I honestly never thought I would review a fiction book for the Home Finance site. Not only do I read very little fiction, but I wouldn’t have dreamed it possible to find a fiction book that would provide good financial advice. Fortunately, I discovered author, Sophie Kinsella, and her book “Confessions of a Shopaholic.”
The main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, is a recent college graduate and a financial writer for Successful Savings. One would think that she is a financial expert since she is a financial writer. Right? Well, it does turn out that Becky is quite the expert on financial matters; however, her love for shopping and her love for the finer things life has to offer seem to overpower everything else in her life...including common sense.
Becky is filled with a great deal of excitement when she shops. Purchasing a Prada bag leaves her with an exhilarating feeling. When she’s feeling down, she shops because it always lifts her spirits. The problem is that her income doesn’t quite cover her bills. In fact, it falls very short and this is causing her quite a bit of problems. So, how does the great financial expert handle her own money problems? She ignores them. She pretends they don’t exist. She doesn’t even read the letters that are being sent to her by the bank and the credit card companies. Instead, she throws them away unopened. She rationalizes that if she never received the bill or the nasty letter then she cannot be held accountable.
Becky makes excuse after excuse for her need to purchase items and her inability to pay her bills. The few times that she does actually communicate with the bank she creates lies for excuses. She tells them she has glandular fever and broken legs. She offers to bribe them with subscriptions to her magazine and dinner invitations. Her excuses are quite creative and quite hilarious. Although they probably aren’t very hilarious to the bank.
As the story unfolds, the exhilaration from shopping lessens and Becky is left with a black void. Her situation is dismal and she feels desperate. In fact, she feels so bad that she decides to go to the store and purchase something for herself! She starts out selecting a t-shirt, then a gown, and then a robe. By the time she is at the check-out counter she has accumulated a large pile of items. But this shopping trip is different. This time, when the clerk runs her card, it doesn’t work. In fact, none of her cards work. All of her accounts have been frozen. Becky is humiliated. What is she to do now?
In the end, Becky actually handles her money problems in a professional (i.e. adult) manner. She stops relying on winning the lottery as a legitimate means of solving her problems. Instead, she becomes accountable for her actions and faces her problems.
Becky is a very likeable character and one with whom many people can relate. She isn’t the only person who has thrown away a nasty letter from a creditor and then pretend it didn’t exist. She also isn’t the only person who finds solace in shopping. In fact, it is almost a stretch to call this book “fiction” because it so closely describes the actions of far too many people.
So, whether you need someone with whom you can relate, or you just simply need a fun read and a good laugh, then you will want to get a copy of this book. It’s an entertaining and quick read but it also tells a good story and provides a lesson in the end.
I obtained this book for FREE through my Paperbackswap account. Paperbackswap is a great way to pass along your own books that you have already read and receive FREE books in return.
