4 stars – The Very First Night by Nicole Ryan is my first by this author. It’s a good story, one we all might like to experience. It would be good to return to a point in our history and relive our life and see others for what they really are – both good and bad. We learn about Kat and Elijah’s history and watch Tanner on the sidelines. It was an easy-to-read story, interesting and you really look forward to what happens next. The only real drawback is when Kat is reliving her life, we don’t see to many flashes or skips in her memory to apply that she knows what does/could happen to her. It seems like she forgets that she is having a do-over and appears to be living it for the first time.

Overall, though, it was a good story! One I would read again and recommend to others.

A big thank you to NetGalley, NRC Publishing and Nicole Ryan for allowing me to read an ARC.

I really enjoyed this cute steamy rom com. The main character kat goes back in time to fall in love with her college ex all over agian only to switch things up and go her own way I loved this kat shows you can have anexity and go through hard times and bouts of depression but still be strong and kick ass

The Very First Night is going to get a mixed review from me. I was drawn in by the swiftie coded title and I was interested in going back in time. However, this very quickly fell short for me... Elijah is totally unlikeable and appears to have no chemistry at all with our main protagonist Kat. Apart from knowing she was in love with him in the past I don't see where the attraction was.

Most annoying though Kat doesn't appear to do anything to try and change the future. The premise of going back in time was quickly forgotten in my opinion... if what happened at the beach house affected Kat so badly why did she let it happen again?

Saying all that, if you forget the time traveling nonsense the storyline with Tanner is really sweet and I enjoyed the character development in Kat. Both these things saved the book for me and I found it a light, enjoyable read that I was able to finish fairly quickly.

I love this book. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end.

I feel awful doing this but I had stop reading. I wasn’t drawn into the book like I thought I would be. I thought the FMC was snotty and then I truly wasn’t liking how she was being treated by Elijah and her being ok with it. If she was more likable, maybe I could continue on to fight for her, but I couldn’t. I tried this book for a week and only made it 30% in when I can finish books in 2-3 days. I was in an emotionally abusive marriage before so maybe I am seeing some of my ex husband in Elijah.

I do not plan on sharing this title on instagram as it wouldn’t be fair with the fact that I could not finish the book. Maybe I will try to go back to it in a few weeks to try again, but until then I have to move on.

This read is a captivating journey through time and love. “The Very First Night" by Nicole Ryan is a delightful blend of romance, second chances, and introspection. With Swiftie-coded prose, Ryan weaves a tale that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves readers pondering the choices that shape our lives.

Kat Marritt wakes up five years in the past, back in her college dorm room on the exact day she met the one who got away. Armed with the ultimate second chance, she grapples with the opportunity to rewrite her history. Will she mend things with her lost love, or will the invisible threads of fate lead her elsewhere?

Ryan masterfully delves into themes of self-worth, relationships, and family dynamics. Kat's journey forces her to confront the rose-tinted glasses through which she viewed her past. As readers, we witness her growth, her struggles, and her vulnerability. The exploration of parental abandonment adds layers of complexity, making this more than just a love story, it's a reflection on life's twists and turns.

Kat is a relatable protagonist. Her flaws and insecurities make her endearing, and her determination to change her fate keeps us rooting for her. The mysterious "one that got away" remains a compelling enigma, drawing us into the web of emotions. Ryan's secondary characters, friends, roommates, and mentors, add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Ryan's prose flows effortlessly. She balances introspection with dialogue, allowing readers to connect with the characters. The pacing keeps us engaged, urging us to turn the pages as Kat grapples with her newfound power to alter her past.

"The Very First Night" is a poignant reminder that sometimes the path we didn't choose leads to unexpected beauty. Ryan's exploration of love, regret, and resilience resonates long after the final page. It's a book that lingers, inviting readers to reflect on their own pivotal moments.

Ryan has crafted a gem. It’s a story that embraces vulnerability, celebrates second chances, and reminds us that love is multifaceted. If you're seeking a novel that tugs at your heart and leaves you contemplating life's twists, "The Very First Night" is an absolute must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and NRC Publishing for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nicole Ryan did such an amazing job capturing how it may take us a while to realize that someone might not be for us . I loved this book it was so beautiful written and it had me hooked right from the beginning!

I love this book! I really enjoyed the story and the characters. The plot was well written and interesting, and I related to the characters. The characters were realistic and interesting, and really felt like people you want to know.

The cover kind of makes it look like a YA book, but don't be fooled. This is a beautiful story about self-discovery and romance. I loved getting to know the FMC and her history as we dove back in time. Also, as a Swiftie, I loved the references to different people and scenarios and songs throughout the book. Highly swiftie coded!

One of the best romance books I've read in 2024! I was intrigued by thr description and so requested to receive an ARC. The story centres around an unhappy Kat, attending a wedding of a best friend who she isn't that close too now. Throw in the ex, the one who sticks in your mind and who you can't quite get over but is now engaged; a crazy wish to go back in time and there we have our story. What made this so much more than a typical romance book is the characters self development and journey. At times, I did shed a little tear as so many readers can relate to the feelings of abandonment, lack of self worth, seeking love and validation. I finished this book in one day. Could not put it down! Highly recommend

Awww.... that was such a cute journey! I've been through a lot of emotions but mostly love for the characters and their stories. I loved the writing that was smooth and impactful. The narrative is quite slow but we learn more about the character's history page after page so it's very interesting. The atmosphere is quite light even though there are some subjects that could be triggering...

The Very First Night
by Nicole Ryan
4⭐️

friends to lovers ?
time travel
HE falls first
no third act breakup!
taylor swift references

This was such a sweet romance with a little time traveling twist. The time traveling bit was a little confusing only in the way that there’s no real explanation for it until later on. In most time traveling scenarios, the character usually goes back in time for a day or two and then goes back to the ‘present’ but here Kat travels back once and that becomes her new present. I loved Kat’s journey of self-growth and maturity. She gets the rare opportunity to re-write her past in the best way possible. Tanner was the greenest green flag ever! I am not a fan of friends to lovers but this is the exception! No notes!! 🗒️ I really enjoying the writing, it perfectly captured the feelings of being back in college and figuring it all out for the first time.

SO many fun Taylor Swift references! I suspect Elijah may be inspired by Matty Healy. You don’t have to be a Swiftie to enjoy this book but it’s definitely a nice bonus for those of us who are!! Aside from a few song names, non-swifties shouldn’t be overwhelmed or turned off by it.

TS songs I thought of while reading: down bad, loml, tsmwel, rwylm, the 1, enchanted

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and Nicole Ryan for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

*arc review will be posted on IG on 6/20/24*
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6570584987

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Review to come…

I really love the cover ❤️
The description is very intriguing.
This is a new author to me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

I was given the opportunity to read this,as an ARC and I'm so glad I did.

It's a spicy, give you all the feels book whilst being a sweet love triangle story between three people.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you to Net Galley and Nicole Ryan!

I can't get the link from Goodreads but have also reviewed on there!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rating)
🩷🩷 (fluff)
🌶️🌶️ (spice)
Honestly for the most part I really enjoyed TVFN! The first half had me completely infatuated and wanting to read more! Then I got to about 70% and tooooo much started happening way too late.
I have been in Kat’s exact position, wanting to go back and change the way that ONE relationship happened. I totally relate to her on the whole aspect of the book, my family is even a little deranged too 😂 so I totally feel her. I wish she would have become a little more confident throughout the book, or had a litttttle more personal growth considering the therapy.
The SPICE though…… Nicole Ryan you definitely know how to write a good spicy scene 😂 they weren’t cringey at all and the build up beforehand was gold.
I also LOVED the way Kat’s friends (and Tanner 🥺) protected her. I liked that Tanner was such a good friend before anything started *happening* between them & he was so respectful of Kat!!

Admittedly, I was confused about the going back in time, I feel it wasn’t mentioned often enough… I REALLY wish we had gotten more than one chapter on her sibling too. The last 30% felt like all of these big huge events somehow had to be tied in and we got soooo much build up but only one chapter on each event, it felt very rushed.
I did enjoy the ending though, I thought it was so cute 🥺 Overall I would recommend this book if you’re into cutesy romance with a hint of spice & drama!!!

The premise.of.this book was so cute. I love the idea of magical realism and the time travel element. Tanner is such a wonderful book boyfriend and MMC. My biggest issue with this book comes down to the time travel element and how it is rarely referenced throughout the entire book. She goes back in time 5 years and is redoing her senior year and.never tries to get back to her normal life. Even after she finds out Tanner also time traveled, they never discuss trying to get back. They just live out those 5 years in a different timeline! I was so distressed by this throughout the book. I kept trying to figure out if I made up the time travel part because now we are just doing college? It was very confusing and made it hard to enjoy the book.

I’ve loved every single minute of this story!!! This Swiftie coded friends to lovers romance was a delightful read!
Inspired by “The very first night” Kat wishes that she could go back in time, to the very first night she met her ex-boyfriend Elijah so that she could prevent them from breaking up.
This story shows that sometimes we’re nostalgic about someone or something that was actually not so good for us. By romanticising it we’re actually ignoring some pretty big red flags. (In Kat’s case they were huge)
And wouldn’t you know it, when you stand up for yourself and realise your worth, you actually leave toxic people behind. In Kat’s case she is finally able to see that the relationship she was trying so hard to maintain, was actually weighing her down and preventing her from being surrounded by genuine and authentic love and friendship.
It was heartwarming to read this story, I feel like many of us can relate to Kat. If only we could also find our very own Tanner that’d be great lol.
I highly recommend.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I currently am on a romance kick and this checks all the boxes. Second chance long? Check. Witty banter? Check. Spice? Check. This is absolutely a book that I would pick up off the shelf at Barnes and Noble and would highly recommend to my friends. Once this book is available for purchase, I likely will be purchasing a book so that I can reread it and so that I can loan it out to my friends. I do also think that this book checks a lot of the same boxes that would make it a very popular BookTok book.

That all said the only “critiques” that I have is that there is a mild pacing “issue” (for lack of a better word). I know that this book took place over 2 years time but sometimes it felt longer because of the plot. I still enjoyed the plot, the characters were well flushed out, it just got slow in parts, though that did not deter me from finishing the book.

***Spoilers ahead****

The other critique I have is that the idea of going back in time an interesting idea, it felt that that was forgot and then sporadically brought up at inconsistent times. At the very beginning, there was a time when Kat was talking with Elijah and he brings up the fact that his dad is a politician. Kat seems completely surprised by this fact, even though her future self should be well aware of what Elijah’s father does. Over all, it didn’t bother me but it may bother people who are way more critical than what I am.

The Very First Night follows Kat, a professional photographer who has spent the last 5 years in a tumultuous on-again/off-again relationship with her college love, Elijah. On the evening of her best friend’s wedding, Kat sees Elijah for the first time in years with his new fiancée, leaving her feeling defeated and desperate to escape. An encounter with a shooting star has her wishing to go back in time to the moment she and Elijah first met. When that wish comes true, and she wakes up in her college dorm room as a fresh-faced twenty year old, Kat seizes the opportunity to re-fall in love with Elijah. But is Elijah truly the one she wants? Or does fate have other plans?



I really enjoyed this book! I loved the magical realism/time travel aspects, which were subtle but unique. Nicole did such a beautiful job describing the scenery throughout the book! I have never been to Ohio (or Kent State University) but it felt like I was there. I also really loved Kat’s scenes/conversations with her therapist, Janet. I could feel Kat’s vulnerability leap off the page, and I love that mental health was at the forefront of her character growth.



I will say, this book is slower paced, but for me, I actually appreciated it. And I would have loved more of Kat’s story/perspective from before the time jump. But when that twist came, I gasped! I did not see it coming at all. Overall, the book was swoony, spicy, and introspective (in a very good way).



This was my very first book from Nicole Ryan, but will definitely not be my last. Don’t forget to preorder or request from your library!



Thank you to Netgalley and NRC Publishing for the arc!