Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

This book introduces us to Kat, who is a wedding photographer who is attending the wedding of her best friends from college. While at the wedding, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Elijah, who is now engaged to another woman. Kat wishes that she could go back in time and have a second chance at their relationship, and is transported back in time to 5 years earlier, when she and Elijah met in college. I enjoyed the magical realism in this book. However, I think that some aspects of the time travel were handled a bit unrealistically. Other time loop/time travel books I've read lean heavily into the protagonist experiencing deja vu, and perhaps Nicole Ryan was trying to avoid that. But for a lot of the scenes set in Kat's past, it felt like she was almost surprised by what was happening, when she shouldn't have been at all. It was a fun and romantic read but I was expecting a bit more!

This was such a cute book!! I loved reading about the college experiences and the toxic relationships that come with it.

It was really well written and I loved the style of writing! Was a very enjoyable romance book.

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...

Thank you NetGalley and Nicole Ryan for the ARC of “The Very First Night”!! I’ve always imagined what it’d be like to go back and do something over and this book gave me that feeling! It was written beautifully!! The universe works in mysterious ways and this felt like the perfect example

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!