That’s right, I said Kismet. As in FATE, Destiny.. the whole nine yards. An unbreakable connection that exists between two people regardless of where life takes them. 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: A dream of a modern love story. This feel-good read is sprinkled with magic... romantic perfection' HOLLY MILLER And lastly (because the size of the paper and envelope they’ve given us is so small, it’s an actual joke), I hope wherever we are, we’ll keep on talking to each other, no matter what. And remember, at least when we can’t be together, we just have to close our eyes and pretend. Will Noelle and Sam ever see each other again? Did fate bring them together? Or was this just a chance meeting… like two ships passing in the night?

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? That’s what happened to Noelle Butterby’s path crosses with charming, sweet Sam: possibly her soul mate. Sam’s character has experienced tragedy which has impacted his dreams as well. Even moving to the U.S. has not lifted the burden he feels. Noelle has inspired Sam and has a connection to him that started long before that snowy night. What I Liked About Eight Perfect Hours: Sorry - I couldn’t get that silly thought out of my head after finishing this adorable little gem of a book. Honestly, I’ve never seen so many convenient circumstances at work to move a plot towards its conclusion, but that’s really the point of this book: is life just a series of happenstance circumstances or does fate lead us to our destiny?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.

Noelle is on a journey of self-growth throughout the book. She learns to stand up for herself and ask for help. She begins to take charge and go after her dreams. I really liked how Noelle grew and became more confident in herself by the end. 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?

Customer reviews

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. 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: 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? That said, if you go into this book expecting a “rom-dram”, you’re sure to love it. I really enjoyed reading about Noelle’s struggle to balance caring for her family with having a fulfilling personal life. I loved her friendship with Charlie and especially with Charlie’s husband Theo. (I actually think Theo was my favorite character, despite him having a relatively small role.)

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.) 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. Thank you to the publisher, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy. Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books, NetGalley and author Lia Louis for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. It's due to be published September 28,2021.

Noelle describes Sam as “someone calm and steady. The sort of person that’d fare well in an apocalypse” (pg. 37). How does Noelle’s initial impression of Sam hold up over the course of the novel? To what extent is it true and to what extent is it a front that Sam puts on? The initial eight hour meeting is only a couple of chapters long, which would have been fine, but there is just nothing in it that would make me say „Yep, those two are destined for each other.“ They have no chemistry, tbh, the hardly even talk in those hours. There is just nothing to establish any kind of mutual attraction. It’s just the main character immediately going like „what if I marry this guy someday.“. Umm, I don’t know why you would even think that, there is not a single spark between you, he literally just let you charge your phone in his car, that’s basically the extent of your falling in love montage at that point.