QOTD: Do you believe in fate? Are there things that are meant to be or is life simply a series of coincidences..?

In Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis, Noelle and Sam get trapped on a snowy motorway in adjacent cars and, bonded by circumstance, they hang out there chatting together for 8 hours. When the road reopens Noelle feels kind of sad that she’ll never see Sam again… or… maybe she will..?

If you haven’t read anything by Lia Louis before and you read contemporary fiction, I’d really recommend picking one of her books up because her writing style is absolute perfection. Somehow she strikes the ideal balance between poignancy, wit and humour, creating wonderfully likeable three dimensional characters in the process.

I thought that 8 Perfect Hours had an almost magical feel, even more so, perhaps, than one of last year’s favourites, Dear Emmie Blue. It’s a gorgeous, warm and uplifting love story as well as being a novel about destiny and second chances. It was exactly the kind of book I was craving and I think it’s fair to say it’s cemented Lia Louis as an auto-buy author for me.

With thanks to Orion for gifting me a digital copy to review.

This book was written beautifully and I absolutely loved the characters. The romance and intrigue made me not want to put the book down and it was just a perfect story. This should be made into a film!

I loved this book. It’s sweet and touching and beautifully written. It’s an intelligent Rom-com that should be turned into a film. Yet it deals with serious issues of mental health sensitively and realistically. This book grabs you by the heart and touches your soul.
This writer is brilliantly talented. I’ll definitely be reading her back catalogue now.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

When Noelle and Sam spend eight hours stranded together on the motorway, they part thinking they'll never see each other again. What is fate has other plans?

I ADORED this book. I devoured it in one go on a plane and was immediately raving about it to the people I was travelling with. It's the perfect romance novel that I need to see turned into a film!

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Another great book by Lia Louis! I am a great believer in fate and this book brings that belief into focus. Sam and Noelle are wonderful characters and their overlapping lives are so heartwarming. I'm struggling to find the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book, so I'll just finish by saying I loved it!

'Eight Perfect Hours' is a sweet romance between English Noelle and American Sam, who begin to fall for each other after they coincidentally cross paths on several occasions.

The main character, Noelle, was relatable and fairly likable, always putting her family and friends before herself. Sam was also likeable (although almost too much- he seemed the direct opposite of 'evil' Ed, Noelle's ex.

I was quite surprised by the fact that the eight perfect hours were over and done with quite quickly in the book; I expected this to be the majority of the book, and to see how the characters start to fall for each other. Instead, some interesting conversation topics are discussed, they go to sleep, and then leave without exchanging contact details. Unfortunately, to me, this meant that I couldn't really connect with their romance as I didn't see the spark.

Nevertheless, this was a cute story and I will definitely try another of the author's novels.

This is a fantastic and sweet story of love, second chance love, and serendipity. I loved the chance encounters Noelle and Sam find themselves in, as well as the little connection with a secondary character that comes to light later in the book.

This story isn't just about the relationship between Noelle and Sam, but there are also some deeper themes in it. It deals wonderfully with the topics of recovery from a stroke and postnatal depression.

I loved this book and read the full thing in one sitting.

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis
Pub Date 19 August 2021
When Noelle and Sam's lives collide one snowy evening, they spend eight perfect hours stuck side by side believing that they'll never see each other again.
But soon their lives become entangled in ways they never expected - and it's going to change everything...
Eight Perfect Hours is not a typical rom-com; it also covers heartache, mental health issues and second chances. Full of good characters, some of whom face personal challenges. The author describes these troubles with consideration and delicacy. Friendship and family are the principal themes running throughout this story.
Touching and charmingly romantic.
I want to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and author Lia Lewis for a pre-publication copy to review.

Noelle Butterby finds herself stranded on a motorway during a heavy snowstorm, traffic is at a standstill. She feels lonely, emotional and panicky and to top it all there is no heating in her car and her phone needs charging. A man taps on her window after noticing her distress and offers to charge her phone. Deciding he’s not a ‘serial killer’ she agrees and stays in the warmth of his car while her phone charges. Eight hours later they each go their separate ways expecting never to see each other again. This opening scene is brilliant, the author portrayed the atmosphere, tension and slight awkwardness of these two strangers perfectly.

Eight Perfect Hours is the first novel I have read by this author and as such I was able to look at it with open eyes. I loved it from the very first chapter and devoured it in only a few days. It is essentially a romance book, but there so much more going on. There are a lot of separate side stories and it is through these stories that the side characters had their own spotlight and some serious topics are addressed; postnatal depression, anxiety, grief and depression. All handled with the utmost care by the author. The main storyline is brilliant, the way it builds up, the pieces start to come together and everything falls into place at the end. The author has very cleverly connected all the people and events. Daisy’s death and the backstory added emotional depth to the storyline and added an element of mystery. Amazingly Daisy is an essential part of the story even though she is not there.

The characters are quirky and interesting. Noel is a relatable and endearing character, she has such a sweet and caring nature and has put herself before others to the detriment of her career. She has a lot on her plate caring for her mother and is pulled into other issues with her friends and my heart went out to her.
It was wonderful seeing Sam’s and Noelle’s love story unfold and all the revelations uncovered along the way. The slow blossoming romance was lovely and I loved the fact that through a series of coincidences they constantly found their lives entwining.

I enjoyed the slightly prolonged ending and the fact the book didn’t end as soon as everything was wrapped up. Eight Perfect Hours will tug at your heartstrings, suck you into the storyline and keep you reading all night. A beautiful and heartwarming story that every romance lover needs to read. I’ll definitely be reaching for Dear Emie Blue next!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC and also a proof copy to review.

Great story, i loved the characters getting to know them, i loved their journey from meeting, everything they went through, becoming friends and getting to know each other. A perfect feel good read book, great for holiday or when you need that nice book to get away from every day realities

I have been looking forward to Lia’s second book since reading the brilliant Dear Emmie Blue when it was released. I was not disappointed! This is another will they won’t they get together romance.

Noelle spends ‘8 Perfect Hours’ in a car with a handsome stranger during a snow storm as the motorway is closed. He offers to charge her phone and they just hit it off. When the traffic starts moving again Noelle kicks herself for not asking for Sam’s phone number.

However it appears the universe and fate want them to be together as they keep meeting in the most unexpected places.

Will they ever get together? Well I was certainly willing them to!

There are plenty of secondary characters in the book, all written with strong personalities.

The author touches on difficult subjects such as anxiety and depression, death of 2 young teenagers in a car accident, suicide and post natal depression with a delicate touch so it does not get too depressing.

Noelle is the loveliest person; in her early 30’s and living with her mother who has had a stroke and is delicate and housebound. She has put her own life and dreams of being a florist on hold to care for her and never complains.

Sam is the handsome American who steals her heart but he has his own sad history.

A gorgeous story to lose yourself in. I love the author’s sense of humour which comes across in her characters, particularly Noelle.

With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy to review.

I loved reading Dear Emmie Blue and I’m pleased to say that Eight Perfect Hours is another emotional read I thoroughly enjoyed.

Noelle is having a bad day when she meets Sam, stuck in snow on the M4 after a disastrous college reunion event. They bond over cheese sandwiches and phone chargers. After eight hours it is time to say goodbye – until they keep bumping into each other again.

Will Theo be correct – are they destined to be together? Or will the past stop them both from moving forward?

A lovely story that I didn’t want to finish, as Noelle (not Gallagher) starts to put herself first whilst still caring for her family. Great characters, some facing a number of mental health challenges written with care and sensitivity. Friendship and family are important themes throughout the story, and I enjoyed how the story evolved.

Happy to recommend to readers of my book reviews looking for an emotional read.

Noelle finds herself stuck in her car in the middle of a snow blizzard with no hope of getting out anytime soon. Sam, a handsome American, finds himself stranded too so they decide to spent the time together. They have a connection and despite thinking that they will never see each other again, fate has other plans. A book of hope, love and heart warming characters.

A gorgeous story! I’m surprised I haven’t come across this author’s work before.

Noelle and Sam are strangers who find themselves stranded due to snow and, for eight hours, there is a connection but they will never see each other again – or will they?

This is the most wonderful read! I love that the blurb keeps all it’s secrets which, for me, adds to the sheer enjoyment. A very engaging story with that elusive magical quality which keeps us reading to the very end. The characters are skilfully created and the whole thing is beautifully written. A very touching tale by an immensely talented author; a tender romance where the ending is never a given, this had me hooked all the way through. Moving, tender and realistic, this is a novel I’m happy to give my highest recommendation and all five glowing stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

A very heart warming story.
Noelle meets Sam whilst trapped in a snow storm on a motorway, they hit it off straight away and once the traffic starts moving they think they will never see each other again but throughout the book they keep running into each other, is it a coincidence or are they meant to be together.
Can Noelle cope with her families problems and enjoy life herself.

A well told story with lots of sensitive subjects covered, mental health, agoraphobia, post natal depression, depression
All very sympathetically done.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed on Goodreads

“My life has started. I’m in it. It’s not something I’m waiting for anymore. I’m here. And whatever I wanted for my life, was it this?” Was it this? Was this what I wanted for myself? And what is it that I wanted? Am I still waiting?

We absolutely adore Lia Louis and once again she showed us why, in Eight Perfect Hours. It was a wonderful and emotional story of life, hope, dreams, and relationships. Of the sacrifices, we make for those we love, of pushing ourselves out of a stagnant rut, and of the risks we’re willing to take. It was a story of love and kismet. Once again, this Author wowed us with her beautiful writing, her moments of quirky fun, her strong and relatable characters, and of course a slow-building romance with angst.

“…sometimes it feels like I’m fading into the background or something, and – nobody can see me. You know? But I thought – well, I can see me…”

Noelle Butterly goes through a momentous emotional journey in Eight Perfect Hours. Her shoulders are at a point of collapse from the burdens of others, as well as the ones she’s unwittingly chosen to place upon herself. Living with perpetual guilt, unresolved relationship issues, feelings of failure, and anxiety would break the strongest of people. Yet Noelle refuses to break because who would carry her burdens?

‘…I wonder how often the pair of them think, “Noelle will sort it. Noelle will deal with it.” And I wonder what would happen if I said, “No. Noelle won’t actually. Noelle is sick of dealing with it.” But I don’t.’

At thirty-two she finds herself at a crossroads; does she continue life as she knows it? One that is so far removed from her dreams and aspirations, or does she take a leap of faith and put herself first for a change? Does she stick with what she knows, or does she take a chance on the handsome and mysterious ‘stranger’ she serendipitously keeps meeting in moments of emotional need? We fell in utter love with the wondrous notion of kismet for Noelle and Sam, and how she found a fellow broken soul who understands her, who sees her, and who doesn’t sit in judgement.

“I want you to know something,” he whispers, words barely there, his nose inches from mine. “You said nobody does but – I see you, Noelle. I do.”

We loved the premise of Eight Perfect Hours; it was so deliciously swoony it made us melt into puddles. But this wasn’t just a meant-to-be romance, it was so much more. It was about friendships, grief, family, mental health, and second chances. All weaved together in such an insightful and emotional manner, we were fully invested and captured by this feel-good romance from the first page till the last. If you haven’t experienced Lia Louis’s work yet, you really must add her to your reading list, you won’t regret it!

‘We’re living now. Because now is all there is…the only way to live forever is to leave parts of yourself behind.’

Another uplifting and heart warming novel from Lia Louis.

Noelle Butterby is in her way back from a cancelled college reunion when a snow storm leaves her stuck on the motorway for eight hours. Her unwell mum is home alone, she's had an awkward non-encounter with her ex, and her phone is out of charge. When a man in the next car offers to let her charge her phone in his car, she expects excruciating silence and a quick getaway, but instead has one of the best nights of her life. Then the motorway reopens and they go their separate ways - only to find strange twists of fate keep bringing them back together.

Noelle is a character you can't help but warm to. This is a love story which goes far beyond romance and romantic relationships - it's about being there for your friends and family when they need you, recovering from mental illness and making positive choices for the future. Eight Perfect Hours champions valuing yourself enough to live your life for you - but not at the expense of others.

But that doesn't mean the romantic plot line isn't also superbly well done - the romance of this novel sweeps you up and doesn't let go.

I loved how the idea of fate is woven throughout. Noelle and Sam's lives intersect in surprising and interesting ways, and there are plenty of almost-meetings too, which will have readers thinking about 'what-ifs' alongside Louis' characters.

Eight Perfect Hours also contains a side plot about post natal depression, which is sensitively handled and something I would love to see more of in novels. I read Eight Perfect Hours while awake for night feeds with my newborn and really appreciated the inclusion of Charlie's storyline and the realistic and helpful way in which it is portrayed.

Thank you Orion for giving me the opportunity to review Eight Perfect Hours through NetGalley.

Thank you, thank you to #NetGalley and #Orian for allowing me to read #EightPerfectHours by #LiaLouis
The best book I have read this year. Devoured it in one sitting following Noelle and Sams story after meeting one night in a snow storm traffic jam. Life affirming and joyous .
Enjoy and don’t forget the tissues. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"It's amazing how quickly an hour and a half passes when you’re having one of those conversations– the unexpected effortless kind that makes you feel as though you can't get the words out of your mouth quick enough. Ones where minutes slip into hours but seem to bring the world outside of your little bubble to a complete standstill. A flaming meteor could hit, and you wouldn’t even look up and say, 'Oh, did you feel that? That little tremor?'"

What if you fell in love... and then he disappeared?

When Noelle and Sam's lives collide one snowy evening, they spend eight perfect hours stuck side by side believing that they'll never see each other again.
But soon their lives become entangled in ways they never expected - and it's going to change everything...

Lia Louis spins absolute magic in her stories. Reading this felt as if someone lit a tiny matchstick in my heart, bathed it in a soft glow, slowly warming it and lighting up the path to paradise.

This is a captivating story about finding your one true love. Louis's characters have this sincerity about them that makes you wish you could become lifelong friends. More importantly, and this is what truly makes this book so perfect, it convinces you to believe in your dreams and rediscover your heart's purpose.

I urge you to read this because you're in for an intoxicating ride, for you'll develop an addiction more powerful than anything you've ever consumed.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Orion Books.

What a fantastic read this was. It pulled me in from the start and I didn't want it to finish.

A gorgeous love story about fate and what life throws at you. The main character is Noelle, a wannabe florist who actually works as a cleaner due to being a carer for her Mum who suffers from anxiety since having a stroke. She meets Sam during a snowstorm and instantly has a connection with him and over the coming weeks fate keeps pushing them together, at least that's what Noelle and her best friends think but does Sam feel the same? Chuck in Noelle's ex boyfriend coming back to town from America, her Mum suffering a fall, her best friend experiencing post natal depression, her wayward brother coming back home and Noelle herself still grieving for the loss of one of her close friends and she doesn't know whether she's coming or going.

This is one great mix of emotions with happy and sad moments to keep you interested.

I loved Noelle's character and felt for her so much. She was always so worried about everyone else and never put herself first. I was so pleased when things turned a corner for her. Her relationship with Sam was a bit frustrating as it was so up and down throughout most of the book but it did lead you to the most wonderful ending.

A fabulous summer read. I'd love to see another book featuring Noelle and Sam as I feel there is lots more to explore with their relationship.