Book Review: You're the One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

Title : Youre the One That I Want
Author : Giovanna Fletcher
Publication date : 22nd May 2014
Publisher : Penguin Michael Joseph
Purchase eBook: Kindle
Purchase paper book: Amazon
Rating : 5 out of 5 LeeLee’s!

Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church. At the end of the aisle is Rob – the man she’s about to marry. Next to Rob is Ben – best man and the best friend any two people ever had. And that’s the problem.

Because if it wasn’t Rob waiting for her at the altar, there’s a strong chance it would be Ben. Loyal and sensitive Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned round and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen? And would he be right?

Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable. But love changes everything. Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely? Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it…

My Thoughts

You’re the One That I Want is Giovanna Fletchers second novel, themed around love and romance it is on a whole new level in comparison to her debut novel Billy and Me which is also of the same genre.

You’re the one That I Want follows three best friends, Maddy, Ben and Rob. We happen to meet them at the start of a wedding, their wedding. From the off we know that the Groom is Rob, (even the blurb on the cover will tell you this!) so its no mystery who Maddy is headed down the isle to spend the rest of her life with, but who is it that she really loves and has she made the wrong decision?

Torn between her feelings for both Ben and Rob we are swiftly taken back to their childhood when the three friend also know as ‘the tripod’ were just nine years old, an age where they were too busy climbing trees and getting into trouble to think about love!

The tripods story is told from the perspective of Maddy and Ben taking us on their journey with various moments of Robs wedding speech throughout. The the story really develops from the moment romance sparks within the tripod during a school trip to Paris following them through their teens where they leave their hometown of Peaswood to live at university, this is where things start to get a little messy between the trio and Ben’s hidden feeling become apparent.

Each character is so well written that I found myself very torn on choosing a favourite, overall Maddy was my favourite of the tripod. A strong female antagonist who is realistic, funny and full of charisma. Although she seems fairly level headed and smart throughout she also makes mistakes, she isn’t perfect but learns from this. Seeing Maddy go from strength to strength as things get tough for her I began find a new appreciation for her character and her willingness not to lose her trust in those she loves.

As prospective husbands I think the outcome of the novel was most certainly the right one, I really liked both Ben and Rob for different reasons, and at various moments throughout the book due to their actions I also really disliked them! Some mistakes are just too big to be forgiven but as the saying goes love conquers all.

Verdict

Love triangles are a bit like marmite, not everybody likes them. This particular love triangle however is very easy to like and I found myself transported into a fictional world where the characters had such a strong presence, I was able to lose myself in their world more as the plot thickened.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it to others,  You’re the One That I Want sees Giovanna’s writing develop immensely and I felt like she had really opened up as an author with this one. Its full of character, confidence and the bare naked truth of what love and relationships can really feel like.

If you’re anything like myself then get the tissues ready, the very touching ending will have you in a blubbering mess, not to mention the many parts in between.

This book also had me prancing around to my very own favourite trio at the single mention of mmmbop, thats right I am a huge Hanson fan, who isn’t? This element managed to make the book seem even more special to me with its many references to 90’s classics and also some cheeky yet very clever references to Gi’s debut novel Billy and Me!

I love the way Gi has gone in full on with this novel and avoided covering it in what I like to call fluff! It isn’t all sunshine and lollipops, its realistic, maybe even a little raunchy and at times really rather intense.

Ps: After much thought I am definitely #TeamRob he may have had his bad points but he always did right by Maddy in the end! I’ve had a Ben before throwing their feelings into mix and its not always appreciated. 😉