Shopaholic & Baby Review

I've been reading the Shopaholic series of books for years now.  When I first "met" Becky Bloomwood, I thought she was a delightful and amusing character.  I've read all five Shopaholic books now and I have to say that I've officially lost interest in the series. 

Shopaholic & Baby is about Becky's adventures in pregnancy and, more importantly, shopping for baby supplies.  She is going to the well-respected obstetrician that delivered her husband Luke but decides to switch to a younger, trendier, ultra-exclusive doctor when she overhears a few women talking about her in a baby clothes shop.  Little does she know that the doctor, Venetia Carter, was Luke's girlfriend back in college...

...and so the formulaic storyline begins.  Becky is convinced that Luke is having an affair, she buys an absurd amount of baby clothes/supplies, oh and Luke is acting stressed out and distant but won't explain to his wife what is going on.  Sound familiar to anyone? Becky's best friend Suze, her sister Jess, her mother, and her mother's neighbor are available to "help" her work her way through her pregnancy but anyone who has read a Shopaholic story before knows that they often do as much damage as good.

I found myself becoming very frustrated as I read Shopaholic & Baby.  It was just the same old Shopaholic story with a different situation (baby instead of long-lost sister, wedding, or trip to NYC).  Becky's outrageous shopping has gone from funny to pathetic.  Luke's stress and rushing off to meetings used to earn some sympathy from me but by now he just seems like a very distant and uninterested husband.  I would have preferred to see some detailed scenes between him and his wife to convince me that the next book won't be Shopaholic Gets A Divorce.

Anyone who has read through the Shopaholic series will want to read this book, but don't say that I didn't warn you.  It's a fast, easy, but very frustrating read.  I don't recommend it.