Member Reviews
Sarah is a one night only girl. After poor relationships in the past, both hers and others, she’s given up on finding love, and she’s perfectly happy with life the way it is. But when her one night stand is the best man at her finest friends wedding half way around the world, it turns into a two night stand, and maybe that’s too much for one night stand Sarah.
I really enjoyed he chemistry between Declan and Sarah. It felt true and real and their issues were real as well. I find some rom-com books too cheesy and over the top but his wasn’t one of them. These were true feelings I would have had, or in fact have had before.
It was lovely to watch them try to navigate their pasts and create a future.
This was a cute romcom, but it felt a bit drawn out and I ended up skimming some parts. I also didn’t love the characters or how the story progressed.
Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into your one-night stand halfway across the world? At your best friends' wedding?
Should Sarah stick to her rules and forget all about him, and try to remain civil? Or should she follow her heart, and take a leap of faith?
Set in New York City and Ireland, this is the modern rom-com filled with all the giggles and second hand embarrassment a girl can dream of. I really enjoyed the characters in One Night Only, from Declan and Sarah, to the groom's mother, the sarcastic work colleague and all the personalities of an Irish pub. I spent the entire novel cheering on Sarah and Declan and begging for them to be together.
A new release, will-they or won't they love story, this is a perfect pandemic read.
3.5/5. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Going into one night only, I found that the protagonist and main characters were very relatable, this made the story very fun and easy to read. Declan is very funny and this is a fun light hearted novel.
I found myself questioning as to why a 17 year old would lose their virginity to a 20 year old, I was very uncomfortable with that. However, this book was good and an enjoyable read overall.
I really wanted to love this book. It sounded so promising, but in the end, I feel like it was just fine.
Sarah doesn't do second dates, ever. She's into one-night stands and that works for her. She had heart broken a couple of years ago and ever since she can't bring herself to risk trying again. It also doesn't help that her mom broke her dad's heart years ago, either.
The book opens with her trying to kick Declan, her latest one-night stand, out of her bed and apartment so she can get to work. And at work, we see the drama extends beyond her personal life - she's an architect who's being taken off a project because they "want to go in a different direction." Fortunately she can escape to Ireland for a week for her best friend's wedding.
Of course, Declan turns out to be the groom's brother. And she's thoroughly annoyed and doesn't want him to let anyone know that they've met previously, which of course doesn't last long. Declan is a pro at annoying Sarah and she can't quit showing it.
With all this setup, it was in a prime position to be a really cute story, and it has its moments, for sure. But it quickly becomes obvious that Sarah isn't the brightest and she makes a lot of assumptions she shouldn't make. That on top of some last-minute drama felt like just too much. The book dragged in certain places and I feel like it would have been better without some of those moments - it took away from the romance in my opinion and just made the whole thing feel like it was unnecessarily drawn out.
This was such a great book! I was delighted to follow Sarah and Declan and they navigated their sometimes messy lives, and oftentimes messy feelings for each other! What happens when a one night stand becomes something more?? The result is an endearing story between two people who fight against their pasts to trust and believe in their present. Self sabotage in relationships is a common theme in life, and to see it play out through Sarah was really relatable. Often times we let things that have hurt us in the past influence how we view people in our futures, it was great to see Sarah work to separate the two so she could find her happiness in the end. I also really enjoyed that each of the characters had very prominent flaws that they had to work their way through; everyone has their hang ups and it was refreshing to see that one character wasn’t portrayed as being perfect because that isn’t a reality! I really loved this one!
I love reading romance novels and this one was really enjoyable. The premises sounds so good “A girl meets her one night stand on the wedding of her best friend” you know you’re in for a good romcom. And there is more she is the made of honor and he is the best man and the grooms brother. These are all elements that made this story so much fun. The side characters were well rounded and I liked learning more about them during the story.
I loved seeing the main character Sarah interact with her best friend Annie as it reminded me of my own friendships. The chemistry between the two love interests was also interesting to see. This book is written solely out of Sarah’s perspective which I didn’t mind but I would have loved to see some out of Declan’s view. Even though this book starts at a wedding it doesn’t center around it as I loved seeing the characters in their own element and not at the wedding in Ireland.
Overall, I really enjoyed this lighthearted read and as this was the authors first published book I look forward to seeing more books by her in the future.
One Night Only is a romantic comedy following Sarah who never forms romantic attachments and never sees a guy more than once, until Declan. Her best friend is getting married in Ireland and guess who's the grooms brother? Her one night stand from the week before, Declan.
This isn't my usual genre but I was fancying a change! I loved the banter and it was pretty funny. It also contains the most realistic portrayal of a hangover I've ever read in a book 😂. Normally it's just "oh I have a headache, a run will fix it".
Also, the experience of a hot summer in the UK (without aircon) from an American's perspective was much appreciated. It's hot ok!
I especially loved Sarah's relationship with her friend Will. My favourite line of his was: "No, you weren't. Popular girls don't run away to New York. They stay in their hometowns and have lots of babies." 😂😂😂😂
But, the ending of this is what really let it down for me. Sarah just suddenly changes her whole outlook on life and it's a very generic ending 😩
I do recommend this one though if you're looking for a light, fun read!
3.5 stars
This was such a sweet book
It's funny, it's got depth to it's characters and plot and it's captivating
I loved Sarah and Declan and their dynamic. Their relationship wasn't insta love or forced, it felt pretty real
Immediately after finishing this book, I followed Catherine Walsh on everything I could get my hands on - Amazon, Goodreads, her mailing list. I was so surprised that this was her first book and desperately wanted more! Truly cannot wait to read her future books and are for me, she is now in the field of Sally Thorne, Emily Henry and Helen Hoang as one of my favourite romance writers.
One Night Only packs witty, laugh out loud and emotional gut punch moments alongside compelling characters and a fantastic storyline.
Truly hilarious, I loved Sarah and Declan’s interactions and familiar humour. To be blunt, not every author is good at writing genuinely humorous moments consistently and it can feel like we are forced to see the ‘funny’ lighthearted moments rather than actually enjoy them too. This is so NOT the case with Catherine Walsh’s writing; I was grinning and belly laughing throughout the Irish wedding and trip (VERY understandable having been to them all my life!), as well as Declan and Sarah’s many quips and conversations. Loved every minute of this!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah only has one night stands and is not interested in relationships, so is horrified that not only is her latest conquest at the same wedding as her, but he is the grooms brother.
He wants more than one night with her, so will she give him a chance?
I read and listened to this book at the same time all thanks to Bookouture for providing me with both an e-Arc and audio ARC. When I read the synopsis of this rom-com I had a hunch that it would be a fun read and I wasn't wrong. This book is fun, fresh and funny. We have the heroine Sarah who is commitment phobic and has mastered the art of one night stands. We have the hero Declan who is Irish and gorgeous (he is Irish afterall!) and not interested in becoming just one of Sarah's one night stands. The banter and chemistry between Sarah and Declan is witty, refreshing and sexy and even if they don't realise it, the signs are there early on that they are made for each other. There are a few serious moments but they blend in well with all the lighthearted ones. If I had stuck to reading the book I would have just liked it but I enjoyed it a lot more as a result of me listening to it as well. Jessica Regan as the narrator did a splendid job. She brought the whole book to life-- the characters, the dialogues, the interactions, emotions, etc.!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Catherine Walsh for both the electronic and audio ARCs.
Combined Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
This book was one of my favourite's of the year so far. With witty banter and plenty of romance, this was exactly what I love in a novel. I also love how much of a focus there is on female friendship and the positivity that having a good group of friends can inflict on someone.
A joy of a read. Sarah and Declan's relationship travails were rather refreshing as Romcoms go. Both of them need to overcome some emotional baggage. Sarah is afraid of heartbreak and tries to keep their relationship casual, but as they are thrown together by serendipity she finds the roguish Declan rather hard to resist. To win over Sarah Declan has to overcome many obstacles like the new preppy employ in Sarah's architects office who steals her promotion and a major account. while showing an interest in her and asking her out. There are many lovely side characters who liven up the story like Will her snarky office teammate who she finagles into playing her assistant when Declan shows up at her office. Though the characters start as a one night stand their relationship is classic slow burn and I was appreciative of how misunderstanding between them were dealt in an adult fashion without dragging them out.. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say. I liked this book. Must read. Do it. If you do anything else. Read this book today. Great read and enjoyable.
After a devastating break up, Sarah Anderson made it a point not to get too involved or committed in relationships with men. Sarah just didn’t want to get hurt again. So, her coping mechanism was the occasional one night stand. Sarah didn’t have to commit and she still could enjoy the company with a member of the opposite sex.
But when Sarah wakes up to Declan Murphy next to her one morning, she vowed that she didn’t expect to see or bump into him again. So she does what any woman in her situation would do. She literally shoves him out the door. After all, Sarah needs to get ready for her vacation and best friend’s wedding in Ireland. Sarah couldn’t be bothered with the extra baggage that came with an intimate moment.
Excited and eager at being the maid of honor in the wedding party, Sarah is delighted to be in Ireland meeting the groom’s family and friends. But that delight soon turns into mortification when Sarah sees and learns who the groom’s brother is. It’s none other than her one night stand, Declan Murphy. And that’s when the fun begins.
One Night Only is a very entertaining romantic comedy with characters that we can relate to, laugh at, and cry with. The author has deftly developed the storyline, incorporating witty humor and comical scenarios. One Night Only is the perfect read for fans of romantic comedies and those fans of Marina Adair’s writing style. Five glowing stars.
I received a digital ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
It took me a few chapters to get into but once I was in, I loved it.
Its a real 'will they, won't they' romance and funny along the way. I loved the characters and the banter between them all. Its sexy without being smutty and a real light hearted, feel good read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5
Strong Independent Woman. One Night Only features Sarah, a single woman who doesn’t do relationships and would only allow herself to connect with someone else for one night.
I’ve been in a reading slump for the past two months and I absolutely needed this book!! I tried reading other romance books in hopes of getting out of this slump but none of them succeeded. One Night Only is my savior. If I wanted to, I’m sure I could’ve finished this in one sitting. But I loved it so much I couldn’t bring myself to end the book that fast.
Aside from the little moments I found myself rolling my eyes at Sarah’s decisions, I have no complaints! I loved the characters because they felt real, and they showed weaknesses that you can easily relate to. The romance was so good and amazing. Even though there were scenes not suitable for younger readers, the book didn’t focus too much on that which some other romance books sometimes do.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the friendship!! I also have a girl friend group similar with Sarah’s. Reading about their conversations and their hang outs reminded me so much of my friends. AHHHHHHH I love this book. I’m kinda sad it’s over.
I received an eARC of One Night Only by Catherine Walsh from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
1 star. I wanted to give up on this book so many times but forced myself to read it all the way through. Bad dialogue, and not a fan of the characters. Other readers may appreciate this book more.
Sarah doesn't do relationships! Only one night stands.
But when Declan appears at a wedding, and is the brother of the groom; whom she had slept with and kicked out of her apartment two nights earlier, her one-night stand rule goes out of the window.
The banter between the two characters is naturally flowing and funny (I've even had the dirty Irish joke used on me, so burst out laughing as it was so familiar).
Declan's speech about love was beautiful!! I actually cried.
Will her office husband is hilarious, and a character I would love to have his own spin-off.
The narrative took a direction that I wasn't expecting because there were several places I felt it could have ended (all happy endings). But, this isn't a negative criticism, just an observation. However, by continuing the narrative it does leave the readers guessing, and also gives more depth into the different characters; which ones to like more, and which ones to cross off the Christmas card list.
A really nice read that I fell in love with so many characters!
P.s. I fell for the dirty or should joke as well!