Just One Day by Gayle Forman

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
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 the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!
(Goodreads)

My Thoughts

All of this happened with me too!

Yes! Really! Pinky swear!

Alright, alright! It didn't. But I wish I did.

Back packing through Europe is a dream of mine! While this wasn't exactly back packing through Europe, it's close enough! Paris, who hasn't dreamed of visiting that heavenly City! And "Lulu" had the chance to, Allyson, the ever obeying of rules meets Willem, a dutch handsome boy, who offers her a chance to break free from her comfort zone, break free from her tight hold on obeying what she was thought her whole life, be spontaneous, something she is not used to doing. And oh boy! it only gets better from there on.

This isn't a love story * maybe not in the sense you think a love story should be*, this is a story of growth, finding the courage to change, and finding one's own way. Allyson, although thinks she loves Willem, and dwells on her lose for months, gradually picks up the pieces of her life, figures out what she wants and enjoys, and finds a way to make new friends. It's not Willem who brings her insight, but the experience they shared, enlightens her to find herself, I liked that a lot, I liked Allyson a lot, finding new friends, connecting with new people, is something I have trouble with, so I connected with Allyson more than I would have imagined. I like all the secondary characters, old friends and new, I found it hard to hate her old best friend, they grow apart, it's normal, that doesn't mean she was a bad person, you can see all the secondary characters growth as well as Allysons'. And Willem, he isn't your typical bad boy, or good boy, he's just a boy, although we don't seem much of him, you see his struggle, and you how lost he is, just as you do with Allyson. I'm happy that we'll know him better in the next book. Yay!

Gayle delivers! You know that little voice that nags when you pick up a book by an author you loved her/his books! I'm excited and happy! Chanting ( ooooh this gonna be good) and that cockamamie voice goes like

I have a very rude, pertinacious voice!  I love it! 

But, Gayle, you shut that voice right up, few chapters into the book and I was already wishing Just One Year was out! I knew I would want to read it as soon as I finished Just One Day! Gayle has a gift! She sucks you in and doesn't let go until you are grasping for breath! She doesn't try to be awesome! Because, she is!

What are you waiting for! GO and read every book written by Gayle! GO!

5/5