothing worn by a character prominent in that chapter. I found it an exciting thread explaining how Annie saw the world in the story. A little more insight into the main character is always a good attribute.
Characters:
Annie Valentine is a single mother of two – a teenage daughter and a younger son. She struggles to make ends meet and keep her children in a pricey private school but is good at playing to her strengths in the work world. She is determined, clever, and unapologetic. Annie is the main character, and the story is told from her perspective. I found her character to be well-developed, relatable, and sympathetic.
Reminds Me Of:
Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series – I believe that people who love this series will also enjoy Annie Valentine.
What I Wish:
I wish that Annie had not talked about Chloé totes and handbags in such a brilliant way. I lost so much time looking up this designer's different, way-too-expensive totes and purses, and now I have an impossible wishlist.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a story to leave you with plenty of laughs and a surprising twist that takes the story to a whole new level, The Personal Shopper should be your next read.
The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid is the story of Annie Valentine when she is trying to make sense of her life and take it to a new, more secure place for her and her children.
What I Enjoyed:
I initially would have given this story a lower rating, but at around the 80% mark, I experienced a twist that blew me away, moved me to tears, and reframed the whole story. I, of course, had no choice but to give it the extra star it deserved. I love the twist and how it made the story much more meaningful and less of simply frothy good fun.
There is plenty of fun in this novel, and I laughed out loud frequently as situation after situation added wit and wisdom to Annie and the reader alike. I found the story and the characters relatable, which is good since this story is largely character-driven. Narration is third-person but focused through Annie's point of view, and both dialogue and exposition flow quickly, keeping the pace relatively fast.
I also enjoyed the personal shopper angle and how each chapter began with evaluating the clothing worn by a character prominent in that chapter. I found it an exciting thread explaining how Annie saw the world in the story. A little more insight into the main character is always a good attribute.
Characters:
Annie Valentine is a single mother of two – a teenage daughter and a younger son. She struggles to make ends meet and keep her children in a pricey private school but is good at playing to her strengths in the work world. She is determined, clever, and unapologetic. Annie is the main character, and the story is told from her perspective. I found her character to be well-developed, relatable, and sympathetic.
Reminds Me Of:
Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series – I believe that people who love this series will also enjoy Annie Valentine.
What I Wish:
I wish that Annie had not talked about Chloé totes and handbags in such a brilliant way. I lost so much time looking up this designer's different, way-too-expensive totes and purses, and now I have an impossible wishlist.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a story to leave you with plenty of laughs and a surprising twist that takes the story to a whole new level, The Personal Shopper should be your next read.
nickikendall's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
4.0
This was a re-read for me as I read the initial paperback copy back in 2008, I was curious to see if it still held up to my initial thoughts on it. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. A feelgood laugh out loud chicklit read that was enjoyable from start to finish. An entertaining plot with likeable characters. Reading the Kindle version made me remember just why I read so many books from this series ⭐⭐⭐⭐#carmenreid #thepersonalshopper #netgalley #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookqueen #bookstagram #chicklit
aplace_inthesun's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book is a reinventing 15 years or so after the first version, as I understand it.
Annie Valentine Is a personal shopper at a hoity toity department store, with a few fashion oriented side hustles as well. She’s forever chasing her tail having been left in a precarious position by her husband. You’re never quite sure what happened to Roddy, and wonder what he did to her, but all is revealed about 2/3 in.
Annie gets the sack from work and has no idea how she’s going to pay her kids exorbitant school fees. Enter Gray a rich dentist, some years older and financially secure. Annie and her children move in with him. But what about Ed, the lovely school music teacher who she shares a scorcher of a kiss with?
The Personal Shopper is a slow burn womens fiction book. Annie grated on me a little with her ‘babes’ left right and centre. She definitely tries to hard to be a ‘have’ and seems to think it’s so much better than a ‘have not’. It makes her appear pretty shallow and a bit of a snob. It’s a book where largely not much happens, and looks at the minutiae of Annie’s life. I felt like I needed a little more from this one, though I loved the ending ….
She just seemed to go so quickly from one suitor to another, which is also not my thing.
Annie Valentine Is a personal shopper at a hoity toity department store, with a few fashion oriented side hustles as well. She’s forever chasing her tail having been left in a precarious position by her husband. You’re never quite sure what happened to Roddy, and wonder what he did to her, but all is revealed about 2/3 in.
Annie gets the sack from work and has no idea how she’s going to pay her kids exorbitant school fees. Enter Gray a rich dentist, some years older and financially secure. Annie and her children move in with him. But what about Ed, the lovely school music teacher who she shares a scorcher of a kiss with?
The Personal Shopper is a slow burn womens fiction book. Annie grated on me a little with her ‘babes’ left right and centre. She definitely tries to hard to be a ‘have’ and seems to think it’s so much better than a ‘have not’. It makes her appear pretty shallow and a bit of a snob. It’s a book where largely not much happens, and looks at the minutiae of Annie’s life. I felt like I needed a little more from this one, though I loved the ending ….
She just seemed to go so quickly from one suitor to another, which is also not my thing.
tiahey's review
2.0
Another book from our breakroom at work.
Where to start? Perhaps I could just save everyone's time and say that I would not recommend this book to anyone, ever. I don't understand why it was written, I don't understand why it was published, and I don't understand how it was so incredibly long, especially when you knew from the start how it was going to end. There was one twist that I did not see coming that for a minute made this book almost mediocre, but... no.
Just remember, BABES, it doesn't matter if you have a heart of gold if you're not wearing designer brands! For some inexplicable reason the protagonist keeps calling everyone "babes" - not babe. Babes. The book also contains an inexplicable amount of random winking at odd times. At one point I started wondering if everyone has been exposed to some kind of poison that gave them brain damage. That would explain a lot. For some other inexplicable reason this romance novel is very low on romance, and possibly one of the unsexiest books I have ever read.
Maybe the inexplicable reason behind all of this is just BAD WRITING.
Where to start? Perhaps I could just save everyone's time and say that I would not recommend this book to anyone, ever. I don't understand why it was written, I don't understand why it was published, and I don't understand how it was so incredibly long, especially when you knew from the start how it was going to end. There was one twist that I did not see coming that for a minute made this book almost mediocre, but... no.
Just remember, BABES, it doesn't matter if you have a heart of gold if you're not wearing designer brands! For some inexplicable reason the protagonist keeps calling everyone "babes" - not babe. Babes. The book also contains an inexplicable amount of random winking at odd times. At one point I started wondering if everyone has been exposed to some kind of poison that gave them brain damage. That would explain a lot. For some other inexplicable reason this romance novel is very low on romance, and possibly one of the unsexiest books I have ever read.
Maybe the inexplicable reason behind all of this is just BAD WRITING.