Shopaholic

by Judy Waite

Taylor, Sam, and Sophie have been best mates forever. But lately things have been changing. Taylor is starting to sense that maybe Sam and Sophie would rather hang out only with each other rather than with her. And she can't talk to her mum about it -- she's been acting even more depressed than usual, spending the day watching the telly in her bathrobe and only eating when Taylor makes her dinner.
Then Taylor meets Kat while out shopping one day. Kat is glamorous. Kat is planning on becoming a model. Kat has dozens of older blokes following her around. And suddenly Taylor's life is looking brighter. Kat seems to understand exactly how Taylor feels and Taylor is willing to do anything to be friends with her. The thing is, Kat loves to go shopping and if Taylor wants to continue to be her friend, then she'll have to come up with the money to keep Kat happy...even if that means going against everything Taylor knows is right.
An emotionally-charged novel about what loneliness can drive you to do, and how a little credit card can lead to lots of trouble.

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Teen

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2001

Reviews

[Amy C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a perfect reflection of what many teenagers struggle today. We are pressured by family, friends, relationships and school. Some choose to go against what they know is right because they want to escape reality. Like Taylor, she tries really hard to have Kat like her. Even if it's only shopping; once you are addicted to something, it's really hard to get out of it.

[Syd · Rating 1 out of 5]

At least i have a better book to read next...

[Shawna]

“And then Taylor sees it…Kat’s hand is in the duck-face bag. Her fingers flash back out, holding a thin silver purse. She pushes the purse into her own school rucksack, and slips away.” The world as Taylor knows it has come crashing down.
Taylor is a young and creative girl. She has two best friends, Sam and Sophie. When Taylor starts feeling like the third wheel, she meets Kat. Kat is a model and loves shopping. Taylor and Kat become close friends and Taylor realizes that in order to keep her new friend she has to get cash and quick. Taylor will do anything to make Kat like her even if that means doing what she knows is wrong. Taylor knows that everything she’s doing is wrong and in the end, all she really wants is Sam and Sophie.
I love this book. Before I read Shopaholic, I just thought it was a girlie book. But as I read it I became fascinated with the story. I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next. It was funny, interesting, engaging and it really drew me in. I loved all the twist the story had in it. It made it even more enticing to see what will happen next.
This book is great for girls and anyone who has been used by a “friend”. Amazing, thrilling, story for all to read, I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shopaholic, by Judy Waite, is a novel about a teenager by the name of Taylor. Taylor, like for many common teenagers, is going through a rough period of time. Her mother is depressed, due to the death of Taylor’s baby sister, Laura. Sophia and Sam, Taylor’s best friend, also seem to want to avoid her. They appear as if they would rather only accompany each other, than for Taylor to join them. Taylor noticed these subtle changes, but she’s in too much fear to speak up.

Although this book is a quick read, it nevertheless teaches all readers something. While reading I sympathize Taylor, it is not surprising the emotional rollercoaster she is going through. I found myself being able to connect and relate to her in many ways. This book is interesting and enjoyable at the same time

[Kai Yi · Rating 2 out of 5]

having people that are your long time friends that you really trust and suddenly they act like they have forgotten about you, what will you do? Taylor, sophie and sam had been bff for so long, but lately they had been acting really cold to taylor. they have done thing without her and let her know about things last or the last minute. but that is when she had meet kat, a popular gorgeous girl at school. now she is hanging out with kat, but is she really taylor's friend or is she just a pass time toy for her. taylor had made many mistakes and learn many unnecessary ideas from her.

never give up on your friends even though they have gave up on you, is what i have learned from this book. don't do stupid things that you can never go back and change it.

[Jerrica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, however, there was a side story about a girl named Laura that was much more interesting. As soon as the mother said, "Ever since Laura..." I was intrigued. Who is Laura? And what happened? So I endured the only lightly interesting story about Taylor and Kat, Taylor's feeling of abandonment from her best friends Sam and Sophie, who are seeming more like twins than Taylor's friends. Finally I got my answer on Laura. And wow. That would have made a much more interesting main story than shopping. But instead, the author picks the wrong main plot.

As for the ending, it didn't feel resolved to me. The author kind of left things as they were in the beginning, only a few things changed.

[Courtney Chappell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of all over the place. First of all, it was in England so they have different money. That was hard because she would be excited about getting money but I had no idea how much she had received. Then, her grandad was sick and all of a sudden he was better again. It seemed really random. Most of this book was about shopping with Kat and dealing with the credit card. However, in the middle, it suddenly stopped with that story and talked about Taylor killing her sister Laura. Then, after the story of that was out, it went back to shopping. I will definitely not be reading this again.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

accidentally requested this book thinking it was confessions of a shopaholic and when i got it from the hold shelf realized i erred (oops) - i still read it; meant for young crowds; not very good, but I was able to read in less than an hour - - also takes place in england, so i didn't understand all of the language

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong and compelling warning to everyone, not just teenagers, to trust their instincts and not just jump into activities that make them uncomfortable. This book captured in a few short pages the dangers of shopping, and how easy it can be to get sucked into the buy today-pay tomorrow mentality.

[Malinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the dumbest book I have ever read...of course I read it on accident when my sister told me to read the Shopaholic book! This was the one that I picked up and read. Fortuntely she actually meant the Sophie Kinsella series of Shopaholic books.

[Kasha Ashworth Jakka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was basically a badly written ripoff of Confessions of a Shopaholic, down to the money-making scheme. I gave it two stars because I'm a sucker for teen fiction, but skip this one if you're looking for any sort of quality.

[Katrina Knittle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a book a lot of people can relate too. Not my all tim favorite, but still a good read. This book is about a girl who can't control her urge to shop. A fast read, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but a more younger crowd.

[Hippo · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good-btw, its not just about shopping

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get into

[Liz]

I totally picked this up by accident, confusing it with the Sophie Kinsella book, only to realize 5-6 years later that there were no "confessions" involved. No wonder i disliked this book.

[Lynn Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. I actually enjoyed this book about teenage friendships. Easy read.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

had to stop after the first chapter. very depressing and boring

[Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has taught me about being aware of weird and mysterious friends. Confessions also set you free.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about a girl who drifts away from her "best mates", and befriends another girl, who is a shoplifter.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average YA, featuring shopping addictions eventually supported by shoplifting.

[Cindy May]

Not a bad book for adolscent literature, written by a Brit and set in Britain, so might be a little bit tricky for American kids (less familiar with the slang) to understand.

[Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book shows the problems of modern society really well.

[Anna Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It wasn’t that good. It’s a book for teens and it was predictable.