Book Boyfriend by Lucy Vine

About the Book

Jemma has lived a thousand lives through books. The only life she isn’t living is her own.

 That is, until the day she finds a note from a stranger in her favourite library book. When she replies, the pair begin a longhand conversation about their love of novels that sees Jemma finally coming out of her shell. Is she ready to fall in love for the first time – with someone she’s never met?

 Clara has always run away from her problems, but this might finally be one she can’t escape.

 Everyone wants to know what happened to Clara in America – but Clara isn’t talking. Instead she’s focusing all her energy obsessing over a hot new actor, starring in the TV adaptation of her twin Jemma's favourite book. Soon, Clara is reading every interview, trawling his social media, and following him to showbiz parties in the hopes he’ll notice she’s The One.

As the sisters fall hard for two men they’ve never met, it’s time to ask the question: Can either relationship survive the real world?

Title: Book Boyfriend

Author Lucy Vine

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 19th June 2025

Links:  UK:  Amazon   US:   Amazon

Waterstones            WHSmith

Our Review

Book Boyfriend is such a perfect title for a romantic novel and I wish I'd thought of it actually. The cover is also just gorgeous and definitely something that would attract me in a bookshop or indeed a library which is very significant for this book.

The story centres around twins Jemma and Clara who you might imagine were best friends but they were very much not. I listened to Lucy Vine do a reading from the book and she told us that she also had a twin sister so I wonder if she might have been speaking from experience.

Clara has just reappeared in Jemma's life in time for their Mum's wedding to her fiancee Angela.

Jemma isn't too pleased seeing as when Clara left they didn't hear a dicky bird from her and were worried about her and even when she turned up she wouldn't speak about what she'd been up to in America and why she was back.

Jemma was even more annoyed when Clara has to move in with her and her flatmates as their future step sister has moved into Clara's old room. the two sisters struggled to get on, Jemma being the serious and studious one whilst Clara was the calamitous one who seemed to find trouble wherever she went. She literally drove Jemma up the wall with her impetuous and sometimes annoying ways.

The problem for Jemma was that although Clara got on her nerves, their flatmates got on really well with her and liked her which caused jealousy.

When Clara finds out that Jemma has been exchanging notes with an anonymous person in a copy of her favourite library book she decides to go on a crusade to help her find out who it is. To Jemma's distaste Clara discovers a television series called Book Boyfriend which is based on Jemma's book and tries to encourage her to watch it. Then Clara decides that she is going to meet the actor who plays the book boyfriend, the sexy Milo and make him fall in love with her, Clara pulls no punches and says it like it is, whilst she could be a bit annoying (as she's meant to be,) her heart was in the right place.

I loved the theme of the book where the protagonist has this beloved book and is exchanging mystery notes with a stranger who also loves the book and then the tv series coming out with diehard fans of the book not liking it and non readers loving it. The relationship between the twins was very realistic with not getting on but then eventually trying to see things from the others perspective and I really enjoyed seeing how that was worked through. The relationships with their friends Salma and Harry was also lots of fun. Sisterly love, jealousy and learning how to understand each other were very prominent themes in the book and I was kept guessing who the mystery person was until the end.

Just like Lucy Vine herself this book was a total joy, bubbly and sparkly with just the right amount of sass and a huge heart. 

Filled with fun, slapstick comedy and just the right amount of angst with happy ever afters all round.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Lucy Vine is a writer, editor and columnist. She's the best selling author of Hot Mess (2017), What Fresh Hell (2018), Are We Nearly There Yet? (2019), Bad Choices (2021), Seven Exes (2023) and Date With Destiny (2024)

Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson

About the Book

Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming. 

Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?

Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.

Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.

Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? 

Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk? 

Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…

Title:  Same Time Next Week

Author:  Milly Johnson

Published By: Simon & Schuster 

Publication Date: 27th Feb 2025

Links:   UK:   Amazon   WHSmith: Hardback   Paperback  Waterstones  Hardback   Paperback

Our Review

Well first of all this book got me right away and had me crying just at the dedication because I know that Milly has really been through it lately and as usual she has poured her heart and soul into every word of this story. The emotions are so strong they're almost tangible.

Same Time Next Week follows five women who are brought together in a friendship group in the hunky Ray's Diner. They meet weekly and as they navigate their way through life, whether that be through the menopause, illness or having a cheating bastard husband, these characters are certainly put through the mill but they soon come to realise they are not alone and they find a strong friendship with each other but there are still plenty of people to hiss and boo at on their behalf.

Milly has a magical touch to creating characters and getting you to embrace and champion them right from the word go. It was brilliant to watch their layers peel away and get to the nitty gritty of what makes them tick and as each one manoeuvres their way through life's journey and overcomes their individual struggles you just want to cheer for them. The themes of the story were so unusual and interesting and I loved how the chapters moved forward with updates on each of the main characters as you were left on tenterhooks with each one.

I think we can safely say that everyone got absolutely what they deserved in this brilliant book and Milly's unique humour, insight into the human psyche and her ability to see the extraordinariness of seemingly ordinary, everyday people will have you laughing, crying and raging all in one chapter. 

Heart-breaking, emotional yet tremendously uplifting, Milly has woven her magic once again in between the pages of another compelling read.

Sincerely

Book Angel x 

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 22 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 22nd novel 'Same Time Next Week' out 27th Feb 2025 is about five women all negotiating big changes in their lives. Will coming together in a friendship group at the new Ray's Diner help them overcome what fate throws at them? Full of blueberry pie and cookies (don't blame me if you start craving them) 

Do check out Milly's website - it's easy to find if you search for her name. She has a monthly newsletter with insider info, competitions and even birthday celebrations.

Follow the rest of the tour here...

Simon & Schuster UK TeamBATC 2025 Showcase

 Wow what a fabulous day and I can't believe it's been ten years since I went to my first ever Books and the City Showcase and met my favourite author Milly Johnson, it was Heidi Swain's (another fave of mine) debut at the time and I'm lucky enough to have attended every single one since. 

L - R    Milly Johnson, Me and Linda Hill

The afternoon of the TeamBATC2025Showcase started with lunch with the fabulous Milly Johnson, did I mention she is my favourite author? and my lovely blogger friend Linda Hill, we chatted for hours and put the world to rights. Milly signed my copy of My One True North for me, it's very special as it has my quote in there which I'm thrilled about. She also very kindly gave us one of her Same Time Next Week planners and pens which we were thrilled with. Thanks Milly. xxx

We then strolled down to Simon & Schuster head office where there were a lovely group of bloggers waiting.

Then we were met by the fantastic hostess with the mostest Sara-Jade Virtue,

Brand Development Director at S&S who led us up to their offices. We had a snack table which included delicious Lola's Cupcakes and lots of prosecco and cocktails on offer too. 

I had a cosmo which was delish. It was lovely to mingle with blogger friends and I met Caden Armstrong, owner of Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh which is the first bricks and mortar Romance bookshop in the UK.

Me with Caden Armstrong

There were lots of cheers as the eight fabulous authors came into the room. In order from left to right, Eva Verde, Julie Haworth, Kate Lord Brown, Laura Wood, Lizzie Huxley Jones, Lucy Vine, Milly Johnson and Sophie Loxton.

We were then treated to each author giving us a little pitch before reading from their books, from there we had a Q and A session with the authors and Molly Crawford who is Editorial Director at S&S. 

The books all sound absolutely amazing and there was lots of laughter in the room so I have a feeling they are going to be very entertaining.

We were then given the most fabulous goody bags and instructed to help ourselves to the book table as well which is a symphony to book lovers ears. 

The authors very kindly signed our books and it was lovely to get to speak to them, some who've been there a while and some new ones.

Then like Cinderella at the ball the clock strikes and alot of us have to leave to catch our trains, as ever the time goes far too quickly, I then walked to the station with fab bloggers Julie Boon and Dawn Crooks. Thank you so much to Sara-Jade who was presented with a gorgeous bouquet by Publishing Director, Clare Hey for all her hard work. 

Thanks also to all the Books and The City Team and all the fabulous authors and bloggers etc. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone again.

I unpacked my goody bag and just look at this sensational array of books. Can't wait to read them all.

For details and links of the above books please see below

Them Girls by Eva Verde 

   

       Bea's Book Wagon by Julie Haworth

 

   The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown

   Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood

   Reality Check by Lizzie Huxley Jones

   Book Boyfriend by Lucy Vine

   Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson

   Wild About You by Sophie Loxton

If you would like to read my very first ever blog from the very first ever Team BATC Showcase then click here.

Love

Sincerely

Book Angel x