Cleo, the protagonist of Josie Silver’s One Night On The Island, is a dating columnist for a popular online woman’s magazine in the UK, who has chronicled her unsuccessful search for a mate for life. With her 30th birthday approaching, her boss sends her on a solo retreat to a remote Irish island, in hopes of revitalising her passion for life and writing alike. The luxury cabin on Salvation Island is everything she hoped it would be, but it comes with one unexpected addition—Mack, a photographer from Boston.
Mack is trying to negotiate the breakdown of his marriage and how it will affect his children, while simultaneously exploring the roots of his family, which trace back to this same island. Rom-com fans know all about forced proximity and how predictable they can be, but Josie Silver brings a sense of emotional depth to her story as she brings these two chaotic souls together.
One Night On The Island is full of emotion, some steamy moments, and an unusual cast of supporting characters. I appreciated that the love element of this novel was less than straightforward: rather, it’s full of self-realization, self-acceptance and learning to love yourself. Not my usual read, but an enjoyable one.
One Night On The Island, Josie Silver (Penguin)
Price: £7.99. Info: here
words BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS