A simple story of star-crossed lovers. Abbie and Oz seem perfect for each other but are destined to meet at the wrong times and places. University, family and work commitments always seem to keep them apart. Makes you want to read on to find out if they will eventually be together. Loved the way the different timelines show the characters' development over the years. Shame the ending was so strung out though, which rather spoilt a lovely book. For fans of One Day.

This book had me entranced from the beginning, This is a warm, easy read of star crossed lovers, who never quite meet at the right time or the right place. I loved the way the author combined several timelines within the story and, for me, this painted a wonderful picture of the lives of the main character. I just had to know what would happen next and found it hard to put the book down as I became more invested in their lives with each turn of the page.

The characters in this story were brilliantly written and so well described that I felt I knew them. Abbie grows up in the book from the teenager to the woman about to be married and this meant I really felt connected with her. Oz was wonderful, I loved his quiet personality and determination to do the right thing. There is a wealth of other characters in this story who make for plenty of drama and help bring the story to life.

I loved this story and it would have been a five star read for me, except I felt the end let it down a bit. It felt rushed and a little far fetched, which was a shame because the rest of the story was brilliant. Despite this, I would still highly recommend reading this lovely story.

Thank you NetGalley/random house/cornerstone for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Abbie/Oz right from the start and they were both instantly likable characters for me.

After a fated meeting 15 years ago, they keep finding their way back to each other, but never for long, as family, university and work commitments seem to keep them from each other long term.. but fate is a funny thing

I had to keep reading to find out if they ended up together.. I was hooked on their story and had to know the ending!

Thank you @netgalley @randomhouse @cornerstone for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

When Abbie met Oz, they were young, idealistic students from different backgrounds, but their connection was unmistakable. Then Oz went home to Istanbul and life moved on.

Now Abbie is with the man she thinks she's going to spend the rest of her life with, until she meets Oz again - a chance encounter that might change everything.

They find themselves drawn to each other once more, but have commitments, jobs and families that take priority, and too much time has passed, hasn't it?

Abbie and Oz are about to find out that no matter how many miles and obstacles are between them, fate might just have another plan, and that their love story isn't over yet.


I am a sucker for a star crossed lovers tale riddled by a case of bad timing too and this one did have considerable depth. Abbie is an immigration lawyer and on a basic level, the qualms that the industry and profession bring meant I was personally invested from the start and could relate to the professional dilemmas that Abbie encounters. Couple that with a fast paced love story and a plethora of family issues against a background of the hustle and bustle of London and the exotic Istanbul and this felt like an all rounder. It was a very cosy, easy read, not difficult to get into at all and the only reason it was not a 5 star read is because I felt it dragged out at the end, to prolong the conclusion as much as possible. There was a message to take away at the end about unconditional love and relationships and it left you leaving warm inside. I'd definitely recommend and look forward to seeing more from Khoury!

Abbie meets Oz when she is at a protest in London, needing to finish her University dissertation with some quotes from the attendees. Over the next fifteen years, they fall in and out of each other's lives - will they ever be together, or is their destiny simply to be apart?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read, and I loved the multiple locations and the different timelines the author takes us back and forth between. The characters are believable, and there are plenty of emotional pulls mixed in. The only slight issue I had was with the abruptness of the ending, it seemed to be over in a few pages and I felt the story deserved a bit more. However, it's a lovely book that I'd definitely recommend.

This is pure love and romance but in a different way. Its your girl meets boy grow apart and then reconnection. It's a curl up beside the fire type of novel. Abbie and Oz I like the connection between them and how things happen over time. This is an enjoyable novel.

This novel was perfect escapism for me.
Focusing on the love story of Oz and Abbie after they met by chance at a protest in London 15 years ago. The novel follows them on a will they, won't they journey across the world as life's ups and downs get in the way.
I found the themes of the book really interesting however I did find myself rolling my eyes at the main character sometimes. Abbie is a kind and caring woman who would do anything for her family, and I understand that this is used to add drama to the story however I did find her martyr trope wearing thin at times.
I thought the characters were well thought out and especially liked the travel aspect to this story imaging this love story being played out across Paris, Istanbul and London.
Fans of One Day will love this.

As advertised "It Must be Love" covers a range of romantic locations as Abbie and Oz meet by chance/design around the world. Friends help things along whilst family try to prevent them being together. You need to take a leap of faith to keep reading this book. Luckily it is so well written that it is possible to overlook the numerous coincidences and continue turning the pages. One for the true romantics among us.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Wonderfully written this book will have you turning pages into the wee hours.

A love story over many years so many things happen between Abbie and Oz. The story follows how they first meet as teenagers and how they encounter each other as they grow up. So many twists and turns you weep for them so many times.

I loved the range of dynamic characters and the relationships that develop throughout. Some are complex and some are just beautiful.

This book takes you far and wide so you are sure to feel well travelled by the end!

You are sure to be weeping by the end. A fab read with a cup of tea and mountain of biscuits.

Totally loved this book. Meeting when at university but always life and family making it impossible to be together. Bumping in to each other at key points in life journey. It is a will they, won't they with unexpected twists. Keep your fingers crossed and read on.

An enjoyable romance. Set in two timelines which I always enjoy. I did get a little confused at times though. Well written. Characters that you are keen to know what happens to them.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pure romanticism, but on a different level. Girl meets boy, they go their separate paths, girl re-meets boy, etc etc. Finally they sort out their own lives and have an opportunity for happiness. An enjoyable novel, probably best read with a cuppa tea and biscuits, as once started you might not want to put it down. The characters, settings and events make for a good read. We have here yet another author who favours using different time periods, which normally is irritating but on this occasion actually works as the transition is fairly smooth. I wouldn’t go so far as to describe the novel as ‘heart wrenching’, but it does call into question what is meant by fate and destiny.

This was okay and overall I thought the plot was quite sweet. However, I really struggled with the writing style, it was both simple and over-complicated and I struggled to connect with the read, which was a real shame. I thought the story got a lot stronger towards the end of the book but it was a case of too little too late.

This book was so exquisite. I love love stories especially those that span decades. It’s so need how it starts from present and works it’s way back. I loved the writing style, characters, and love Rosie style vibe. So beautifully and elegantly written. I look forward to many more books from this author and will recommend this to everyone.

This is soooooo beautiful!!!! I could not put it down and was hooked from the start!! I am so obsessed with this book and wish I could read it for the first time all over again

This book was a slow burner but definitely grew on me. I loved the multi time line usage, it was a love story across the years and one that was used so we knew exactly the history to the relationship.

The descriptions of the various places the characters visited made you feel.like you were there with them, it's a fantastically written book.

A solid contemporary romance centred around a second chance trope. Abbie and Oz met when they were students, but youth and other commitments pulled them apart. Now Abbie is in her thirties, about to marry and she encounters Oz once again. Is this a second chance? Her fiancé is supportive, loving and everything else she could want in a husband. Perfect, yet her heart is confused. She tries to pull her focus away but fate or is it destiny keeps throwing her in Oz’s path. And as the novel flashes to the past it’s revealed that it isn’t Abbie’s second chance, but her fourth of fifth chance since over the years there have been other chances to be with Oz. For Abbie, it’s the last chance, now as she starts to unravel the points in her life where these previous chances have occurred and why she hadn’t taken that chance. Is it to be or not to be? It does become the question in this novel and Khoury pulls the reader along to the end, leaving the reader guessing if Abbie will take this chance. Well written, capable debut novel with a good sense of each character and their struggles. My only quibble would be the melodramatic turn towards the end that stretched credibility.

I really enjoyed this book and loved reading about Abbie’s journey! At first, it took a while to gather what was happening as it kept going forwards and backwards in time.

My only disappointment was the ending, and that’s only slightly. It seemed to be such an in-depth story whereas the end seemed to come quick quickly. I enjoyed it that much I wanted it to keep going!

Told between present day and flashbacks to the past, this story details that kind of intense love magnified by long distance and the twists of destiny.
I loved the relationship between Oz and Abbie, as complicated as it was, it was gripping to read all the twists and obstacles they encounter; with plenty of sweet moments and chemistry it is a very emotional read.
I think this would appeal to fans of One Day In December, The Light We Lost etc.

Thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting romantic story. It had wonderful characters & a lovely story. Only criticism I had is the difference in years, got a little confusing for me, but that's purely a personal thing, don't let it deter you from reading