This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Jenny Banks
Quiet, unassuming Sophie May
has little idea of how her very ordinary world will be shaken up when film
heartthrob Billy Buskin walks into the village teashop where she works. Sophie’s
life is far removed from the whirl of showbiz and celebrity and the busy life
that Billy leads. But romance has other ideas and Sophie is swept away as
Billy’s leading lady. But after living under the shadow of a secret for many
years, is she ready for the new and unfamiliar life that awaits with Billy?
The beautiful cover of Giovanna Fletcher’s debut novel shows two figures standing on top of a hill, surrounded by the village below. This perfectly epitomises the essence of the book: Sophie and Billy together, and marks a departure from other novels in the genre where the central protagonists embark on a journey to enter into a relationship. In Billy and Me, their relationship is the journey. From the magical picnic scene to their London home, the reader is able to delve into their life together and it didn’t take long for me to be invested in their story. As much as their new relationship has its high points, they can’t stay untouchable forever and it isn’t long before Billy’s career creates instability in their relationship. I was really rooting for them as a couple, and this adversity brought out real insight into their character.
From the opening pages, Sophie was an incredibly likeable person; a lovely normal girl who everyone in the village cheers for when she has the chance of complete happiness. The secret Sophie carries that has caused her to stay in the village and halt any future dreams is quite heartbreaking and adds another complex layer to a love story that is far from simple and easy. Unafraid and strong, Sophie is a breath of fresh air and it is easy to see why someone like Billy, who is caught up in the glamorous film bubble, would be attracted to her. Billy too, was a genial character, and the glimpses into his working life were equally fascinating and awful. I didn’t envy Sophie’s position during awkward evenings or humiliating rehearsals. Sophie’s best friend Molly provided a warm hug to the reader whenever she appeared, and later chapters involving the two were deeply poignant.
The characters and the various interwoven plot strands are given real depth and intelligence, while the novel retains its optimism and heart. Giovanna Fletcher has been hailed as one to watch in the future and after reading Billy and Me, this acclaim is very much deserved. The book is by turns romantic, charming, moving, and an absolute pleasure to read.
9/10