Book Blurb:
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver: 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.
My Review: 4 stars
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver is a charming book that I didn’t know I needed until I read it. With Covid taking over again and the war in Ukraine heating up, I was feeling down, and this book was the perfect remedy. It restored my faith in human kindness and was a much needed escape.
I really wasn’t sure what the book entailed besides being a romance. When I started and saw the main female protagonist was going to Salvation Island, all I could think of was a reality dating show, but I was wrong. Salvation is stunning and remote, hilly and picturesque, with a strong sense of community and helpfulness. Cleo goes there to write an exposé on turning 30 while single and is tasked with performing nuptials with herself. Yes, it went there, but, it went there with class and self-understanding.
Mac, the main male protagonist, is also on Salvation, yet he’s there to figure out his life and to visit where his “people” come from. This sets up a wonderful setting for a strangers to something more romantic trope.
The writing is witty, smart, relatable and you’ll be wanting to book an Airbnb there asap! If you liked Silver’s earlier book, One Day in December, you’ll for sure love this one too.
Quotes I liked:
Don’t go building your wall so high you can’t climb over it.”
“That’s the way it is sometimes, isn’t it? Life is the stuff that happens in the cracks between your plans and expectations.”
“And for a little while, he made me feel as if I’d swallowed stars.”
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