Scan barcode
A review by tessa_talks_books
The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid
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.