Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

"Becky's father Graham and her best friend's husband, Tarquin, have disappeared from Los Angeles saying simply they have "something to take care of." But Tarquin's wife Suze who is Becky's best friend, and Becky's mother Jane, are convinced the two men are hiding something and are in danger--their imaginations run wild. They must track them down! Hijinks ensue as husband Luke drives Becky, daughter Minnie, Jane, Suze and other favorite Kinsella characters across country from LA to Las Vegas in search of the missing men. Becky feels deeply guilty about ignoring her father while he was in LA, in addition Becky feels her enemy Alicia is threatening her friendship with Suze."--

This book felt like it was three or four short stories rolled into one binding. Suze and Rebecca's friendship faded in and out of focus, but the other spinning plates fractured the flow. Enjoyable book but not as fun as the first few books in the series.

I saved it up because I didn't want it to be over. Few writers build characters that feel so real as Becky Bloomwood: I see her as a person, not only a flat design. And love her!

Still, it is my least favorite. I hate Suze with a passion, as well as Becky's whole family, because they seem unbearably spoiled and basically nasty brats. Also, almost not believable: for instance, Suze had been her bff forever, and they had been through an almost fall out a year before: her fondness for Alicia Bitch Legs just doesn't cut it. Becky's parents must be idiotic. And her letters to Derek Smeathy border the laughsble stupidity. So, if she weren't so lovable altogether, I'd hate her for this book.

I think this really was the last book in the series, this time. It's funny reviewing it. When I read the first books in this series, I was 19 or 20. Now, by the magic of book time, I think I'm older than Becky. When I read Mini Shopaholic, I was pregnant with my daughter. Now she's four, but Minnie is still two years old. Funny how things work out.

The previous book wasn't my favorite, but it ended on quite a cliffhanger. Even then, it took me a while to feel “in the mood” to read this book. I think it's the fall release. Shopaholic books just don't seem like fall reading to me, I guess.

I do hope this is the finish of the series. It had better pacing than the previous book. It solved the mystery, had nice character moments, and even some actual character growth from Becky. It really seemed like the book gave closure for the series.