She Who Shops

Six months after her lover Michael, of five years, leaves her claiming he's too young to settle down, Weslee moves from Chicago to Boston to finish her MBA. She wants to put distance between her and Michael and give her heart a chance to heal. Among her new classmates is Lana, a wealthy young woman who loves to party. There are things about Lana that Weslee doesn't particularly care for, such as her sharp tongue and her snobbishness, but Lana introduces her to a whole new world that includes friends and up-scale parties on Martha's Vineyard. Lana also introduces Weslee to upscale dressing and shows her how to buy expensive, name brand clothing. As a result, Weslee becomes addicted to shopping. Weslee meets several handsome men and one of them is Lana's cousin, Duncan. She also meets William, a friend of Lana's, and finds him attractive as well, but puts him on hold in favor of Duncan's charm, grace and good looks. In a very short time, she's head over heels in love and she begins to spend more and more money on clothes and shoes. Her carefully planned school budget takes a huge hit. Joanne Skerrett has written a wonderfully suspenseful love story about a young woman who has a tendency to rush into relationships before she really gets to know the man. In addition, when things begin to go sour, she doesn't hesitate to blame herself. SHE WHO SHOPS is stunningly realistic and all of us have known someone like Weslee, or have even behaved this way ourselves. It is a book that can entice anyone who likes finger biting suspense. Reviewed by alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Not many authors write about Boston in a way that gives you its full flavor--from Copley Square to the heart of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, you come away from this book with both an intimate knowledge of its central characters and of the diversity of Boston's communities. This novel is fun and engaging but don't let the "chiclet" packaging fool you. There's some serious themes in there as well and the main character ends up having to take a break from shopping designer labels and do some deep soul searching about who she is, what she wants out of life, and who she wants to spend her life with.

I really loved reading this book. I didn't want to put it down because I was so interested in learning what happens to Weslee and her friends. It's a book about life situations that I'm sure many can relate to: being single and trying to make it on your own in a city, finding a good job, and having healthy relationships. But it's also about experiences that are less talked about: prejudice, classism, and racism. The writer, Joanne Skerrett, manages to weave these more serious topics into a story that is enthralling. (Plus, if you've ever visited Boston, you'll get a kick out of the many references to places in the area.)

Watching the journey of Weslee Dunster - a no-nonsense, pay-your-own-way Chicago girl who crashes headlong into Boston's black upper crust - is an intimate portrait of metamorphosis. You're rooting for Weslee as she explores a new path that allows her access to a fast-paced but often brutal social scene, and at the same time you're watching her unravel emotionally even as her savings account dwindles. Will she morally bankrupt herself to satisfy her new lifestyle? Or will she find the courage to rescue herself, listen to her instinct, and follow her own path? It's a vividly told story every woman who's ever tried to make it on her own - on her own terms - can relate to.

Comparing this book to the popular 90's movie, "Pretty Woman" might actually be doing the book a little bit of dis-service. This book actually has a lot more to offer, and certainly has more substance to it. The author, Joanne Skerrett, successfully captures the lives and styles of a new generation of ambitious, young, urban adults through her title character, Wesley Dunster. Joanne describes with a simple eloquence the lives of trendy New England "buppies" caught in a class divide fueled by love, jealousy and lots of "bling" This story could very easily apply to the lives of yuppies of any age or race in America. This is a very well written book, but more importantly, its delightful fun reading every line of every page.