Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 23rd May 2013
Genre: Chick-Lit, Romance, Celebrity, Fiction
Source: Received from the publishers in exchange for an honest review
Goodreads Summary:
"Sophie May has a secret.
One that she’s successfully kept for years. It’s meant that she’s had to
give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay
in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.
But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make
it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the
comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous – but ruthless – world.
Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of
shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that
comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret
heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?"
Review
Billy and Me is a debut novel full of charm and sparkle about an ordinary, shy, young woman from a quaint English village falling in love with a famous actor. There are countless books out there on this subject but what really made me want to check this book out is that the book is written by a lady who knows this subject all too well with author Giovanna Fletcher being married to Tom Fletcher from McFly. Knowing this I was immediately interested in giving this book a go and I’m so glad that I did as it’s one of the best portrayals of being thrust into the celebrity spotlight that I have ever read!
Sophie May is a quiet, bookish, homely heroine. She lives at home with her mum and works in the local village teashop, her best friend is Molly the little old lady who owns it. Sophie was such a down to earth, genuinely nice, character who I warmed to straight away. Billy is a young rising star in the film industry and visits Sophie’s little village when he films his latest movie a new adaption of Pride and Prejudice. The two meet when Billy stops by the teashop and the couple have an instant connection and so begins their sweet romance that will capture your heart.
What I really enjoyed about Billy and Me was that Sophie and Billy get together fairly early on in the story unlike a lot of chick-lit where the couple get together at the end. Instead of the will they/won’t they romance, Sophie and Billy have other, more unique, obstacles to overcome than your average couple. Once they get together Sophie has to deal with the press digging into her personal life, girls throwing themselves at Billy, Billy’s odd around the clock work hours, and a new life in London away from everything she’s ever known. Sophie is the last girl you’d imagine in the ruthless world of showbiz and it was so refreshing to read about a real woman with proper values who couldn’t care less about the glamorous lifestyle. All Sophie wants is to be with Billy and I found her attitude a breath of fresh air!
The book alternates between Sophie’s life in the small village she grew up in where she has her own secrets, hopes, dreams and family and Sophie in London as Billy’s girlfriend. I really enjoyed how the book blended small town life and the busy streets of London together and I loved reading both aspects of the book from the gorgeous little teashop and lovely village locals to Sophie getting glammed up for award shows. I feel like this book has something to offer both the city girl and small town lass!
Sophie was one of the best heroines I’ve come across in a long time and I immediately connected with her. Billy was such a nice guy and I loved their relationship, you could tell that they were the best of friends as well as a couple and I found their romance to be a very sweet one that you desperately want to work out. There are also some brilliant secondary characters, I absolutely loved Molly, who is Sophie’s boss and best friend, I’d have loved to have worked at her charming little tea shop. Billy and Me is chock full of warm and likeable characters that make their way into your heart.
Overall Billy and Me was an absolute gem of a read! Although there are several similar stories out there this is one of the best that I’ve come across and a large part of that is down to the lovely heroine that is Sophie. Gi Fletcher’s writing was fresh and relatable and I look forward to what she comes up with next!
My Cupcake!
All of us taking part in the blog tour were asked what emotion we felt when we first saw the gorgeous Billy and Me cover and I chose 'Curious' as I wanted to see what was inside! This is Giovanna’s representation of 'Curious' in cupcake form, I absolutely love it! Thank you for my special design, Gi!
Guest Post from Giovanna Fletcher: Billy’s Dream Girl
At the start of Billy and Me we become aware that Billy has dated a lot of woman and that most of them have been from his showbiz world. He’s tired of their diva ways, their demanding natures and the lifestyles they expect him to give them. He longs for simplicity and a girl who loves him for him, rather than his money and celebrity status.
The girls from his past were all divine on the red carpets, there’s no denying that, but what people didn’t see was the hours that have gone into making them appear that way, or the paranoia that follows them everyday – were they looking older? Fatter? Should they go in for that new chemical peel, blah blah… outsiders also didn’t see they way they hungrily looked at his burger while they sucked on their broccoli and wheat grass juice… he just wants a girl who will sit with him and eat a blooming meal!
Billy’s life’s hectic and crazy, but it is also lonely. He wants nothing more than to walk through his front door at night and feel the comfort of being at home with the woman he loves. Who’ll prefer a night in on the sofa after a manic day rather than make him go out so they can be seen at the latest celebrity hot spot. He is looking for normality and stability.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today, Gi! And congratulations on Billy and Me! Don’t miss the rest of the stops on the Billy and Me blog tour, check out my banner in the sidebar for more information. Tomorrow the blog tour is stopping at Novel Kicks!
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