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A review of Josie Silver’s One Night on the Island


After reading Silver’s One Day in December at Christmas and then The Two Lives of Lydia Bird in February, I couldn’t wait to indulge in her most recent work, One Night on the Island. Josie Silver has become one of the authors that I automatically buy; I have not been disappointed with any of her work so far and her descriptions and stories are lovely and breathtaking, as well as heartbreaking at times.


One Night on the Island follows the intertwined lives of Cleo and Mack, after a chance meeting on a remote island. Cleo is a dating columnist and is looking for her next story, and her boss thinks the only way up is to do something out of the box: marry herself. Mack is at a crossroads in his life, he is separated from his wife and children and is learning to process this and what this means for him. The two arrive on the island and after a mix up, end up staying in the same holiday lodge. It felt very much like the film P.S I Love You but without the dead husband.


The writing style, as always, was poetic and emotional. I feel like the book is character driven and focuses on what it means to be accepting of oneself. The description of Salvation Island sounded breathtaking. Her writing captured it exactly how I think she would want readers to picture it: wild seas, breathtaking scenery and sturdy locals that create real side characters. It really made me want to leave my 9-5 and go live somewhere like the Isle of Skye for a small while!


It is not a stereotypical rom-com, I feel. The emotions explored in this book are real and honest and raw. The characterisation of both Mack and Cleo help understand their hesitations and predicaments and it was quite refreshing to read. It’s uplifting and romantic, but also consoling. Sure, it has romance, but it also highlights the importance of self acceptance and self discovery and I really appreciated reading about such themes. It is one that is quite prominent throughout a couple of Silver’s works.


I would give the whole book four stars. I did really enjoy it and the story that was told but the likes of One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird just have such an emotional hold over me in comparison. I mainly think this is because I’m a true romantic at heart and I always look for that in my reading. I would definitely recommend it, it is a sweet, wholesome book and it was published recently!


“I can’t offer you anything but this week.”

“Then you’d better make it memorable.”

By Tegan Lee

@teganreads





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