After her mother’s death and breaking off an emotionally abusive relationship Iris decides to move to New York for a fresh start. While walking around the streets of New York Iris recognizes a building from a photograph of her mother’s. After she goes back to investigate it’s a gelateria run by her mother’s first love Santo, who wrote down the secret family recipe that Iris grew up eating. After learning that the family needs to find the recipe Iris offers to help Gio who now runs the gelateria. After moving on from their disastrous first meeting Iris and Gio find solace in each other as well as a growing attraction. Iris is torn keeping all the family secrets from Gio, but she can’t help falling in love with him and his loud Italian family. Will she finally get the courage and tell Gio everything she’s been holding back?

This was such a sweet romance with well developed, complicated characters. I really appreciated how mental health was highlighted in the shared grief of the main characters as well as Iris’s experience with a partner who was emotionally abusive. It was beautiful how Iris and Gio learn to support each other through their grief and learn to find happiness again. The setting of New York may be a popular Christmas setting but the locations described were so rich you felt like you were right there walking the streets of New York with Iris and Gio. What a wonderful holiday romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc!

Iris is a chef from London who left a toxic relationship to come to New York City-the very same place her mother met the man who could have been her one true love. As Iris’s mother has recently passed away, Iris wants to discover the same New York that her mother loved. She wants to go to the same places her mother went, including a gelato shop she stumbles upon that was featured in one of her mother’s photos.

Iris’s mother had shared a top secret family recipe for vanilla gelato that Iris had to swear she would not share with another soul-only, the recipe does not come from Iris’s family, but the family of her mother’s old flame. When Iris goes into the same gelato shop, she discovers that they are temporarily not selling the famous vanilla gelato, as only two members of the family have the recipe-one being Santos, the past love of Iris’s mother. Only, santos is having some health issues and cannot remember the recipe, and the other family member has lost it. Without the recipe, the family is at a loss to figure out the recipe to save their business.

Immediately conflicted, Iris is unsure whether to give Gio the recipe and reveal that Santos had given her mother the recipe, which would be considered a betrayal to the family. She ultimately decides that her mother would want her to help, so she volunteers to help figure out the recipe, without revealing to the family that she already knows it. On top of hiding that she knows the recipe, she is also hiding the true reason she came to the gelato shop. Even worse, Iris realizes she has met Gio before, at a bookstore on Valentine’s Day where she told him a pretty bad lie.

As Iris and Gio spend more time together and Iris becomes more involved in his family, Iris’s feelings continue to complicate the situation. When should she tell these people that she cares about the truth about why she’s there? How will the man that she’s falling in love with get past all she’s hidden from him, when he values honesty and loyalty above all?

This was a cute Christmas read with some really charming characters and an endearing family that anyone would want to be part of. I recommend this to anyone looking for a romantic holiday read about family, friendship, loyalty and love.

Iris a young chef is reeling from the recent loss of her mother and decides to head to NYC to heal and get away from a toxic relationship. While there as she explores the city she comes across a Gelato shop that looks familiar to her. Curious as she decides to look into it further she realizes her mom's secret recipe is one and the same as the shop's but their owner is in a coma and no one can figure out the secret recipe. Iris then decides to help them figure out the recipe and in doing so begins to dig up past secrets along with the gelato secret recipe.

Perfect book to curl up with some hot chocolate for some cozy light hearted reading. This is a breezy fluffy type of book but you can't help but fall in love with Gio's Gelato family. Jose Silver continues to be one of my go to writers to get my romance-ish fill.

This book was absolutely incredible! I am Josie Silver's biggest fan now!

I was intrigued the whole story and was wondering what was going to happen and this was a real page turner, the whole timeline was well done, with the bits and pieces we got as the book progressed. I felt interested and I. could easily visualize everything clearly and vividly,

Iris is truly a character I felt for, and seeing her growth throughout the book and how her growth was present throughout the entire book. I loved how this book focused on found family, romance, and also self growth, and I feel like they were all tied beautifully by Silver's writing.

I cannot rave about this book enough, it was beautiful and special to read, and I think Josie covered certain sensitive topics in a truly remarkable way.

Please check trigger warnings for this book in advance, there were slight mentions of mental abuse and topics of grief discussed.

A sweet, heartwarming escape to New York sets the perfect tone for a cozy holiday read. Josie Silver’s newest novel A Winter in New York is a contemporary romance full of atmosphere and delightful characters.

Young chef Iris moves from London to New York looking for a fresh start and to escape her abusive boyfriend. She and her best friend, Bobby, stumble upon a gelateria in Little Italy that reminds her of a photo from her deceased mother. After meeting the owner’s son and sampling their famous vanilla gelato, Iris realizes it is exactly the same as her mother’s secret recipe.
As the story continues, family secrets are revealed while Gio and Iris’s relationship becomes increasingly more complicated.

The author uses flashbacks to gradually reveal Iris’s mother’s background. Silver’s characters of the Gigliotti family are well developed. Romantic moments and charm create a perfect rom-com escape. Thanks to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

Set in New York City around the holiday, Josie Silver’s new novel A Winter in New York follows Iris Raven, a young chef who, following the death of her mother, has just moved to New York City, looking for a fresh start. Iris and her mom spent countless evenings watching movies set in New York while eating delicious gelato from her mom’s favorite recipe. Those movies, however, did nothing to prepare Iris for just how huge the city really was.

Thankfully, Bobby, Iris’ neighbor and immediate best friend, makes it his mission to get her out into the city to experience it to the fullest. When he takes her to a food festival in Little Italy, Belotti’s, a family-run gelateria immediately catches Iris’ eye. She recognizes it from an old cherished photo of her mom’s and wants to visit the shop as a way to feel close to her mom again. What Iris doesn’t realize as she’s making plans to return the next day, is how truly life changing visiting this shop will actually be.

Iris returns the next day and is surprised to see Gio behind the counter, only because she has just recently met him in an awkward encounter at the bookstore. Gio and Iris get reacquainted, and he informs her that the shop is actually in danger of closing. His uncle Santo, the owner, is sick and in a coma, and because of a strict family rule, no one else knows the secret family recipe for their beloved gelato. As Gio tells this story, Iris starts to suspect that the recipe she and her mother have enjoyed for years may, in fact, be the Belotti secret recipe. Why would her mother have this family’s top secret recipe? Is there any way she can hand over the recipe without creating drama for this family since they’ll know that someone, probably Santo, gave the recipe to someone outside of the family? Iris decides the best course of action is to volunteer to help try to recreate the recipe. Her hope is to help save the business in time for the holiday season while also protecting both her mother and Santo.

This story really was a delightful and heartwarming read. I loved watching Gio and Iris work together every day to try to recreate this recipe. They of course have wonderful chemistry that Silver brings to life beautifully, but they are also both very much dealing with grief and loss. While Iris is still mourning the loss of her mom, Gio is grieving the loss of his wife. Working comfortably side by side every day allows both Iris and Gio to start moving past that grief and to find their way to one another. They had so many sweet moments together in that shop. The Belotti family was also fantastic and I adored them. They were a big-hearted, loud, loving family and it was just such a joy every time they appeared on the scene.

Another wonderful element of the story was Iris following the clues to figure out what exactly Belotti’s shop meant to her mother. We get some beautifully done flashback scenes to when Iris’ mom was a young woman living in the city. I love a good dual timeline story so I very much enjoyed watching this aspect of the story unfold.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, heartfelt holiday read, be sure to check out A Winter in New York.

I absolutely love this author but struggled to connect with this storyline. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Iris has just made it on her own after the loss of her mother, leaving an abusive ex, and moving her life from London to New York City. It’s there that she hopes to connect more with her mother the singer. When this trip brings her a surprising twist, she keeps her lips zipped, and finds more of her mom than she ever could have imagined.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It didn’t blow me away, but it didn’t leave me disappointed. I didn’t yearn for more, like I have for previous Josie Silver reads, but I also never once had a thought to DNF the book either.

There were many times throughout where I wanted to shake Iris for keeping her mouth shut and not communicating. But I definitely saw how that would have completely changed the trajectory of the story. Ultimately, the read was sweet and cute but lacked depth. I did have moments where I held my chest because I hurt for them all. But even that wasn’t enough to make this an amazing read for me.

I just needed more.

Thank you to Ballantine-Dell and Random House for an early NetGalley copy in exchange for an honest review.

I forced myself to finish this one. It felt like it drug on and on and could’ve been solved with one conversation in the first 5% of the book. Way too slow paced and confusion for the sake of forcing a novel out of it.

Josie Silver is one of my favorite authors! I have enjoyed her past novels and really loved A Winter in New York. Josie Silver brought New York City to life in her writing - I felt like I was walking down the snowy streets. and experiencing the magic of NYC at Christmas time with Iris. I fell in love with Iris and Gio and the relationship they developed. I loved the complexity of the storyline, the dual timeline of Iris and her mother, and how it was more than just a holiday romance. It is a beautifully constructed love story - but also about family, hope, loss, grief, and healing. It is a definite must read!

4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Josie Silver for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I adore Josie Silver's writing and her latest is another magical masterpiece! Iris was raised by a free spirit mother, and it was always the two of them against the world until her mother passes away. Iris then falls into an emotionally abusive relationship while her defenses are down (off page!) but finally escapes to NY for a fresh start and a way to reconnect with her mother who has a history there.

There was so much I loved about this book! The storylines of both the past (Vivien & Santos) and the present (Iris & Gio) captured my heart. The main characters as well as the side characters were perfect in their imperfections and made me totally invested in the outcome even if I didn't support all the characters actions.

The romance of Gio and Iris was so sweet, a love story written in the stars! The family dynamics, the secrets, the emotional highs and lows, the fated connections, the gelato...and a happy sigh as I finished the last page.

5 stars

I look forward to whatever the author has to offer next!

"A Winter in New York" by Josie Silver is a heartwarming and nostalgic journey through the bustling streets of the Big Apple, wrapped in a cozy blanket of romance. This book encapsulates the essence of winter in New York, blending it with an enticing love story that will warm your heart during the coldest of days. As a fan of Silver's previous works, I was not disappointed, and I gladly give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The story revolves around Iris, who decides to make a fresh start in New York, only to realize that the city is even bigger and more intimidating than she'd imagined. Her journey begins with the kind of whimsical hope and curiosity that reminds you of classic Hallmark movies. It's a familiar backdrop, yet with Josie Silver's signature touch, it feels unique and heartwarming.

Iris's best friend, Bobby, plays a pivotal role in pulling her out of her shell and into the world of the city. Their visit to a Little Italy autumn street fair introduces us to the central plot point: a charming family-run gelateria, which sparks Iris's curiosity. It is here that the story takes a delicious turn, paying homage to iconic movies like "Dirty Dancing," "Pretty Woman," "When Harry Met Sally," and "Love Actually," as it weaves a narrative around secrets, gelato recipes, and budding romance.

The characters in "A Winter in New York" are incredibly endearing. Iris and Gio, in particular, stand out as adorable and lovable individuals. Iris's determination to help save Gio's family gelato shop by recreating their secret recipe sets the stage for a delightful, heartwarming, and sometimes humorous journey. Their growing connection is depicted beautifully and is sure to make your heart melt, much like the gelato they're trying to save.

The book explores themes of family, love, and the importance of tradition. It delves into the complexities of secrets and the potential for revelation to disrupt the lives we've built. The plot twists keep the reader engaged, wondering how these secrets will be revealed and what consequences they might bring.

Josie Silver's writing style is enchanting, and her ability to create a vivid sense of place and time immerses the reader in the magic of a winter in New York. The city itself is a character in the story, and it's clear that Silver has a deep affection for the setting.

Overall, "A Winter in New York" is a delightful read that captures the charm of New York City during the winter season while paying homage to beloved romantic movies. If you're a fan of feel-good, heartwarming stories with a dash of nostalgia and a touch of winter magic, this book is a must-read. While it may not break new ground in the romance genre, it certainly delivers an enjoyable and engaging experience, earning its 4 out of 5 stars. Josie Silver continues to be a reliable source of romantic escapism, and this book is no exception.

My ARC was provided by the publisher (Dell) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nobody does “sad but life-affirming romance” like [a:Josie Silver|16737899]. It definitely suited my mood more that [b:A Winter in New York|101673373] was more on the life affirming side.

Iris and Gio have a meet not-so-cute in a bookstore and then, months later, Iris learns Gio’s family owns a shop known for their family’s secret gelato recipe. Strangely, the recipe - seemingly lost when Gio’s grandfather has a stroke and loses some of his memory - isn’t just familiar to Iris: Her late mother has it written down on a cafe napkin. Iris resolves not to let on that someone in Gio’s family gave away the recipe – not that she knows <i>how</i> her mom ended up with it, but begins to help Gio as he tries to “rediscover” the proper ingredients and save his family’s shop.

There’s so much to love here – family and tradition, amazing food, an adorable moppet. Iris is rebuilding her life and her confidence after fleeing to New York from an abusive ex in London. People who have issues with MCs who keep really massive secrets may struggle with this one, though for me, it actually felt like Iris was at least somewhat justified in holding back the truth of her family’s connection to his (and the gelato recipe) as well as her own past.

Heartwarming, sexy, and full of wonderful people anyone would be lucky to have in their lives.

CW: Death of a parent (off page), emotional abuse from a partner (mostly in the past but not completely, with lingering trauma)

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Dell for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

A Winter in New York will transport you to the magic of New York City during the holidays. The story follows Iris, a young chef seeking a fresh start in the lively city, as she stumbles upon a secret gelato recipe and becomes intertwined with a family run gelateria. Through gelato and NYC she comes across unexpected connections to her own past, making for a journey filled with nostalgia and love. The slow-burning romance between Iris and Gio unfolds gradually as they work together to recreate the secret family gelato recipe.

This book is SO sweet and perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Warm and cozy is how I would describe it. The book encapsulates the nostalgia of family ties and the sweetness of newfound love. This book is perfect for a chilly winter evening. A Winter in New York will leave you daydreaming about the festive spirit of NYC and will make you crave gelato. If you enjoyed One Day in December, this one is a must-read!

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. A Winter in New York was released on October 3rd 2023!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@hellolongweekend

Winter in New York by Josie Silver tells the tale of Iris, how she came to be in New York City, and the secret recipe that could ruin what she has fought so hard to build.

Iris, after losing her mother, gets caught up in a toxic relationship in her native England. When she finally breaks free, the only place she can think to go is New York City. Growing up, Iris’ mom told her about how much she loved NYC and that’s where she ran.

Once there, Iris lives a small but peaceful life. Her best friend Bobby lives upstairs and encourages her to get out. One day she listens and unwittingly comes upon a shop that is in her mom’s scrapbook along with a picture of the only man her mother really loved. Iris goes back the next day and meets Gio in his family’s gelato shop. The only issue is he does not have the secret gelato recipe. His uncle (Santos - the man from her mother’s picture) is in the hospital and can’t remember it. Iris realizes that she has the recipe on a napkin in the scrapbook. But Iris can’t tell Gio she has it as it will reveal Gio’s uncle gave the secret recipe to someone else. And she is not sure what her mother and Santos were to each other. Wanting to help, Iris offers her services as a chef, to help them recreate the famed gelato.

The more time she spends with the family, the harder it is to keep her secret. Then Gio’s father comes back and figures out who Iris is. He knew Iris’ mom a long time ago and knows the truth will hurt his family. He asks Iris to quietly leave and soon Iris feels more alone than ever before.

I loved how this book told a bit of Iris’ mom’s story in a short dual timeline. It made the things that happened more interesting and gave the backstory.

Gio’s big Italian family was fabulous and his nosy sisters were fun! And the setting - New York City at Christmas was perfect!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

After moving to New York City after her mom died, Iris eventually meets Gio and they are a super cute couple. Slow burn romances are not usually my favorite books to read but this one was executed so well and I enjoyed every minute. Not only was this book a holiday romance, but it centered around food which made it even better. I highly recommend that people read this around the holidays as it is such a warm and cozy read.

A Winter In New York
By Josie Silver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

“You make a good team, when you’re not going for each other’s throats.”
“We’re Italian, it’s how we love.”

I have a couple of Josie Silver’s books on my TBR, but with A Winter in New York just released, the pretty cover, and New York setting, it seemed like a great place to start.

After the passing of her mother, and to escape an abusive relationship, Iris moves to New York City to see for herself all of the places in her mother’s stories. While wandering Little Italy, Iris stumbles on gelateria, and the handsome Gio, who both somehow seem all too familiar.

Full transparency, as this book started, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like it. With the exception of the 80’s movie and song references and New York City landmarks, which as a New Yorker are close to my heart, I wasn’t that into it. Something shifted about halfway through and, oh my gosh, what a wonderful story. I blame outside factors for my reservations in the beginning because I really loved this book. I could see New York in the winter, and Little Italy and Coney Island, right along with Iris. When they referenced different songs, I found myself humming them later on in the day. To me, this book was a love letter to family, including found family, traditions and New York. I really loved it. Definitely give this one a read!

What would you do if you had a secret family recipe but it wasn’t for your family? Would you immediately give it back, even if brought you comfort? This is the quandary of Iris as she happens upon the gelatria that is in her mom’s scrapbook. Yes this is a romance novel but it’s also about family, found family and letting go of the past. I loved Iris and her struggle to do what is right for her and also this new found family in the Belotti’s.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for sending me an e-Arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a HUGE Josie Silver fan and I was extremely excited and grateful to be able to read this book early. Unfortunately, I just wasn't able to connect to the story as I have with Silver's past novels. The novel started off extremely slow and i really didn't connect with Iris and also didn't feel the chemistry with Gio. The plot was a bit too far-fetched. I dnf it sadly.

First I would like to thank Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Iris who after the death of her mother and leaving a bad relationship moves to New York. While at a street fair in Little Italy she has a sense of deja vu when walking past a door. When she realizes the door is from a picture in her mom’s photo album she decides to check it out. While visit she meets Gio and learns that his uncle can’t remember the secret recipe for the gelato, which Iris knows as Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother. Iris feels bad and decides to help Gio figure out the recipe, by pushing him in the right direction. As they spend more time together Iris starts developing feelings for Gio and falls in love with his big family.

What I loved:
- Gelato, I love gelato and love how Iris and Gio fall in love while working on a gelato recipe
- Gio, a widower who is raising a teenage daughter and keeping the family business afloat and its no wonder Iris falls for him
- Bobby, Iris’ boss and best friend who will physically fight anyone who dares mess with Iris like the good big brother figure he is
- NYC, I love how this book really gets the essence of the city the different parts and the typical locations which became popular through different movies throughout the years
- Gio’s Family, they are a big family who does regular family dinners and just adopt Iris as one of their own. As someone from a big family I appreciate how well this book really captures that feeling
-Flashbacks, there are a few flashback chapters which follows Iris’ mom and you learn how she met Gio’s uncle and got the gelato recipe. I think that added to the story cause you got to understand how Iris ended up in this situation

Overall I really enjoyed this story. There were parts where I really wanted to shake Iris for some of the decisions she made but I don’t think there is a book where I don’t feel that way. If you are looking for a sweet wintertime romance with gelato, family and growth then I would absolutely recommend this books for you.