Retail Therapy

by Roz Bailey

Book Overview

Alana Marshall-Hughs has her priorities. They're Prada, Tiffany's, and Gucci. The African-American princess has never met a pricey retailer that didn't practically cry with joy the minute she prances in. But now that her credit card bills have exceeded the price of her college tuition, her parents have cut her off. Alana's not going down without a fight. After all, she gets credit card applications in the mail every day, and where there's a will to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075820566X
• ISBN13: 9780758205667
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

4 Flags from Euro-Reviews

Money and fashion are two essential keys to life in Alana's world. She's used to having her father's money and being able to spend it on fabulous things. This Black American Princess' (BAP) world gets shattered when her father cuts her off. That's it, no more money for you sister. Now what is Alana to do? High-end designs are her life! Hailey is an aspiring actress with dreams of hitting it big in New York. Things aren't going so well, on her job as a soap opera actress. She has the talent but there's a diva on the set and she wants all the glory for herself. Even if she doesn't deserve it. At the end of her work day, Hailey's ego gets bruised a lot. What better way to relax and heal by going shopping with her best friend Alana. The diva that Hailey acts opposite with wants her off the soap. When all Hailey did was try on the woman's wardrobe and cuddles up to the diva's ex-boy-toy. Talk about drama. How will these two women survive in New York with no money? Hailey doesn't want to give up on her acting career, she loves it. Alana needs a job but she doesn't have any formal training, unless you count shopping. When the two women meet Marcella she changes their lives forever. With the help of the girls' newfound girlfriend, Marcella, they learn to manage their money. They do this while finding love and following their dreams. Roz Bailey has written a comical piece about two friends and their money woes. Retail Therapy is a definite must read! Roz has done a fabulous job. From start to finish, this story keeps the readers engrossed in the lives of Alana, Hailey and their friends. The humorous ending line leaves readers thinking the two women will be all right and live within the means of their budget. Reviewed by Chantay for Euro-Reviews(...)

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping

I admit that every since hearing about the book "Retail Therapy" by Roz Bailey, I've eagerly been anticipating its release. Unfortunately since I first heard about it in June of this year, I've had quite a wait. However, the wait has paid off. Roz Bailey, author of two other hip and fun chick lit novels ("Girls' Night OUt" and "Party Girls") didn't disappoint with Retail Therapy. It's definitely a fun, satisfying novel that is not to be missed. Alana and Hailey are young, beautiful and absolutely love to shop. The two girls are roommates with very different upbringings, but get along great. Alana is from an upstanding family, whose father is a well-known judge that will probably make it into the Supreme court one day. Alana doesn't have a job in the beginning of the story, and spends most of her days doing some serious damage to her father's credit cards. Lately however, he has begun to balk at the amount of money she is throwing away on various designer clothing, furniture and accessories. Hailey, a wholesome girl from Wisconsin with a clean, good-girl image, is an actress on a soap opera who is hoping her contract will be renewed one day soon before she runs out of money. She spends her days on the set trying to stay out of the way of the Soap Opera Diva from hell, and the rest of her time hitting the designer shops with Alana. However, all good things must come to an end, right? When Alana's father puts his foot down and declares that all of Alana's credit cards will be stopped the following morning, she is thrown into a panic. She enlists the help of Hailey and goes on a major spending spree that night. Hailey meanwhile discovers she's been "laid off" from her soap opera for a while. Just when things can't get more desperate, a woman named Marcella comes along to save the day. She knows how to bargain shop and budget. The problem is, will the two major spenders be able to stop? Will Marcella help them before they end up in bankruptcy? Since both women use shopping as therapy, will the underlying issues causing the excessive behavior be discovered and dealt with? Roz Bailey has brought us another fun and hard-to-put-down novel with "Retail Therapy". Chock full of innocent yet flawed characters, outrageous shopping trips and career woes, this book is sure to please. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. There are some reality-defying moments along the way and a slightly unbelievable story line, but it somehow works. Overall I highly recommend "Retail Therapy". Shopaholics will grin with knowing, and bargain-hunters will raise their eyebrows, but most will probably enjoy this fun gem of a novel. Don't miss it! This book is a September release from Strapless Kensington.