Author: Gayle Forman
Edition: Paperback
Published: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 368
Source: Borrowed from Chyna at Lite-Rate-Ture
Category: Contemporary, Romance
Trailer: not applicable.
Synopsis:
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.
This is my second Forman novel and I could say that she didn't disappoint me with Just One Day. I was lucky Chyna from Lite-Rate-Ture lent me her copy and from her review, I was kind of hesitant to read it. If I Stay was so heart-breaking that I wasn't really sure if I could handle another one after I've followed it up with the very depressing The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle. I've also seen mixed reviews about it but surprisingly, I LOVED IT TO THE BONES and I would go get my hard back copy this weekend.
Having a mother who looks after everything in her life, Allyson and her best friend Melanie doesn't really have a choice but join a tour in Europe before going to college. They went to different European countries but Allyson wouldn't be able to visit Paris. On the day their tour group is supposed to watch Hamlet, Allyson and Melanie went to see an underground performance instead and Allyson met Willem, who played Sebastian in another Shakespeare novel, Twelfth Night. She cannot deny the spark she has for him and eventually ventured to Paris with Willem for just one day.
Where should I start? Okay. So I terribly loved all the places Allyson went to. After reading the novel, I felt like I have just been to Europe and that I suddenly knew French! The richness of the places and their beauty or ugliness were described so detailed that it wasn't difficult at all to picture everything. I salivated over Macarons and you know, I've always wanted to go to Paris so reading the novel made my dream more real. The fact that strangers could basically be friendly and accommodating makes traveling a little bit more exciting and thrilling.
The plot is very unusual for me which I find always better. What are the chances this would happen in real life, right? I loved how much tourism there is in this novel plus how love can be as romantic as Shakespeare in Europe. It is just magnificently manipulated to make turning points as fun as this one. There are just a few points that didn't really convince me such the slowness of the pace at the beginning and how some characters doesn't immediately realize that love can be short-lived and wouldn't work given Allyson's situation. But I guess I am glad it all happened because I tremendously loved every bits of it.
Speaking of Allyson, she just doesn't know when to give up. She's very strong willed that is why she ended up looking for not only Willem, but the rightness she felt meeting him. Its as if she's soul searching in the background. I liked how she stood up for what she really wanted even though she knows she would hurt her parents but still showed them respect. How she keeps her promises is also something to like about her. Willem though is a little mysterious and I guess I have to wait for the sequel to understand his character better. And I love Dee! I wanted to have a friend like him. He's hard working, kind, straight to the point and fun!
Just One Day just made it to my Top Ten All Time Favorite novels. It is beautifully wirtten with such contrasting twists and one of a kind premise. Who wouldn't love macarons, french and Paris? I definitely do! Just One Day just toured me all over Europe and showed me that there's something good to look for in certain ACCIDENTS.
VERDICT:
"Sometimes the best way to find out what you're supposed to do is to is by doing the thing you're not supposed to do."
I am still shocked :))
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA! I super enjoyed it! :)
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