Just One Day
by Gayle Forman
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: January 8, 2012
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Bought/Own Copy
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.
“We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.”
A daydreaming bibliophile or an aspiring fanfiction writer will often develop a kind of obsession over a book—that kind of time-consuming obsession that you wish it were your work. To be in that position, I assure you, is not an uncommon reverie. For me, if asked, that certain book would definitely be this one. Because who's idea was it to cram Shakespeare, Paris, a hot guy, and Macarons in less than 300 pages? Me, most probably, but Gayle beat me to it!
Isn't it ironic how easily hard-built walls come down in a span of just one day? How, by one action, we can make or break our entire future? How, in one day, you can both lose and find yourself, coming back a changed person? If you say otherwise, then you would have to read this book, because remember, anything, and I mean anything, can happen in just a day.
The general proclamation echoed all over Paris is it's the city of love. Well, in this story, it truly is, and it isn't.
Allyson is almost to the end of her graduation present, a three week trip touring Europe, which is supposedly the best trip of her life. Or so she'd thought. She's spent the time traveling all of Europe, and now is in London for their last stop. In a fortunate twist of events, she meets Dutch actor Willem and they embark on an unforgettable journey. Under normal circumstances, Allyson would never, ever do such thing, but the past weeks have been a total let-down, and she's ready to take the first risk she's taken in weeks—take Paris, hand in hand with a total stranger.
Allyson is almost to the end of her graduation present, a three week trip touring Europe, which is supposedly the best trip of her life. Or so she'd thought. She's spent the time traveling all of Europe, and now is in London for their last stop. In a fortunate twist of events, she meets Dutch actor Willem and they embark on an unforgettable journey. Under normal circumstances, Allyson would never, ever do such thing, but the past weeks have been a total let-down, and she's ready to take the first risk she's taken in weeks—take Paris, hand in hand with a total stranger.
Perhaps there is one introductory thing I should impart to you right away; I absolutely love the works of the wonderful Gayle Forman. Her past books, If I Stay and Where She Went, were absolutely stunning—both in style and pacing. That being said, I expected nothing less from her, and nothing less was what I got. A thing I love about Gayle is that she can make you feel as though you're wearing the shoes of the character, making you feel what they're feeling as if you've felt that way before (even if you haven't). This is the perfect coming of age novel for those who are in the midst of finding their selves, because their day spent in Paris proved to be a summary of life: unforeseen and continually altering.
Admittedly, the last time I felt such love for a character was when I read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Both female protagonists were fragile, and witty. It was really an enjoyable experience, reading from her perspective. She made me laugh at times when she was jealous of girls talking to Willem although having only known him for a day. I am definitely in awe of her character and her growth throughout the novel. From who was left broken from her past experiences, she sure recovered smoothly and became up and running in a period of time, albeit a long one.
Delightful and often times sharp-witted, Willem's character sure attracted many eyes of women both mine and my mom's age. He's the perfect amateur actor who thinks of himself less than what he really is, and that kind of humility is what's hard to find in men nowadays. Although he had his way with women before, Allyson sure changed him for the better. I loved his metaphor with stains because I totally agree with him. Stains, according to him, cannot be removed.
This is where the beauty of it all lies; everything happening in just one day. The details, the moments of sweetness, and the way Willem sees Allyson's imperfections as perfect. I totally admire the concept of falling in love, finding, and losing yourself all in one day because if she didn't cram it all in 24 hours, the story would have been long and excruciating to read. Call me rude, but I actually would like to experience that than to die and not experience them at all.
Just One Day will make you swoon, cry, laugh hysterically, and cuss. It'll make you feel like you've just had the most expensive gadget in the world, only to have it snatched the second you take it outside of the store. It is the perfect coming of age novel complete with swoon-worthy characters and events that'll make your heart flutter, scream, and break into smithereens. Just One Year will take you on a roller coaster you'll surely enjoy. And with it's ending, you'll be craving for the new book in no time!
Admittedly, the last time I felt such love for a character was when I read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Both female protagonists were fragile, and witty. It was really an enjoyable experience, reading from her perspective. She made me laugh at times when she was jealous of girls talking to Willem although having only known him for a day. I am definitely in awe of her character and her growth throughout the novel. From who was left broken from her past experiences, she sure recovered smoothly and became up and running in a period of time, albeit a long one.
Delightful and often times sharp-witted, Willem's character sure attracted many eyes of women both mine and my mom's age. He's the perfect amateur actor who thinks of himself less than what he really is, and that kind of humility is what's hard to find in men nowadays. Although he had his way with women before, Allyson sure changed him for the better. I loved his metaphor with stains because I totally agree with him. Stains, according to him, cannot be removed.
This is where the beauty of it all lies; everything happening in just one day. The details, the moments of sweetness, and the way Willem sees Allyson's imperfections as perfect. I totally admire the concept of falling in love, finding, and losing yourself all in one day because if she didn't cram it all in 24 hours, the story would have been long and excruciating to read. Call me rude, but I actually would like to experience that than to die and not experience them at all.
Just One Day will make you swoon, cry, laugh hysterically, and cuss. It'll make you feel like you've just had the most expensive gadget in the world, only to have it snatched the second you take it outside of the store. It is the perfect coming of age novel complete with swoon-worthy characters and events that'll make your heart flutter, scream, and break into smithereens. Just One Year will take you on a roller coaster you'll surely enjoy. And with it's ending, you'll be craving for the new book in no time!
Rating:
I'm glad you gave this book five stars! I loved it. Awesome review. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt deserved 5 stars! :-) Thank you! <3
DeleteThere are mixed reactions on this one and I've been unsure for quite some time already. Well, with this review, maybe I will really pick it up! And PARIS? = SOLD! :) Lovely review! :D
ReplyDeleteKyle @ The Selkie Reads Stories
Yay! Glad to have influenced your decision to read this book. It's really something. Don't hate me once the book ends, though.
DeleteThank you! <3