Finally! Queen of Babble Gets Hitched !

Lizzie Nichols! She says YES! Now she is engaged to a prince, Jean-Luc aka Luke. Yet, why isn’t she happy or excited? Why is she breaking out in hives every time she thinks of planning her wedding and being very thankful that Luke will be spending the summer in France. Is this a bad sign? She wonders why she’s jealous of Chaz’s new girlfriend. I mean she is engage to another man after all. Okok, I changed my mind. Don’t marry Luke! Chaz’s a sweet heart and good friend. =) Chaz is probably someone I would love to meet and even marry! He’s sweet, romantic and pay attitude to details and most important he’s funny and sarcastic, yet he knows when to be serious.

Like Paris Hilton, Ava Geck is a gum-chewing socialite and heiress who befriended Lizzie; while Lizzie is working her bridal gown. Ava is sort of like the trouble Brittney, being frequently photographed without underpants, ditches her wedding to a Greek Prince and getting involved to marry man. She is commonly referred to as a skanky crack whore. Seriously I thought Ava would cause a lot of trouble, instead she was kind of boring. How can you forget Tiffany, Monique Shari and especially Gran- it was really sad when Lizzie found out she passed away. Ok, Shari is barely mentioned in the book until the end. She should have more part; after all she is the best friend.

=) I loved the Wedding tips/facts beginning of each chapter.

1. In Roman times, the bridesmaids would wear the same identical dress to confuse, outsmart and protect the bride from evil spirits, (that goes the same for groom.) Like they say, 3x a bridesmaids never a bride because the bridesmaid is too impure w/ evil spirit.
(However, like they say “always a bridesmaid, but never a bride" and "thrice a bridesmaid, never a bride"-- an old charm that can be broken by being a bridesmaid seven times.)

2. In a Marriage: When you’re wrong: Admit it!
When you’re right: Shut up!

3. Something Old: is symbolic of continuity. Old friendships are faithful.
Something New: Good luck and success in new life.
Something Borrow: friends and family will be there for her on her special day and in the future. Basically taking the love into the marriage. (Remember to return it!)
Something Blue: is the symbol of faithfulness, purity and loyalty.

Finally I got a hold on this book and it took me 2 days to finish. I was really disappointed by the ending? Yes a wedding is between 2 people, but it’s Lizzie we are talking about- at least a small wedding. Also, I didn’t think the author should make Luke into a cheating boyfriend, just seem like it an easy way out. Then again, he could have been one. Even though Lizzie sort of suspect Luke was cheating, he didn’t spy on him, which was good. I didn’t laugh as much as I did the previous two and the whole book was pretty predictable except for the part where Gran dies. Even though I like reading about Lizzie and Chaz, Cabot should stop now; this is a very good ending to Queen of Babbles. I’m glad I waited and didn’t pay $80+ for an advance copy on ebay - a few months ago.

Ps. You gotta love diet coke!

Shopaholic and Baby

Becky’s pregnant! She needs to have celebrity obstetrician, Venetia Carter- who just so happens to be Luke's ex girlfriend back when they were studying at Cambridge. Shit! Becky began to feel insecure as she felt that Venetia was out to get her husband; which she is! As usual, Becky relied on her best friend Suze for moral support. Becky sets out to save her marriage. Her tendency to jump to conclusions lands her in more than once sticky situations. Becky is assured nothing is going on, but why is Luke suddenly acting so secretive and strange and why does the lovely Dr. Carter seem so evil and manipulative? =) She’s a red headed Bitch and I hate her! Haha.. Danny’s fashion line is funny, pick your bitch.. haha. Man If I have Danny as a friend that would be a dream come true.

Wow! Becky wrote Luke a 17-page letter! Just reminded me of Rachel and Ross on the show Friends.. haha.. Becky’s Mom and Janice at the childbirth class are so funny. They would have scared the shit out of me if I were Becky or any one of the pregnant women in that class. OoOoH, Jess and Tom- that’s so cute! Jess and Becky are bonding like sisters. The store she works at (The Look) is doing horrible in business, but thanks to Becky’s idea- things are turning around.

I was bit annoyed by Luke at the beginning where he was text messaging Venetia. He seems a bit careless and like always- he’s hardly there for Becky. I was glad that he was there for Becky at her Vogue photo shoot and at the hospital. He was so sweet when he describes why he married Becky! The drama at the hospital was great to read! The ending was pretty good. Becky is actually helping Luke out- cutting down her spending a lot! She’s going to be a great stylish mom!

*_~ OK, I finish actually finished this book fast! I can’t help wonder what the next one will be? Shopaholic and Career? Shopaholic and Nanny? Oh well, it might be a while since the author is busy w/ movie. However, I know there’s will be another novel. Becky's sense of humor made this book really entertaining! =)

Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Becky is now sharing an apartment and a bank account with Luke in NYC. She can finally manage with the money she has to satisfy her inner shopper. She has a fashion designer living next door, a perfect job as a personal shopper in Barneys, happy with her life of shopping and hiding the bills from Luke. The only problem she now has is Elinor, Luke's mom.

Suze is about to get married to Tarquin. Danny’s right, it’s kind of gross b/c they’re cousins. At the wedding, in which Becky is the maid of honor, Luke and Suze tricked Becky to catch the traditional bridal bouquet, and along with the bouquet is a note from Luke asking Becky to marry him. Her world suddenly changes when Luke proposes to her at Suze's wedding. Man, why can’t I have a best friend like Suze? She’s the only one that can really knock some sense into Becky. I thought it was sweet how she spill coffee on Becky’s mother wedding dress, so Becky doesn’t have to wear something so ridiculous!

Becky's mother wants her to get married back in England w/ friends and family; while Luke's overbearing mother wants an all-out, no expenses spared, fairy tale wedding at the Plaza. Since she can’t say no to both, Becky’s hides the truth that she is having 2 weddings on same day on different continents. She needs to pick one and when she decides she wants the London wedding w/ people she knows, she tries to back out of the New York wedding but she would be sue $100,000 by the wedding planner. If she backs out of the London wedding, it would break her family’s heart? What should she do? Who can she tells without them getting mad at her?

I thought the novel was a bit long and stretched out w/ the wedding dilemmas-whether to have wedding in London or New York. I assume that Becky would know more about planning a wedding after all she is a shopaholic, but she leaves all the planning to her mom and the wedding planner. This was my least favorite in the series; Sophie should have extended the ending a bit longer. I liked the last few chapters because it was sweet! You see a different side of Luke that makes you feel bad for the poor boy. Luke is a lucky guy to have found somebody as interesting as Becky or was it vice versa. Haha.. Ok Becky is not the brightest girl, but this silly warmed hearted character that tends to always get in trouble from her shopping habits and her warm-less white lies will grow on you! So does the other characters, especially charming Luke. Now I can finally read “Shopaholic and baby.” Yay! I hope that’s not the last book.

Fave parts:Luke and Becky have a joint account for their hold house expenses. The bank refuses Becky’s suggestions of neither changing a purchase on the bank statement from “Prada New York” to Gas Station nor splitting the statement in half, so Luke wouldn’t find out. Luke and Becky argue whether a MuMu skirt really a household expense? Funny how Becky’s mom thinks her daughter is pregnant. Also, how Becky’s tries to named her child after famous designers- How lame can one get. =)

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan



In the beginning when Luke and Becky are away for a weekend in the country; Becky ship off her clothes to the hotel but realized it wasn’t there when she arrives. She panic but manage to stay calm until her clothes arrived. I agree w/ Becky that good luggage is a good investment. The treadmill part was hilarious; I can't help but laugh out loud that I had tears in my eyes! Later at a dinner, she found out it was her bf’s new business partners. How embarrassing! Haha..

As Becky finds herself in the shopping districts of Manhattan, we can hardly expect her to pass up on all of the savings! From designer sample sales to visiting the Guggenheim-well not the actual museum; Sample sale-marked down 50-70 percent off. =) Girls, You know you don't need them. You buy them anyway b/c you're saving money. It happens to us sometimes, just not extreme as Becky. She always had an excuse to shop or why she needs it. She then starts spending money like crazy, runs up debt, and avoids paying her bills and end up getting herself in even bigger trouble than she in London.

Her past catches up with her; her financial situation is splashed all over the front page of "Daily World", a tabloid in London has reported about London's top financial consultant Becky owes many pounds to London shops and still spends her time shopping till she drops in all of New York's finest stores. All of the sudden, her New York prospects are not interested in her. Things get pretty out-of-hand when she’s back in London; she was fired from her job. She tries to stay positive but it’s so hard that she got depress for a few days.

She comes to her senses and realizes she must pay off her debts. I agree w/ Becky, ‘When you get yourself into a mess; take action to get yourself out.“ She manages pay off her debts; keep Luke from losing his business completely without him knowing until the end. I’m proud of her for raising money and paying off her debt completely w/out taking the money from Tarquin. Luke finally shows up at the airport to stop Becky from leaving, he begs her to stay and even offer her a job so she wouldn’t have to leave. He even thank her for secretly helping him save his company and tells her that it was not her fault but instead he got her into this mess. At the end, I’m glad she didn’t drop everything like she did for Luke to go to New York; instead she leaves Luke in London to go pursuit her new career in the America. (Sometimes we need to do things for ourselves.)

I think this was my favorite sequel. It’s simple, fun and very entertaining book. =) Luke's reactions were even funnier and now I really wish I had a friend like Suze. I did in fact stay up all night reading it; the last few chapters were so good. =) I think I should just start reading the last few chapters of all books.

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Wow, I had always compared James Patterson to Stephen King or Tom Clancy for their great mystery thriller- totally not my types of novels but great for films. The lady at Barnes & Noble suggested that I should give this book a try since I do like Nicholas Sparks. These days, I just like reading something funny and silly - just like watching a chick flick.

I felt like I was reading one of Spark’s novels that contain some life lessons in it. In this case, “Everyone should live life as happy as possible, as though it was your last day.” Great story line and plot, still I felt the story could have written a little better. Beginning of the story, you feel sympathy for Katie even though she’s the other woman. As you read the Suzanne’s diary along w/ her, you learned to like Suzanne w/ Matt like Katie did. Of Course, you can already predict that Suzanne will die. I was a bit sad when I heard what happen to Nicholas. I guess life really doesn’t always goes as plan. The end was alright.


=) Now, I need to get back to my silly “Shopaholic” series…

Time for bed!

Shopaholic and Sister

Dang! At the beginning of the story, Becky and Luke are still on their 10 months round-the-world honeymoon! =) Must be nice! It has actually been one very long world-traveling shopping spree for Becky without Luke finding out until they’re back in London. How much can one buy? Well, then you don’t really know Becky. He jokingly gives her a $20p per week allowances (for fun), she secretly manage to sell all her honeymoon junk on ebay for extra income; at the end the truth always comes out when she accidentally sold something that doesn’t belong to her.

When the couple returns to London from Milan. Becky finds her world has turned upside down. Suze has replaced her with an insufferable woman named LuLu. Then she was surprise when her parents introduced her long-lost sister, Jess. Becky’s particularly eager to have a sister as she felt that her best friend, Suze, had replaced Becky while she was away. Becky dreams of them going shopping together and laughing the way sisters do. However they are totally opposite, Jess saves money wherever possible from reusing coffee grounds to makes kitchen scourers out of old onion bags. Jess seems to only be interested in rocks and doesn't want to really get to know her new family. While Becky thinks nothing of spending 2000 Euros on an Angel handbag in Milan and continues to hope that there is something there, some sisterly bond that will link the two women.

Of course, things don’t always goes as planned. They argue to the point where they don’t talk to each other, after some time Becky decided she wouldn’t give up. She then goes visit Jess and then learned about her sister’s life. Finally after a few misunderstanding and a broken ankle, they bonded and became good friends/sister. At the end, she realized Luke is not mad at her and Suze does care about her.

A few of favorite parts from the novels: At the beginning of story during their honeymoon in Sri Lanka, she didn’t realize she ran over hot coals to catch up with the man who was selling some jewelry; then Luke makes fun of her. When she has an emergency credit card hidden in her compacts-Code Red! Haha. Coming back from London, Luke discovers she brought 2-truck load of junks and demand her to clear out the junks. The part where she supposes to go horseback riding, instead she went shopping w. the horse.

Ok, =) I’m hooked on Sophie Kinsella’s novels. It’s just fun and relaxing to read, especially after a stressful day or week. Yes, her books are not for everyone especially NOT for GUYS! Becky Bloomwood can be very annoying and irritating, but is still loveable just like her sexy husband Luke! Ok, Somehow I skipped “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” and “Shopaholic Ties the Knot”. I can’t wait to read it and then back to “Shopaholic and Baby”. I wonder if this would be the end? I hope not… =(

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Comparing to “Can you keep a secret?” The beginning was quite slow and not as exciting! I could actually relate to Rebecca’s compulsive shopping habits, making excuses why I need to buy! Buy! Buy! Well, that was the old me in my 20's, where I did max out my cards but I never missed a payment. Harrod’s definitely reminded me of London! Expensive as hell, just like Nieman Marcus.

Rebecca is a journalist for a magazine called Successful Savings; her job is like a total lie. She can’t even manage her own money but yet she has a job where she is supposed to help other people manage their money. She overdraws her bank account and max out her Visa card.Becky just can't go a day without spending money! Her addiction to shopping, her increasing debt and her compulsive lying gets her into deeper trouble!

She tries to change her ways by changing her spending habits but only ends up making it worst. If Becky sees anything she likes she has to go and buy it right then and there. People have contacted Becky for payment and she keeps on ignoring them. She knows she needs to pay it back sooner or later but yet she keeps on spending.

I laughed when she was trying to make curry to save money but end up spending more, b/c I've done the same thing she did with baking a cheese cake. I liked the part where she thinks she has the winning lottery numbers, thinking of marrying a wealthy man -and also the part where she lied on her resume and got caught running out. Like automatic millionaires, she tracks down what she spent and shock by how much she had just spent that day. She even gets a job at the clothes store, but get fires on the very first day. There’s something sexy about the named LUKE! The ending was quick and I wish it were longer. Nevertheless, I’m glad everything worked out for her, where she got not 1 but 2 glamorous jobs; in which doesn’t happen in real life. I’m so glad she did not take Brad Pittish’s check of $5k (pounds). No matter how poor a person is, they have to have some moral and common sense.

=) If you like shopping and laughing you should read this delightful book This book will definitely brings out the inner shopaholic in us all ! I recommend this book to all the younger girls out there that plan to get their first credit card.


Ps.
=) The movie is coming out! yay!Release Date: February 13, 2009

Can You Keep a Secret?

Danielle Steel get out of the way! Haha.. This was my first Sophie Kinsella’s novel. I just loved it! Great weekend book, or in my case: 4th of July weekend. Like Meg Cabot, these authors relate to our ages and their books are so cute, charming, fun, light humorous and entertaining to read. Don’t get me wrong; “Sisters” by Danielle Steel is still my favorite book. Yet, her book is always about the rich and sometimes famous-something I can’t relate. Wow, I can’t wait to start the Shopaholic series! She has so much cute novel out. Yay!

25 years old Emma Corrigan is a marketing secretary at Panther Cola. She is a bit naive, but a fun character you learn to love. Emma truly believes her life is right on track. She has an enjoyable job, good boyfriend, and good friends. Yet she has struggled to find her way to make her relationships with others smoother by telling them mostly what they want to hear; while she's not happy.

After a terrible business meeting in Scotland, Emma has a few to drinks in the airport and on the plane. Like anyone, she got quite a few secrets she's never told anyone, until she reveals her darkest and most humiliating secrets to a handsome stranger on a plane; thinking that she'll never see him again. Come Monday morning she walks into the office and finds out that he (Jack Harper) is actually the owner of the Panther Corp. Jack sets the stage for the ultimate betrayal by blurting out all her secrets on TV! Now everyone knows! Her family, Her friends and coworker all knows her secrets, She is horrified humiliated! What happen now?

Can You Keep a Secret? Seriously, Have you told a secret to one person and not another? Who do you trust you secrets too? And have you ever blurted out someone's secret accidentally without meaning to harm the person entrusting you with that secret? If you like silly, funny stories and English accents, then this one is for you! There’s something about the English accents that’s so sexy! =) You’ll learn to love Jack and Lazzy; but gets annoyed by Emma’s co-worker, cousin Kerry and flat mate Jemima. Any woman trying to balance work and romance can see herself in these situations. There are parts that will make you laugh out loud!

=) The lady at the library told me this book might become a movie?
So I did a quick search, seem like they are?? Yay! I can’t wait! Unless I’m wrong.

http://www.countingdown.com/movies/3519881