This one didn’t quite have the same emotional punch for me, as DEAR EMMIE BLUE, maybe because I didn’t feel as much spark (it could be rated G) or maybe because much of the book takes place while the characters are apart, but the author does a fantastic job of coming full circle and returning to the secret held within the camera, much as she did, with the secret associated with the balloon in the last book. 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. Now that I’ve got the gushing over, here are some non-spoilery thoughts to encourage in new and those who are already Lia Louis fans. Noelle Butterby was one of the most relatable heroines I’ve ever read. Noelle would call herself boring and insignificant but this story was anything but. It started with a snowed up stationery motorway and a circumstantial meeting with Sam. Then they kept meeting one another. Now I want to say this is not some prolonged missed opportunities trope (which I do not gel with) it was something else. But don’t worry: a few weeks later: they bump into each other and this happens again and again: I know you start furrowing your brows but don’t do that! This book’s magical and fairytal-ish tone can fit with the entire coincidental premise!

A tune now,” says the DJ on the radio, “ to warm us all up. And what a swizz we can never have this at Christmas, eh, because it really is coming down out there.” Q: The Chinese proverb about the red thread appears at the beginning of the book and throughout the story as something Daisy mentions in her letter to Noelle. What does the story of the red thread mean to you? Why did you want to include it?Q: Your previous novel, Dear Emmie Blue, is also beloved by readers and also touches on the themes of love, friendship, and finding oneself. In what ways did your past writing help inspire this story? And, conversely, in what ways did writing this book differ in your process from writing past novels? It’s a solid 4.5 for me, and since it’s an unedited ARC, I’m forgiving the surprising number of grammatical errors. My main complaint is that it was initially difficult to buy into Noelle’s insta-attraction, but after the story got into its groove, I loved it. It’s the perfect cozy romance for the holidays or any time of year! I swear my whole body feels like it’s alive, and I’m nothing now but stars.” Lia Louis, Eight Perfect Hours In this lovely, heart-warming, and romantic novel we meet Noelle, our flower-loving heroine, who is very likable but clearly struggling. She has been forced to put herself last, taking care of her mother to the detriment of a long-term relationship. She’s also still mourning the loss of her best friend when she was a teenager. This is the state we meet Elle in when she finds herself stranded on the highway during a worsening snowstorm, desperate to get home to her mother. But it’s also here she meets Sam, an American mountaineer and fellow strand-ee. And suddenly being stranded isn’t so bad.

Pros: legit funny, heartwarming, good use of ain't shit ex to prop up love interest, Noelle is easy to empathize with, fast-paced, great side characters, everything was nicely wrapped up which could be a con if you prefer a few jagged edges left, lil intrigue throughout with a great twist!! This reading group guide for Eight Perfect Hours provides an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Lia Louis. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. Snow relentlessly tumbles outside, and as if synchronized, the sea of orange brake lights illuminating the slushy road ahead starts to go out one by one, like blown flames. Drivers giving up, engines killed. A dream of a modern love story. This feel-good read is sprinkled with magic… romantic perfection’ HOLLY MILLERThank 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: What a truly enjoyable journey, filled with missed chances, fateful choices and magical coincidences. Was it really Fate or just coincidence or chance that Noelle and Sam's paths kept crossing? I read Eight Perfect Hours in one sitting, in four perfect hours, because I couldn't bear to put it down without knowing the ending." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author