Funny and fabulous..... - Rated 
I love India Knight, and bought this book because I enjoy her columns for The Times.
Like her columns, the style is chatty, friendly and funny, as India explores her love of "the shops" and delves into her colourful past for hilarious anecdotes and unique shopping tips.
Books rarely make me laugh out loud, but this did.
great fun, really useful, a great read - Rated
I bought this book a couple of years ago, but am writing this review now because it still rocks! Despite India Knight's own glowing review of the recent Goddess Guide, I've found The Shops to be far more helpful, and FAR more entertaining a read. In between hilarious snippets of her own life, she advises where to get what, and over the years I've found her advice to be truly useful. Thanks to her, I know check out reviews on Makeup Alley before purchasing anything; discovered the glorious Persephone Books; got into organic/natural skincare thanks to her recommendation of Stacey/Fairley's 21st Centure Beauty Bible, and so much more. I find myself referring to it again and again, and even now keep finding new things to discover. Plus it's just a really fun read. She rocks.
What a fabulous book! - Rated
I wasn't too sure what I was getting with this book - a psychoanalysis of shopping, lists of places to go, or a novel about someone who shops a lot? - so went in with an open mind.
The great thing was, this book has all three and lots more. India Knight weaves her own story of falling in love with shopping through childhood and beyond through the fabric of the book, stopping off along the way to focus on certain topics such as how to deal with stroppy shop assistants, where to get your best organic veg and lots of tips for online stores. She doesn't limit you to fancy, high end London shops either - Argos pops up now and then, alongside the likes of Abercrombie & Kent for luxury hols and a sex shop called Good Vibrations in LA. Very funny.
I didn't discover too many hidden gems but this wasn't a problem. The snippets and asides that litter this book are hilarious and I found it made me feel reassuringly normal. If shopping is really a true joy in life for you, you'll feel like you have been welcomed into a lovely little tribe of similarly retail focussed individuals....invaluable.
I hope you enjoy it too.
What A Fantastic Book - Rated
I was surprised at how much I loved this book. I don't like 'chick-lit' so have never read any of India Knight's books before, but I saw this and thought I'd give it a go as I love shopping. What a book! It's PACKED full of advice, not all of it I agree with necessarily such as extolling the virtues of cheap bathroom suites, and there is the inevitable endorsment of certain retailers, such as Argos.But it is so engagingly well written and so hilarious that I didn't mind. Anyway it is interesting to read someone else's perspective on shopping and what they think is value for money. There's oodles of advice on where to shop for great presents for everyone as well as lots of beauty tips, although not much on clothes (you've got Trinny and Susannah for that) all interwoven around a kind of personal memoir which I found highly entertaining. Brilliant fun!
Disappointing - Rated 
India Knight normally produces books of high quality which make me laugh - hence why I bought this one on recommendation from Amazon. This book is nothing more than an advertisement for various companies and their products - which makes India's writing fade into the background. I think the companies should have paid for this book for the adverts, and we should not have had to pay at all!!!! This one is a waste of time and effort!
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