4 stars - if you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

This a the story of what happens if you meet "the one" at the wrong time. Izzy and Sam meet on his wedding day and feel an instant connection, but of course it is not meant to be. They meet accidentally a few more times and every time that connection is still there. So years down the road, when both are single they reconnect and have a chance to see if they can make a relationship work or if there is too much baggage.

Overall, I thought this was a good read. It seemed very realistic and well done in covering the relationships. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it if you like cute, light-hearted romances.

I enjoyed this book overall but it was very drawn out. I found myself getting frustrated with Izzy and Sam becuase they wouldn't be honest about their feelings. If you enjoy a slow burn romance than definitely give this one a try.

I just adore these type of romance tropes. You meet the one, but something happens, then you meet again, something happens, repeat this cycle for several years until, it finally works out. /sigh It just makes me happy! Izzy and Sam were that couple. I love the beginning but then the long lag in between time jumps made things slow down greatly for me.

I thought this was a truly realistic look at what could happen, there was no great crazy thing that happened to them, life just took them in different directions. The different directions were even across oceans as Izzy was planted in England and Sam was firmly in the US. They married different people, had children, and basically lived completely separate lives until they slid back into each others life.

The frustrating part of the story for me was all the extra characters, even the kids. Ugh Sam's daughter was just down right mean. Don't get me started on Izzy's ex husband. I wasn't even very interested in her besties. I just wanted more Sam and Izzy, less other characters. Solid 3.5 stars for me. I will round up to 4 because I did really enjoy it and read it super fast!

Do you believe in love at first sight? Jo Lovett will tug at your heart strings with this romantic story. Izzy and Sam first meet in December when Izzy is working as a waitress. There is an instant spark when these two meet. So why does Sam say no when Izzy asks him out? Well he has a good reason... it is his wedding day. Time passes: marriage, children, new jobs, new countries, and yet they cannot seem to forget. Over a decade has passed and Sam reaches out to Izzy ostensibly for help for his son. They begin an email correspondence, but an ocean, many yearsand relationships, separate these two. Will they be able to rekindle the spark?

Do you believe in “the one“? OK full confession- I do not necessarily believe in love at first sight or the one and yet I really enjoyed this story. Both Izzy and Sam were fabulous characters. I found them both so kind, genuine, and likable. Also found them both quite frustrating at times. I wasn’t always thrilled with some of the characters choices and didn’t like how fickle Izzy was throughout most of the book. Nevertheless, this was an engaging story that warmed my heart.

This book in emojis 🥄 🤰🏻 ☕️ 🎨 🐑 📩 ☔️

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

The First Time We Met left me wanting more, and I don’t mean more of the book. The plot felt strained to me and a little unrealistic. I know, I know. It’s a book! Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that one stranger in a cafe would leave such a lasting mark on someone for years. It may be the realist in me. However, I also didn’t fall in love with the dialogue or prose. Sadly, I expected so much from this book, but found it lacking. It was difficult for me to finish, unfortunately.

A heart-warming and uplifting tale of second chances, unexpected twists of fate and the magic of falling in love, Jo Lovett’s The First Time We Met is a powerful love story readers won’t forget in a hurry.

Izzy doesn’t believe in love at first sight. That is just an invention created by film producers and romantic novelists and certainly not something that could ever happen in real life – or so she thinks! Cupid’s arrow well and truly hits her when Sam walks through the doors of the coffee shop where she works and she falls head over heels in love with him. But there is a slight catch that puts paid to any hopes and dreams she might have for the future: Sam is getting married. To Somebody Else. On that very same day. Just when Izzy had thought that she had finally found The One she ends up disappointed and heartbroken before things had even managed to get off the ground with him. However, Izzy shouldn’t be too hasty in putting Sam behind her for good because it looks like fate might have other ideas in store for them…

A year has passed since their fateful encounter and Izzy knows that she should stop thinking about Sam and move on with her life. After all, he’s a married man and has long forgotten about her. Having been married for less than twelve months, Sam is surely besotted with his new wife and doesn’t’ spare a single thought to the girl he had met at a coffee shop on his wedding day a year ago. But little does she realise that absence has truly made Sam’s heart grow fonder as even though all this time has passed, he still hasn’t managed to stop thinking about the girl who had asked him out on his wedding day!

When destiny pushes the two of them in each other’s path again in the most surprising and unexpected of ways, everything has changed for the two of them. But can Izzy and Sam triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way and find the courage to grab this chance at happiness with both hands? Or are they simply not meant to be together?

A beautifully written love story that will make readers feel every single emotion Izzy and Sam go through, Jo Lovett’s The First Time We Met is a fantastic read that touched my heart, made me giggle and brought a tear to my eye.

Sparkling with humour and charm, Jo Lovett’s The First Time We Met is a heart-warming tale of two soulmates who belong together and their journey to make the most of this second chance at happiness that is sure to delight and entertain readers everywhere.

Pros: sweet, good vibe between the two leads, realism around parenting, thoughtful treatment of speech impediments and other issues that gave it a very grounded vibe

Cons: the plot simply didn't really do it for me - meeting the right one at the wrong time is an inherently frustrating proposition, which did not really improve even upon reaching a happy conclusion, due to all the wasted unhappy years in the interim

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Jo Levett for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
When Izzy and Sam meet in a diner it’s love at first sight for both of them. The chemistry is there and the spark is instant. The only problem? Sam is getting married that day. This is where things started to go downhill for me. Time jumps are hard to get right and unfortunately I just don’t think Jo Levett got it. I couldn’t feel a connection between the characters like I had in the beginning and I wasn’t very invested in the book in general. I think the basic premise was fantastic and the general idea can work, it just didn’t here.

Do you believe in love at first sight? I love that question which is posed in The First Time We Met.

Honestly the book synopsis totally caught me eye on this one since Lovett is not someone I’ve read before given this is her debut novel.

Izzy never believed in love at first sight until she ran into Sam. She asked him out, only to discover it was his wedding day. Gah! Can you imagine?

But what if fate has you reconnecting with this person time and time again? Could this initial connection actually turn into something more?

I was honestly loving this book in Part one. If you’re OK with instalove, then you’ll totally fall for the meet cute between Izzy and Sam only to be just as devasted as her when she discovers he’s getting married.

The build up to this tension, disappointment and what is to come was really fantastic.

Unfortunately, everything after just went downhill for me.

Of course I anticipated time jumping in the story, but the remainder of the book was just a lot of repetition of Sam never stepping up for his kids or truly confiding in Izzy and Izzy just waffling between her choices.

The same dilemmas were discussed over and over and I honestly just started skimming to get to a new aspect of the story which never really came.

I found both characters lacking – Izzy was just willing to settle and Sam just didn’t have much of a spine.

I hung in there to get the happily ever after but that too was underwhelming.

While I think we are bound to see great books from Lovett in the future as I think she is a very good writer, this story just fell short for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc! This title was released November 10, 2020.

This book was released at such a perfect time. I am actually American and I recently moved to England to be with my British husband. The characters of this book are the same nationalities as us but reversed! It was really fun to read a dynamic that I know so well.

I am a huge fan of slow-burn romances and romances that span for years because it is never the right timing. This story was greatly satisfying in that aspect. The circumstances were believable and the yearning was excellent. Sam was so charming and Izzy was so refreshing and smart. A gorgeous pairing I was rooting for the whole time.

Overall, this was such a delight. It was advertised for fans of One Day in December and I couldn’t agree more! Plus, there was major You’ve Got Mail vibes and then there was a reference at the end that solidified it. Definitely recommend to fans of either of those and of course, contemporary romance fans!

When Izzy and Sam meet by chance it's love at first sight - at least for Izzy, even though she doesn't believe in it. However, there is a massive problem as it happens to be the day that Sam is marrying Lana. Izzy can't stop thinking about Sam, but eventually meets and marries Dominic. Years later, Sam has never forgotten Izzy - the lovely young woman who asked him for a date outside of the café where she worked on a winter's morning all those years ago. When their paths finally cross again they find out whether some obstacles are too big for true love to overcome.

A heart-warming and satisfying story, The First Time We Met was a joy to read, and I relished every moment. Izzy and Sam were both well-drawn, lovely characters and it was a pleasure to read about their respective families. Sam was so endearing and charming and Izzy was like a breath of fresh air. They made a great pairing and I was rooting for them right from the start. Jo Lovett's writing style really suited me and I loved the brand of humour she incorporated into the story. I will be looking to read more from her in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I simply loved this gorgeous, romantic book that you want to curl up with on a cold winters evening. Is there such thing as love at first sight. And if there is , surely that love should run smoothly. When a young Izzy meets handsome Sam in a coffee shop one day she believes she has met THE ONE. But this love does not run smoothly. The book follows Izzy and Sam's life over different periods of time, told from their 2 view points. A totally, loveable heartwarming book that you will love. The predictable ending but sure I'd have been disappointed with anything less. Loved it

First, I want to thank Jo Lovett, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

If you believe in fate and love then you need to read Jo Lovett’s new book The First Time We Met. This is a sweet book that will put a smile on your heart and love in your heart. You will be rooting for Sam and Izzy throughout the whole book!

WOW!! There seemed like there was a spark between Izzy and Sam! She was bold enough to ask him out. What blew my mind was he turned her down-because-he was getting married that afternoon!! My heart ached for Izzy.

Fate has brought Sam and Izzy together on and off throughout the years. Each time their connection got stronger.

I love that Izzy had such a rewarding career in Speech Pathology and really loved it.
She was able to help Sam’s son with his stutter after he was in an accident.

Jo breaks the book up into four parts.

Sam’s two kids pulled on my heart strings! They were too adorable! Sam was lucky to have them. My heart ached as they lost their mom at such a young age.

I loved the email exchanges between Sam and Izzy back and forth.

Even though Sam Izzy’s life there was another man in her life. Dominic the father of Izzy's daughter. They still have a friendship.

There was a very shocking and pleasant turn of events at the end that put a smile on my face!

A heart-warming and satisfying 'star-crossed lovers' story, this was a delight to read. I instantly fell for Sam and Izzy and felt equally invested in their stories throughout the years as well as the side characters of their kids and close friends. With a touch of Christmas in the storyline, this is a perfect cozy read for the holidays.

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book - it delivered slow-burn romance and yearning at its best and had such an interesting premise: what if you meet The One but at the wrong moment in time? I loved all the characters, they felt very real and I was rooting for all of them throughout the whole book.

I hope to see more from this author! Thanks for the butterflies. Thanks for that gorgeous scene in the rain!

I DNFed this book. .

I felt the storyline was eh. I really doubt that 6 and 7 years later that these two would still be this infatuated.

I liked the premise. Not the execution.

I just loved this book. It was exactly what I needed...right book at the right time. I think I am drawn to stories that revolve around "the one" especially when it isn't so nicely tied up in a bow. I adored the characters, there weren't any stupid miscommunications like some books tend to try to pull off and there was humor throughout that kept the mood light even in hard times. Beautifully written and I would recommend to anyone looking to find a little hope and love in their reading at the end of a very hard year. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a lovely story. It had loveable characters, who were relatable. It was easy to read, the plot was easy to follow.

Truth to be told, I am not a believer of love at first sight. Still, how can one resist a romance where fate plays a decisive role? Just as the blurb promised Izzy and Sam had a lot of hurdles to overcome. Keeping your love is not as easy as finding the one.
Izzy meets Sam for the first time on his wedding day. There is a chance meeting again after a few years and neither can forget the other. But one is a widower with twins and the other is expecting a child. Finally, after fourteen long years, our story begins. One tiny glitch though; they are both at different ends of the Atlantic.
I did love the way Lovett built up the story around both families. Sam is struggling to find a work-life balance and Izzy is still confused about her feelings towards her ex-husband. Sam's family is in shambles and sometimes I just felt that his children are being a bit hard on him. Well, the novel shows how marriage is also a union of families, smoothening the rough edges and bringing happy tears.
This is my first Jo Lovett book and I am waiting for more. Without a doubt, this one goes straight to my favourite's shelf. Highly recommended!

Perfect for fans of One Day in December! This was incredibly sweet and touching. I loved all the characters and seeing Izzy and Sam's journey back to each other. At times, I was a bit bored and I can chalk that up to the writing style. It was a bit repetitive and stilted at times and most of my dislikes have to do with the structure of the book but overall, I really enjoyed it. It was a light, quick read that definitely made my week a whole lot better!