This book has been compared to other popular love stories like One Day in December, Evvie Drake Starts Over, and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. Discuss how this novel is similar to those other books in the same literary space and how it differentiates itself. Of course, this ends up feeling like 17-0-7; all work and no play. In the end, this drives me and those around me quite mad. I sense homeworking has made more people feel this way. Destiny. Fate. Serendipity. The red thread. Is all life prewritten? Are souls joined or fated at birth?

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. From the acclaimed author of the “swoon-worthy…rom-com” ( The Washington Post) Dear Emmie Blue. Lia Louis has written another winner with Eight Perfect Hours, such a delightfully satisfying novel for the end of the year. That's not to say that there aren't a few deeper subjects included--post-partum depression, fear, grief, and aging parents all make appearances. However, it's not so much that the book becomes maudlin, just enough to give it some substance in the midst of the romance.I would have thought the march of human progress, be it through AI or whatever, should be towards the goal of eight hours’ work, eight hours’ play and eight hours’ sleep. But we seem to be getting further away from it all the time. The management consultants I have come across all seem to put in absurd hours, too. These, as I understand it, are the very people who are paid to tell us how to run things better. Yet they can’t even organise themselves well enough to hire enough people to do the necessary work in a reasonable time. I can only imagine it helps the clients of banks and consultants believe they are getting their money’s worth if they see all hours God sends are being worked. It is a romance but very little is actual moving forward romance. There was simply too much time spent with the old boyfriend. At 60% I was still wondering who she would end up with. But soon their lives become entangled in ways they never expected - and it's going to change everything... Noelle is returning from the class reunion that she attended despite the weather advisories which implored that you stay at home, because she was desperate to retrieve the camera and the letter that accompanied it. Although she was given the letter, it turns out that the camera remained buried for now-the earth still too solid for digging-due to the blizzard like conditions! 🌨❄️🌬

That’s what happened to Noelle Butterby’s path crosses with charming, sweet Sam: possibly her soul mate. 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. The Review: We learn that Noelle has a love of growing flowers and creating flower arrangements for the people she works for, and that being a florist is a career that she has dreamed of but won’t let herself explore. Why do you think Noelle is so drawn to flowers? How would being a florist help connect her with others and live a bigger life? Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. 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 Hoursis a gorgeously crafted novel that will make you believe in the power of fate. My thoughtsEight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis is a contemporary romance that is for those that believe in serendipitiy and twists of fate to find ones soulmate. The story is a slower build as the couple come together time and again. Behind me, a driver beeps their horn pointlessly, causing someone else to do the same. As if it’ll help, as if it’ll even have the slightest influence on the lines and lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic. A hot surge of panic bubbles up inside me. I swallow it down.

Eight Perfect Hours landed on my kindle from netgalley at 6pm and I opened at at 6:01pm, all other bookish plans cancelled (best decision ever). How long did it take me to get into it? One. Hot. Second. Attention all authors: I regret to inform you that the ENTIRE supply of fate and fortuitous circumstances has been used by Lia Louis in her latest book. It may take some time until new ideas are in supply, so we suggest you read her book and enjoy all the ones she beat you to while you wait. We appreciate your patience.” If you don’t believe in simple twists of fate or never having any belief in soul mates, or if you are skeptic about any romantic cliches and any kind of meant to be conclusions: stop reading this and start to run away: this book is not for skeptics, enemies of great romcoms or pessimist, moody, grumpy souls who cannot differentiate something heartfelt, unique, extraordinary from regular reads! Noelle is in need of a charger for her phone to be able to call home so she accepts help from a friendly American in the car next to her. After eight hours pass with the conversation flowing easily Noelle is certain she’ll never see the stranger again but fate has another thing in mind when time and again Noelle continues to run into Sam. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for the honest review provided here. Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:Noelle seemed to run into Sam time after time, almost like it was meant to be. There were a few minor twists in this story, some I saw coming, some I didn't, and overall I enjoyed it a lot. Like the first Lia Louis book I read I was frustrated that The couple didn't get together until the last 5% of the book and they were kind of sort of dating other people throughout the whole story. So frustrating.... it's such a pet peeve of mine. But aside from that, I really enjoyed this one! I went into Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis somewhat blindly thinking the whole story was going to be about the eight hours so I was nicely surprised to find this one held so much more. The story and characters immediately caught my attention and I loved the threads the author wove to pull this couple together slowly. If looking for a nice cozy and heartwarming romance this one should be added to your list! Q: This story is told as a first-person narrative from Noelle’s point of view. What made you choose this perspective rather than, say, a third-person narrative that showed multiple perspectives? Why was this structure important for the story you wanted to tell?

Eight Perfect hours to meet someone, eight perfect hours to feel a spark, eight perfect hours then you go your separate ways.... Are there a large number of coincidences in this book, almost to the point of them being silly? Yes. However, nothing is impossible in a romance novel, and in this second book I've read by Louis, she has a way with weaving these coincidences to make them seem like fate. And that's always sigh-worthy.

Eight Perfect Hours

Here it is. A letter from past me, to future you. God, it’s so strange writing this, knowing fifteen years from now, you’re actually going to be reading these words. The Future Noelle Butterby! I wonder where you’ll be, and who you’ll end up becoming. I suppose that’s what this is for—to write down our predictions and hopes for each other. (And you’d better have put Leo DiCaprio in my letter, Elle, and not just a date and a measly kiss goodnight either. I’m talking sweaty car scene in Titanic, with added Boyz II Men songs and less iceberg-related deaths, obviously.) Noelle’s character is such a loving, unselfish, giving woman. She is deeply connected to her family and feels deeply appreciative to those that have cared for her – always remembering a time she needed them most. She has altered her life’s plan to take on responsibility for others and make the best of it. Others see her as simply unable to let go of her past, but there is much more to Noelle’s story than what first meets the eye. When we hear Ed update Noelle on his family, she notes that his description is “career and achievement focused. No information on how they actually are” (pg. 98). How does this distinction between what people achieve with their careers and how they’re actually doing show up in other places in the novel? I've been trying to figure out how to put my love of Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis into words, and honestly, I don't think I know how. This book was the perfect blend of romance, fate, serious topics, and humor, and I loved every dang minute of it. Louis is also the author of Dear Emmie Blue which is a fact I had completely spaced on and seeing as how I loved that book; I shouldn't be surprised that this one hit me the same way. I found myself smiling so many times as I read, but it is also a bit of a tearjerker as well, and there are plenty of emotional moments. There was even something at the end that I wasn't expecting at all and it kinda blew me away. I think this would make an absolutely wonderful movie, and even though it isn't a holiday movie, I could definitely envision it on the Hallmark channel. The zero chemistry, zero sparks, zero romantic tension then just continues for the entire book. I could not have cared less whether Noelle and Sam ended up together. I don’t even believe they are in love, because this book has given me nothing that would suggest that.