Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher.

Penguin, 2013.

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher. 

Penguin, May 2013. 

Sophie May has been keeping a secret – one that she’s managed to keep for years. With her dreams of going to university and travelling the world given up, Sophie is satisfied to live in her little village, living with her mother and working in the local teashop where she’s worked since she was a teenager. 

When the gorgeous Billy arrives in the village, Sophie’s world is turned upside down. An actor with ambitions, Billy wants to make it to the top but it’s not long before he sweeps Sophie off her feet and whisks her away into Billy’s glamorous and ruthless world. 

After shying away from attention for so long, can Sophie handle the scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? Also, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be shared with the nation? 

Billy and Me is the kind of debut novel that I some day want to write. It’s warm, charming, engaging, grounded and funny. 

Sophie a likeable character. I sometimes found her childlike in her reactions – she’s quick to judge a situation on face value but when you eventually find out about Sophie’s past experiences, you can see why she has become wary of the world outside of her comfortable life in small Kent village. 

Billy is the perfect hero. He was very quick to win me over – a gentleman. He was still likeable when his behaviour wasn’t so great. Above all, both Sophie and Billy seemed real – with real issues and insecurities. They are flawed which makes them relatable characters.

There is a well plotted story and a wonderful group of supporting characters, (I need a Molly in my life.) I liked the fact that the relationship between Billy and Sophie begins fairly quickly, (i don’t think too quickly. Falling in love can happen in an instant and will make you behave in a way that’s against all your rational thought.) The book explores what happens once the characters have fallen in love and it made it different from many of the ‘boy meets girl’ stories. 

Many people at some point wonder what it would be like to date a celebrity and this book effortlessly shows us what it could possibly be like, written by someone who has experience of the celebrity world and the craziness surrounding it. 

This story made me laugh, cry and in some parts it was simply heartbreaking. I couldn’t stop reading and finished it in a couple of sessions (I couldn’t put it down but I didn’t want it to end – it ending was the one thing I didn’t like.) 

Giovanna has written a wonderful book and I am looking forward to reading her next one. Billy and Me was a perfect escape and full of romance – two of my favourite things. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.