One Night on the Island by Josie Silver os about one woman’s journey to self love with a dash of romance thrown in.

The plot is one we’ve heard before, a double booking and no other rooms available! Cleo was sent off to “marry herself” by her editor and Mack is on assignment to the island of his ancestors. They’re both running from life and reality.

I found myself not being interested in any of the characters. While I appreciated Cleo’s attitude of independence, the execution to me was so cliche. Mack seems like a good guy, but I honestly wasn’t sure if he was the hero or the villain in the end. I found the ending somewhat contrite in a “suspend disbelief 100%” manner.

And while there were so many characters, I did enjoy their screen time and the island itself.

Overall, I think it’s an enjoyable book if you’re into the idea of finding yourself. I just can’t suspend disbelief enough for that.

No one does longing like Josie Silver. Missing a deceased finance? check. In love with someone you saw in passing who your BFF later dates (and marries?) check. Silver is all about the slow build, the angst, and the thank god - a satisfying resolution. One Night on the Island is another novel that you'll read with a lump in your throat,wondering will they or won't they.

Londoner and dating columnist Cleo Wilder has been searching for her flamingo (they mate for life) for a long time, and writing about the journey instead of writing a novel. Inspired by Emma Watson's committee to herself, decides to mark her thirtieth birthday with a matrimonial style ceremony to commit to herself; her buddy/boss is on board, provided she documents it, and sends off to a remote Irish island. When it turns out the only rental is double-booked to Boston photographer Mack Sullivan who is struggling through a now-over-a-year-long separation (uninitiated by him) from his wife, sparks -- of anger! -- fly: both and are convinced they have claim to Otter Lodge and since the boat only comes once a week (except for medical emergencies), they are stuck with one another and need to form a truce, fast.

Part of getting to know and trust one another is a conversation introduced by Cleo - they can each share three truths. Never has the "just one bed" trope been used so effectively: Cleo takes the lumpy couch, and they connect across the single room with warmth, humor, and honesty. Mack finds a million images to capture as he explores his and his family's roots to the island, while Cleo finds warm and welcoming friendships. The whole island is speculating about the true nature of their relationship (Star Wars references abound).

The island, it's beauty, and it's inhabitants slowly grow on both Cleo and Mack . They become friends, confidantes, are (of course) attracted, and just as Cleo is ready to do her ceremony, decides that a micro-affair with Mack after which they will release one another, will be healing -- and without heartbreak -- for both of them. They say goodbye, but are unable to forget one another...

I received a review copy through #netgalley #onenightontheisland.

Told in dual perspectives, this women's fiction novel combines forced proximity and enemies to lovers/opposites attract tropes with a tale of finding oneself. This book reads quite quickly, full of compelling language that just draws me in. For nearly the first half of this read, it was more of a women's fiction slash slow burn type of story and then we get into the frothy, indulgent holiday romance cuteness that had me smiling wide. It's a cute, compelling novel from the author of One Day in December, which I previously loved.

Hmmm. One Night on the Island is a tough book to review. It was nothing like what I expected, and I had so many mixed feelings, about so many elements of the story, that I really don’t know how to capture it all in a star rating.

What I loved: Josie Silver has created the most perfect setting with Salvation Island. It’s a remote, picturesque island off the coast of Ireland, where everything is rainy and mossy and sea-sprayed, and the entire landscape just completely came alive through her writing. I wanted to dive into the pages and visit this beautiful place for myself.

I also loved her portrayal of the tight-knit Irish community on the island, and how fiercely they loved their own, yet readily accepted newcomers at the same time. Salvation seemed like an incredibly special place, filled with special people, and that alone made the story worth reading, for me.

What I didn’t love: If you’ve read the blurb, you know that Mack and Cleo are headed for “an immensely moving love story.” And their connection was definitely very sweet. But I couldn’t get past the fact that Mack was a married (albeit separated) man, who was clearly still in love with his wife, and still primarily wanted to keep his family together. And because his top priority was his family (as it should be!), and his wife Susie was ultimately still in love with him too, I couldn’t root for anyone but the two of them.

Ultimately, I couldn’t get on board with the idea of Mack and Cleo together, especially when he and Susie were thisclose to fixing their marriage and giving their kids the stability and structure they all desperately wanted and needed. So, as well-written and engaging as the setting and characters were, I just didn’t like the direction it took.

If you approach life from the perspective of “your personal happiness makes the world go round”, then you might have better luck with this one than I did. If you’re more of an “integrity and selflessness make the world go round” type, you’ll really struggle to cheer for Cleo and Mack.

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Thank you to Josie Silver, Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

One Night on the Island is a beautifully written story of Cleo’s journey to find true love. What she finds however is so much more, It is a book of second chances, perfect timing and learning the true meaning of love! I loved it! This is one of those stories you are sad to finish.

What a nice surprise in the form of a book! One Night on the Island is equal parts love story, journey through self discovery/care and mesmerizing - albeit fictional - travel memoir.

I loved so much about this book, from the characters (Cleo and Mack are both so lovable in their own ways and the island residents are all so unique yet familiar) to the setting (a remote island off the Atlantic coast of Ireland) to the pop culture references (Bruce Springsteen and American baseball).

The character and scene development in this story were both excellent which I find rare in similar books.

My only reason for four stars instead of five is that the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly in my opinion. I would have loved it to keep pace with that rest of the story a bit more.

Overall: definitely recommend! 👍

Josie Silver knows how to tug on the heartstrings. This book was no exception.

Cleo is running from a very overbearing family. It’s so fun to watch her make her own community and find herself on the island.

Mack has left his wife and is on the island getting away. A mix up leads to a hilarious encounter with forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers.

Josie Silver writes love stories for the ages. They are deep, emotional, raw, and beautiful.
It definitely broke my heart. Especially Mack’s story.

I didn’t love the ending. It confused me a small bit and it just wasn’t what I wanted. It lacked the epic feeling I got from One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird.
★ ★ ★/5
🔥🔥🔥/5 (one open door scene but not super descriptive)
Review on Instagram and Goodreads posted on 10/29/21

Boy meets girl, boy leaves girl, boy gets girl back... sorta. I loved this book and I am not one for typical rom coms. Both characters, Cleo and Mack, go to Salvation Island in search of themselves and new beginnings. While you'd expect them to fall in love, the book really isn't about that. Cleo is just moving along with the same slog of surface level friendships and a job that requires dating as she is a writer doing a dating column for a magazine. But what she wants is to find herself before/while turning 30 on her birthday. Alone, or should have been alone on the island, she finds what she is looking for and then some. Finding your flamingo is the new lobster.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early look in exchange for my honest review.

This romance was O.K. I felt like and this is odd to say but the characters by themselves were interesting but together it just didnt hit the mark for me for some reason. The beginning was just a little too slow and not enough movement with the characters to keep me interested and so I found myself wandering off in the middle of reading. I loved the settting and the feel for the weather. It just didnt have that umph for me too send it up to the top. And I understand the title, it was suppose to be just one night until they ironed out the issues with booking the house. But i can see why some people would be confused.

This was an ok read. The title made no sense to me since the book spans more than one night on the island. I love settings of remote islands with quirky villagers and this book has that. But the romance wasn’t working for me. The whole thing seemed uncomfortable for both parties and I found the ending a bit ridiculous.

Josie Silver delivers a beautiful story yet again with One Night on the Island. The characters of Mack and Cleo are ones that stay with you even after the last page. The writing is so realistic and immerses you into the setting. I love romcoms which make me laugh and then turn around minutes later with tears streaming down my face. I was looking forward to this read and it did not disappoint. I'm not one to reread books but this is one I WILL be reading again!

This book was beautifully written. I loved the characters and the depth of their emotions and how the dealt with things. I loved the backdrop of the island of Salvation and felt like I was there. I loved the duel perspectives and how each character had their own flaws to work out.
This would’ve been an easy 5 star rating for me except for one part: Mack being married. I can’t get on board with that. Why not just make him recently divorced? I found myself cringe whenever the romance scenes (although otherwise beautiful) we’re happening. This was the major flaw from this book in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Mini Synopsis: when a double booking at a remote one-room cabin accidentally throws two solace-seekers together, it feels like a cruel twist of fate. But it may be fate of a different kind 💞

Thoughts: I love the enemies to lovers trope and this had all of the ingredients for a great execution of it. The storyline incorporated a lot of elements - divorce, prior love, importance of family and community, and finding and loving yourself with where you are in life. It's definitely a bit on the heavier and emotional side, but it was still heartwarming, hopeful, and I really appreciated the depth of the characters. My only complaint is that it dragged a bit for me at about the 3/4 mark.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cleo lives in London and writes for an online women’s magazine. She finds herself questioning whether she’s really happy, and embraces an assignment that sends her off to a remote Irish island to “self couple.” When she arrives, however, a mix up has resulted in a (gorgeous) American man sharing the tiny studio lodge with her.

Confession time. Josie Silver is an autobuy author for me so I knew I would likely be giving this book high marks. I was not wrong. I loved this book and everything about it. Cleo and Mack are wonderful characters, and the other islanders are also incredible. Cleo makes major decisions that will impact the rest of her life and I just felt like the whole story resonated so well. I highly recommend this book.

Now I want to run off to a beautiful island. This was a decent read for a romance. I liked the setting, but not the main characters as much. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I was a big let down by this book. The fist half was fantastic. I was so vested in the storyline, characters and the plot. The next third or so fell flat.
Quick review of an endearing story of a blogger/columnist that goes to a remote island in Ireland to ‘marry herself’ to show that you don’t need anyone but yourself to be truly happy . Spoiler: The quirky man she meets on the boat on the trip over has accidentally double booked the same home as she for the next few months.
Mack is a photographer with two boys back in Boston and a wife with ‘it’s complicated’ as a label.
Once they spend time and make rules in the house, Mack and Cleo realist they are quite fond of the other. When their time is up on the island… London and Boston are quite far for this micro-love affair. What happens next?

One Night on the Island is a delight! I've been a Josie Silver fan since they day I picked up One Day in December and finished it a few hours later and she does it again with this magical book. The characters are likeable, real and have believable conflict throughout. The setting is also a dream - it made me want to take a trip to a remote island in Ireland ASAP! To accurately summarize this book I'll take a note from Silver herself...1) this is the perfect post-holiday/new year read, 2) I've never wanted to listen to Bruce Springsteen more, and 3) I don't regret this book one bit. Pick this up as soon as you can!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this title for a review!

I really really enjoyed reading this book—it is right up my alley. It was about Cleo, who needs a refresh and to find herself, and Mack, who wants to connect to his roots while figuring out what’s going on with his marriage. They both get accidentally booked for the same rental on Salvation Island, and a rom com is born.

I have loved Silver's books, so I knew I'd probably enjoy this one - and I wasn't disappointed! It was delightful read, and I really liked the main character and how she came into her own and made her own home somewhere new. I am fan of self-exploration novels, and this fit the bill. This takes place over some time, however, so I was unsure as to why it was titled what it was titled. Perhaps I missed that "one night" but at the end of the day, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel. Highly recommend!

Another winner by Josie Silver! I read in a Goodreads reviewer post that some authors just writes the books she wants to read and Josie Silver has that knack for me.
Having loved One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird I was so excited to read this ARC from NetGalley and Penguin. As in her other works, the premise of this story was so interesting and the characters so lovable and well developed.
Cleo Wilder is approaching thirty and her life is adrift - romantically and professionally. She is sent to a remote island to escape her impending birthday celebration and write a new column about self love. She meets Mack, an American photographer whose family comes from the island and who is struggling through a marital separation. The real character gems are the island inhabitants themselves.
The writing was beautiful and evoked a picture of a place I would love to visit. So much wisdom imparted in this book about life and love.
This book is perfect for those who aren't quite into "romance" novels but love a "romantic" feel good story.
Can't wait to see this published to add to my collection.