5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. After a couple “just okay” books I’m happy to say I’m ending the month of January with a wonderful book that I really enjoyed. I loved the setting of this book. It took place in Ireland on Salvation Island. Cleo and Mack unexpectedly have to share Otter Lodge and of course there is a love story involved. But not your normal, “ALL happy” romance novel. Mack and Cleo are on the island for very different reasons and even though they both fall in love with the island (and all of the people there), they both have commitments back home. I love how the chapters switch between Cleo and Mack’s perspective. I honestly loved both of them, along with all the other characters. Salvation Island was truly like one big family. Dolores, Brianne, Raffe and especially Delta….each character was unique and they all just made me smile. I think my favorite part of the book was when Cleo and Mack would give their list of 3 facts. Sometimes random facts about their likes and dislikes, sometimes personal things that happened in their lives and sometimes just what they were feeling. At 81% of the book when Mack sends 3 (plus 3a and 3b) to Cleo, I was almost in tears! I absolutely loved this authors writing. Her descriptions of the island, the way she made you feel connected to each character, the way she literally made you FEEL what Cleo and Mack were feeling….it was just so beautifully written. As I got close to finishing this one, I just didn’t want it to end. I would love to read a sequel and get more of a glimpse into what the future held for Cleo and Mack as the years went on. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book and look forward to reading more by Josie Silver.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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How I love Josie Silver's books! Always a treat. One Night on the Island is no exception. A slow burn if I ever read one that absolutely ended up differently than I expected.

This was an entertaining book that caught my attention quickly and kept my interest. Cleo and Mack are both going to a cabin on a remote Irish island to "find themselves". They find themselves booked into the same cabin at the same time and there is no where else to stay. The boat that brought them there can't get back for weeks and they end up reluctantly sharing the cabin. Each of them has things to work out and they go from enemies to friends to lovers over the course of the month. There is enough romance, drama, plot twists, and interesting characters to keep a reader interested. It was a good, attention grabbing read.

Enjoyed reading this book. I liked how the Mack character prioritized being a father, which seemed realistic. A great setting and the other characters in the story were fun and interesting! Cleo seemed one dimensional at first but as the story moved along, her character developed. Her turning thirty and coming into her own was a great addition to a romance book.

I was so excited to read One Night On The Island after loving Josie Silver's other books! The premise was entertaining and this book was full of the same heart that draws me to Josie Silver as a reader. The book did a wonderful job of developing both characters and I really enjoyed reading both POVs. The theme of self-love was written very thoughtfully and realistically. Overall, I thought it was a fresh, heart-wrenching, and captivating read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves love stories with a lot of angst and open-ended possibilities.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC of One Night On The Island in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted on Goodreads upon publication of the book.

I'm sad to say I haven't found the same One Day in December magic with One Night on The Island, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that Josie Silver can make it happen with a future book. This one took me a while to get into-- I was pretty unattached and blah about it until around 40%, when I thought it picked up. Certain parts felt kind of like a slog to get through. I definitely wouldn't classify it as a rom-com, but there are some humorous points here and there. I did have a hard time really feeling Mack and Cleo's relationship and rooting for them because it felt like Mack was still genuinely in love and pining for his estranged wife for the first half of the book and then that just kind of... went away fairly abruptly. Ah to be a man and shut off emotions so quickly, lol.

Yes the whole 'Cleo marrying herself' part was hella cheesy, but idk, as a single person in my early 30s, I really liked the whole idea and motivation behind it... even if the actual event itself was a little much.

Salvation Island is a place I'd love to go and I have an Ireland hankering something bad now. Silver always does an exceptional job transporting you to where her characters are.

Overall, not my favorite, but a nice read in general. Much more heavy and emotion filled than it's being sold as.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Josie Silver is a go to author for me. Her books are so romantic and so full of substance and depth.

This latest book is no exception.

Cleo is from London and is on assignment on a remote Irish Island. She ends up evaluating not only her lackluster love life but her friends, family and career during her stay.

Mack is visiting the island to learn about his family history. Mack is also re-evaluating his life as he looks forward to taking pictures to document his journey into the past. The photos he takes will be exhibited in a gallery in Boston where he is from.

As luck would have it both are double booked accidentally into the same cabin and are both too stubborn to leave. This leads to some heated conversations and uncomfortable situations as they both focus on their missions. They get to know the residents of the small island and find themselves caring for these people as well as each other.

This story is heartbreaking, inspiring and unforgettable. I loved every page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hum Drum Story

I’m probably in the minority but I found this novel, well, boring and predictable. The plot involves two main characters. Cleo, who is popular writer of an online magazine with romantic themes. Her boss sends her to this remote island on the premise that she wants her to write and relax. Cleo hopes, nearing thirty years old, hopes someday she will find her flamingo. Yes, a flamingo, who apparently mate for life.

The other main character is Mack Sullivan, a photographer, visiting the island to take a breather from his wife, who wants a separation/divorce and his two sons. He worships his sons, but he feels that if he is present, his pain and sorrow negatively affect his boys.

The island has a quirky population that seems to console the photographer and the dating columnist. Mack and Cleo evolve into a couple, but Mack does not become her flamingo, at least when I reached the banal ending.

My gratitude to Random House-Ballantine for this unpublished book. All opinions expressed are my own.

One Night on The Island is the story of Cleo’s journey to loving her inner self. Granted these journeys are never quick or easy, and the way Josie Silver gets us to that point is heartwarming.
What is supposed to be a solitary vacation on a remote island quickly turns sour as the house has been doubled rented. Though Cleo and Mack both make strong cases for being the true renters, they are forced to make the best of a bad situation. Both Cleo and Mack have equally compelling reasons for wanting to experience the solitary atmosphere of the island, and through a dual POV story we experience both their journeys.
I love how all the women of Salvation Island rally around Cleo and make her feel welcome. Cleo is a strong woman, and the women recognize a kindred spirit. Mack needs to tackle his journey alone, but Cleo is there when needed to help him tackle some tough situations.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. It is not a typical romcom enemies to lovers’ story, but more of a learning to love yourself story. I laughed, I cried, and I was anxious for a happy ending.
Thank you very much to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for sharing this Arc with me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn’t love this as much as her other books. This was about two people, lost in their own way, coming together and finding themselves and each other. There’s a lot of character growth and swoon worthy scenarios. The supporting characters were eccentric and entertaining. The story flowed well enough but the ending is where it lost me. I just of went, “Oh okay. That’s it then.” Maybe an epilogue from 10 years in the future would have provided a bit of closure. Overall, I liked but didn’t love it.

Wow, I can’t even handle how perfect this book. I thought it would be a pure fluff, predictable and easy read and WOW, I was just blown away by the substance. I was so moved by how heartfelt Cleo’s self-coupling wedding was. I’m past 30 and very married but also I kind of want to do that?! Everything about it was so powerful and moving. Plus I was REALLY worried in the beginning of this book that it would be very anti marriage but WOW it was so beautifully done with the feelings for the marriage. But sometimes it’s out of our control and just…wow. I was moved. I fell in love with both characters. And also…I want to move to a quiet island and build a powerful community. Wow. I’m just in love with every aspect of this book.

Such an enjoyable read. There were a number of romantic cliches in here but the author’s writing was impressive and she was able to incorporate these cliches in a not-so-cringe way. I liked the two main characters and found myself rooting for both of them equally. And the setting was amazing. It’s what attracted me to the book in the first place and I was not disappointed.

A typical romance where Cleo and Mack find themselves at an inn on a small island accidentally at the same time. They dislike each other, fall for each other, break up, then…we’ll I won’t spoil it. I just read a really fabulous OTHER romance novel and sadly this fell
short. I just never loved the characters and was bored by the long road to the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of One Night on the Island! I give this 3.5/5 stars. A very sweet story that was easy to like.

Cleo, a dating columnist is sent to Salvation Island on assignment. Her goal: the wed herself on her thirtieth birthday. Alone. She’s had a long string of failed dating stints and to be honest she’s over it and looking for a way to move on from that life. Mack, a newly (single?) dad comes to Salvation Island to find his roots. He’s a photographer and hoping his lineage can provide some inspiration. Much to their surprise they have both booked the luxury lodge on the island which serves as the only form of lodging accommodations. They are both stuck and the rest is history.

I found the first half to be quite slow and it was hard for me to stay engaged. About 60% of the way through, however, I couldn’t put it down. I really loved the way Silver wrote the thoughts and feelings of both Cleo and Mack. It certainly was not a surface level kind of love and I really really enjoyed that. It was emotional and incredibly sweet!! A great romance and I’m so excited to read more of her work!

Cleo heads out on an adventure to find self acceptance and marry herself in order to write a story for the magazine she writes for. She heads to Salvation Island not expecting to have to share a lodge with Mack. Mack is a recently separated dad of two looking to connect with the land where his relatives lived. Over time the two begin to find a deeper connection than either was looking for - with each other, with the townspeople, and with the town itself. I enjoyed this one and truly felt it was a love story in many aspects including self love, township, and romantic love. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a wonderful love story about a man and a woman who end up in the same cabin on a small island with a very small community. Cleo is a magazine writer who is spending her thirtieth birthday on this island to "self couple" after years of searching for Mr. Right. Mack is a photographer who is there to capture some family history and figure out how to save his marriage. After initially being upset with the double booking situation, the two let their guards down and become friends and then intimate, declaring what they have to be a vacation fling, a micro love. But, Cleo finds she quite likes herself and her new friends and decides to stay longer, while Mack heads home, realizes his marriage isn't salvageable, and wonders if maybe it was more than micro love with Cleo. The character development in this story is well done, and the reader will definitely root for all possible outcomes, even the one where Mack is able to fix his marriage. Cleo and Mack are strong, and will be ok with or without each other.

I've just finished this heart-wrenching read and had to immediately put my thoughts down. This book took a little while to get into, but once it took hold of me, there was no putting this one down. I loved this island, I loved these characters, I loved the struggles, I loved the honesty and I loved the idea of self-love.

In the end, this book was about finding the ability to love yourself for exactly who you are. Being able to see your weaknesses as part of your make-up instead of something you are always lamenting and wanting to change. I loved the character growth shown in this story. I loved the importance of parenting, I loved the importance of family. I loved the importance of heritage. And I loved the focus on finding strength within yourself rather than always looking to others to build it up.

Cleo and Mack both go to Salvation Island looking for a respite from their normal lives. Cleo goes on assignment for an online column based in London, and Mack travels from America to see the place where his roots were formed. The island is extremely cold weather-wise, but extremely welcoming in the way that only a small town, tight knit community that relies on each other for everything can be.

Cleo is nearing her thirtieth birthday, and is ready to make peace with the fact that she may never find her "flamingo." She is ready to "marry" herself and be fine with whatever path life has in store for her. Mack is reeling from a separation with his wife and childhood sweetheart and a more distant relationship with his two boys. He is a family man to the core and the separation and distance from everyday life with his family is killing him. What starts as two people thrown together becomes a friendship they never saw coming.

I loved, loved, loved the angst and heartache of the love stories within this book. I loved that there were so many directions this story could take. I loved that each character came to see their faults, but also their worth and a glimmer of what they each deserved. In order not to spoil the story for anyone reading this review, I will stop the summary of the story here. What I will say is that this book had my heart ripped open and I enjoyed every minute of sadness, grief, longing, love, community and self-discovery. Can you tell I loved this one yet?

I highly recommend this one. The writing, the cadence and the story were all outstanding and captivating. I can't wait to read some of this author's backlog. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballentine for the ARC to read and review. Pub date: 2.15.22

I feel like I’m in the minority on this one but I wasn’t really a fan of this book. I think so many people will really like it so I encourage you to read it. For me it was really hard to connect to the characters. I didn’t particularly care for either of them. He did not do it for me at all. He wasn’t the nicest and he was still married. Separated is not divorced. And she was a bit dull. Not to mention the “wedding” part seemed silly. There were parts towards the end that I felt invested in but then it went on and on. Again, I really wanted to love it but couldn’t get there.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

This isn't a romance novel. It's a love story. And not just the traditional "girl-meets-boy" love story, either; there's also self love, family love, love of home and love of adventure. Having read, and been destroyed by, previous Josie Silver books, I should have been well prepared for One Night on the Island, and yet I wasn't. How could anyone prepare for something so beautiful and devastating?

Cleo Wilder is fed up with dating, and her column in a top women's magazine is suffering for it. London is not all Cleo thought it would be. When her boss sends her to desolate Salvation Island to marry herself for her 30th birthday, Cleo is just desperate enough to jump aboard with both feet. What she didn't count on in the tiny cabin, during her journey of self discovery, was The American.

Mack Sullivan has heard stories about Salvation Island his whole life, and he's finally arrived, only to find a strange British woman claiming she booked the lodge! There's only one bed and not nearly enough room for both of them. But Mack's distant cousin Barney owns the lodge, and he has ancestors from the island, so he's sure he will come out on top. In the meantime, Mack's camera seems to seek out Cleo as a subject a fair amount....

I saw a blurb where this book was described as a romantic comedy. Please don't go into this book thinking it's light and fluffy, because it's not. If you don't have ice water veins, you will cry. Now, it's still funny and heartwarming. But those things don't make it a romantic comedy. (Although the banter was seriously cute.)There's a lot of growth that happens in this book, for the individuals and between partners. The found family was at least as powerful as the love story, too. The principal romance is slow burn. Something to be aware of, if you are as impatient as me. It took a long time to get to the steamy parts, but they were worth the wait. Josie Silver wrapped up a bunch of beautiful, fragile things and stuffed them inside this book, and I loved it. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to review this advance copy.

QOTD: Would you travel to an isolated island solo?
My A: Mnmmm no... Sounds fun in theory, but I'd miss bed, my husband and my cats too much!
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In typical Josie Silver fashion, this is not your typical romance. Don't expect to swoon and fall in love with these two immediately. They are real, raw and flawed characters that will pull at your heartstrings. This is forbidden love on a whole different level. The idea that you must sacrifice your own happiness and love for other adult responsibilities like your children for example, is one I think most adults struggle with. While there is a HEA, it's not sweet and light getting there.
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BLURB:
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.

Instantly at odds with each other, Cleo and Mac don't know how they're going to manage until the next weekly ferry arrives. But as the days go by, they no longer seem to mind each other's company quite as much as they thought they would...