I enjoy the occasional romance novel and can count on Josie Silver to write one with unique characters and an unpredictable plot. This is the third of her titles I've read and liked. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
The premise: On a rustic island just off the Irish coast is a remote cabin that's perfect for someone to "get away from it all." Cleo, a British dating columnist, travels to Salvation Island to stay in the cabin, contemplate her life as a single person, and "marry herself" on her 30th birthday. Upon arrival, she's shocked to discover the cabin is double-booked, and Mack, a handsome American photographer with family ties to the island, also plans a solitary stay. There's no other accommodations on the small island, and the only boat that visits the island makes the trip just once each week (and that trip is cancelled due to weather) so Cleo and Mack are forced to share the open-floorplan cabin for weeks.
My thoughts: I appreciated the strong sense of place - the isolation, the relentless wind and cold, and the beauty of hidden coves. I also enjoyed the delightful cast of secondary characters and the community they formed, Being single until I was 35, I could relate to Cleo's introspection at age 30, and was pulled into Mack's journey through his separation. I was confused by the book's title - will all of the author's titles include the words one or two?
The premise: On a rustic island just off the Irish coast is a remote cabin that's perfect for someone to "get away from it all." Cleo, a British dating columnist, travels to Salvation Island to stay in the cabin, contemplate her life as a single person, and "marry herself" on her 30th birthday. Upon arrival, she's shocked to discover the cabin is double-booked, and Mack, a handsome American photographer with family ties to the island, also plans a solitary stay. There's no other accommodations on the small island, and the only boat that visits the island makes the trip just once each week (and that trip is cancelled due to weather) so Cleo and Mack are forced to share the open-floorplan cabin for weeks.
My thoughts: I appreciated the strong sense of place - the isolation, the relentless wind and cold, and the beauty of hidden coves. I also enjoyed the delightful cast of secondary characters and the community they formed, Being single until I was 35, I could relate to Cleo's introspection at age 30, and was pulled into Mack's journey through his separation. I was confused by the book's title - will all of the author's titles include the words one or two?
Cleo Wilder is a dating columnist in London who escapes to Sullivan Island, a remote Irish island, for a solo retreat of self-care in order to refresh herself. Mack Sullivan from Boston USA goes to the same island as he needs some time to himself for soul-searching as his marriage is breaking up. A mix-up with the bookings means both have reserved the same one-room hideaway on exactly the same dates. They are not happy about having to share the room but as days go by, they start to enjoy each other's company. This is not your typical romance novel. It is a very low-key story of two people needing some positive attention at a bad time in their life. You, the reader, get to witness these two characters fight their feelings and finally come up with a solution of why they should have a holiday relationship. Things get to a teary-eyed climax when Mack decides he needs to go back to Boston to spend time with his two sons. This was my first Josie Silver's book but won't be my last. If you like feel-good stories, then you will love this one. Don't forget the tissues. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballentine Books for a ebook copy for an honest opinion.
