📚Book Review: "One Midnight With You" by Shari Low
⏳❤Genre: Women’s Fiction/Book Club
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

⏳❤"One Midnight With You" by Shari Low is a captivating exploration of how life can change in just twenty-four hours. With the clock ticking, four individuals—Ailish, her daughter Emmy, her grandmother Minnie, and family man Dario—are each forced to confront the most pivotal moments of their lives. This is a novel about choices, regrets, and the hope for new beginnings, all wrapped up in a single, life-changing day.

⏳Why You’ll Love It:
⏳Time-Ticking Drama: The premise of a single day to change your life creates a sense of urgency that keeps the pages turning. Each character's story intertwines with the others, adding layers of tension and emotion as the clock winds down.
❤Multi-Generational Perspective: From young Emmy to her wise grandmother Minnie, this novel offers a rich tapestry of perspectives on love, life, and second chances. Each character’s journey is relatable, whether you’re young and facing the world or older and reflecting on the life you’ve led.
🌟Emotional Depth: Shari Low masterfully delves into the complexities of relationships—be it familial, romantic, or self-reflective. The characters are flawed, real, and deeply human, making their struggles and triumphs all the more poignant.
💔Heartfelt and Relatable: Whether you've experienced betrayal, wrestled with tough choices, or longed for redemption, you'll find a piece of yourself in this story. It's a tale of healing and hope, showing that even when life knocks you down, there’s always a chance to get back up.

❤Perfect For:
❤Fans of emotional and character-driven stories.
❤Readers who enjoy narratives about family dynamics and personal growth.
❤Those who love novels set within a tight time frame, adding suspense and urgency.
❤Anyone who believes in second chances and the power of a single moment to change everything.

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions in this unforgettable journey of four souls seeking redemption, closure, and, ultimately, the chance to start anew.⏳❤

#BookReview #OneMidnightWithYou #ShariLow #SecondChances #ReadingCommunity #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity

The story takes place over a twenty four hour period and is told from the perspectives of the four main characters…Ailish, Emmy, Dario and Minnie.

It’s New Year’s Eve in Glasgow and Ailish is resigned to spending the time alone. Since her husband’s affair and their subsequent divorce she can’t find the motivation for much of anything. Normally family and friends celebrated New Year at Gino’s restaurant, a tradition of long standing, but since Gino’s was the place that signalled the beginning of the end of her marriage she doesn’t feel able to spend another New Year there. But Ailish hadn’t reckoned on her two best friends, Rhonda and Gwen. Their kindness, positivity (and yes, bossiness too) are just what she needed to pull her out of the doldrums.

Emmy had a horrible feeling something was wrong. Her other half, fireman Cormac, was on ‘grub’ duty and had to be out of the house early but his behaviour was beginning to worry her. He was…distant was the best way she could describe it. And that brought back memories of her dad. Surely Cormac wasn’t cheating. Then things got much more complicated for Emmy when her dad showed up on her doorstep unexpectedly.

Dario had worked in his father’s restaurant since his early teens and was now running the place, although Gino still worked several nights during the week. Now though things aren’t going too well and Dario is stuck between a rock and hard place, uncertain of and dreading the conversation he needed to have or how he could possibly resolve the situation.

Minnie has an agenda for the day and is determined nothing will stop her from achieving her aims, despite what fate and bad luck might throw in her way.

New Year’s Eve is important to each of them in different ways and as stories unfold and threads are joined, the well defined, relatable and wonderful mix of characters spring to life on the page, but Minnie was the one that stole my heart. Family and friendships are the mainstays of the story regardless of the problems, dramas and health issues.

Full of emotion and humour, One Midnight With You is another lovely, poignant, ultimately uplifting and feel good read from Shari Low.

I love a good Shari Low book and One Midnight with You didn’t disappoint! What I particularly enjoy about Low’s writing is how she breaks up the story into different sections of time, following various characters, and this novel does that brilliantly. It’s fast-paced, and I was hooked from the start, eager to see how each person’s story would intertwine.
As always with Shari Low, there’s a perfect mix of humour and heartfelt moments. She has such a talent for creating these wonderfully quirky characters that make you laugh out loud, yet she also brings natural warmth and depth to the story. It’s an outstanding balance that keeps you engaged throughout.
This book had me laughing one minute and feeling genuinely touched the next – it’s a rollercoaster of emotions but in the best way possible. I flew through it because I couldn’t wait to see how everything would come together. This is another fantastic read from an author I can always rely on for a satisfying and entertaining escape!

This was such a feel good read. A giant cast of characters and a twenty four hour period that changes all their lives.

I loved the friendships amongst the characters and the way the author moved between their stories. The ending was super sweet and I definitely recommend.

Shari Low - One Midnight With You.

Shari Low is a machine. This lady keeps bringing us these fantastic books that are set over the space of roughly one day.
This time, it’s New Years Eve, or Hogmanay, as the book is once again set in Scotland.

I will admit that it took me a good few chapters to get my head around the number of characters and who everyone was. Luckily the book has a comprehensive list of who is who at the beginning which I found very helpful.

So once I had everyone in their place, I was completely hooked! Shari Low weaves a charming tale around this motley group of colourful characters.
Over the space of 24 hours we see Ailish trying to cope with life after her husband of thirty odd years upped and left her. Ailish’s daughter Emme is concerned for her own relationship. Minnie, Emme’s grandmother is dealing with her own situation, but she has a plan to put the sunshine back into her life.
Gwen and Rhonda are Ailish’s best friends. Gwen is just out of hospital after being seriously ill. While Rhonda is a nipped and tucked vivacious lady. She has a tongue as sharp as her jawline and a heart as big as a Kardashian booty!
We also meet Gino and his family. Dario his son is in a real predicament and has to make a tough decision about the restaurant his family has owned and loved for many years.

As everyone gathers to welcome in the new year, the evening unfolds and is cleverly brought together in a steady flow of drama, family, friendship, love and new beginnings.

I do love a Shari Low book and #OneModnightWithYou does not disappoint. As always, her writing is sharp and poignant, as she tells us a tale that will make you laugh, cry and leave you with a squishy heart.
#OneMidnightWithYou is witty, warm and wise. A fabulous five star read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another superb read from a favourite author!

Ailish Ryan has become a bit of a hermit since her husband's cheating brought about the end of their marriage; her daughter Emmy trusts her boyfriend but there is no doubt that her father's betrayal has left her wary of the male species and their behaviour. Ailish's mother-in-law, Minnie Ryan is planning a surprise for an old friend - will it go as planned? Dario Moretti has spent his whole life working in the family's restaurant business, but times are changing and he knows the time for hard decisions is upon him - but how will the rest of the family take the news? With a new year closing in, changes are afoot for all of them ...

I love books with plenty going on and there is no shortage of food for thought in this one. Shari Low never fails to entertain with her quick wit and terrific characterisation, her novels are a real treat to read. Another wonderful tale - warm with her trademark quips which always make me giggle. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended, easily earning all five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This wonderful, uplifting read is set on New Year’s Eve and follows a number of characters as they get ready for starting another new year.

Emmy, a nurse starts to have suspicions about her partner. Her Mum Ailish is coming to terms with her divorce being final, but her friends try to make this year a New Year to remember.

Minnie, Emmy’s grandmother is getting ready to celebrate another New Year at Gino’s restaurant where she has been coming with her husband for many years. Dario, the current owner of the family restaurant has a big decision to make.

What decision will Dario make? Will broken hearts be mended?

This is an amazing and wonderful read which by the end has an uplifting feel with how the characters start to deal with the issues over the past year.

The book is split into sections for each part of the day and is then split between chapters for the main characters, as they tell their own story and how they are dealing with their broken hearts and struggles. I love this layout, even with all the different characters it makes you want to keep reading and find out what is going to happen later in the day for each of them.

I have read a couple of this authors books in this style and I have absolutely loved every single one of them. I will certainly be reading more in the future.

Overall, a wonderful, uplifting read where one New Year’s Eve could mend four broken hearts.

I wanted to love it because I do love Shari’s books but I found it dragged on a bit. Too many people needing to say too many things and you just want to tell them to get to the point and wanting them all the best happy (apart from Eric). It was probably the point Shari wanted to make but I just wanted shake them all.

I loved some of the so much, I want to be Rhonda when I grow up, haha

I’m a big fan of Shari Low’s “One” series and jumped at the chance to read this latest novel. Like the other books in the series, ONE MIDNIGHT WITH YOU introduces the reader to a cast of characters and follows them over a short period of time. In this case, it’s New Year’s Eve; known as Hogmanay in Scotland.

It’s not always evident how the characters overlap and interact at the start of her books, but Shari Low weaves their stories together so that the interconnectedness is clear by the conclusion. To me, that’s the brilliance of her writing.

In this book we meet Ailish, a woman recently divorced after a horrid betrayal by her husband; her daughter, Emmy, a nurse questioning her relationship with her boyfriend; Dario, a restaurant owner facing a decision that will impact his business and his family; Millie, an elderly woman who is reflecting on the relationships that shaped her life; and other tangential characters whose lives are changed on one pivotal Hogmanay. Ms. Low creates characters who find their way into your heart. The plot moves quickly making this an easy and engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

On first impressions, I found the writing lighthearted and humorous. I found myself chuckling as I was reading, and there were some likeable characters that I appreciated in different ways. For example, Ailish was the character that I found the most relatable, Rhonda was the character who made me giggle the most, and Minnie was the one who made me smile the most.

As the story progressed, and I got to know more about all of the characters, there were some deeper, more serious moments that I enjoyed, as well as humorous ones. In fact, I became slightly emotional towards the end. This was a heartwarming and uplifting read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I loved this book from the very first page. Wonderful and rich characters all tied together in various interesting storylines.
At times I giggled out loud over the antics of the three old friends Ailish, Rhonda and Gwen. The bond between them through the years and the different stages in their lives was heartwarming.
This was one of those books that you just do not want to finish! Another excellent story from this author. I cannot wait to read her next book.

One midnight with you by Shari Low, it’s New Year’s Eve in Scotland everyone is excited and wishing each other a Hog-mah-nay, well everyone except for the women in the Ryan family. Ailish cannot seem to move on since her divorce, her daughter Emma thinks her boyfriend Cormac Sweeney is cheating on her and mini is about to start the new year with some things she didn’t even know she wanted. This book is way too much to do a brief summary there’s problems with the Ryan women they are the best friends gwen and Rhonda as well as Emma‘s best friends from her work. Each Ryan woman has their own POV‘s and subplots including Craig who realizes he has made the biggest mistake by cheating on Ailish and turns to his daughter Emma to help rectify it but as I mentioned Emma has issues of her own she’s trying to deal with. This book his everything I’ve come to love Shari Low’s books for. I really love the characters she creates including Gino his son I love the happy endings every time I read one of the authors books I feel I have visited Scotland and always have a great time. Love is always in the air with a Shari Low book, not to mention the mini LOL moments and this is definitely one I recommend.#NetGalley,#BoldwoodBooks, #ShariLow, #OneMidnightWithYou,

I loved this book! Ailish is getting divorced from her cheating husband. Her daughter is questioning her own relationship with a boyfriend that she thought was nothing like her father. Ailish's best friend Gwynn is fighting cancer. It is the eve of Hogmanay (New Year's). All these people gather at Gino's restaurant. They have been coming here for years. However, this will be the last night as Dario, Gino's eldest son and owner of the restaurant, has to make a decision to sell the beloved family restaurant.

I don't even know where to begin! I loved all the characters. They were very realistic, charming, a bit sad, stressed! The story is told in a 24 hour period, in two hour increments from the multiple POV's of the main characters. I was so engrossed in each story, and loved how the author unrolled the backstory of each of them. I felt attached and invested in what would happen for each character. There is a bit of romance, healing, heartbreak, and uncertainty- and I found myself laughing at points, then crying, then sighing!

I absolutely loved that it ended in a way that the characters were uncertain of their future, but there was hope! Hope in the connections made at this restaurant over the years, hope in new relationships and journeys.

I have never read this author before, but am now downloading anything available! Do yourself a favor- if you need a read that will pull on all your heartstrings, and the characters come alive- get this book!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review!

One Midnight With You is another moving, compelling and gripping book by Shari Low. I love how she used 24 hours to change her characters’ lives in so many ways. One of Shari Low's strengths as an author is creating characters that readers care about. She draws me into their lives, their relationships, their heartbreak, their triumphs, their dreams and their connections with others.

Ailish is still reeling from her marriage ending after her husband's affair. Her daughter, Emmy is questioning her boyfriend's behaviors, Minnie has a gift to deliver, and Dario is out of options. I was fully invested in their stories and would what take place in their lives in One Midnight With You.

As I mentioned, this book was moving and thought provoking. I like to think about what I would do in the character's situations and how I would handle things. I thought Shari Low did a great job having her characters deal with various issues. I thought all the issues were relevant and handled with care. I thought this book had a nice balance of humor, love, sadness, and hope.

Shari Low is a 'must read' author for me. I enjoy her writing, her engaging storylines, the characters and the relationships she creates. I find her books to be heartwarming and captivating.

Shari’s “One” series has quickly captured my heart and I jump at the chance to read them every time I see there’s a new one available and this was no exception. This one takes place over the course of one Hogmanay which is the Scottish version of New Years Eve and is told from the POV of four characters that seem to be separate but we soon see how they are interconnected and how their lives will be forever changed.
Ailish had major life events take place on Hogmanays of the past and now thirty years later she’s even getting divorced on the same day so she has no intention of celebrating this year but her two best friends have other plans for her and take her out to Gino’s Trattoria, the setting for celebration for Ailish and her family for decades to ring in the new year.
We also meet Emmy, her daughter, who is in love, but is convinced, largely because she’s seen what’s happened in her parents marriage, that her boyfriend is cheating so she is trying to find the proof. And there’s Minnie, the matriarch of the family, who unexpectedly turns up at the Hogmanay with a plan for them all. And Dario, Gino’s son, and current manager of the restaurant, which is failing and leaving him faced with a tough decision.
The chapters rotate through the characters in two hour segments and we get to see their lives unfold as they come together, come apart and reach life altering decisions.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

This emotional tale set in Glasgow on New Year's Eve explores family, friendships, and legacy. Aliish, Gwen and Rhonda are life-long friends whose friendship has weathered the ups and downs of their lives. All different personalities, they are always there for each other. Gino and his family run a restaurant that has spanned the generations, but this is its last New Year's Eve celebration, and there is family discord. The multiple-viewpoint story captures the highs and lows of New Year's Eve and culminates in an emotional and life-changing party at the restaurant. I like the family and friendship dynamics, the connections and the misunderstandings the author creates and develops through the characters and the heartwarming and uplifting conclusion.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

With each book I read by this fabulous author, I discover a new favourite, and One Midnight With You was just the same. It left me feeling elated. The format was familiar, but the characters were new, and I loved each of them. In particular, I was fully invested in Ailish’s story and the characters around her.
Having been deceived and betrayed by her husband, Ailish has put her life on hold. The familiar activities of her married life have been abandoned as she withdrew from all but her close circle of family, friends, and work. Her reaction was understandable, and my heart went out to her. Emma's daughter and former mother-in-law, Minnie, also deal with their worries. Emma is convinced that her boyfriend is cheating on her, while Minnie reflects on a lifetime of friendship with the owner of a local restaurant. We also meet Dario, who is desperate to keep the family business running despite its apparently bleak future.
Shari Low weaves her own unique brand of magic as she gently pulls together the loose threads connecting her characters. The format is familiar, with each set of characters enjoying alternating chapters that had me hungrily turning the pages to discover what happened next.
I cannot single out a favourite character, as this is a definite ensemble story, and each one contributed unique elements to the book. There is a warmth that wove its way through the storyline, lent itself to the character development, and created a relatable tale that I loved. It may not come as a surprise to learn that this is another favourite book from a fabulous author.

Ailish Ryan has been in hiding since her husband’s affair with his secretary ended their marriage. Her daughter, Emmy, is not quite sure whether her boyfriend Cormac, is any different from her cheating father. Emmy decides that she needs to find out, and does her own detective work. Meanwhile, her grandmother, Minnie Ryan is on a mission to deliver a gift to a friend. However, she is not sure whether all the obstacles in the way, will prevent her from achieving her goal. Dario Moretti has spent his whole life working in the family restaurant, Gino’s, but now it’s in trouble and he’s all out of options. He is uncertain whether his actions will end up hurting all those that he loves.
Reminiscent of the movie New Year’s Eve, Shari Low’s story displays the lives of these people and how their story unfolds in the lead up to New Year’s eve. The characters were extremely likeable and I enjoyed seeing the connections between them, with the central focus at the restaurant Gino’s. I found their stories realistic yet filled with hope.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore the concept of this amazing book, sharing the happenings of all the characters from their point of view over 24hours.
Each character has a chapter giving an update as to what is going on in their life, plus the occasional flashback to fill us in with their backstories.
I really loved all the characters and was constantly wondering what was going to happen next!
Lots of emotional moments kept me turning the pages, and I managed to read this epic book within 24hours because of it!
The end of a year is always an emotional moment but seeing what the characters had going on in their lives it was really ramped up another level!
I won’t go into details as this book needs to be read with no hints of the twists that occur, just to say that you are drawn into their stories straight away, and you will continue reading until the bells have rung and you are emotionally spent!
A cracker of a story that was brilliantly written.

This 24-hour story follows Ailish, Emmy, Minnie, and Dario as they go about their lives, and look to make some big changes, on New Year’s Eve. The four of them have their own share of problems. Ailish is dealing with a separation, Emmy is worried that her boyfriend is hiding something, Minnie is trying to deliver a gift, and Dario may be facing the decision to close his family’s restaurant. Will their year end in hope or heartbreak?

This is the very definition of a cozy winter read. Low is able to portray people of vastly different ages and personalities with ease. While I found some characters more relatable than others, I thought they were all equally well-rounded and authentic. The writing really helps set the tone of the story, and the book maintains a down to earth, charming atmosphere from start to finish. The problems faced by the characters were realistic without being too dark, though cancer and (off-page) death of family members do make appearances in this book.

If you are looking to read this as an ebook, I would caution that there are a lot of characters with overlapping and complicated relationships, and while this is a useful list of characters in the front of the book, I think this would be more useful in print format. That said, as we get to know the characters throughout the book and they interact more with each other, it does become easier to keep everyone straight. And their stories are weaved together in such a heartwarming and skillful way that it is definitely worth getting to know all of the characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4/5 A warm and light winter read.