One Night on the Island’s main characters had competition with the backdrop of Salvation Island, off the coast of Ireland. Josie Silver’s moody, tumultuous description of the weather and terrain of Salvation Island seeps into your skin and saturates the tone of the story. So much so that when sparks flew between the two main characters it was subdued instead of electrifying. Maybe this was what Ms. Silver was after, a slow ebb and flow with gray tones in between real life issues. At first thoughts, the self-coupling and micro-love relationship descriptions were a bit hippie for me. Until Cleo actual performs her whimsical ceremony to herself, my heart opened up to the acceptance of one being enough. One Night on the Island is about self-acceptance, endurance and the natural flow of life.

I love Josie Silver’s first 2 books but unfortunately this one was a dud for me.. I didn’t really care for any of the characters in the book. I didn’t feel engaged or invested in them.

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the second chance novel about almost exes and loved the travel aspect. The main characters had great chemistry and I rooted for them to get back together!

Fans of One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, Josie Silver is ready for you!

🙏🏼 Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for this eARC - published February 15, 2022!

One Night on the Island introduces you to Cleo and Mack, who are both itching for some alone time. On the brink or turning 30, Cleo is on her way to Ireland for a solo retreat to focus on her personal choices and career. Meanwhile, Mack has traveled to the same Irish island all the way from Boston in the hopes of getting closer to his roots.

A booking mishap has them sharing the same room - a far cry from the solitude they both hoped for. With no way off the island except a ferry that only comes by once a week, Cleo and Mack are stuck in each other’s company but with each passing day they realize that together might just be better than alone.

Silver’s trademark British charm and romance shine as the much-anticipated One Night on the Island “…explores the meaning of home, the joys of escape, and how the things we think we want are never the things we really need.”

Though I didn't love this one as much One Day in December, this has all the trademarks of a Josie Silver book. A heartwarming story, two main characters you can't help but root for, and an important message at the heart of it all. What I loved most about this book is that it has the usual tropes (only one bed, etc) but then destroys it all in the end. It promotes self love more than romantic love. And you can argue that it does not end with everything tied up neatly with a red bow that screams happily-ever-after. Both characters go on their own journey, despite being drawn together. This book teaches you that sometimes what you think you want is not what you need. Happy to recommend it to anyone looking for more than a heartwarming romance, I'd recommend it to someone who wants to discover more about themselves.

I think Josie Silver just gets better and better. This story was magical. I want to move to Salvation Island and live the simple life. This was a romance but also a story about finding yourself and exploring the complexity of human relationships. An absolutely magical novel that’s going on the all time favorites shelf.

Ok, I’m sold, Josie. I will read all of your books from here on out because you are three for three with me 😍

I adored this book. ADORED! I know I use that word a lot, but my heart just soared with this one. There were so many aspects that gave me immense joy.

Cleo’s journey to self love was beautiful. When she yelled at the top of her lungs, skinny dipped in a cave, sat by herself by the sea, and all of the other moments rediscovering herself, I teared up. I felt like we could all learn from her and take a few notes. If only we could all have a bountiful amount of self love ❤️

And Mack. Oh we can’t leave out Mack. His own personal struggles and growth during the novel just added to the depth of the story. Putting these two characters together was brilliant, and the way it all played out was believable and real.

Lastly, the people of Salvation Island ❤️ Wow. After living on Kodiak Island for three years, I swore I’d never do the cold, rainy and desolate island life again, but I think I’d be ok on Salvation Island with these wonderful people.

In short, read this book.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the arc in exchange for my honest review ❤️

British dating columnist Cleo is about to turn 30, and she’s not really looking forward to it. Already in looking back at her 20s, she’s displeased about the string of nonstarter dating experiences she’s had (and written about). When her boss suggests a new experience to document for their online women’s magazine, which involves spending time alone on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Cleo is not eager to go. But her boss insists, and off she goes to spend a quiet, introspective month on the tiny island of Salvation. The plan is to have her “marry herself” in a solitary ceremony as a way of finding herself and creating goals for her 30s. Cleo will take some pictures and send back articles about it to run in the zine.

American photographer Mac is going to Salvation to spend a couple of months exploring the island where his grandmother grew up. He’s planning to take a lot of photos and mount an exhibition back home in Boston. But he’s also looking forward to lots of alone time where he can figure out what to do about his complicated life.

Unfortunately, thanks to some kind of miscommunication, the two end up in the same little cottage, each expecting solitude in an off-the-grid one-room house with a view of the ocean. And because the ferry only comes once a week and there are no other accommodations on Salvation, they’re stuck with each other. And slowly, slowly, they become friends, and more. But while they can enjoy their time in a little spot apart from the rest of the world, eventually they have to go back to the realities awaiting them back in their respective (and very different) lives. Will their time together be just a time to remember fondly, or could it be more?

I enjoyed the story; it wasn’t as light as I was expecting, and the characters are truly facing some challenges. It’s nicely written and real, but I wasn’t entirely pleased with how it was resolved. Mac is a married man, though his wife has basically left him, which is a big reason this love story is complicated. I just couldn’t fully enjoy the way it plays out because of the infidelity aspect; I’d much rather have read a story without that. And I had a bit of a hard time really believing that Cleo’s boss would send her away from work for as long as she did, regardless of how supportive she is of Cleo’s personal needs. A week, maybe (which is more of the amount of time taken in a similar novel I read recently, Just Haven’t Met You Yet, where a woman goes to an island to write about her parents’ true love story for her online magazine), but over a month? And then if that’s the case, why does the title reference one NIGHT on the island? There are enough questions in my mind about minor to moderate plot points that it doesn’t necessarily ruin, but puts a damper on, the getting-swept-up-in-the-story aspect.

I enjoyed Josie Silver's latest book, and thought it had a great overall message of taking a step back and reevaluating what is actually important to you in life, not what society and the media thinks is important. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and wish the author had dedicated a bit more time to fleshing out their relationship after he returned to the island.

I received a copy from Netgalley for free but the opinions here are strictly my own and I am sad to say that I struggled to finish this book. I did not like it at all. First, they don't spend "one night" on the island but are there together for weeks. They are double booked at the same cottage and there is no other accommodations anywhere on the island so they just stay together. That sounds like the start of a Stephen King novel. Anyway, Cleo, from London, is approaching 30 and has decided to marry herself, more like a PR stunt for her advice column but really she is struggling with the whole what am I doing with my life. Mac is from Boston and is a photographer and is having is own existential crisis.

The beginning of the novel had me hopeful that the two would have a great romance but then I realized the H was married!!!! He was estranged and his wife was controlling when he saw his kids which is weird because I've been to family court and he would have a custody and parenting time order so that was a weak plot point. Aside from being married, he was still hopeful that he could be a family again with his wife and kids and felt like he was cheating when he kissed the h. Just a big yikes! Nope. His baggage came with red flags and Cleo should have ran from that quick.

Plus, I felt that the story ended abruptly without a true HEA just a hope for one and that left me bitterly disappointed considering how I had to force myself to keep reading after the above bit happened. I have been reading romance for 30 years and this one did not do it for me.

As an avid romance reader and fan of the "only one room" or "only one bed" trope, this one was right up my alley. When a burned out romance columnist from London and a man from Boston looking for a major life change end up booked at the same one room cottage on a remote island in Ireland, the annoyance level of not being alone is not the only thing that rachets up. The two find that they may not mind being in each other's company so bad after all. This is a charming romance and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Thank you for the review copy.

This one was 3.5 stars for me and I chose to round up because I think it achieves exactly what it sets out to do—which is to say, to be smart, slightly feminist chick lit with real character development. The whole premise of the story was a bit absurd for me, and in some ways the central relationship felt slightly rushed and like it was lacking a full foundation. But, the characters were so well developed and I really appreciated that the focus of the book wasn’t exclusively on the romance. I liked its focus on independent women who care about more than dating, who build fulfilling lives for themselves, and who have real community. It was also well written and atmospheric and I found it a quick, satisfying read.

I am beginning to think I am just not a Josie Silver fan.

I know so many people who love her books but they just are not for me. Too much angst and not enough plot.

While there wasn’t really official cheating in the book, the line was blurred, and OM/OW drama is a trigger for me.

I think people that love Josie Silver will probably love this book but this is the second book I have read of hers that I just did not care for.

I absolutely loved this book, and found myself happily swept up in the stories of Cleo and Mack, and their unlikely encounter as unwanted roommates at a tiny cabin on a tiny island in Ireland. They’re both going through some ~things~ and their time on the island (and together) provides the catalyst they both need to make some major revelations and decisions about their individual lives. There’s also their unexpected, crackling chemistry to throw a wrench in the mix. Add in a charming cast of supportive characters in the island’s residents, and I found myself completely lost in this world from start to finish, and lingering there mentally long after I’d read the last page.

Cleo is a dating columnist and her 30th birthday is approaching. Her boss sends her to a remote Irish island to indulge in some self-care and hopefully add a new perspective to her column. Max lives in Boston and is looking for some alone time and to explore his Irish roots on the secluded island. There is just one rental cabin on the island, and unfortunately their bookings get mixed up and they are forced to stay together in the one-room rental for the exact same dates.

This one was just okay to me. It was a romance, but I think I would have liked it better if it was more about self-love and friendship. Cleo and Max are on the secluded both to get away from the stresses that they deal with during their everyday life. They are both trying to figure out what they want in life and what the “next step is.” It was a slow burn and I felt the romance was forced. My favorite part of the book was the side characters – all of the townspeople in the small town.

A huge thank you to the publsiher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was good!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced copy of One Night on the Island.

What I Loved-

✨ The Island- I loved the setting of this book! It was charming and secluded. I love books that take place in Ireland. Definitely on my vacation bucket list.

✨ The Characters- I really enjoyed reading from Cleo and Mack’s POV but the people of Salvation Island stole my heart. I loved the ladies of the knitting circle. The camaraderie between these women made me feel so warm and fuzzy. They were funny and charming. They were a delight to read.

✨ Nostalgia- Cleo is on the very edge of turning 30 and her feelings were so relatable. She was trying to figure out life outside of finding “the one” for her. Of course there is a bit of romance in this novel but that’s not what Cleo came to the island for.

Why This Book Lost a Star-

✨ The Romance- it took a while for me to be on board with it. The first half of the book dragged for me and I didn’t enjoy Cleo and Mack’s interactions. I was a little annoyed by both characters in the beginning. Over time they did grow on me and I was invested by the end .
Personally- I enjoy love stories when both characters are unattached. The fact that Mack was not divorced and hung up on his estranged wife irked me.
Then he finds out she’s moved on and wow how convenient: Cleo and Mack can have a love affair.

Overall- I enjoyed One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird more than this book but I still recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved this book. It’s the classic “forced proximity” trope, and it’s very well done. It’s also enemies to lovers and slow burn, all in one book! I loved the descriptions of the area, I can easily imagine how beautiful it must be. Cleo is on a journey to learn to love herself, and Mac needs to figure out who he is after the breakup of his marriage while trying to be the best father possible.

From the Publisher:
Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is the last thing that dating columnist Cleo wanted, but she is going on a self-coupling quasi-sabbatical--at the insistence of her boss--in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she's booked is a far cry from London, but at least it's a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some quiet, solitary self-care while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career.
Mac is also looking forward to some time to himself. With his life in Boston deteriorating in ways he can't bring himself to acknowledge, his soul searching has brought him to the same Irish island in search of his roots and some clarity. Unfortunately, a mix-up with the bookings means both solitude seekers have reserved the same one-bedroom hideaway on exactly the same dates.

The book is beautifully written and I didn’t want it to end. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As Cleo's 30th birthday approaches and has no love life prospects her boss decides to push her into going to Ireland. She thinks it will be a great life reflection, spend some time alone, re-evaluate things, but it turns out she won't be alone for long.

Mack Sullivan also has the cabin booked after recently separating from his wife and the 2 need to learn to co-exist.

Silver is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. Once again, a fantastic read!

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
A romantic feel-good novel that makes you read another one. How do you become part of a closed community, and feel like you're one of the in-crowd? You have to go through real life with people and let life happen.

You'll enjoy this look at island life, the likable characters, and a plot that keeps you hoping for love.

4.5 Stars. This book was not what I expected! I still enjoyed it a lot and read it all in about two sittings. The chemistry between the two main characters was palpable and I loved the way they interacted. I especially was caught up in the community on the Island, that was one of my favorite parts of the whole novel. Cleo is a very complex main character- she has a lot of flaws and a lot of heart. Mac seemed to be dealing with a lot, but he came across as a very good man in the end. The ending was more "Happy for Now", but I think that it was the only solution. My one hesitation of the book is that the relationship had a lot of baggage and I usually go for more uncomplicated stories. However, Josie Silver handled the obstacles with grace and wit and won me over in the end!