Mini Shopaholic

The secret-party plot drives the comedy. Becky recruits friends, family and colleagues, promises never to overspend, and watches the plans grow beyond all control, while hiding everything from Luke, who seems to be keeping secrets of his own. Minnie's tantrums in shops and her impressive vocabulary of demands provide some of the funniest scenes.

Beneath the chaos, Kinsella explores whether Becky can finally grow up without losing what makes her lovable. Her worry that Minnie has inherited her worst habits gives the book a slightly more reflective note, and her parents, Suze and her old friend Jess all play their parts in the warm, crowded finale.

The formula is familiar by this point in the series, and Becky's secretiveness may irritate some readers. Newcomers should start earlier in the series. For fans, it is a cheerful, fast and satisfying instalment. Kinsella's eye for the absurd details of family life, from overflowing toy boxes to awkward conversations with estate agents, keeps the jokes coming, and the scenes with Becky's parents, who are thoroughly fed up with sharing their home, are especially funny. About 432 pages in the Dial Press hardcover.