Really enjoyed this. Flawed but interesting characters with a good dose of heart and depth. It won’t matter if you haven’t seen all the movies.

This is the perfect book for movie buffs. Alternating between present day and 30 years ago at university, this book tells the love story between Arden and her professor Mac through the old movies they used to watch when they were together.

I found myself disconnected from these characters and struggled to get drawn in by the characters. Maybe it's because I haven't seen many of the movies. Having read some of Fiona's other books, I was slightly disappointed by this one but will definitely keep reading her novels in the future!

Previously published on TBGWP.

My Thoughts: You know me by now and I will always tell you the truth with my reviews. Blog tour or not. The truth is the truth.

You, me and the movies is unfortunately not my favourite. I see it being an absolute smash and a book most readers will have on their TBR. It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it’s sensitive and poignant. It’s a clear winner for people who want a clever and original love story with well thought out characters. I do in all honestly want you to read this book! Seriously pre-order it or grab the ebook now and see for yourself.

Obviously you’re going to want to know my issues with it after that aren’t you?

So, for me it is not a book you can just casually pick up and read. It’s one you really have to give time and effort too. I wouldn’t say it’s long winded, but you do have to give it time. When it comes to this genre that is just not for me. I don’t want to have to try if you get me. I just want easy, none thinking reading.

I am also seriously no movie buff! Especially with the classics and basically any movie, so I did get lost a bit with some of the movie details and references.

I also couldn’t fully connect with Arden and for me I need that connection.

See, it’s not even bad. It’s just me being me. But I can’t not tell you that because it’s a blog tour post and review.

Anyway, read the other reviews they are hot shit! And one of the best things about it for me is that it has given me reason to have one super massive movie marathon. I do intent to watch the ten films from the book! Oh, and for sure in Arden and Mac’s order. I also will re-read You, Me and the Movies again after that movie marathon and when the paperback is released. Who knows I might eat my words. I’ve done it before haven’t I?

Right now it’s a 3/5 star book for me and that in itself is brilliant!

So if you’re wanting a nostalgic, intense, original, tearfully funny read with a dramatic love story and a huge slice of movie pie then this is definitely your book. Make sure you have your popcorn, tissues and wine ready, you’re going to need them all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5

Arden Hall is a single mother having finally escaped her emotionally abusive marriage. Her grown son has moved out, she's stuck in a job she doesn't really like, her mother is quite frankly an awful person and her friends are now few and far between thanks to her manipulative husband. But one fatal day, Arden is visiting someone in hospital when she sees that an old University love is in the next bed having suffered a head injury. And so it begins.

What I really liked about this book is that it takes you on a journey without confusing you. Mac can only speak from his memory and each line triggers a part of Arden's story which she then tells you. Through this time, the Arden of old gradually starts to appear and while she remains flawed in my opinion, its easy to see why.

The book flows through the narrative, easily interlacing between Arden now and her university days dealing with parents who were all kinds of bad in different ways. Yes, this book is a love story, but its a story with a twist because its already happened and it shows you how it defined Arden's life into the woman she is today.

I congratulate Fiona Collins for approaching some difficult subjects with tact and grace and narrating them with the delicacy that they deserved.

And of course, the movies. They make this book for me. Teenage me was reliving my days of watching Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing on repeat and I had to find myself agreeing with Arden on her views. Its nostalgic and lovely and just leaves you with a warm feeling.

Now, this book would have been a five star but... that ending! You know the rules guys, tear my heart out and you get a point knocked off.

In all seriousness though, I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you Fiona Collins, Random House and NetGally for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Fiona Collins books so obviously I jumped at the chance to request her latest book ‘You, Me and the Movies’ when it appeared on Netgalley. Huge thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK and Fiona Collins for allowing me an early read.

Wow! No other words but wow what a story! Firstly this is a completely different genre to Fiona’s other books but I must admit this is my most favourite book of Fiona’s to date. I love that this book took me by surprise, I wasn’t expecting to feel such emotion for the characters and the plot. Long story short this book is simply about two souls connected through their love of movies and proving that it never matters how much time can pass between people, simple references or quotes can bring memories back that was once forgotten.

The story jumps between the ‘then’ and the ‘now’, which Fiona managed perfectly; I never once was lost or felt I had missed anything. The book is written through the eyes of the main character Arden who living in London, separated from her partner with a grown up son and working as an assistant to the locations manager in the Production office of a long running police series called Coppers. During a hospital visit to a friend she comes across her first love Mac Bartley-Thomas who she hasn’t seen for thirty years, here we are transported back to Arden’s University days when she first meets film studies lecturer Mac and they embark on an all consuming romantic relationship.

Fast forward to the present and Mac, badly injured following an accident and no visitors coming by, Arden struggles to walk away so she begins to visit Mac in hospital. Mac’s injuries result in him being unable to communicate, however seeing Arden sparks Mac to reference quotes from classic films that they watched together during their relationship. Quotes that Arden thought had been buried deep down but brings all the emotions crashing back like it was yesterday.

Of course Pretty Woman is one of the classics featured! I will admit I haven’t seen any of the other films mentioned throughout the story which I know is shocking and I will be rectifying that situation soon however it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book as Fiona gives detailed snippets from the films to understand why the quotes were chosen.

These film references are the link that brings the then and the now together within the story. On the whole Arden's memories are positive and happy but with them also comes painful reminders of an unhappy childhood and a strained relationship with her mother.

Mac being back in her life helps her to remember the Arden she used to be, helping her to reconnect with the world and opening new doors to opportunities she may have hid away from before now.

Overall an emotional read from start to finish, I couldn’t call where Arden’s story was going to take me but it really showed how people and situations can really make an effect and leave their mark on your life.

Firstly, I really enjoyed the movie references in this book and felt like Fiona did a fantastic job in linking them to the story, from the way they were projected into Arden and Mac's real life, to the way Arden dressed like her favourite characters. It was a really cool element and one I applauded Fiona for, as it was so detailed and specific. It also made me feel like I need to get my butt in gear and watch some of the classics - it took my sisters and I years to finally watch 'Dirty Dancing' and now it's one of our favourites. Although, Arden and Mac seemed to watch a few scary ones, if i'm correct with the titles, so I don't know how many I could tick off their list.

Now, I'll be honest, I did struggle with this book a little bit, not for the story or the writing, I thought it was very well written and it did keep me turning the pages and wanting to keep reading. I guess after reading Fiona's last few books, I was expecting something light-hearted, which I don't think this book really is and once I realized that it wasn't a romantic, comedy, I started to appreciate it a bit more. In understanding that what Arden had been through was very serious, I appreciated there were reasons behind her grey outlook on life, which at first took me by surprise and made me feel like it was a bit doom and gloom. The story is about how everything that happens in life has an impact on who you are and how you choose to respond to it. I wanted Arden to shake it off and be happy, but again, I had to be patient and realize that it wasn't that easy. It took Mac to come back and help Arden re-evaluate how she was living and for that I was grateful, because she needed it.

The biggest issue I had a hard time with in 'You, Me and the Movies,' was the affair. It made it really difficult for me to like Arden and Mac, as I just couldn't get past it. I grew to care about Arden in certain ways, but I just couldn't admire Mac like she and everyone else seemed to. He didn't come across great to me, no matter how enigmatic he was. I didn't connect with him at all.

My favourite character had to be James, I was intrigued by his quiet, yet straight-forward nature and enjoyed his dialogue. He made me smile and I wanted to see him find someone and not be so lonely. I looked forward to his scenes, as he was just a nice person.

If you're looking for quite a gritty book, that is a bit raw around the edges and celebrates the good old days of cinema. 'You, Me and the Movies,' is the book for you.

When I was contacted by Transworld Books and asked if I wanted to read this book and be a part of the blog tour, I was intrigued. The premise of the book sounded right up my street, as I love movies almost as much as I love books. Here is the blurb:

After a marriage which threatened her entire sense of self, Arden Hall is divorced, doing a lacklustre job and living a quiet, rather unexciting life. But one day, visiting a friend in a London hospital, she suddenly re-encounters her former lover from thirty years ago, charismatic Film Studies lecturer, Mac Bartley-Thomas, who is lying in a bed on the same ward.

Suffering from a brain injury and unable to converse, all Mac can utter is short references to the famous films he and Arden once watched together, back when she was a student and they conducted their affair: Casablanca, Bonnie and Clyde, Some Like It Hot and more…

These movies spark both bittersweet memories of their passionate relationship and the potential for a more reflective Arden to finally fulfil the promise of her younger self. And in the course of her visits to Mac, she starts to reconnect with the world in a way that she didn’t think was possible…

I think I am probably at an advantage because I have seen all of the movies that Arden watched with Mac throughout their relationship, but I don’t think it is a major disadvantage if you have not seen them because it’s entirely likely that once you have read the book you will want to seek out these classic films.

I loved the way the movies were the link between the present and the past, and the way in which seeing Mac again prompted Arden to think about the connection they had made thirty years ago, and how those actions, plus subsequent ones, had shaped the person she became. I loved the structure within the story, the way in which each movie was a map to a specific point in their relationship from the beginning of the affair, to its’ conclusion. Being a similar age, and being able to identify with the timeline of Arden’s past, from the music, to how she dressed, really resonated with me.

I enjoyed the additional characters in the storyline, the way in which Arden interacted with them, and the way in which they all helped her to reconnect with the world in their individual ways. This is a wonderful book that shows how our past shapes what comes in our future, and I found it charming and incredibly poignant. I did not anticipate reading the last few chapters of the book with tears streaming down my face. What can I say? I’m a crier! Anyway, tears aside, this beautiful story really touched my soul.

It is out now on ebook, and due to be published in paperback on 22 August 2019.

When we first meet Arden Hall, she is living a shell of her former existence, having had most of her life, relationships and sense of self chipped away at through an abusive ten year marriage. When, by chance, she stumbles across an old flame, Mac, who is in the hospital recovering from a car accident, memories of her old life begin to flood back. Back in the day, Mac Bartley-Thomas was a film professor at Warwick university and to his students was the classic enigmatic heart throb - right out of a film himself. He catches Arden’s eye right away when she starts university, and they begin a dramatic, tempestuous and all consuming affair.

This book has a quirky structure, which drew me in right away. Unable to speak after being badly injured in the accident, Mac can only utter brief phrases, which turn out to be references to films that Arden and Mac watched together in the years of their whirlwind romance all those years ago. Each new reference to one of the ten films from ‘The List’ leads to a flashback chapter, as Arden journeys through memories long forgotten. These are classic gems of films: The Birds, Bonnie and Clyde, An Officer and a Gentleman to name just a few - I was left feeling the huge gap in my film knowledge (too many years with my nose in a book). While it didn’t necessarily hinder my enjoyment of the book that I didn’t know and love these films as I now believe I should, I did get the impression that film buffs would get even more out of these nostalgic cinematic glimpses.

But more than anything this is a book calling out to all film buffs - I think you’ll get a huge amount of enjoyment from the backdrop these films provide, and Mac and Arden’s discussions of them. It’s certainly made me want to watch them - I think I’ll be working my way through ‘The List’!

“You’ve got a bigger love to come”

I’m an absolute mess. This is a beautiful slow burn novel. Completely unexpected and completely beguiling. I was captured by the now and then aspect of the story and really enjoyed the film aspect. I’m off now to re-watch The Way We Were.

This is one for movie obsessives and film fans, Fiona Collins writes a story of Arden Hall, with a narrative that goes back and forth in time, from when as a university student she embarked on an emotionally intense and passionate relationship that was everything, revolving around the classic movies she loved and watched with her lover, Film Studies lecturer, Mac Bartley-Thomas, a man who was the centre of her world. As is often the case, this all consuming youthful love affair was destined to not last and Arden's life trajectory through the years shaped her into a very different woman from who she used to be. The trials and tribulations of the life she faced, included a troubled marriage, she is now thirty years later divorced, lonely, doing an uninspiring job, and to all intents and purposes, a broken woman.

On visiting a friend in hospital, the present day Arden coincidentally encounters her former lover, Mac, left with serious brain damage after an accident. Mac can only make short references to the great movie classics they watched all those years ago, such as Pretty Woman, and Casablanca. However, these references takes Arden vibrantly back to a time that meant so much to her and the woman full of life that she used to be, a life force to be reckoned to be. We are given a picture of how her life then began to take its toll on her. There is humour in this entertaining story of movies, love and of an Arden who slowly begins to find herself again to begin to live again. This an enjoyable read overall, but the storytelling at times made for a rather uneven reading experience. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.

I think there's a certain kind of romance book that I enjoy and unfortunately, this was not it. The selection is so small that I'm more often disappointed than surprised. I'm sure there is an audience out there for this one, but it's not me.

Loved this book, so much to offer with a great story through 2 different points in life. Each chapter leaves you wanting that bit more

I can’t begin to say how much I LOVED this book. It had me laughing, falling in love and ultimately crying. The agony that is first love was very convincingly written and I was there with them in their private screening room, watching the classic movies that I too love so much. Life doesn’t end with the happily ever after drive off into the sunset of movies, and this story explores the ‘what next’ aspect of storytelling.

You me and the Movies by Fiona Collins is the first book that I have read by the author.
The story is about Arden Hall who in her university days had an affair with a Film Studies lecturer. Thirty years later, she finds him in a hospital bed and the only words that he can say are quotes from the films that they used to watch together. The story than alternates between present day and the pass and describes relationship between them both. And the life Arden has now. Divorced and alone.
I really wanted to like this book after reading the burb, but I am afraid this wasn’t for me. I found it very slow. The references about films at first was interesting but found it a bit repetitive after a while. The main character I found very shallow and selfish. She didn’t care about anyone but herself. So because of the I did not finish it and stop reading at 40%.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this book.

Fate has a way of bringing two past lovers back together. When Arden goes to visit a friend who is in hospital, what are the chances that her former lover would not only be in the same hospital but on the same ward. 

Swapping between past and present, you get to understand Arden and Mac's love story which happened over 30 years ago through the love of films and how they both have different views of classic movies. I really enjoyed reading this book a month before it came out thanks to requesting it on Netgalley! I loved the way Fiona wrote the Arden when she was at universtity and she was the first person to win Mac's love. I'm not sure if it was Fiona's intention but the way she wrote Mac's charcter, I felt like he wasn't a nice person and wasn't that sad at the shocking twist at the end!. However, I did enjoy Arden and how she was a wild uni student and then 30 years later she had become a lonley and friendlless person due to her ex-husband. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this e-book, and you should go and buy it on amazon. It's out today! Now, I'm off to go watch the movies they did!

Having survived an abusive marriage and divorce, middle-aged Arden Hall is existing rather than living in Elinor Oliphant style. Then fate intervenes and during a hospital visit she sees the love of her life, Mac Bartley-Thomas lying comatose and unidentified to hospital staff. And so begins a series of daily hospital visits to Mac’s bedside. On the recommendation of kindly nurse, Fran, Arden talks to former film lecturer, Mac in the hope of stirring him back to consciousness. So unfurls the story of their love affair and the reason for its eventual demise, with each key moment in their developing romance marked by the memory of them watching a classic film. Through this cathartic revisiting of her past, Arden begin to heal and as a reader I was cheering from the sidelines hoping that she is able to reconnect and find happiness again. Whilst for me, this story was not quite in the same league of enjoyment as Me Before You or One Day, it is certainly a page turner and I would seek out other titles by Fiona Collins in the future.

I finished this book yesterday. I knew I’d like the book as the storyline was interesting...but I didn’t think I’d enjoy it so much. As the book progressed I found myself looking forward to ‘reading time’ to see what was going to happen.

The book is quite long and there’s many overly descriptive parts, but this didn’t detract from the story and added a lot of depth to the different aspects of Arden’s character.

Arden is a selfish girl who matures into a knowledgable, sensitive woman. She still shows selfish traits, but don’t we all sometimes?

I loved James. Not your typical ceo billionaire sweeping the woman off her feet, but a flawed man with a normal job! Brilliant!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Lots and LOTS of movie references, so if you’ve never been a fan of film you may get bored with the frequent descriptions. However, I thought it was a lovely story :)

Well this felt completely different to previous books from Fiona Collins - it was less humorous and more real life in feel.

If you are a big classic movie buff you will probably love this story, however I hadn't seen most of the films discussed in depth, and found I was skimming the sections where Arden and Mac were analysing the films. I just like watching films for the story and without looking for hidden messages.

Speaking of which I'm fairly sure there is a message within this book, it felt like that sort of story, but for the life of me I couldn't quite put my fingers on it.

Alternating between present day life for Arden, and her great love affair with Mac, thirty years earlier, we see just how life has changed her, and Mac. I enjoyed seeing how the two timelines progressed, while at the Same time just felt slightly disconnected from the book and its characters.

I had such high hopes for this book, given how much I have previously enjoyed the author, but it just fel short for me. In places it was enjoyable, and I was getting lost in the pages and at other times, I just wasn't as convinced.

Thank you to Corgi and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

You, Me and the Movies is the story of Arden Hall, who discovers the university lecturer she had an affair with on the same ward. She hasn't seen Mac in nearly 30 years, and after a car accident Mac is left unable to speak. As she visits him, he begins to utter words that only have relevance to Ardie and the time they spent together.

The story is then told in present time as Ardie visits Mac, and flashbacks to their time together 28 years ago.

Look, I quite enjoyed this book. I did, however, find Ardie quite hard to relate to. Young Ardie was shallow and selfish and I don't think a nice person. Current day Ardie was much more down to earth, but even then the events of her life have hardened her and make her a difficult person to care for and get to know.

The growth and development of current day Ardie was perhaps the highlight of the book. From the memories Mac invokes, Ardie remembers the person who she used to be and makes some progress in healing the damage she has suffered.

At times though, it did feel a little like reading a film textbook and not how two people would converse with each other (at least, no people I know).

I loved this book. It's such a great premise and the characters were wonderfully drawn. I was at university around the same time as Arden and so many memories flooded back when I read the book - not only the clothes and music and movies, but also the feelings of a young woman let loose on the world. She is a fantastic character. And Mac... well, I know Arden shouldn't have gone there, but I couldn't blame her at all! This is a book which would make a great Richard Curtis movie - it's feel-good and poignant and very, very funny.