Shopaholic Abroad
Encyclopedia
"Shopaholic Abroad" (2001) is the second in the popular 'Shopaholic' series. It is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a psyeudonym of Madeline Wickham. It follows the story of Becky Bloomwood and her adventures when she's offered the chance to work in New York
.
Becky is spending a lot, but is sure she's financially secure, with the job offers on TV piling up.
An article in the Daily World reveals her high debts, calls her a fraud for telling people how to manage their money when she is herself feckless. This causes a fight between her and Luke, as there are current rumours about that his PR company, Brandon Communications, will lose Bank of London as their client, and her being revealed as in debt (and Luke not even knowing about it) doesn't help situations. More and more opportunities are ruled out, when more and more people read the article. She even loses her current job on Morning Coffee, and is replaced by her former co-worker Clare Edwards, who Becky never liked, being boring and smug. She returns home to her roommate and best friend Suze, while Luke remains in New York, and their relationship comes to an apparent end.
Becky and Suze go to Becky's new bank manager to ask for a bigger overdraft, but are met with nothing but hostility and disgust. A woman who worked for her former employers Morning Coffee contacts her and asks her to lunch, Becky becomes hopeful, but it turns out she only wants Becky to come on and be told off by Clare for TV. Becky becomes depressed. On a trip to Luke's office to collect a package for her delivered there, she overhears a conversation between 'Alicia Bitch Long-Legs', Luke's employee, and another Brandon C. worker, which confuses her. She discovers Alicia and the worker are planning to steal Luke's clients, along with Bank of London, and set up on their own. She contacts Luke's colleague Michael Ellis and tells him, but asks him not to let Luke know it was her.
Suze suggests for a healing and empowering exercise that Becky throw out all her unnecessary possessions. Becky has a better idea, and decides to sell them. She has a huge bidding and sells all of them, even her Denny and George scarf, a big symbol for her and Luke's relationship. She accepts the slot on Morning Coffee, but shocks them all by telling them she has no more financial problems, has paid of all her debt, and is heading off to New york now to work at Barney's (all of which is now true). Luke turns up at the airport, and tells her Michael told him all about what Becky did for his company, and thanks her. He begs her to stay, to come and work at Brandon C., but she tells him she doesn't want to settle down at a job she doesn't want, as she's too young for that. Becky leaves for New York.
Some time later, Becky is working as a personal shopper at Barney's, when Luke shows up as a customer. He apologises for all that happened and they get back together.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Plot synopsis
Life looks good for Becky Bloomwood. She has a great relationship with boyfriend Luke, a steady job giving financial advice- on TV! And is actually getting along with her bank manager, Derek Smeath. But when Mr. Smeath retires from Endwich Bank and Luke announces he wants to make it big in New York, big changes are in store (literally) for Becky. She takes to New York like an angel to heaven. Becky has never been happier and the reader is treated to Becky seeing the Guggenheim in a unique way, winning the attention of employees at Barney's and discovering sample sales.Becky is spending a lot, but is sure she's financially secure, with the job offers on TV piling up.
An article in the Daily World reveals her high debts, calls her a fraud for telling people how to manage their money when she is herself feckless. This causes a fight between her and Luke, as there are current rumours about that his PR company, Brandon Communications, will lose Bank of London as their client, and her being revealed as in debt (and Luke not even knowing about it) doesn't help situations. More and more opportunities are ruled out, when more and more people read the article. She even loses her current job on Morning Coffee, and is replaced by her former co-worker Clare Edwards, who Becky never liked, being boring and smug. She returns home to her roommate and best friend Suze, while Luke remains in New York, and their relationship comes to an apparent end.
Becky and Suze go to Becky's new bank manager to ask for a bigger overdraft, but are met with nothing but hostility and disgust. A woman who worked for her former employers Morning Coffee contacts her and asks her to lunch, Becky becomes hopeful, but it turns out she only wants Becky to come on and be told off by Clare for TV. Becky becomes depressed. On a trip to Luke's office to collect a package for her delivered there, she overhears a conversation between 'Alicia Bitch Long-Legs', Luke's employee, and another Brandon C. worker, which confuses her. She discovers Alicia and the worker are planning to steal Luke's clients, along with Bank of London, and set up on their own. She contacts Luke's colleague Michael Ellis and tells him, but asks him not to let Luke know it was her.
Suze suggests for a healing and empowering exercise that Becky throw out all her unnecessary possessions. Becky has a better idea, and decides to sell them. She has a huge bidding and sells all of them, even her Denny and George scarf, a big symbol for her and Luke's relationship. She accepts the slot on Morning Coffee, but shocks them all by telling them she has no more financial problems, has paid of all her debt, and is heading off to New york now to work at Barney's (all of which is now true). Luke turns up at the airport, and tells her Michael told him all about what Becky did for his company, and thanks her. He begs her to stay, to come and work at Brandon C., but she tells him she doesn't want to settle down at a job she doesn't want, as she's too young for that. Becky leaves for New York.
Some time later, Becky is working as a personal shopper at Barney's, when Luke shows up as a customer. He apologises for all that happened and they get back together.
The Books
- "The Secret Dreamworld of a ShopaholicThe Secret Dreamworld of a ShopaholicThe Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic is the first in the popular Shopaholic series. It is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a pen-name of Madeline Wickham...
" (2000) also published as "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2001) - "Shopaholic Abroad" (2002) also published as "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan"(2001)
- "Shopaholic Ties The KnotShopaholic Ties The KnotShopaholic Ties the Knot is the third in the popular 'Shopaholic' series. It is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a pseudonym of Madeline Wickham...
" (2002) - "Shopaholic & SisterShopaholic & SisterShopaholic and Sister is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a pseudonym of Madeline Wickham. It is the fourth book in the Shopaholic series...
" (2004) - "Shopaholic & BabyShopaholic & BabyShopaholic and Baby is the fifth novel in the popular 'Shopaholic' series. It is a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, a pseudonym of Madeline Wickham...
" (2007) - "Mini Shopaholic" out Sept 2010
External links
- Sophie Kinsella's official website- http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/
- Sophie Kinsella's official U.K. website- http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/
- Amazon Reviews- http://www.amazon.com/Shopaholic-Takes-Manhattan-Sophie-Kinsella/dp/0385335881