One Night

Thompson Lake #1

by Deanna Cabinian

Thompson may be only seventeen but he knows he’s just checked into Heartbreak Hotel for good, now that his girlfriend, Caroline, has put an end to their burning love. Since then he’s been sleepwalking through his summer job at Super Kmart while desperately dreaming of ways to win her back. He even drops by the Tiki House on Elvis Presley Night hoping that she, a diehard fan of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” will be there as well. That’s when he meets Johnny Lee Young—real estate agent by day, Hawaii’s Favorite Elvis Impersonator by night—and the lovesick teen’s world suddenly takes a wild and unexpected turn.

As luck would have it, Johnny needs a temporary assistant to help with equipment and social media and Thompson eagerly accepts the offer, hoping it will distract him from his painful and lingering romantic issues. But like Thompson, Johnny is nursing a secret heartbreak and pining for his own lost love. So the new roadie starts making plans—with a little help from his friends Ronnie and Greta—to accompany the counterfeit King on an odyssey of a lifetime that will take them far from their island paradise home in search of true love.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2016

About the author

Deanna Cabinian is the author of One Night and One Love. When she isn’t working or writing she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their Havanese dog, Cuba.

To stay updated on her new novels and giveaways, sign up for her email list - https://deannacabinian.com/signup/

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I might be sorta in love with teenage fictional character.

Thompson has had his heart broken. It happened on The Worst Valentine's Day In History(TM), Caroline was his first love, he knew they were meant to be together forever. Except she seemed to want to sleep with everyone else too.
He knows she still loves him though.


Caroline had an unrivaled obsession with Elvis and I had in retrospect, an unhealthy obsession with her.

In between his job at Super K-Mart and hanging out with his gansta wanna-be friend, Thompson mopes around listening to Elvis and all the heartbreak songs he can download.


He goes one afternoon to the Tiki House to see Elvis impersonators in the hopes of 'bumping into' his dream girl. What he does is hear the most awesome Elvis impersonator ever sing "Hurt"..and he automatically knows that this guy knows real woman hurting pain.
He strikes a friendship up with Johnny, the thirty-something Catholic Italian Elvis.


Thompson finds out that Johnny's heart has indeed been broken by the girl that got away, so Thompson and some of his friends devise a plan to re-unite Johnny with his lost love.

I LOVED this. Everything about this book is just eat up with a spoon stuff. The only problem I had with it (It would have gotten all the stars otherwise) is that I found Johnny's character a bit stiff. That stood out because all the other characters in the book came vividly into my mind. But so what? It's still worth reading a million times. AND it does not fall into every young adult trope known to man. No love-triangles, no angsty want me to smack them characters. Hells yeah.

It's that coming of age thing when the characters grow before your eyes and you realize that sometimes you just have to do that Grand Gesture.


AND it's set in Hawaii.

4.5 stars!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

WARNING: This one is gonna be a mess . . . .



I told y’all yesterday that Shelby is the reason behind all of my recent NetGalley requests (because my library addiction has become so hardcore that I am at a constant state of maxed-out checkouts and I have grounded myself from there). Normally she just uses simple catchphrases like “meth” to get my ears to perk up. This is the only time I can remember her TELLING me to go get a book without providing any info other than she knew I would love it. She was right.

Thompson is your average “scrawny AP class nerd who played NBA Live instead of real basketball.” The CW (not like the television channel – originally it stood for Caroline Wells, but after the Worst Valentine’s Day In History™ the C “stood for Cheating. The W stood for a word most guys would use to describe the girl who cheated on them.” ) was the first and only girl Thompson had “come to know in the Biblical sense” and therefore was the one he couldn’t get out of his head. Faced with the option of driving by the CW’s house for the eleventeeth time or crossing his fingers for a potential meet/cute, Thompson takes door #2 and goes to the local Tiki House on Elvis night (the CW’s favorite). Rather than seeing his former flame, Thompson instead discovers Johnny Lee Young . . . .



An Elvis impersonator so perfect the panties be nearly droppin’ right on the Tiki House floor. When Johnny Lee offers up his personal rendition of “Hurt” . . . .

(Sidenote: I wasn’t familiar with this song – which you can listen to HERE – so my brain kept replacing it with this instead . . . .



And then I couldn’t get the image of Johnny Lee as a Johnny Cash impersonator out of my head because I am an idiot and my brain hates me. /End Sidenote)

Thompson knows he and Johnny Lee are kindred spirits who have both experienced the pain of losing the love of their life. As Thompson settles in as Johnny Lee’s #1 fan an opportunity arises in the form of an assistant position for the summer. And as Thompson learns about the girl Johnny Lee let get away another opportunity arises – travel from Hawaii to the mainland and stop her wedding . . . .



You know what that means, right????? ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!



If you know me you know the road trip is my most favorite storyline of all. This one topped the charts because the destination was Chicago where the two fellas went to places like the Art Institute which made me think of . . . .



And ate the world’s best deep dish pizza – which I totally didn’t agree with because Lou Malnati’s (to me) doesn’t event compare to . . . .



And went to other touristy places like the Sears Tower where you can this . . . .



Which I would NEVER do because one time this happened . . . .



And now all I can think of when I see pictures of people doing it is . . . .



Eventually the duo does end up at the wedding. But more importantly Thompson realizes that . . .

“A life where you don’t live isn’t any kind of life.”

And finds his own happiness which made me oh so very . . . .



Do you just want a book that makes you feel happy? One that won’t change your life and that you might not even remember after some time passes, but makes you go from your usual this . . . .


(^^^Remember, I read this during "No Shave November.")

To this . . . . .



While reading???? If so, give One Night a shot. It might just make smiling your favorite.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

[Hristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.


One Night is a refreshing read. Mrs. Cabinian showcases an amazing style and a talent for creating characters. The story itself is entertaining and very sweet, so is Thompson as a character, and I feel like they're both balanced out by Johnny's seriousness. The pace of the novel was set in an interesting way too, at the beginning it's slower and just as you begin connecting with the characters it picks up, which weirdly works in this book.
I can't believe that this is Mrs. Cabinian's debut novel, considering how beautifully it's written. I recommend it.

[Kayla K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glimpse, it was the palm trees and the sunset on the cover that got me to request this book. I love me some stories that take place in warm places; including travelling, so it was no surprise to me that I really enjoyed One Night!

The story does start a bit slow, but by the end it really picks up, and I soared through the last maybe 60 pages. I know that this will be a story I remember for years to come!

To sum up, One Night centres around 17-year old Thompson (yes, that's his first name!), who is from Honolulu. His girlfriend Caroline had just broken up with him, so he is heartbroken, and keeps trying to think of ways to get back together. Since Caroline is a fan of Elvis Presley, Thompson shows up at a gig, in hopes of seeing her. Though he doesn't end up seeing her, he does meet Johnny, the Elvis impersonator leading the show. It turns out that he had just lost his love as well, so together, the two go on a voyage to find their true love and what it means.

Let's start with talking about the characters. I thought Thompson was quite sweet and innocent, and he definitely didn't deserve most of which he was going through. He also had a lot of determination, in the sense that he had a passion, and that passion was just to get a second chance with Caroline. Some people may not agree with this decision, but I beg to differ, as I believe that the aftermath of his breakup was quite hard for him, especially because he wasn't expecting it. In my opinion, if you're not expecting something, then it always hits you waaayyy harder, and you may find yourself in a position that's hard to get out of.

Next up is Johnny, and I really liked him as well. He was so nice and supportive to young, innocent Thompson, and since Johnny was quite a bit older and experienced, he was able to give him some great advice and coping mechanisms. I felt like Thompson and Johnny bonded very well (as friends), even despite their huge age difference. :)

The one thing that I think this book could improve on is the descriptions of the setting. Dude, it takes place in Honolulu. HAWAII!! And other than simply stating the place they were in, there was almost no mention of their background surroundings. Come on! So many readers including myself are DYINGGG to go there, so we want some description!

All in all, this was a cute, light story, revolving around friendship and working together to reach your goals. I would really like to read more from Deanna Cabinian, that's for sure! :) I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fluffy semi-romance including travel that also focuses a lot on the friendship, because I know you will DEVOUR this one. Be sure to pick it up now, and you won't regret it!

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for this sweet YA coming-of-age adventure.

Thompson Lake is a 17 year-old boy growing up in Honolulu. He had one girlfriend, Caroline, who said she loved him, made him feel special, and then cheated on him with two boys on what has become known as The Worst Valentine's Day in History(TM). Since then, he's pined and moped and reconnected with his best friend, a Hawaiian-Thai gangsta rapper called Ronnie. And worked at the Super Kmart.

Thompson hears that it's Elvis-night at a local restaurant and goes, shamelessly hoping he'll run into Caroline, as she's a rabid Elvis fan. It was through Caroline that Thompson developed an affinity for his music, and seeing the entertainers, he's struck by the sincerity of "Hurt" sung by Johnny Lee Young. Thompson wants to understand the pain and yearning he sensed in Johnny's rendition, and follows him to a few venues, hoping to learn more. He does, as Johnny does tell him his slightly-fabricated tale of woe. When Johnny's sound and social media assistant takes off for Italy, he gives the job to Thompson, who does it admirably, and they continue to build a friendship. Thompson thinks if he can fix that heartache for Johnny, he might just find a way to either win Caroline back, or forget about her betrayal for good. So, he enlists tech-savvy Greta, a pretty fellow cashier to help him find Johnny's girl.

I really liked Thompson. He's a good guy, and crazy intense. He's sweet and determined and kinda sad with his desperate love for a foolish girl. Beyond that, he wants to leave a mark on the world, but suffers Overprotective Parent Disorder and has little opportunity to Do Something with himself. His first plan to help Johnny goes a bit sideways, mostly because Johnny wasn't completely honest about the girl he let get away, way back when. Of course, the next quest is a lot more glamorous--because it takes them to humid Chicago in search of a bride-to-be who may, or may not, still love Johnny.

The friendship that develops between Johnny and Thompson is sweet. Both Johnny and Thompson have sibling issues--for completely different reasons--and they serve as surrogate brothers for each other, despite the 15 year age gap. Thompson really idolizes Johnny, and Johnny provides a good example, offering real and sincere advice to Thompson on how to get over a broken heart. I had lots of chuckles regarding Thompson's dietary rebellions--snacking on contraband snacks to thwart his mother's homemade, organic granola and kale chips. As a native Chicagoan, I relished the gourmand's eye view Thompson and Johnny adopted in Chi-Town. Deep-dish pizza, bacon donuts and breakfast buffets? Yup, we got 'em. It's clear that spending time with Johnny helped Thompson to grow up, and get over his heartache. It's true that there's no love like the first love, but Thompson recognized it doesn't mean it's the last, or only, love he could hope to find.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's a very character driven YA contemporary novel. Thompson goes on quite the emotional journey throughout the story. He learns about love, loss and true friendship. Through the music of Elvis, the support of his friends Ronnie and Greta, and his newfound friendship with Johnny, Elvis impersonator, Thompson's world is changed. This novel is really a great coming of age story about heartbreak, new beginnings and moving forward. It's like a breath of fresh air.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly modern coming-of-age YA novel with a retro twist.

We’re transported to Hawaii with the rather wonderfully named Thompson Lake as he follows an Elvis impersonator to Chicago on a quest to mend a broken heart. Thompson is a high school student who’s looking to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend (notably his first love), Elvis-mad Caroline. On a mission to accidentally-on-purpose bump into Caroline on a night out, he meets Johnny Lee Young, one of Hawaii’s hottest Elvis impersonators. Johnny’s undeniably handsome, popular and talented but – like Thompson – he hasn’t got the girl either. Together, Thompson and Johnny plan a trip to Chicago as Thompson decides to help Johnny reunite with his own ex-girlfriend, Molly. Cue new relationships, adventures and a lot of growing up in amongst Facebook stalking, heartache and countless renditions of “Suspicious Minds”.

At the heart of One Night, underneath the constant references to YouTube, Facebook statuses and Nike trainers, there’s the timeless elements of love, family and identity, which culminate in a fabulously funny scene in a church in Chicago as Johnny and Thompson sort-of crash a wedding…

I thought for this review, I’d answer a few questions that the author, Deanna Cabinian, asks her readers at the end of her book while being as spoiler-free as I can! Here goes:

Why do you think finding Johnny’s long-lost love is so important to Thompson?

So, even from my brief plot outline, it’s clear that Thompson channels his own feelings about getting back together with his ex, Caroline, through his unrelenting desire to reunite Johnny with his ex. Despite their age gap, as Johnny is around 15 years older, there is definitely a connection between Thompson and Johnny, beyond this plot line, which grows throughout the novel. While many relationships are unsuccessful in One Night, the relationship that blossoms the most is the one between these two, so I think that Thompson feels it’s his duty to make Johnny happy.

What does Johnny get out of his friendship with Thompson? And vice versa?

The relationship between the two goes through various stages. Literally, as the novel begins, Thompson is merely a fan of Johnny’s Elvis tribute act. He then gets “promoted” to intern as he helps Johnny set up and organise his gigs during his school holidays. But, this relationship has a deeper level too; Thompson is thrilled when Johnny starts to refer to him as a “friend”. More importantly, though, is the growing sense of brotherhood, which is made even more poignant through the fact that, in one way or another, both have “lost” their own fraternal brothers. They are even mistaken for brothers in Chicago: “’Oh, you guys are so cute,’ she said. ‘Brothers on vacation.’ Neither of us bothered to correct her.” We also learn that Thompson’s brother Samuel sadly died as a baby, before Thompson was born, while Johnny and his brother Ricky do not get on – Ricky doesn’t approve of Johnny’s lifestyle or career – so they almost become surrogate brothers to each other too.

This is why the trip to Chicago is so important to the both of them. It gives Johnny a chance to relive his youth as he went to college there, and recreate a brotherly bond, and it also gives Thompson the first glimpses of life away from home. In Hawaii, he is rather stifled by his understandably overprotective parents. In Chicago he gets to hang around with the cool older brother he never had.

In a way, Hawaii and Chicago become symbols of Thompson’s growing up process. For a start, travelling allows Thompson to experience new things and learn about the world for himself. In Hawaii, he’s extremely sheltered. The one time he does let his guard down, by falling in love with Caroline, he is hurt. Chicago gives him a fresh start – albeit brief – especially as the trip starts off under the guise of helping Johnny. In reality, the trip does much more for Thompson as he finds the confidence to express his feelings.

Who is your favourite character in the story? Why?

That’s not to say that Johnny isn’t an interesting character too. Johnny is actually my favourite character because I think he’s on his own quest for self-discovery too. We meet him as Johnny Lee Young, the Elvis impersonator. Elvis, then, becomes the symbol by which he can hide behind. But, as we can tell through his fraught relationship with his brother Ricky, he is a different person to different people. Thompson is likewise intrigued by the man behind the Elvis mask, and gets to know him as Johnny Lee Young. But even Johnny Lee isn’t the real Johnny – it’s another persona. His dream is to be a musician in his own right: “A CD that says John Giovanni Lee across the bottom” (who knew CDs were still so popular in this smartphone-laden, social media crazy story?). He wants acceptance as the real him. Relationships with his brother and his ex-girlfriend have broken down because of his myriad of personas. It seems then that only Thompson is able to get to know the real Johnny.

So when events kick off in Chicago surrounding the plan to win back Molly, it’s all the more poignant that we know “Johnny Lee Young has left the building”. The trip seems to have outwardly benefited Thompson a lot more, but it’s important not to overlook the effect it has on Johnny and his self-identity too.

Overall, I really enjoyed how Cabinian managed to weave together a story full of parallels and contrasts. We get the similarities between two apparently very different characters. We also get very YA-friendly references to tech, popular brands and social media throughout crossed with Elvis songs, which actually work really well together. They emphasise the timelessness of the plot, which is concerned with relationships between different generations. Set in front of an idyllic Hawaiian backdrop, One Night is a thoroughly entertaining read.

Reviewed by Abby at www.whisperingstories.com

[Reading Fury · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Night was great fun to read! Soon-to-be high school senior Thompson Lake has been humiliated by his girlfriend, but he loves her and wants her back anyway. In an attempt to meet with her again, he is willing to do anything, even go to an Elvis impersonator show that his ex might be attending. Thompson goes looking for the girl but winds up with a real adventure and his own personal Elvis. Aside from Thompson’s woes, there is a great parallel story of love gone awry and the constant tug of “what if. . ?” Johnny Lee, the Elvis impersonator, provides a fresh take on both the real Elvis and the façade. Whether aged 17 or 32 or older, a broken heart hurts. Is closure needed or perhaps one wild last chance? Thompson’s adventure takes him from Honolulu to Chicago and back. Along the way there are pizza flights, plane flights, and flights of the heart.

Aside from the bittersweet yet funny plot, there's some great background color -- ever have the joy of standing in the checkout line at the Super K-Mart, Target, Walmart, fill in the blank, and witnessing the craziness of other customers? Imagine being the poor clerk trying to deal, as Thompson and his co-workers do. This teenaged boy is no sulky Holden Caulfield. Thompson wants to embrace life at all levels, even one as simple as on the sly junk food binging as a counterbalance to his mom's all organic diet. He is a healthy risk taker and aware that he needs personal growth--overall a genuinely likeable character. He and his friends are believable, and their prototypes may have sat at your dinner table.

I was so amused and engaged that I read this I one day. While I am not the biggest Elvis fan, this novel helped me understand what he meant to so many people. For anyone who has ever heard a song that sparks a memory about a loved one, this book will resonate beautifully. Now I plan to go listen to some Elvis and revisit the pleasure this novel gave me. I was given a free copy for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun! It was a light, cute, quick read, but I really enjoyed myself and the story.

Hawaii was such a fun setting, and Elvis ends up feeling like a main character with the importance that he was given, which was a really unique thing. Music as a whole can be so important to people, and it was really cool to see the way it was influencing the characters and really pivotal in their lives.

Thompson is an enjoyable main character, he's just a sweet, heartbroken teen and a genuinely good guy, if not with moments of cluelessness, angst and some teenage ideas of grander. But it was all done very well and balanced. His relationship with Johnny Lee Young (Elvis impersonator extraordinaire) was just lovely. In general, I appreciated the themes of friendship in this book, both with Johnny and with his high school bff Ronnie. His relationship with Johnny was interesting, because you don't often have adult/teen friendships but its a thing. The balance of adult who can guide the teen but also doesn't always know what he's doing was fun, and letting Thompson lead the way in Chicago was fun.

I was a little worried about how the author would deal with Chicago but I thought it was well done, and I appreciated how everything that happened ended up happening. One thing I liked about this novel in particular was the way romantic relationships happened. Thompson didn't end up getting back together with the girl. Often in YA kids fall madly in love and they end up together forever in the most perfect relationship. This can drive me nuts sometimes, because that doesn't happen 9 times out of 10. So I liked that he thought this girl was the only one for him, and it didn't work out, and that was okay, and as he eventually realized a good thing. Sometimes it doesn't work out.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While trying to win back with his Elvis-loving ex-girlfriend Caroline, Thompson meets Elvis impersonator Johnny Lee Young, and he lands a summer job as his assistant. Between working his job at Super Kmart and helping out Johnny, Thompson's got a busy summer ahead. Somewhere along the way, Thompson changes his focus from Caroline and makes it his mission to reunite Johnny with his one true love - with a bit of help from his friends Ronnie and Greta. Throw in a road - or should I say, air - trip, and Thompson's life is about to change for good.

Thompson, as our narrator, has an engaging, easy-going tone, and the author manages to perfectly capture the voice of a teenage boy. The book is full of great support characters, including Thompson's "gangsta" friend Ronnie, his health-food-freak mother, his colorful co-worker Greta, his creepy co-worker Rob, Johnny's sweet Nonna, and - of course - Johnny himself. The author has a great ability to describe people using few words; this talent for people-watching is especially apparent during the trip to Chicago. Johnny's past romantic relationship parallels Thompson's own relationship with Caroline, and it's nice to see how Thompson grows through his summer experience and comes out the other side a better person. It's also a nice change to read a young adult book wholly from the boy's point of view.

I had never heard the feature song "Hurt", so I've discovered something new. And I now have a whole new appreciation for Elvis impersonators. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (14 September): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Life on Readpeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot *

I generously received an ARC from YABound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review...

ONE NIGHT is Deanna Cabinian’s debut novel and she’s off to a brilliant start!

I absolutely feel in love with this coming-of-age tale. The author’s writing kept my attention engaged until the very end. The characters were extremely interesting and relatable to teens because they’re just like us! Thompson is the ideal look at a typical high school boy. My favorite aspect of this story was Johnny and Thompson’s unusual friendship because it just seemed to work. Overall, this was a quick and fun read that all teens and young adults should try!

I strongly recommend picking up a copy today! :)

[Morgan Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

they say never to judge a book by the cover. i am absolutely guilty of being a cover snob. i don't think there is anything wrong with being excited about a book because it has a great cover and this cover is the best. it reminds me of travel agency posters and nostalgia.

deanna cabinian has a gem of a book here. i am not sure what exactly i was expecting after first reading about this book, but one night is a charming coming-of-age story told from a very refreshing perspective. the characters are well crafted and thoroughly developed. it was a wonderful escape to follow Thompson and Johnny on their summer adventure.

my favorite thing about this book was the voice it is written in. it was refreshing to read a book in the YA world that was written from a male perspective. deanna expertly crafted a quaint, endearing story line with characters that you will find yourself wanting to hang out with.

4/5 stars for one night!

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! It's a must-read for all the Elvis fans! I loved it, I really did! Mostly because of the heartfelt approach to the heartbreak that we all experience in some point in our lives. I adored the way they dealt with pain that lasted for so long after being torn apart. The book shows that it doesn't matter how old we are, we still have feelings and we still can feel overwhelming pain of love lost. Johnny and Thompson seem like an unlikely pair of friends since there's over a 10-year gap between them, but they get along just fine and what's the most important they learn from one another how to deal with life, loss and heartbreak. I know, that I'm repeating myself, but I have really LOVED it!

[Amy Pecho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book! I loved the characters especially Thompson. He is such a true representation of what a high school boy is. His feelings and experiences are so relatable to both teens and adults. The unlikely friendship between Johnny and Thompson is lovely and something both characters need. This was a quick, fun read and I highly recommend it!

[The Life Of A Firefly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and fun read about a teen boy called Thompson who goes on a crazy trip of a lifetime one summer to help his friend Johnny find his one true love, whilst only just starting to heal himself of his lost love. One Night is a comical, lightheated read with a colorful cast of characters.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a very sweet story.

Thompson had his heart broken, and his wallowing brought him to Elvis night at the Tiki Bar. There, he met "Hawaii's Favorite Elvis", Johnny Lee Young. I loved how Johnny took Thompson under his wing and was a surrogate big brother to him. They tackled their respective heartbreak together and were then free to move forward. Thompson easily endeared himself to me, but the rest of the cast was also delightful. I am excited there are more adventures ahead for Thompson and look forward to reading them.

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[crazipotmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's longer then one night lol

[Sara Planz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thompson Lake, average guy and Hawaii resident, has just come off The Worst Valentine's Day Ever (tm). After breaking up with his first love, he drowns his sorrows in the Elvis Presley music she got him addicted to. He heads out to see an Elvis impersonator, hoping his ex will be there too. But when he hears the impersonator, also known as Johnny Lee Young, sing "Hurt", he is profoundly changed. Johnny asks to Thompson to be his summer "intern" and the two grow to be close friends, and find they have more in common than they thought. Johnny still mourns the loss of the only woman he ever loved, and Thompson seeks to get them back together, even though she's about to get married in Chicago. Thompson hatches a plan to get Johnny there to win his true love back.

This was a sweet YA novel and it was nice to see the heartache from a male perspective. The similarities between both Thompson and Johnny's heartache, even with the age difference, was interesting. They supported each other and kept the other one with the plan. I especially loved the confidence and self discovery Thompson went through himself as he tried to help Johnny get his girl back. Thoroughly enjoyed this quirky cast of characters and the setting.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book, because I ran out of reading material while travelling (ugh) and still had this 99p amazon purchase on my iPad. As quickly as I picked it up, I also put it down again, because the story was just about normal people, with normal people problems, doing normal people stuff - boooooooooring! But then I couldn't stop thinking about the book. I wanted to know how the story ended. So I finished it.

Isn't that interesting? I love my badass heroines and heroes characters. Yet, this love is always from a distance. I can admire them from afar and wish to be like them, but the truth is, I will never be badass at archery, lead armies into battle and start a revolution all while being perfectly radiant, perfectly dressed and perfectly witty.

It's different when it comes to these 'normal' characters, randomly picked from life around us. There is a kinship there, an understanding. I could be you. I can relate to you. You failures could be mine, so could your victories. For some reason their stories always tend to stick with me.

One Night is one of those stories. Is it one of my all-time favourite books? No. Am I going to read it again? No. But am I content that I spend a couple hours of my life on reading this book? Yes, absolutely.

[Deanna Cabinian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel funny about giving my own book five stars so I'll keep it at 4. If you like John Green, Jesse Andrews, and Marci Lyn Curtis you might like my book. It's got a band of quirky characters, is set in Honolulu, and has a sense of humor. I hope you all enjoy it when it comes out!

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received One Night by Deanna Cabinian from the author. At first a bit reluctant to read something describes as a "coming of age" novel, I am glad I did. I have a category I like to call a "comfort read." Nothing in it should give offense to anyone (IMHO). It borders on fantasy in that the characters are almost too perfect and, in several cases, too mature in behavior and opinion for their chronological age. In the first few pages, I worried the story would spiral down into sappy, syrupy, sentimental storytelling in a nostalgic search for an imagined perfect past. That did not happen. The tightly controlled crisp writing moved the story along at almost page-turner speed. There are nicely woven reflections on quality of life, the inevitability of death, different perceptions of love (requited and unrequited) and the values of a strong family life. What could have been sappy was rescued by the writers skill into something really good. On an Amazon scale, I gave this a five-star rating, something I have never done with a "comfort read." I highly recommend this for the YA crowd and will nag my son until he reads at least parts of it.

The improbably named protagonist Thompson Lake is seventeen-year-old living with his parents and working at Super Kmart. His life is a dull hum as he almost enjoys the massive depression that has resulted from being dumped by CW. Best friend Ronnie and Hunter have agreed that Caroline Wells could be more easily forgotten if depersonalized into CW. It is not working and much of the story will detail different things Thompson tries. Early in the novel, we are introduced to Johnny Lee Young, an Elvis impersonator. Despite a difference in age, Johnny and Thompson will become close friends, more so after Johnny takes on a part time intern job as Johnny's assistant and sometimes agent. In their close relationship, Thompson finds out that Johnny also has a love he has never gotten over. Thompson agonizes over his love because CW is sleeping around. Johnny admits that he has never gotten over his love, Molly, although he had come to terms with it until the new friend and assistant Thompson reveals information that Molly is about to be married. Angst returns to Johnny (Elvis). This kind of situation calls for a road trip from Hawaii to Chicago to see if a change in situation is possible.

There is a nice crew of characters who bring the story to life. Otherwise, we would have lots of reflection and introspection by Thompson. That would be dull and this story is not dull. Ronnie, Thompson's best friend, tries to be super cool at all times. Calling Thompson cute names like T-dawg and T-cup, Ronnie also offers up sage advice on breakups and how to get over them. Interesting, in that he doesn't have a girlfriend. Greta, a coworker at Super Kmart, is falling hard for Thompson but he either doesn't know it or pretends not to know. Thompson's mom and dad are unbelievably great parents, both controlling (they state that) and tolerant, a realistic portrayal in this novel. Johnny reveals to Thompson that an inspiration for his singing comes in part from ex-girlfriend Jennifer. Where is Jennifer these days? And then there is Nonna.

Nonna is Johnny's grandmother. She lives in a nursing home, enjoys Johnny's frequent visits and occasional performances, and in her youth attended a performance by Elvis. (Not a spoiler) she dies. Her portrayal of life, her death, the narration of her funeral ceremony along with how her death affected Thompson and Johnny were very evocative emotionally.

At 307 Kindle pages, this is still a very quick read due to the push that the writing style gives the reader. You won't want to put this one down until the end. I highly recommend this one for the YA and SCR (Senior Citizen Reader) crowd. Also everyone in between.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deanna Cabinian's One Night was pitched to me as "coming-of-age novel set in Hawaii" that "appeals to fans of Paper Towns." As someone who loves Paper Towns (and exotic settings because again I live in northeast PA, there's nothing exotic about that), I quickly moved One Night up the top of my TBR pile. As it turns out, that description couldn't have been more accurate. The easiest way for me to describe this book? A John Green book meets a Hawaii setting with a lot of Elvis thrown in. And, quite simply, I enjoyed every single minute of it!

My favorite aspect of this One Night? The characters.

Thompson is suffering from his first-ever, listen-to-sad-songs and stew-about-the-good-times heartbreak. It isn't going to well for him, which is how he ends up at the Tiki House the night that Johnny Lee Young, an Elvis impersonator, performs, hoping - but really praying - to see Caroline, his horrible yet still frighteningly addictive ex-girlfriend. Instead of seeing Caroline he befriends Johnny, whose rendition of Elvis' Hurt drastically changes the course of Thompson's summer.

From the first page, I was captured by Thompson's story. His voice was funny (the scenes about Super Kmart and his interactions with his friends always had me laughing out loud!) as well as charming. It was incredibly easy to relate to his heartbreak. Because really, who of us hasn't been there, especially in high school? At the start of the book, Thompson has such a pure, innocent view of lost love, believing that maybe if you just try and make that big leap, it will all come back together again. As the book progresses, Thompson learns that this big lost loves aren't the ultimate end all, and sometimes, as the songs go, goodbye is the only way. I loved seeing that transformation occur with him....it was the ultimate coming-of-age. I also enjoyed the friendships and relationships he cultivated over the course of this book, especially the one with Johnny. It was cool to see that even with the large age gap, Johnny and Thompson still had a lot to teach it other, and in some ways it was like a big brother/little brother relationship. Thompson pushed Johnny to think with his heart while Johnny brought Thompson back down to reality regarding certain things. It was a great dynamic!

The plot mainly revolved around heartbreak and learning how to move on. I'm always a little weary of heartbreak books, because they can go the good, normal, lets heal route or they can go the whiny, drastic, stalkery route. Thankfully, this book went the good route, having Thompson go through the normal steps of the break-up process, and I found it to be pitch-perfect realistic. Throughout I was cheering Thompson to move on and learn to love his life again and maybe, just maybe, consider a relationship with his super nice and adorable coworker. I also enjoyed the little mystery of Johnny's first love. There was so many ways it could have gone, and throughout I just kept wondering what was exactly going to happen. But the ending with that part? Perfect and well thought out!

In all, One Night by Deanna Cabinian is a great YA debut, great for fans of John Green and Maureen Johnson. I simply can't wait to see what Deanna writes next!

Grade: B+

[emery Buriedinbookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Actual rating: 3/5 stars

One Night by Deanna Cabinian follows seventeen year old Thompson Lake who was cheated on then left by his girlfriend Caroline. So he goes on a journey with an Elvis impersonator and his two friends, Ronnie and Greta, to help him either win Caroline's heart back or forget her entirely.

The characters in this novel were pretty well developed and Thompson charmed me from the beginning. His journey through love, loss and friendship made his character fantastic. And he was super relate-able because everyone has been hurt that way once in their life and came to the crossroads that he came to at the start of his journey. His friendships between Johnny (the Elvis impersonator), Ronnie, and Greta was well done and portrayed what true friendship really means. His character development made this novel what it is and I enjoyed watching him grow. I can honestly say Thompson is a character that will stick with me for a while.

This novel was very much a character driven story. That being said, there was little plot but the plot that shone through the characters, turned out very well done and made the story flow smoothly.

I really enjoyed the writing in this novel. Deanna just has a way with keeping you captivated. Also, the novel's writing made it a nice and relatively quick read, making it a perfect book to finish in a day.

One Night is a beautiful YA coming of age story and it's a wonderful installment to the genre. If you're looking for a nice, quick read with characters you'll fall in love with and a journey you won't forget; look no further because this book is perfect for you.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Night by Deanna Cabinian

Thompson Lake is a seventeen year-old high school junior who describes himself as a scrawny AP class nerd. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and despite living in paradise he is miserable. His first girlfriend, the love of his life, has dumped him and he can’t stop obsessing about her. She consumes his every thought, and now she’s gone. Even though she cheated on him, he would take her back.

One Friday evening after work Thompson goes to the Tiki House for Elvis Presley night, hoping he'll run into her. Instead he is struck by a song that Johnny Lee Young, Hawaii's favorite Elvis impersonator, sings about the heartbreak of losing the one you loved. Thompson feels like Johnny understands his pain and he starts a conversation with him. Now he’s showing up at all of his gigs just to talk with him. They slowly develop an honest and respectful relationship. Thompson sees Johnny as the big brother he never had.

In “One Night,” Thompson embarks on a mission to find Johnny’s lost love. The plot is character driven, engaging, honest, and well written. All the characters are well rounded, likeable, and their dialogue is genuine. I found it easy to get swept away in Thompson’s journey, and the quest he inspires in Johnny. “One Night” is an impressive debut novel from Deanna Cabinian, whether you love Elvis or not you will fall in love with Johnny Lee Young.

FYI: “One Night” is book 1 in Ms. Cabinian’s THOMPSON LAKE Series. Elvis fans will find “One Night” highly entertaining. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 1, 2019
Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
First of all, I really like the cover design. However, the design inside the book left me feeling a little irritated. There were some really random lines or words left by themselves (widows, orphans, whatever). Like on page 9, there's literally only one sentence on the page. Instead of impressing me with the emphasis, I just thought it was really poorly edited. And at one point, anyway gets split up into an-yway. Weird split in a weird location that ends up distracting me from the text for a bit. I also thought the margins seemed too big.

Overall, I really like the characters, plot, and setting. It was realistic without being preachy. I thought Thompson's narration style seemed more like a female narrator's at first (not sure how to even explain this feeling, though) but I got used to it and liked how Thompson isn't just a whiny angsty teenager. However, I felt like the pace of the book moved pretty fast and it felt like Cabinian covered a bunch of little topics and had the characters discuss them, but didn't leave time for the reader to think on them and relate to them characters.

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
On a scale of Viva Las Vegas to Love Me Tender this book is Hurt.
Thompson’s attachment to Caroline physically pained me. Other than that, I enjoyed the book immensely. Not only did it make me laugh, but it brought back memories of my own trip to Hawaii which I haven’t revisited in forever. I must say I was disappointed that johnnyleesings.com is not an actual website.
Deanna Cabinian’s writing is amazing. Her descriptions are so detailed, while there are a few places where they missed their mark overall she is successful in creating a perfect mental picture. All her characters are so complex. There is so much more to all of them than just what’s in the book and I love that. Additionally, she perfectly captures Hawaii and the charm that I love about it.
I would recommend this perfect beach read to lovers of Elvis, adventure and anyone who has ever known the pain of a broken heart.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Night by Deanna Cabinian is an entertaining debut novel. It speaks of music, heartbreak, and friendship. The characters were interesting. Each one was a male nursing a heartbreak. Both had broken hearts and were moping in some format. However, the younger male took to setting Johnny up a love. I found Thompson to be a little too obsessive over his girl. In a way it felt worse than Romeo drooling for his love. But first loves are the most painful and the hardest to get past. The journey for both men was believable and realistic. Johnny seemed to harden from his bad breakup. While Johnny still seemed to hang onto hope and optimism. Their personalities made for a great friendship. Overall, the adventure inside was great to follow. I recommend this to other readers.

I received this copy from the publisher. This, is my voluntary review.

[Laurette Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I was totally caught up in this finely written story of a young man and his passage to the next stage of his life. Shoring up 17-year-old Thompson after the devastating betrayal of his girlfriend is best friend Ron– what a great character- his parents, co-worker (and more) Greta, and… an Elvis impersonator.
Written with great delicacy and beautifully modulated tone, we follow the story through Thompson’s eyes. The author has captured his voice perfectly - funny, sad, always authentic. This is not a genre I read often, but what a treat to stumble on this book, reminiscent of John Green’s ‘Paper Towns’ (also reviewed).

[Vicky Quenault · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book lacked a clear plot and just kind of meandered along. The characters were likeable but without a real story to show them off they were a little flat.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. Made this Midwest gal miss the food (plate lunch! Mac salad!) in Hawaii.