Book Review - Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher - #HolidayReading Book 3

Book 3 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Some Kind of Wonderful

Author: Giovanna Fletcher

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 16th November 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

When the love of your life says you're not The One, who are you?

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they're about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken - but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she's been missing while playing Ian's ideal 'better half'.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?

Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before - and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . .

Journey of self discovery for the main character, as she tries to work out what version of herself she really is,

Whether its the person she was at 18 before she met Ian, at 28 after 10 years of being with Ian before being broken up with in a memorble way, or some other version of hersef,

Within the book we learn a lot about her family and best friend, and I loved seeing all the various characters.

I am a huge fan of Giovanna Fletcher and although not my favourite book by her, I still thought it was up to a top standard, which was well written, easy to follow, quick to read and highly enjoyable.  I loved this story a lot. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Always With Love by Giovanna Fletcher

Amazon UK

Title: Always With Love

Author: Giovanna Fletcher

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 2nd June 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Sophie's got used to being the girlfriend of Billy Buskin, the biggest movie star in the world. Sort of.

But when she and Billy take a trip to visit his family in Los Angeles, she quickly discovers she's totally unprepared for the chaos of Hollywood, the paparazzi and Billy's controlling mother.

And when Billy extends his stay in LA, leaving Sophie to fly home to Rosefont Hill alone, it seems there's more than just miles between them.

Now Sophie must decide if they can overcome their differences for good. Because not every love story lasts the distance . . .

This is the wonderfully romantic sequel to Billy & Me, and also the Christmas e-book short story, Giovanna Fletcher once again has weaved her magic, and written a book that I couldn't get enough of. I read it in one sitting, quite happily one evening, and didn't put it down at all. 

If you haven't read Billy & Me, then don't worry as this definitely works as a standalone story, which was useful as although I remember loving the original, I couldn't recall the details, but slowly bits started to come back to me, as I remembered how caught up I was in the writing the first time around too. 

I have no idea how Giovanna Fletcher, keeps writing these magical books, but I am so glad that she does,  as she is fast becoming a favourite author of mine.

 I loved the dual settings of this book, with part of the story taking place in Los Angeles where Sophie travels for the first time to meet the whole of Billy's family, with mixed consequences, as well as in Sophie's home village of Rosefont Hill. 

Billy's family is large and noisy, and as different from Sophie's upbringing as you can get, but they all pretty much struck various chords with me and I found myself really liking them all.  Sophie's mum is being given a second chance at happiness and one of my favourite scenes in the book involved wedding dress shopping. 

I am desperately hoping that this isn't the last we will see of Billy and Sophie, as I would love to be reacquainted with them in the future. This is certainly a story not to be missed though, as it weaves the heat of LA, the small town feel of Rosefont Hill, two very different people that are madly in love, and some great character development, into a truly brilliant novel. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Dream a Little Christmas Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

Amazon UK

Title: Dream a Little Christmas Dream

Author: Giovanna Fletcher

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 8th October 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Sarah's doing great. Okay, her dreams might still be totally bananas but real life is definitely back on track. She's got a fantastic job, amazing friends and plans to spend all Christmas wrapped up with Brett, her handsome boyfriend.

But after another night of increasingly bizarre dreams, Sarah wakes to find her housemate suddenly announcing she's moving out. And later that day Brett begins to act strangely. He's clearly hiding something - but what? 

Soon Sarah can't help but wonder if she's living in a festive nightmare. Will any of her dreams come true for Christmas?

I absolutely loved Dream A Little Dream earlier this year, and had been looking forward to this Christmas sequel. My only fault with the this sequel, is that it was very short, and I would have happily kept reading it for a lot longer. 

I honestly can't say if this will work as a standalone, as I really feel you should read the first one, as its brilliant, before reading this. 

Sarah's dreams are back, are they are as bizarre as ever (although there is no space sex this time around!), there are a few slightly freaky dreams. Sarah has s very vivid and active sub concious with what it comes up with. 

Brett has been acting a bit strangely and won't be drawn on their future, so Sarah starts suspecting the worst, especially after she compares their situation to that of their friends, some of whom are making big life altering announcements. 

I had a gut feeling to why Brett was acting oddly, and although the outcome was arguable predictable, you will love the set up and reveal. Very romantic and the whole story left me with a huge smile on my face. 

Dream a Little Christmas Dream is a sweet follow up to a great book, and if you enjoyed Dream A Little Dream I would urge you to read this, as it gives some fabulous closure, and who doesn't want to read more dreams?!

Book Review - Dream A Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher - Paperback Summer

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Title: Dream A Little Dream

Author: Giovanna Fletcher

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 18th June 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Sarah is doing just fine. Sure she's been single for the last five years, and has to spend an uncomfortable amount of time around her ex-boyfriend, his perfect new girlfriend and all their mutual friends. And yes, her job as a PA to one of the most disgusting men in London is mind-numbingly tedious and her career is a constant disappointment to her mother. But it's really okay. She's happy (ish).

So it's not surprising that when Sarah starts dreaming about a handsome stranger, she begins to look forward to falling asleep every night. Reality isn't nearly as exciting. That is until her dream-stranger makes an unexpected real-life appearance, leaving Sarah questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Because no one ever really finds the person of their dreams... do they?

As I started this book, I was a bit unsure about the dreams that started quite a few of the chapters. They were as is the nature of dreams, quite surreal but generally with a common theme, of Sarah dreaming about Brett Last, a man she met years ago at uni and hasn't seen or thought of since. 

From these dreams they go from Brett just being a bit part character, to having a starring role, which is where a couple of the dreams become a bit on the saucy side. Sarah becomes convinced that Brett is the man of her dreams.

Back in the real world, Sarah is angling for a promotion at work, and still hangs around her friends from uni, which includes her ex-boyfriend, and his girlfriend (who she was replaced by). So Sarah feels awkward sometimes in her friendship group, and is struggling to be noticed at work. It's no wonder she is preferring her dream self. 

However the book really picks up and becomes brilliant, when Brett Last is revealed as the new colleague at the company where Sarah works, and that she is going to have to work closely with him. He doesn't look like Brett that has been in her dreams. Hence we soon have Dream Brett and Real Brett so everyone knows who is being referred to. 

Real Brett is a wonderful man, and one I would be happy to date myself. Sarah though is so shocked by the appearance of the real Brett, that when he tries to even take her out for a coffee she is a stammering mess. 

There is a lot in this book about Sarah's friendship group and the pub quizzes they take part in, which sound like great fun. All the friends have distinct personalities, and its Carly , who is Sarah's flatmate that has the strongest additional storyline. 

Dream A Little Dream is another brilliant book by the talented Giovanna Fletcher, and I am already looking forward to the follow up novella that is out in time for Christmas.