One Night on the Island is the latest book from the extremely talented Josie Silver. I fell love with the setting and supporting characters in this book. Salvation Island is a very special place and reading this book made me want to take a trip to Ireland.

The main character unfortunately didn’t resonate as much with me. I had a hard time relating to Cleo during the first half of the book. I would encourage readers to keep going— as the plot and characters developed in the second half of the book, things really picked up for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Josie Silver's other two books but this is probably my least favorite of hers. It is SO incredibly slow. The two hate each other so much at the beginning, this barely feels like a romance, the 'self coupling' was WEIRD, and this is not 'one night' it takes place over several months. Honestly, a huge let down for me.

This was my first Josie Silver books and it saddens me to say that I’m kinda disappointed. While Cleo and Mack’s insta-hate & snarky banter gave me the enemies-to-lovers vibe that I’m a big fan of, their chemistry was just really off for me. The pacing of the story was also a bit weird to me, and the interactions between our MCs was very limited so the whole ‘feelings’ thing and their goodbyes just didn’t fit because of that.

Overall the book just wasn’t what I expected it to be.

Five Fabulous Stars!!!

Wow! This story had it all… happiness, sadness, love & leaving & so much more. Starting with Cleo and Mack both venturing separately to Salvation Island & both for different reasons suddenly find themselves thrown together in the one and only available “lodge” on the remote island. Forced to cohabit, an an unlikely relationship begins to develop. While both are dealing with their own individual issues they both begin a journey of self reflection, introspection & healing.
I loved the alternating chapters told from Cleo & Mack’s perspective. All the characters were so well developed and their intertwined relations were well written.
I laughter out loud at times & even shed a few tears. Well done Josie Silver!!! I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a romance novel with so much more!
Thank you #OneNightintheisland, #NetGalley & Ballentine Books for the ARC. This review is strictly voluntary.

The best thing about Josie Silver's books is that you think you know exactly where they are going, but they end up taking you on a rid you didn't expect. I loved One Day in December, so I had to grab this one when I saw it on Netgalley. It was sweet and relatable and you gotta love the satire potential with the American love interest. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you #netgalley for my free arc copy of #oneNightOnTheIsland in return of an honest review!*

"In one night on the island, anything is possible."

Cleo is nearing 30 years old without a dating partner. She goes to Salvation Island wanting to learn more on how to marry herself. She feels she is happy enough alone and is self sufficient.

On her adventure to Salvation Island, she meets Mack and ends up finding so much more than she ever experienced in past relationships or being alone.

This was a cute romance read for our reading group, however I personally loved J. Silver's previous novels more. One day in december sucked me in so quickly, and held my interest better. Still, I enjoyed One night on the island.

One Day in December is one of my very favorite books and I had high hopes for this Josie Silver novel. I was definitely not disappointed and I really enjoyed Cleo’s depth and her story as I definitely relate to her in many ways as I near 30. The “one bed” trope wasn’t over done and I enjoyed the character development of everyone on the island throughout the story.

This was an entertaining read. It focuses on Cleo finding herself while she is stuck on an island for as assignment for work. The immediate hatred between her and Mack was amusing and I thought their biting banter was funny.

I wanted more scenes between her and Mack. I felt like the majority of the book were scenes of them separate and I didn't really feel their chemistry until they were saying goodbye. Although their separate scenes were important to building the vibe of the island and why the island was so important, I didn't feel like it was all necessary.

I thought Mack's relationship with Susie was well written. Marriages are difficult, especially when there are kids involved. When you've been with someone for so long I can imagine it's hard to break those habits of being with that person. And how do you know when the relationship has run its course? How can you ever make that decision with certainty?

Overall I enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite Josie Silver book.

Steam level: 🔥🔥½

Here me out, I know Josie Silver is a popular author. However, as far as popular authors go, she is so underrated it’s not even funny! Her talent is unmatched. All three of her books have been 5 star reads for me and I’ve been counting down the days to get my hands this newest of hers. One Night on the Island blew me away just like I knew it would. My only tiny complaint is that I do miss the heavy romance factor that One Day in December had that both Lydia Bird and One Night on the Island slightly lacks. I would classify both of these as more contemporary fiction with a romantic undertone than just romance itself. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Silver does next! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Yet another fantastic Josie Silver book! One Day in December is one of my favorite books Of All Time, and so I just HAD to request the ARC of One Night on the Island. I'll be honest, it took a little bit for me to fully get into the book but after 5 short chapters in, I was HOOKED. Yes, of course I cried reading this, and I absolutely love the character development of both Mack and Cleo throughout the story. I also admire how realistic their love story was; people have responsibilities and people they care about too much to walk away just for romance. Don't worry though, all HEAs over here, but it definitely tore my heart apart to get there.

Cleo is a Sex-in-the City style writer, and Mac is a traveling photographer. Unfortunately, both of them have arranged to stay at the only open residence with a single bed on a small Irish island that only have a boat arrange once a week.
While I enjoyed the setting of this book enough to potentially rate it a 5, I did not enjoy the framing devices around Cleo and Mac so much that I could have also justified rating it a 1, so the average is 2.5 rounded to a 3. Freak outs about turning 30 were silly when I was that age but are particularly eye rolling now that I am north of 40. While it did eventually get to the root of why Cleo feels oddly about the milestone, I nearly DNF'd the book after the first couple chapters as I found her boss harping on it so insufferable.
Mac's reason for being on the island is that is he wants to get in touch with his roots while thinking about his rocky marriage that it appears he let die through neglect. Throughout the whole book, he's still married even if they throw in a "his wife has moved on and has been dating someone else for months". His wife shoulders pretty much all the blame for the failure of this marriage while Mac throws in with a younger woman.
I enjoyed pretty much all of the Irish side characters. The knitting group is the best. I would have enjoyed more of Delta's story instead of what we got. I understood Cleo's attraction to island life but the ultimate HFN was dissatisfying.
Your mileage may vary.
Note: I received an ARC from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Cleo Wilder, a newspaper columnist who has spent the past few years reporting on a series of failed dates, is sent to a remote Irish island prior to her 30th birthday to marry herself in a self-coupling ceremony. However, instead of the idyllic luxury cabin that’s been reserved for her voyage of self-discovery, she’s been double-booked with Mack Sullivan, a gruff American photographer with a striking resemblance to Han Solo. He’s there to discover and document his roots while also giving himself and his estranged wife some distance because it is painful for him not to be under the same roof as his sons whom he deeply loves.

Although the first impression of Cleo is selfish and whiney, in time it becomes clear that her fear of her impending birthday and need for Salvation Island’s isolation have deeper significance, making the standoff between her and Mack more balanced. As they spend time together, initially on opposite sides of their chalk line boundary, they share three things about themselves each night and slowly come to appreciate and grow comfortable with each other.

It’s clear early on that this isn’t a typical romance since Mack is married and still at least a little in love with his wife. The moral ambiguity will undoubtedly elicit a range of reactions from readers, but the language Silver instills in her characters is poetic, heartfelt, and enchanting. It is refreshing to witness a couple handle their emotions and actions with maturity and consideration for others (although I guarantee debate on this opinion).

Like any good work of women’s fiction, the female friendships are front and center in the island’s knitting group and the men are equally welcoming and supportive. As Mack says in his speech at his exhibition, the Salvation Island inhabitants could have been very clannish and suspicious but, instead, were very welcoming unique characters who provided warmth on this beautiful, but cold, harsh island.

As for the self-coupling ceremony that seemed very self-indulgent on the surface, it actually proved to be a lovely expression of self-love and a celebration of the next chapter of Cleo’s life. After almost two months, she gains the clarity to realize that the noisy, frenetic pace and superficiality of relationships in London are no longer sustaining her and that her dream of writing a novel can come true with the island and her newfound friends as her muses.

In the spirit of the book’s “three things,” here are mine:

One, the colorful cast of characters who inhabit Salvation Island
Two, the emotional parting between Cleo and Mack and their need to stay connected via text by continuing their “three things” conversations, and
Three, Silver’s poetic descriptions of the rugged beauty of this wild Irish island
…and Four (even if Mack doesn’t like them), a wish for an extended epilogue several years later. You’ll understand why after you finish the book!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Cleo is an online magazine columnist whose column is all about finding love. Being that she is still single and just about to turn thirty years old she feels like her life isn't going in the direction she thought it would be at this time. Her boss and good friend decides to send her to Salvation Island off the coast of Ireland for a self-coupling which she will include in her latest column she's writing. Self-coupling is basically marrying yourself and putting yourself first, not only in your mind but in your heart as well. Cleo, dreading her family's surprise party, decides the solitude may be just what she's looking for.

There is one problem though. When she arrives at her rented cottage she isn't alone. Mack, an American, has also rented the cabin. Neither will budge and neither will leave. To make matters worse the ferry won't be back around for another week so they are basically stuck together until that time. Will all this petty bickering lead to romance? My lips are sealed! 🤐

Such a sweet story. I loved the island atmosphere and I loved the community of people that reside there. Every single character had their own charm and their sense of loyalty to one another was absolutely heartwarming. My only niggle came with the self-coupling. I did eye roll my way through her wedding ceremony to herself. For some it may have seemed empowering but for me it was kind of silly. I don't think any women should feel her life is over if she hasn't found the one by thirty years of age so I get what the author was trying to do but it just didn't work for me. That being said the rest of the book was a winner and tears came to my eyes on a few occasions. I also really enjoyed the ending because it wasn't that saccharine sweet fairy tale ending. It was a little imperfect, a lot hopeful, and entirely realistic. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.

Cleo is turning thirty without a significant other and visits a small Irish island to have some quiet, solitary time while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career. Mack is married with two kids but is going through a separation, not sure about a lot of things anymore and visiting the island as well, looking for his roots. This book is messy but beautiful!

One Night on the Island is about understanding what you need from life. I loved the descriptive writing and how each character was developed so beautifully. I loved their ‘three things’ conversations in the dark and the strangers they meet on this tiny island that end up becoming family. I loved Mack and his struggle for doing what is right while trying to forge a path forward that will bring him happiness. I loved to immerse myself in those characters with all their flaws and imperfections who felt so incredibly real. I also loved how the island itself became a character, drawing you in with the peace and tranquility it had to offer.

Without giving too much away, the book does deal with separation and cheating. I believe the story is handled very well, but if cheating really is a red flag for you and there are no grey areas, this book may not be for you. For all the others who love a rom-com that is moving and raw and teaches us so much about self-acceptance, please read this incredible story! The book comes out on February 15, 2022.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (less)

I"ve really enjoyed her earlier books despite them not being my preferred genre. They are cute and well written. This one was similarly well written and I enjoyed the remote island location but it felt really flat to me. We didn't get any sense of who any of the characters were. The main woman was obsessed with dating and getting married before she was 30, which okay, is a thing but seemed dated and I never felt like I understood why she was like that. The main man talked about missing his children after separating from his wife but deliberately took jobs and then this rural trip hundreds of miles away from them. Then he wanted a relationship with a woman on another continent? Why didn't she see any of this as a red flag? He was an art photographer. If the children were so important, why didn' he prioritize them? All we know is that he likes pictures and photography.

I thought the island residents would be interesting but they were so flat I barely could keep them apart. There was the pregnant one and then ??? other random women and a couple of men.

Cute idea but flat flat flat.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me receive an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! Josie Silver is one of those authors that I just know I am going to love her books. I have been looking forward to reading this book and was thrilled to receive an arc. It did not disappoint. This romance was about the journey of a woman on a self care mission as she turns 30. It was funny, emotional, and clever! And to top it all off, the setting was amazing being set on a small island in Ireland. This book should not be missed!

I really have mixed feelings about this book. The story started with the main characters being unnecessarily jerky towards each other, then there’s the scene where Cleo goes for a beach walk with Mack and suddenly they’re all over each other. The pacing there was weird. The fact that Mack was still in love with his wife, obviously wanting to reconcile should have made Cleo want to stay far away, and really, after he goes back to Boston, it seemed like he should have actually reconciled with his wife.
The ending was just a bit strange. A hint at HEA, but also a long distance relationship? Who wants that? It didn’t feel all that satisfying.
Overall, the book was well written, but didn’t get interesting until about half way through, then felt like it dragged out towards the end. Even with the romance and “happy ending”, the book was just a bit depressing. I think this book will be right up some peoples’ alleys, it just wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

I just keep trying to rediscover the magic of One Day in December and failing. While I liked this better than Silver’s sophomore novel, it just didn’t quite work for me. I enjoyed the overarching storyline of discovering yourself; I write this review on nearly the eve of my own 30th birthday so I can relate to some of the struggles Cleo faces.

It’s hard to categorize this as a romance in the traditional sense as it focuses on more than romantic love: self love, family love, friend love, belonging to a community. I thought that was fresh but something just still felt missing for me. I didn’t like Cleo and Mack together, I didn’t completely but it. I imagine this will work a lot more for others. All that to say, I’ll continue reading Silver’s work and hoping she strikes gold again for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and Josie Silver for an ARC! I really enjoyed this! I love the message behind Cleo's journey. Romance was a slow burn, which is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered.

The premise sounded very interesting. Two people who rented the same cottage on a remote island in Ireland are stuck staying together. Not quite an :enemy to lovers" but certainly starts with a strong dislike considering the confusion.

Honestly, I just couldn't get into it. The inner monologues destroyed the flow and made it drag. The male protagonist is <spoiler>married, separated but still married. He is missing his wife and kids and still wanting to be married. So when the switch abruptly flips and he starts falling for our female protagonist...well...it doesn't really work for me. There needed to be more of a transition to show he was ready for a new relationship. </spoiler>

I had a hard time getting through this book and ended up skimming when the above spoilers started affecting my enjoyment too much.


****Copy obtained from Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine via Netgalley***