Book Review: Always with Love by Giovanna Fletcher

Book Review: Always with Love

The much anticipated sequel to Giovanna's debut book 'Billy and Me'  was released last month and oh my lord it 100% lived up to it's expectations! I got this book for my birthday, only 2 days after publication, but read it in little over 48 hours as I just could not put it down.

      The book follows the characters we met in the first novel. Billy, the global phenomenon and BAFTA winning actor ( and everyone's dream man), and Sophie a girl from a little town in Kent, as they continue their love story. However, this time it's over long distance.

What I love most about this book is how real the characters are. Every emotion they feel seems normal, over exaggerated jealousy, unnecessary anger and overwhelming joy are all emotions us normal folk act on regularly and that is portrayed here. Even the characters that are mega superstars are viewed as normal people. Much like they should be! (Yes that is a dig at the media) This connection to real emotions is what makes this book so easy to read, as you can be inside Sophie's head feeling the loneliness that she feels. Giovanna makes you truly understand their situation and what it would feel like to be in it. That's what literature is supposed to do, right? Let you escape your world for someone else's and be able to step in their shoes and feel their emotions, and if their shoes involve a beautiful young actor then I will gladly wear them.

My connection to this book could not be stronger and I feel this is because of the character of Sophie. We are very similar (apart from the famous boyfriend). We're both from small villages, love reading, work in small coffee shops and have both been devastated from lives lost by cancer. Sophie is an adorable character, introverted but headstrong she always seems to do what she truly believes is right, and not just for herself. She goes on an emotional roller-coaster in this book (potentially even more of a roller-coaster than in Billy and Me) but still remains true to who she is.

Giovanna's writing style is bubbly and fun as well as being smooth and connected. Her descriptions of emotions and her ability to make you truly envision somewhere you've never been ( or doesn't even exist!) makes this book a gem. Although the story line sometimes takes twist and turns, some of them I wasn't too keen on, the undeniable love between the characters is what keeps you wishing for the best outcome. This book makes you feel at home even if you're away, in love even if you're not and as confused with your emotions as if you're writing a diary.

All of Giovanna's books are a must read (Especially dream a little dream!!!!!) and are now quite cheap on amazon so pick them up ASAP

Speak soon,

Lois Mae

P.S Gi, if you ever read this;thank you for that Disneyland scene, it was magical!

Top 10 Tv Shows

Heya,

           As it's summer and I know many people will be binge watching Netflix instead of going out adventuring, (as much as we want to) it will undoubtedly be useful to have a guide to the tv shows that grace our screens and change our lives. Here are my top 10, although some of them are very cliche, some of them are 100% underrated! So without hesitation lets get underway!


10.  Making A Murderer.
This is a documentary series recalling the case of Steven Avery; Who wrongly served 18 years in prison for rape and then shortly after being released was charged with murder. The documentary explores the trial from his lawyers' point of view. Undoubtedly written in order to make Steven look not-guilty this show must be taken with a pinch of salt. It is easy to get into the mindset of the program and begin to believe that he was set up by the police, however you must keep reassuring yourself that not all the evidence is shown in the show and there are two sides to the story. Never the less this is a gripping show and i watched all 10 hours in 1 day as i just needed to know what happens! It's both information and emotional and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

9. Skins.
This is a British drama following teenagers as they struggle with love, school and a lot of drugs.The over exaggerated passion purely displays the feelings that teenagers are going through. Melodramatic and raw the show portrays gripping issues with mental health, death and drug abuse. This show changes its cast every 2 series. Although this allows lots of room for new story lines, relationships and families, it also leads to you missing certain characters and begging to know what will happen to them. Thankfully, many of these concerns are concluded in the final series when the program focuses on the characters 10 years later. This show has a one in a million feel, although it is set in my city so I am a bit biased, it is hard to forget the stories you witness and the characters you meet, it is both haunting and sweet at the same time.

8. Gogglebox.
Another British classic. The concept is simple, watch people watching tv. The show shows normal people watching normal programs. The hilarity of sarcastic British humour over politics, dating and documentaries as they say exactly what the public are thinking. However, do be warned there are often tears!! But this show is perfect for a light pick me up.

7. Sherlock
One of the best tv shows produced by the BBC. Following the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, Sherlock Holmes is bought to life in television. With modern twists on the classic novels such as  A Study in pink (Based on A Study in Scarlet), The Hounds of Baskerville (Hound of the Baskervilles) and The  Empty Hearse (The adventures of an Empty House). There are never ending plots twists, moments that make you gasp and writing that makes you question every single movement. Although the episodes are an hour and a half long (basically a movie!), there is never a boring moment as your mind ticks away trying to work out what the next twist will be. The writing is consistent and keeps you waiting, Gatiss truly owns this show and makes it into a masterpiece.

6. Louis Theroux
Louis Theroux is one of the best documentary film makers of our time. He has series upon series of timeless documentaries, ranging from weekends with celebrities, to helping film gay porn, to gambling hundreds of pound in Las Vegas. The beauty of Louis Theroux's documentaries are that he is never afraid. Never afraid to join in, he's even had liposuction in order to see what it's like. Never afraid to ask the questions we all want to know the answer to, he once asked white supremacists is they would be offended is he was a Jew.  Never afraid to interview celebrities with secrets to hide. Louis travels the world showing the conflicts our society faces in all subcultures, ethnicities and religions. However, his documentaries never seem to lack humanity as the often show the humans behind the worst crimes in the world and how more often than not they are just humans with mistakes. Many of Louis' documentaries are on Netflix, so deffo check them out!!

5. Gossip Girl.

By far the most 'classic american teenager' show on this list but oh my godddddd I can't deal with it. Although it is insanely melodramatic and often easy to guess what's going to happen, the emotions and characters in this show are too much. As you grow u with the characters and see the ins and outs of every relationship you can't help but root for the ones who you want to end up together and are just begging for certain people's secrets to be outed ( cough *Vanessa* cough). From the original queen B, Blair Waldorf, to the insaneeeeeeely good looking Nate Archibald there isn't a character you can truly hate. Not even Jack Bass. If you want something that's easy to watch and never ending (unless you binge it) then deffo watch this as it will tear your heart into a million pieces and the sew it back up again with insanely romantic monologues.

4. The People Vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
Oh wow would you look at that, another crime documentary series.  This series follows one of the biggest court cases in the history of modern america, the case of OJ Simpson. Using the book  The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson  by Jeffery Toobin the series shows the behind the scenes of the case as well as portraying real life scenes from the court room itself.  For me the best thing about this adaptation is the portrayal of Marcia Clark. When the case was happening she was seen as a stone cold bitch who messed up. However, the series shows her background, everything that was going wrong in her life at the time and the pain of her portrayal in the media. A portrayal by Sarah Paulson that was inspiring and flawless. This series taught me so much about the case, rather than just the facts it showed the people and the feelings behind it.

3. Sense8.

An overshadowed and underrated Netflix original. Set all over the world with 8 completely different characters living completely different lives. Through, poverty, fame, crime, education and drug use, the all differ however there's one thing that links them, their brains. All of them are connected and can visit help and talk to each other. Leading to fascinating fight scenes, intense storylines and beautiful shots. Each hour long episode of this feels like a film due to the sure beauty of it and the amount of detail that goes into every cinematic element. It truly is a breathtaking show and the finale is over whelming!!!!

2. Orange is the New Black 
One of the hottest tv shows in the world right now, and it deserves everything. Underlying humour, intense character development and the topical issues discussed are everything that makes this tv show great. It's crazy to think of the success it has had considering it was never actually shown on tv, only on Netflix. What I love about this show is the devotion to every character, with the thoughtful background stories and the relationships with other characters the show relates to ethnicity, brutality, sexuality and religion. All of which are problems in america and society all over the world. It just goes to show how raw everything is when it is condensed down into a small population, and suddenly the few ethnic people become the targets, just like in society.  However it truly is the humour and the personalities of the characters that make this show great. 

1. Gavin and Stacey. 

MY NUMBER ONE, THE BEST SHOW EVERRRRR. A hilarious British comedy written by no other than James Corden and Ruth Jones. A story based on an Essex boy and a Barry girl and their relationship over a series of years. The thing that makes this so funny is how realistic the characters are and how sarcastic and mundane the jokes are. If you want to watch one episode watch the Christmas episode at the beginning of series 3 because it is hilarious and i mean hilarious. From the leather boots of Nessa, to the weirdness of Pete's drunk mum Edna, every character brings something to the show both comically and emotionally. The tragic thing about this show is how early it was cut off, 3 seasons did not do it justice. Especially considering almost every household in the country watched it on Saturday nights and the Christmas special is watched every year. I can only hope that it will one day make a comeback, with Gwen being the best grandma in town. James Corden steals the show in this with his unique character of Smithy who reflects perfectly the stereotypical view of British young men. This is an easy going best of British comedy drama which just makes you feel instantly at home. 

So, it turns out this list solidifies my love for documentaries and British humour and although there were many other shows I could've added (GOT, PLL) these are truly shows I could watch over and over again and be happy. So I hope no matter What you're feeling you'll be able to find something here. 

Speak soon, 

Lois Mae