Book Review : Billy And Me by Giovanna Fletcher PLUS Exclusive Content by Gi!

Taken from Giovanna's website. Expect the most romantic love story, kittens!

Who is Sophie May? by Giovanna Fletcher.

Read on to see what Gi wrote about her heroine, Sophie May. If you ask me, there's SO MUCH of Gi in her! 

Billy and Me follows Sophie May as she falls in love, gets her heart broken and finally learns to forgive herself for the things she cannot change. At the start of the book she's content with village life in Rosefont Hill, happily filling her days with work at Tea-on-the-hill and her evenings reading the classics or chilling with her mum. Nothing overly exciting happens there, but she's quite comfortable with her peaceful existence. She did once linger on the notion of travelling, or of going to university, but life took over and stopped her from doing so. The fact that she is still there 8 years after deferring from university again and again are to do with circumstance, but is also largely to do with the feeling of safety it provides her. Does Sophie long to be swept off her feet by a charming prince? Doesn't every girl? After all, in every book she reads there's always some sweeping involved. But Sophie's heart is fragile, and it's going to take someone rather special to break down the barriers she's put up to protect it... 

Since I'm a part of the Billy And Me blog tour, I was to describe what my feelings were when I first laid eyes on the (gorgeous) book cover. And guess what? Giovanna sent me a cupcake inspired by my description! Ps. Guys, eat your heart out. Gi called me "Wonderful Kevin" and she knows my name!

Utterly divine, don't you think?

Billy And Me by Giovanna Fletcher

Published by : Penguin UK (23rd May 2013)

Received a copy for Billy And Me Blog Tour, thank you!

The blurb:

When you've got the dream boyfriend everything should be perfect, right?

So why isn't it? wonders Sophie May. 

When Sophie and Billy met and fell in love, she thought she was living in a fairytale. 

After all, Billy is an actor, a teen heartthrob adored by girls around the world - and he loves Sophie. She's the only girl for him. 

But being on Billy's arm comes at a price. Their relationship has thrown Sophie right in the spotlight after years of shying away from attention.

Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? But most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be found out and shared with the nation?

What I thought about it:

BILLY AND ME HAS TO BE THE BEST DEBUT NOVEL FOR ME SO FAR. OK, so sorry for the shouty pointy capital letters, but you get my point, right? Have you ever woke up after finishing a book and feeling really satisfied but completely thrown that you have finished it already? Yup, that was how I felt!

Gorgeous cover, check. Exciting, intriguing plot. Check. What more do you need? When you see this book in bookstores, do NOT hesitate to pick it up. Just rush to the counter and purchase it, then scream your head off, proclaiming you just bought an utterly irresistible novel. OK?

Billy And Me is the story about Sophie May, a sweet, lovable and humble girl who is shied away in a quiet, idyllic village, running the local teashop with her best friend, Molly. Then one day, teen heartthrob Billy arrives in town for the filming of the new Pride & Prejudice. They cross paths and immediately fall for each other, but would Sophie want to risk it all to be Billy's sweetheart? After all, she has buried her traumatic past and being in the spotlight will risk it all.

I adored Sophie May. She is a rather lovely, warm heroine who you will want to root for, confide in and will lend you her shoulder to cry on. I really liked how Giovanna managed to create such a wonderful character with the kindest heart. On the other hand, Billy. *swoooooooon* Billy Buskin is not your average snobby film star. No, fame hasn't gone into his head and made him a total knob, so trust me, you will definitely want yourself a Billy. Please fantasise your favourite actor/celeb as Billy. Don't worry, you're allowed to do so! ;)

Aside from Sophie and Billy, the other characters in the book were a fantastic, colourful bunch! I really, really adored Molly, Sophie's best friend and boss, who is the kindest, most thoughtful soul I've ever come across in books. Psst. I would definitely work for Molly in her teashop if I can get free slices of cakes and tea in exchange for gossip!

The book is divided into three parts, spanning from the moment Sophie meets Billy, to their blossoming relationship towards the most heartbreaking ending. Billy And Me is such a delightful treat as I finished it in one day, totally immersed into the flow of the story. Some parts made me want to give poor Sophie a warm hug, others made me want to wonder if there are guys like Billy out there - romantic, kind and charming. Although the first part was light-hearted, romantic modern love story of how girl meets boys, but as the story progresses, it gets more emotional and heartbreaking. So don't judge the cover, guys!

Verdict:
Honestly, Billy And Me blew me away completely. I couldn't help but read and savour every page of it. I was gutted when I finished reading the last page. I loved it, everything in the book worked for me. Incredibly warm with the prefect blend of love, friendship and fighting for the one you love. A blissfully romantic tale, I adored Billy And Me!

A brilliant, sparkling, heartwarming debut by a fabulous new author on the block! Watch out, Giovanna Fletcher has just joined the ranks of my favourite authors and I am eagerly waiting for more news about her next book!

Rating : 5/5

GIOVANNA AND TOM FLETCHER as Sophie and Billy

Who else would make the perfect S and B besides the lovely couple? :)