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Eight Perfect Hours
Lia Louis
336 pages
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Available: September 28, 2021
Amazon
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Two people stuck together in a storm, enjoy eight glorious hours together, and then serendipitously continue to cross paths. It’s almost the makings of a modern day fairytale, right? Oh but this is so much more than a lighthearted rom-com. It’s also a book about overcoming deep-seated fears, forgiving yourself, and moving forward into possibility.
Have you ever contemplated your life…really looked at where you are in comparison to where you thought you’d be? Well, you’re not alone. Nellie, our main character, is at a point where she’s taking stock. Not only is she stuck in a snowstorm, she feels like her life is as well.
After reading two of Louis’ books, I’ve come to see her greatest talent is in characterization. She is adept at creating characters that I want to be friends with. Her multifaceted, real characters are ones I’d like to meet for coffee. Nellie never seems perfect. Her flaws are front and center and also very relatable. And the humor that we find in Nellie and how she approaches life is wholly endearing. Some of my favorite Nellie contemplations throughout the book…the value of a good Krispy Kreme donut, the perfection of a Bon Jovi ballad, and likening a situation to Steve and Miranda in Sex in the City.
This book deals with the complex issue of mental health with great poise. Nellie is upfront about her struggles with grief, anxiety, and depression, and we also see her mom struggle to overcome fear and anxiety. Louis’ approach to these hard topics is graceful, real, and tender. As Nellie overcomes old patterns and engages in healthy change, I empathized with her struggle. Nellie’s struggle is relatable and realistic, and I rooted for her at each challenge.
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.
Enjoy snuggling up with this gem!
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