It only takes one night to fall in love…

Within days of wishing she could change her life, Fran Cooper is acting assistant to a celebrity, on a yacht in the Mediterranean, and en route to a tiny Italian island and the glittering Crystal Ball, along with the world’s rich and famous.

When she – quite literally – bumps into a handsome American called Evan, a man able to keep his cool in the face of chaos, the magic really begins.

Evan makes her a promise: no last names, no life stories, just one unforgettable night. Yet Evan belongs at the Crystal Ball and Fran is a gatecrasher. They may be soulmates, but their homes are an ocean apart, and their lives a world apart. They’ll never meet again – unless, on a night like this, everything can change forever…

On a Night Like This is my first book by Lindsey Kelk, yet she’s been on my radar for years now! I’ve been intrigued by her Heart series for quite some time, and some of her other titles look really cute as well. When the opportunity arose for me to review On a Night Like This, which I quickly learned is a modern-day Cinderella retelling, I jumped at the chance and came away with a new favorite! On a Night Like This is magical and sweet, funny in places, filled with friendship and romance, and center around a woman who chooses to believe in magic. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Fran Cooper is such a relatable character. I immediately empathized with her and, to some extent, understood what she was going through. She’s a bit self-deprecating and she’s stuck in a life she doesn’t really want to be living. She sacrificed her dreams and her career to move where her fiancé, Stew, wanted to live and has been out of work for a long time because of it. The fact that it wasn’t even worth it because Stew majorly sucks doesn’t make it any better, but she’s with him because she doesn’t know who she is without him. Christmas is coming, and Fran is willing to take nearly any job, even a temporary one, so she calls up her employment agency contact to see if they have anything available since they last spoke. Things move quickly, and before she knows it she’s signed an NDA and is swept off to London for an interview and an immediate job offer. A quick hop, skip, and a jump later and she’s aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean as the assistant to a pop star named Juliette. She can’t believe the crazy changes that have happened in her life. Before, she was living with her cheating, deadbeat fiancé and now she’s wearing designer clothes, and traveling in style to the Crystal Ball, which is the event of the year.

2. This yacht sounds pretty amazing, and I love it when books include travel. Especially if the journey is by water. Fran’s room sound stunning, the outdoor decks are heated so you don’t even need a coat outside in November, and the food sounds pretty delicious. It’s a dream!

3. Juliette appears to be your typical spoiled celebrity who has the world handed to her and it’s still not enough, but she’s not. She and Fran spend a night drinking and having fun on the yacht, and you see a very vulnerable side of Juliette. Fran has always prided herself on remaining professional, but she lets that slip and I enjoyed the friendship that blooms from this. I really liked Juliette. She’s misunderstood, lonely, and so very human. She also has this zest for life and very playful personality. She wiggled her way into my heart, even though I did want to smack her a couple times.

4. For reasons I won’t spoil, Fran finds herself stranded on Panarea (the Italian island where the Crystal Ball takes place) alone without her personal phone, identification, or even a change of clothes. She finds an ally in a woman named Rachel, who helps her choose a designer gown, get ready, and sneak into the Crystal Ball for a once in a lifetime opportunity. This ball is opulent and mysterious and extravagant. It takes up the bottom two floors and outdoor space of the exclusive resort there. It has a ballroom, stage, jewelry boutique, cinema, outdoor carnival, live entertainment, and a charity auction among other things. I loved reading the descriptions of the ball itself, but also the clothes the guests were wearing, the outdoor gardens, and the other scenery around Panarea.

5. While at the ball Fran stumbles across Evan for the second time (their first meeting earlier on was hilarious). He’s a total sexy dreamboat, with a successful livelihood and the sweetest, most caring personality. He’s straight out a fairytale! Their attraction is more than magnetic, but since Fran is engaged they decide to share no personal information with each other and just hang out together as friends. This is not even close to Evan’s first ball, so he shows her around and tries to make sure she has the most fun possible. I had so much fun reading about everything they did!

6. All the supporting characters are amazing! I mentioned Rachel already, but Fran’s best friend, Jess, is wonderful too. She’s very supportive and subtly nudges Fran to do what’s best for herself. There’s also Sarah, the person who hired Fran as Juliette’s assistant. I really liked her a lot, even though she’s a bit firm and cold sometimes.

7. I know cheating stories are often dealbreakers for readers, so I think it’s important that I mention this. I am not kidding when I say that Evan and Fran hang out together as friends. There is no infidelity.

8. Fran’s personal journey of changing her life and crafting the life she wants is center stage, whereas the romantic elements are more understated. And I loved it. As Fran talks to Juliette, Evan, Jess, and even Rachel about her life they all, in separate conversations, say things that make her realize she wants more. They help her realize she deserves more. The life she always thought she would live begins to fall apart at the seams. This journey to happiness filled me with hope and optimism for my own future.

9. The romance that is there is intoxicating. Every Cinderella story needs a happily ever after, and this one gets a beautiful one that had me swooning.

I wholeheartedly recommend On a Night Like This. It was everything I needed from a book. It felt like a warm, magical hig and it made me smile so many times. I will definitely not be waiting any longer before diving into Lindsey Kelk’s other books!