Book Summary and Reviews of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

The Bodyguard

by Katherine Center

  • Published:
  • Jun 2023, 336 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin.

She's got his back.
But the truth is, she's an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He's got her heart.
Jack Stapleton's a household name―captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They've got a secret.
When Jack's mom gets sick, he goes home to the family's Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn't want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah―against her will and her better judgment―finds herself pretending to be Jack's girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong?
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it's easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That's the hardest thing she's ever done.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. Jack and Hannah both experienced the loss of someone important to them before meeting each other. How do you think this helped them form a unique bond?
  2. How did Hannah's prior knowledge of Jack as a celebrity and as a character in movies impact her expectations of him? Were her expectations accurate or inaccurate?
  3. When, do you think, was the pivotal moment that Jack fell in love with Hannah? When was that moment for Hannah?
  4. Do you think the portrayal of Jack as a movie star is an accurate representation of fame? Discuss.
  5. What is the significance of the scene in which Jack and all of the other Thanksgiving guests raise their hands to choose Hannah over Kennedy Monroe? What did that say about Jack's character...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Utterly charming... Center's latest might be her most winning yet. It's not only a must-read for her fans, but it will likely garner her new devotees as well." —Booklist (starred review)

"Center brings her signature warmth and wit to this movie-ready premise, blending a heartwarming romance with quirky side characters and even a little bit of action. Hannah is an endearing and vulnerable lead underneath her serious, tough-girl exterior. Center delivers another satisfying, romantic read with a swoon worthy hero and a delightful main character." —Kirkus Reviews

"Center's confection satisfies on its own terms." —Publishers Weekly

"An irresistible, delightful, perfect read. Clear the calendar, settle in your favorite chair and enjoy every amazing word. Then tell your boss you're going to need the next day off, because you're going to want to read it again!! ―Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Getaway

"The Bodyguard is absolutely, unequivocally delightful!" ―Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

This information about The Bodyguard was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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More Information

BookPage calls Katherine Center "the reigning queen of comfort reads." She's the New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and What You Wish For. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down―and how we get back up. She's been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, "satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way." Her books have made countless Best-Of lists, including RealSimple's Best Books of 2020, Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2019, Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and many more. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls her summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, "a shot of pure joy." The movie adaptation of Katherine's novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is now a Netflix original starring Ellie Kemper. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.

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