One of the things I look for when I read a romantic comedy is how easily I can cast and visualize a movie version of it in my head. If it’s easy to do, it’s a winner of a story. If I have difficulty, there may still be good parts, but it also may come up lacking.
I’m happy to say that One Night Only fell firmly in the former category. From the opening to closing scenes, I was taken by the characters and their trajectory. I knew right away that this was going to be a good one, and I hoped that the author would be able to sustain it.
Spoiler alert: It was really good all the way through!
I liked the whole setup. Even though I had an idea of what was going to happen in the early pages (I mean, it’s in the blurb and book description!), I still literally laughed out loud at how it all went down.
The wedding that made up the opening chapters was not only a great way to start the book and set the tone, but it was a lot of fun as well. Call it “My Big Fat Irish Wedding,” complete with obnoxious family members, unseasonal weather, and members of the wedding party who indulge in too much Guinness.
Honestly, what’s not to like about that.
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As to the two main characters, I got a better feeling for Declan than I did for Sarah, or so I thought. She was prickly (for her own reasons) and he was brooding and charming. Certainly, a perfect case of “opposites attract.”
Sometimes, in between the initial meet and the final kiss, the relationship flags and it can seem drawn out. That wasn’t the case here. The author put enough in about the characters’ personal lives that it stayed interesting.
As I have mentioned in past reviews, I like to take notes in the books as I read. It makes it easier to write reviews later on. A recurring note in this book was “real.” I used it to describe emotions, reactions, statements, situations…it just all came across as plausible life experiences.
I did think that some of Sarah’s reasoning was a little suspect, and there were times that she seemed inconsistent, but I think that might have been on purpose. She wasn’t always honest with herself, so it was natural that she would appear so to the reader as well.
I really liked the way Declan handled her. I expected a little bit more out of her job revelations, and wanted a better resolution to the Matthias situation, especially in light of what she found out. But (again) I understand why the author wrote it the way she did.
All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that made me laugh in all the right places and gave me those little swoops of “real love” recognition. For once, the tag of “hilarious romantic comedy” is 100% accurate. I’d highly recommend it as a light, fun, beachy read.
Oh, and as to the casting – I’m not totally sold on my decisions, but I could see Adam Weafer or Eoin Macken as Declan and Anna Kendrick or Hailee Steinfeld as Sarah. But what do I know? 😊
Instagram: catwalshwriter/
Author Bio:
Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She has a degree in Popular Literature and the only prize she ever won for writing was at the age of 14 in school (but she still cherishes it.)
She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.
