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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Idk why buy the main character annoyed me she seemed so childlike but it was a fun read
... So naff! Was the protagonist 8 years old? I believed nothing about the relationship or any of the characters. It was all so cringy and underwhelming!
~2.5/5
I really, really wanted to love this book. So badly did I want that. I even went in thinking I would. I’m so disappointed.
Sophie is in her late twenties, living a content life sharing a house with her mother and working in a tea house/bakery in her small town. When she meets movie star Billy, she gets swept up and lets herself fall into his life.
I will say that the way that Sophie loses herself in Billy’s life is believable. I understood her reasoning for why it happened, even if it bothered me how fast it happened and how long she let it go on when she was unhappy. I liked the way that Billy tried changing some things to make their relationship better, too.
But near the end. When Sophie freaks out about what Billy agrees to do for a movie. It bothers me so much. Maybe I’m in the minority, thinking that she overreacted? And that the way that Billy agreed she was in the right bothered me? If they’d had some agreement for what she was okay with him doing for his career, if they’d agreed what was too far, maybe that would be one thing. But it was for his job. It wasn’t because he even liked the woman. Ugh.
Sophie as a character bothered me, though. She was a crybaby. She cried and freaked out over everything and it drove me crazy. But maybe that’s just cause I didn’t relate to her. Billy didn’t have much of a character, he didn’t stand out to me at all.
The writing was more tell than show. A lot of it was in Sophie’s head, but she told us more about things than was shown to us, than she showed she felt, even. That bothered me. Also, all the UK phrases and stuff were weird to me. Mind, that’s not really a complaint, because that’s cultural and understandable and should be left in there. Still was weird reading, though.
I wanted to love this book, but by the end I was more annoyed with it than anything. I did like how Sophie’s job and living situation had changed by the end of the book, and I did like how things between her and Billy concluded. But otherwise I didn’t like it enough.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for an honest review. Thank you!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I really, really wanted to love this book. So badly did I want that. I even went in thinking I would. I’m so disappointed.
Sophie is in her late twenties, living a content life sharing a house with her mother and working in a tea house/bakery in her small town. When she meets movie star Billy, she gets swept up and lets herself fall into his life.
I will say that the way that Sophie loses herself in Billy’s life is believable. I understood her reasoning for why it happened, even if it bothered me how fast it happened and how long she let it go on when she was unhappy. I liked the way that Billy tried changing some things to make their relationship better, too.
But near the end. When Sophie freaks out about what Billy agrees to do for a movie. It bothers me so much. Maybe I’m in the minority, thinking that she overreacted? And that the way that Billy agreed she was in the right bothered me? If they’d had some agreement for what she was okay with him doing for his career, if they’d agreed what was too far, maybe that would be one thing. But it was for his job. It wasn’t because he even liked the woman. Ugh.
Sophie as a character bothered me, though. She was a crybaby. She cried and freaked out over everything and it drove me crazy. But maybe that’s just cause I didn’t relate to her. Billy didn’t have much of a character, he didn’t stand out to me at all.
The writing was more tell than show. A lot of it was in Sophie’s head, but she told us more about things than was shown to us, than she showed she felt, even. That bothered me. Also, all the UK phrases and stuff were weird to me. Mind, that’s not really a complaint, because that’s cultural and understandable and should be left in there. Still was weird reading, though.
I wanted to love this book, but by the end I was more annoyed with it than anything. I did like how Sophie’s job and living situation had changed by the end of the book, and I did like how things between her and Billy concluded. But otherwise I didn’t like it enough.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for an honest review. Thank you!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I have never in my life related to a character in a book more in my life. In the book the main character Sophie May lost her dad when she is 11 just as I did, she didn’t cry and neither did I, and then she became kind of a recluse just as I did. She also blamed herself for a long time until someone made her realise that it wasn’t her fault which is unfortunately something I can also relate to having done so myself up until about this time last year. It’s needless to say but I cried so much at this book.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the book because I hadn’t really heard much about it but I think it is very well written and all the characters are flawless which is something I find is hard to do well but it was expertly done which is amazing especially in this as it’s Giovanna’s debut book.
All in all it’s probably one of my favourite books I’ve ever read like 10/10 if I was to rate it, I couldn’t fault it if I tried
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the book because I hadn’t really heard much about it but I think it is very well written and all the characters are flawless which is something I find is hard to do well but it was expertly done which is amazing especially in this as it’s Giovanna’s debut book.
All in all it’s probably one of my favourite books I’ve ever read like 10/10 if I was to rate it, I couldn’t fault it if I tried
It was good, don't get me wrong, but honestly I did find it hard to like the characters, with the exception of Molly. I love Giovanna as well and I do think she did a great job but I think it was just a little predictable. It was a nice easy read though and I wouldn't discourage anyone from having a wee read of it.
It’s a 3.5 from me, the ending is what saved it, actual tears rolling down my face!
Billy and Me is charming, that’s for sure. It’s difficult not get sucked heartfirst into its pages. It’s a scenario so many of us dream of – meeting a handsome, kind, caring stranger who just so happens to be a celebrity, and falling madly in love.
That’s what happens to Sophie, when Billy Buskin wanders into the cafe she works at one day and takes a shining to her.
Of course, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Despite Billy’s charisma, thoughtfulness and generosity, Sophie can’t help but feel overwhelmed by his lifestyle. He’s always out with people – many of them gorgeous, leggy women – who Sophie believes to be superior to her. Then, there’s the fact that Sophie and Billy’s love life often finds its way onto the front pages of the newspapers and magazines, and for Sophie, a conservative girl who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, that can be difficult to handle.
So, Billy and Me tells the tale of Sophie and Billy’s rollercoaster of a romance, and it’s a bumpy ride.
I loved Billy and Me. It only took me a couple of train journeys to finish, a sign that the story captivated me completely. I often find myself distracted by Twitter or my music on the train if I’m not totally addicted to a book.
There were some moments that niggled me a little bit, though. I found myself getting a bit frustrated with Sophie in some of her jealous moods. I wanted her to be a little less insecure, because I thought of her as a strong, beautiful woman that Billy is crazy in love with. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realised that any girl in Sophie’s situation would act the way she does, and feel the way she does. It’s true to life, so I take my hat off to Giovanna for that.
Of course, that could be thanks to Giovanna’s experience in the field. After all, she is married to the one and only Tom Fletcher of McFly (and that amazing wedding speech) fame. The couple met at the age of just 13, so Giovanna has had to adapt to the idea that her boyfriend is a teenage (and middle-age) heartthrob, and go through many of the same situations that Sophie does in Billy and Me.
Another thing that bothered me just a touch was the secret. It’s not really that big of a secret after all. It’s heartbreaking, though, and I found myself tearing up a little. There are a few other moments towards the end that had me in tears too, so much so that I had to pause because I couldn’t actually see the words on the page through my tear-filled eyes. But I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to find out for yourself by reading it.
Overall, I thought that the characters in Billy and Me were well thought-out, relatable and well developed. Among my favourites were Billy (of course. I was in love with him by about page 30) and Molly.
The ending of Billy and Me is a bit of a killer, and I’m not sure whether Giovanna is planning to continue the story or not. It’s a cliffhanger, but it could be left open like that for the rest of time, so who knows.
Perhaps I would have liked Billy and Me even more if there were one or two sexy moments thrown in there. There wasn’t really that much kissing, even, so I felt that their romance was lacking just a little something. But that’s just me being picky now…
I would definitely recommend Billy and Me to lovers of chick lit and romantic storylines. It’s a fantastic debut novel and I’m excited to see what Giovanna has up her sleeve next.
On a final note – I couldn’t help but be reminded of one of my favourite books as a teenager when reading Billy and Me, one that sparked my love of Meg Cabot: Teen Idol. Perhaps that’s another reason why I loved Billy and Me so much.
Originally published on my blog, Ashleigh Online.
That’s what happens to Sophie, when Billy Buskin wanders into the cafe she works at one day and takes a shining to her.
Of course, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Despite Billy’s charisma, thoughtfulness and generosity, Sophie can’t help but feel overwhelmed by his lifestyle. He’s always out with people – many of them gorgeous, leggy women – who Sophie believes to be superior to her. Then, there’s the fact that Sophie and Billy’s love life often finds its way onto the front pages of the newspapers and magazines, and for Sophie, a conservative girl who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, that can be difficult to handle.
So, Billy and Me tells the tale of Sophie and Billy’s rollercoaster of a romance, and it’s a bumpy ride.
I loved Billy and Me. It only took me a couple of train journeys to finish, a sign that the story captivated me completely. I often find myself distracted by Twitter or my music on the train if I’m not totally addicted to a book.
There were some moments that niggled me a little bit, though. I found myself getting a bit frustrated with Sophie in some of her jealous moods. I wanted her to be a little less insecure, because I thought of her as a strong, beautiful woman that Billy is crazy in love with. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realised that any girl in Sophie’s situation would act the way she does, and feel the way she does. It’s true to life, so I take my hat off to Giovanna for that.
Of course, that could be thanks to Giovanna’s experience in the field. After all, she is married to the one and only Tom Fletcher of McFly (and that amazing wedding speech) fame. The couple met at the age of just 13, so Giovanna has had to adapt to the idea that her boyfriend is a teenage (and middle-age) heartthrob, and go through many of the same situations that Sophie does in Billy and Me.
Another thing that bothered me just a touch was the secret. It’s not really that big of a secret after all. It’s heartbreaking, though, and I found myself tearing up a little. There are a few other moments towards the end that had me in tears too, so much so that I had to pause because I couldn’t actually see the words on the page through my tear-filled eyes. But I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to find out for yourself by reading it.
Overall, I thought that the characters in Billy and Me were well thought-out, relatable and well developed. Among my favourites were Billy (of course. I was in love with him by about page 30) and Molly.
The ending of Billy and Me is a bit of a killer, and I’m not sure whether Giovanna is planning to continue the story or not. It’s a cliffhanger, but it could be left open like that for the rest of time, so who knows.
Perhaps I would have liked Billy and Me even more if there were one or two sexy moments thrown in there. There wasn’t really that much kissing, even, so I felt that their romance was lacking just a little something. But that’s just me being picky now…
I would definitely recommend Billy and Me to lovers of chick lit and romantic storylines. It’s a fantastic debut novel and I’m excited to see what Giovanna has up her sleeve next.
On a final note – I couldn’t help but be reminded of one of my favourite books as a teenager when reading Billy and Me, one that sparked my love of Meg Cabot: Teen Idol. Perhaps that’s another reason why I loved Billy and Me so much.
Originally published on my blog, Ashleigh Online.
Childish and boring
I love romance and happy endings but this was too much. The writing style was childish and the plot was predictable and off. Pick another book.
I love romance and happy endings but this was too much. The writing style was childish and the plot was predictable and off. Pick another book.
This book was really more about Sophie being in a relationship with a movie star than it was about these two characters being together. Other than the initial "meet cute", I couldn't pick out any real reasons why Sophie was attracted to this guy. They didn't seem to share any interests or have any chemistry. For most of the book he was the biggest pain of a boyfriend, but once I got over the fact that there wasn't any spark between them, I could appreciate it as a drama (exaggerated by the movie industry) about how one girl can get so caught up in a boy that she loses her sense of self.
I quiet enjoyed this book it was a really quick read. Although the plot was predicted I still enjoyed getting into Sophie's head. I had a bit of a spoiler as I had read Billy and Me at Christmas first so knew they stayed together.