The time it was about The Night We Said Yes

As you probably know by now, I’m quite picky about my contemporary books.  I downloaded The Night We Said Yes on a whim and absolutely LOVED it.  When it came to the blog tour, I couldn’t submit my info fast enough.

Before we get to Lauren’s interview, let’s check out the book, shall we?

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.

Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for The Night We Said Yes come from?

I love the idea that one night can change everything, so I started with that and kept going. I wanted to write about a fun night and show how friendships and relationships can evolve, even in such a small amount of time. And then, you know, I repeated the whole thing and wrote about a second night.

2. Why do you love Ella and Matt and why should we root for them?

Ella and Matt have both been sidekicks throughout their lives–Ella to her best friend Meg, and Matt to his older brother, Chris. I wanted to give these two characters, who’d be considered sidekicks in other books/movies, a story of their own. Ella’s had it hard with guys. Matt’s had it hard in general. And though they don’t necessarily need each other, they want each other and I think that’s just as important.

3. You wrote the story in “then” and “now”. When drafting, did you write all of one time frame or alternate?

For the most part, I alternated. Sometimes, I’d get really caught up on a plot and just keep going in one time period, and then go back to fill in the other. (OR sometimes I wouldn’t know where one storyline was going, so I’d keep on the other one until I knew what to do.)

4. Without spoilers, were there any scenes that had to be cut that you wish could have stayed?

Not really! Though the book was heavily edited and stuff was added and changed, nothing huge was cut. I will say this–Barker originally went by his first name, and I still call him that. (It’s Jeremy, by the way.)

5. Describe The Night We Said Yes in 5 words.

One night can change everything.

Speed {ish} round:

1. You get the call/email/letter that says you’re being published for the first time. Describe the next 5 minutes.

I was at work when my agent called, so I ran outside and kind of half cried/half screamed. Then we went over the details. Then I called my husband. Then I tried to work the rest of the night without going crazy (because you can’t tell people immediately).

2. What three things would you take to a desert island?

My husband, my daughter, and a boat to get off the deserted island.

3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life. What is it?

Probably The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I’ve read it about 10 times, so what’s a few more?

4. What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

It is a long, long, long process. (TNWSY was bought in 2013!)

5. You wake up and discover you are Bella in Twilight. You know how it plays out. What do you do differently? {Huge thanks to Bookish Broads for letting me use this question!}

I tell my mom I want to move back to Arizona immediately. I believe in true love, and I know I’d be devastated over losing Edward, but honestly I like being human and I’m sure I’ll find someone else who’s a bit less deadly.

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I’m an author of young adult novels and public librarian. I’ve been, among other things, a magazine editor, high school English teacher, bookseller, and circus aerialist (seriously). I have a BA in Literature and Master’s in Library and Information Studies, both from Florida State University. I currently live in Orlando, Florida with my husband, daughter, and ever-expanding collection of books. (I mean, it comes with the professions, right?)

I love dinosaurs, pasta, musicals, and cheesy jokes.

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Huge thanks to the ladies at FFBC for the invite and to Lauren for taking the time! Make sure you’re checking out Lauren’s website, following her on Twitter, liking her Facebook page, and adding all of her books to your Goodreads TBR shelf.

Definitely check out the rest of the blog tour for all sorts of goodies.

Can’t wait to get your greedy hands on a copy of this awesome book? Check out the giveaway! US only.

**Good Luck!!**

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