3.5 stars
I really enjoyed Iris and Gio, plus his large family of sisters and her adorable upstairs neighbors, Bobby and Robin. I liked the flashbacks to Iris's mother. The time spent with Iris and Gio trying to perfect the gelato recipe as they fall for each other, and Iris recovering her self esteem and confidence, were interesting.
The part of the book that I struggled with was the recurring appearance/mentions of Adam. I found them unnecessary and distracting, in addition to being unpleasant. The book didn't need.that suspense, and I felt like the growth Iris had and the demonstration of Gio being a great guy didn't need Adam's character to take place - I would much rather he have been totally off page and in the past.

This book was different from what I expected, but in the best of ways. It isn’t just a straightforward romance. Silver has beautifully weaves a story of grief, the love between a mother and daughter, and rediscovering yourself when all seems lost.

After losing her mother and escaping an abusive relationship, Iris moves to New York City to start over. Her mother’s stories of the city always shone with magic and life, and she’s hoping to find her own spark again. When she stumbles on a storefront from one of her mother’s old photos, she stumbles into a search for the Belotti family’s secret gelato recipe - a recipe that her mother just so happened to have. As she becomes ever more deeply intwined with the family, especially the handsome widower Gio, she’s faced with a choice. Does she come clean about her connection to their family, or make a clean break and leave them behind?

I really enjoyed this book. The story was unique, the characters vivid, and it is a gorgeous love letter to New York City. However, the pacing felt extraordinarily odd, at times glacially slow and other times skipping forward weeks at a time. Since pacing is a huge factor for me as a reader, that knocked the rating down a bit.

Thank you to Net Galley and Delacorte Press for a copy of this ARC!

Let me start by saying I’ve loved all other Josie Silver books. One Night on the Island was one of my favorite books last year. This book however was a bit of miss for me. It takes place in NY but really didn’t have much to do with it being winter in NY. The title and cover lead you to believe that it’s going to be more of a holiday book than it was. The conflict between Iris and Gio seemed to drag out and very forced. The ongoing lies seemed unnecessary and overly dramatic for what they were. I loved Gio and his family but the rest was just off.

A Winter in New York by @josiesilverauthor
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Release date- 10/3/23

BIIIIIIG Josie Silver fan over here 👋🏼 I’ve been hooked ever since One Day in December. 🧣This story follows Iris & her journey as she starts over in New York after leaving a difficult relationship & dealing with the grief of losing her mother. Iris stumbles upon a struggling gelato shop & makes the realization that she has the secret recipe & is able to help but only if she sacrifices her mother’s secret.

🤭 I was in love with these characters from the get-go. The relationship dynamics & banter between characters was a 10/10 for me. I love the slow burn & also a big fan of the big family relationship.

If you’ve read & loved Josie Silver before this is a MUST read!

Read if you enjoy:
❄️ winter romance
❄️ big families
❄️involved families
❄️slow burn
❄️secrets
❄️secret romance
❄️single dad trope
❤️thanks @netgalley for this ARC!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Dell, and Josie Silver for an ARC of this book!**

Ice skating in Rockefeller Center. The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Enchanting window displays lighting up Macy's.

And... vanilla gelato?

Josie Silver has one more item to add to the iconic list of New York City winter musts...but as much as I LOVE sweets, I'm not sure one would QUITE be added to my must-have yearly rotation.

Iris is walking away from life in London, and a toxic relationship that nearly destroyed her. Her destination? Glamorous NYC, where she hopes to be swept away by the romance and excitement of the city. She's out at an Italian street festival with her best bud Bobby one day when a cute, quaint shop on the corner of a street catches her eye. It's a family-run gelataria, and Iris feels like there is a REASON she stumbled upon it, and she vows to return the next day.

When she does, she meets Gio Belotti, a drop-dead gorgeous Italian man who is desperate to figure out the family's secret recipe for gelato so he can recreate it. His uncle, the original keeper of the secret, is in a coma and Gio is determined to keep the family's business thriving in the meantime. When Iris gets a taste, however, her stomach drops: it is EXACTLY the same as the vanilla gelato she used to have with her mom, so many years ago...and Iris realizes that her mom must have been in on the secret too. Iris feels sure she can help Gio and family recapture that magic AND keep the secret under wraps. But when Gio's charm begins to sweep Iris off her feet, can she stay grounded enough to keep the past in the past? And when Gio's uncle finally wakes, will he compromise her place as a veritable member of the Belotti family AND the future she was hoping to build with Gio? Is the relationship she ended in London really and TRULY over...or destined to haunt her new life too?

I've been aching to recapture the magic I felt while reading One Day In December ever since I finished that book, and every time Josie Silver puts out a book, I get a rush of anticipation. Although I normally avoid Christmas ARCS due to the timing of the publishing world, this one seemed to do less with the holiday itself and more with the locale and the winter season rather than Christmas specifically, so I figured it was worth a try. And in many ways, this one DID fit the bill.

The locale? Charming.

The two leads? Likable enough (although Gio's swooniness revolved mostly around his good looks and calling Iris "little spoon" in Italian. Which in fairness IS pretty cute...but still)

The premise, however? I think calling it simply implausible is being a bit kind.

This is absolutely in the league of Hallmark, you just have to 'grin and go with it' plotting. There is a LOT of right place, right time that takes place to even put Iris in Gio's path, and their romance definitely was on the 'instalove' side of the street. I'm not necessarily opposed to all of this, especially in a cozy story, but there were times when the dialogue and the plot points themselves didn't necessarily feel real enough for me.

Not only does Iris become instantly entrenched with Gio, she basically becomes one of the Belottis with almost no prelude, and the whole situation, while sweet, didn't feel too authentic to me. It was also difficult to have SO many side characters, siblings etc., but to not feel like I got to know any of them well enough to be fully invested. Even Gio's own DAUGHTER is hardly a hiccup for Iris: apparently she feels ready to jump into a motherly role without any hesitation. Again, this seemed odd for someone who had been through what Iris had and was at that place in life...but with those reflective passages absent, it was sometimes hard to say.

The whole history of the secret recipe and the connection between Iris' mom and the older Belottis is also a bit heavy handed in terms of info dump and trying to make it all make sense. We get a COUPLE of glimpses back in time to see how everything played out, but it is a far cry from two fully formed timelines. In some ways, I think I would have preferred to see more of this relationship play out in parallels (as is often the case in these kinds of stories) rather than just a glimpse here and there. Even if Iris had happened to stumble upon her mom's old journals or the like, I think there was a lot of missing depth that Silver could have explored to give this story more of the peaks and valleys I was expecting.

All of these plotting and structural quibbles aside, there is a lot to love in Silver's latest romance, and although I didn't connect with it the way I'd hoped, it DID inspire me to do 3 things:

1) Eat gelato 🍨
2) Watch Moonstruck 🌙
3) Teach my husband Italian😍

...

(okay, I'd settle for him going to GET me the gelato!)😏

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This is probably my favorite holiday read for 2023. We have Iris moving from London to start over in New York’s Little Italy. Upon visiting a small gelateria, Iris realizes that someone else may have her family’s secret vanilla gelato recipe. While this may seem awkward, Iris has been trying (unsuccessfully) to recreate this miracle dessert. Enter Gio, whose gelateria is in danger of closing! Can these two solve a family mystery, make amazing gelato, and fall in love in the Big Apple? Read this one to find out!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read the ARC of A Winter In New York. It is a story about secrets, loss, love, gelato, grief, loyalty, and hope. It begins with Iris running from London after her mother passed away, leaving behind an abusive ex-boyfriend. She arrives in New York where the story takes place, meets Gio and their journey begins. I enjoyed how the author developed the characters, making me fall in love with all of them. I also liked the backstory between Iris's mother Vivian and Santo, Gio's pappa.
There was some laughter, and some tears, and my heart is just so full right now from this heartwarming story. I couldn't put it down. 5 stars!!

Publication date: October 3, 2023.

I read Josie Silver’s “One Day in December”, so I was looking forward to her new release. It did not disappoint! I found myself more emotionally invested than I expected. I loved every scene featuring Gio’s big Italian family and craved more time with them.

I struggled with this book - elegantly written and woven with grief but still beautifully told. For as many times as I was frustrated with the lack of honesty in the narrative, this book was objectively human.

This was such a cute, heartwarming slow-burn romance. It was definitely slow to start as Iris helps Gio try to make the perfect vanilla gelato over and over again, and their friendship and romance grows, but the ending was perfect. I loved Iris's relationship with her boss Bobby and his partner Robin. And then as little orphan Iris is welcomed into Gio's family, the secrets she is keeping from them becomes overwhelming for her. She's never had a family or really anyone that cared for her as much as her mother did, and without her mother she doesn't believe she is worthy of being loved, cared for and protected.

It is a great holiday romance. I loved all the characters, even though Iris's stubbornness could sometimes be annoying. A wonderfully cute love story.

Josie Silver. NYC. Christmas. SAY NO MORE.

I need to start off by saying that Josie Silver is one of my absolute favorite authors. Even when the story isn't my favorite (One Night on the Island) I still find myself immersed in the story because I just LOVE her writing.

A Winter in New York is a sweet story with a little more depth than a typical holiday romance.
Iris moves to NYC after the death of her mother. She lands a job, a new best friend, and while visiting a family run gelato shop, possibly a new love interest. Gio is the handsome Italian nephew of the owner.
I absolutely LOVED seeing New York through her fresh eyes! Especially during Christmas time. The characters were just lovely, though I wish we'd gotten to know Gio's family just a bit more.

I'd definitely recommend this to someone looking for a light-ish read with some more serious topics. Now I'm ready to go plan a trip to NYC and find some fantastic gelato!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and PRH Audio for my early copies!

Is it too soon to read another holiday book? Definitely not when its Josie Silver’s new book!

Josie Silver is an auto-buy auto for me!

I fell in love with The Two Lives of Lydia Bird and have read every single book she has written since!

Her writing always evokes all the emotions and that is my favorite kind of writing.

This is a love story about Iris and Gio and both characters are struggling with things. Gio is struggling to keep his store open and Iris helps. Iris is struggling with loss and searching for herself. I love their dynamic as well as so many of the side characters in this story. It gave be While You Were Sleeping vibes a little bit which is a favorite rom-com of mine.

I loved so much about this book! I loved the themes of love and loss, how we all process grief and strive towards healing. I also really loved the Belotti family and think you will too!

This definitely got me in the holiday spirit!

I would highly recommend you read this book with some gelato because I promise you, you’re going to want some!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the early copy

Thank you @josiesilveauthor for writing another wonderful book!

4.25 stars

My first Christmas read of 2023 and it did not disappoint! I will be sharing the review tomorrow on pub day on my Instagram account. Josie Silver has become a favorite ever since I read One Day in December as part of RW Bookclub, and I was so excited for another holiday read from her! This book gave me all of the emotions. I was tense and anxious, I was happy, I cried. I loved the setting of being in NYC, but more specifically enjoyed their corner of it feeling like it's own community. Gio was a love interest I could get onboard with as well! The relationship between mother and daughter was so special and moving and I especially loved Vivian's chapters. I will recommend this one!!

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver is a nostalgic and cozy holiday romance set against the backdrop of bustling New York City. This book will leave you craving for a scoop of gelato, so be sure to have some on standby! The story revolves around a young chef armed with her family's secret gelato recipe, who embarks on a journey to restart her life in NYC. She stumbles upon a handsome man named Gio and his family's struggling gelateria - a shop that holds a special place in her late mother's memories. With Gio's uncle, the keeper of their gelato recipe, in a coma and only one batch of their signature gelato remaining, the future looks bleak. However, after tasting the last batch, Iris makes a startling discovery - their gelato tastes identical to hers! Iris steps up to help them recreate the flavor, but her secrets threaten to unravel everything.

This tale of love, family secrets, and new beginnings is a perfect choice for fans of Emily Stone and Jenny Bayliss. This was my first encounter with Josie Silver's work, but I'm eager to explore her other titles, including One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Christmas, Family Secrets, Found Family, Terminal Illness. *Special thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free eARC #AWinterinNewYork #JosieSilver

I wanted to eat gelato and jump on a plane and head to NY while reading this book. It was so dang cute. I’m obsessed with the characters, the storyline, everything 💕 perfect holiday read!

This was such a heart warming, wintery story about love, loss, family and lots of gelato. It was so so sweet. I’ve always really liked Josie Silver’s writing and this was no different!

I love a story where the present mimics the past. It’s bittersweet to see Iris living the life her mother loved so much, without her. But that’s exactly why she’s doing it, right? And the fact that Iris just happened upon the same exact gelato shop her mother did all of those years ago. And just like her mother her life was changed in an instant. It’s the perfectly, heartwarming, bittersweet story.

I LOVED Gio and Iris together. They were sweet, and fun, and something new and exciting for the other. Even though they just started because she could help him with his gelato problem, they so easily moved into something that was so important. The way she was so seamlessly accepted (or forced) into his family was so sweet. She didn’t have anyone else, and now she had a whole family?? Even though everything was COMPLICATED. So complicated. And there was no easy way out. She felt so loved and safe with Gio, with his family and that made everything so much harder.

Also the fact that he called her Cucchiaino 🥹😭 makes my heart MELT. So silly, but so so so SWEET.

I do really dislike when there’s a lie between the characters that spans across the whole story. Just because I KNOW it’s going to hurt when it comes out. Even if it makes sense and is the whole reason for the story!! And Iris is protecting her mother first and foremost because that’s who she is loyal to. But she’s also protecting Santo, which is so sweet. It all played out very well, which I was grateful for!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First I wanna thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the coziest books I've ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like grab a blanket, some hot cocoa and get comfy on your couch cozy. It's just the way the books written.

I loved this story, the FMC, MMC, & the holiday and winter spirit I'm this book.

Found family is a trope l've grown to absolutely love. Because I whole heartedly believe you can find family in good friends when you're in a city with no family. So this aspect was love for me.
I rated this 4 stars be some of the issues were...annoying.

Off to eat some gelato now!

A Winter in New York was a romantic story about a second chance at love, overcoming a traumatic past relationship, and discovering herself. Iris was able to reconnect with her mother’s past and in turn fall in love with Gio and find her forever family. I enjoyed the storyline and characters. I’d recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Josie Silver and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

I was so excited to read this story but unfortunately it fell short for me this time. I would like to come back to this one perhaps as a cozy winter read. Although I am marking this as a DNF with one star, I can see how others may enjoy this book. For me, I just wasn't loving the slow burn aspect for both the central plot about the gelato as well as the budding relationship between the main characters.

Read if you like:
-Gelato
-New York
-Slow burn romance
-Hallmark movie romances

Iris leaves her abusive relationship in London for a fresh start in NYC! A favorite memory that Iris has was watching movies that were set in NYC with her mom and she even found out that her mom had a picture of a family owned Gelato shop and she wants to know why. She goes there and meets the owners nephew, Gio, who is worried because they are in danger of closing since his uncle who knows the secret recipe is. in a coma. Iris is shocked when she tries the Gelato and it tastes just like what her mom used to make which leads her to want to know why her mom knew that recipe. She helps Gio and of course starts to fall for him.

This was such a cute story and I loved the balance between a romance and the family/real life issues that people have to deal with. Of course we have a miscommunication trope but overall, I loved this story and the big Italian family, and the gelato recipe story throughout.