I’ve only read one of Jodie’s books before (One Day in December) and that was fantastic, so I had high hopes for this one. I’ve seen it everywhere and seen nothing but rave reviews.

What instantly connected me to this book is it’s about a near-30 year old, single writer who has a column called “Finding my Flamingo”, and she’s threatened with a flamingo tattoo. I am nearly 30, I am single, I am a writer (albeit unpublished), and flamingoes are my favourite animal - yes, I do already have a flamingo tattoo on my arm.

Is there anything Josie can’t write? Every topic, every sentence feels like it exists just for her to write. She is delicate and passionate and a real romantic, but in a very real sense, not in an over the top “just for fiction” sense - it’s like it’s actually happening to someone we love.

After finishing this, I went straight online to look at beautiful isolated islands to run away to. I found a lovely one off the coast of Scotland, but at nearly £1,000 a week, that will have to wait for another day.

I found the story of Cleo marrying herself incidental. Whilst obviously a big part of the book, I felt myself drawn more to the friendship/relationship between her and Mack, and Cleo finding her own place in her story.

It is not always a traditional rom-com, but it’s everything you could want. Josie definitely gets better with everything she writes, and this one will truly take a bit of your heart with it once you’ve finished.

Actual rating 4.5⭐️

“Salvation Island is almost an invisible mark on a map but it’s left an indelible imprint on me.”

What do you get when you throw a jaded dating columnist together with an American photographer fleeing his complicated personal life and force them to share a small space on a remote Irish island? You end up with Josie Silver’s latest feel good romance that’s what. Wannabe novelist, Cleo Wilder is fed up of looking for her “forever flamingo” (love that phrase!) and with some reservation is accepting boss Ali’s idea for her next writing assignment, that of self coupling. Otter Lodge on Salvation Island is to become Cleo’s temporary home, a respite from city life and countless online dating disasters, her stay culminating in a self coupling ceremony to be held on her thirtieth birthday. Sounds utterly bonkers? Bear with me on this one! Surely what’s good enough for Emma Watson is good enough for our main character! Peace and solitude is what Cleo’s signed up for but that’s not what she gets when due to an administrative error she finds she has unexpected and unwelcome company in the form of Mack Sullivan. His visit to the island is an opportunity to connect with his ancestral roots whilst contemplating the shape of his future back in Boston and he has no intention of leaving anytime soon! So with no other lodgings available, inclement weather and no means of escape (except in the event of death!) they have no alternative but to endure each other’s presence.

I cast aside my skepticism over the concept of self coupling, which I have to admit sounded too hippyish for my liking, and decided to go with the flow, quickly realising what a wonderful piece of escapism this is! Curling up with a book like this, on a cold winter’s day is my idea of heaven. Forget the hot water bottle or blanket, (they’re entirely optional!) Josie Silver wraps you up in a warm welcoming storyline that makes you smile, laugh and possibly cry, your insides melting with the sheer movie style magic of it all. Unashamedly romantic and yes at times definitely cheesy (think extra mature!) the author moulds the narrative around the themes of friendship, sisterhood, love, self discovery and self acceptance. It’s about listening to and following your gut instincts as you find your true place in life, wherever and with whoever that may be, though the two aren’t mutually exclusive. This is a storyline which aims to convince you that being happy with who you are isn’t dependent on finding your “forever flamingo.” Admirable sentiment but I’m not sure how many of us entirely buy into that belief!! However let’s sweep those thoughts aside as with an abundance of cute, charming moments, each one prompting you to fall in love with Cleo and Mack just a little bit more ( and maybe even make you swoon) there was never any real doubt in my mind that I would love this book and all that it stands for. I just needed a little bit of convincing.

For me it’s always the in jokes or certain phrases potential lovers adopt as they learn to communicate with each other that sets my heart a flutter. Without these it’s hard to differentiate between one couple and the next and it’s these snippets of dialogue that touch your heart and make certain characters memorable. Cleo and Mack are certainly that. I fell hard and fast for these two lost souls, searching for their own version of happiness but without the other islanders this storyline wouldn’t be as cosy and comforting as it is. They might be an eclectic bunch but they all welcome these two visitors in the only way they know how; with open doors, open arms and open hearts. Some are outspoken and funny, (Delta and Carmen) some are the life and soul of the island (Raff and Barney) whilst others are simply friendly and helpful (Brianne and Erin). It’s only Dolores who’s a bit gruff but even she manages to makes you smile!

I think I fell in love with the location almost as much as I did with these characters. I have to agree with the quote from Mack that heads my review. I do enjoy a novel in which a setting can feel like a character in its own right and Josie Silver’s imaginary island earns that status in my opinion. As a city dweller, a singleton and someone who is quite comfortable with their own company, the thought of living off grid somewhere like Salvation Island holds immense appeal. Fresh, bracing sea air, beautiful rugged landscape, solitude and the chance to disconnect from life’s hectic pace are huge selling points but as always fiction is so much better than reality. In truth I’d probably miss the noise and hubbub, the corner shop that’s opened 24/7 and I would hate having intermittent wi-fi! All in all this isn’t simply a love story between two people, nor a journey of self discovery (although it’s both of those things) it’s about a love for a place and for a community too. The sense of friendship in this novel is incredibly strong and nearly as heartwarming as the romance element itself. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I’m happy I’m in the position to say that after three books my love affair with Josie Silver’s writing is still going strong! Long may it continue! I just hope I don’t have to wait quite so long for book number 4. One Night on the Island is perfect for fans of authors such as Amelia Henley, Beth O’Leary and Libby Page.

My thanks as always to the publisher Penguin and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfect romance novel. There are so many books around like this at the moment, but to make one stand out that's something special. This one stood out among the masses and kept my interest right to the end.

I really wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. The story is so beautiful! As a young women I really found myself in Cleo's initial story of trying to find herself. Slow burn romance is my absolute favourite and this really was fantastic.

This is the first book I've read from Josie Silver but I will need to pick up some more.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well, this book ripped my heart out. Cleo and Mack end up having to spend more than one night on a windswept Irish island due to inclement weather. I can attest to inclement weather in Ireland upsetting one's plans - this is a completely believable premise. Cleo is trying to write an article and needs to be alone, Mack is trying to sort out his life and needs to be alone - but they have no choice but to be together. The forced proximity is uncomfortable at first, but slowly the island, it's inhabitants and the lowering of defences brings them closer.

I really liked Mack but I couldn't warm to Cleo at first. She complains a lot and seems a bit uptight. But her bravery as she puts her heart on the line is pretty wonderful, and about halfway through the book I started to really get her.

The other characters make this book special. They are complex and strange, gregarious and deep, like island people can be.

I'm not going to lie, there were some pretty cinematic moments in this book where I was swept away and didn't realise I was weeping a little bit. That's rare for me to find in a book (or to admit to, frankly!)

I wanted more from the ending - it felt like there should have been more of a conclusion to me - but I suppose the book emphasises the messiness of love and how you can't tie everything up in a pretty little bow. There was still a happy ending, more poignant than jubilant, but lovely anyway.

This was an emotional and captivating book and I am keen to read more from this author, when I ready to have my heart ripped out again.

4.5⭐
I absolutely loved this, it took me a little while to get into but once I did I was hooked and read the entire thing in 2 nights.
I loved the main characters, side characters, I fell in love with the small town vibes and found family. I laughed and teared up at parts which Is always a sign of a good book!
The romance was top notch - I will definitely be reading more from Josie Silver in the future.
The only critisism I have is it felt a tiny bit repetitive at times and things came a little bit too easy to the main character, however, they are very small issues and in the grand scheme of things didnt effect my enjoyment.

Cleo is sent to Salvation Island by her boss, to allow her space to write an article for the online women's magazine that employs her. It's isolated, reached by a once-a-week boat, the perfect place to be alone. However, confusion arises over the booking of the lodge she was expecting to stay in, and she finds herself having to share with American Mack. He is on the island to take photographs for an exhibition, whilst healing his heart from a marriage break up. Can Salvation and its wonderful inhabitants and scenery help Cleo and Mack find what they're looking for?

I really enjoyed this book, it is beautifully written from the points of view of the two main characters. The supporting cast are colourful and engaging, and it made me cry on more than one occasion! Definitely worth a read.

Cleo set off to Otter Lodge on Salvation Island in order to spend more time with herself, commit to herself and to literally marry herself as part of her relationship and dating column.
So when Mack stumbles into Otter Lodge also, she finds herself in quite the predicament as this gets in the way of all of her plans.
Leaving the island is not that easy though and there are no hotels, so Cleo and Mack are stuck together, a simple twist of fate which saw the lodge double booked is to be responsible for their future happiness.

This is the perfect love story to cosy up with as it left me feeling quite emotional.
Set on Salvation Island, a remote Irish Isle in the Atlantic sea, hot and tropical it is not but the warmth that radiates from its community is heartfelt.
Cleo who is approaching her 30th birthday, arrives on the Isle for a self-coupling experience where she is going to marry herself to satisfy her editor boss and her readers. I found this concept a bit strange if Im honest but it may be because of my age! The accommodation is very basic but adequate and the peaceful environment is just what Cleo needs, that is until Mac an American, who has family roots there arrives only to discover that the cabin has been double booked with Cleo in situ. Thrown together and each with their own dilemmas to figure out they discover themselves and each other.
My thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC and to the publishers Penguin.

Josie Silver writes from both a male and female POV in her alternating chapters and she has such a skill with this where many authors I have read who attempt this often have a strength for the female voice than the male but Josie has a perfect balance with both.

The setting of this book on Salvation Island was calling out to me it was so alluring and the author left nothing to the imagination with her detailed descriptions of not only the calming views, the crisp air but also the small tight knit land dwellers and their strip backed lives and how happy and content they are as well as welcoming with open arms, OH how I wish I could have taken Cleo’s place!

Cleo and Mack both have reached a point in their lives where change is needed and Salvation Island is their stop gap to work out where their next path will lay but whilst they figure this out they provide us with witty moments from petty disagreements and water antics along with chemistry that was quick burning but leaving us on a will they won’t they see-saw.

The storyline does have self-discovery, self-love and new beginnings at the heart which is the perfect reading material for this time of year, I wont lie I did find the whole Cleo marrying herself a little bonkers and maybe a step too far. I do love how the author doesn’t create a simple romance but takes realistic situations and challenges with real life issues that can block a path to make the romance feel more believable and relatable.

This was another great read from Josie Silver, One More Day in December is still holding my top spot but this was still an enjoyable read that kicked off my 2022 reading to a great start.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Josie Silver doesn't disappoint when it comes to lovable characters and a good romance! I really enjoyed this book, and all the wonderfully depicted characters. I quite fancy some time.on salvation island myself :;) thanks to #netgalley #josiesilver and the publisher for my arc.

I adored everything about this book, particularly the lyrical and descriptive style in which it was written. The more I read, the more I became invested in Cleo and Mack and their imperfect lives. This is not your typical romance novel either - there are plenty of life lessons to be learnt, such as the importance of self-love. I also loved the tight-knit community on Salvation Island, how their stories interspersed with those of the main characters.

I’ve read everything that Josie Silver has published and I would argue this is her best work so far.

*Thanks to Penguin General UK and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I was glued to this from the first page!! I loved everything about it. The pacing worked really well and so did the alternating perspectives from Cleo and Mack. They were both really interesting characters. The side characters were excellent too - especially Delta and Brianne.

I loved the plot and concept of Cleo marrying herself. I loved the whole way they were thrown together in the cottage and I could picture every part of the island vividly while reading the authors descriptive writing.

This could have felt like one huge cliche but it never did. I felt a connection with the story, the characters and I felt really emotional at parts.

A lovely read.

This was such a beautiful book. The writing style and the plot were so good, I loved the character development for them both. The scenic descriptions almost felt like I was there with them. I also love a romance, but this was nice as the love story wasn't the only singular plot to the book. The 'background' characters were so loveable, and I really enjoyed escaping into this book,

It took me a little while to get in to this book. Mack and Cleo both think they have booked the cottage on Salvation Island and both refuse to leave, so they are forced into living together temporarily. When Mack originally tells Cleo about his life back home in America it made me a little wary of where the story was going. I am glad I persevered as this story was beautifully written and had lots of really enjoyable characters. Cleo essentially goes to the island to find herself and Mack goes there to find out about his family and to try and sort out his feelings about what is going on back at home. Cleo is fun, smart, beautiful and a bit lost. Mack is handsome, intelligent and conflicted. They both have a lot to sort out and getting into a relationship seems like a really bad idea, but they both agree that it will be short term and then they will both go on with their lives. They definitely had a strong connection, there was a little bit on heat in the story, not a lot, but I didn’t really mind this. I loved all the island characters and how they welcomed Mack & Cleo. You don’t originally get the happily ever after you expect as there is more to the story and the ending isn’t a typical HEA but it seems to suit the story well.

Ms Silver does it again! One Night On The Island is a light-hearted, feel-good read full of likeable, believable characters who really tugged at the heartstrings! A truly enjoyable read!

Well written book with a not entirely plausible but nevertheless interesting premise. The author has a nice way with words and paints a lovely, slightly soggy, picture of the island our two protagonists find themselves on. I liked the alternating chapters between Cleo and Mack. Interesting personal growth for both characters during the story. When the romance between them started it escalated pretty quickly. I think I would have liked a bit more connection/ chemistry between them first because it felt a bit out of the blue even though I knew it would happen at some point. I also wish the story had a slightly more romantic ending. Ultimately I think this book falls more within woman’s fiction than romance but it’s still worth a read. (Overall 3 ⭐️)

This was a lighthearted feel good book that was a delight to read.

Funny and romantic with like-able characters I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for an escape from real life for a few hours.

I really enjoyed this light hearted, romantic, chick flick of a story.. Cleo goes to a remote island of the coast of Ireland to celebrate her thirtieth birthday whilst marrying herself in order to write for her agent. She discovers her accommodation is not as she thought- this throws a spanner in the works and her plans will need to change. It also demonstrates how small communities pull together and look out for one another.