You ever read a romance novel and you’re just like…DAAAMN, can I get some of that?? That is definitely the thought I had after reading Eight Perfect Hours. Like…where is my snow storm and traffic back up and perfect person in the car next to me???
Ok, before I get too carried away…let’s get to the review!
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Noelle Butterby is kind of stuck in her life. She’s been at a bit of a standstill since her longtime boyfriend left to work at a hospital in America. He asked her to go, but she didn’t feel she could leave her mom.
So she works as a cleaner, takes care of her mom who has some health problems, and spends time with friends. That’s pretty much the totality of her life.
Or it is until a huge snowstorm hits and Noelle, along with a bunch of other drivers, is stuck on the motorway without power for her phone, food, or water. Luckily, Sam shows up!
He is in the car next to her, noticed her having a bit of a meltdown, and offered to charge her phone. From there, they talk non-stop until the traffic finally starts moving EIGHT HOURS later.
But then they go their separate ways without giving each other their contact info and Noelle figures that’s the end of it. It was good while it lasted.
That is until her mom needs to go to the hospital and guess who she’s sees while she’s in the waiting room? SAM!
It seems like fate has its hand in getting these two together, but it’s going to have to work a little harder than that. While they meet again in the hospital, it takes many more accidental meetings before they finally get together.
Noelle ends up cleaning for someone very close to Sam and doing the flowers for a wedding at the same place Sam just happens to be at. They also must get through old exes coming back, their own demons, and past struggles getting in the way.
Eight Perfect Hours is a fun, complicated, beautiful romance. I loved Noelle and Sam. They are perfect for each other. They understand one another really well and that’s shown in their interactions together.
I also liked how Noelle’s friends are incorporated into the story. One of her friends is going through an extremely tough time and I LOVED how it was weaved into the story. Noelle cares deeply for the people in her life and how she helps her friend shows that perfectly. (And I may or may not have cried, but what’s new lol)
Eight Perfect Hours is perfect for anyone who loves romance. But I will say, while this is definitely a romance, it does have a strong “I’m getting my life together” storyline when it comes to Noelle which I always love. Especially when the character is over 30.
Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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