I See You

By: Clare Mackintosh
Published Year: 2017
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 384

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her...

It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. 

Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes—including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose...A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target. 

And now that man on the train—the one smiling at Zoe from across the car—could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move…

                                                              First Impressions

Last year I received Mackintosh’s debut novel I Let You Go for review. While I wasn’t crazy about it, I saw potential in her writing and knew I was going to check out her future books. When I was offered the chance to review her sophomore novel I jumped on it! The cover is intriguing and the summary sounded so interesting. I also liked that this one wasn’t being compared to Gone Girl or other similar novels.

                                                               What I thought

This novel was so good! If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know my biggest issue with mystery/thrillers is predictability. I’ve mentioned that I have a bit of a gift in predicting the endings so it takes a special novel to surprise me. While this one didn’t shock me 100%, there were parts that I did not predict and the parts that I did get right, I didn’t guess until pretty far into the book!

Zoe is a 40-year-old woman living and working in London. One day on her commute home she sees her own picture in an ad for an escort agency. The next day, she notices a different woman in the ad and shortly after that, the woman is found dead. Obviously scared for her own life, Zoe informs police inspector Kelly Swift of the connection which leads the police down a path to discover where these ads came from and who the next victim is going to be.

I See You alternates between chapters from Zoe’s perspective, PI Kelly Swift’s perspective, and anonymous inputs from the person who placed the advertisements. This alternating perspective formula was used by Mackintosh in her first novel, but it worked better for me in this one. Maybe it was because I liked Swift better than the other police officer, but it flowed better for me. If she had her own series, I would definitely continue reading them.

I would also classify this story as more of a police mystery than a thriller. It focuses around an investigation and Zoe is very much a part of it. I liked that Zoe wasn’t ignorant and knew immediately that something was up and did something about it. A lot of the time it seems like the women who are having troubles in stories like these either don’t go to the police, or when they do they aren’t taken seriously. I greatly appreciated that Zoe had a good head on her shoulders and that the police were presented in a good light as well.

I don’t want to give too much away because I feel like the less you know about these types of stories the better, but it felt like everything that didn’t work for me in the last book worked for me in this one. The story itself was fascinating because it had ties into a lot of society. The use of technology in this book was done well, and while if broken down it may not be completely plausible, the way that Mackintosh wrote about it made it seem like it could be happening right now.

Any book that can surprise me definitely gets a bit of a rating bump. I enjoyed every bit of this book and couldn’t put it down. I think that over time Mackintosh is going to continue to polish her mystery writing and her books with just continue to get better. I hope that she realizes what a good thing she has in Swift and decides to write more with her as a main character. If you enjoy police novels and mysteries, I’d highly recommend checking this out. 
 

A Gentleman in Moscow

By: Amor Towles
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 462

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A Gentleman in Moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him a doorway into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose. 

                                                First Impressions

The cover of this book caught my eye on Goodreads. It is a bit mysterious and piqued my curiosity. The summary drew me in completely. I was fascinated by the idea of a story about a man who is jailed to live in a hotel room for the rest of his days. I feel like this is one of the first books in a while that completely drew me in by the cover without me knowing or hearing anything about it first.

                                                 What I thought

This book was so different from anything else I have read.

A Gentleman in Moscow ranges from 1922, when Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to live his days at the Metropol hotel, to the mid-late 1950s. Once the Count is sentenced to never step foot out of the Metropol hotel, the reader is brought through his life and the history of Russia. Alexander has a unique perspective because while he cannot go outside the hotel and experience what is happening, a lot of the diplomats from Russia and other countries come to stay at the Metropol as well as hold meetings in the ballroom.

I was fascinated by the movement of the historical events and how the Count experienced them. That was what piqued my interest when I read the summary and it was what held me in while I was reading. I have never read a historical fiction novel that took place in Russia, so all of the historical nuances were new to me.

The writing style does take a little while to get used to and is very slow moving. Towles occasionally addresses the reader about pieces of history that won’t be directly addressed in the story, or about characters who will not be coming back into the story and a little bit about what happens to them/why they are not coming back. I also felt like the first 100-200 pages weren’t so much about Alexander and his life at the Metropol as what was going on around him and almost a setting of the stage.

Once I got into the second half of the book I was much more interested. The Count and his life had become so much more a part of the hotel by that point and I enjoyed reading about his life more than just him witnessing certain events.  Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I thought that it was going to wrap up nicely, but instead it’s a bit confusing and left open ended. After spending 400+ pages with Towles’ writing, I won’t say that I was surprised that that is how he chose to end the story, but it was still a little frustrating.
 

While this book was slow to start, once it picked up I enjoyed it a lot. I think this book could make a fascinating TV show or mini-series or something. They could do a lot with the history of Russia and how it all has to occur within the confines of one space that would make it so interesting to watch. If you are interested in historical fiction or in Russia, I would recommend this book. I wouldn’t read it again, as it is a bit slow for my preferred re-reads. I think it will be helpful going into this book to know that while it is slow to start, it picks up and you will fall in love with all of the characters.*

*This is one of those interesting books where I only rated it 3 stars upon finishing, but looking back I probably would've given it 4. It has stuck with me since originally reading it and I often think about it at random times. While it may be a slightly more difficult book to get through because of the pacing, I highly recommend making your way through as in the end, you own't regret it.

Ratings Review- A Look Back

The other day, my friend Stephanie mentioned that she had looked back on her ratings for books on Goodreads over the past couple of years and had noticed she didn’t read as many 5 star books lately. We then started to discuss whether this was based on the types of books we’ve been reading lately or whether because of Goodreads, we have started judging books more harshly. I also wondered whether blogging had influenced my ratings of books. Since I started this blog, have I rated less books as 5 stars? Is that because I’m reading more critically? Or is it because I’m reading more books for review that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own? Either way, this intrigued me so I went on Goodreads to see what my ratings looked like.

I have made 3 pie charts for each year that I did a Goodreads challenge. I did not start recording books on Goodreads until October 2013, so I started looking at 2014, 2015, and 2016.

I will note that in 2015 and 2016 I re-read more books. During 2016 I re-read all of Harry Potter and in 2015 I re-read a lot of childhood novels. I think that the Harry Potter re-read probably influenced a higher 5 star review leaning than some of the ones I re-read in 2015, but it’s something interesting to note when looking at the numbers.

I was a bit surprised that almost everything seemed pretty even. In fact, last year I had a higher percentage of 4 star ratings than in previous years, even though I felt like I had a less than stellar reading history in 2016. I thought that as my amount of review books increased and that my time having a blog increased my stars would decrease due to harsher judgement, but the numbers don’t show that! In fact, last year I had zero 1 star ratings, whereas the years before I had 1 and 2, so blogging might be influencing me in the opposite direction! 

I did in fact find that in 2014 I had more 5 star ratings. I don't know if that's because I had just gotten back into my reading stride or if I was a little bit more lax with my ratings. I think that because I hadn't been reading as much before 2014, I had a lot of new to me authors that year that became favorites, such as Morgan Matson. I then went back and read all of her current novels and I'm pretty sure they all got 5 stars. Hopefully, I can find a few more favorite authors this year and have a good amount of books to go back and read.

I thought seeing this might change the types of books that I would read this year, but it seems like I’ve been doing pretty well. I do think that in general, I’m going to try to read a few more books outside my comfort zone and maybe read a few more books that really call to me. I know it's hard to find 5 star books that I love, but I apparently did a good job in 2014, so hopefully I can do that again.

Have you ever looked back on your ratings over the years?  

The Book Jumper

By: Mechthild Glaser
Published Year: 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 384

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): 
Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.

Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

                                                     First Impressions
This book is my first 2017 Debut Author's Challenge book. The title is what first caught my eye. What book lover would turn down the ability to jump into their favorite stories? The summary reminded me of the book Between the Lines By Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, but seemed different enough to be enjoyable.

                                                      What I Thought
I think I liked the idea of this book a little more than I liked the execution.

Amy has grown up with her mother Alexis, far from her mother's home. At the age of 15, Amy and her mother decide to go back to Alexis' home island off the coast of Scotland. While there, Amy learns that she comes from a family that has the ability to jump into books. She is not the only one on the island learning this ability either. There are two other teenagers from the rival family on the island who are learning their craft as well. Shortly after she begins learning the rules of book jumping, story ideas start going missing. Amy needs to learn how to fix what's happening before chaos ensues.

I loved the idea of being able to jump into books being a family inherited trait. However, there was something about it just didn't seem like everything was fully thought out. I know that this book was originally written in German, so maybe something literally got lost in translation, but it seemed like there was a lot missing. I would've loved more history on the family. How did they discover this ability? How did they learn about? What would have happened if Amy had never come back to the island? Why does the ability disappear after the age of 20?

I also found parts of the story to be predictable. With only two other teenagers on the island, it unfortunately doesn't leave much room for guessing. Will is the only other boy Amy's age, so it is fairly obvious that he becomes her love interest. There are a few interesting twists, one of which I also wish could have been explored more.

I wonder if the book had been longer if it would've given me what I craved. The idea of being able to jump into books is just so tempting by all book lovers that I think any reader would've loved more than understanding this gift. While I appreciate that this is a stand alone novel in a world of unnecessary trilogies, I think this could've been better executed as a duology. By being two books, the relationship between Amy and her book jumping abilities and the history of the family could've been explored on a deeper level. Instead, the book skims the surface of book jumping, relationships, the book world, and an enemy they all face.

Overall, this book was enjoyable. I read it in about 2 days because I wanted to know what was going to happen. However, I was just left craving more. I wanted more meat to the book and that's where my issue lays. The story itself is fun and I think the idea is great, but it didn't satiate me. If you are looking for a book about book jumpers, I would probably recommend Between the Lines over this one. It's definitely cute though, so if it's on your list I'd still say check it out!

Book Club February 2017

This month's book club choice was a bit different than others. Meghan wanted to pick the book When Breath Becomes Air but knew that it was a heavy book. As a result, she shared the other book that she had debated picking which was Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. As a book club, we decided, for the first time, to read two books. I have already read Eligible (Review here), so my book club post this week will just be on When Breath Becomes Air.

y: Paul Kalanithi
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 230

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): 
t the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.

When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity – the brain – and finally into a patient and a new father.

What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when when life is catastrophically interrupted? What does it mean to have a child as your own life fades away?

Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.
              
                                                       What I thought
When Meghan first shared the summary of this book with us, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I've been in a bit of a book rut (as you know if you are a reader of this blog) and getting the chance to read something different was just what I needed.

When Breath Becomes Air is written by Paul Kalanithi during his battle with cancer. At the age of 36, Kalanithi is in his final year of residency as a neurosurgeon. He is also diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. This book is his way of sharing his journey to becoming a doctor and then the switch of being a doctor to becoming the patient. Unfortunately, Kalanithi did not beat his battle with cancer and, in fact, didn't have a chance to finish the book (or at least not the way he would have wanted to).

This book is a life changer. It's one of those once in a blue moon books that you read and just feel like you can understand a little bit of life more than you did before. The first part of this book is Kalanithi's journey through medical school and residency to become a neurosurgeon. I have always enjoyed science and found the medical world fascinating, so I was enthralled with all of the information. The second part of the book focuses more on Kalanithi's battle with cancer and all of the treatments and other things he goes through.

Before becoming a surgeon, Kalanithi was an English major and thought that he wanted some sort of job that worked with literature. In writing this book, his talent and passion for literature is so obvious. This book isn't very long but it is completely un-put-downable. There aren't any chapters in this book, but I was so drawn in that I didn't even notice until I was about 85 pages in and ready to go to bed. I decided I would finish the chapter and then put the book down, when I realized that during the past hour that I had been reading, I had not come across any chapters. His writing is that captivating.

Even though it is only January, I know that When Breath Becomes Air is easily going to be one of my favorite books of 2017. I'm definitely going to purchase it (maybe even purchase two copies) and push it off on everyone that I know. It is a heavy story, and you will probably cry, but there is a lightness to it and a positive energy that just makes it so wonderful.

                                             What Book Club Thought
We all agreed that this book is beautifully written and has a wonderful message. The one point that we felt a little different on was our opinions on the readability. One of the book club members listened to the audiobook version instead of reading the book and commented that she was glad she went that route because, while it was beautifully written, there were certain points that she thought might have been unreadable. She specifically referenced some of the more philosophical moments as seeming a bit slow and heavy for her reading tastes. On the other hand, myself and one of the other book club members felt like we couldn't put the book down and never felt as though there were any slow points. We didn't get into any super deep philosophical conversations about it, but I think that we definitel could have if we were in the right mood. I would highly recommend this book.

Next Month's Book Club Pick

The Life Intended By: Kristin Harmel
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Play! By Sephora January 2017

Play! By Sephora is a monthly subscription box by Sephora. It costs $10 a month and you received 5 beauty and skincare samples plus a perfume sample each month. Previously, you needed to put yourself onto a wait-list and wait to receive an email before you could subscribe, as they were rolling it out to limited quantities.

In addition to the products, Sephora includes a booklet that includes information about the product, the brand, and then tips of how to use the products. Also at the back of the book is a Play! PASS. This Pass gives you a complimentary one-on-one session with a Sephora artist as well as an extra 50 Beauty Insider points when you scan the pass at the register with any purchase. If you have the Sephora app, you can also scan the images of the products to learn more about them.

Previously, everyone received the same exact box. They had a few months where they had two different boxes that went out, and this month it seems like they have a variety of different boxes that went out following their theme of Beauty, Set, Go.

As a heads up, the boxes are a little bit larger and will not fit into a small apartment sized mailbox. For reference, a Birchbox box is able to fit almost perfectly into my mailbox, but this one has no chance. Therefore, I’ve had to go to the post office both months to pick up my box.

The products I received this month are as followed:

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50 (Full-Size $38)

The first product I will talk about this month is a CC cream. I have heard a lot about IT cosmetics and every time that I go into a beauty supply store (usually Ulta but also Sephora) I stop and touch their makeup brushes because they are so soft. I have never actually used anything by IT, so I am excited to try it! This is one that I will probably save for a special occasion since I don’t typically wear foundation or CC creams on a daily basis. It does seem a little more similar to the original Korean CC creams in that it has properties that are meant to help with the skin and not just cover up problems.

Tarte FRIXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (Full-Size $22)

This product is an exfoliator/mask/cleanser that is built like a deodorant. It is meant to draw out oils, reduce shine, and purify pores, while at the same time exfoliating your skin. A lot of the reviews on the website are from people who claim to have sensitive skin and they say that it hasn’t irritated them, so that is always a good sign. I just used it for the first time last night and it was so much fun! I can’t yet make any claims for its effectiveness or how my skin reacted. I will say that it felt gentle and that the exfoliant was very fine. I only used it as an exfoliator/cleanser and not as a mask, so I’m looking forward to trying it that way as well. Overall, it’s not a bad price for a cleanser and it’s nice to have one that has a gentle exfoliant a few times a week. This might be on my list next time I need to replace a cleanser!

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream (Full-Size $60)

I was really excited to see another product by Drunk Elephant in my box! I enjoyed the serum that I received a few months ago, so I’m looking forward to trying the moisturizer. This particular moisturizer has a whipped texture and is meant to improve firmness, decrease fine lines and wrinkles, and help with dryness. It claims to be lightweight, so I definitely will need to try this one both in the winter and the summer. I’m curious to see if a lightweight moisturizer pack enough punch to help my skin against the Chicago winters. If not, it will definitely be nice to have a lightweight moisturizer in the summer when it gets hot. I am a little disappointed that it doesn’t include an SPF and it has a faintly Play-Doh like scent.

Whenever you take a picture... a cat will be there ;)

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (Full-Size $17)

While Clinique calls this an “almost lipstick” I’d call it a tinted lip balm. It has that chapstick feel and is very moisturizing on the lips. The color is very sheer and if you want an even amount of color you will need to apply a few layers. When I first put it on, it was a very faint and patchy look. I waited a few seconds to let it settle and then applied some more. The color is a bit more brown than I would usually go for, but it’s a pretty color for the winter and fall.

Ouai Treatment Masque (Full-Size $32)

This hair mask is meant to repair damaged hair, mend split ends, and increase resistance to future damage. Before you shower, you put it in your hair, leave it in for 5-10 minutes and then rinse. They even recommend putting it in your hair before you go to the gym and then let it sit while you work out and rinse during your post-workout shower. I am usually a little lazy when it comes to hair masks, but my hair has been super dry and had a lot of split ends lately so I will have to make an effort to try this one. The full-size packaging looks like individual foil packets which I’m not crazy about. It has a really nice floral scent, so even if it doesn’t work well I think I’ll enjoy the scent it leaves!

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly (Full-Size $86)

I currently own the original Tory Burch scent and I received another one of her scents in a previous box. I liked the other scent, but I didn’t like it on me. This one I love when I put it on! It has notes of pink pepper, rose, orris, patchouli, amber and sandalwood and it is beautiful. It is that just right mix of sophisticated and sexy. The only unfortunate thing is that I find that the Tory Burch perfumes don’t have a long staying power. This is a bit of a bummer considering that they aren’t cheap, but I do get comments on them when I wear them. I can’t wait to try this one again and see what my husband thinks.

This box is definitely one of the best I’ve had in a while. The past few months have been a bit meh for me and I’ve been wondering whether or not it was still worth it for me to keep getting them. However, this box really put them back in the game. I’m really excited for the February box now!

The Echo of Twilight

By: Judith Kinghorn
Published Year: 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 393

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion.
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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): From the acclaimed author of The Last Summer, a captivating and moving story of the unlikely relationship between a lady and her maid on the eve of World War I.
 
As I watched him—his long legs striding the narrow path through the heather, his golden hair catching the sun—I had a hideous feeling in the pit of my stomach. For it seemed as though he was already marching away from me.
 
In 1914, despite the clouds of war threatening Europe, Pearl Gibson’s future is bright. She has secured a position as a lady’s maid to a wealthy Northumberland aristocrat, a job that will win her not only respect but an opportunity to travel and live in luxury. Her new life at Lady Ottoline Campbell’s Scottish summer estate is a whirlwind of intrigue and glamour, scandals and confidences—and surprisingly, a strange but intimate friendship with her employer.
 
But when violence erupts in Europe, Pearl and Ottoline’s world is irrevocably changed. As the men in their lives are called to the front lines, leaving them behind to anxiously brace for bad news, Pearl realizes she must share one final secret with her mistress—a secret that will bind them together forever...

                                                   First Impressions
The cover of this book was so intriguing! I pretty much accepted this book for review based on the cover alone. I mean, I read the summary and was intrigued as well, but the cover truly sold me. Definitely one I would have picked up off of the shelves to read the summary of based on the cover alone. Over the past few years (mostly the blogging years) I have noticed that I enjoy reading World War 2 novels, so this one about World War 1 seemed right up my alley.

                                                    What I thought
I am so sorry, but I truly disliked this book. I wanted so badly to like it, but if it had not been a book I accepted for review, it would've been a DNF (did not finish). I am not one to put books own lightly, so that should say enough in and of itself. I will try to keep this review as positively constructive as possible, but it just was not my cup of tea.

Pearl is 24 years old and a lady's maid. At the beginning of the novel, she accepts a new position under Lady Ottoline, right before the start of World War 1. Pearl takes a trip to Scotland with Lady Ottoline and her family right before war is declared. There she meets Lady Ottoline's cousin Ralph. Pearl had briefly met him at the train station on her way to Lady Ottoline's and introduced herself to him as Ottoline, so she's a bit caught out when she finds out who she is. Regardless, she is attracted to him and drawn to him. However, she finds out that Lady Ottoline and Ralph are having an affair! But wait! No they're not! Lady Ottoline is actually having an affair with someone else. When Pearl finally finds that out, she starts falling back in love with Ralph. Who is married! It's a bit convoluted and seems like no matter Ralph's faults, Pearl is destined to fall in love with him.

All of this drama happens early on in the book. Ralph and Lady Ottoline's sons end up going off to war, leaving the women alone. Ottoline is pregnant with her lover's baby, and surprise surprise, Pearl is pregnant with Ralph's baby (which she doesn't discover until after he is gone). The rest of the story follows Pearl as she tries to survive during war time with a new baby and find herself. Oh! And I forgot! On top of all of this, Pearl has no family. Her mother committed suicide after she was born and her great Aunt Kitty who raised her, died when she was 17.

Are you exhausted yet? I feel like giving the summary is in and of itself an explanation as to why I didn't enjoy this book. There is so much going on and it is under 300 pages! Pearl and Ralph are the definition of an annoying instalove. I typically don't mind when two characters fall in love immediately, but usually we get a bit of relationship building within that. Pearl and Ralph's relationship is so quick that it was completely baffling to me as to why she clung to him for so many years.

I think this would've been much more interesting if the book focused a little more on her family situation. It is talked about throughout the book, but nothing comes of it until about the final quarter of the book, and it happens completely by accident! I just felt like I couldn't connect with Pearl because she couldn't connect with herself. This book wanted to be a coming of age story, but Pearl never figured out who she was.

In addition to the above issues, this book was painfully predictable. So much so that I felt like if I put it down about half way through like I wanted to, I wouldn't have been left wondering what was going to happen. And not just because I truly didn't care.

The beginning of the book started out promising, but then just dragged. There was nothing that kept me interested in where Pearl's life was going. When I finally got there, the ending was satisfying, but not worth the amount of time that it took to get there.

It takes a lot for me to give a book a one star review, and I was tempted to give this book two stars because of that. However, when I think about it, I would never recommend this book and I even stopped reading it before I completely finished it as well. Therefore, I couldn't give this book anything higher. If this book is on your TBR, you can pass on it. Unless you really enjoy these stories and aren't looking for anything fresh.

Billy & Me

By: Giovanna Fletcher
Published Year: 2013
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Pages: 352

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): 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?

                                                                         First Impressions

Such a cute chick lit cover! When I first heard that Giovanna Fletcher was coming out with her debut novel, I was really excited to read it. However, it wasn’t available in the US. If it had been, I definitely would’ve read it immediately.
                              
                                                      What I thought

This book was exactly the cute chick lit that I thought it would be and needed.

Sophie May is a small town girl who helps to run a tea shop. She grew up in this same town and never left. She even still lives with her mother. The town gets shaken up when a movie ends up being filmed in their town. An up and coming star shows up for the lead role and falls in love with Sophie. The novel follows them in their new love and all the trials the meeting of their two worlds create.

While initially the story doesn’t seem completely unique, it didn’t play out the way I expected. I expected the story to be about the process of Billy and Sophie falling in love, but instead it’s more of the after. I liked that this was different from a lot of other stories that have had similar plots.

I enjoyed Sophie a lot and liked that she seemed like a normal person with normal problems. She isn’t perfect but it doesn’t seem unbelievable that a movie star would fall in love with her. I will admit that the relationship does come with a bit of insta-love which can be annoying, but their relationship ends up being really sweet. I wish there had been a bit more of playout with the beginning of the relationship as it seems to become very intense very quickly.

I think my favorite character was Sophie’s friend and tea shop owner Molly. She seems so sweet and fun and I wish that she had been in the story a little bit more. I liked that she supported Sophie but that she also told it like it is.

While this story is pretty predictable, the writing definitely puts it a few steps above those similar stories. It is an easy, quick, read and very enjoyable. I know that there is a follow up to this story and I can’t wait to read it to find out what happens with Billy and Sophie. I am so glad that Fletcher’s books are now available in the states and I can’t wait to read the rest of them. I would recommend this to any chick lit lovers or someone looking for a fun, light book.