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The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi is one of those contemporary novels that will leave you with a book hangover. It has the perfect mix of romance and excitement. The use of flashbacks, a relatable plot and musical elements make this book so extraordinary.
Title: The Night We Said Yes
Author: Lauren Gibaldi
Also by this author: This Tiny Perfect World
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 16, 2015
Rating: 
A fun, romantic read, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti!
Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life.
But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.
And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.
Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future.
In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi
❀ Flashing Back Technnique
It is really interesting how The Night We Said Yes is set in both the past and the present. The story begins “Now” and includes flashbacks to “Then”, before one of the characters, Matt, moved away. Gibaldi makes use of this flashing back technique beautifully by revealing so much about how the characters have changed over time. Readers can become engaged and feel as if they have know them forever.
❀ Relatable Plot
Contemporary realistic fiction at its finest, the plot of The Night We Said Yes is very relatable and relevant. In this book, not everything goes as planned. The friends fight, the couples fight, and there are lots of fireworks. Readers will no doubt find themselves identifying with at least one of the characters in Gibaldi’s novel. The situations are ones that most of us can relate to and they are depicted so wonderfully that it is hard not keep emotions in check while reading.
❀ Musical Theme
One of my favourite elements of this book is how Lauren Gibaldi incorporates music to help define the personalities of the characters. Two of the main characters, Jake and Matt, are members of a band. In The Night We Said Yes, the instrument that each band member plays is a reflection of his/her personality. For example, Jake is the lead singer and just happens to be egotistical and demanding of attention. Giving us a window into the persona of these characters in a musical way is such a cool concept.
❀ Perfect for Contemporary Fans
The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi is perfect for fans of the contemporary genre. It is a sweet book that is quick and entertaining to read. After reading this book, you will want to try a night of saying yes of your own!
Playlist: The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi
About Lauren Gibaldi
Public librarian and author of THE NIGHT WE SAID YES, MATT'S STORY (a Night We Said Yes novella), AUTOFOCUS, and THIS TINY PERFECT WORLD, all with HarperTeen / HarperCollins. Fan of dinosaurs and cheesy jokes. And you.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This book sounds really interesting and definitely fun! I may have to pick this up next week and pack it for my July summer vacation! Also, I loved the way you added in your dream cast and a playlist. Great touch, although I couldn’t resist a listen and now Wannabe is stuck in my head! LOL. Thanks for the recommendation! Zigazigahhhhhhhhhh.
I definitely had to include Wannabe for that very reason! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
This book just sounds so freaking cute! I love how the author chose musical instruments to display each characters personality. I’m in a mood for a light summery read, and this book is SCREAMING for me to pick it up! Nice review girl, I’m really looking forward to this one 🙂
I want to read this book! OMG <3
Reading your review just made me want this book in my hands EVEN MORE! The playlist sounds amazing-literally includes some of my favourite songs, and the fact that Dylan O’Brien and Nat Wolff are in your dream cast just makes me swoon *__* I loved this review!
Ayesha xx
This is one book I can’t wait to read! Been hearing nothing but good feedback about this one!