Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Becky cannot bring herself to disappoint either side. The New York wedding is a dream of enchanted forests, couture gowns and celebrity planners; the English one is homemade, sentimental and full of her parents' love. She keeps postponing the moment of truth, and the lies pile up until she faces a disaster of epic proportions. Meanwhile, her best friend Suze has news of her own, and her designer neighbor Danny has opinions about everything.

Kinsella's genius for comic escalation is on full display, and some of the set pieces are among the funniest in the series. Beneath the farce there is a sweet story about family: Becky's parents are wonderfully drawn, and the book quietly asks what a wedding is really for. Luke remains a little too perfect, but his relationship with his difficult mother adds some depth.

Readers who find Becky's denial and dishonesty exhausting may struggle here, because the entire plot depends on her refusing to tell the truth. Fans, however, will find it pure joy. It is best read when you need pure escapism and a good laugh. About 416 pages in the Dell mass-market paperback.