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titan3lla's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
littlebirdbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was just so funny. Right at the start you're lead to believe that Annie Valentine's husband has left her with their rebellious teenage daughter and very shy son. Annie's best friend is gay and he really brings a lot of humour to the book. I think he was my favourite character. She works as a personal shopper in a huge shop called "The Store" she's very good at her job and has a few other things that she does on the side to support her family.
All the characters are pretty lovable apart from Gray in my opinion. I didn't really like him from the start but I was happy with the ending and things. It was also a nice twist to find out what happened between her and her husband.
I'll definitely get the rest of the series.
All the characters are pretty lovable apart from Gray in my opinion. I didn't really like him from the start but I was happy with the ending and things. It was also a nice twist to find out what happened between her and her husband.
I'll definitely get the rest of the series.
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