Buddy Read - Billy Summers - May 4

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Ok opening a buddy read of Billy Summers, by Stephen King starting tomorrow. If y'all wanna join, please feel free!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Ok I gotta say that I love how Nick talks to billy like one of your old style New York mobsters. I can hear that in my head so well.

[Mary Beth]

I.feel the same way with Nick. I am listening to the audiobook and its really good with Nick's voice. He really does sound like a NY mobster.

I read some reviews that said that the beginning had a slow burn to it but I dont agree, I am really enjoying it.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

I am too Mary, I hope it stays that way.

[Mary Beth]

Me too!
Billy is a likable character for what he does. I bet we will end up rooting for him.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

yea according to the synopsis, I think he is gonna be a pretty good guy.

[Mary Beth]

Chapter 6

This happened in Chapter 5 but dont know which section it was in so dont read till you get to chapter 6.

This part made me laugh! (view spoiler)[I love his get away plan. Having a new id and his new name is Dalton. He also has a disguise, a blonde wig and a fat tummy and a new place to live. (hide spoiler)]

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Ok I am 2 chapters away. My grandson would not let me read today, but now I am hitting the book.

I hate when the author makes us like the bad guys! I really like Billy! I hope he stays the way he is!

[Mary Beth]

I hope he does too!

Lol! I cant read either when my grand kids come over.

I never read the synapsis any more. So many of them spoils the book. I will if its a new author that I have not read though.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Well I said that about the synopsis because at the end it said, you won't put this story down, and you won't forget Billy. That kind of tells me that readers will love Billy!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Why does everyone keep saying Billy is slow, or they say "See they won't think you are stupid." He can't be slow right? He served in Iraq as a sniper. I am just trying to clear that up.

[Mary Beth]

Yeah, he definitely isnt stupid. He is smarter than all of them. Keep reading and you will find out.

Yeah Billy is very likable so far.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Mary Beth wrote: "Chapter 6

This happened in Chapter 5 but dont know which section it was in so dont read till you get to chapter 6.

This part made me laugh! [spoilers removed]"

You are right Mary he definitely has everything planned out and he is a fast thinker as well.

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[I think we get a quick peek into Billy's darker side at the end of the monopoly game. I can certainly understand it with what happened to his sister, and maybe partly due to iraq. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

I know he had such a terrible childhood and then(view spoiler)[he goes into the Marines and then to top it off he is a sniper in Iraq. So yeah that would definitely give him a dark side (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Chapter 10 and the 1st section in chapter 11.

Chapter 10 is full of action!

Chapter 11 section 2
(view spoiler)[The shot was made perfectly but of course it was, he is a sniper. I think that is why his Marine story and being a sniper was in the book. His escape plan went perfectly too but there is a lot left in the book. I think something is going to go very wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

End of chapter 11

Oh Wow! (view spoiler)[The police think Hoff commited suicide in his garage witha shot to the head but Billy thinks that it was Dana or Giorgio. I didnt like Hoff anyways. (hide spoiler)]

Its getting really good now.I am done reading for the night.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Boy Mary you are just whizzing right though this one. I am only on chapter 7.

[✨Susan✨]

Just started, hope I can catch up🤷‍♀️ Sounds like you are both liking it!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

It is really good Susan. Some people talk about a slow start, but I am with Mary, I think it is just right.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Good grief, what is it with all the 'dumb talk' in this book? It is getting annoying.

[Mary Beth]

Oh Susan! Glad you are reading this one with us. Its really good.

I am still on Chapter 12! Hubby gave me a honey to do list so I wont have the reading time like I did yesterday. Have to run a lot of errands today. I am going to read a little bit now then I will have to finish the rest of his list. 😂

I know! I dont understand what all that dumb talk is about! I am sure that we might find out later.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

LOL Mary he got carried away with the dumb this and dumb that. Makes me feel dumb!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Chapter 10 - section 5

(view spoiler)[Goodness the build up for the kill had me sitting on the edge, let me tell ya. I was sure something was gonna happen to mess everything up. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Chapter 12 thru 14


OMG! (view spoiler)[A car drops off a woman named Alice in front of Dalton's house. The car had 3 peoplE in it and I dont think that it is a coincidence. I am wondering if Nick, Edison and Giorgio were in the car. She also was raped. Alice knows that he killed Joel Allen and that Dalton is Billy Summer's and knows about his disguise. I dont think that she will tell anyone but wonder who was in the car. (hide spoiler)]

The marines stories are a little boring. Then they talk about cures.
Here is one for you, Susan! If you are in a lot of pain start singing. The pain will then go away. 😂

I am off to finish my honey to do list and then when I get done I will read some more.

Dont know yet about the dumb stuff. But I think eventually Billy will end up doing something really dumb.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

This book has kind of lost that spark for me. I hope that something exciting happens. It's getting a bit too political for me as well. Gonna keep going though. I am almost halfway through the book.

[Mary Beth]

Janie wrote: "Chapter 10 - section 5

[spoilers removed]"

I was on the edge of my seat too! So good.

[Mary Beth]

Janie wrote: "This book has kind of lost that spark for me. I hope that something exciting happens. It's getting a bit too political for me as well. Gonna keep going though. I am almost halfway through the book."

I dont like the marine and war stories! I think the book is great without them.

I am still on chapter 15! Cracking the book now!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

I just want it to pick back up. I am on 13.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Ok I gotta say I really enjoyed Section 9 of Chapter 14. Probably the only Iraq part that I liked.

(view spoiler)[ Lieutenant Jamieson was in pain and the whole troop sand a song to make his pain less. Now that was awesome! (hide spoiler)]

I also did enjoy the part in Chapter 13 starting with section 2 when (view spoiler)[He helps Alice after she was dumped by her rapist boyfriend outside of Billy's house. (hide spoiler)] That was pretty awesome of him.

[Mary Beth]

Yeah, I enjoyed those parts too. (view spoiler)[That just made me love Billy more. He didnt even worry that he didnt have his disguise on. Iike that he only goes after bad people. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Chapters 19 and 20

Lots of action in these chapters!
I think it could also be a lot of action till the end of the book.
Finally!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

OMG Chapter 16 section 11 & 12

(view spoiler)[OMG I was laughing! A hand mixer for good ole Tripp. I was like WTF? (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

😂.I read that part last night and too lazy and tired to leave a spoiler. I read that part and then went to bed..
(view spoiler)[I just loved how he got even with them.
Sweet revenge!. He plays a great vigilante role. (hide spoiler)]

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

I know, I love it Mary. There are so many sides to Billy, I especially loved (view spoiler)[When Bucky told him that Alice called Billy her guardian angel. (hide spoiler)] in chapter 18

I told myself I was not gonna annotate this book, but I had to on several parts. Those parts I want to remember!

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Oh my goodness, it is impossible to not like Bucky! He is a true gem, one of my favorite characters besides Billy.

[Mary Beth]

Janie wrote: "I know, I love it Mary. There are so many sides to Billy, I especially loved [spoilers removed] in chapter 18

I told myself I was not gonna annotate this book, but I had to on several parts. Those..."

Yes! I loved that part too and I love Bucky too.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Chapter 20 - YIKES!

(view spoiler)[Oh great here we go on the build up again. It makes me so apprehensive. I feel like I could just sit here and pray to God to keep Billy safe! I have to remind myself that it is just a book! (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Chapter 22 Section 7

This happens before this section but dont remember when it started.

Clerke is one (view spoiler)[sick guy! He is a very bad guy. There are bad guys in this book but he is the worst going after kids. He is one sick pedophile. Billy will be killing him next. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

We both comnented at the same time.

I felt the same way. It was intense!

[Mary Beth]

Chapter 24 and the ending!
OMG! (view spoiler)[No! No! No! Only King would give a WTF ending like that! It was so emotional! I loved Billy so much and was not expecting him to die!!!!!l!l Loved Alice too!!!! Why? He fought in the war and then became an assasin and survives then dies by getting shot by an old woman. I was not expecting that and was not expecting Marge to show up and kill him. I just want to cry.😭
There was a little bit of The Shining in this book.
Why did Alice have to die too. (hide spoiler)]

This was a 4 star and the ending made it 5 stars. Loved it so much!
This one will be one of my favorites for this year.

[✨Susan✨]

Janie wrote: "I know, I love it Mary. There are so many sides to Billy, I especially loved [spoilers removed] in chapter 18

I told myself I was not gonna annotate this book, but I had to on several parts. Those..."

He was a a hero and a protector. I wonder if it what he did would actually stop what the trio were doing?

[✨Susan✨]

In my mind it seems like Stephen was writing every other chapter. Just food for thought ?

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

So what does that mean Susan? LOL You think someone else was writing as well?

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Will finish this morning Amy was over last night so I did not have the chance to read much.

[✨Susan✨]

Mary Beth wrote: "Janie wrote: "I know, I love it Mary. There are so many sides to Billy, I especially loved [spoilers removed] in chapter 18

I told myself I was not gonna annotate this book, but I had to on severa..."

Chapter 18 but I think I Overlooked something in Chapter 17. Wink wink. I am really starting to like it👍 I love the characters.

[✨Susan✨]

Janie wrote: "So what does that mean Susan? LOL You think someone else was writing as well?"

Not sure… it just felt sporadic until now. Now it seems to be even and very good.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

Oh yea, I can see that and agree with that. I feel like the very beginning was ok, but then like the whole middle of the story was a little off. Now it is back to normal again.

[Janie, Group Owner & Book Addict]

About Alice

(view spoiler)[I just have to say that I am really surprised by Alice. It just doesn't seem real that this is who she is, if that makes any sense. Don't get me wrong, I love her character, she is just not very believable. I mean we have a 21 year old rape victim, pretty darn innocent, not to mention scared out of her wits, totally changing herself and, turning completely into a bad girl? I have to ask why? (hide spoiler)]

[✨Susan✨]

I agree but sometimes tragic events can change you into a worrier so you can take back your life.

[✨Susan✨]

Finished ….. what did you think Janie?