"Sophie, I know you're all modern these days with your phone, laptop and the fact you're even on blooming Twitter AND Instagram, but I thought we could take things old school and act like we're in one of those old books you're permanently reading. It'll give our grandchildren something to be amazed by when we're long gone. No doubt they'll stumble upon a dusty and weathered box in the attic and open it with delight as they realise how much love we once shared...or how bad my spelling, grammar and punctuation were."

The highly anticipated sequel to Billy and Me, Always With Love was a treat to read. As the girlfriend of Billy Buskin, a global movie star, village girl Sophie May finds herself splitting her time between her little cafe in Kent and her boyfriends house in LA. When Billy extends his stay in LA to star in a film, the couple rely on letters and the occasional call to keep them together. But with paparazzi rumours, Sophie's ever expanding tea shop and her mother's imminent wedding, can Sophie and Billy keep their transatlantic relationship on course? 

I tend to stay away from predictable rom-com books, and although Always With Love is essentially a rom-com, its far from predictable. Whilst following the unfolding love story between Sophie and Billy, Fletcher delves deep into what life is like in the limelight with regards to paparazzi and constant media attention, whilst also questioning human attachment to places, people and material things. Why are we so attached to four walls? Is it right that we feel guilty making positive life changes after the loss of a loved one? Should we always follow our dreams, regardless of who we may leave behind?

Sophie May is also a loveable character. She runs a tea shop that caters for the older ladies of the small village of Rosebud, and prefers a good Indian takeaway over a wild night out. She reminds me a lot of myself, and I'm sure other people feel this too. But she also has flaws - she jumps to conclusions, drags a lot of her past worries and guilt around with her, and relies upon herself for everything. I honestly think this is why Giovanna Fletcher has seen so much success from this novel; her characters aren't transparent, self-righteous martyrs, but real people with real problems and tricky decisions to make. 

At only £5.59 (and going down) on Amazon, I pre-ordered this way back in January, praying that this sequel would be as good as its predecessor. I needn't have worried in the slightest. Relatable yet still pure escapism, you'd be a fool not to give Always With Love a chance.