Confessions of a Shopaholic

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to Rebecca’s character? Did you find her relatable or frustrating? Did your opinion of her change throughout the novel? Why or why not?

2. Discuss the novel’s humorous tone. Did the comedic notes lighten Rebecca’s situation or clash with the seriousness of her choices?

3. Does Rebecca’s story feel complete on its own, or do you feel compelled to read further in the series?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Rebecca often links her self-worth to her possessions or how others see her. How do external markers such as wealth, status, appearance, and achievement affect how you feel about yourself?

2. Have you ever, like Rebecca, relied on a habit or behavior to cope with stress or insecurity, only to find that it created new problems afterward?

3. Can you relate to Rebecca’s frustration with comparing herself to her friends when it comes to career and independence? How do such comparisons affect your sense of progress and fulfillment?

4. Rebecca repeatedly tells herself that each new plan is a “fresh start.” How have you experienced a similar cycle of optimism and failure? Did you find it equally hard to break? Why or why not?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Analyze how the book reflects consumer culture concerning credit cards, sales, and overconsumption. Is this as true today as it was in the 1990s?

2. Discuss how Rebecca’s financial anxiety is closely tied to societal expectations regarding adulthood, such as owning property, having a stable job, and appearing “put together.” How do these cultural benchmarks affect self-worth, especially for women?

3. How do the book’s themes—Consumerism as a Substitute for Self-Worth, The Cycle of Compulsive Behavior and Shame, and Women’s Agency in Independence and Success—resonate with the real world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the first-person narration and glimpse of Rebecca’s interiority shape an understanding of her spending habits? In what ways does her voice make her sympathetic yet unreliable?

2. Discuss Kinsella’s use of consumer language such as sales, discounts, rewards points, and “investments.” What effect does the rhetoric of advertising have on the novel’s critique of consumerism?

3. Explore the juxtaposition of Rebecca’s fantasy life with reality. How does the constant tension between the two shape her character arc?

4. Analyze the symbolism of clothing for Rebecca. Why is shopping for the “right” clothes more than just a hobby for her?

5. Discuss Rebecca’s relationships and interactions with Suze, Elly, and her parents. How do these relationships reveal the ways that she seeks validation and avoids accountability? In what way do these relationships enable her behavior and expose the gaps in how she views herself and the way others perceive her?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. View the 2009 movie adaptation and compare it to reading the novel. Discuss casting choices and elements that the director chose to omit or add for visual effect.

2. Review Rebecca’s fantasy shopping list at the end of Chapter 19. If you had the same amount of money, what would you buy and why?