A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 372 pages
Published: October 2023

I snagged a copy of A Winter in New York by Josie Silver when I had a Book of the Month subscription in late 2023. I tucked the book away in one of my TBR (to be read) piles and quickly forgot about it. Then, I got stung by the Christmas bug in 2024 and wanted to read something light and happy that aligned with this joyful time of year. So, I opened up my Libby app and downloaded a copy of this book. I kept thinking, gosh that cover looks familiar. I soon realized a couple of pages in I owned a hard copy. So, I returned the library book for someone else and switched to the physical copy. 

Silver presents a heartwarming story that begins with a meet cute ... in a bookstore! ... between the two main characters Iris, a young chef, and Gio, whose family owns the local gelato shop in her neighborhood. Iris is recovering from a very difficult romantic relationship, and Gio is trying to figure out how to save his family's shop as his uncle, the only person who knows the secret family recipe to the one gelato flavor the shop is famous for, is ill and unable to recall. On top of those challenges, Iris soon realizes she has a familial connection to this shop that could jeopardize Gio's uncle and her budding friendship with Gio. 

The author is an excellent writer who beautifully captures the magic of the season and the New York setting. Her writing is engaging and creates a moderately-paced novel. As with most romcoms like this, the plot is mainly predictable, but there are definitely some deviations that took me by surprise. Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the novel delightful and meeting the needs of the read I was looking for this season. I wish some of the secondary characters were better developed and Iris didn't drag her lies (by omission) on for so long, as it became trite over time. 

Recommendation: I enjoyed the romance with a touch of holiday spirit that provided a cozy escape for the holiday season. The book reminded me of the movie While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock, so I watched that shortly after to continue the good feels! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.