It’s a real pleasure today to share my publication day review of the new book from Laura Wilkinson, That Night in New York. Published today by Serendipity, Legend Press’ new romance imprint, it’s now available both in paperback and for kindle. My thanks to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy.
Over the years, I’ve found Laura’s writing an absolute delight – but I was rather horrified when I realised that the last one I read and reviewed, Skin Deep, was published in 2017. And that was a very different book from this one – a challenging read but quite wonderfully written, with a multiplicity of themes and particularly complex (but totally fascinating) relationships. You’ll find my review of that one here – and you’ll also find reviews of a couple of her earlier books, equally enjoyed, Redemption Song (review here, together with an interview) and The Family Line (no longer in print, but you’ll find my review here). Laura, I know, has always described her work as “diverse”, but added that what all her books have in common are “emotional, compelling stories, fascinating characters, and ideas that make you think”. I did lose track of Laura’s life and career a little, although I know she was writing historical fiction as Laura Burrows and romance as Cheri Davies – but this time, it’s under her own name, and I was very much looking forward to trying her writing once more.
In a crazy Manhattan blackout, two lonely strangers connect – but can a passion forged in darkness survive the cold light of day?
Steph, an advice columnist, is stuck in a stagnant life, while lonely architect Harry dreams of rediscovering his passion. Despite a chance encounter in New York sparking a magical connection between them, fear and past wounds keep them apart. But when Steph’s daughter, Lola, enters the picture, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways. As Steph fights to save her community’s beloved park and confronts her past, she must choose between safety and taking a leap of faith.
That Night in New York is a heart-warming tale of love, family, and the courage to embrace new beginnings.
Steph hadn’t expected to be travelling to her New York break on her own – with the upcoming fight to save the park her father so loved, the timing really wasn’t what she’d wanted, and hearing about best friend Toni’s food poisoning makes her want to cancel – but everything’s been organised on the home front and, as her friends tell her forcibly, she really needs that break.
A nervous flyer, she meets architect Harry on the plane – and shares his taxi on arrival, something she has reason to be grateful for when they arrive in Manhattan to find it undergoing a major power outage. So while they wait for normal life to be restored, he shows her – by torchlight – the city he knows so well. It proves to be a lovely adventure – they share confidences in the dark, reflect on their lives, feel a real spark between them. But when dawn breaks, the world begins to return to normal – and they part, with regrets on both sides, as he leaves her with his business card.
Back home, Steph resumes her life – working as an agony aunt on a local paper, caring for teenage daughter Lola, spending time with friends, and then there’s that battle to save the park that she needs to pick up again. Lola is a wonderful character, feisty and independent – she also has cerebral palsy, something she doesn’t allow to hold her back, but it certainly hampers her efforts when trying to find work experience. And that makes Steph think of Harry again – the business card went into the bin, but she manages to tracks him down, and he offers Lola the job she needs for the summer. And when they meet again, that spark is still there – until she finds out more about the plans for developing the park, and that Harry seems to be firmly on the opposite side of the fence.
And I really mustn’t tell any more of the story, but I must say I very much enjoyed it – the nicely complex characters, the strong friendships, the sense of community, the little victories when things looked increasingly hopeless, the impossible romance with all its joy and heartache. I particularly loved the relationship between Steph and Lola – and learned a fair bit about the realities of living with cerebral palsy. And the agony aunt work plays its part in the story too – samples of the Q&A ending the chapters, common sense advice that has a link with the characters’ recent experiences.
There’s such a lot of love in this book – and, as we all know, that can mean difficulties at times too. And then there are choices – and the bravery needed to take a chance at happiness. The individuals at the story’s centre really won my heart – and I enjoyed every moment of the beautifully told story. A book I’d most certainly recommend to others – I loved it.
About the author
Laura is a feminist and lover of ginger hair. A resident of a shabby quarter of Brighton, she likes to write romantic stories which provide food for thought. Her novels are Crossing the Line, Skin Deep, Redemption Song and The Family Line. Crossing the Line was a Welsh Books Council book of the month and Skin Deep was longlisted for Not the Booker Prize.
Alongside writing, she tutors on the Creative Writing MA at West Dean, for the CWP in Brighton and works as an editor and book coach. She has a passion for fashion and anything which glitters. In another life, she might have been a magpie.
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