Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a lovely book. I was invested in Noah and Lucy's story and enjoyed the supporting characters as well. I really enjoy books popping into characters' lives on a specific day over a number of years, and this was no exception.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book. Once Upon A Leap Year follows the lives of Lucy and Noah - both born on February 29th - from when they meet at university. Life throws them challenges and changes along the way, both surrounded by a core group of friends who grow together. The book was written from an interesting perspective - peaking into the characters lives every four years and exploring just how much can chance in those years. An enjoyable read!

This is the first book I’ve read by Anna Bell and I’m in shock…that I’ve never read one of her books before!

This book had me intrigued from the start. It’s divided into six parts and takes place over two decades. Lucy and Noah met whilst both in relationships and found out they share the same birthday - February 29th. They merge their friendship groups and meet up every 4 years. The group go through the various trials and tribulations that people often do in their 20’s and 30’s.

It was really lovely to read about their lives continuing over the years, they all had such happy times but some sad moments, too. One of my favourite parts of the book were the text and email exchanges at the end of every part.

One of the most important parts of this book for me, was the representation of dementia. It’s something that is rarely spoken about in romance books, and having closely worked with people suffering with dementia, I feel like the author has done a fantastic job of writing about it. I’m astonished at the compassion shown in the writing.

When this book comes out on the 1st February, please read it - it’s amazing!

If you like light, frothy, romantic comedies this one is for you. The structure of the book really appealed to me.

This was a fun but thoughtful relationship read about Lucy and Noah who share the most unusual of birthdays as they were both born on February 29th. Told from Lucy’s pov this starts in 2004 when they meet on a day trip and spans twenty years from college, to work, through various relationships and travels abroad. This primarily focuses on where they’re at in their lives each leap year day with snippets covering the intervening years but what’s really nice is that it doesn’t just focus on Lucy and Noah but on their university friends too and how their lives have changed over the years. I like the differences in their attitudes to relationships where Noah is all in but Lucy is wary but most interesting is how the passage of time changes them all. There’s some sad parts and personal struggles but mostly this focuses on the uplifting moments and is a considered but warm-hearted read.