Thursday, February 17, 2022

One Night on the Island

Title: One Night on the Island
Author: Josie Silver
Published: February 15th 2022 by Ballantine Books
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: Romance / Women's Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: Finding my flamingo. You genuinely want to send me to a remote island to marry myself?”

Blurb: Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is the last thing that dating columnist Cleo wanted, but she is going on a self-coupling quasi-sabbatical--at the insistence of her boss--in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she's booked is a far cry from London, but at least it's a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some quiet, solitary self-care while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career.

Mac is also looking forward to some time to himself. With his life in Boston deteriorating in ways he can't bring himself to acknowledge, his soul searching has brought him to the same Irish island in search of his roots and some clarity. Unfortunately, a mix-up with the bookings means both solitude seekers have reserved the same one-bedroom hideaway on exactly the same dates.

Instantly at odds with each other, Cleo and Mac don't know how they're going to manage until the next weekly ferry arrives. But as the days go by, they no longer seem to mind each other's company quite as much as they thought they would...

Written with Josie Silver's signature warmth, charm and insights into the human heart, One Night on the Island explores the meaning of home, the joys of escape and how the things we think we want are never the things we really need.

My Opinion: I’m still not sure why the book is titled “One Night” unless it was because Cleo considered leaving after one night; since the story encompasses more than one night or one moment. What takes place happens over months, and for some, that feels like a lifetime in the making.

I am not usually a fan of romances, but I have read Josie Silver’s last three books (One Day in December, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and this one, One Night on the Island), and she is turning into an author I watch out for. Her approach to romance and women’s fiction, with a bit of humor thrown in, appeals to skeptics like me. Very little is over the top, and the characters come across as believable even though a few of the scenarios take a little getting used to.

There were a few points where I thought the author could have ended, but the chapters kept on coming where neat bows were put in place without leaving it up to the reader to jump to the wrong conclusion.

Good luck to Josie Silver, and I look forward to her next book.

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