Unfortunately, this book just did not do it for me. I was hoping for a cosy, wintery romance, maybe with some humour thrown in. Instead I got a story that really didn't have much to do with winter (despite the title) and I don't think I did the slightest giggle once.

The plot and the characters were poorly developed and came off as unrealistic and aggravating. Iris told lies that would have been fine if she hadn't held onto them but she kept them going and going, for a reason I couldn't fathom. When everything eventually did come out, there was zero conflict resolution, they just got over it and lived happily ever after.

I think I would have enjoyed this story more if its focus had been shifted. I got annoyed by the constant repetition about Iris' Mom. I don't think she had anything else she was able to contribute to a conversation. Her side plot of her abusive relationship with her ex would have interested me more. But that was kind of brushed over, mentioned a couple of times and then came back with a bang at the end.

On reflection, I should have DNF'd this, moved on and picked something else. But I did get all the way through to the end. There are a tonne of people that I have seen that liked this book; I'm glad for them and sorry that it just wasn't for me.

This was such a lovely feel good read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and although you pretty much know how it will end it was a cozy and satisfying journey. Loved the characters and how easy the story flowed.

Definitely recommended.

Thank you Netgalley.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver was fantastic. I was transported to my favourite city in the world, New York to the sights and smells I could feel it all. I was captivated and read this book in one day. Did not disappoint.

Thank you, NetGalley & Penguin Publishing UK, for approving me an ARC of this book, I really enjoyed it.

Iris moves to NY after escaping an abusive relationship, and she stables across a gealto shop that she feels like she knows, and when the handsome Italian running it explains that the only person who knows the recipe for their famous vanilla gealto is in hospital recovering from a stroke she suddenly realises that she has the recipe on a napkin from her mother.

She finds an old photo of her mother at the gealto and it turns out Gio's uncle who is in hospital fell in love with her mother when they were younger and had a few days of a whirlwind romance.

She promised her mother never to share the recipe with anyone, so she decides to help them try to recreate the recipe slowing ensuring that they would get it exact.

This book is about found family, loss, love. It was funny in parts, and I loved the flashbacks to Iris mother when she was young.

This delightful and heartwarming story follows Iris, a young woman who moves from London to New York with little more than a gelato maker for a fresh start. The narrative beautifully captures Iris's journey as she navigates the challenges and surprises of life in a new city.
Set against a wintery, Christmassy backdrop, the story exudes a cosy warmth that makes it the perfect holiday read. However, the charm and optimism of Iris's journey are so engaging that it’s enjoyable even in the middle of August. The author masterfully blends themes of hope, adventure, Christmas and the magic of new beginnings, making this book a comforting read no matter the season.

Whether you're in the mood for a festive escape or simply a feel-good story, this book is sure to leave you with a smile.

Iris leaves the UK to restart her life in New York. She hides herself away, but her bestie Bobby doesn’t let her do this for long, and drags her out to a street fair in Little Italy. Whilst there, Iris comes across a gelato store that is remarkably similar to the one in a photo her late mother held dearly. Returning when the shop is open, Iris meets the lovely Gio, and discovers that the gelato tastes exactly the same as the secret recipe her mother had. When she discovers that the store is in danger of closing as the only person who knows the recipe is gravely unwell, Iris doesn’t know what to do - especially given she has become rather close to Gio!

This was such a sweet story, based around gelato (my fave!), falling in love, and the importance of family and friends. It is set around Christmas, so is a perfect Christmas read!

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for the review copy.

A Winter in New York is a standalone novel by Josie Silver that I thoroughly enjoyed. It follows the life of Iris who is relatively isolated other than her boss who doubles as her landlord. Iris meets a good looking guy one time in a bookshop and by chance bumps into him again and from that point onwards her deceased mother's past is entangled with this handsome stranger's life.

I always love New York as a setting for any book but in addition to this I really liked the way the author managed to sensitively interweave the emotional abuse of Iris in a previous relationship into the story by showing the lasting impact that it can have both psychologically and on future relationships. Iris gets herself tangled up in a loving family that she longs to be a part of but knows that it's a really bad idea. The twists and turns in the story really make you root for her.

Overall a fab, fast and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

A love story with a lot of ice cream! Iris is trying to start a new life for herself in New York following the death of her mother. She tries to discover some of her mum's favourite places and in turn discovers an Italian gelato shop with plenty of history and secrets. Iris is also trying to escape a troubled past when she falls for Gio, the son of the gelato master. Iris discovers a lot about her mother's past which in turn affects her future. An enjoyable read.

*A Winter in New York* by Josie Silver is a heartwarming and enchanting read, perfect for curling up with on a chilly evening. Josie Silver has once again crafted a story that beautifully captures the magic and romance of the season.

The plot centers around a delightful mix of love, serendipity, and the charm of New York City in winter. From the twinkling lights to the snow-covered streets, the setting is vividly described and adds a magical backdrop to the story.

The characters are wonderfully relatable and endearing. I found myself rooting for them from the start. The protagonist's journey is filled with ups and downs, but it’s her resilience and hope that make her story so compelling.

While the story is a bit predictable in parts, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The romance is sweet and believable, and the relationships between the characters are heartwarming and genuine.

What I loved most were the little moments of joy and surprise sprinkled throughout the book. Josie Silver has a way of capturing the small, beautiful details of life and love, making this read feel like a warm hug.

If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good read with a touch of holiday magic, *A Winter in New York* is the perfect choice. It’s a lovely escape that will leave you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

I'm a sucker for a bit of romance and one set in my favourite city - count me in! A lovely story of romance when you're not in right place to be looking for it! Gio is a charming leading man with a tribe of sisters to rival Joey Tribbiani - loved not only the growing romance with him and Iris but also him and his family.

4.5 stars

It's a "wintery romance", but at the same time it's about gelato all the way through! And when is the perfect time to enjoy gelato? Right now in summer! So I guess you can read this book at whichever season you like.

The writing style of Josie Silver is impeccable as always. I could perfectly imagine all her characters, Iris' apartment and the gelateria. One thing that I missed a bit: there is so much talk surrounding this "magic" recipe for vanilla ice-cream, and Iris is at the gelateria to help re-creating it. But we don't actually witness any of this process, Josie Silver does not share scenes of the two of them working together and trying different things and ingredients.

But we have a lot of other scenes with Iris and Gio, and some other characters as well. And they make up for what is missing from the story. I enjoyed accompanying them for so many weeks. In the end I couldn't relate to Iris' thinking, couldn't understand the decision she made. But you have to read for youselves how it all ends.

A really lovely story. Iris has only ever had her mother, her father was out of their lives before she was born. They were very happy together even if money was often very hard to come by. Her mother had a recipe for vanilla ice cream, scrawled on a paper napkin, and when Iris was nursing her when she had cancer she had to promise that she would never give it to anyone, it was Santo’s secret family recipe. Iris loved cooking and trained as a chef, but after her mother died she fell into a relationship with Adam who, while not actually violent towards her was mentally abusive, he kept her away from friends, and took away her bank card and mobile phone so that she had to rely on him for everything. Eventually she plucked up the courage to escape, she packed her battered old case and took a plane ride to New York, somewhere she knew her mother had lived for a time. She went to try and get a job in a few restaurants, but was too timid to ask if there were vacancies. Then she spotted a job advert in a noodle bar and went in and asked about it. Not only did she get the job, she also gained somewhere to live, above the shop, and two dear friends into the bargain - Bobby, the owner and Robin, his husband, who lived on the top floor of the building. Although it was far from fine dining she enjoyed her job, and with the security of her own place to live and friends close at hand she started to recover her spirit.

The story begins with Iris going to a bookshop buy a book and there is only one left on the shelf. As she reaches it a tall man with longer arms than her grabs it, and they squabble about it - she tells him a bad lie to make him feel uncomfortable about taking it, and almost immediately feels guilty about the lie, not that it persuaded him to give up the book! Shortly afterwards Bobby, who is worried about Iris almost never going out, persuades her to go to the special food fair being held in the Italian quarter of the city, just a few blocks away. They have a lovely time, trying some wonderful foods. She is standing in front of a shop when she realises that the entrance looks very familiar, it is like a photograph in her mother’s album, she had not known where it was taken. When she gets home she checks the photograph, it is the same place.

The next day she goes back and goes in. She has a coffee and chats to the owner Gio, as the shop is quiet. He tells her about the shop. It is a family business, famous for its vanilla ice cream. Only two family members have the secret recipe at a time, his uncle Santo, who brought him up from a young age, and his father Felipe has the other, but he lives a nomadic existence and isn’t sure where his copy is. Santo has been very ill, and has lost his memory. Without the recipe they cannot make the ice cream. Iris cannot admit to having a copy, that she believes Santo gave to her mother, so she offers to try and help him resurrect it by experimenting with ingredients. She also finds out that Gio was the man in the bookshop!

And so begins the story. Iris goes most mornings to make another batch, using her own, small, ice cream maker. She is gradually edging Gio towards the correct recipe. She gets to know all his large, noisy family, and loves being a part of their lives for a short time. Either Santo will remember the recipe or she will steer Gio closer, until he works it out for himself. There are many twists and turns in the story. They are becoming very close, but there are so many secrets that Iris is keeping from him, secrets she knows will be deal-breakers. Problems and issues begin to pile up for Iris, there seems no way for there to be a happy ending. The ending, when it comes, is in fact quite lovely!

A lovely summer read.

A winter in New York is a delightful, heartwarming romance set in the magical wintery streets of New York City. Iris moves from England to start fresh and finds comfort in a cozy gelato shop. Josie Silver captures the magic of New York in winter, making you feel like you're right there in the city. It's a heartwarming tale of love, new beginnings, and finding home in unexpected places. Ideal for a winter's day read, this book will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Absolutely perfect, feel-good read for the holiday season.

I absolutely love Josie Silver and I feel her books just keep getting better and better! I guess you could say A Winter in New York has a bit of a holiday vibe since takes place during the Christmas time, but it definitely can be enjoyed during any time of the year. It's a story about out main character's, Iris, time in New York during a magical and eventful winter.

I enjoyed reading about all of the characters in this book, and I loved Iris's ability and courage to go on after not only losing her mom but getting out of a very bad relationship. I completely fell in love with the setting of the vintage ice cream parlour in Little Italy and how it connected with the main story.

Definitely another winner by Josie Silver that will live your heart full and warm.

Admittedly i didn’t love this book when i started it. Had a stop start relationship with it, but the other day my kindle glitched, and it grabbed my attention anew.

Multi layered, unraveling the stories of Iris, her mother and the Belotti family (and their Gelateria), this book is an unwavering love story - a great read for romantics. I loved the various layers of the story, and Iris’ search for a safe place after her troubled times. I have a particularly soft spot for Bobby, Iris’ boss and landlord.

A really enjoyable read, the pages flew by. 4*

A great festive read set in one of my favourite places.
Can you ever really go wrong with a Christmas book set in New York?

A heartwarming cozy read about family, friends, love and finding yourself.

This is the first book I have read by Josie Silver but it certainly won’t be the last. After reading this emotional yet entertaining story I need to check out her other works.
Iris has moved to New York to start afresh after losing her mother and walking away from an abusive relationship. New York City has a lot more going on and she seeks solace in a small Gelateria Shop and this is where she sees a photo that holds a striking resemblance to her late mother.
Meeting the shop owner Gio she finds out the family gelato maker is in a coma and no one else knows the family secret recipe. Tasting their gelato has her realising her own gelato recipe is very similar so could she be the answer to keeping the Gelateria open……
Secrets are being kept and if revealed they could ruin Iris and Gio’s chance of a future. One click now to find out what the future holds.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

It's all about the recipe, I enjoyed this book, not so much as J0sie's previous ones but it was well written and engaging nonetheless. A story that brings the past, present and future together.

A great festive book to get you in the mood for the winter months! I enjoyed the characters! Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

Josie Silver books are always like a warm hug to me. I love their writing/storytelling style and this one did not disappoint.

One day in December is one of my favourite holiday reads of all time and when i saw this book i knew i had to read it.

The couple in this story was perfection. I just love them so much. Also this book really made me want to eat a tonne of Gelato.

The "suprises" in this book were believable and so well done and just made the whole reading experince enjoyable.

This has firmly put Josie Silver on my auto buy author list