A review by zeevee93
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I want to start by saying I LOVE Sophie Kinsella’s writing, and some of her standalone books are absolutely masterful. However, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic just did not have the same level of quality as some of her other work. 

It wasn’t bad … it just wasn’t great. 

When I first started reading, I was excited. The first quarter of the book is filled with Kinsella’s signature wit, unexpected humour, and easy-to-read style. The story opens with a lighthearted, humorous portrayal of Rebecca Bloomwood, a London journalist hopelessly addicted to shopping. I found myself laughing out loud as Becky concocts increasingly outrageous excuses to avoid facing her mounting debt. I quickly settled in, ready to enjoy another Kinsella masterpiece... 

However, the middle of the book just seems to drag on and on. The central gag—Rebecca dodging her financial woes with ever more elaborate excuses—quickly grows repetitive. The lack of substantial plot points or character development during this stretch makes the story feel stagnant. Quite frankly, I was bored. The humour becomes less effective because there is no balance or purpose; the narrative just meanders without direction. Listening to this as an audiobook meant I got to spend nearly seven hours listening to nothing more than Rebecca's shopping habits and excuses, which felt like the reading equivalent of running in circles. 

As for Rebecca, I’ll be honest—I can’t decide if I love her, hate her, or love to hate her. One thing I know for sure is that I immediately related to her. Rebecca is very clearly ADHD-coded—her chaotic, impulsive behaviour, wild leaps between thoughts, and disregard for consequences are highly relatable and endearing. Anyone with ADHD can’t help but feel a deep pang of understanding, empathy, and solidarity with Rebecca when reading about her ever-growing pile of unread mail! 

Unfortunately, it’s that middle section again that lets both the book AND Ms Bloomwood down. Her almost wilful naivety and lack of self-awareness become increasingly frustrating over time. Kinsella seems to have aimed for a portrayal of a talented ADHD woman battling imposter syndrome, unsure of her abilities and intelligence. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite translate that way. 
Instead, Rebecca often comes across as shallow and unintelligent, contradicting the flashes of cleverness we see in other parts of the book. She often feels more like a caricature than a fully fleshed-out person, which is frustrating because there is clearly more depth to her character that remains unexplored. 

Thankfully, the last quarter of the book pulls things back together. The plot picks up, the humour returns, and the ending has some great twists and satisfying moments that made the slog through the middle worth it. 

Ultimately, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic has moments of brilliance, but it suffers from a bloated middle section that detracts from the book's overall appeal. Realistically, Kinsella could have taken the first and last quarters, combined them, fleshed them out a little, and produced a far funnier, sharper, and more polished story than what was presented. 

Despite the issues, I love Kinsella’s writing style enough and am invested in Rebecca Bloomwood’s life just enough to give the second book in the series a chance. Here’s hoping for a fresh storyline, more redeeming qualities for the protagonist, and some depth for the secondary characters.