This is definitely a must read for film fans! I especially loved the film references to Pretty Woman.

The story was really brought to life on these pages and I enjoyed every single second of it. This is definitely a re-read book. There was not one character I did not feel connected to and did not enjoy. This is a book that will make you laugh, cry and then feel invigorated.

I 100% recommend this emotional, beautiful book.

I really liked the premise of this story but unfortunately it’s just not my style. Having said that it’s well written and if this is your genre then I think it would be a hit

A good book. A new author for me and I will read more. A “want to read more” type of book. Well done!

Such a beautiful and bittersweet book which explores memories, connections and movies in a way that will keep you reading from start to finish as you travel the journey with the characters.

Lovely story, I always enjoy books where characters miss a shot but get a chance to try again! And anything to do with movies is a plus for me. In some ways a sad tale, but a lovely portrait of life.

DNF. I couldn't connect with this book at all and found it really hard to get into. I had high hopes for this, which is a shame.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to get in to this book - while the premise was extremely fascinating, I struggled to be able to fully get in to it.

I really wanted to love this book, but instead I only liked it. It's the story of Arden, now in her late 40s who has a teenage son she adores but otherwise has very few people in her life after a decade long abusive marriage. Chance brings her to a hospital to visit a friend recovering from surgery, in the bed opposite is Mac - the true love of her life. He was a university lecturer of Film Studies, she was a student who didn't get the grades for Film Studies so ended up studying English Literature. The Mac of now is scarcely recognisable from the Mac of then, thanks to his severe injuries from a car accident he's barely able to communicate. The only thing he seems able to say are brief utterances from films that he and Arden watched during their wonderful yet fraught relationship. Perhaps revisiting the past will help bring Mac back to the present..
As a massive cinephille this novel sounded so compelling. I'm not sure whether it was the writing style, more tell than show, or the clunky handling of the film references that stopped me from being fully immersed in this story. It was a 'nice' read - entertaining enough but not particularly memorable.

The book follows Arden, who has just started university when she meets Mac – and quickly falls head over heels for the handsome, charismatic film lecturer. Their love affair is dramatic, exciting and all-consuming; the sort of thing you only see in the movies.

I thought I’d really like reading this book but I couldn’t get into the story. Took a while to read but I did finish. We may be different and you might love it.

A beautiful book that I fell in love with straight away. It hooked me in and was a lovely read. I've recommended it to friends since reading it too.

As a big film and book fan this was an ideal combination.

You, Me and the Movies has surprising plot and likeable characters. It was much more than I expected.

4 stars.

I read this as my C author book for my A-Z of romances. I thought, from the blurb and cover, it was chicklit and I suppose it was in some ways but, really, I’m not exactly sure how I’d catergorise it. It wasn't as funny as most chicklit, nor was it as romantic as I expected.

The book’s heroine is Arden, a 48 year old who’s suffered through an abusive relationship and come out the other side, only barely. She is visiting a friend in hospital when she spies her first (and last?) love in one of the beds. This, of course, stirs up the memories of their time together and we get to read about their relationship via flashbacks.

Mac was a lecturer and Arden a university student when they had an affair and, considering they’ve not seen each other in about 30 years, the reader realises how the flashbacks will pan out pretty early on. Mac taught film and throughout their romance, he and Arden watch and discuss a list of movies which would be featured in his lectures (hence the title).

I loved reading about the movies. Most I’ve seen; they’re famous movies, nothing obscure. Mac’s theme for the movies is the way women are depicted in each. I did enjoy reading Mac and Arden’s take on whether there’s anything feminist about the likes of Fatal Attraction or Pretty Woman. I’m not sure I agreed with all their views, but they were a fun part of the book.

The flashbacks also help Arden realise she can be strong enough to live her life the way she wants to now her abusive ex is out of her life and that perhaps she might get another chance at a romance that doesn't end badly.

So, on paper, the book sounds like a winner. But…

I’ve been trying to put my finger on exactly what is wrong with You, Me and the Movies and I think my biggest beef is the fact there’s no clear hero. I started reading the book thinking the hero was Mac but, into the mix, came James, Mac’s neighbour who also starts visiting Mac in hospital.

A minor issue was Arden’s age. Okay, I loved her age, 48, almost the same as me. And yet, she never really seemed to act that age. She doesn’t act like a teenager but I always had the feeling she and her friends seemed to be in their 30s. I also had the dilemma of Mac’s age. I couldn’t quite work out how old he was supposed to be in the 'now' scenes.

The book is sad and dramatic at times but I wasn’t really moved by it unfortunately. It also had touches of feminism and empowerment but nothing that made me punch the air in triumph.

I must admit I was enjoying the book much more in the beginning and it was around the 50% mark that I became restless with it. It felt long but when I checked it was only around 350 pages so...
Not a good sign. I guess everything was a little average and that was the problem.

Average rating of 3 out of 5.

A beautiful, funny, tender book, with a unique relationship at the centre of it. I love a bit of nostalgia - this was a lovely book to disappear into. Will await more from this author!

This was a great book. I really enjoyed the heartwarming story and the relationship between Arden and Mac. I especially enjoyed the movie references throughout.

For me, #YouMeAndTheMovies was a slow burn. As in life, the story arc was meandering; I was always invested but it was towards the end of the book where Arden’s journey really gripped me.

Full of flawed characters and not so simple relationships (family, romantic, friendship), this is not a cinematic story to me. I enjoyed reading about the films and I will be watching a few of them as a result, but it’s truly what happens after the movie ends that interests me as well as Arden.

I’d recommend! Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the free copy.

Mac, A Lecturer at Warwick University and Arden, a Student who loves movies and the key characters in this book. The story opens 20 years after Arden has finished uni when she is visiting a friend at hospital and spots Mac. From this moment on the reader is treated to the now and then story of thier affair. A memoir of films also features heavily in the story as Mac is a lecturer in the genre. Slowly, we learn about Arden's life since and during the affair, however we only learn a snippet from Mac's life since they left uni.

The story is a true love affair in more ways than one, the characters are people you want to learn about. The movies and clothes take you back to a time when movies didn’t disappoint. The book is about life, love and all the flaws in between, uplifting and emotional, but over all a most excellent book I would highly recommend

First to say, I love the forbidden romance trope. So, as soon as I saw a romance between student and teacher I knew this book and I would get along smoothly.

I also really like long lost love stories, which again enamoured me to this book.

It's also a wonderful introduction to some great cinema, many of which I've never seen before. I love books that give you a little bit of homework. However, they do go into rather expansive detail on each book (expected for a film studies class) which was a bit alienating at times.

A lovely heartwarming story. The characters were all strong and very likeable. The story unfolded with references to past and present .
I really enjoyed this book, it was quirky and a little bit different! I am not a movie fan but this didn’t stop my enjoyment of this book, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Fiona Collins for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

You, me and the movies is the perfect book for the fans of the movie theaters. It will fill an emptiness you have felt all your life, because such a book previously didn’t exist. Perfectly entwined movie references with one incredible love story is the only thing you might need for a perfect reading date. Okay, maybe hot chocolate too. And a warm blanket. And a few tissues…

Two people. Ten classic films. A love story you’ll never forget.

Arden has just started university when she meets Mac – and quickly falls head over heels for the handsome, charismatic film lecturer. Their love affair is dramatic, exciting and all-consuming; the sort of thing you only see in the movies. But it didn’t last…

And thirty years later, leading a very different life, Arden is visiting a friend in hospital when she suddenly comes across the man she never forgot. Badly injured in an accident, Mac can only make brief references to the classic films they once watched together: Casablanca, A Star is Born, Pretty Woman among others… and they make Arden remember everything.

Chapter by chapter we dive into the memories that Arden holds close to her heart. All the feelings she though she forgot now flow back to the surface. Mac can’t say more than a few words, but those words mean the world for Arden.

The bittersweet memories of their relationship help Arden re-connect with the world in a way she no longer thought was possible. But will a movie-worthy love ever be hers again?

This book gave me a story I wasn’t prepared for. I am a sucker for romance in real-life, but when it comes to books, I don’t ship couples easily, and I don’t do “awws” and “aaahs”. But this book got me. It captured my heart and then broke it into a million pieces.

I loved every single moment. Every single situation, every memory, every scene at the hospital. The whole story is surreal. Imagine encountering your ex from thirty years ago in a hospital, badly injured, and he can’t say anything more than words that mean so much to you.

And that is amazing, because he can at least say those words. But after so many years, don’t you want to know? Aren’t you curious about the why’s and the how’s and what happened after parts?

Arden had so many questions, unable to be answered. And maybe that was for the best. Leave the past behind and start again?

The time flow was immensely written, jumping from past to present, but in a very tidy and clear way, easy to get into. I knew exactly when in time we were, which made the reading experience significantly better for me.

And despite all this praise, I will still give this book four stars instead of five, and here is my why:

In a couple of years, I will probably remember only the vague details of this book. The movie references and the love story between Mac and Arden. But I will never forget how this book made me feel…

All those tears that I have shed because of them, all those movies I have watched, pausing the book for a while, just so I can grasp the whole meaning, and most importantly, all the ANGER I felt in the end. I finished the book, I read the last few pages and I was angry! Angry at Mac, and angry at Arden, angry at destiny and angry at the writer, for ending this book in this way.

I am slowly beginning to realise and understand why this was the perfect ending, but I can never get over the feeling of anger, and I don’t remember feeling anger in such a way about any other book. (This could be counted as a compliment, I suppose). And that is why this book can’t be my favorite. But it definitely did change something in my life and my experience, and I will carry that with me forever.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Corgi , part of Penguin Random House, for sending me an ARC copy of You, Me and the movies, in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting idea for a book. I love the movies, I love books, I love love so this was an engrossing read for me