What’s a woman to do when snarled in traffic due to a freak March blizzard in England? Get to know an American stranger while killing time waiting for traffic to start moving again, of course.

Little does she know, but Noelle was meant for Sam, her handsome American stranger. As the story begins to come together, their pasts are unwound to reveal that destiny was theirs to meet and fall in love. Yes, there are the usual obstacles (exes coming back into the picture, distance, parental care), but the story is well written to not just throw the obstacles out there, but deliver in Noelle and Sam overcoming them.

In their story, the number of coincidences was a little much for the realist in me, but the romantic in me thought, “My 20 something self would’ve been salivating over this and wishing it in my life.” This book is an easy, lose yourself read that come one needing an escape will enjoy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

#netgalley #arc #eightperfecthours

Eight Perfect Hours was a sweet romance from Lia Louis. Noelle and Sam meet in a snowstorm, and after spending eight perfect hours together in a car they keep running into each other, again and again. I enjoyed reading how their story played out, and definitely recommend Eight Perfect Hours as a sweet read.

A sweet little story about finding romance in the middle of a snow storm. I liked both the heroine and the hero and enjoyed this all around sweet story.

Eight Perfect Hours is a cute read. A late snowstorm strands Noelle on the roadway with a dead phone. Until a handsome stranger knocks on her window. Sam and Noelle seem to be in the same groove. I liked how the universe kept throwing them together in the most interesting scenarios. Noelle has to work through some things. I liked how Sam admitted to certain feelings later in the book. It is satisfying to read a story when things work out the way you’re hoping they would, despite intervention from karma, or maybe because Of karma.

We all need a book like Eight Perfect Hours every now and then-sweet and simple. You'll know what the destination is as soon as you start the journey, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Eight Perfect Hours is a "boy meets girl" story with the usual suspects-ex's who hover in the background like bees to honey. Noelle is the perfect narrator and heroine of Eight Perfect Hours-hardscrabble, hard working and heartbroken-but none of them keep her down or make her cynical about love. On the contrary, Noelle is the eternal optimist who believes in fate and making your own fortune. Eight Perfect Hours isn't a stunning literary achievement, but it's not meant to be. It's just a pretty perfect way to spend a few hours.

I LOVED Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis so I was looking forward to her next book Eight Perfect Hours. Stuck on the highway in a snow storm Noelle meets Sam and they spend eight perfect hours together. I LOVED their story, I started reading it and didn't put it down again until I finished.

This was cute but I had much higher expectations after loving the author’s last book Dear Emmie Blue. That was an original, compelling story with interesting characters. I also wish the author would write a strong female lead.

Two strangers stuck together in a storm enjoy eight glorious hours together and then serendipitously continue to cross paths. It’s almost the makings of a modern day fairytale, right? Oh but this is so much more than a lighthearted rom-com. It’s also a book about overcoming deep-seated fears, forgiving yourself, and moving forward into possibility.

Have you ever contemplated your life…really looked at where you are in comparison to where you thought you’d be? Well, you’re not alone. Nellie, our main character, is at a point where she’s taking stock. Not only is she stuck in a snowstorm, she feels like her life is as well.

After reading two of Louis’ books, I’ve come to see her greatest talent is in characterization. She is adept at creating characters that I want to be friends with. Her multifaceted, real characters are ones I’d like to meet for coffee. Nellie never seems perfect. Her flaws are front and center and also very relatable. And the humor that we find in Nellie and how she approaches life is wholly endearing. Some of my favorite Nellie contemplations throughout the book…the value of a good Krispy Kreme donut, the perfection of a Bon Jovi ballad, and likening a situation to Steve and Miranda in Sex in the City.

This book deals with the complex issue of mental health with great poise. Nellie is upfront about her struggles with grief, anxiety, and depression, and we also see her mom struggle to overcome fear and anxiety. Louis’ approach to these hard topics is graceful, real, and tender. As Nellie overcomes old patterns and engages in healthy change, I empathized with her struggle. Nellie’s struggle is relatable and realistic, and I rooted for her at each challenge.

I read Dear Emmie Blue earlier this year and became utterly besotted with both Emmie and the book! So any Lia Louis book became a must read for me. And I’ll admit that I went into this book with extremely high expectations…probably unreasonably high. While this book did not charm me exactly the way Emmie Blue did (I am forever an Emmie fan!), I still adored it.

Thank you Lia Louis, Atria, Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

I was provided an ARC of this novel from Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for my review. Do you believe in soulmates? That there is someone who is destined to be yours? If you do, you will love the lengths that Lia Louis goes to take her readers through Eight Perfect Hours!

This book reminds me of the movie Serendipity-where the plot takes you from one coincidence to another-but are they really coincidences of part of destiny? Noelle Butterby ends up stranded on the highway in a blizzard where she meets Sam Attwood who comes to her rescue. They spend eight hours together and made a great connection with each other, but they both have lives that tug them in different directions. Through the course of the book though, they find their lives will intersect again, but will they ever end up on the same path together?

I thought this was a terrific book! The characters were complex and well written. The plot had lots of twists and turns but I loved every one of them! This is a must read!

What a heart warming, lovely read. I have not read anything else by this author so went in blind. Now, I need to go read anything I can get my hands on.

Noelle is stuck. In life and, more immediately, in a snowstorm in traffic. As her phone dies she meets a stranger named Sam with whom she spends 8 Perfect Hours in the traffic jam charging her phone and talking about life in only the way two strangers can do. When the storm clears, the two go their separate ways but fate has other ideas in mind. They keep running into one another in the strangest of circumstances. Both Sam and Noelle are still troubled with tragedies that happened in their youth and going through relationship struggles with their significant others and family members. But, somehow, they keep finding themselves drawn together.

This is a wonderfully written story about finding yourself and maybe your soulmate along the way. The supporting cast of characters were so interesting and added so much to the story from Noelle’s mother’s struggles for independence, her brother’s rock and roll lifestyle and their helpful neighbor, Ian, her best friends Charlie and Theo and their newborn daughter, and Sam’s dad. They all had their own part to play in Sam and Noelle’s story.

This wasn’t simply a fluffy book about fate and love. It dealt with many emotional situations such as depression, anxiety, loss of friends and family and more but in a beautiful and affirming way.

Mark this on your TBR - you won’t be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Do you believe in fate? Then, this book is for you. A chance encounter on a snow-closed roadway begins a lot of coincidences for Sam and Noelle. On the roadway, he offers her his phone charger, and she gets in his car. Their conversation is easy, but they don’t think they’ll see each other again… until they do, again and again. This novel will keep you guessing about when they’ll run into each other and when they’ll finally realize they’re meant to know each other. This romance is sweet and slow burning, and it will leave readers believing in destiny.

I related to the main character Noelle wholeheartedly so Lia Louis really capture the emotions on the pages for me to relate so well. I normally yearn for lighthearted romance but this took a different take and I learned to appreciated the seriousness of the story. Overall it became one of my most recent faves!

Many thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC of Eight Perfect Hours in exchange for my honest review.

Ugh, my heart! I love a good story set anywhere in England. I think I should live in England by now. For fans of One Day in December, you will absolutely fall in love with Noelle' and Sam's story. If you weren't a believer in fate I think this story will turn you into a firm believer. I love how their lives were always connected for years and they never knew it, so many missed opportunities for meeting each other. And then on a fateful night during a winter storm they finally meet and keep bumping into each other in random places. The plot twist I never saw coming, but it enriched the storytelling so much! This was my first book by Lia Louis but it certainly won't be the last. You will fall in love with this story as well as all of the characters. Such a feel good book with the perfect cozy England winter vibes!

I read Dear Emmie Blue last year and fell head over heels in love with it - needless to say, I had high expectations for Eight Perfect Hours. While this one didn't quite live up to my (probably unrealistic) expectations, I still enjoyed it. Louis' humor and wit still shine through in this story, and her beautiful writing still graces each page - she handles more complex themes with heartbreaking grace - you do feel for the characters, whether you've experienced something similar or not. These same elements that I recognized in Dear Emmie Blue were still here, and that is the main thing I think that sets Louis apart from the crowd. I felt the story was a bit lacking in some areas this time around - the plot felt a bit more predictable (despite the serendipitous theme!) compared to Emmie Blue, as I predicted many of the surprise connections early on, so the didn't hold my attention nearly as much. However, I am still glad that I read it, and would certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

Of note, this is not a fluffy and/or spicy romance, although the blossoming love story is woven throughout this novel - this is more a book about Noelle overcoming her past and gaining confidence in herself. While there is lots of tension in the book between Noelle and Sam, there is no spice beyond some kissing - which I appreciate! I like the story being about the characters rather than what's going on in the bedroom.

I look forward to getting a chance to read Louis' next book, which will hopefully come out next year!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the free copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not a lighthearted romance by any means but the author’s writing handles the heavier subjects well. A good story our patrons will enjoy.

Noelle and Sam should have been pen pals in elementary school. They should have bumped into one another countless times in their lives but somehow they missed and fate, or love, or whatever is responsible for ensuring proper coupling finally got tired of waiting for these two to meet properly, so they are stranded next to one another in a huge snow storm.But even that wasn’t enough because these two are difficult to move out of their slumps. And they are definitely in slumps. This is a tender tale of two heartbroken souls who, oddly enough, carry the weight of a shared loss on their shoulders. Unraveling their loss is the plot of this book and it’s a rather good tale. The romance develops along the way. This is a fast book that stays with you long after you finish it. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book will be popular come winter. I found it heartwarming and enduring, although there are many deep, sad themes discussed. This is not a light and fluffy romance with steam. This makes you really consider those around you and their possible stories.

I decided to read Eight Perfect Hours within a week of downloading it during the middle of summer because it just sounded THAT good! The idea of a two people stranded in a snowstorm gave me all the feels. I devoured this in two sittings and really loved how much more than a romance this was. Initially I was a little bummed when the “eight perfect hours” only took place in the first few chapters. I think my expectations were misguided by the title and synopsis, however I still quickly fell in love with all the characters and the excitement of what some call serendipity made this a heartwarming read.

They were lots of notes on grief, fate, family, loss, and hope. This was not a steamy romance, but one that will tug on your heartstrings. I loved the ending and can confidently say this book will be a very popular one this winter.

Thank you to #netgalley and @Atriabools food my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Although it started off with a bang—Noelle and Sam being stuck on the freeway together—it was the glimpses we got of how their lives entertained before they even met that had me hooked. I’d recommend this book to fans of Serendipity. It was a fun, light read!

I first learned about "the red thread" from Ann Hood's novel of the same name. Lia Louis uses a Chinese proverb describing the concept in the epigraph of "Eight Perfect Hours": "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break."

In this case, the thread connects Noelle Butterby and Sam Attwood, who meet by chance on the M4 motorway when they both get stuck in a snowy, night-long traffic jam. Noelle's phone is dead and her charger is broken, so Sam, noting her visible distress from his nearby auto, invites her to use his. While her phone powers up, the conversation flows freely between Noelle and Sam. For Noelle, being hemmed in by hundreds of unmoving cars turns out to be the best thing that's happened to her in years. She lives with and cares for her mother, who had a stroke six years ago, and even though she dreams of becoming a florist, she works as a house cleaner.

However, once traffic finally starts moving, they say goodbye, and Sam doesn't ask Noelle for her number. Considering that Sam, an American, lives in Oregon (he was on his way to the airport to fly home when the storm hit) and Noelle lives in southwestern England, the odds of the two ever meeting again seem slim... right?

That's where the red thread comes in--Noelle and Sam do meet again, over and over again. If it seems like there are too many coincidences for comfort, well, Louis did warn us right off the bat that there would be a bit of magic involved.

Anyone looking for a sweet romcom should be forewarned that "Eight Perfect Hours" contains some pretty heavy plot points. There is a lot of pain in both Noelle's and Sam's pasts, including the death of Noelle's best friend in a car accident when they were both in their late teens, and the suicide of someone close to Sam. Then there's Noelle's mother, who was physically disabled by the stroke to some extent, but also seems to be suffering from agoraphobia; Noelle, who is in her early 30s, has had to put her entire life on hold to be with her mom, and that commitment led to the end of her previous romantic relationship when her boyfriend accepted a job far from their hometown. Another major character is dealing with crippling postpartum depression.

Even though "Eight Perfect Hours" wasn't quite what I was expecting from the cute cover, I was definitely rooting for Noelle and Sam to get the happy ending they so richly deserved.