What a sweet and delightful novel this is. Noelle and Sam meet in a stroke of luck for eight hours while their cars are next to each other in a blizzard. She figures she will never see him again since he lives far away in Oregon. But they they keep running into each other again and again in the most unusual moments.

This beautiful story is a novel about coming home to oneself and the people who support and encourage us along the way. It's about regrets, about visible and invisible connections we have with people in ways we don't always understand.

It's about family and supporting each other and sacrifice. And of course it's about love.

I loved the time I spent with this sweet story.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Noelle Butterfly is on her way home from a class reunion when a blizzard halts all traffic, leaving motorists stranded until roads reopen. Noelle finds herself with no food, water or cell phone as her battery dies. She needs to let her mother who's recovering from a stroke know that she'll be late. A knock on her car window jars her out of her pity-fest and she's stunned by the man peering through her window. Sam Attwood is stranded in the car next to her and notices her distress so he offers to let her sit in his car while her phone battery charges. What starts off as a kind deed by a stranger turns into an eight hour marathon during which time Sam and Noelle talk, laugh and connect in once in a lifetime way. However, after eight perfect hours, the roads open and they each go on their own way without exchanging contact information. Both can't help but think and wonder about the other as time passes. Until one day at the hospital, fate throws them together again. And later on . . . yet again. Is fate trying to tell them something?

Eight Perfect Hours is a sweet, heartwarming romance that begins with Noelle's disappointment at not recovering an old camera from the time capsule at the reunion in order to recover some lost pictures of her best friend who died in a car crash the night the time capsule was buried and ends having come full circle back to the buried camera, film and pictures. The journey getting to the end is Noelle and Sam's individual stories as they maneuver life, dealing with some baggage weighing them down until the time they can come together as two strong, healed individuals. While this story is light and at times cute, deeper themes are woven into the fabric of the plot line - issues like elderly parental care, loss, grief, guilt and believing in oneself and forever. These characters must come full circle to find their purpose and potential, and Louis's characterizations bring them there. Whether you believe in fate or not, believe in forever or not, I believe there's something in life that binds everyone to the tapestry of life . . . be it the invisible red thread or something else. Highly recommended to fans of romance.

I loved the idea of this book and how the 2 main characters kept appearing in each other's lives after being stranded for 8 hours in the snow. Finally, a more believable rom-com even if it was predictable in some spots. Well written and a good plot. Very enjoyable.

Recommended for people who like a good rom-com.

Thanks to Netgalley, Lia Louis and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/28/21

Another excellent book from Lia and I'm looking forward to more from her in the future.

The main characters meet during a snowstorm and spend the next 8 hours together stranded on the motorway. Their lives take some twists and turns before they meet up again.

I love Lia's writing style and bonus that the book takes place in England. The plot is interesting and unique which makes the book hard to put down.

Thanks for the chance to read and review.

Eight Perfect Hours belongs on librarian’s lists of recommendable “clean” romance books. Noelle spends “eight perfect hours” with a stranger who subsequently shows up again and again in her life. The book is well-written and the characters are well done. It explores the idea of fated relationships in light of the theme of sacrificing in order to care for others in one’s life. It’s an enjoyable, though predictable enough so as not to be compelling..

This is a perfect sit by the fire, drink something hot, pull on a cozy sweater or blanket read. It will keep you turning the page wanting to know what happens next. There is nothing better than a love story in the snow.

CW: depression, caregiver fatigue, death, grief, sickness, postpartum depression.

Noelle Butterby is stranded on a motorway during a sudden and unexpected snowstorm. She meets Sam, an American, who is also stranded and they go on to share eight hours together while waiting for the storm to pass and the roads to reopen. In Noelle's mind, these eight hours with Sam are practically perfect. She feels a connection between them and is sure that they could keep in touch... until Same leaves without asking for any contact info or suggesting they stay in contact. Disappointed, but not defeated, Noelle moves on with her life, although she never quite gets Sam out of her head.

And then she sees him again. He's come back to England to visit his ailing father. And as it turns out, through many opportunities of fate(?) destiny(?) coincidence(?) Noelle and Sam continue to run into each other without any logical explanation. Their paths cross in the most unexpected ways and yet they seem to be unexplainably connected.

While I really loved this book, I would classify it more as women's fiction than romance. There wasn't truly a lot of interaction and relationship building between the MC's, but more so self-discovery and internal battles fought by each. If you're looking for a slow-burn, open door, steamy romance - this is not it. If you're looking for a book that takes an honest look at mental health, at the ways we can (and do) outgrow relationships, at the ever evolving grief process, and at the relatable hope of finding someone who loves you because of your uniqueness not in spite of it, you must read Eight Perfect Hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Our main character, Noelle Butterby, has just left her college reunion heartbroken and now she’s stranded in a snowstorm on the roadway. Her older car is unreliable, and she can’t charge her phone. A handsome stranger in a nearby car comes to the rescue and the two spend “eight perfect hours” together talking and connecting. Then the road finally clears up and they go their separate ways.

Then fate steps in (or is it coincidence?) and the two meet again at the hospital. I really enjoyed this romantic story of Noelle and Sam although it took a while for this one to really get going for me. I thought it took several realistic turns. It did make me think more about fate, love at first sight, etc. and whether you are meant to be with someone.

There are some deeper issues here too, grief and loss and caring for parents. This one was more than a romantic story, so I appreciated the character development. I really grew to like Noelle! I rooted for Noelle and Sam to be together, but I wasn’t sure it would turn out for them.

I really enjoyed this author’s previous book, so I’m putting her on my keeper list.

In this absolutely charming rom-com, Noelle Butterby, finds herself in a Serendipity-ish situation with American Sam, whose father lives in England. Noelle ends up stranded on the motorway, and ends up sharing a car with Sam for 8ish hours while stranded. After their 8 hours, she continues to think about Sam, but of course, he lives thousands of miles away on a different continent.

However, fate has a different plan, and as Noelle continues on with her life, that little thread that supposedly pulls two people together has a way of bringing Sam and Noelle's memories back together.

This was the most perfect follow-up to Dear Emmie Blue, which to me, was much more than just a rom-com. There was depth and history and regret and immense sadness paralleled with immense happiness. I had high hopes for this one, and I was NOT disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.

I had not previously read anything by this author, but I will now! This was a delightful book. I appreciated the realistic way in which the main character grapples with the day-to-day. There were several storylines and I would have liked a bit more background on the Charlie/Theo story, but it didn’t diminish the main storyline of Noelle’s journey to both heal and realize her goals. The beginning of the story led me to compare this book to Bridget Jones’s Diary, but it definitely turned into something deeper, and i enjoyed it. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. My opinion is my own.

This one felt a little too sweet/Hallmark movie for my taste. The concept sounded very intriguing, but I realized 15% in that the book would not work for me. DNF

Very sweet novel. I will definitely recommend to others. Approaches the topics of grief and loss with sincerity.

The fun, kisnet romance full of coincidences that bring Noelle and Sam together. If you love Hallmark movies and sweet romances, this is the book for you. This quick read will give you a break from the summer heat as you revel in the blizzards of winter. Sam and Noelle become stranded on the the motorway during this blizzard and romance begins. Check out this sweet, cheerful love story for your next quick read.

Eight Perfect Hours is a stupendous read. The romance is sweet and the discussion of mental health is thoughtful and insightful

Eight Perfect Hours is a wonderfully written book that draws the reader in immediately to Noelle. She is immensely likeable, as is Sam - the yin to Noelle's yang.
If you could believe Kevin Costner's movie "Field of Dreams" - you can readily believe this wonderful, heartwarming, endearing, romantic comedy that has many twists of fate wrapped in it.

Thank you to #atriabooks and #netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel for an honest review.

Life is full of love and loss. It changes in an instant. Can a tragic loss set destiny in motion? Find out in this riveting novel by Lia Louis.
Noelle Butterby loses her friend Daisy in a tragic accident. The friends daydreamed and predicted what their futures would be like. Did Noelle have an exciting future without Daisy or just a mundane existence? On the way back from a college reunion event, Noelle meets Sam and they spend Eight Perfect Hours Together. The strangers open up to each other in ways that they cannot with others and part questioning the state of their lives. Periodically, they meet again as life moves on. Is it coincidence? Is it destiny? This is the perfect novel for those who believe in the power of friendship, dedication to family, and love to shape life with a little help from destiny. This stunning novel will be available for purchase on September 28, 2021

3.5 Stars

A lot of coincidences leads to serendipitiy for Noelle and Sam!

If you're in the mood for a fluffy Hallmark type romance, you will surely hit it off with this cheerful read.

Chance encounters and a freak of nature blizzard help to drive the hand of fate. Who doesn't want to meet their handsome soul mate on a snowy highway?

An easy summer read, although a bit contrived. I wanted to love it more, but was frustrated by some of the characters actions and I can't say I felt the sparks.

A will they won't they of just the passage of time. A great story with great characters just trying to find themselves and one another.

This is a case where I was charmed by the cover and the premise of the book, but the execution didn't work for me. I think possibly a case of expectations vs. reality. In a book titled Eight Perfect Hours - I expected some sort of connection to form in the Eight Perfect Hours. I expected some insight into what made Noelle so smitten with Sam. Some dialogue. Some chemistry. But instead it delivered a couple of cute snippets and then fast forwarded on me.

This is definitely more Women's Fiction than romance, which may be part of the problem for my romance-loving heart. The pace is very, very slow and I didn't have the patience to learn all the ins and outs of Noelle's life without also feeling the chemistry and excitement of a new relationship. I found myself skimming through most of the chapters that came after the snowstorm, and then still unsatisfied by the encounters between Noelle and Sam after that. In the end, this one left me frustrated and impatient and I put it down for good at 30%.

I do sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Obviously my opinion is a minority one, but in the end this wasn't the book I had hoped it would be and it didn't wind up working for me at all.

I knew from the start that Eight Perfect wasn't your typical romantic comedy. Noelle Butterby finds her self trapped in a blizzard on her way home from a horrible college reunion. Her late best friend's camera was missing and her last letter to Noelle left her blubbering like a baby. Next, Noelle's phone is on its last bit of charge and her quirky car charger is dead. News reports state that the March blizzard has shut down the roads and a state of emergency is declared. Enter American rock-climber Sam who offers his warm rental car and delightful, handsome company. Noelle spends the next eight hours enjoying intelligent, entertaining conversation, a compassionate ear and a brief escape from her worrisome life. The roads finally clear after eight hours and Noelle returns to her car with no way to contact the man who gave her the best night of her life. Noelle returns to her unexciting life caring for her aging mother, covering for her deadbeat brother, cleaning houses and office building and avoiding her ex-boyfriend. A freak accident lands her mother in the hospital adding even more to Noelle's already overflowing plate. Thank God that fate intervenes. Who should show up at the same hospital (where coincidentally her ex works) but Sam. Nicole has to balance her family obligations with taking care of herself and her dreams. This well-written novel handles the precarious balance between love and duty, grief and moving on, with compassion and humor. I read this book in a day, and it was a day very well spent. There is a lot of good fodder for book club discussion - this would be a great book for clubs and anyone enjoying an excellent read. Many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.