A review by laheath
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There are a lot of mixed reviews on this one, but I really enjoyed it. Like many, I think it's mistitled, and although it's described as a romantic comedy, I think it has more depth. Cleo is on a solo retreat as she approaches her 30th birthday, re-evaluating her career and her personal life. Unfortunately, the single room cabin on the remote Irish island has mistakenly been double-booked and Mack is also there tracing some family history and taking a break from the stress of his deteriorating marriage. They clash immediately which provides some comedy as they both act like spoiled teenagers. As they begin to get to know each other, they become more civil, then begin to develop romantic feelings for each other, knowing that they don't have a future once they leave the cabin. Throughout the book, they both reflect on their personal and professional lives, as well as their developing feelings for each other, with a lot of honesty and depth. The local townspeople provide a friendly and interesting supporting cast. Although the ending wasn't what I wanted, I suppose it made sense for their circumstances. 
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