Billy and Me

by Giovanna Fletcher

"In this utterly sweet and moving women's fiction novel, a celebrity comes to town and sweeps a young woman - who is used to being overlooked - off her feet. Sophie May is content with her life in her small English village, working in the local coffee shop and living with her mom. But when famous actor Billy comes to town to play Mr. Darcy in a new film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Sophie's quiet life is quickly turned on its head. Billy is adored by women around the world, but he only wants Sophie on his arm. But being with Billy comes at a price, and Sophie is thrown in the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? Brimming with humor, wit, and genuine warmth, Billy and Me is a book about taking a chance on life and on love"--

• ISBN10: 1250077125
• ISBN13: 9781250077127
• Publish Date: 5 April 2016 (first published 23 May 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Thomas Dunne Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Emma (SCR)]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Penguin for accepting my request for this book via Netgalley. I have a few of Giovanna’s books on my TBR pile but this is the first one I have read. I will admit that I totally requested this book because Giovanna is married to Tom Fletcher in McFly.

Sophie May lives in the little village of Rosefont Hill. Sophie works in the teashop on the hill run by Molly. Molly has helped Sophie turn from this shy introvert to someone who isn’t afraid to chat to the customers or make friends. Sophie didn’t go to university or take a gap year like everyone else she went to school with. Sophie stayed at home where she was needed and got a job. Sophie blames herself for something that happened in her past. I have to say that, without telling you what it was, Giovanna got those feelings perfectly. I have had a similar experience at a similar age and I can say I understood Sophie perfectly.

When Billy first enters the teashop Sophie has no idea who he is. This scene was funny and cringe-worthy all at the same time. At first I really liked Billy but as the story progressed I really started to hate him. Not all of it was Billy’s fault but I really wanted to slap him.

There are some real tear-jerker moments to this book that will have you grabbing those tissues but there are also many moments that are so sweet and romantic you can’t help but get swept away.

I really enjoyed Giovanna’s writing style and was soon as I finished this book I picked up the Christmas Novella, Christmas with Billy and Me. I look forward to reading more of Giovanna’s books in the future.

[Leah]

Don't judge me too harshly, but I have had Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher sitting on my TBR pile since it was released in 2013 (although that is not AT ALL the oldest book sitting on my TBR pile - THAT you can judge me on). It was just one of those books I never got around to, but after having a look at what books were hiding behind other books, I brought it out from it's hiding place and just NEEDED to read it. Helped by the fact the sequel Always With Love is out next month (wahoo!). Clearly I was waiting to read it because I knew I'd be waiting three years for a sequel...

Billy and Me was absolutely fantastic. Jill Mansell is absolutely right with her cover quote - this is a glorious book, with buckets of charm and I'm kicking myself (not literally) that it took me so long to read it. I LOVED it. For a while I thought I was going off the genre I've loved for such a long time, but books like Billy and Me remind me that this genre still has some hidden gems I've yet to read - including the rest of Giovanna Fletcher's books!!! It just made me feel so genuinely happy and I absolutely love books where a normal girl goes out with a famous person, and Giovanna has first-hand experience being married to Tom Fletcher.

Sophie is the loveliest character I've ever met. She's so sweet - and to learn about her history just made me want to squish her into the biggest hug ever. I loved that she stayed in her home town, and worked with Molly in Tea-on-the-Hill, because it seemed lovely, and exactly right for her, so who is anyone to judge just because she didn't go to Uni or on a gap year (neither of which I've done, or could ever afford to do). In the real world, you have to just get a job and get on with it, and Sophie did that, although her job with Molly sounded amazing, like the dream job. And their banter and interactions in the cafe were delightful. Then Billy came into the picture and it all got even better, because Billy was amazing too. I loved their chemistry right from the outset, and I spent most of the book smiling like an idiot, it made me so happy.

Billy and Me also made me cry, thank you for that Giovanna, it was ever so kind of you. Basically this book just had all of the emotions. Laughter, tears, happiness, sadness, characters you absolute adore, it was the whole package and I will not get over the fact it took me so long to read it. This was everything I wanted in a book and more and I can't wait for the sequel, because I need more of Sophie and Billy in my life.