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Ein Winter in New York
In der Stadt der Träume will Iris ganz neu anfangen und endlich ihre schmerzhafte Vergangenheit vergessen. Auf einem Straßenfest entdeckt sie eine Eisdiele, die ihr merkwürdig bekannt vorkommt. Inhaber Gio verzaubert sie mit seinem italienischen Charme und einer köstlichen Kreation, die Iris nur allzu vertraut ist. Gios Familienbetrieb steht jedoch kurz vor dem Aus, und Iris Sie ist die Einzige, die ihm helfen kann. Denn sie beide verbindet ein Geheimnis, das niemals ans Licht kommen darf. Während es draußen kälter wird und die Stadt in einem Meer aus Weihnachtslichtern versinkt, kommen sich Iris und Gio immer näher. Doch am Weihnachtstag muss Iris sich Soll sie Gio die Wahrheit sagen und damit riskieren, ihn für immer zu verlieren?
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
2302 people are currently reading
83261 people want to read
About the author
Josie Silver
18 books8,829 followersJosie lives in a small English town with her husband, their two sons, plus a changing cast of cats, dogs and fish. She writes full-time in a studio at the bottom of the garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,945 reviews
October 3, 2023
CAUTION ⚠️ Do not start this book without having a gallon of Vanilla Gelato in your freezer as you will want to indulge in copious amounts!! 🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨
After Iris loses her mother to Cancer, she gets the courage to leave an abusive relationship in London, and move to New York, for a fresh start. It was a place that brought her mother much joy, and she hopes it will do the same for her.
A Chef by trade, she stumbles upon a job in a noodle shop, and though it won’t allow her to flex her creative side, it does come with an apartment above the shop, a boss named Bobby who becomes a best friend, along with his husband, Robin, and a part time cat named Smirnoff.
Bobby and Iris are enjoying a street fair in Little Italy, when they pass a family run Gelateria with a beautiful door which somehow looks familiar, but it’s closed temporarily and in danger of closing permanently.
After checking her mother’s scrapbook she knows why the door looks familiar-her mom had visited the same shop and somehow left with the family’s secret recipe, which is only ever known by two people at a time.
With Patriarch Santos, in a Coma, nobody else can replicate the recipe for the flavor they are known for-the only flavor they sell-VANILLA.
Iris knows that she has the recipe, and it’s one that she makes often, but there are reasons why she cannot just walk through the door and admit that. So, instead, she decides to help Santo’s nephew, Gio try to “recreate” the recipe so that she won’t have to share the secrets she knows and hurt others in the process.
But of course, it’s never a good idea to start new relationships with secrets, and she finds herself past the point of no return and jeopardizing the life she has worked so hard to build, and a possible future with Gio.
Josie Silver just keeps on getting better with each book!
You’ll feel nervous for Iris, you’ll fall in love with Bobby and Robin, and you’ll want to be adopted into the Belotti family!
“A Winter in New York” offers everything you could want in a ROMANCE novel, and it’s available NOW!!
A buddy read with DeAnn who felt the same way so be sure to watch for her incredible review!
Thank You to Delacorte Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
After Iris loses her mother to Cancer, she gets the courage to leave an abusive relationship in London, and move to New York, for a fresh start. It was a place that brought her mother much joy, and she hopes it will do the same for her.
A Chef by trade, she stumbles upon a job in a noodle shop, and though it won’t allow her to flex her creative side, it does come with an apartment above the shop, a boss named Bobby who becomes a best friend, along with his husband, Robin, and a part time cat named Smirnoff.
Bobby and Iris are enjoying a street fair in Little Italy, when they pass a family run Gelateria with a beautiful door which somehow looks familiar, but it’s closed temporarily and in danger of closing permanently.
After checking her mother’s scrapbook she knows why the door looks familiar-her mom had visited the same shop and somehow left with the family’s secret recipe, which is only ever known by two people at a time.
With Patriarch Santos, in a Coma, nobody else can replicate the recipe for the flavor they are known for-the only flavor they sell-VANILLA.
Iris knows that she has the recipe, and it’s one that she makes often, but there are reasons why she cannot just walk through the door and admit that. So, instead, she decides to help Santo’s nephew, Gio try to “recreate” the recipe so that she won’t have to share the secrets she knows and hurt others in the process.
But of course, it’s never a good idea to start new relationships with secrets, and she finds herself past the point of no return and jeopardizing the life she has worked so hard to build, and a possible future with Gio.
Josie Silver just keeps on getting better with each book!
You’ll feel nervous for Iris, you’ll fall in love with Bobby and Robin, and you’ll want to be adopted into the Belotti family!
“A Winter in New York” offers everything you could want in a ROMANCE novel, and it’s available NOW!!
A buddy read with DeAnn who felt the same way so be sure to watch for her incredible review!
Thank You to Delacorte Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
December 26, 2024
BRBT book pick for December and unfortunately I loatheeeee this book. The whole plot revolves around lie after lie after lie and the characters have NO chemistry. and Gio is a major d*ck!!! oh and her running away to the storage unit was my final straw 😂 girl pls
November 18, 2023
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/jos...
I loved so much about this book: the setting, the premise, the meet-cute, the gelato, and the family history, but the lying and miscommunication really didn't do it for me. In the prologue, Iris and a stranger fight over the last book at a bookstore, and she angrily says her husband is dead. She doesn't have a husband, although for some reason she wears her mom's ring on her wedding finger. Later, of course, this stranger becomes the love interest. He's also the nephew of her mother's former lover, and Iris feels like she can't tell him that she actually knows the secret recipe that will save his family's gelato store.
Okay, I understand not telling Gio about her abusive ex. I guess I can understand hiding her mom's connection to the store and not wanting to expose Santo's secret. But to continue the lie about the dead husband to a widower? What the heck? Why didn't she just say "I'm so sorry, I spoke in anger to what I thought was a stranger, I don't actually have a husband."???
And then the rest of the book constantly talks about how much Gio values honesty and hates lies. Her lies were all so unnecessary! Instead of being able to enjoy the romance, I spent the whole book wondering how in the world Iris was going to crawl out of the massive hole she dug for herself.
You know how she did?
Don't get me wrong, a lot about this book was lovely. If not for all of Iris's lies, her and Gio's love story could have been great. I loved Gio's loud Italian family and Iris's found family in her roommates. I loved the gelato shop setting (although seriously, how much gelato can these people eat??). I loved the movie references all over New York.
I just couldn't get over the unnecessary lies.
I loved so much about this book: the setting, the premise, the meet-cute, the gelato, and the family history, but the lying and miscommunication really didn't do it for me. In the prologue, Iris and a stranger fight over the last book at a bookstore, and she angrily says her husband is dead. She doesn't have a husband, although for some reason she wears her mom's ring on her wedding finger. Later, of course, this stranger becomes the love interest. He's also the nephew of her mother's former lover, and Iris feels like she can't tell him that she actually knows the secret recipe that will save his family's gelato store.
Okay, I understand not telling Gio about her abusive ex. I guess I can understand hiding her mom's connection to the store and not wanting to expose Santo's secret. But to continue the lie about the dead husband to a widower? What the heck? Why didn't she just say "I'm so sorry, I spoke in anger to what I thought was a stranger, I don't actually have a husband."???
And then the rest of the book constantly talks about how much Gio values honesty and hates lies. Her lies were all so unnecessary! Instead of being able to enjoy the romance, I spent the whole book wondering how in the world Iris was going to crawl out of the massive hole she dug for herself.
You know how she did?
Don't get me wrong, a lot about this book was lovely. If not for all of Iris's lies, her and Gio's love story could have been great. I loved Gio's loud Italian family and Iris's found family in her roommates. I loved the gelato shop setting (although seriously, how much gelato can these people eat??). I loved the movie references all over New York.
I just couldn't get over the unnecessary lies.
January 1, 2026
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The Book Review Crew Blog
One Day in December was a favourite holiday read of mine a couple of years ago, So when I saw this one I had to give it a go and am I ever glad I did. This one is about London transplant Iris who runs away to New York after ending a disastrous relationship. Through an old photo, Iris recognizes a gelato shop and there she meets Gio.
I loved these two as a couple. They were romantic, swoon worthy and had just a touch of spice. The sexy time wasn't over the top but it was hot. Iris never had a family, it was always just her and her mom so when she meets and gets swept off her feet by Gio and his clan it's everything she's ever dreamed of and wanted. So what could go wrong? Well, Iris is hiding a secret (or two or three) but it isn't only her secret to tell. The secret could hurt Gio and his family, especially his Pap (who is really his uncle). I didn't like that Iris kept this secret for so long but I understood why she did.
The side characters in this story were some of my favourites, especially Iris's best friend and boss, Bobby. He protected her, told her what she needed to hear (even if she didn't want to) and was always there for her as a shoulder to cry or lean on, he and his partner were the family she never had. Will Iris get her happily ever after and everything she always wished for? I just loved this book so much and now I am contemplating adding The Two Lives of Lydia Bird to my humungous to be read pile.
The Book Review Crew Blog
One Day in December was a favourite holiday read of mine a couple of years ago, So when I saw this one I had to give it a go and am I ever glad I did. This one is about London transplant Iris who runs away to New York after ending a disastrous relationship. Through an old photo, Iris recognizes a gelato shop and there she meets Gio.
I loved these two as a couple. They were romantic, swoon worthy and had just a touch of spice. The sexy time wasn't over the top but it was hot. Iris never had a family, it was always just her and her mom so when she meets and gets swept off her feet by Gio and his clan it's everything she's ever dreamed of and wanted. So what could go wrong? Well, Iris is hiding a secret (or two or three) but it isn't only her secret to tell. The secret could hurt Gio and his family, especially his Pap (who is really his uncle). I didn't like that Iris kept this secret for so long but I understood why she did.
The side characters in this story were some of my favourites, especially Iris's best friend and boss, Bobby. He protected her, told her what she needed to hear (even if she didn't want to) and was always there for her as a shoulder to cry or lean on, he and his partner were the family she never had. Will Iris get her happily ever after and everything she always wished for? I just loved this book so much and now I am contemplating adding The Two Lives of Lydia Bird to my humungous to be read pile.
December 9, 2023
Iris Raven is a chef and NYC transplant from London, settling into the city that her free-spirited songstress mother Vivien fell in love with when she was younger. Her mom is gone now, she’s escaped an emotionally abusive relationship in London, and she’s working for her new best friend, Bobby (I adore him!), whose building she lives in and whose noodle shop she cooks for.
The entire story rests on this premise: Iris’s mother Vivien was in a band when she met Santo Belotti, the brother of one of her bandmates, Felipe. They fell hard and fast for each other over two days, inspiring Santo to give Vivien the one secret he treasured most: his family’s closely-guarded vanilla gelato recipe. He wanted to show her he trusted her and that she should choose a life with him. She chose potential musical stardom instead and their story ended with Viv chasing the stars and later getting pregnant by the band’s drummer. Was that the end?
Cut to the present, Iris discovers the Belotti gelateria one day where she meets Gio, who was raised by Santo. He tells her Santo has had a stroke and can’t remember the secret recipe and no one else seems to have it either. The business may not survive without it. Iris realizes she’s the only one with the recipe that her mother handed down to her - only she decides she can’t tell Gio that, since she knows it would cause trouble for Santo if the family finds out he shared the recipe outside his family. Instead she'll offer her services as a chef to "figure out" the recipe through many testing sessions together.
To make matters worse, Iris realizes she’d previously met Gio a year prior when they fought over the same book in a bookstore, leading her to desperately fabricate a sympathy story that her non-existent husband (i.e. abusive ex-boyfriend Adam) had died, only to find out Gio actually IS a widower, having lost his wife seven years ago. Eek. Will he recognize her?
He does, of course, and Iris’ mess of lies snowballs into a menacing threat to her and Gio’s passionate, but secret, new relationship as she becomes more enveloped into the Belotti family, including growing friendships with Gio’s sister Sophia and daughter Bella. Everyone loves her, including Santo’s wife Maria, who doesn’t know that Santo almost chose Iris’ mother over her all those years ago!
This is my first Josie Silver book, which I read on my Kindle while listening to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Emma Appleton. She nailed the personalities and accents and made the book come alive! I loved Iris, the Belottis, Bobby and his husband Robin and Smirnoff the cat. The supportive family vibes made me want to move in with all of them! (Adopt me please.)
The story is fairly standard rom-com stuff: intense attraction, healing together from painful pasts, secrets and lies that threaten the relationship, the last minute “fix” of all the problems. My one big gripe is that the gelato recipe drama is a little hard to swallow - no pun intended! The explanation for all the secret-keeping just never felt justified and created a bit of an artificial crisis that I just had to go along with. I appreciated the messaging around Iris’ past abusive relationship and thought it was handled well, but I also didn’t think the dramatic reappearance of that character was necessary.
Putting aside issues of believability, which is fair because it’s a romance and that goes with the genre territory most of the time, it was a charming story with great character chemistry, a festive wintery NYC setting and a cast of characters that will steal your heart! The spice level isn’t too bad - just enough to melt your gelato a little bit. 😏 Speaking of gelato, I have to say that the mention of that and other amazing mouth-watering food was frequent enough that I might’ve put on weight just reading this!
I’m glad my first Josie Silver book was a good one, and I’m happy to recommend it!
★★★★
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Josie Silver for the DRC to honestly review, and to my local library/Libby for the audiobook. It’s out now.
The entire story rests on this premise: Iris’s mother Vivien was in a band when she met Santo Belotti, the brother of one of her bandmates, Felipe. They fell hard and fast for each other over two days, inspiring Santo to give Vivien the one secret he treasured most: his family’s closely-guarded vanilla gelato recipe. He wanted to show her he trusted her and that she should choose a life with him. She chose potential musical stardom instead and their story ended with Viv chasing the stars and later getting pregnant by the band’s drummer. Was that the end?
Cut to the present, Iris discovers the Belotti gelateria one day where she meets Gio, who was raised by Santo. He tells her Santo has had a stroke and can’t remember the secret recipe and no one else seems to have it either. The business may not survive without it. Iris realizes she’s the only one with the recipe that her mother handed down to her - only she decides she can’t tell Gio that, since she knows it would cause trouble for Santo if the family finds out he shared the recipe outside his family. Instead she'll offer her services as a chef to "figure out" the recipe through many testing sessions together.
To make matters worse, Iris realizes she’d previously met Gio a year prior when they fought over the same book in a bookstore, leading her to desperately fabricate a sympathy story that her non-existent husband (i.e. abusive ex-boyfriend Adam) had died, only to find out Gio actually IS a widower, having lost his wife seven years ago. Eek. Will he recognize her?
He does, of course, and Iris’ mess of lies snowballs into a menacing threat to her and Gio’s passionate, but secret, new relationship as she becomes more enveloped into the Belotti family, including growing friendships with Gio’s sister Sophia and daughter Bella. Everyone loves her, including Santo’s wife Maria, who doesn’t know that Santo almost chose Iris’ mother over her all those years ago!
This is my first Josie Silver book, which I read on my Kindle while listening to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Emma Appleton. She nailed the personalities and accents and made the book come alive! I loved Iris, the Belottis, Bobby and his husband Robin and Smirnoff the cat. The supportive family vibes made me want to move in with all of them! (Adopt me please.)
The story is fairly standard rom-com stuff: intense attraction, healing together from painful pasts, secrets and lies that threaten the relationship, the last minute “fix” of all the problems. My one big gripe is that the gelato recipe drama is a little hard to swallow - no pun intended! The explanation for all the secret-keeping just never felt justified and created a bit of an artificial crisis that I just had to go along with. I appreciated the messaging around Iris’ past abusive relationship and thought it was handled well, but I also didn’t think the dramatic reappearance of that character was necessary.
Putting aside issues of believability, which is fair because it’s a romance and that goes with the genre territory most of the time, it was a charming story with great character chemistry, a festive wintery NYC setting and a cast of characters that will steal your heart! The spice level isn’t too bad - just enough to melt your gelato a little bit. 😏 Speaking of gelato, I have to say that the mention of that and other amazing mouth-watering food was frequent enough that I might’ve put on weight just reading this!
I’m glad my first Josie Silver book was a good one, and I’m happy to recommend it!
★★★★
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Josie Silver for the DRC to honestly review, and to my local library/Libby for the audiobook. It’s out now.
May 4, 2025
lord... i really think josie silver is a capable author but i don't appreciate being anxious the ENTIRE time i'm reading a romance. the heroine lied to the hero repeatedly & we also have the return of an abusive ex. the latter of which i'm finding i cannot fucking stand.
TOTALLY cool having women healing from abuse in stories. but why are we re-traumatizing the characters AND readers who might have been through trauma?? hate that.
TOTALLY cool having women healing from abuse in stories. but why are we re-traumatizing the characters AND readers who might have been through trauma?? hate that.
January 25, 2024
I’m a huge fan of Silver, but unfortunately this was the first I didn’t completely love. That’s mainly because I just didn’t get why the MC kept her ‘secret’ because I think most people would understand why she lied. It also didn’t make sense to me that at one point a family member tells her to leave, and then totally changes his mind. I also didn’t feel the feels with this one as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
The most underwhelming vanilla book I’ve ever read.
July 6, 2023
Such a poignant and lighthearted holiday read takes place in my favorite city on earth: New York. Not only did it warm my heart with its well-executed, slow-burn love story, but it also awakened the foodie inside me with its mouth-watering gelato recipes.
The story revolves around Iris and Gio, both coming from different backgrounds and dealing with their own dysfunctional family issues.
Iris decides to start fresh by leaving behind her job as a chef and her abusive ex-boyfriend, embarking on a journey to New York to explore the city in her mother's footsteps. When her friend and landlord Bobby takes her to a festival in Little Italy, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a familiar storefront that she may have seen in one of her mother's photographs. The photo features a handsome man and a gelato recipe, which her mother may have kept a secret for years.
As Iris delves deeper, she discovers that the recipe in the photo is the secret vanilla gelato recipe of the historic Belotti's Gelateria, known only by two people. Unfortunately, one of them has recently suffered a stroke and cannot remember it, while the other is Iris's mother, who made her promise not to share the recipe with anyone.
Despite her commitment to keeping her mother's secret, Iris finds herself unable to resist returning to the gelateria to meet the charming man named Gio. Like a moth to a flame, she witnesses Gio's struggles to keep their store open, trying out various recipes. Iris ends up helping him create the best recipe, honoring their family tradition, all while navigating her connection with Gio's lively, intrusive Italian family members and harboring her secret from him. Her guilt intensifies as her feelings for him grow stronger. Will she have the courage to confess and embrace a second chance? What if Gio can't forgive her for keeping secrets for so long?
This book is everything you need for a swoon-worthy holiday romance. I was close to giving it five stars, but Iris's stubbornness in keeping her secret for so long also agitated me, so I deducted one star. However, it didn't change how much I enjoyed this book, and I genuinely recommend it to you. Let the warm feelings capture you as you delve into this beautiful love story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine / Dell for sharing the digital review copy of this poignant book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story revolves around Iris and Gio, both coming from different backgrounds and dealing with their own dysfunctional family issues.
Iris decides to start fresh by leaving behind her job as a chef and her abusive ex-boyfriend, embarking on a journey to New York to explore the city in her mother's footsteps. When her friend and landlord Bobby takes her to a festival in Little Italy, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a familiar storefront that she may have seen in one of her mother's photographs. The photo features a handsome man and a gelato recipe, which her mother may have kept a secret for years.
As Iris delves deeper, she discovers that the recipe in the photo is the secret vanilla gelato recipe of the historic Belotti's Gelateria, known only by two people. Unfortunately, one of them has recently suffered a stroke and cannot remember it, while the other is Iris's mother, who made her promise not to share the recipe with anyone.
Despite her commitment to keeping her mother's secret, Iris finds herself unable to resist returning to the gelateria to meet the charming man named Gio. Like a moth to a flame, she witnesses Gio's struggles to keep their store open, trying out various recipes. Iris ends up helping him create the best recipe, honoring their family tradition, all while navigating her connection with Gio's lively, intrusive Italian family members and harboring her secret from him. Her guilt intensifies as her feelings for him grow stronger. Will she have the courage to confess and embrace a second chance? What if Gio can't forgive her for keeping secrets for so long?
This book is everything you need for a swoon-worthy holiday romance. I was close to giving it five stars, but Iris's stubbornness in keeping her secret for so long also agitated me, so I deducted one star. However, it didn't change how much I enjoyed this book, and I genuinely recommend it to you. Let the warm feelings capture you as you delve into this beautiful love story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine / Dell for sharing the digital review copy of this poignant book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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September 28, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Dell, and Josie Silver for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 10.3!**
Ice skating in Rockefeller Center. The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Enchanting window displays lighting up Macy's.
And... vanilla gelato?
Josie Silver has one more item to add to the iconic list of New York City winter musts...but as much as I LOVE sweets, I'm not sure one would QUITE be added to my must-have yearly rotation.
Iris is walking away from life in London, and a toxic relationship that nearly destroyed her. Her destination? Glamorous NYC, where she hopes to be swept away by the romance and excitement of the city. She's out at an Italian street festival with her best bud Bobby one day when a cute, quaint shop on the corner of a street catches her eye. It's a family-run gelataria, and Iris feels like there is a REASON she stumbled upon it, and she vows to return the next day.
When she does, she meets Gio Belotti, a drop-dead gorgeous Italian man who is desperate to figure out the family's secret recipe for gelato so he can recreate it. His uncle, the original keeper of the secret, is in a coma and Gio is determined to keep the family's business thriving in the meantime. When Iris gets a taste, however, her stomach drops: it is EXACTLY the same as the vanilla gelato she used to have with her mom, so many years ago...and Iris realizes that her mom must have been in on the secret too. Iris feels sure she can help Gio and family recapture that magic AND keep the secret under wraps. But when Gio's charm begins to sweep Iris off her feet, can she stay grounded enough to keep the past in the past? And when Gio's uncle finally wakes, will he compromise her place as a veritable member of the Belotti family AND the future she was hoping to build with Gio? Is the relationship she ended in London really and TRULY over...or destined to haunt her new life too?
I've been aching to recapture the magic I felt while reading One Day In December ever since I finished that book, and every time Josie Silver puts out a book, I get a rush of anticipation. Although I normally avoid Christmas ARCS due to the timing of the publishing world, this one seemed to do less with the holiday itself and more with the locale and the winter season rather than Christmas specifically, so I figured it was worth a try. And in many ways, this one DID fit the bill.
The locale? Charming.
The two leads? Likable enough (although Gio's swooniness revolved mostly around his good looks and calling Iris "little spoon" in Italian. Which in fairness IS pretty cute...but still)
The premise, however? I think calling it simply implausible is being a bit kind.
This is absolutely in the league of Hallmark, you just have to 'grin and go with it' plotting. There is a LOT of right place, right time that takes place to even put Iris in Gio's path, and their romance definitely was on the 'instalove' side of the street. I'm not necessarily opposed to all of this, especially in a cozy story, but there were times when the dialogue and the plot points themselves didn't necessarily feel real enough for me.
Not only does Iris become instantly entrenched with Gio, she basically becomes one of the Belottis with almost no prelude, and the whole situation, while sweet, didn't feel too authentic to me. It was also difficult to have SO many side characters, siblings etc., but to not feel like I got to know any of them well enough to be fully invested. Even Gio's own DAUGHTER is hardly a hiccup for Iris: apparently she feels ready to jump into a motherly role without any hesitation. Again, this seemed odd for someone who had been through what Iris had and was at that place in life...but with those reflective passages absent, it was sometimes hard to say.
The whole history of the secret recipe and the connection between Iris' mom and the older Belottis is also a bit heavy handed in terms of info dump and trying to make it all make sense. We get a COUPLE of glimpses back in time to see how everything played out, but it is a far cry from two fully formed timelines. In some ways, I think I would have preferred to see more of this relationship play out in parallels (as is often the case in these kinds of stories) rather than just a glimpse here and there. Even if Iris had happened to stumble upon her mom's old journals or the like, I think there was a lot of missing depth that Silver could have explored to give this story more of the peaks and valleys I was expecting.
All of these plotting and structural quibbles aside, there is a lot to love in Silver's latest romance, and although I didn't connect with it the way I'd hoped, it DID inspire me to do 3 things:
1) Eat gelato 🍨
2) Watch Moonstruck 🌙
3) Teach my husband Italian😍
...
(okay, I'd settle for him going to GET me the gelato!)😏
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Ice skating in Rockefeller Center. The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Enchanting window displays lighting up Macy's.
And... vanilla gelato?
Josie Silver has one more item to add to the iconic list of New York City winter musts...but as much as I LOVE sweets, I'm not sure one would QUITE be added to my must-have yearly rotation.
Iris is walking away from life in London, and a toxic relationship that nearly destroyed her. Her destination? Glamorous NYC, where she hopes to be swept away by the romance and excitement of the city. She's out at an Italian street festival with her best bud Bobby one day when a cute, quaint shop on the corner of a street catches her eye. It's a family-run gelataria, and Iris feels like there is a REASON she stumbled upon it, and she vows to return the next day.
When she does, she meets Gio Belotti, a drop-dead gorgeous Italian man who is desperate to figure out the family's secret recipe for gelato so he can recreate it. His uncle, the original keeper of the secret, is in a coma and Gio is determined to keep the family's business thriving in the meantime. When Iris gets a taste, however, her stomach drops: it is EXACTLY the same as the vanilla gelato she used to have with her mom, so many years ago...and Iris realizes that her mom must have been in on the secret too. Iris feels sure she can help Gio and family recapture that magic AND keep the secret under wraps. But when Gio's charm begins to sweep Iris off her feet, can she stay grounded enough to keep the past in the past? And when Gio's uncle finally wakes, will he compromise her place as a veritable member of the Belotti family AND the future she was hoping to build with Gio? Is the relationship she ended in London really and TRULY over...or destined to haunt her new life too?
I've been aching to recapture the magic I felt while reading One Day In December ever since I finished that book, and every time Josie Silver puts out a book, I get a rush of anticipation. Although I normally avoid Christmas ARCS due to the timing of the publishing world, this one seemed to do less with the holiday itself and more with the locale and the winter season rather than Christmas specifically, so I figured it was worth a try. And in many ways, this one DID fit the bill.
The locale? Charming.
The two leads? Likable enough (although Gio's swooniness revolved mostly around his good looks and calling Iris "little spoon" in Italian. Which in fairness IS pretty cute...but still)
The premise, however? I think calling it simply implausible is being a bit kind.
This is absolutely in the league of Hallmark, you just have to 'grin and go with it' plotting. There is a LOT of right place, right time that takes place to even put Iris in Gio's path, and their romance definitely was on the 'instalove' side of the street. I'm not necessarily opposed to all of this, especially in a cozy story, but there were times when the dialogue and the plot points themselves didn't necessarily feel real enough for me.
Not only does Iris become instantly entrenched with Gio, she basically becomes one of the Belottis with almost no prelude, and the whole situation, while sweet, didn't feel too authentic to me. It was also difficult to have SO many side characters, siblings etc., but to not feel like I got to know any of them well enough to be fully invested. Even Gio's own DAUGHTER is hardly a hiccup for Iris: apparently she feels ready to jump into a motherly role without any hesitation. Again, this seemed odd for someone who had been through what Iris had and was at that place in life...but with those reflective passages absent, it was sometimes hard to say.
The whole history of the secret recipe and the connection between Iris' mom and the older Belottis is also a bit heavy handed in terms of info dump and trying to make it all make sense. We get a COUPLE of glimpses back in time to see how everything played out, but it is a far cry from two fully formed timelines. In some ways, I think I would have preferred to see more of this relationship play out in parallels (as is often the case in these kinds of stories) rather than just a glimpse here and there. Even if Iris had happened to stumble upon her mom's old journals or the like, I think there was a lot of missing depth that Silver could have explored to give this story more of the peaks and valleys I was expecting.
All of these plotting and structural quibbles aside, there is a lot to love in Silver's latest romance, and although I didn't connect with it the way I'd hoped, it DID inspire me to do 3 things:
1) Eat gelato 🍨
2) Watch Moonstruck 🌙
3) Teach my husband Italian😍
...
(okay, I'd settle for him going to GET me the gelato!)😏
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
October 24, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded down. I enjoyed this rom-com about chef Iris, moving from London to NYC after the death of her beloved mother and leaving an abusive relationship behind. Once there she finds a new life & stumbles onto a gelato shop in Little Italy with a connection to her Mom, and when she meets hottie Gio, they quickly go from strangers to lovers. I really liked all the quirky side characters (and a 😸). However, I was also frustrated with all the secrets that Iris kept from Gio & felt this one was a pretty predictable & formulaic - you just know the lies are going to come out & where it’s all going to go. Overall, a heartwarming, charming & sweet story, but not the author’s best, and it was missing that “magic” that made her earlier novels so good. My thanks to GoodReads for the giveaway.
December 16, 2023
DNF @ 35%
Turns out I cannot care enough about a book based on LYING about a secret gelato recipe when it's not even an interesting gelato flavor. It's fucking vanilla gelato.
Turns out I cannot care enough about a book based on LYING about a secret gelato recipe when it's not even an interesting gelato flavor. It's fucking vanilla gelato.
November 16, 2023
Actual rating: 3,5 stars
Not the author's best, but it was still enjoyable.
If I didn't know this was Josie Sulver's work, I swear I'd think I read Jo Thomas.
Not the author's best, but it was still enjoyable.
If I didn't know this was Josie Sulver's work, I swear I'd think I read Jo Thomas.
December 10, 2023
The actual synopsis of this book should be: lady w scary abusive ex lies to man with tremendous grief while they try to make gelato together
October 10, 2023
4.5⭐️ Josie Silver is one of my all time favorite authors. Prior to this newest release, I’ve rated every single one of her books five stars. And while I still really enjoyed this one because her writing is beautiful, evocative, cozy, heartwarming and just all of the things - it featured a good amount of miscommunication which frustrated me. I think it is a true testament to her writing that despite that frustration, I would still highly recommend this one. The found family vibes are done to perfection in this ode to New York.
I would strongly suggest reading the physical book over the audiobook. While the narrator, Emma Appleton, was fantastic at narrating the British FMC, her take on the NY born and raised MMC was hard to listen to at times.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
📚new york setting
💖foodie romance
👩👧family drama
📸slow burn love story
✌️dual timeline
📌 PSA - This is not really a holiday read, though can certainly be read during the holidays.
Thank you Random House and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
I would strongly suggest reading the physical book over the audiobook. While the narrator, Emma Appleton, was fantastic at narrating the British FMC, her take on the NY born and raised MMC was hard to listen to at times.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
📚new york setting
💖foodie romance
👩👧family drama
📸slow burn love story
✌️dual timeline
📌 PSA - This is not really a holiday read, though can certainly be read during the holidays.
Thank you Random House and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
August 12, 2023
This novel wasn’t what I expected, and I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy it as much. I really wanted to like this one! And it’s definitely my mistake that I assumed A Winter in New York to be a holiday romance. Based on the cover and title, I expected a fluffy, festive, and fun read. Instead A Winter in New York was more of a novel about a heroine picking herself up after being in a toxic relationship, while grieving the loss of her mother. So, this was more of a heavier read than expected, which took me by surprise - but it didn’t go into depth to truly examine those topics either.
What was done really well were the atmospheric scenery descriptions. I could easily imagine wandering in New York while reading.
The writing is solid and really nice, but the plot was just too thin to carry a whole story. Right from the start Iris made some poor choices (one lie and one omission on a rather crucial issue). She should’ve resolved them as soon as possible, but simply didn’t - and a large part of the novel is contributed to the shame she felt and how much she dragged those choices she made (instead of resolving them). That frustrated me a little lot, to be honest. And I think a plot/conflict is simply not strong enough to carry a novel if it could be resolved with one conversation. I found it hard to not judge Iris for her poor choices and for not owning them - even though Gio (the love interest) and his family were amazing. Also Bobby, the bff was incredible (he would be such a wonderful main character!). I just couldn’t find myself rooting for Iris.
Based on the raving reviews, I’m definitely an outlier in not liking this book as much, so do give A Winter in New York a try if you’re looking for an atmospheric story taking place in New York.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What was done really well were the atmospheric scenery descriptions. I could easily imagine wandering in New York while reading.
The writing is solid and really nice, but the plot was just too thin to carry a whole story. Right from the start Iris made some poor choices (one lie and one omission on a rather crucial issue). She should’ve resolved them as soon as possible, but simply didn’t - and a large part of the novel is contributed to the shame she felt and how much she dragged those choices she made (instead of resolving them). That frustrated me a little lot, to be honest. And I think a plot/conflict is simply not strong enough to carry a novel if it could be resolved with one conversation. I found it hard to not judge Iris for her poor choices and for not owning them - even though Gio (the love interest) and his family were amazing. Also Bobby, the bff was incredible (he would be such a wonderful main character!). I just couldn’t find myself rooting for Iris.
Based on the raving reviews, I’m definitely an outlier in not liking this book as much, so do give A Winter in New York a try if you’re looking for an atmospheric story taking place in New York.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2023
You know when you’re waiting in line and the sweet grandma at the checkout insists on talking to the cashier about their whole life while they very sloowwwly bag her items in special reusable grocery bags and the customer in front of you is, unfortunately, suffering from silent-but-deadly flatulence and you literally just have 1 item to check out but express lanes don’t exist anymore so you suffer for ages until you’re finally free?* That’s what reading this book is like.
*inspired by recent events.
*inspired by recent events.
November 28, 2023
I'm sorry. I could not finish after reading the phrase, "it was so sexual he might as well have been circling her cervix." Has Josie Silver ever had sex?
May 29, 2025
A layered love story. ❤️ Full of secrets from the past. 😬
October 10, 2025
“Hello, New York, I’m here, and I can’t wait to spend a couple more hours spinning through this crazy, heart-pounding, life-affirming neighborhood I call home.”
Only…It wasn’t always home for Iris. She just escaped here from London and happened to run into her future, without realizing it.
But…Why leave London?
What really happened in her previous relationship?
We soon learn that…Iris escaped London to start a new life in New York. She selected a town that seemed important to her late mother, Vivian. For a past, she didn’t know, but found familiarity with through her mother’s picture of herself with Santo and a recipe for vanilla gelato.
Yum…
Something her mother and her enjoyed immensely as they watched several rom-com movies together.
How would these memories lead her to her future?
Told in two voices, Iris and Vivian’s…
As readers, we start with a moment in the bookstore on Valentine’s Day.
And…Before we know it, we are treated to a story that peels back layers of grief and sadness and fear…
To…An opportunity…That allows the door to be open for connection, hope, friendship and family.
Charming. Heartfelt romance. Wonderful characters.
And…A chemistry that exudes through the pages.
In…A rom-com with twists and turns…
The question remains…
Will Iris find her forever love? What do you think? It is a Josie Silver book, after all.
Recipe included.
For more Josie Silver…
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Review here… https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Day in December Review here…
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Only…It wasn’t always home for Iris. She just escaped here from London and happened to run into her future, without realizing it.
But…Why leave London?
What really happened in her previous relationship?
We soon learn that…Iris escaped London to start a new life in New York. She selected a town that seemed important to her late mother, Vivian. For a past, she didn’t know, but found familiarity with through her mother’s picture of herself with Santo and a recipe for vanilla gelato.
Yum…
Something her mother and her enjoyed immensely as they watched several rom-com movies together.
How would these memories lead her to her future?
Told in two voices, Iris and Vivian’s…
As readers, we start with a moment in the bookstore on Valentine’s Day.
And…Before we know it, we are treated to a story that peels back layers of grief and sadness and fear…
To…An opportunity…That allows the door to be open for connection, hope, friendship and family.
Charming. Heartfelt romance. Wonderful characters.
And…A chemistry that exudes through the pages.
In…A rom-com with twists and turns…
The question remains…
Will Iris find her forever love? What do you think? It is a Josie Silver book, after all.
Recipe included.
For more Josie Silver…
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Review here… https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Day in December Review here…
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 26, 2023
the setup…
Iris Raven is a culinary chef from London who decides to relocate to New York after the death of her beloved mother and to escape a toxic relationship. She’s given a job at a noodle shop and a place to stay above it by the wonderful Bobby and his husband Robin. She chose New York because it was the place her mother romanticized and dreamed of returning to but never did. When Bobby takes her to Little Italy for the Feast of Gennaro festival, she spots a gelato shop that looks similar to one in her mother’s photos and soon discovers it’s one and the same. It’s run by Giovanni (Gio) Belotti who is faced with closing it because the gelato recipe they’re renowned for is inaccessible since his uncle fell into a coma. Iris soon discovers after tasting it that it’s the same as her mother’s who swore her to never reveal it, a promise she made to Santo Belotti…Gino’s uncle who gave it to her.
the heart of the story…
It doesn’t take long for Iris to figure out that the Belotti family didn’t know about her mother’s romance with Santo, let alone that he broke the family tradition of never sharing that recipe. She’s torn between sharing a secret that is only Santo’s to tell in order to save the business…or not. Iris volunteers to help Gio figure out the recipe, coming closer to him and his wonderful family. I love the Belottis and really liked Iris but thought her deception went on far too long. She also allowed the widowed Gio to believe her “husband” had died and could certainly have cleared that up. It was annoying but that was all eclipsed by everything, especially the bond and spirit of Gio’s family. We get sort of a dual timeline as Iris’s deceased mother Vivien’s point of view took me back in time to when she lived in New York. That was fascinating.
the narration…
I liked the narrator’s voice tone and pacing but it was a little difficult distinguishing the storytelling clearly for lack of inflection. It was pleasant but could have had more energy.
the bottom line…
Even though Iris’s deception was bothersome, there was so much more to appreciate about this story. She had a lot of baggage and her move to New York, friendship with Bobby and developing relationships with Gio and his family had her come to life. I craved gelato from the onset, too. There are so many special moments that just made this a delightful holiday experience. It’s not all sweetness and light but the difficult events just gave it depth.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Iris Raven is a culinary chef from London who decides to relocate to New York after the death of her beloved mother and to escape a toxic relationship. She’s given a job at a noodle shop and a place to stay above it by the wonderful Bobby and his husband Robin. She chose New York because it was the place her mother romanticized and dreamed of returning to but never did. When Bobby takes her to Little Italy for the Feast of Gennaro festival, she spots a gelato shop that looks similar to one in her mother’s photos and soon discovers it’s one and the same. It’s run by Giovanni (Gio) Belotti who is faced with closing it because the gelato recipe they’re renowned for is inaccessible since his uncle fell into a coma. Iris soon discovers after tasting it that it’s the same as her mother’s who swore her to never reveal it, a promise she made to Santo Belotti…Gino’s uncle who gave it to her.
the heart of the story…
It doesn’t take long for Iris to figure out that the Belotti family didn’t know about her mother’s romance with Santo, let alone that he broke the family tradition of never sharing that recipe. She’s torn between sharing a secret that is only Santo’s to tell in order to save the business…or not. Iris volunteers to help Gio figure out the recipe, coming closer to him and his wonderful family. I love the Belottis and really liked Iris but thought her deception went on far too long. She also allowed the widowed Gio to believe her “husband” had died and could certainly have cleared that up. It was annoying but that was all eclipsed by everything, especially the bond and spirit of Gio’s family. We get sort of a dual timeline as Iris’s deceased mother Vivien’s point of view took me back in time to when she lived in New York. That was fascinating.
the narration…
I liked the narrator’s voice tone and pacing but it was a little difficult distinguishing the storytelling clearly for lack of inflection. It was pleasant but could have had more energy.
the bottom line…
Even though Iris’s deception was bothersome, there was so much more to appreciate about this story. She had a lot of baggage and her move to New York, friendship with Bobby and developing relationships with Gio and his family had her come to life. I craved gelato from the onset, too. There are so many special moments that just made this a delightful holiday experience. It’s not all sweetness and light but the difficult events just gave it depth.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
December 11, 2023
4 stars
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver is a heartwarming romance that I truly enjoyed. I loved the family/found family aspect of it and even though there were way too many secrets for my liking, I still found myself loving Iris and Gio especially. It wasn't all hearts and flowers, and had a few difficult topics but overall I was so happy by the end. Definitely one of Josie Silver's better books for me.
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver is a heartwarming romance that I truly enjoyed. I loved the family/found family aspect of it and even though there were way too many secrets for my liking, I still found myself loving Iris and Gio especially. It wasn't all hearts and flowers, and had a few difficult topics but overall I was so happy by the end. Definitely one of Josie Silver's better books for me.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Emma Appleton
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 10h 40m
December 27, 2023
4⭐️
I went into this book hesitant because it's a little out of the norm for something I'd read...but it was SO LOVELY!!
THE PLOT:
Iris has just moved to New York to live in the city her mother loved most. One day during a festival with her best friend, Bobby, they come across a gelateria that was once featured in her mother scrapbook. Interest piqued, Iris meets the son of the owner of the gelateria, Gio. Gio's father, Santo, had a stroke and forgot the family recipe the place is famous for. Santo had once given Iris' mother, Vivian, the recipe as a token of trust, and Vivian then taught Iris the recipe. It is then up to Iris to save the gelateria from closing. Sparks begin to fly between Iris and Gio, but things get very complicated when Iris' ex is thrown back into the picture, Santo recovering from his stroke, and the lies that have been built up by Iris.
MY THOUGHTS:
Let me just start off by saying this has been one of the most unique and interesting reads I've come across this year. Never in a million years would I have come up with this kind of plot. I was hesitant to read it at first just because it's so different, but I think it was different in the best way possible.
From the very beginning, I loved Iris. I loved her witty personality, and I love that she was such a strong FMC. The things that Iris goes through in this book are not unlike real life, and some points really hit close to home. The kind of connection and love that Gio and Iris have and the trials and tribulations they go through just warm my heart because they deal with matters in such a mature way. I had so much love for ALL of the characters in this book, even all of Gio's sister and his daughter. This book made me feel so warm and fuzzy and I thought everyone was so well written. Iris does have quite a bit of character development throughout the book and I appreciated that as well.
The tropes you can find in this book are single dad and found family. It is known from very early on in the book that Gio is raising his teenage daughter since his wife, Penny, passed away. What really stuck out to me was the amount of family connection and how, in this case, blood is thicker than water. The way Gio's family get along just warms my heart and I love how strong the connections were between his entire family. I could just go on and on about his family, truly. 🤭
There was one problem that really stuck out to me, and that was the kinda-sorta third act breakup. The lines were verrryyy grey in this part of the book. On one hand, I can understand why the breakup happened and for once it wasn't because of miscommunication. It wasn't written like a "normal" third-act breakup would be. Iris had her reasons and I could understand. However, did it really need to be included just for in to end in one chapter? No. It did not. This book would have been rated a bit higher had this been written differently. I mean the whole time Iris was so mature and I really liked her...but the ending? I could not help but just roll my eyes. It was unnecessary. I've never seen a woman that's almost 40 and act the way she did in the last couple chapters.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I had such a good time reading it! I would absolutely recommend this to read during the cold days and winter weather. If you like a slow-burn, found family-esc. romance to warm your heart on a cold day, this would be a good one!🩷
FAVORITE SCENES AND QUOTES
I've never met anyone with bluer eyes than you. Like the sky on the brightest day of summer."
"That's the best thing anyone has ever said to me."
It reminded me how it feels when someone makes you feel as though you've done something wrong when you haven't, just to distract you from their own mistakes--a lesson I learned the hard way.
"I make you nervous, Belotti?"
"Stop fishing for compliments or you might just get one, and then where will we be?"
"So awkward."
"Exactly."
A temporary glitch. It's a good summary of us, we are a temporary glitch in each other's timeline."
"This doesn't even feel like my life."
"Mine either. I'm the guy too stuck in his ways to experience this."
"And I'm the noodle chef afraid of her own shadow."
"I noticed all the moments where you held back to let her shine. I went to watch my daughter, but I couldn't take my eyes off you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!🎄 I got this as my December BOTM pick so I'm excited for yet another wintery read!! I hope this delivers it sounds so unique and interesting 🫶🏼
I went into this book hesitant because it's a little out of the norm for something I'd read...but it was SO LOVELY!!
THE PLOT:
Iris has just moved to New York to live in the city her mother loved most. One day during a festival with her best friend, Bobby, they come across a gelateria that was once featured in her mother scrapbook. Interest piqued, Iris meets the son of the owner of the gelateria, Gio. Gio's father, Santo, had a stroke and forgot the family recipe the place is famous for. Santo had once given Iris' mother, Vivian, the recipe as a token of trust, and Vivian then taught Iris the recipe. It is then up to Iris to save the gelateria from closing. Sparks begin to fly between Iris and Gio, but things get very complicated when Iris' ex is thrown back into the picture, Santo recovering from his stroke, and the lies that have been built up by Iris.
MY THOUGHTS:
Let me just start off by saying this has been one of the most unique and interesting reads I've come across this year. Never in a million years would I have come up with this kind of plot. I was hesitant to read it at first just because it's so different, but I think it was different in the best way possible.
From the very beginning, I loved Iris. I loved her witty personality, and I love that she was such a strong FMC. The things that Iris goes through in this book are not unlike real life, and some points really hit close to home. The kind of connection and love that Gio and Iris have and the trials and tribulations they go through just warm my heart because they deal with matters in such a mature way. I had so much love for ALL of the characters in this book, even all of Gio's sister and his daughter. This book made me feel so warm and fuzzy and I thought everyone was so well written. Iris does have quite a bit of character development throughout the book and I appreciated that as well.
The tropes you can find in this book are single dad and found family. It is known from very early on in the book that Gio is raising his teenage daughter since his wife, Penny, passed away. What really stuck out to me was the amount of family connection and how, in this case, blood is thicker than water. The way Gio's family get along just warms my heart and I love how strong the connections were between his entire family. I could just go on and on about his family, truly. 🤭
There was one problem that really stuck out to me, and that was the kinda-sorta third act breakup. The lines were verrryyy grey in this part of the book. On one hand, I can understand why the breakup happened and for once it wasn't because of miscommunication. It wasn't written like a "normal" third-act breakup would be. Iris had her reasons and I could understand. However, did it really need to be included just for in to end in one chapter? No. It did not. This book would have been rated a bit higher had this been written differently. I mean the whole time Iris was so mature and I really liked her...but the ending? I could not help but just roll my eyes. It was unnecessary. I've never seen a woman that's almost 40 and act the way she did in the last couple chapters.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I had such a good time reading it! I would absolutely recommend this to read during the cold days and winter weather. If you like a slow-burn, found family-esc. romance to warm your heart on a cold day, this would be a good one!🩷
FAVORITE SCENES AND QUOTES
I've never met anyone with bluer eyes than you. Like the sky on the brightest day of summer."
"That's the best thing anyone has ever said to me."
It reminded me how it feels when someone makes you feel as though you've done something wrong when you haven't, just to distract you from their own mistakes--a lesson I learned the hard way.
"I make you nervous, Belotti?"
"Stop fishing for compliments or you might just get one, and then where will we be?"
"So awkward."
"Exactly."
A temporary glitch. It's a good summary of us, we are a temporary glitch in each other's timeline."
"This doesn't even feel like my life."
"Mine either. I'm the guy too stuck in his ways to experience this."
"And I'm the noodle chef afraid of her own shadow."
"I noticed all the moments where you held back to let her shine. I went to watch my daughter, but I couldn't take my eyes off you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!🎄 I got this as my December BOTM pick so I'm excited for yet another wintery read!! I hope this delivers it sounds so unique and interesting 🫶🏼
December 19, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5, Holiday Romance)
This book is really a love letter to New York & gelato. It’s a love story that’s a bit heavier than what I have come to expect in my holiday romances; it covers the importance of family (both blood & found), the endurance of grief, and the magic of hope. This book starts around Halloween time and ends on NYE, so it’s not totally a holiday story, but it is one that will have you wishing for a snowy winter NYC day ❄️❄️❄️.
Our story is about the sweet & British Iris, who moved to NYC last winter to escape a lot of heartbreak and hurt. When we meet her, she’s living above the noodle shop where she works and is neighbors with her best friend Bobbie, who is always trying to get her out of her shell. When Bobbie takes her to a street fair in Little Italy, she is shocked to come across a door from one of her deceased mother’s old photos. She would know that door anywhere, and she’s anxious to meet the family who owns the shop and might be able to tell her more about her mother. When she returns to the shop, she learns from the handsome Gio that the shop is on the brink of closing as they are no longer making their famous gelato ever since his grandpa (the sole keeper of the family’s gelato recipe) went into a coma. Once Iris tastes the gelato, she realizes that she has the recipe, but she doesn’t want to betray her mom’s trust by revealing this, and she’s unsure of the damage it could cause to this Italian family if they learned that the recipe was leaked. So Iris, a talented chef, offers to help Gio recreate the gelato and try to figure out the recipe before the shop closes down in the winter.
I found myself tearing up from time to time, and while the story is ultimately heartwarming, I felt a bit melancholy reading this. That’s an emotion I am not always looking for in a holiday book (the holidays are hard enough! I like to stick my head in the proverbial sand, aka a happy Christmas tree farm hot chocolate love story). Overall, I enjoyed this book and just adore Josie Silver as an author. Excited to hear what you guys thought of it!
This book is really a love letter to New York & gelato. It’s a love story that’s a bit heavier than what I have come to expect in my holiday romances; it covers the importance of family (both blood & found), the endurance of grief, and the magic of hope. This book starts around Halloween time and ends on NYE, so it’s not totally a holiday story, but it is one that will have you wishing for a snowy winter NYC day ❄️❄️❄️.
Our story is about the sweet & British Iris, who moved to NYC last winter to escape a lot of heartbreak and hurt. When we meet her, she’s living above the noodle shop where she works and is neighbors with her best friend Bobbie, who is always trying to get her out of her shell. When Bobbie takes her to a street fair in Little Italy, she is shocked to come across a door from one of her deceased mother’s old photos. She would know that door anywhere, and she’s anxious to meet the family who owns the shop and might be able to tell her more about her mother. When she returns to the shop, she learns from the handsome Gio that the shop is on the brink of closing as they are no longer making their famous gelato ever since his grandpa (the sole keeper of the family’s gelato recipe) went into a coma. Once Iris tastes the gelato, she realizes that she has the recipe, but she doesn’t want to betray her mom’s trust by revealing this, and she’s unsure of the damage it could cause to this Italian family if they learned that the recipe was leaked. So Iris, a talented chef, offers to help Gio recreate the gelato and try to figure out the recipe before the shop closes down in the winter.
I found myself tearing up from time to time, and while the story is ultimately heartwarming, I felt a bit melancholy reading this. That’s an emotion I am not always looking for in a holiday book (the holidays are hard enough! I like to stick my head in the proverbial sand, aka a happy Christmas tree farm hot chocolate love story). Overall, I enjoyed this book and just adore Josie Silver as an author. Excited to hear what you guys thought of it!
January 18, 2024
Oh the oft used and always irritating trope of . . . .
Generally reserved for the Third Act break-up/make-up portion of light romance novels, this one takes a deep dive and features it right from the beginning . . . .
The story here is that Iris has moved to New York for a fresh start. With her memories of the romantic comedies her deceased mother loved and a secret family recipe for gelato that was given to her mother ages ago, she goes in search of said gelateria – only to discover the only person in the family who knows said recipe has suffered a stroke and lost his memory. Iris befriends the entire family, but particularly Gio as she helps him experiment with various recipes in hopes of finding the perfect mix.
I have really loved Josie Silver’s stuff in the past, but I just couldn’t get over the entire premise here being based on lies (not only about the gelato recipe, but also about her previous relationship and the weird crap with the uncle not wanting anyone to know about the whopping TWO DAY "romance" he had with Iris’ mother after going on only a couple of dates with his future wife – weird). Not to mention this “gelateria” only serves vanilla? Snore. We live in the land of 31 Flavors, folks, ain’t nobody lining up for just vanilla.
I will give credit where credit is due and the shoutouts to famous NYC rom com locales was great . . . .
And there’s nothing like some Moonstruck references to make my heart go pitter-pat . . . .
But still . . . . .
2.5 Stars.
Book #1 of . . . .
Generally reserved for the Third Act break-up/make-up portion of light romance novels, this one takes a deep dive and features it right from the beginning . . . .
The story here is that Iris has moved to New York for a fresh start. With her memories of the romantic comedies her deceased mother loved and a secret family recipe for gelato that was given to her mother ages ago, she goes in search of said gelateria – only to discover the only person in the family who knows said recipe has suffered a stroke and lost his memory. Iris befriends the entire family, but particularly Gio as she helps him experiment with various recipes in hopes of finding the perfect mix.
I have really loved Josie Silver’s stuff in the past, but I just couldn’t get over the entire premise here being based on lies (not only about the gelato recipe, but also about her previous relationship and the weird crap with the uncle not wanting anyone to know about the whopping TWO DAY "romance" he had with Iris’ mother after going on only a couple of dates with his future wife – weird). Not to mention this “gelateria” only serves vanilla? Snore. We live in the land of 31 Flavors, folks, ain’t nobody lining up for just vanilla.
I will give credit where credit is due and the shoutouts to famous NYC rom com locales was great . . . .
And there’s nothing like some Moonstruck references to make my heart go pitter-pat . . . .
But still . . . . .
2.5 Stars.
Book #1 of . . . .
December 29, 2024
3.5 stars
I’ve read three Josie Silver books, and I’ve only found true magic once: One Day in December. I adored everything about that book. The chemistry between Laurie and Jack, Sarah and Laurie’s complicated friendship … it’s quite the love story. The ending still gives me chills when I think of it.
But One Night on the Island and A Winter in New York have disappointed me. It’s not that they’re bad books – they’re not, I liked them both – but they’re not of the same excellence as her debut. And it’s okay, not every book needs to be a five-starrer to be enjoyed, right?
The struggle for me with Silver’s latest is rooted in the very foundation of the story. In order for the romantic drama to work between Iris and Gio, you have to believe that the sanctity of a secret family gelato recipe is reason enough to lie and miscommunicate. Iris lies to Gio about having possession of the recipe to uphold its integrity so that the family continues to believe only two people in the entire world know how to make the gelato. Which, to me, all seems a bit silly – it’s gelato, not a cure for cancer – and also proves to be problematic because it was then a barrier to my buy-in of the story.
As for the other lie Iris tells Gio about her ex, it’s an understandable one if she’d just take a minute to explain to him why she said what she said. In fact, most of the conflict in the story could be solved with a simple conversation, and Iris not talking to Gio grows tiring after a while.
But Silver is a gifted writer, and her warmth and charm won me over in the end, per usual. I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless Iris and Gio were happy, a testament to Silver’s ability to tug the emotions of her readers even when her romances are built on shaky ground.
My sincerest appreciation to Josie Silver, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
I’ve read three Josie Silver books, and I’ve only found true magic once: One Day in December. I adored everything about that book. The chemistry between Laurie and Jack, Sarah and Laurie’s complicated friendship … it’s quite the love story. The ending still gives me chills when I think of it.
But One Night on the Island and A Winter in New York have disappointed me. It’s not that they’re bad books – they’re not, I liked them both – but they’re not of the same excellence as her debut. And it’s okay, not every book needs to be a five-starrer to be enjoyed, right?
The struggle for me with Silver’s latest is rooted in the very foundation of the story. In order for the romantic drama to work between Iris and Gio, you have to believe that the sanctity of a secret family gelato recipe is reason enough to lie and miscommunicate. Iris lies to Gio about having possession of the recipe to uphold its integrity so that the family continues to believe only two people in the entire world know how to make the gelato. Which, to me, all seems a bit silly – it’s gelato, not a cure for cancer – and also proves to be problematic because it was then a barrier to my buy-in of the story.
As for the other lie Iris tells Gio about her ex, it’s an understandable one if she’d just take a minute to explain to him why she said what she said. In fact, most of the conflict in the story could be solved with a simple conversation, and Iris not talking to Gio grows tiring after a while.
But Silver is a gifted writer, and her warmth and charm won me over in the end, per usual. I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless Iris and Gio were happy, a testament to Silver’s ability to tug the emotions of her readers even when her romances are built on shaky ground.
My sincerest appreciation to Josie Silver, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
March 20, 2024
Sometimes it’s the letting go of the things that sets you free.
Heartfelt and romantic read that pulls one into the warmth of found family and loved ones- a cosy hug one doesn’t want to let go of and a grateful realisation that sometimes one has to travel miles or leave the continent to finally find oneself and the heart’s actual home. Secrets, grief, death, abuse and the tentatively slow opening up of hearts to take another chance on love and fresh starts are themes thoughtfully handled by Silver.
Heartfelt and romantic read that pulls one into the warmth of found family and loved ones- a cosy hug one doesn’t want to let go of and a grateful realisation that sometimes one has to travel miles or leave the continent to finally find oneself and the heart’s actual home. Secrets, grief, death, abuse and the tentatively slow opening up of hearts to take another chance on love and fresh starts are themes thoughtfully handled by Silver.
January 14, 2024
Sweat in a gelato kind of way!
Iris was devastated after losing her mother to cancer. Then she moved to New York City after leaving London or escaping London should be a better way to describe it. She was in an abusive relationship and she finally was able to leave him behind.
Iris is a chef but in NYC, she is working in a noodle restaurant. Here is where she met Bobby, her friend who offered her a job and a place to stay. Iris doesn't go out much but when Bobby insists that she must go with him to the Little Italy's autumn fair, she can't say no. Her future changes when she stumbles into a family-owned gelateria with a door that seems familiar to her. She remembers the door from a picture her mother had. Her curiosity makes her return to it and walking inside she meets Gio, one of the family owners.
Gio is in dire straights. His gelateria might close soon. Santo his uncle and father figure had a stroke. Santo is the one who has the secret recipe for the famous vanilla gelato they have been serving for years. Unbeknownst to Gio, Iris knows the recipe and she has been making it for years. Her mother had been given the recipe years earlier by someone in Gio's family!
How can Iris help Gio without revealing secrets that could hurt him?
I liked the story. Gio was sweet and caring. His family was amazing. They all treated Iris so well. I also loved Bobby. He was there for Iris when she needed a helping hand.
I had some issues with Iris. I didn't like how many secrets she had and the lies she was keeping.
Overall, it was an enjoyable story.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Delacorte Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Iris was devastated after losing her mother to cancer. Then she moved to New York City after leaving London or escaping London should be a better way to describe it. She was in an abusive relationship and she finally was able to leave him behind.
Iris is a chef but in NYC, she is working in a noodle restaurant. Here is where she met Bobby, her friend who offered her a job and a place to stay. Iris doesn't go out much but when Bobby insists that she must go with him to the Little Italy's autumn fair, she can't say no. Her future changes when she stumbles into a family-owned gelateria with a door that seems familiar to her. She remembers the door from a picture her mother had. Her curiosity makes her return to it and walking inside she meets Gio, one of the family owners.
Gio is in dire straights. His gelateria might close soon. Santo his uncle and father figure had a stroke. Santo is the one who has the secret recipe for the famous vanilla gelato they have been serving for years. Unbeknownst to Gio, Iris knows the recipe and she has been making it for years. Her mother had been given the recipe years earlier by someone in Gio's family!
How can Iris help Gio without revealing secrets that could hurt him?
I liked the story. Gio was sweet and caring. His family was amazing. They all treated Iris so well. I also loved Bobby. He was there for Iris when she needed a helping hand.
I had some issues with Iris. I didn't like how many secrets she had and the lies she was keeping.
Overall, it was an enjoyable story.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Delacorte Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
March 25, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley ARC
Description:
Iris decides to move to New York to escape her life in London. She soon realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is: all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris’s best friend and employer, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s?
Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is recovering from a stroke and can no longer remember it, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place?
Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long.
The cover makes it look like this is a fun, light romance, but that’s not the case. This was more of a serious, sad story with some romance thrown in. It felt like one of those dramatic Hallmark movies they play during the holidays. At one point I even cried I felt so bad for Iris. I was a little disappointed that the author decided to make Iris so loyal, so loyal she was willing to give up on love and sleep in a storage unit rather than her own bed to keep someone else’s secret. I think that part would have been better left out, but regardless I highly recommend it, especially if you love serious romance novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
Description:
Iris decides to move to New York to escape her life in London. She soon realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is: all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris’s best friend and employer, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s?
Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is recovering from a stroke and can no longer remember it, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place?
Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long.
The cover makes it look like this is a fun, light romance, but that’s not the case. This was more of a serious, sad story with some romance thrown in. It felt like one of those dramatic Hallmark movies they play during the holidays. At one point I even cried I felt so bad for Iris. I was a little disappointed that the author decided to make Iris so loyal, so loyal she was willing to give up on love and sleep in a storage unit rather than her own bed to keep someone else’s secret. I think that part would have been better left out, but regardless I highly recommend it, especially if you love serious romance novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
December 30, 2023
I picked this book as my annual cozy Christmas read but I could not have been more disappointed.
Let me begin by stating that the issues in this book could have been solved in the first 100 pages and all romantic lines are very cliche. However, the story goes round in circles and therefor gets repetitive very fast which leads to the book’s length. The same discussions, feelings and thoughts are written about over and over again (e.x. Iris´ lonely childhood, how lucky she was to have found Bobby, how lucky Gio is but being part of a big family is both a blessing and a curse).
Iris is a golden child who has the ability to be great at everything and everyone loves her as soon as they meet her. She is also portrayed as a hero who helps everyone she comes across (e.x girl in that park singing, Gios Daughter at her school performance, girl fighting abusive ex in the streets). The Fact that she is fully unaware of all of this makes her unbearable.
She also feels sorry for herself for most of the book, which gets old very fast (this goes hand in hand with the repetitiveness).
She every now and then mentions Adam who was an abusive ex-boyfriend, but the reader tends to forget about him because there is a lack of information. Back story isn’t really provided until page 235. If the author would have provided more information about the relationship and the abuse earlier on in the book, it would not have been so forgettable throughout the beginning of the story and would have made her mentioning him more logical.
Gio is a very bland character and majority of the conversations between Iris and him are about his family and the family business. He also never asks about Iris´ life/family/her supposedly dead husband or why she moved to America (although he might have assumed the reason being the „dead husband “).
At the beginning of the story, both characters are doing the most to ensure to everyone in their inner circles and to each other that they have no romantic interest in each other, which I felt was a bit odd because I didn’t feel there was any chemistry between them anyway. Even later when they get to a romantic stage, it is written about the fact that they like each other but it’s not really shown to the reader.
Now let’s get to the really frustrating part of the book: Iris’ lies.
She started lying to Gio and the Belotti family because she wanted to try and help because she has the lost family recipe and she wanted to explore her mother’s connections to the gelato shop.
However, she gets into a relationship with Gio but continues lying to him. This is very problematic as she is aware that Gio is a vulnerable person as he lost his wife and Iris is the first person, he has romantic feelings for. The fact that she also lied about being a widow does not help her case whatsoever.
She finally realizes that her constant lying is bad and wants to break away after 222 Pages(!!). However, after breaking up with him due to not knowing how to continue the lies (of course she did not tell him that this was the reason for her wanting to break up), they get back together the same day/20 pages later and Gio never questions what the real reason was, behind her breaking up with him.
Following that, she has multiple chances to tell Gio the truth, but she waits for as long as she possibly can to keep it from him. Her reason being that she feels like she belongs, and she wants to cherish said feeling a while longer, therefore displaying unbelievably selfish behavior. (In addition, she keeps mentioning how Gio and his family are struggling to keep the shop open because they don’t have the gelato recipe and how much she likes the family, but she doesn’t tell them that she has the recipe??!)
When she finally tells Gio the truth she doesn’t even have the balls to tell him to his face but instead writes him a letter and disappears.
Of course, there is a happy ending and two months after all this happening the reader can find out through the Epilog that the two of them can already joke about all that has happened. Yippie!!
I truly believe the book would have been a lot better if the focus would have been about Iris exploring her mother’s connections to the shop and that way might have fallen in love with Gio but this way she just seemed like a bad person, and it was hard to root for them (The fact that it was hard to recognize any chemistry didn’t help).
(Noticeable mention: the fact that Iris went viral after singing in the park a single time and everyone she knows saw the video, shows that the author has no idea how the internet works.)
Let me begin by stating that the issues in this book could have been solved in the first 100 pages and all romantic lines are very cliche. However, the story goes round in circles and therefor gets repetitive very fast which leads to the book’s length. The same discussions, feelings and thoughts are written about over and over again (e.x. Iris´ lonely childhood, how lucky she was to have found Bobby, how lucky Gio is but being part of a big family is both a blessing and a curse).
Iris is a golden child who has the ability to be great at everything and everyone loves her as soon as they meet her. She is also portrayed as a hero who helps everyone she comes across (e.x girl in that park singing, Gios Daughter at her school performance, girl fighting abusive ex in the streets). The Fact that she is fully unaware of all of this makes her unbearable.
She also feels sorry for herself for most of the book, which gets old very fast (this goes hand in hand with the repetitiveness).
She every now and then mentions Adam who was an abusive ex-boyfriend, but the reader tends to forget about him because there is a lack of information. Back story isn’t really provided until page 235. If the author would have provided more information about the relationship and the abuse earlier on in the book, it would not have been so forgettable throughout the beginning of the story and would have made her mentioning him more logical.
Gio is a very bland character and majority of the conversations between Iris and him are about his family and the family business. He also never asks about Iris´ life/family/her supposedly dead husband or why she moved to America (although he might have assumed the reason being the „dead husband “).
At the beginning of the story, both characters are doing the most to ensure to everyone in their inner circles and to each other that they have no romantic interest in each other, which I felt was a bit odd because I didn’t feel there was any chemistry between them anyway. Even later when they get to a romantic stage, it is written about the fact that they like each other but it’s not really shown to the reader.
Now let’s get to the really frustrating part of the book: Iris’ lies.
She started lying to Gio and the Belotti family because she wanted to try and help because she has the lost family recipe and she wanted to explore her mother’s connections to the gelato shop.
However, she gets into a relationship with Gio but continues lying to him. This is very problematic as she is aware that Gio is a vulnerable person as he lost his wife and Iris is the first person, he has romantic feelings for. The fact that she also lied about being a widow does not help her case whatsoever.
She finally realizes that her constant lying is bad and wants to break away after 222 Pages(!!). However, after breaking up with him due to not knowing how to continue the lies (of course she did not tell him that this was the reason for her wanting to break up), they get back together the same day/20 pages later and Gio never questions what the real reason was, behind her breaking up with him.
Following that, she has multiple chances to tell Gio the truth, but she waits for as long as she possibly can to keep it from him. Her reason being that she feels like she belongs, and she wants to cherish said feeling a while longer, therefore displaying unbelievably selfish behavior. (In addition, she keeps mentioning how Gio and his family are struggling to keep the shop open because they don’t have the gelato recipe and how much she likes the family, but she doesn’t tell them that she has the recipe??!)
When she finally tells Gio the truth she doesn’t even have the balls to tell him to his face but instead writes him a letter and disappears.
Of course, there is a happy ending and two months after all this happening the reader can find out through the Epilog that the two of them can already joke about all that has happened. Yippie!!
I truly believe the book would have been a lot better if the focus would have been about Iris exploring her mother’s connections to the shop and that way might have fallen in love with Gio but this way she just seemed like a bad person, and it was hard to root for them (The fact that it was hard to recognize any chemistry didn’t help).
(Noticeable mention: the fact that Iris went viral after singing in the park a single time and everyone she knows saw the video, shows that the author has no idea how the internet works.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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