Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis
In this romantic and heartwarming novel, two strangers meet
in chance circumstances during a blizzard and spend one
perfect evening together, thinking they’ll never see each
other again. But fate seems to have different plans.
On a snowy evening in March, 30-something Noelle Butterby is on
her way back from an event at her old college when disaster
strikes. With a blizzard closing off roads, she finds herself
stranded, alone in her car, without food, drink, or a working
charger for her phone. All seems lost until Sam Attwood, a
handsome American stranger also trapped in a nearby car, knocks
on her window and offers assistance. What follows is eight
perfect hours together, until morning arrives and the roads
finally clear.
The two strangers part, positive they’ll never see each other
again, but fate, it seems, has a different plan. As the two keep
serendipitously bumping into one another, they begin to realize
that perhaps there truly is no such thing as coincidence.
With plenty of charming twists and turns and Lia Louis’s
“bold, standout voice” (Gillian McAllister, author of The Good
Sister), Eight Perfect Hours is a gorgeously crafted novel
that will make you believe in the power of fate.
It was my first time reading something from this author and I'm surprised by how much I liked it!❣️✨
Noelle is returning from a college reunion when she gets stuck on her way home as a blizzard causes the roads to be closed. A chance meeting with a stranger in the car that is parked beside hers brings two people together in an unexpected way. She and Sam - a mountaineer, end up spending eight hours together and they bond over some shared experiences. Once the roads are cleared, they separate without exchanging any contact information and Noelle thinks they might never see each other again. But, fate surprises them as their paths keep crossing, leaving Noelle to wonder whether there's a reason behind the universe constantly bringing them together?
For some reason I thought this would be a 100% romance novel but I'd say this was 40% women's fiction(not that I mind but it surprised me). Both, Noelle and Sam have a lot of things to deal with - grief, anxiety and depression, with the focus mainly on Noelle gaining the courage to go after the things she wants while taking care of her loved ones. I loved how that was balanced and though sometimes I might agree with her ex(Ed the Ped)'s opinion about her giving in to those around her, I'd also say that her approach with her mom - about leaving it up to her to decide when she wants help was also right. Tough love isn't always the right answer and people should seek out therapy only when they're ready.
The romance was really cute with a LOT of serendipity. I enjoyed the banter and how the connection between them grew! I also loved Nellie's friends and how real they were - they didn't just serve as plot devices but had their own stories too! Overall this was a great story that I enjoyed reading and has made me curious enough to read the author's other books too!❣️✨
You can also find this review on my bookstagram here
Lia Louis is an author from Hertfordshire, the United Kingdom, where she lives with her partner and three children. She has written three novels to date – Somewhere Close to Happy (2019), Dear Emmie Blue (2020), and her new novel Eight Perfect Hours was released in late 2021. Lia’s books are enjoyed around the world and have been translated into over 10 languages.
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