I picked this one based on the tropical island setting, but I just didn't get into this one from the beginning. It did not hold my attention. I didn't connect with the characters and it just wasn't what I expected.

Usually I am all about the back and forth timelines, and the love in the past and then rekindle that love in the present, but I didn't really feel that these two MC's were ever really in love, or that there was a connection.

The story line is alright, but I just didn't really buy in that they were something, or have something. The dynamic seemed off. Not sure why, or what, but just my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4* It was a really lovely reading.
I was a little puzzled in the beginning, I misunderstod the plot, I figured the two main characters would be around fourty years old, while their in their sixties, and it got a little while to adjust to this scenario, but once I came around the first third of the book I was so taken I couldn't stop reading.

Maggie and Ed have know each other since they were teens, they've been in love when they were young, but life happened and their roads parted; now they're sixty: Maggie has to write her last article before retiring while Ed is on a remote island, away from the spotlight of his Hollywood life.
Having posted a clue to her before disappearing, she's the only one knowing where Ed Cavanagh's hiding and she has to write her last article about him.
What will happen when they'll see each other again? Is love still there, or what's past is past?

The story develops in a twenty four hour windows alternating current timeline event with past one, hour after hour we slowly discover what's been Maggie and Ed story, in the past and the current one.
You'll fall in love with them in their youth and will struggle with their problems as they get old. You'll wonder about what ifs and how it's going to affect what's happening now.
Angsty and deeply emotional, you'll be swept away by this story.
Totally recommending it.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this book as an arc in exchange of an honest review.

A lovely, sweet romantic read that I enjoyed as it tells the love story spanning over many years and obstacles. Lovely cover for the book and an easy, delightful read.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but I am glad that I picked this one up. It was quick, easy and super cute. It gave me a nice change from the darker stuff I was reading and I couldn't put it down, I read it super quickly

I'm not usually a romance fan but after loving Spring Summer Autumn Us by Fiona Collins, I was very excited to read this one and it did not disappoint. Fiona has a way of writing beautiful love stories without the "cheesy" aspect that most of them have; her style is exquisite and the sense of place she conjures up is just wonderful. I loved this book and hope she will write many more.

This was a really sweet book. I love books that show the connections some people have that carry through their whole lives. The relationship between the two of them and the obstacles that they faced were realistic and actual good reasons for them not being together. I did think it was a little long, and I enjoyed the story line in the past more than the present.
I also enjoyed the little mystery of what happened to the MMC's father as well.
Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the copy of this book.

This is an achingly lovely story. Ed and Maggie meet as teenagers and have a wonderful relationship, but Ed’s rising fame as an actor eventually drives them apart. They spend the rest of their lives never quite able to move on, as more and more stands in their way. This is a pretty epic love story, spanning nearly enough a lifetime. Their stolen times together are so tender, sweet and sad. There’s always a tangible connection between them. It’s a life affirming read 🥰

What to expect:

- second chance romance
- dual timeline
- celebrity romance
- soulmates

The cover is everything and that alone drew me in. I think I expected a certain level and it didn't achieve what I expected going into it which is my fault otherwise it would have been a 4 star read. Fun, easy read to get you into the summer vibe.

A second (or third, or forth) chance romance. This is the story of Ed and Maggie. Ed is a Hollywood star and Maggie is a journalist. This is dual timeline so in bounces between when Ed and Maggie meet and beyond and the present time on a little island. I love that they are mature characters. We don't often get a female, lead character who is 60. I really liked that. There was a little intrigue as to why Ed was on this island and what Maggie had to tell him. There was too much missed opportunity and drama for me. And it seemed they were mad at each other quite a bit but that's fine. They resolved most of it. If you like second chance romance novels then this is for you. I really enjoyed her writing style and would recommend this book if you want a light read.

Should i say Right person, wrong circumstances or say right person, wrong choices ?
if you read this one already, then let me hear your choice of the answer
if you didn't yet, please go and pick this one

This is a book that really lives up to its name and I'm so delighted to have gotten an opportunity to read an ARC from Net galley in exchange for an honest review
Did i love it ? Absolutely, definitely yes !

This story follows up the romance between Ed and Maggie who were first neighbors with 14yr old Maggie having a huge crush on Ed
They meet again when she's 18 and its instant, intensive love full of laughter until career got in between
years go by, and they meet again aged 60, Maggie as a journalist about to retire looking for her biggest scoop yet

It's a very captivating story that goes back and forth which i loved as it made me resonate and grasp in depth the character development.
I loved how real the whole plot was, the raw reality of relationships, the hope, the love that lingers, the memories, the expectations and disappointment, drifting apart and the emotions so well expressed

I loved how the book spoke not only of romance and second chances but also of other important matters such as parental impact on children, consequences of choices, regret, loneliness, fame, and domestic violence

on the downside, I hated the fact that they wasted so much time before finally commit and be together, i felt there was too much repetition of the same mistakes especially on Ed's side, if they both knew they'd only love each other why waste years dating and marrying other women
and their relationship seemed to be more based on assumptions and miscommunication, even after going gaining the wisdom of old age, they suffer the same problem of misunderstandings

I also don't get why Michael abhorred his dad, i understand he wasn't the best day, never present which explains the awkwardness and silence but the hate was a bit far fetched.

I would say this is a 2nd chance romance but i don't think so, they had so many chances wasted only to be reunited and finally be together at 60 which feels a bit myeeh...

Despite that, i absolutely loved this book and give it a solid 4 star,
this is a slow moderate book, no plot twists, no huge secrets and would work best to get you out of a boredom

I loved the vibes of this book, and I can’t even exaggerate how emotional this made me. Such a heartbreaking story full of love and a beautiful couple. I did really enjoy this book, although the pacing at points felt very slow, it was well with the read.

The Hours of You
by Fiona Collins

"The Hours of You" by Fiona Collins is a poignant tale of love, forgiveness, and second chances that unfolds on a remote tropical island. Maggie May, a retired journalist, is given a final assignment to interview former heart-throb Ed Cavanagh, the man who once broke her heart. The narrative weaves through their intertwined love story, exploring the twists of fate that kept them apart for fifteen years. The author skillfully brings out the nostalgia, emotions, and complexities of Maggie and Ed's journey, making readers laugh and cry. The beautifully depicted island setting serves as a backdrop for their rekindling romance. The novel's pace occasionally slows, but the anticipation for the characters to admit their feelings keeps the reader engaged. In the end, "The Hours of You" is a heartwarming and enjoyable read, offering a nostalgic trip through time and a satisfying, well-deserved happy ending.
#TheHoursOfYou #FionaCollins #BookReview #RomanceNovel #LoveStory #SecondChances #Nostalgia #Forgiveness #BookishTears #BookRecommendation #BookWorm #ReadingList #MustRead #HeartwarmingFiction #BookCommunity #EmotionalReads #LoveAndForgiveness #BookishJoy #IslandRomance #SecondChancesInLove #ReadingEscape #BookLovers #BookNerd #BookishExperience #RomanticJourney #UglyCryReads #BookishDelight

" The past is not an island, she thought, separate and remote and only reached by two planes and three boats, but a road that wound its way through people's lives and was difficult to navigate, as it hurt too much. And the man in front of her was not an island, either, she realised, but a series of them, still to be discovered."

Maggie May and Ed Craddock.
Well where can I even start?
This book was a nostalgia trip, Since the moment they met, all their hellos and goodbyes in-between until the moment they finally met again, so many years after what they thought would be their final goodbye.
This book made me ugly cry in more occasions that I would like to admit. Reading about both their lives and everything they went through, after so many years their love was still a constant in their lives, seasons changed, they moved out of Southend and into their respective more permanent houses but the memories always followed them wherever they went, even oceans apart. They both made mistakes, both married people they didn't love, both suffered with loneliness, they were from two different worlds, Maggie was a journalist and Ed an actor living in USA. The timing was never right and so as the years went by they just accepted that maybe it wasn't meant to happen. But their love for each other was strong and persisted through the years and they finally got to have their happily every after with a heartfelt love confession in a beautiful island called Memoire.
I've cried happy tears at the end as I just wanted them to finally be happy together and to have the love that they thought was lost and would never be found again.
I've really enjoyed this book. Sometimes the pacing seemed to slow down and I was counting down the hours until Ed or Maggie would budge and admit love for each other. Overall I was just impatient to see the happy ending that they deserved. This was a very enjoyable experience where at times it felt like I was travelling through Maggie's memories along with her.
It's a beautiful book that I definitely recommend people to read.
But be warned because you will most likely cry and then smile with this tender love story.

This was the first book I have read by Fiona Collins, and it was a truly wonderful piece of writing. The story was beautifully romantic and heartbreakingly tragic at the same time, and I would highly recommend it.
The book follows the two main characters Maggie and Ed and is written in non-chronological order with one chapter per time period: the present – a remote tropical island over a 24 hour period and the next chapter: The Past.
It’s the perfect second chance romance highlighting how two people can love each so completely and still get it wrong and how 24 little hours can change the whole course of a person’s life.
The plot is incredibly well thought out and trickles mystery, intrigue and twists into the story that leaves you guessing the whole way through and wanting to read on more to find out the answers.
The story is not at all predictable but is easily relatable and rooted into real life making it easy to connect with the story and its characters. It brings up topics of loss, grief, abuse, living for someone else and always trying to make the right decisions even if they are wrong. The book encapsulates what it is truly like to be in love and that it is messy and at times hard work but worth it.
The conclusion to the book was heart-warming and satisfying.
‘For love was all they knew again, and love was all they hoped for’

- Posted to amazon

This is not my favorite from the author but still a solid story. The back and forth got confusing a few times. the transitions seemed a little disconnected occasionally. I am also not a fan of unnecessary confluct and drama. With all that I still enjoyed the story and most the characters. I think it could make for great book club book discussions.

I really wanted to like this book more, but I kept finding myself getting bored and wanting to just skip to the end. I did like the alternating timeline perspectives, which added a few twists and some suspense. That being said, most of them left me really disliking Ed and I would have liked to see more of a redemption arc for him.

Review of Hours of You by Fiona Collins

Hours of You by Fiona Collins is a book about Ed, a Hollywood superstar, and Maggie, a journalist, who first met in their teenage years, but somehow fate has not dealt very well with their relationship. People have come and gone, and careers have soured, but now time is of the essence here as they do not seem to be getting any younger, and as an opportunity emerges for Maggie to find Ed, on an island of escape from his life's pains, she decides to take it, not really knowing what awaits her. Deep down, they both hope that this time fate will be good to them. For this to happen, they need to think carefully about what each of them needs, the compromises they will need to make, and, above all, since they are now getting older, whether this is what they want for the rest of their lives. Will that happen? Well, how about we figure it out here in this book, Hours of You by Fiona Collins?

What I like most about the book is the way the author has managed to elevate the suspense in the book, The going back and forth between the past and present leaves the readers wondering what will happen next, making the book extremely fascinating.

I rate this book, Hours of You by Fiona Collins, 4 out of 5 stars.

I recommend the book to those who are fascinated by superstars and their lifestyles. I also recommend it to those who wish for life to give them a last chance to recover their love story. Finally, I recommend it to those who love romance books.

I'm almost mad at myself for finishing this one because I didn't enjoy it and it was extraordinarily long. I found it similar to some other books I've read recently but just blah. I didn't connect to the story or the characters and felt like there was a lot missing. I hope you have better luck!

The Hours of You came out earlier this month on February 1, 2024, and you can purchase HERE.
When they were in love, it seemed the sun shone on them every day. When they were in love, when day became night, dark skies blanketed them in a velvet warmth and drew them closer together. Every hour they knew was succulent and miraculous.

Every moment they shared was a kind of paradise.

Sometimes she caught him looking at her, entwined in sloping grass on a seasidey summer's day, or in the pearly milk of a winter's morning as they lay plaited and half-awake in bed. She drank in the trace of his lopsided smile and his green eyes steady and true and full of love for her - for her! - and almost believed it could be forever, this love. That they would always be this way, lying in each other's arms and summoning their combined future to be both certain and endless.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC of ‘The Hours of You’ by Fiona Collins.

How is there such a book so beautiful and romantic but also so heartbreaking and tragic.
Such a heartwarming book but not at all predictable! This book paints the perfect picture of what it’s like to be in love. I also loved the fact this was set in such a short space of time!