Don’t think this is your usual rom-com! It’s so much more than that. It’s raw and honest and heartwarming. I even can’t put into words what this story did to me.

Cleo is turning thirty without a significant other and visits a small Irish island to be significantly alone. She’s going to marry herself because she’s enough already, alone but not lonely. Mack was married with two kids when he turned thirty, and now at thirty-five, he’s screwed up, not sure about a lot of things anymore, and visiting the island as well, looking for his roots.

One Night on the Island is about two messed-up people and what they need in life. I loved the descriptive and sometimes even lyrical writing. I loved the only one-bed trope, or more precisely, the one-room trope (think of an imaginary line in the middle). I loved their ‘three things’ conversations in the dark. I loved the sisterhood on the island, all those different women who had solidarity and kinship instilled into their bones. I loved Mack, such a great dad, and I loved to read a male’s point of view in a straight rom-com. I loved to immerse myself in those characters with all their flaws and imperfections who felt so incredibly real. And finally, I loved that ending, so fitting for this not your usual rom-com.

This book was so much better than I initially thought it would be. The more I read, the more I was invested in Cleo’s and Mack’s story. They had so much doubt and hesitation, just like we all have in life, and their struggles were so genuine. Once in a while, I got this feeling in my chest and my stomach when I found another layer in this wonderful book, and at those moments, I got lumps in my throat, swallowing got difficult, and I cried—beautiful, ugly tears.

There’s one thing, though, that could put readers off. Without giving too much away, it’s got something to do with cheating. I saw one and two-star ratings because of this topic, and even though I believe the story is beautifully nuanced, if cheating really is a red flag for you, if there’s no grey for you when it comes to this topic, please, think twice. Because then this might not be the book for you. For all the others who love a rom-com that colors outside the usual lines, that’s moving and raw and teaches us so much about self-acceptance, please read this incredible story!

📖BOOK REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#OneNightOnTheIsland by #JosieSilver

➡️for synopsis

After enjoying #OneDayInDecember I was looking forward to this the latest instalment from #JosieSilver.

So I really did enjoy this one for three quarters of the book; the characters were well developed, relatable and their stories interesting. The books setting sang to my heart - set by the sea, solitude and warm nights by the fire - Silver does a great job of describing the location and incorporating the other island residents into the plot and they really made the book for me. The splitting of the narration between the two main characters I also really enjoyed.

I found it a none complicated easy read. It demanded very little brain power and was perfect for my sleep deprived brain. I was surprised to find a story about very little to be so entertaining, up until the last quarter that is.

This book just went on a little too long. Books like this are predictable and that’s fine, expected and wanted if your choosing to go to read this genre, but it does mean, for me anyway, that they can’t be over egged. The plot can go from being nice and enjoyable to dragged out and boring very quickly I find with this type of read, and that’s what happened here. The ending was so slow coming that I really was getting to the point of skipping - I knew the ending I just wanted to get there! I thought it was a shame that it ended on such a note.

Saying this, overall it was an enjoyable and nice read that’s definitely worth reading. It’s a lovely story, that does employ some originality and is a completed (eventually) satisfactorily at the end.

With thanks to #netgalley author #josiesilver and #penguinbooks for allowing me to read this one very early!

Due out: Feb 17th

-Emily

@the_book_girls_1

If you want a feel-good read but also have a good blub, this is the novel for you.

A love story but not what you are expecting. The characters start fairly usual, a writer and a photographer meet on a small Irish island. They've both booked the same lodge for an indeterminate period of time. There is only one rental on the island, and the boat only comes once a week, weather permitting. What to do, when both are there seeking solitude?

The island, thought starting out rather like Craggy Island of Father Ted fame, becomes something warmer and and more spirited, populated by kind souls who take the misfits to their hearts.

A feminist book to an extent, Cleo is trying to find herself on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, she isn't looking for romance, has given up on it until she learns how to love herself. And then there's Mack, fleeing from the pain of a broken marriage, knowing he has to go back, however much is hurts, because of his two sons. Two broken people.

I cried at several points in the narrative. Josie Silver portrays the pain of both so carefully, so viscerally, and she paints a multi-faceted view of a failed marriage that manages to avoid cliche, but feels very real.

Loved it.

Gentle, romantic novel about Cleo and her identity approaching 30 & Mack and his broken home-life. Read the book to see how Cleo experiences Salvation Island - captivating and encouraging her to stay. A book about new experiences, opening your heart and listening to your gut. Lovely!

A wonderful love story full of self-discovery, strength, hope and resilience.

Beautifully rich characters, a heavenly Irish island and a romance which is rustic, real and believable. I was fully invested in Mack and Cleo - as individuals and together.

I devoured this in a day as I did Josie Silver’s previous book! Please write more!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Josie Silver for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is an escapist romance that was both enjoyable and easy to read. It transported me to a remote Irish island full of some great characters. In fact “Salvation”was a lovely place to be as the nights were drawing in and I wanted to settle down with a good book.
Cleo is a twenty something journalist who is approaching her milestone birthday a fact which is leading her to a lot of angst and soul searching. Seeing her difficulties, her boss and friend, Ali, sends her to a remote Irish island so that she can find herself or as described in the book “ marry herself”.
Cleo has had a string of unsuitable romances but is in a situation when she just wants to be comfortable in her own skin. When she arrives at Otter Lodge she is shocked to discover it has been double booked. Mack, a handsome American, who looks like Hans Solo, arrives at the same time as her and they have to work out what to do until one of them can leave or find accommodation elsewhere.
Mack is suffering from a recent marriage breakdown and has decided to come to “Salvation” to find his roots , get some perspective and take photos for an exhibition he is planning. Missing his young sons and his ex wife he has to negotiate with Cleo regarding sharing of the house. They really do not start off on a good footing as neither wants to leave and both claim the moral high ground regarding the house rental.
It didn’t take a genius to work out that sparks would eventually fly and One Night On The Island would turn into a delightful love story which was difficult to put down. However it was really hard to work out the outcome as the two lead characters came from completely different continents and Mack, in particular, had a lot of baggage and heartache to overcome. As the story moved on, I even fell a little in love with Mack, myself, as I was reading about him - he seemed like a fantastic father and an all round wonderful guy!
This was an enjoyable read which I would recommend for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming romance that transports the reader away from everyday life. For me it did just that and I shall certainly be recommending it to my friends and family.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my advance copy.

This was a lovely, kind of old fashioned love story, that carried you into and along with it. And it didn't fall into that terribly annoying thing of being very twiddly dee Oirish, which is hard to come by and much appreciated! Really enjoyed this!

I devoured this in less than 24 hours. This was the sweet, heartwarming romance that I needed, with the perfect addition of learning to having a romance with yourself.

Cleo is nearing thirty when she agrees to leave London for a couple of months and head to an unheard of island off Ireland to find self love and marry herself, all for some good articles in her dating column. It means a bit more than that to Cleo, but I’ll not give too many details on that. Of course, it doesn’t go quite to plan and the cottage has been double booked. Yep, there’s only one bed.

I really liked Cleo as a character, and all of the Salvation characters really made the story come to life. Mack was wonderful too, of course, but its the women in this story that are what truly makes it.

I’d definitely read more of Josie’s work after this!

Just beautiful.

This is so much more than a love story.

It's about finding yourself and learning to love everything about you.

I felt everything as I read this.

The lust, the romance. It really did move me.

And the setting was just perfect and so wonderfully described. If I closed my eyes, I could find myself right there.

Josie silver is definitely one of my go to authors.

This is one of those totally predicable but wholly enjoyable books that I feel guilty reading but need every now and then. A nice, gentle read when you need to step back from life for a while.

Oh I really loved this one. I adore Josie Silver and thought nothing would top One Day in December but this is up there with it. I think I might have been a bit too old to get onboard with the concept of the main character marrying herself and did cringe at a couple of things she said and thought. But my word, did Mac pull it all together for me. He was wonderful and tortured and perfectly placed. The setting was sublime. A wonderful book.

I loved this book. It is set on a remote Island in Ireland. Cleo is a journalist writing articles on dating, her boss organises for Cleo to go to a remote Island to spend time in isolation and write an article about marrying herself before she turns thirty.
Nothing goes as planned. When Cleo arrives at the cottage booked by her boss Cleo discovers that the cottage is double booked and Mack is established in the cottage and has no intentions of leaving.
I loved the descriptions of the Island characters and how they interacted and included Cleo in their activities. This was a feel good romance about relationships and Island life.

Cleo has tried the dating scene herself many a time but has never found true love, and at almost thirty, she remains single. The thing is, she writes a weekly column all about dating. When her editor suggests that she take a trip to a beautiful remote island and marry herself as a modern-day gesture for her thirtieth birthday, she jumps at the chance. I mean, who wouldn’t, it sounds like the perfect getaway place, and it’s all free.

After a fraught journey, she finally arrives at the cottage at the same time as a very annoying American. Mac insists that the cottage is where he is staying too. It is late, and there is nowhere else for either of them to go. Not that they would, as both are equally stubborn anyway. The next problem they encounter is the place only has one bedroom, so Mack takes the couch.

There is nowhere else on the Island to stay, so the two of them have to resign themselves to sharing the cottage, literally drawing a line, not to be crossed. There is no doubt about where this story is going. But it is the incredible journey that they take, that makes this a stunning story.

This isn’t just a romance, it is a story about the people that live on the Island when all the tourists have gone home. It is about friendships, traditions and being there for someone when they are broken. I laughed out loud while I read this story and cried and wailed ugly tears. I made wishes, cursed and swore and loved every single chapter.

It isn’t just a story where you get to know the characters. It’s a story where the characters finally get to know themselves. Beautifully written.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

This book is a good mix of all things feel good, if you’re single and in your mid 20s this might be for you. Cleo’s journey is one I think most people could relate too (minus the remote island, you can but dream), the character development is great. If you love a romance novel you’ll love this book. A solid plot development that keeps you coming back for more, a tiny bit predictable but worth a read none the less

Oh I loved this so much. It’s not deep, there are no angsty twists or massive dramas and I loved it all the more for that - it feels like a safe, warm, nest of a book - an escape from the real world. You know exactly what you’re getting from the beginning, and it’s so much kinder a read for it. It doesn’t stop it hitting hard though, I sobbed my way through parts of it, but it’s bloody lovely.

I love Josie Silver and couldn’t wait to get a hold of her new book. It’s cute, I didn’t cry, not even close but it’s a cute quick read. Slightly predictable but still couldn’t put it down. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this Arc.

Oh my - this is my favourite book of the year, I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved it. Sometimes you struggle to read a book and then you come across a gem like this one. I laughed out loud and I spent the last couple of hours with tears in my eyes, what a roller coaster. Something obviously resonated with me for sure. Love love love

Cleo is a journalist who is sent on a retreat for her 30th birthday to Salvation Island to marry herself or in the words of Emma Watson ‘self-couple’ in a one bedroom cozy lodge. Only, she’s not alone, the lodge has been double booked by Mack, a grumpy American. What transpires is a story of finding happiness and a journey to loving yourself.

I absolutely devoured this book and feel as though I’m still trying to pick my heart up off the floor. I fell head over heels in love with Cleo, Mack and the villagers of Salvation Island.

This story made me swoon one moment, had me in tears the next and left me longing for my own trip to Salvation Island. I feel as though I’ve just stepped out of an epic romcom, already thinking about my favourite lines in the book.

Josie Silvers writing is wonderful, I can’t wait to read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this.

I took a long time to get into this book. I'm glad I persevered though, as it was a great read.
I thoroughly connected with the characters and were routing for them throughout the whole book.
This story is unique and heartwarming. I would thoroughly recommend it.

This was a surprising read which got stronger as it progressed, I thought this might be a bit cliched and the concept of marrying yourself even if for a magazine article was a bit far out however the effect of her time on the island on Cleo was quite meaningful and really added a lot of dimension to her character. I like that this isn’t a straightforward love story and is more about loving yourself and your life and the harsh solitude of the island combined with the colourful islanders and Mack the unexpected house mate all added together to make for a warm yet thought provoking read.