A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

As a big fan of Silver I was eager to dive into her latest holiday book! This did not disappoint. I love her style with woven story lines and familial ties past and present.

We meet Iris a British chef who was raised by a single mom musician that recently passed. She is making her own way in New York and going through her moms stuff doing a gelato recipe then stumbles upon the family run gelato business. Their patriarch is sick and he’s the only one with the recipe. She isn’t sure how to help without exposing her moms hidden treasure so she helps them recreate it and in the process connects with the family just as her mom must have long ago. Gio and Iris also have met before but not on the best terms as the spark grows Iris is holding too many secrets and it’s bound to come out.

I really like the take of Iris being an only child as compared to Gio and his large extended Italian family. The ex seemed to be a bit of a afterthought as much as Iris was scared of him he didn’t seem to be much of a threat since we didn’t get into the exact history of that relationship.

Overall huge fan of this author and would read anything she writes!

I’ve loved all of the Josie Silver books I’ve read; they’re poignant, heartfelt, and tug on your heartstrings in the best of ways. Her latest, A Winter in New York, is no exception. This lovely book brings together the things I want to see in my women’s fiction/romance reading - a woman coming into her own, a heroic male love interest that allows her to be herself, and a fun cast of characters that form a family whether they are related or not. Iris, Gio, and the whole Belotti family make this book a delight.

I thought the concept of a gelato recipe linking Iris to her mother and to Gio’s family was such a fun storyline. Iris’ grief over her mother’s recent death and the trauma from her last relationship make her vulnerable and sensitive, which I loved. Gio seems like the perfect guy, and I was so happy they both get the love they deserve.


After reading this book, I wanted to pop into my local Italian gelato shop for a scoop! With its cozy New York City setting, it’s a perfect read for the upcoming winter months!

this wasn’t a textbook romance, but it was a great read to celebrate the holiday season with a very emotional story of growth (and also love) - kinda like if Hallmark got serious. I devoured this on a flight and was over the moon when I was served vanilla ice cream and could get a fully immersive experience

Such a super cute holiday read. Loved the characters and the setting and the recipe at the end sealed this as a perfect cozy Christmas book! Grab this one to read next to the Christmas tree!

This book took me for a ride and while I was initially drawn to the concept it all felt like too much. It was in intriguing story with a bit of mystery & history. I loved parts of the storyline but then throw in a lie about a husband and also a big family secret it just felt like too much deception for me. I couldn’t get behind so many lies. It was sweet and funny at times. I felt like the trigger warning abuse was kinda halfway thrown in there and it felt like two separate stories. But the family was fun and the characters were enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my very own.

Another outstanding novel by Josie Silver!

After deciding she needs a fresh start, Iris moves to New York City. The place she grew up watching nostalgic movies about with her mother and eating their super secret gelato.

While out one night she notices a small family-run Gelateria that looks oddly familiar. Could it be the same place that was in her mother’s photograph?

In summary, Iris’s life intermingles with her mothers past. In this wholesome novel you’ll find a love for gelato, found family, holiday season in New York, and lovable characters. This book felt like a warm hug. It’s a perfect read for the holiday season. Be prepared to feel all the feels and miss your mother dearly.

TW: death of love one, domestic violence

After leaving behind an abusive ex and processing the death of her mother, Iris moves to New York City for a fresh start. While wandering the neighborhood one day, she encounters Belotti's Gelateria, a gelato shop that Iris recognizes from her mother's photos. She learns that the gelato shop is without their famous recipe after the patriarch of the family, Santo, falls ill. After meeting Gio, Santo's nephew, Iris discovers that the gelato recipe passed down to her from her mom is the coveted and secret Belotti family recipe. As Iris works with Gio to recreate the family recipe, Iris must also hide the fact that her mother received the recipe from Santo years ago, as no Belotti has over shared this recipe with an outsider.

Featuring some flashbacks, this story centers around Iris' journey working through the death of her mother and learning more about her mom's past along the way. This book was romantic, sweet, and perfect for foodies and while it takes place around Christmas, I wouldn't necessarily categorize it as a "Christmas romance" book.

I do struggle with stories that center around lack of communication and I feel like the entire plot was about miscommunication/lack of communication, so that did impact my experience with the book. Overall, this book didn't really compare to One Day in December (also by Josie Silver), as that is one of my favorite winter books, but was still a cute read.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ /5

This book was everything I love in a sweet cozy holiday rom com. 🎄❄️⛄️
I read it while cozied up on a snowy day and it was perfect. The storyline was unique & the found family in it was so sweet. Definitely my favorite holiday romance book I’ve read. If you’re looking for a book that is going to give you the holiday feels, this is a must read this season 💕🥹🍨

I had really high hopes for this book after loving One Day in December but unfortunately, this just didn't hold my attention the way that book did. There was a lot of potential but I found the story difficult to follow at times.

A Winter in New York is the perfect novel to grab this winter! It is the perfect city read to grab while sitting around the fire. I loved the characters, family and love throughout the book!

Cute book with some good substance! I enjoy a Christmas in NYC story. The ending was especially good!

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Highly enjoyed this latest title from Josie Silver. Loved the mature romance and all of the baggage that comes along with it. Was rooting for Gio and Iris the entire time!

Cute but extremely boring. Disappointing because I have enjoyed her books before. I cannot finish it!

What a cute romance.
Except I couldn’t get over the lying part. Why not just tell him the truth? Why let it go on and in when you know you’re eventually going to have to tell him? And I couldn’t stop wondering if we’d find out in the end that they were related.
Still a cute romance and I loved the nyc setting and all the sisters!

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A Winter in New York is a delightful, Hallmark movie of a Christmas rom-com and the perfect read for this time of year! In this book, Londoner Iris has come to New York to escape a bad relationship and spend time in the place where her musician mother spent some of her best years. While there she finds Gio Belotti, whose family owns a Gelato Cafe in the city and has a connection to Iris’s own family.
This story was a really tale about found family. The setting of New York City at the holidays really shone through and made me want to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 🎄 It also really made me crave vanilla gelato ( there’s a recipe in the back of the book, if you’re so inclined).
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, holiday rom-com!

A Winter in New York was a beautiful, cozy, heartwarming romance that was an absolute joy to read! I think it’s impossible not to love Iris and the Belotti family, as the past and present intertwined throughout.

This wasn’t just a romcom — it was a story about healing after an abusive relationship, second chances, and rediscovering the magic & whimsy of being alive.

Josie Silver’s writing style was a treat to read, this was my first time reading one of her books! I was effortlessly able to imagine the scenes and characters, and this book read like a dreamy romantic screenplay in the best possible ways.

One of my favorite quotes: “You guys have enough baggage between you to fill a goddamn carousel at JFK, but isn't that kind of the point of love, that you help each other carry the bags? Fresh starts are for Hallmark movies, not real life.“

5 stars from this hopeless romantic of a bookworm!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC.

What a lovely read. I did get frustrated with Iris for her total lack of communication and secret hiding but it all turned out for the best. The Bellotti family was so lovely and welcoming to her, gotta love Italians! But the ending was a little hokey for me with them arriving en masse to defend her honor to her ex.

I enjoyed this book. Iris is a likeable main character and I felt the tension of what was enevitable to happen throughout the story.

Oh, Josie Silver, how I adore thee. I love the romance reads with the deeper stories underneath. A Winter in New York has love, so much love, but also found family and gelato, which, I've honestly never had but have been craving since finishing this book!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Iris runs away to New York from a mentally abusive ex.
She finds an old haunt of her mom's that turns out to be more history than she thought.
nothing note worthy that would make this book stand out.