3.5*

This is definitely a more finding yourself than a romance book. Which is fine.
Overall I enjoyed Noelle's story. Learning to speak for what she wants doesn't mean she can't care for her family too. Gotta have a doable balance and she got there.
I did enjoy the fated, soul mate storyline as well.

So cute and charming and the most utterly perfect christmas read. I love how unique this story was and how easy it was to fall in love with. Would recommend to anyone looking for a holiday gift to give this year! Review goes up on my blog in December :)

This is a fun romantic holiday read that totally gets you in the winter mood. However it's not simply a fluffy romance, this story deals with tough topics like anxiety and panic attacks. Post-partum is also mentioned, and is done so in such a real and effective manner. At times I felt the writing difficult to get into, but over all I liked the story. 3.5 stars

Upon finishing 𝙀𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 I find myself torn. I loved every page, every paragraph of this book and am ready to crown it the “most perfect romance novel of all time” and simultaneously l am so sad I will never get to experience it for the first time again. It was an absolute joy to get lost in the pages of this book and I couldn’t wait to find out if it had the happy ending I so desperately wanted for these characters but I enjoyed getting to know them so much I also didn’t want it to end.

Sam and Noelle meet on a snowy evening when the motorway is shutdown due to a blizzard causing their cars to be stranded for hours while they wait for the road to reopen. Right from that very first night, those eight perfect hours, I found myself rooting for them. Their connection is instant, the conversation flows easily and the chemistry is undeniable.

The Chinese proverb quoted at the beginning of the book couldn’t be a more perfect fit. Lia Louis did an absolutely fantastic job, the storytelling is beautiful and the supporting characters add so many layers to the story. Some of the twist I saw coming and others came as a complete surprise but looking back the author clearly left little breadcrumbs throughout and you really do see how that red thread connected our main characters.

Noelle is such a sweet, warm and loving person. We see how deeply she cares for her mother, her friends and everyone around her. I wanted so badly to tell her “sometimes it is OK to be a little selfish and want the same happiness you wish for others for yourself”. While this book is classified as women’s fiction the love story and Noelles relationship woes play a big part of the book but there is a prevalent sense of loss throughout. I thought this was really well done and in a very hopeful way that paid tribute to the characters lost. The premise of this book is everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be, will be. Reading it all come together it really made sense why each chance encounter Noelle and Sam had played such an important role in the story.

While it may sound like a simple romance this book also addresses mental health, grief (TW: suicide, automotive accident), relationship issues (cheating) and caregiving. I thought the balance of romance intertwined with these issues was done beautifully and really made the characters real and relatable. This book is light and easy to read, yet deals with a lot serious topics in a very respectful way that truly opens the door to some important conversations. I think this would be a wonderful book club pick and this book has put Lia Louis in the auto buy column for me, her writing and storytelling just draws you in.

Thank you to Lia Louis, Simon & Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The light romance I needed! I read this in two sittings. It had characters I cheered for the whole time, a perfect balance of a natural relationship building and fate bringing people together. The ending was the perfect wrap-up to a heartwarming story.
Even though the cover looks Christmas-y, this is not a Christmas book and I wouldn't even consider it seasonal. If you are avoiding it for that reason, you should pick this up!

The cover is slightly deceiving because I thought this was a Christmas story, and also thought that the whole would would be mostly about the eight hours from the title.

I was pleasantly surprised with a story about fate, loss, and love. Noelle and Sam keep having chance encounters but could it be something more pulling them together? Highly recommend this book to everyone. I haven't read anything else by this author but will definitely be on the look out for more!

Lia Louis has officially slotted herself on the top of the AUTO BUY author list. This is only the second book of hers I've read, but I would read an instruction manual if she wrote one. Dear Emmie Blue was easily one of my favourite reads from last year, so Eight Perfect Hours was HIGHLY anticipated and I think it somehow exceeded expectations. Everything about it was perfect. EVERYTHING.

Get ready to roll your eyes, because I'm just going to absolutely swoon about this book. It was perfection. What more can I really say about it? I simply loved Noelle and how honest and real she was. Sam is also now my book boyfriend, I call dibs. I just loved their chemistry. I am a huge believer in fate and everything happens for a reason and this entire book is based around that theory and I couldn't have asked for more. While this book brought me every bit of swoon-y, full of excellent dialogue romance, I also couldn't get enough of all of the supporting characters and the beautiful character development for both Noelle and Sam as individuals. Lia Louis is a genius when it comes to tugging on all of your heartstrings, leaving you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what happens in the rest of the story. I absolutely loved the extra elements to this story, the surprises and twists this story took to add another dimension to an already perfect rom-com. Just go read this book. Now.

Stuck on the highway in a blizzard, Noelle's phone has died. Sam, a cutie trapped in a near-by car, saves the day by letting her use his phone charger. Sitting in his car for hours while her phone charges, Noelle has the best day ever. When they part, they don't exchange phone numbers and Noelle is devastated. But is it fate or coincidence when they keep running into each other after the blizzard?

I couldn't not read this book after falling head over heels with Lia Louis' novel Dear Emmie Blue and with a Boyz II Men reference in the first few chapters, this book was off to a great start!

I don't think Noelle would have wanted me to feel sorry for her but I felt such sadness around her. Noelle constantly prioritized everyone else's needs over her own. I wanted her so badly to choose herself and put herself first.

I struggle with the idea of "fate" so after all of the coincidental run-ins with Sam, the story was creeping into eye-rolling territory for me but I have to admit that once I finished the book, I understood why each encounter was important and relevant to the story.

I always enjoy romance novels that are about more than just a love story. I appreciated that this story focused on Noelle's romantic relationships but also her relationships with herself, her family and her career. I really loved seeing how this story came together in the end but there was one big problem....I didn't cry! And I love a great big fat, messy cry!

This cute, Christmas/Winter Wonderland contemporary romance is the perfect book to read curled up surrounded by fluffy blankets and a roaring fire. I will definitely be getting a physical copy for Christmas.
Rating: 4/5 stars

We start by meeting Noelle who's entire life is on pause due to caring for her mother, while also dealing with her now ex-boyfriend no longer being in her life. Then we meet Sam, the classic all-good American stranger who can't help his hero complex and rescues Noelle from her unfortunate, stranded fate. From there we continue to see that these two run into each other at what seems like every corner, and watch their love grow and bloom into something sickenly sweet, but oh so beautiful.

Honestly you can't help but love this book. This is my first Lia Louis book but it definitely will not be my last. After being in a bit of a reading slump, this lighthearted easy romance read was the perfect pick-me-up. The only reason it is not 5 stars is because all the romance happens behind closed doors, which given the vibe of this book, I completely understand... albeit begrudgingly. The love these two characters have really shines through, Lia Louis's writing style is beautifully flawless and the plot is somewhat predictable yet still fresh.

I honestly wouldn't change a thing about this book and I can't wait to see what this author has in store for future books.

Eight Perfect Hours is a perfect read! A chance meeting in a blizzard proves to be the impetus that Noelle and Sam need to move forward with their lives. Once strangers, they seem destined to run into each other until both start to believe their encounters are meant to be. Dealing with the pain and trauma of loss from their past, they finally find a way to live the life they really want.

4.5/5 stars

I adored Dear Emmie Blue. So I was beyond excited to get to read Eight Perfect Hours.

Even though the cover looks wintery this is not a Christmas or holiday book. There is one snow storm though (so that is what the cover is about).

This book started slow for me. I went into this book thinking that it was a holiday book and thinking that it was a contemporary romance. At 30% I went to look up the genre (it's women's fiction) and that honestly changed everything for me. From that point on, thinking of this story as women's fiction...I adored it.

The narrator of this book is 32 year old Noelle (1st person POV). The story takes place in the UK.

Noelle cleans houses/offices. But her passion is to make stunning floral arrangements.

The book focuses on something that happened 15 years before with her best friend Daisy. The book also focuses a lot on her mom (who does not like to leave the house) and her former love Ed.

I like reading about fate. And I really connected to that part of the story. This was a really beautiful book that touched me.

“You said nobody does but—I see you, Noelle. I do.”

What You’ll Find:
✔️Women’s Fiction
✔️Meet By Chance
✔️Stranded
✔️Fate/Serendipity
✔️Single POV

Eight Perfect Hours tells the story of Noelle and Sam who meet by chance while stranded on a highway during a blizzard. 8 hours later, when the road clears, they part ways and expect to never see each other again. But fate seems to change all that.

The blurb excited me, the plot a great one, but unfortunately this fell flat for me. There was nothing that really pulled me in to this story. The twists were pretty predictable. And I didn’t like how it would jump from past to present inside the same paragraph. It felt a little dysfunctional for me. And not really romantic.

That said, what kept me reading was my love for Sam. All my (three) stars go to him. I was so intrigued by him and I wanted more. Including his POV. I rooted for them in the end, they did have some chemistry, but I mostly just wanted them together because I felt like Ed was such a toad (iykyk). And he wasn’t the only one.

A good read perhaps if your looking for a story about finding yourself with a small side of romance. So many have loved this one, so it could be perfect for you!

*Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

It was such a lovely story. I expected it to be sappy, and ridiculous... but I was pleasantly surprised.

The characters were likeable, and I really enjoyed how spontaneous/serendipitous their meetings seemed to be after their eight perfect hours spent in the middle of a snow storm.

It was a sweet, happy little romance, and I was quite pleased to have been proven wrong from my initial impression!

Eight Perfect Hours gave me a perfect glimpse into the upcoming winter months and got me excited for the winter holidays. Eight Perfect Hours was such a cute read and had me all warm and fuzzy, unlike the 2 main characters who met in a snowstorm. During a terrible storm, Noelle and Sam meet while stuck on the freeway due to unforeseen road conditions. Noelle is stranded in an old car with no heat and no working phone charger. Sam offers to charge Noelle’s phone and lets her wait in his car providing her with warmth and a full battery. While waiting in Sam’s car, they begin to get to know one another, and Noelle feels like meeting Sam was destiny. They spend eight wonderful hours together and when the freeway finally opens up, Noelle doesn’t want to leave Sam. Sam heads to the airport and Noelle thinks they will always remain strangers. Fast forward to a few months later and Noelle unexpectedly runs into Sam once again. Not only did they have an unexpected run in, but she also ends up working for his father as a house cleaner. Noelle feels that she and Sam are destined to be in each other’s lives after being pushed together multiple times. This story explores family connection, family support, missed connections and personal growth. I thought this story was so beautifully written, as a hopeless romantic this book made me so happy and warm. I truly feel Noelle and Sam were destined to be together in this book, and it reminded me of true love and fate. On a surface level, this book seems to be a cute love story, but it has so much more depth and I think the author did such a wonderful job exploring these other aspects. Putting yourself first, can be daunting at times, but it takes Noelle a long time to learn that doing so makes you self-aware and not selfish. Watching Noelle grow throughout this book and seeing her go after what she wants made this book such a beautiful read.

Although this was a cute story and I did quite enjoy the family dynamic, it was so predictable, and that took away from the story. I had high hopes and wanted to love this, but I shouldn't have hyped it up so much in my head. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Atria Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Ahhhh I need to give this book a big hug. It hooked me immediately and it will stay on my mind for quite some time. Lia Louis has a gift for taking readers on quite a ride of character struggles and development with a happy ending in sight but not guaranteed without some ups and downs.

Noelle and Sam meet in an unusual circumstance - both are stranded on a motorway during an unexpected March snowstorm. Noelle needs to charge her phone to get in touch with her mother, who is not used to being alone, and Sam offers the warmth of his newer (rental) car and charger. 8 hours pass in which they talk and get to know each other and they part ways. without any plans to keep in touch. Life goes on and they meet again in unlikely ways. Some of the kismet of this story feels a bit unrealistic but I was totally there for it - that's what fiction is for!!!!

All of the characters were so heartwarming and they feel like friends of mine. Lia Louis' writing is incredible - the way she describes certain situations and feelings feels unparalleled to me and I teared up several times reading this book. There are some tricky issues that happen in this story and a bit of a love triangle situation that I didn't love but did understand the way it was portraryed. Overall, this wasbeautiful story of fate and finding oneself and learning to live life after loss and what that looks like. (Also, an important note that this is NOT a Christmas book despite what the cover portrays).

Here is just one snippet of the magnificent writing:

“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?

I'm a sucker for a book with fate/romance/meet cutes/character grows up and changes and discovers what they want out of life similar to Mhairi McFarlane's books (this one did remind me a LOT of Just Last Night in some ways including an Ed LOL). so if you enjoy that type of book as well, I definitely think you should read this one and tell me what you think of Sam and Noelle and Charlie and Theo and Frank and Dilly. :)

This book was absolutely adorable. I loved the fact that there was so many coincidences between the two characters lives. It was a bit slow in the beginning but, when it picked up it went by so fast. This book was definitely a quick read and I would recommend it to people who are looking for a fluffy rom-com.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. I’ve never believed in the theory that everyone has a soulmate, but author Lia Louis does a wonderful job in Eight Perfect Hours creating a story that has me willingly suspending my disbelief and cheering for Noelle Butterby and Sam Attwood to find their well deserved happily ever after.
When Noelle is stranded on the freeway during a blizzard alone in her car with no food or drink and a dying cellphone with a broken charger, things look pretty dark until the handsome American in the next vehicle knocks on her window and offers to help her charge her phone. They spend the next eight hours together, and it’s one of those magical moments out of time where someone seems to understand you truly. They part with Sam on his way back to the United States and Noelle back to her life, never expecting to see each other again. However, fate has taken a hand, and a series of chance meetings have them wondering what if. Sam inspires Noelle to step out of the safe, staid life that has her feeling trapped, and she gives him somewhere to come home to. This is one of those books that will have you reading long past your bedtime, worth the exhaustion, you’ll feel the next day because you simply had to know what happens next. Steam Level: Very Light. Publishing Date: September 28, 2021. #EightPerfectHours #LiaLouis #SimonAndSchusterCanada #AtriaBooks #EmilyBestlerBooks #ContemporaryRomance #ContemporaryRomanceReader #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #RomanceReader

After reading and loving Dear Emmie Blue, I was eagerly awaiting the next book by Lia Louis. Eight Perfect Hours was everything that I had hoped it would be. It is serendipity at its finest!

I adore stories about chance encounters, and this one certainly hit all of the marks. I loved how Noelle and Sam met. The whole situation was completely out of their control, and yet they were there together, meeting and spending the evening in each other’s company. Even though their time together was fleeting, there just seemed to be something at play, something more between them. Noelle felt something for Sam, something beyond just a fun night with a stranger, but she also knew that the probability of her ever seeing him again was very low.

When Noelle and Sam end up running into each other at various times and places, she can’t help but believe that Sam is somehow supposed to be in her life. She believes that it must be fate. I believed it too. I kept waiting on pins and needles for them to meet again, to witness their interactions, to simply luxuriate in the belief of something more.

Lia Louis has created normal characters, each dealing with their own issues, heartaches, and relationship woes. It was so easy to be swept up in their story, into their flawed, realistic, relatable lives. I experienced and felt everything right alongside them. I just felt so much while I was reading this book. There was plenty of tension, anticipation, and build up in this story. It made my heart beat a little faster and the butterflies flutter in my stomach. I laughed, I cried, held my breath, and I fell in love.

I wanted to put up a Do Not Disturb sign, curl up with this book, and completely immerse myself in this story. I wanted nothing more than to read this book nonstop, but I didn’t want it to come to an end. I wanted to savor every moment that I had left with Noelle and Sam.

Eight Perfect Hours is a special, charming, delightful novel. It is brimming with serendipitous moments that melted my heart and had a few twists and reveals that I didn’t see coming. I just wish that I could read it all over again for the first time.

Eight Perfect Hours will definitely be gracing my list of favorite books of 2021. I’m already looking forward to this author’s next novel!

*5 Stars

I judged a book by its cover on this one and thought I was about to read a holiday romance – this was not that. And I was not disappointed. Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis, the author of Dear Emmie Blue, is a story about loss and connection with fate woven throughout.

As the jacket cover explains, if I’d read it properly, this story starts in March, during a freak snowstorm. Noelle is stuck on the highway as the roads closed – her phone is dead, she’s cold and hungry – and then American Sam taps on her window. After 8 hours together, both go their separate ways, never expecting to see each other again – but fate has a different plan for them.

This book is classified as women’s fiction and the undertone of loss is prevalent, but the story is hopeful. I was engrossed in the stories of Sam and Noelle, wondering when fate would intervene on their behalf. I was frustrated for them when there were set backs, and I was happy for them too – I enjoyed spending time in this book with these characters.

If you’re looking for a book that has depth to it, but light enough to read in one sitting – this is for you. Thanks so much to @netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I also picked this book up for a group read with @thechicklitbookclub but read it a bit early (I’m looking forward to chatting about this one!)

Eight Perfect Hours comes out this week on September 28 – will you be reading it??