Always With Love

by Giovanna Fletcher

[Leah]

Recently I read - and loved! - Giovanna Fletcher's debut novel Billy & Me. It was fantastic, and I could hardly believe how long it took me to read it (I will forever be ashamed!) so I was ecstatic when a copy of Always With Love landed in my possession. I love that there's a sequel, and something tells me this might not be the last Sophie & Billy novel, too, which makes me even more excited. I could read about Sophie & Billy forever because they're so down to earth, and their relationship is so real. There's no messing around, no silly break-ups, it's a real relationship and sure they have hard times, but in a relationship that's what you do, you have ups and downs, and you try your hardest to make it through...

Always With Love picks up not long after the Christmas novella Christmas With Billy & Me (SO cute, btw) as Billy and Sophie head to L.A. to meet Billy's parents, who live in what sounds like one of the loveliest houses in L.A. - I dreamt about going in their swimming pool, I'm telling you. While in L.A., Billy gets the opportunity to work on a film of a lifetime, so Sophie heads back home alone, along with all the rumours that they've broken up (they haven't) and we get to see what it's like long-distance, between the two of them. And it's hard, and Sophie begins to wonder if it's all worth the hassle, and she needs to decide what she wants from her life, instead of what everyone else wants for her.

Always With Love was such a lovely read. It's so lovely to be back with Sophie, Billy, and everyone else. Rosefont Hill feels like home, it's so cute, and seems like the best place to live - the most idyllic village. It was also interesting to see how Sophie and Billy handled being thousands of miles apart, and I loved the fact they wrote letters to each other, because letter writing is a lost art. And the letters were so cute! Billy & Sophie are just two of the nicest people you could ever meet, and to get a glimpse into their lives is amazing. I could read about them for books and books and books, because you kind of feel like no matter what happens, these two are destined to be together, and it will all be okay in the end.

I was so sad to finish Always With Love. It was amazing and in two books and a novella, I am firmly a massive fan of Giovanna Fletcher. She's a fantastic writer, a brilliant storyteller and injects so much warmth and love into her books, I'm surprised the book doesn't glow. I am now eagerly anticipating the third chapter in this story, because this cannot be the end. I need more Sophie in my life, and I love her mum, too - her mum's storyline with Colin made me all warm and fuzzy inside. This book was just all sorts of goodness, and I lapped it up.