12 Hours to say i Love You by Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz #Review

 

12 Hours to say I Love You by Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz was published by Headline Review on February 3rd. 

Two people. One love story. 12 hours to tell it.

Whir, beep, click, breath. Whir, beep, click, breath.

Pippa Gallagher is rushed in to hospital following a traffic accident. As Pippa lies unconscious, she is aware of fragments. The day she met Steve Gallagher, her best friend and the man who would become the love of her life. The heartbreak she felt that night as she got into her car, her eyes blurry from tears.

Meanwhile Steve sits at her bedside, his eyes fixed on her pale, still face. He has no idea where his wife was going when she crashed. No clue as to why she became distracted behind the wheel. All he knows is that she is his world.

And that he wasn't there when she needed him most.

For the next twelve hours, Steve tells Pippa all the reasons he loves her. But is it too late? Can Pippa find her way back to him?

Gripping, moving and beautifully observed, this is a love story told from both sides

 My Thoughts

This is both a romantic read which seems to alternate between moments of laughter, sadness, humour and tense emotion. We have the story of Pippa and Steve told through their own perspectives. Whilst Pippa lies unconscious in a hospital bed, you go back in time to when they both met as school children and follow what has happened to them both in alternating sections. Pippa's elements are told through the first person which the authors explain conveys that she is going through her memories whilst in the coma. She is in the moment. Steve's sections are in the past tense talking through the memories. I liked the differentiation in how their stories were presented as it highlights the different voices.

    Covering a relationship over time, you see the full picture of their life, from happy moments to times of loss and despair. It is emotional and at times, moving. You also get to see their friends and families who add moments of humour to the story, as well as some sadness. In seeing Pippa and Steve in different contexts, you get a fuller picture of their life and their love story. Pippa and Steve are quite different characters. Pippa, the actress, seems to be the centre of attention. Steve, a photographer, seems to stand back and observe. Nevertheless, they seem to fit together as a couple.  This is an enjoyable and moving love story.

In short: An emotional, romantic read

About the Author

Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz are writers and actors based in London.

Married for six years, they have written together for radio and screen. #blessed, a comedy drama love story, was ‘Pick of the Week’ for BBC Radio 4. Their short film, Deliver Me, won the Special Jury Award at the 2020 London City Film Awards. It was the first instalment from The Repertory Shorts, which sees them write and act in a series of shorts alongside an ensemble of film makers. As an actor, Olivia is known for THE THICK OF IT, IN THE LOOP, BACK, DOC MARTIN and HOLBY CITY. Laurence is best known for playing Alexander Randall in OUTLANDER

You can follow them on Twitter here: @oliviapoulet  

                                                           | @laurencedobiesz 

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Olivia Poulet, Laurence Dobiesz, Anne Cater of Random Things Tours,  the publisher for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out these great bloggers!