Sorry I’ve been away for so long! It has been a whirlwind of a last couple of months–from a new baby announcement by my oldest, to college graduation for the middle child, as well as a vacation and many other things, I haven’t had much time for writing blog posts. I have been reading and writing reviews on Goodreads, I just haven’t moved them over here. I’ll have to remedy that in the coming months.
This is a delightful book, a romantic comedy with a lot of heart. If you’re looking for a romance novel to read this summer, I highly recommend choosing this one.
One Night Only is a July 2021 release from Bookouture Publishing
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail.
About the Book:
Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…
Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.
But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…
There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.
Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).
Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.
Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.
But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…
Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?
My Thoughts:
I gave this book 4 stars
This is a very heartfelt, enjoyable debut romantic comedy. It honestly doesn’t read as if it’s a debut novel, because the characters are well-developed, the plot flows smoothly, and there’s an amazing amount of romantic tension, broken by hilarious moments.
I loved the idea of a one night stand turning into something more, and once the reader finds out the whole story of the one night stand, there’s a definite “awwww” moment. I also loved the idea that Sarah is the one who shuns relationships, she’s the one who doesn’t want to get involved. It is Declan doing the pursuing and Sarah doing the pushing away. It is such a refreshing turn of events to have the typical romance story turned around with the female being the impediment to the relationship. It made the book much more engaging and interesting to me.
I did get to a point where I thought Sarah maybe needed some therapy or some other type of help to be able to move forward towards a loving healthy relationship. I applauded Declan and his boundaries with Sarah at that point.
For all of the back and forth, it’s a truly heartwarming novel that hit just the right spot during the hot summer months. Some humor, some heart, and some swoon-worthy Irish men make for a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. Highly recommended for romance readers.
About the Author:
Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland.
She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.
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