Confessions of a Shopaholic

Addthisaptlytitledpiffletotheranksofpink-coveredgirl-centricfictionthathascomesailingoutofEnglandoverthelasttwoyears.Atage25,RebeccaBloomwoodhaseverythingshewants.Ordoesshe?Canhercareerasafinancialjournalist,afabflatandaclosetfullofdesignerclotheslessentheblowofthedunninglettersfromcreditcardcompaniesandbanksthathavebeenarrivingtooquicklytobecontainedbythedrawerinwhichRebeccahidesthem?Althoughherromanticentanglementstendtowardthesuperficial,thereisthatwonderfulLukeBrandonofBrandonCommunications:handsome,intelligent,the31st-richestbacheloraccordingtoHarper'sandactuallypossessedofapersonalitythatismoresubstancethanstyle.ToobadthatRebeccablowsitwhenevertheirpathscross.WillRebeccalearntostopshoppingbeforesheloseseverythingworthwhile?WhenfacedwiththeopportunitytodogoodforothersandimpressLuke,willshefinallymeasureup?RebeccaissounremittinglyshallowandLukeissowonderfulthatreadersmayfindthemselvesrootingfortheheroinenottogetthemanAalthough,sinceShakespeare'stime,there'srarelybeenanydoubtconcerninghowromanticcomedieswillend.There'sacertaindegreeofmadcapfunwithsomeofRebecca'screativeuntruths;whenshepersuadesherparentsthatabankmanagerisastalker,someveryamusingsituationsensue.Still,thisisfamiliarstuff,andRebeccaisthekindofunrepentantspenderwhowillmakereaders,savethosewhoshareherdisorderintheworstway,pitythepoorbillcollector.(Feb.13)Forecast:Thisisawell-designedbook,withacatchymagentaspine,andacolorfulandkineticdoublecoverAwhichwillattractmanybrowsers.Majorad/promo,includingnationalNPRsponsorships,willenhancesales,despitethenovel'sflaws.Copyright2000ReedBusinessInformation,Inc.--ThistextreferstothePaperbackedition.