Another amazing book by Catherine Walsh. Spicy scenes and a little misunderstanding is what fuels this book. You fall in love with the characters and storyline like all of her books. As always, Walsh’s book is well written and good for any age and any romance readers. Definitely for adults but also for anyone who loves happily ever after!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy!

I had super mixed feelings about this book. I hated the plotting and the pacing. Every plot point felt disjointed and didn't flow well into the next, and ultimately this just read like a very, very early rough draft. The main characters hold a lot of potential, but I could only name about two characteristics for each of them due to how flat they were. However, the author did do a good job in writing their chemistry. Along with this, Walsh has a very easy-to-read and grounded writing style while also bringing a good sense of humor to the story. And I found some of the plot points particularly unpredictable and refreshing for a romcom novel. I am very interested in reading more from this author in the future, even if this one wasn't great.

Catherine Walsh's "One Night Only" takes readers on a riotous journey through the unexpected twists of love, laughter, and the hilariously awkward consequences of a one-night stand. Set against the backdrop of a charming Irish wedding, this romantic comedy proves that sometimes the path to love is paved with unexpected surprises.

The story unfolds with Sarah Anderson, a New Yorker eagerly anticipating her best friend's Irish wedding. Walsh skillfully introduces readers to a cast of quirky characters, from chinless Uncle Trevor to the silent yet mischievous Great Aunt Eileen, setting the stage for a wedding celebration like no other. However, the real chaos ensues when Sarah comes face to face with Declan Murphy, the man she shared a one-night stand with, and who happens to be the groom's brother.

The humor in "One Night Only" is its shining star. Walsh infuses the narrative with witty banter, comedic situations, and a delightful array of characters that keep the laughter flowing. The author's comedic timing and knack for situational humor elevate the story, making it a genuinely enjoyable read for fans of feel-good romantic comedies.

While the plot follows the familiar trope of unexpected encounters and romantic entanglements, Walsh's unique voice and narrative style breathe new life into the storyline. The setting in Ireland adds a charming backdrop, complete with rolling green hills and accents that enhance the romantic atmosphere.

The characters, particularly Sarah and Declan, are well-developed and relatable. Sarah's internal struggle with the embarrassing aftermath of her one-night stand and Declan's determination to keep the sparks alive contribute to the novel's overall charm. The romantic tension is palpable, and readers will find themselves rooting for this unlikely couple to find their way back to each other.

The pacing is brisk, and the short chapters keep the story engaging, making it a perfect choice for a light and entertaining read. However, some readers may find the resolution a tad predictable, as the plot adheres to certain romantic comedy conventions.

In conclusion, "One Night Only" earns its four-star rating by delivering a delightful romantic comedy filled with humor, charm, and a touch of Irish magic. Catherine Walsh's ability to blend laughter with love makes this novel a standout in the genre. If you're a fan of authors like Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, don't miss the chance to dive into this hilarious romp through the unpredictable landscape of love and one unforgettable night in Ireland.

Sarah as the main character was difficult to stay positive for or cheering on as the story developed and continued. Her wishy washy attitude about Declan was disappointing and frustrating beyond belief. The fact that he continuously offered how much he cared about her and she was just in a tizzy because her parents divorced when she was a kid and had ONE bad ex??? ONE! While one toxic horrible ex can ruin dating for someone all the guy did was tell her “no i don’t love you and we should break up”. He didn’t rack up credit card debt. He didn’t cheat on her and tell everyone she knows they had an open relationship while she started her career. He didn’t take advantage of her support and fail multiple exams to move into the next step of his career. He didn’t lie to her for months that there was money in the account when he’d actually spent it all gambling. We all process pain and hurt different and grief but this all seemed less than necessary for the punishment she inflicted on her best friends brother in law.

Funny, entertaining, heartfelt and warm. It was lovely that she had a friend that she loved so closely and a flatmate that she could tell her how she was making a mistake and how to repair that mistake

I did not read One Night Only by Catherine Walsh through an educator lens.

One Night Only by Catherine Walsh is an adorable rom-com and I loved Sarah's (Main character) sense of humor and adored the chemistry that Sarah and Declan had from the beginning of the book. Parts of the book were slow and seemed to drag a bit, but for the most part, I am impressed by Walsh's debut romance book and cannot wait to read more of hers in the future!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of One Night Only! All opinions in this review are my own.

Sarah is only committed to one night stands. So when she picks up a hot Irishman who won't take the hint, she doesn't know what to do. Luckily, she is leaving for her friend's wedding and she can forget all about him while she spends a few days in Ireland. Unfortunately, Declan is also attending the same wedding. Now what is Sarah supposed to do?

What I liked about this romance:
☘️ between his accent and how sweet he is, Declan is an excellent love interest
☘️ the hilarious situations Sarah gets herself into
☘️ the backdrop of Ireland

What didn't work for me:
I don't think I'm a fan of the one night stand trope. I felt like there wasn't as much build up to Sarah and Declan finally being together because they had already been together in the very first chapter.

LOVED! Such a cute, fun read!! Will be looking forward to reading more from this author! Thanks for the ARC!!!

cute cute cute!!! This book has the big 3: sexual TENSION, annoying yet somehow lovable hero, and laugh out loud heroine. A great read. I can’t believe this is only the DEBUT?! We need more from Catherine Walsh ASAP!

My thoughts







Narrative and Plot







One Night Only is perhaps one of the few rom-coms I've read recently, that doesn't follow most of the common romance tropes. This itself is quite refreshing in terms of narrative. There is wit, charm and amazing chemistry between the main characters. That alone makes it a page-turner.

The plot is mostly character-oriented, however, the pacing never wavers. It hits each beat perfectly and keeps moving. There is a back and forth of feelings between the main characters, but if you're into this tug-of-war kind of romantic story, it could be entertaining as hell.



Characters and Conflicts





Sarah is your quintessential protagonist. She reminds me of a typical protagonist from the 90s or early 2000s rom-coms. The commitment-phobe who is content with one-night stands. It doesn't change overnight. The story takes it's time for Sarah to get to know Declan in different situations. 

Declan, on the other hand, has this air of mystery around him which I love. He is unpredictable, yet reliable at the same time. His conflict is revealed much later in the book. It takes you out of the story for a moment. However, it reels you back in by resolving the same as realistically as possible with a dash of drama of course.


The story has an ensemble cast which is quite colourful and remarkable.















Conclusion



Overall, I enjoyed One Night Only more than I thought I would. It has that classic romantic comedy vibe, yet it is relatable in a modern-day dating context. I won't mind reading it again if I am in the mood for a fun romantic comedy.

Really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect escapism that I needed. I liked the characters and found myself just completely getting lost in the plot and I read it in like a day.

Perfect romance book, will definitely read other books by this author.

This was such a quick, easy and smooth read. I really enjoyed the main characters and their story and think the author has a way with words and can't wait to see what they come up with next.

I really enjoyed One Night Only and don’t really have any complaints if I’m honest. It was a fun, very quick read with plenty of likeable characters. I very much appreciated reading a romance not set in US by someone not from the US as although it’s silly, I find the small errors they make very frustrating.

The pacing felt a little bit off for me, with some bits feeling rushed whilst others dragged out more than they needed to be. I kind of thought the entire story would set around the wedding so I was surprised when the wedding was over and I wasn’t even halfway through. I also wish the conclusion didn’t wrap up quite so quickly. Without spoiling it, it seemed a very rushed few pages which I would have preferred to read more about.

I can’t put my finger on the exact reason it wasn’t a 5 star read, but it just didn’t give me that feeling that my favourite romances do. Having said that I still enjoyed it and will definitely read some more of Catherine Walsh’s books. Perfect for reading in the sun, by the beach.

Who gave this book the right to be so cute? I was not anticipating liking it this much. Granted, the plot wasn't exactly original but it is a rom-com, overused tropes are to be expected. The characters and the dialogue made this book. The characters were actually pretty well-developed, And I'm a sucker for a can't-stop-bickering kind of love. Idk what that says about me, but alas. The steam was minimal and fade to black so I would've liked more spice but that's just a personal preference. Overall this was a fun, enjoyable read that actually went a bit deeper than a lot of rom-coms dare to delve.

Story of the book-

After Josh’s incident, Sarah Anderson, a brilliant architect, swore against having a committed relationship. Her parents’ marriage did not provide her with a good role model for believing in happily ever after. As her bestie Annie’s wedding date approaches, she is honing her one-night stand abilities.

After flying to Ireland to be the maid of honor at Annie’s wedding, all she wanted to do was forget about her stressful job, the customer account that she worked too hard for, and the charming man she had a one-night stand with who forgot his watch at her apartment and insisted on having breakfast with her. No, she is unable to recall that lovely night or the activities they shared.

But, oh my god! Has he been summoned by her filthy fantasies? Declan Murphy, the groom’s brother, and best man are sitting at the same table with her, and it appears like his mother Mary is trying her hardest to match them up. She can’t see being in a meaningful relationship at this point in her life. Attraction, on the other hand, is difficult to resist. She makes every effort to avoid falling for him. And then she finds she isn’t the only one with a significant amount of baggage from a previous engagement.

Could they overcome the challenges by learning to deal with difficulties of trust? Is there a possibility they’ll be able to open their hearts to real love?

My review-

Sarah and Declan’s romance was one of my favorites. With their banter and silly jokes, the chemistry was ahead of the curve. Given that this is Walsh’s first novel, the fact that the characters were so well-written was a nice surprise. Declan isn’t perfect, but he’s my favorite character in the novel. Despite his difficult history, he is charming, diligent, and pioneering. Even so, it takes me a long time to warm up to Sarah, and this has a lot to do with her lack of trust, which is ironic given that Sarah is a carbon copy of myself. Her lack of trust, on the other hand, is frequently exploited to carry the tension, and it is insufficient to maintain the entire story. The novel is incredibly conflict-driven, and Sarah’s preconceptions and insecurities make it tough and irritating at times.

The book’s secondary characters contributed to my enjoyment of it. Will and Sarah’s exchanges were so amusing that I couldn’t stop giggling and smiling like a fool. With abundant amounts of fascinating, endearingly weird, and well-etched characters, as well as snarky Sarah’s sarcastic and caustic insights and inner musings, the writing was original and charmingly irreverent. The bride and Sarah’s closest friend Annie, whose tales generated a significant portion of the comedy, were two of my favorites.

Despite the back-and-forth, it’s a wonderfully lovely tale that came at the perfect time during the summer months. A genuinely pleasurable reading experience is made possible by a combination of comedy, heart, and swoon-worthy Irish males. For romance fans, this book is a must-read.

THIS. IS. 2000's. ROM. COM. MATERIAL. Honestly one of the best romance novels I've read recently. It's funny, it's well written and it's relatable. The characters are well written, the plot is good and it has the right amount of spice. I'm taking one star out of this one 'cause, by the end, I felt like some things were added without further explaining and it was noticeable as plot device (I'm talking about the ex-wife and the coworker here).
For the most, it was very enjoyable and I'd definitely recommend it.

I enjoyed this book which had bits in it that were funny.

Sarah only has one night stands and never sees the men again. She has a one night stand with Declan and hopes to never see him again. Her best friend Annie is getting married in Ireland and who should be the best man at the wedding but Declan which is embarrassing for Sarah.

The characters were very engaging. I like rom com and this one didn’t disappoint.

Can I keep Declan? Lol

"One Night Only" was a delightful surprise of a book that I found to be quite charming. Set in Ireland two people who had a one night stand must be in a wedding together. What were the chances? Haha
There were parts where I wasn't sure where things would go, but I overall enjoyed this debut and look forward to what else this author has to offer. LAY IT ON ME BABY! Haha. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

This was so engaging and enjoyable from the very first chapter. Sarah's trust issues being constantly exploited for the somewhat tiring back and forth was the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me.

This book was so fun and kept me interested right until the end. The characters were well developed and the story was heartfelt. I would definitely suggest this for book group!