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

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

At the behest of her boss, dating columnist Chloe Wilder, on the cusp of her thirtieth birthday, travels to isolated Salvation Island off the Irish Coast for a self-coupling ceremony, leaving the vibrant and fast-paced London behind.

 

Photographer Mack Sullivan, devoted father of two sons, reeling from a separation, travels to Salvation Island, a place of legend from stories he heard from his mother and grandmother, from Boston to reflect and regroup.

 

As fate would have it, Chloe and Mack’s trips coincide, but they’ve both arranged to stay at Otter Lodge. Since the island is sparsely populated with virtually no tourist, no other lodgings are available. Each believes they have the greater claim to Otter Lodge, an open-plan, single occupancy cabin, but the question is moot since the boat off island won’t return for another week.

 

At first, they are very snippy with each other, Chloe in particular being a brat (though in all honesty, I am sure in a similar situation, I’d act the same). Slowly, though, they begin to accept and even enjoy their arrangement—after Mack draws a chalk line on the floor delineating private space. But, lines are made to be crossed.

 

Chloe doesn’t like pugs or peanut butter. What?! But I did start to like her character as the story progressed and she used her time on Salvation Island to grow and consider her true desires. Though her hair and skin color were noted, her looks were never evaluated. Instead, Chloe observed that Mack’s photographs made her feel beautiful. 

 

From the beginning, I liked Mack, who was consistently thoughtful and respectful. The best characters, though, might have been the denizens of the island, particularly the community of women who welcome Chloe into their knitting circle. 

 

The book had too much repetitive navel-gazing for my taste which I thought slowed the pacing and was perhaps a little heavy-handed on the metaphors. I certainly found it emotional, tearing up at some scenes though.

 

The ending is true to the characters and probably realistic. Their individual journeys were satisfying but as a whole, I had hoped for something different. I think maybe I should have approached this as contemporary fiction instead of romance to have more realistic expectations.

 

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!