The Bodyguard (June 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Leslie & Jen K

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the The Bodyguard Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on June 9th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 06/09
June 9th chapters 1-8

Week of 06/10
June 10th chapters 9-14
June 11th chapters 15-20
June 12th chapters 21-27
June 13th chapters 28-33, Epilogue


PARTICIPANTS
~ Leslie
~ Jen K

[aikaterine]

Hey!!! I have this book in my TBR for SO long, so I'd love to join the BR if it's alright with you :D

[Jen K]

aikaterine wrote: "Hey!!! I have this book in my TBR for SO long, so I'd love to join the BR if it's alright with you :D"

Absolutely!! You are more than welcome!

[aikaterine]

Jen K wrote: "aikaterine wrote: "Hey!!! I have this book in my TBR for SO long, so I'd love to join the BR if it's alright with you :D"

Absolutely!! You are more than welcome!"

Thank you so much!! Can't wait to discuss with you guys!

[aikaterine]

Hi again! I have started this book early because I'm in the worst reading slump/very slow reading phase.

After days of reading I finally finished Chapter 8, haha! (view spoiler)[So far so good, I really get immersed in the story once I start reading! I really like that our "tiny" heroine is going to be the actual hero and the "enormous" man will probably be the damsel in distress, haha.

However, it is a bit cringe sometimes when Hannah describes him, the word choices etc. Let's see! (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Last night I finished Chapter 14 and I just wanted to keep reading!! (view spoiler)[Honestly, I'm really enjoying the book, and I find that once I start reading I get immersed and fly through the chapters!

The situation with the friend and ex-boyfriend was predictable from the get go, but I wasn't expecting them both to be such awful people! I hoped it was real friendship, but apparently not?

Generally, I've noticed that most conversations Hannah has with others are very awkward and sometimes uncomfortable, even to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Good to hear! I'm excited to start tonight.

[Leslie]

I started the book yesterday and just finished chapter 14 too. @aikaterine I want to keep reading too (but I need to finish another book first)
(view spoiler)[ I agree about the friend and ex-boyfriend - I figured that would be the case, but expected it to play out in a different way and a bit earlier. But Jack's response was perfect.
I think Hannah is a bit socially challenged with her childhood never knowing real relationships. It will be interesting to see how Jack will challenge that and have her grow. But I can see how his comment to Hank about her being "the epitome of ordinary" and then later "stumpy" would hurt her, but I think the first one was meant as a compliment as I think he is tired of the "extreme" personalities he interacts with in his industry.
I have to say, I am very curious as to the truth behind what happened to Drew, as I think Hannah is as well. The dynamic between Hank and Jack has to break at some point. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Just read the first 8 chapters. It is utterly ridiculous and adorable. Excited that I can read more tonight to catch up.

[Sophie, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I think I’m going to hop onto this one too. I am a day behind, but I’m hoping to catch up soon

Chapters 1-8

(view spoiler)[ I have a bad feeling that Robby and Taylor are going to hook up, if they haven’t already (which they probably did in Madrid). It's a shoo in at this point. Especially with Robby being so completely awful to Hannah. Not only did he breakup with her the day after her mother’s funeral, he proceeds to repeatedly insult her publicly in a very nasty, almost bullying type of way.

I’d like to get down to the real story about what happened on the night of the accident with Jack and his younger brother, and ultimately why he’s estranged from his older brother. Also Jack opening up about his fear of bridges was really sad. 😔

There was a unhoneymooners reference in here! I haven’t read that one yet, but maybe this was a sign to.

I will say this one has got me smiling whilst reading, which I love, particularly when Jack and Hannah were bickering.

I do have a theory that maybe Kelly is another stalker of Jacks due to the socks and screensaver, as well as it being mentioned that she knits (which was referenced to a stalker before), but honestly she’s probably not. It’d be too obvious. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Totally missed that we were supposed to start on the 9th but read the first 20 chapters in one go.

(view spoiler)[ Robby is the absolute worst. He broke up with her the day after her mom's funeral, then hooked up with her bestie and then decided he wanted her back because Jack likes her and completely trashing said bestie???? Gross!!! I really hope she doesn't give in.

Also can't wait on the full story of Drew's death. Assuming that the car accident involves a bridge and drowning? Jack is such a sweetie and so fun to see him and Hannah interacting with such laughter.

My guess is that Hannah is going to need to ride that horse to save the day at some point. (hide spoiler)]

I'm thoroughly enjoying while somewhat brain dead from work. Glad that this came up as a BR!

[Leslie]

I'm so enjoying this book. I thought I wouldn't like Hannah because she is so "by the book" and stiff, but I DO like her. I'm through chapter 29 already (yes, I'm ahead but I need to return the book by tomorrow morning), but will separate my thoughts...
Through chapter 20:
(view spoiler)[ I agree @Jen K Robby (aka Bobby, lol) is the utter worst. He knows just how to make her feel "less than" while making her feel like everything is her fault.
I like how Hannah is trusting (slowly) Jack and letting him in and he is responding so well. (hide spoiler)]
Through chapter 29:
(view spoiler)[ so, finally (!) what happened with Jack and his brother Drew is revealed. And of course he took the blame for it when it wasn't his fault, because that is a Jack thing to do.
Robby/Bobby continues to just bulldoze and wreak havoc on everyone - he is such an entitled wrecking ball. I'd want to put him and Kennedy Monroe (also, the worst) together but given that her worst-ness is rooted in insecurity, I wouldn't wish him on her either. Hopefully he finally gets the message that Hannah has been trying to drill in his head.
That Corgi Lady is funny scary. I just love Jack's mother's response on the stalker -"That's where the sweaters came from?" "She's very talented". Though I'm glad that she's been neutralized (I hope).
And I'm happy that she's starting to reconcile with Taylor. I think Taylor was just another victim of Robby's horribleness and deserves a second chance. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

I binged to the end over lunch today. It was cute!! Excited to discuss the ending. I agree with Leslie that Hannah should have been slightly unlikeable but she somehow ended up adorable, even in a pantsuit. Lots of insecurities which were not helped by Bobby or Taylor but the Stapletons got it.

Seriously the Corgi lady with a penchant for sharing nudes and knitting photo sweaters is pretty ridiculous and imaginative!!

[Sophie, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Finished and I’ve landed on a 3.75 rating.

It was so sweet and wholesome. Jack was so gentle and loving with Hannah, it melted my heart.

I’m happy that there was a big focus on the emotional connection as opposed to the physical. It felt more real.

Honestly it was the epitome of a romcom. Definitely something lighter in between heavier reads!

[Leslie]

I agree @Sophie - Jack is like one of those almost perfect book boyfriends. His attention to Hannah makes me root more for her as well. The near-end scene with Wilbur (where ,OK, I love the references to Charlotte's Web) was a little bit hard to swallow. Somehow that does not seem realistic, but suspending reality it's a heartwarming and somewhat funny end. Overall, this was a sweet story.