Review of Hours of You by Fiona Collins

Hours of You by Fiona Collins is a book about Ed, a Hollywood superstar, and Maggie, a journalist, who first met in their teenage years, but somehow fate has not dealt very well with their relationship. People have come and gone, and careers have soured, but now time is of the essence here as they do not seem to be getting any younger, and as an opportunity emerges for Maggie to find Ed, on an island of escape from his life's pains, she decides to take it, not really knowing what awaits her. Deep down, they both hope that this time fate will be good to them. For this to happen, they need to think carefully about what each of them needs, the compromises they will need to make, and, above all, since they are now getting older, whether this is what they want for the rest of their lives. Will that happen? Well, how about we figure it out here in this book, Hours of You by Fiona Collins?

What I like most about the book is the way the author has managed to elevate the suspense in the book, The going back and forth between the past and present leaves the readers wondering what will happen next, making the book extremely fascinating.

I rate this book, Hours of You by Fiona Collins, 4 out of 5 stars.

I recommend the book to those who are fascinated by superstars and their lifestyles. I also recommend it to those who wish for life to give them a last chance to recover their love story. Finally, I recommend it to those who love romance books.

I'm almost mad at myself for finishing this one because I didn't enjoy it and it was extraordinarily long. I found it similar to some other books I've read recently but just blah. I didn't connect to the story or the characters and felt like there was a lot missing. I hope you have better luck!

The Hours of You came out earlier this month on February 1, 2024, and you can purchase HERE.
When they were in love, it seemed the sun shone on them every day. When they were in love, when day became night, dark skies blanketed them in a velvet warmth and drew them closer together. Every hour they knew was succulent and miraculous.

Every moment they shared was a kind of paradise.

Sometimes she caught him looking at her, entwined in sloping grass on a seasidey summer's day, or in the pearly milk of a winter's morning as they lay plaited and half-awake in bed. She drank in the trace of his lopsided smile and his green eyes steady and true and full of love for her - for her! - and almost believed it could be forever, this love. That they would always be this way, lying in each other's arms and summoning their combined future to be both certain and endless.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC of ‘The Hours of You’ by Fiona Collins.

How is there such a book so beautiful and romantic but also so heartbreaking and tragic.
Such a heartwarming book but not at all predictable! This book paints the perfect picture of what it’s like to be in love. I also loved the fact this was set in such a short space of time!

“The Hours of You” is a romance (second chance?) book by Fiona Collins.
What I liked about this book is that it takes place (present timeline) in a short period of time - one day. I also liked that it was pretty easy to keep the timelines (past/present) apart. The descriptions of the island were wonderful to read on a damp cold day - so thanks for the mini-holiday Ms. Collins! There were a few things I didn’t love about this book - ranging from the arguments/miscommunication they had - and I still think they’ll continue to have. I also felt the plot was a bit too odd at times - it’s made clear that Maggie’s daughter is the light of her life, yet except for a few scenes, the daughter is a character who happens off-screen; Ed’s relationship with his son is turbulent - but then the son wants a relationship (still a bit wondering about the change of heart - maturity or the new person in his life?). But, I did find the book engaging and a fast read. Overall, I would give this a 3.5 rating, but I’ll bump it up to 4 stars.

I don't know why books about Hollywood sweethearts and heartthrobs aren't doing it for me. I expected a second chance romance with a past filled with hurdles and juicy secrets.
Instead, I was extremely underwhelmed by the whole thing.
For instance, the island chapters were extremely boring and flat. It was basically both of them acting coolly towards each other and thinking how their past and secrets separated them.
With every part of their pasts revealed, I discovered the problem.
Ed and Maggie aren't compatible with each other. Short and simple. They may have loved each other at one point, but one thing people don't want to acknowledge is that love, most of the time, isn't enough to build a strong relationship.
After Ed hit it big and became famous, he was in love with the idea of Maggie rather then the woman herself. He loved the idea of Maggie, not a celebrity and stable, the person who believed in him and gave her heart to. She was more of a plan b. Go to Maggie when lost or bored.
In Maggie's case, it was more of an obsession. She said it multiple times how she didn't love any of her partners, and only loved Ed. Which is weird considering their time together was way shorter than their time together.
Both weren't open to change their life to fit the other, their meetings through the years were more of a novelty rather than yearning.
Also, they kept going on about the secrets and obstacles, especially about Ed's dad. When the "secrets" were revealed, they were pretty deflated. Calling them obstacles are overdramatic, to be honest.
The writing was great, but without a good story, it wasn't enough.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

The Hours of You by Fiona Collins is such a beautiful, funny and poignant story!
A heartwarming and heartbreaking story with interesting characters and some deep emotions.
I became completely immersed in the story of Maggie and Ed.
The writing is excellent, as is the character development. The characters were so well written and the plot was so interesting.
This was interesting and cleverly done story such a delightful book, filled with emotion.
It's such a great read and I can’t wait to read her backlist.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Rating 1 star (DNF 31%). The Hours of You features our MC's Ed and Maggie. Following two separate timelines explaining how their love blossomed and shattered in the past to the present. Past and present blur as Maggie finds Ed and old feelings and memories arise.

It was very difficult for me to follow the story. Yes, each chapter went back and forth between timelines, but also in the present-day chapters there would be memories surfacing and making me confused about what was happening. One moment they would be speaking and the next it slipped into a memory then back again. I couldn't tell what was a flashback and what wasn't.

I didn't feel any connection between the two MC's. I didn't believe they were in love. They didn't seem to have anything in common other than living in the same town/street. In the present timelines they didn't read like people who are in their 60's. They read more like someone in their 20's.

Overall, this book didn't grip me/keep me interested or feel anything for the characters. The past and present timelines, plus with the flashbacks mixed in made what was happening very confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
(will be posting review on Goodreads, TikTok & Instagram)

Wow I absolutely loved this book. This is written between the present and the past and Collins slowly reveals the story of Maggie and Ed. At the beginning we know they are not in a good place with each other and as the book progresses, the chapters set in the past slowly reveal what happened between Maggie and Ed and why they behave the way they do around each other. The plot is beautiful and Collins gets the perfect balance of emotions and revealing the truth behind their relationship.
The real strength of this book lies in the characters of Maggie and Ed, they are wonderful, realistic and likeable characters and I adored getting to know them and following their love story. I really felt for their story and I could feel their love and the frustration they have with each other and why things have turned out the way they have.
I loved my time reading this book and learning the story of Maggie and Ed. Will they end up together? Well you will have to read this to find out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy.

A second chance romance years after they parted. Maggie and Ed are now mature adults who, frankly, don't always act that way- they revert occasionally to how they were. They both struggle with communication but now things are- well- there's an HEA here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Hours of You is a heartbreaking second chance romance. Old love but never forgotten. This is a story of Ed and Maggie, meeting again after fifteen years when Maggie accepting her last task as a journalist to interview the former biggest Hollywood star, Ed Cavanagh. Maggie has been given 24 hours on a private island with Ed, to ask for his disappearance from the celebrity world. Could she survive from the feelings that has been there for half of her lifetime?

Maggie and Ed, our lovebird story told in present and flashback to their relationship in the past including their very first meet. Maggie and Ed, Ed and Maggie, is like a pair that are always meant to be together, being young, so in love and thinking that they will be together forever. I love that we got their flashback in order to feel the same way as the characters. I would really like this if its not because of the miscommunication.

Too much miss opportunities, unnecessary drama, unresolved arguments which cause them have deep regret and rage toward each other. Some of the things could have been solved better and earlier. They could have avoid that breakup and 'being stranger'. Not to mention, despite having history together, I can't seem to feel the chemistry between them. Like how their love story started was cute and sweet but after that was so childish. It's sad how much time has been wasted and now they're together again after being 60 years old and above is like hm.

Overall, I love the writing style and the settings. It's cute and atmospheric. I wish I could love this book more but still highly recommended if you love second chance romance + miscommunication troupe. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the setting so much. The romance was sweet and heart warming. Maggie and Ed had great chemistry and history, and their story was one of forgiveness and overcoming the past.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc!