My review of Just One Day

Just One Day (Just One Day #1) by Gayle Forman
Release Date: January 8, 2013
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When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is an insightful and beautifully written novel that has touched me deeply. I don't think I'll be forgetting about this story for a long time. Gayle Forman has, once again, delivered a heart-felt and honest novel that not only portrays love in its truest form, but takes you on an incredible and unforgettable journey.

Allyson isn't a daring girl at all. She and her best friend are on a tour discovering Europe, leaving America for the summer. When they reach England and meet the charming, dutch actor Willem at an underground performance of Twelfth Night, Allyson can't forget about him. On the train she meets him again and she can't wrap around the fact that she'll have to leave soon. So when he offers a her a day to discover Paris at its best, she can't resist. In just one day, Allyson turns into "Lulu" and takes more risks than she thought she ever would. She can feel herself slowly falling for Willem, but the following morning she discovers that he has left. Over the next year, Allyson attempts to erase him from her mind but only finds herself drawn back to Paris on a conquest to find him.

I have waited months and months for this book to be released. At first I was worried about it not living up to If I Stay and Where She Went, but there was absolutely nothing to worry about. Gayle Forman is an incredibly talented writer who can effortlessly write about anything, really. I fell hard for the characters in this book just as much as I did for those in her previous duology. They are realistic and well developed in every single way. 

Just One Day isn't just some random YA contemporary about a girl trying to find a boy. It's a book about self-discovery and determination. Allyson is an amazing character, and I felt inspired to actually take some risks like she did. Throughout her journey to find Willem, I could actually feel my heart breaking for her. She was completely and utterly lost, not just physically but emotionally as well. She felt that she could not be herself without him, which is understandable since he is the one who has changed her into a new person. Someone who is willing to take risks and say 'yes' to an opportunity.

All the supporting characters were also developed and I think that's really important in a contemporary novel because if the characters don't feel real then the reader won't completely get lost in the story. 

The setting! The way Gayle described Paris was exquisite. She brought out the negatives and the positives of the city and went into detail of the streets, the shops, the food, making it seem like you were actually there! I wanted to be there. I wanted to see the sights and eat the macaroons and take risks and simply be spontaneous.

Believe me, I loved so much about this story but one thing really gets to me. The ending. I feel like Forman has just cut us off at a significant point, like the point where the story is really getting a kick. I have suffered heart break in this book and to leave me hanging like that? No, just no. An incredible book with a cliffhanger is always a bummer. Luckily, the sequel Just One Year will be out in September/October this year. Yipeeeee! To make things a whole load more exciting... IT'S TOLD IN WILLEM'S POV! I hear you all screaming. Yes, it's just that exciting. Once you read Just One Day you'll understand where I'm coming from.

Just One Day is a novel that must be read. You simply can't miss this. 

Rating

A review copy was provided by Random House