This book caught me off guard in the beginning. I went from not liking the idea of a romance between Cleo and Mack (who was married, but separated) to really rooting for them in the end. This just shows the strength of Josie Silver's writing and development of her characters. I loved that it was a little bit of enemies to lovers and close proximity tropes mixed together. This is definitely not your regular romance novel and is filled with characters who are broken and dealing with real and raw emotions. Their plans for an 8 day, give it your all, holiday romance was a beautiful micro-love affair that everyone would wish for while on vacation.
However, my favorite part of the book was really getting see Cleo's growth as a person and really getting to see her come to life on Salvation. Even thought the idea of a self-coupling seems odd, I like the idea of Cleo, a single woman who just turned 30 made a commitment to herself. I feel like as women, we are not always kind and content with ourselves and the words she spoke during her commitment ritual made me tear up a little. The ending was sweet and filled with hope for our characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for my digital copy to review.

I was never able to connect to the characters in this book, which made it hard to get into. I never felt any chemistry between the characters. It was just too sweet and Hallmark-y, not substantial enough for me. I can see people who would absolutely love a sweet, easy romance, I am just not one of those people.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book - it was sweet and cozy and I adored the tiny Irish island setting. My issue was with the romance. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that I’m not a fan of romance when one person is unavailable. Personally, if I know a man is pining after someone else, I’m just not interested. And even if he changes his tune suddenly, I probably wouldn’t buy it. For these reasons, I wasn’t able to get full invested into Mack and Cleo, no matter how many swoony one-liners they delivered.

With all that said, this had some complexities that I really enjoyed and it never felt cheesy. And there really were some beautiful, moving lines from both characters that tugged at my heart.

I’m sure many will find this book to be perfect. For me it was 3.5🌟

Oh my goodness, I am an emotional mess after finishing Josie Silver's masterpiece of a book, One Night on the Island. I loved One Day in December so much, and I just could not wait to dive into the pages of Silver's newest novel and get lost in another whimsical romance. This is sure to be a bestseller!

The author does an amazing job with setting. You will be transported to Salvation island and fall in love with the people and its quirks, just like Cleo and Mack. The descriptions of the island and Otter Lodge were perfectly written to the point where I could feel the struggle going up Wailing Hill , feel the cold air and water on my skin and see the beauty of its wildlife in my imagination as vividly as if I were truly there in the flesh.

Now let's talk about characters. This is where the book earns the rest of its stars. Cleo is in her last year of her twenties--the same age her father died, so turning 30 is a big turning point for her. She writes a romance column for a well-known magazine in London where her readers have become invested in her journey to find her "flamingo." For this particular column piece, her boss has booked a lodge on a remote Irish island (with very little cell reception or Wifi) for an entire month. Here Cleo will engage in acts of self-discovery and acceptance, described by Emma Watson as "self-coupling."

There's a bit of a booking mix-up with Otter Lodge and Cleo is due to stay there at the same time as the talented American photographer, Mack Sullivan aka Han Solo. He is trying to desperately hold onto his crumbling marriage for the sake of his boys, but Mack's time at Salvation island and Otter Lodge with Cleo changes him (and her too) into more confident, self-aware individuals that learn to love with their whole hearts and take risks and leaps of faith to see where it takes them.

The whirlwind micro-love between Mack and Cleo is real and raw. It will warm your heart and then rip it out of your chest. This is no cheesy rom-com filled with clichés and hijinks. If you are into that, then this is not the book for you. Look for something written by a different author. If you are looking for a romance that will allow you to escape your own reality and is so incredibly well-written that you feel the same emotions as the characters, then this is the one.

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Beautiful, beautiful book. Josie silver never fails to make you love the characters and pull at your heart strings. Found family and small towns are my jam so I loved this book. Although, nothing will EVER compare to One Day in December, I still loved this one.

Thank you Random House for the eARC and allowing me to review this beautiful book.

1. Quirky characters that are found family are my jam.

2. Self awareness and love at 30, 60, 90 matters.

3. We could take note from the animal kingdom. Penguins, Otters, flamingos know what is what.

Josie plunked my heart in a mortar and ground it with a pestle. Irish winds and island magic made it whole again. Read this book.

3.5 stars.

I loved Josie Silver’s One Day in December and I’ve been searching for that kind of connection to her characters ever since, but while I found this book fine, it didn’t have the same kind of magic for me.

I think it may have been that as much as I liked these two characters, I thought they would have been better off not ending up together. Something about the rawness of his grief over his marriage, and her finding peace within herself, just felt like they should only be a chapter in each other’s story.

As with most found-family, small town tales, the townspeople were my favorite part. I would like a sequel about Barney and Delta, please.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballentine for the gifted e-galley.

This was absolutely charming. Two individuals finding themselves on a similar journey, of sorts, on a very abandoned island community in Ireland. If you've seen the Netflix show Midnight Mass, the setting of that island is exactly what I pictured when reading this one (minus the supernatural eerie presence.) The juxtaposition of finding joy and warmth on a cold and rainy island gave this novel so much depth: the characters were well-rounded and so, so unique. I could go on forever, but I won't.

Cleo has been a "romance" writer in the sense that she writes a dating column for a magazine with a strong following in the UK. Her latest assignment has her channeling her inner Emma Watson on the tiny Irish island of Salvation where she goes to "commit" to herself, her happiness, in place of committing to someone else through marriage. Her search for herself and her own happiness hits an abrupt brick wall when she finds someone else already accompanying the lodge she has already paid for for the duration of her stay. A booking error threatens her time alone, but she learns to tolerate this other new presence on the island. (Hint: if you love the enemy to lover trope, here it is in such a unique way!)

I loved this. I think this is my new favorite Josie Silver. All the stars. Thank you to Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Josie Silver's newest novel, One Night on the Island. Get ready to feel all the feels and fall in love with these perfectly imperfect characters.

Cleo is turning thirty and has had her fair share of dating disasters, most of which she has chronicled in the magazine column that she writes, aptly titled Finding Your Flamingo. (You'll have to read the book to find out how the column got its name😉.) When her boss decides to send her to a remote Irish island to "marry herself" for her thirtieth birthday, Cleo is reluctant at first but the trip quickly turns into the adventure of a lifetime. On the island she meets Mack, a photographer from Boston who is nursing a broken heart over his recent separation from his wife, as well as an amazing cast of local characters who show her the true meaning of community, friendship and love.

Five stars for another fantastic read by Josie Silver. You'll laugh out loud, wipe away tears, and root for Cleo through every step of her journey.

I cried, I screamed, I laughed, I shouted for joy! All the emotions. A slow, not too spicy romance that leaves you in all the feels! Close to then end I was for sure that Mack was not coming back to Cleo, and my heart was just ripped right out! So glad it ended the way it did. Cleo and her self discovery were everything. Also the group of friends/family she found on Salvation Island is everything in life.

“When he rubbed that chalk line out, maybe a little of my resilience seeped into him, a little of his bravery into me. Mutually beneficial osmosis. I hope, anyway.

There are rarely quotes that I find in books that I was to take and keep with me always. This is absolutely one of those quotes. There is no better description, not just of love or loving others, but the decision to love others than this quote. Simply beautiful.

I really, really liked this story. I had read Josie Silver’s previous books and thoroughly enjoyed those, so when I saw this available for request, I knew I needed to read it. She is becoming one of my favorite and go-to authors to read. Her writing is so colorful- not by the words themselves but how they weave together to form these vivid pictures in the imaginations of her readers that you can’t help but create your own vision for what she is describing. That’s a type of writer that makes reading fun, because their words jump off the page itself and into your mind’s eye, and you can almost see exactly what they want you to see.

Cleo is a dating column writer looking for her forever. When she is giving an assignment on the remote island of Salvation in Ireland, the last thing she expects is to spend her time “self-coupling” with someone else. Mack is a photographer with a family history on the island looking for his next show while also trying to figure out how to move on after being separated from his wife. What they thought would be a just a journey of self-love and self-discovery turned into one of the most passionate romances they had ever experienced, the kind that leaves marks forever.

This story examined all the beautiful facets of love: romantic love, self-love, friendship love, familial love. I thought Cleo’s journey of self-discovery is something that is important for everyone to experience. The book itself had shorter chapters from opposing viewpoints of Mack and Cleo, which helped to draw the reader in. If there was one critique, it would be that it took some time getting into the story (about 1/3 of the way in) but once it hit its stride, it really took off.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who enjoy softer romances (Always, In December fans I’m looking at you ) so add this to your TBR!

One Night on the Island is about a online journalist who travels to a remote island as an assignment. She's going to celebrate her 30th birthday and ceremonially embrace herself, her singleness, and her life as it is in the moment. Unfortunately when she arrives there's been a mix-up with her accommodations and she has to share Otter Lodge with another traveler.

This is the most wonderful book. I stayed up reading it, and then at about 90% finished I put it down because I didn't want it to end. It is truly a unique story about a place, finding oneself, and of course, love. I'd recommend this story to anyone who wants to be swept away!

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver is a story about Cleo Wilder and Mack Sullivan, two damaged souls searching for themselves. Cleo, a journalist, is sent to a remote Irish island by her boss to marry herself. Mack, a photographer, travels to the same island in search of some alone time. The catch is… that they both booked the same cabin. Plenty of bickering and arguments later, they realize they don’t mind each other’s company.

I’ll start with the bad - I don’t like the cover. Yellow & green together is not my thing. That’s it.

What an amazing book!
This book had me hooked after the very first chapter! I love a good dual POV, the setting was beautiful, the character development was perfect, and the message behind the story was just so powerful! It was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. I’d be lying if I didn’t shed a few tears. I love that this wasn’t solely a romance story - it was about self acceptance, navigating challenging times, and friendship & community.

Overall, this clearly gets all five stars from me. I loved it, I would read it again, and I would recommend this book to anybody!! Josie Silver is such an amazing author and if you liked One Day in December, I think you’re guaranteed to love this one!

You can read my full review at www.instagram.com/bookwormbaylee

Cleo is about to turn 30 and in hopes to inspire her with a new perspective for writing her column, her boss has arranged for her to stay at a small cabin at a small Irish island. Mack is in search of time for himself to come to terms with his marriage falling apart and hopes to find inspiration for his photography at the small Irish island that holds part of his family heritage. To Mack and Cleo’s surprise, have both been reserved for the same one-bedroom cabin on the same dates. When both give no plans on giving up their hold on the cabin despite their arguments, circumstances bring the two strangers to accept living together until the ferry arrives the following week.

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This was my second book by Josie Silver, and I can see a pattern of her talent to create these beautiful complex characters that find themselves in complex situations. The writing was emotional and raw, and I found myself highlighting so much, the author makes amazing comparisons to show what the characters are feeling. I also really enjoyed reading this in both Cleo and Mack’s POV, it gives the reader great insight on what both these characters are feeling. I will say, personally I did not agree with a lot of decisions these two characters made and it was hard to believe that a connection so powerful blossomed between these two in such a limited amount of time especially given Mack’s situation back home.

I was completely obsessed with Cleo’s relationships with the island women, that to me was the star of this story. The people of this small close-knit Irish island climbed into my heart and refused to leave. I also loved the scene of Cleo at the tide pool, it was my absolute favorite. The ending did seem a little rushed to me and I wish there was a little more than the small glance we get 18 months later.

There is so much I have to say about this one but don’t want to spoil so if you have read this one, my DMs are wide open and would love to discuss! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This title will be released on February 15, 2022.

This is a sweet romance novel that is just what I needed. Truth be told, I have read all this author’s novels and they always highlight the human heart with a unique story. What was important to me in this novel was the importance of knowing and loving yourself before you can love another. Josie showcases the importance of friendship and her descriptions of the location transport you there. Well done! #OneNightOnTheIsland #JosieSilver #NetGalley

Really loved this heartfelt story of learning to be happy with yourself, going after what you truly want, and falling in love.

I appreciated that this story didn't fall into a lot of cliches and instead told a realistic story of two people who genuinely find friendship and then love with each other when least expected. I also love love loved all the people in the small community and the relationships between them!

Intense and thought provoking this is exactly the type of book you want to read “post” pandemic. Highly enjoyable and entertaining.

📖 Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
🔥 Steam Level: 2/5
📍 Location: Ireland, Boston
✏️ Notes: Power of self-love, the soul-quenching need for female friendships, enemies to lovers trope, moments that make you want to yell at the characters, British, Irish, and American wit and humor, wonderful relationship butterflies

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What's the last book that made you cry?

Josie Silver is queen of making me feel all my feelings. ONE DAY IN DECEMBER is absolutely one of my favorite books (which I re-read every winter) and TWO LIVES OF LYDIA BIRD butchered my heart. When I saw she had a third book being released, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

ONE NIGHT ON THE ISLAND is a perfect mix of wit, charm, romance, and self-discovery.

I loved the whole premise of this book: "When a solitary one-bedroom cabin is accidentally double-booked, the two lodgers find that although company was the last thing either of them wanted, it may be just the thing they both needed."

While this is a total romance, I feel it's so much more about self-discovery and self-love, finding friendships (and keeping them), and learning to listen to your heart while keeping your wits about you. Through gorgeous writing, I felt transported to Salvation Island and desperately wanted to live in Otter Lodge.

I have read a lot of books with wonderful relationship-characters, but Cleo and Mack will forever be one of my favorite literary couples.

This book will make a perfect winter read and make you wish you were curled up by the fire in a remote cabin off the sea in the middle of nowhere with someone you love.

Anticipated Pub Date: March 29, 2022

Thank you @netgalley @josiesilverauthor @penguinrandomhouse for this #giftedbook

I DNF'd this book at 48%. I was really bored and I did not believe the romance between the two characters. The main female character was annoying and was rude and the way the atmosphere changed between the two of them did not seem believable to me at all. I have loved Josie Silver's other work but this one definitely missed the mark. The male character is still married which also rubbed me the wrong way. This book may be for somebody who loves romance but it just wasn't for me.

4.5 stars

I absolutely devoured this one. A woman goes on a vacation by herself where she is "finding herself."

It was perfectly set up as a meet cute.

I loved how both characters had things from their past that were holding them back, but they both overcome and self reflect on how to move on.

This was the perfect blend between cute romcom and a meaningful experience of the characters

Highly recommend