What a sweet, slow burn romance! When Izzy met Sam she knew he was The One. Only tiny problem was... Sam was getting married that very same day. Many years later, they get in touch again.

I loved both main characters, Sam and Izzy. What I enjoyed the most was reading their emails and how they got to know each other properly.

Perfect for fans of slow romance and cute characters.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

I loved the idea of this book as it sounded such a great story.
Sam and Izzy met on his wedding day and both felt an instant spark and connection. The book spans 14 or so years of their missed moments and Miscommunications. A good read

I really enjoyed this story, which centers around the idea of meeting The One, but on his wedding day. This is a lovely story for readers who are longing for a fairytale within contemporary real-life situations. If you enjoy romantic comedies with heart between an American and a Brit, get it on your TBR pile!

I don't really know what to think of this book! The blurb sounded really interesting and made me want to read this book asap, but I didn't connect to the story or the characters. I didn't feel any chemistry between Sam and Izzy and their relationship didn't seem realistic, especially with these big time jumps. And the fact that they mostly exchanged via email and only saw each other in person a few times didn't help either. This was an insta-love and slow-paced romance, but Sam and Izzy's relationship wasn't very developed.

The storyline looked so promising. The premise was done nicely as well. The meet-cute was utterly lovey-dovey type straight out of a movie scene. It happened at a cafe while Izzy was having her worst day at work, her boss and customers were all being mean and then there comes a customer with an American accent and polite approach, add in some good looks and Izzy falls hard for him. Only to discover he's getting married on the very same day.

The reasons why the book didn't work for me as well as I hoped for is because of the multiple leaps. The meet-cute at the cafe is soon moved forward by an eleven month jump, followed by a meaningful conversation one afternoon six years later and finally the high-jump of 14 years.
I's over 14 years of their meet-cute when a widower Sam and a separated Izzy reconnect again. It just didn't sit well with me that two people who spent an insignificant amount of time over a cup of coffee, living oceans apart with zero contact over a decade would even have a connection.
Overall, the characters were not bad, they are focused on their respective careers and family. Izzy was a determined and strong character. While Sam was yet another delight, an adorable character, especially his doting parent role towards his kids. I admired the representation of single parents. The characterization was also splendidly done, they had flaws but still turned out to be likeable and relatable characters.

The problem is the way the story went. They only corresponded through emails while I'm always up for online romance, their conversations just wasn't clicking.Even when they actually meet in person, things just didn't seem to have any sparks. the huge time leaps and limited interaction between the leading characters spoiled the romance which could've been heartwarming, passionate, slow burn kind.
The ending was happy in case that's what you're wondering and I'm glad they both found happiness. I really adored the ending as well as the epilogue. Everything was sorted, truly a satisfactory ending. Positive ending can overshadow any problems
All more I can say is that, this book will work out for you if you are a hopeless romantic and don't mind some dreamy, fanciful story.

'The First Time We Met' is a sweet second chance love story. We met Izzy and Sam and they knew each other was The One the day of Sam wedding :( After that day Izzy couldn't stop thinking about Sam and how unlucky it was. However, she overcame of it since she believes forever love isn't real.
Through the book we catch glimpses of each other lives at different epochs and how they re-encountered each other but always it seemed wrong. After more of decade of their first encounter is when the story start to developed their relationship and the issues they have to battle to be together!!

This book was so easy to read and from the beginning you really root for Sam and Izzy!! It remained me of 'Love, Rosie' of Cecilia Ahern too if you enjoyed it this book is for you!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book an ARC of this book. All though and opinions are my own. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture.

The First Time We Met is a story about finding the right person at the wrong time and how the universe sometimes fights for souls to be together. In a Hallmark movie kind of way.

It’s December in the UK and Izzy, a twenty-something speech therapist, is working her Saturday shift at a café dressed in a Christmas elf costume when Sam shows up to order breakfast and it’s love at first sight. She knows he’s The One. So when he leaves the café, she follows him and asks him out, because that’s what you do when you find The One. The catch? Turns out it’s Sam’s wedding day. Yikes.

Fast forward 11 months. Izzy has been comparing every man to Sam since she met him and fantasizing with running into him. Until she does. And he seems to recognize her when their eyes meet from across the street, but then he turns around. That’s when Izzy decides to forget about him and become a new woman.

Fast forward another 6 years. Izzy is now 8 months pregnant when she runs into Sam. Turns out he remembers her and agrees to join her for a coffee. They talk for hours and she learns that Sam is widowed with twins.

Fast forward another 7 years. Izzy is now separated and still living in the UK when she receives an email from Sam, telling her that he’s now living in New York and has hunted down her email address because he needs a speech therapist’s help for one of his kids and has run out of options. And it’s all kinda slow and predictable from then on.

The characters were fine, but mostly one-dimensional and cookie-cutter. I appreciated the fact that the kids were included in the whole story, I actually really liked Ruby and Barney, but I couldn’t stand Liv. She’s portrayed as an overly entitled, self-absorbed teenage girl, when she could’ve been a much more interesting character if given more depth.

Basically, I loved the concept for this but the execution was too Hallmark movie for me. It was cute but forgettable.

I loved this book...I mean, truthfully, It’s all i can seem to think about since i finished.

Both leads in this book were relatable and charismatic and I cant wait to reread so I can delve into their thoughts once more.

The cover of this book reminded me of One Day in December by Josie Silver, which I absolutely loved. So that's how I clicked the request button NetGalley!
This is such a quick, heartfelt read. It was written very well, which made that I flew through the book. The story is also told through the POV's of both Sam and Izzy, which gives an extra insight into the story. I think the book also consists of some sensitive topics, which are handled pretty well, in my opinion.
I think the characters in this book were all likeable and recognizeable.
The book consists of some major time jumps, but it didn't really bother me. I was really invested in the life stories of all the characters and couldn't stop reading.
Overall, you can see that I really loved this book!

A song I associate with this book is Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

I was not familiar with Jo Lovett or any of her previous books but was excited when I read the summary for The First Time We Met. This is a great fun book that didn't take too long to read and was a great distraction from current events.

I am not sure I have ever read a book that made me feel like I was watching a movie. I am not quite sure how to even explain this sensation. The entire time I was reading, I kept thinking this is like one of the love stories that were especially popular in the 90's. This isn't a bad thing at all so I don't want that to be assumed. It reminded me of Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail.

This is a story about a woman who meets Her One on his wedding day. He wasn't marrying her and that is where the problem is. It was a great story that was very enjoyable. The only big issue that I had with the story is that Sam's teenage daughter who was so against her dad and Izzy being interested in each other so suddenly and quickly was all for her dad pursuing Izzy. This is the reason that I gave the story 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have just this second finished ‘The first time we met’ and have to say that I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would when I started.... The first chapter is very unrealistic and the second chapter again a little unbelievable, fast forward to present day and the book gets going!

I just adored Izzy, she is such a selfless individual and you just route for her and Sam throughout the book... I mean what would you do if you were in love with someone who was on the other side of the world!

I liked how the story touches on the importance of work/life balance and the impact this can have on family life..

This is a real treat, a lovely easy read and one which I will recommend my friends to read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this book!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in two days. Could not put it down! Izzy and Sam's story is exactly the kind of romance you want to be swept up and away in. The emotions are so real—the romance so beautiful and not at all wishy-washy in a way that you could sometimes expect from a love-at-first-sight story. No, the characters and their backstories are so multidimensional and based on very real emotions, and I soaked up every. single. second.

This is the kind of romance I want to read every day of my life. Can't wait to buy the book for my shelf!

This could have been a very cliched read but instead I found it to be very warm and heartwarming with two great figures in Izzy and Sam. Izzy is a very positive figure, not without day to day stresses but a naturally lovely person with great supportive friends, Sam is incredibly well meaning but lost and confused. The initial meetings between them fizzed and the reason they reconnected very feasible, the contact was uplifting and their story progressed really well. This is a lovely gem of a book.

Such a cute and fun read! Perfect distraction in life right now. Really enjoyable characters and story and hard to put down! Like a warm hug!

Sweet and escapist, just what the pandemic needs! A recommended purchase for collections where contemporary romance is popular.

This is more of a love story than a romance. It is veryyyy slow burn and don't look to this one for any steam, there isn't any. But it is sweet, and real, and grounded in real life. I liked it!

I have a real affinity for holiday season romances, and this one really hit the spot. Izzy and Sam first met one Christmas season, when elf costume-wearing Izzy works at a greasy spoon and serves swoony Sam his breakfast. Izzy feels drawn to him, an invisible link pulling them together - it's so strong that she bites the bullet and asks him out, only to find out it's the morning of his wedding. Chance meetings follow as the years pass, until life brings them together in unexpected ways. But could that possibility of romance ever become more than hypothetical?
I love when a story is told over a course of several years, alternating between two points-of-view and incorporating texts/emails etc. So already this book had my seal of approval - although the most implausible thing about the book is just how dreamy-perfect Sam is.
This is a really charming story made for holiday reading.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It seems that Izzy doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but then Sam walks into the cafe where she works one winter’s morning, and she knows without a doubt that he’s the one. Her hopes are dashed as, unfortunately it’s Sam’s wedding day.

So, Izzy and Sam’s paths finally cross again, and it appears everything has changed. But what’s not, is that neither of them has forgotten each other.

They have the Atlantic Ocean, a load of baggage between them, yet, they are about to find out if some obstacles are too big, that even true love can’t overcome.

The book focuses on how two people that are soulmates, destiny will bring them together at some point.

I felt the story was well written with chapters flipping of Izzy and Sam.

There was decent humour and a good plot.

I wanted to like this book so much. I am almost always a fan of fun, fluffy, romantic comedy type books,and being set in London is an extra plus, but this one just didn't do it for me.

The novel starts out with an interesting idea-What if you meet The One, but The Ones is already taken? Izzy meets Sam randomly, and the sparks fly instantly. She asks him out only to discover he's getting married that very day. This concept is so intriguing, and really had so much potential. Unfortunately, that potential never really got off the ground. What follows is a series of "problems" faced by the potential couple that I felt were forced and trite. The supposed huge obstacles to getting together just never felt realistic.

I also had problems with the writing. It felt stiff and overly formal, and, just from a nitpicky perspective, it irritated me that Sam spoke/thought like he was British as an American. That, to me, speaks of poor research on the part of the author.