*4.5 ⭐️*
A Winter in New York was like a warm cup of hot chocolate. It was a well executed, intriguing story, with the perfect slow-burn romance.

While each character had their issues (which honestly added so much to the story), both Iris and Gio made me feel cozy and happy. They each come from quite different backgrounds with complicated families, but there is so much love and heart in each of them. Also, within some of our amazing side characters (shoutout to Bobby and Sophia).

I wanted to be strolling the streets of NYC on a cool winter day. I wanted to catch dinner at the Noodle House. But most of all, I wanted to stroll into Belotti’s to enjoy some fresh gelato.

Thank you for Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this early digital review copy!

⭐️: 3/5

After moving to New York from the UK to restart her life, Iris stumbles upon a family-owned gelato shop that she recognizes from a picture of her mother’s. Intrigued, she meets Gio, a member of the family that owns the shop, and learns that the shop is in danger of closing after his uncle Santo, the sole keeper of the secret gelato recipe, suffered a stroke and can no longer remember the recipe. Iris comes to find that the gelato is the exact same as her mother’s recipe she grew up eating, but she finds she can’t tell them that she knows the recipe without first knowing how her mother knew Gio’s uncle in the first place. As she gets closer to Gio and his family, the secret she’s keeping threatens to ruin the new friendships and love she has gained.

I’m gonna just jump in. The premise is just too contrived for me. I LOVED the multigenerational love story, and this book was full of sweet, rom-com moments, straight out of movies about New York. I just couldn’t get behind the reasoning about why Iris can’t tell Gio and his family that she knows the recipe. Like, it’s just too absurd for me. Obviously they’d rather have the recipe back and not have their livelihood go under than not learn that their uncle told some girl he liked way back in the day their secret family recipe. Is Iris stupid?? It’s basically one huge miscommunication trope of a novel, where you obviously know that there’s going to be a big reveal at some point. That’s really all there is to it. The rom-com trope of this novel is just miscommunication. That’s it. Because there’s even MORE miscommunication than the secret recipe of it all. Overall, the fact that more wasn’t done about the missed connection and intergenerational love aspect of it all was disappointing, and I found myself just waiting for the shoe to drop the whole time. This generally just ruined the really cute, relationship building aspects of the book for me, since it just didn’t. Make. Sense.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

"A young chef stumbles on a secret family recipe that might lead her to the love - and life - she's been looking for in this stunning novel from the New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December.

When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is - all the nostalgic movies set in New York she'd watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn't quite do it justice.

But Bobby, Iris's best friend, isn't about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye - could it be the same shop that's in an old photo of her mother's?

Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family's gelato recipe, is recovering from a stroke and can no longer remember it, so they can't make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she's not sure why Gio's uncle gave it to her mother in the first place?

Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio's uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life - and new love - she's been building all winter long."

A kind of While You Were Sleeping tale.

Iris is finding her footing in New York City, far away from the grief and trauma of her old life in London. While she is not at the culinary level she would like to be in her chef career, she finds comfort and friendship in the local noodle shop where she works. Still reeling in grief from the loss of her mother, she finds her identity through her mother's past. A chance run-in with an iconic gelateria present in her mother's scrapbook, what lies behind the front door will turn her new world upside down.

I really enjoyed this deep story of love in its many forms: intimate, parental, friendship. I loved the slow build of her found family in New York City and how often she is reminded that she is important to the group and the dependability of the member of the group when she feels very isolated. I personally enjoyed the family and friend bonding over food and wine. If you are a fan of romantic movies set in New York City, this book is for you. It mentions Moonstruck, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, and many others that have slipped my mind. My favorite character is Gio, especially with a scene in a storage unit where he demands maturity and communication with respect and basic human dignity. I literally cheered out loud as I read that part! I also enjoyed how fiercely loyal he is to his family and his willingness to compromise in order to make those he cares about happy. I would recommend this book for adult readers who enjoy a story that travels between past and present. I would also recommend it for those who love to read about found family as this story slowly builds on this to band together for a victorious defeat over a despicable villain.

On the other hand, I would not as enthusiastically recommend and more give a warning to those who may be triggered by relationship abuse, parental loss (especially maternal), and homelessness as some scenes may be difficult to read through.

Please note: at the time this review has been posted, the current release date is set for 10/03/2023. Many thanks to Dell, Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House, Goodreads Giveaways, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

To start, thank you to Penguin Random House and Josie Silver for this ARC edition of A Winter in New York.

While I am definitely a Josie Silver fan, I have to say that this book was not for me. There was a part where Silver is talking about Hallmark movies and says, “Those movies usually come with a heavy dose of sugar and a problem that's resolvable with a sensible chat and the belief that love conquers all. That isn't going to cut it here.” The problem is that I totally believe that a sensible chat really would have solved the main characters problem. I feel like Iris blew every one of her issues out of proportion when if she just would have communicated, Gio would have been okay. Similar to a Hallmark movie, I felt like Iris was going back and forth the entire book trying to decide if she should tell Gio how she found his family’s gelataria. I wish she just would have done it.

I’m also not sure I told believe the Santo/Vivian angle. I’m just not sure how believable any of that was and it was part of one of the main problems.

While this book was not my cup of tea, I can genuinely see how people who are fanatics of Hallmark movies would fall in love with the characters. It was set in New York but it gave off small town vibes and young love. The romance was there, but I just wish it had something more. Maybe more conflict and tension would have helped me with the pace of this book.

Since Silver’s previous reads were a 5 and 4 star read for me, this book will not deter me from picking up another one of her books.

CAUTION ⚠️ Do not start this book without having a gallon of Vanilla Gelato in your freezer as you will want to indulge in copious amounts!!

After Iris loses her mother to Cancer, she gets the courage to leave an abusive relationship in London, and move to New York, for a fresh start. It was a place that brought her mother much joy, and she hopes it will do the same for her.

A Chef by trade, she stumbles upon a job in a noodle shop, and though it won’t allow her to flex her creative side, it does come with an apartment above the shop, a boss named Bobby who becomes a best friend, along with his husband, Robin, and a part time cat named Smirnoff.

Bobby and Iris are enjoying a street fair in Little Italy, when they pass a family run Gelateria with a beautiful door which somehow looks familiar, but it’s closed temporarily and in danger of closing permanently.

After checking her mother’s scrapbook she knows why the door looks familiar-her mom had visited the same shop and somehow left with the family’s secret recipe, which is only ever known by two people at a time.

With Patriarch Santos, in a Coma, nobody else can replicate the recipe for the flavor they are known for-the only flavor they sell-VANILLA.

Iris knows that she has the recipe, and it’s one that she makes often, but there are reasons why she cannot just walk through the door and admit that. So, she decides to help Santo’s nephew, Gio try to “recreate” the recipe so that she won’t have to share the secrets she knows and hurt others in the process.

But of course, it’s never a good idea to start new relationships with secrets, and she finds herself past the point of no return and jeopardizing the life she has worked so hard to build, and a possible future with Gio.

Josie Silver just keeps on getting better with each book!

You’ll feel nervous for Iris, you’ll fall in love with Bobby and Robin, and you’ll want to be adopted into the Belotti family!

“A Winter in New York” offers everything you could want in a ROMANCE novel, and it’s available on OCTOBER 3, 2023!

A buddy read with DeAnn who felt the same way so be sure to watch for her incredible review!

Thank You to Delacorte Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you @netgalley for allowing me a chance to read an advanced copy!

Get your holiday TBR list and add this one straight to the top! You know my mood reader self would have a hard time reading a holiday book in September, but I still loved every minute.

It has all of the warm and cozy vibes you expect from a holiday romance. Your hot chocolate, a blanket, and this book - and you're set! I also appreciated that Josie Silver made her characters have way more depth and backstory than what you'd typically get out of a fluffy holiday romance. Our main character just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship, and her love interest is a widower single dad. I loved their messy, complicated love story.

I also loved the Daisy Jones vibes with the flashbacks to her mother's story as a free spirit singer in a band.

Bottom line: This one isn't to be missed this holiday season. I also highly recommend another by the same author, One Day in December.

I absolutely adored this book!

Iris is looking to start fresh in New York City, leaving England, her toxic ex-boyfriend and her chef job. Spending the day with her landlord and boss, Bobby, he takes her to festival in Little Italy. It’s there that she stumbles across a gelateria, Belotti’s, that looks familiar. It was a photograph in her mother’s album, along with the recipe for Gelato. She can’t help feel like she is meant to be here and help the gelateria out. You see, Gio, the owner, does not know the recipe. Only two people ever know it at one time, and his uncle has had a stroke and can’t remember it.

Iris is unsure of why or how her mother has the recipe, but that her mother was very adamant that she never share the recipe. But she wants to help Gio and his family out. Every day, they try a new batch that gets closer and closer to the actual recipe. Gio believes that she is a godsend, offering to help, while Iris struggles with guilt of having the actual recipe. The more time she spends with the Belotti family, the more she uncovers how they are connected.

Gah! I don’t want to give away the whole book. This is a slow burn, that heats up. Iris is pure, flawed, perfection. Gio has his own struggles, but they both seem to help the other. Here they both have a shot at a second chance that could be epic. But will Gio be able to look past her omissions? You definitely need to one-click this now. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved everything about A Winter in New York. Wonderful characters, insane chemistry, holiday time warmth...but also weighty themes of narcissistic abuse, loss, second chances, and family. Great secondary characters that add to the plot, but don't overtake the plot. All in ending in great character growth and a satisfying ending. This one is a holiday re-read waiting to happen! Perfection.
Thanks to #NetGally and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the ARC.

One of this book's stand-out qualities is its atmospheric charm. Josie Silver’s skillful storytelling transports readers to the heart of New York, capturing the city’s magic during the winter season. The vivid descriptions breathe life into the setting, making it a character in its own right.

What sets this novel apart is its core theme of family. Beyond the romantic plotline, the story beautifully explores the bonds and complexities of familial relationships. It adds depth to the narrative, making it not only a romance but also a heartfelt exploration of the ties that bind us.

The inclusion of flashback chapters that delve into the main character’s mother’s story is a brilliant touch. These glimpses into the past add layers to the story, shedding light on the characters’ history and motivations.

Having read Josie Silver’s work before, I was not disappointed with this book. Her storytelling is captivating and her ability to craft characters you can’t help but root for shines through in this story. It’s a testament to her talent and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Such a cute story. It really puts you in the mood for winter and Christmas even when it is still 90 degrees out.
The development of the relationship between Iris and Gio is so cute to watch. Along with Iris's relationship with the rest of the Belotti family. The dynamic between Iris and Bobby is also such a fun friendship to experience.

I really enjoyed the food aspect, developing the Belotti vanilla gelato and working at the noodle shop. The city descriptors make you feel like you are in New York during the holidays. It is really well written.

I really enjoy Josie Silver's writing and will continue to read her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A sweet warm and fuzzy love story. I have come to expect nothing less from Josie Silver’s writing than pure perfection. This story had beautiful characters, gorgeous New York City scenery, and the only improvement I could have asked for was maybe a little more info on the side characters. Josie’s writing is so vibrant and lively. I could picture myself in Iris’ shoes taking in New York during Christmas. All around great holiday read!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

This was a super unique take on a wintery/Christmasy romance! There was a pretty good balance about the whole wintery/Christmasy theme because only about a half of the book takes place in the winter so the other half has non-wintery activities as well.
I really loved all of the side characters, they made the setting of NYC feel like a small town from a small town romance! I want to meet the Belottis!
There also was a lot of focus on the characters and sometimes their grief, stress, and drama! All of these different factors really kept me on my toes and I never really knew where this book was going to end up next! Definitely not your average wintery rom-com, a great recommendation for people who want a holiday book but maybe not a whole Hallmark movie!

My favorite thing about Josie Silver's novels is that she isn't afraid to plumb the emotional depths of life's hard circumstances. I like stepping into her characters' worlds and living vicariously through them. Even though this is a work of fiction, there is so much about Iris and Gio's lives that are relatable: broken relationships, family secrets, generational expectations, searching for redemption, and second chances. I really enjoyed the missing recipe subplot, the gelato (of course), and the super swoon-worthy romance. The cast of secondary characters is delightful as well.

A Winter in New York is a heartwarming, compelling page-turner and the perfect cozy read for this holiday season. Highly recommend!

This book lacked romance which is wild since this is a romance book. This book was mainly about the main character starting over and grieving the loss of her mother. I have read two books by this author and didn’t like them. So I don’t think I’ll read anymore by her.

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

I was first introduced to Josie Silver randomly when I stumbled upon One Day in December a few years back and to this day I rave about this book and recommend it to people. So when I saw the ARC for this book I jumped at the chance to read it because if she writes it, I'm going to want to read it. I'm glad I did because this is easily a 3.5-3.75 book for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and lives we got to experience from Iris to Gio all the way to the cat Smirnoff.

Iris moves to New York after the death of her mother and running from an abusive relationship. This is her chance to walk in her mother's foot seps, she was a musician in the 80s and had such life. Iris is looking to regain the life she feels she lost, before the loss and abuse she was a successful chief back in England. She finds a comfortable life but it's not glamorous and then she stumbles upon the gelateria and Gio. She quickly realizes that her mom and her secret recipe is their same secret recipe. This is amazing because they have lost their access to theirs and without it their business could go under. But how does she reveal that she knows their recipe without revealing too much. Before she knows it, the lies pile up and she finds that she comes to really care for these people and this family.

It was a cozy read that I was able to read in literally one sitting and probably shouldn't have considering I stayed up way too late, but I just wanted to know how it ended. The ending did feel rushed but I still really loved it.

The heat index during this last week has been out of control, and it was lovely to escape into New York City and winter and gelato.
One of my favorite things about this novel was that the main characters weren’t young, with nothing to lose. They had loved and lost and had responsibilities and multigenerational concerns.
This book has a lot going on. There’s a dual timeline with the protagonists’ mom, current narrative timeline jumps, secrets and lies, an abusive ex, heartache, grieving the loss of a parent, adorable chosen family (I think Bobby was my favorite character), and more. Some of it is done well, some leaves a little to be desired, but ultimately it brought some holiday spirit into my hot summer days!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Silver's books have an "chance meeting/fate" thread to them which is pretty unique. I did really enjoy this one from her! The synopsis sounded kinda lame, if I'm being honest, but the storyline works. It gets a little slow and redundant in the middle... I mean come on and get the recipe right...but the introduction of a few characters towards the end of the story really moves things along!

I loved reading this winter themed romance set primarily in wintry Little Italy in New York City! Josie Silver’s A Winter in New York features an abundance of gelato, a big Italian family, and a grieving British chef named Iris, who has escaped her abusive boyfriend by moving across the pond. Iris’ decision not to come clean regarding her secrets far earlier in the tale was a tad bit annoying. But I truly enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and the heart warming and page turning plot. While this story is not filled to the brim with holiday themes and decor, it is imbued with the Christmas spirit. And left this reader craving gelato!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I’ve been a Josie Silver fan for quite some time so this book was a must-read for me.

This book is centered around lies. But maybe some lies are worth telling if they protects those you love?

Some things I loved:

* Iris’s friendship with her employer.
* Gio and the strong bonds within his family.
* Vivian’s perspective surprised me but was a very much needed added bonus.
* We get to know a little about two generations of the Belotti family.
* Added mystery of the ex-boyfriend.
* Dyker Heights is a real place that I now need to visit.

I will admit that this book was a slow start for me. It wasn’t until about half way through that I couldn’t put it down and found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading. It’s a beautiful story about young love, chasing dreams, loyalty and finding home.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the chance to read this book a little early.