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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Because I'm European, fell in love with Paris two years ago and Amsterdam one, I devoured Just One Day.
There's no denying that Gayle Forman has an incredible perception of setting. I'm so glad because fewer things make me more sad than a book with huge unfulfilled potential. This is not one of those books, though. Not only was the Parisian atmosphere wonderfully echoed in this story, but Forman further succeeded in artfully developing her characters despite a large portion of this book playing out over just a single day time period. I feel like I understood Allyson more in the first 50 pages of Just One Day than I understood a lot of other main characters over the course of an entire novel.
Of course, there's much to say for Willem, too, despite his later absence from the story. For starters, he's Dutch, so I was all in regardless, really, but he's also a very witty and insightful voice. My alter ego, much like Allyson's, I guess, is a complete travel expert, able to easily navigate her way through foreign cultures, hence I was very drawn to Willem's character, him being the drifter he is. In fact, Forman did such a good job of conveying Allyson's love for him that I, myself, found that I missed him a lot once he was gone.
However, there was one aspect of this book that, even without the support of all the aforementioned great things about it, could stun me again and again and that's Forman's treatment of depression. The portrayal of the issue in this story is something beyond sincere and more truthful than just honest. In short, I was massively grateful for it, and I'll say no more. It's better felt than explained, I think.
I am filling with genuine excitement for the sequel, Just One Year, which I'm already certain will have me flicking back through my photos of Holland and France the minute I've read the final sentence.
There's no denying that Gayle Forman has an incredible perception of setting. I'm so glad because fewer things make me more sad than a book with huge unfulfilled potential. This is not one of those books, though. Not only was the Parisian atmosphere wonderfully echoed in this story, but Forman further succeeded in artfully developing her characters despite a large portion of this book playing out over just a single day time period. I feel like I understood Allyson more in the first 50 pages of Just One Day than I understood a lot of other main characters over the course of an entire novel.
Of course, there's much to say for Willem, too, despite his later absence from the story. For starters, he's Dutch, so I was all in regardless, really, but he's also a very witty and insightful voice. My alter ego, much like Allyson's, I guess, is a complete travel expert, able to easily navigate her way through foreign cultures, hence I was very drawn to Willem's character, him being the drifter he is. In fact, Forman did such a good job of conveying Allyson's love for him that I, myself, found that I missed him a lot once he was gone.
However, there was one aspect of this book that, even without the support of all the aforementioned great things about it, could stun me again and again and that's Forman's treatment of depression. The portrayal of the issue in this story is something beyond sincere and more truthful than just honest. In short, I was massively grateful for it, and I'll say no more. It's better felt than explained, I think.
I am filling with genuine excitement for the sequel, Just One Year, which I'm already certain will have me flicking back through my photos of Holland and France the minute I've read the final sentence.
Allyson is traveling with a group to Europe on a summer trip. She is a straight-A, rule-following kind of girl, who is ready to major in pre-med next year in college. When her friend suggests they sneak into an underground Shakespeare production, she feels guilty breaking the tour group rules, but she agrees. It is there that she meets Willem. He is a mysterious 20-year-old, and his enigmatic nature makes her feel like a different person. When he tells her she looks like a famous silent film star, Allyson adopts a new, more adventurous personality as Lulu (the film star is named Louise). When Willem suggests they escape to Paris for just one day, she agrees--because how much can really happen in one day?
I was enraptured in the romance between Willem and Allyson (to the point that I debated reading while I was in my car, waiting at a stop light). As the book was coming to an end, I felt like I was about to lose a friend. I am quite excited for the sequel. The four-star rating is purely due to the fact that I was disappointed with Allyson's dependent, sorry-for-herself attitude in the middle of the book.
I was enraptured in the romance between Willem and Allyson (to the point that I debated reading while I was in my car, waiting at a stop light). As the book was coming to an end, I felt like I was about to lose a friend. I am quite excited for the sequel. The four-star rating is purely due to the fact that I was disappointed with Allyson's dependent, sorry-for-herself attitude in the middle of the book.
Reading the blurb reminded me of the movie Before Sunrise, so that was what I was expecting. I was a little disappointed, for one because I expected the book to only cover that one day but that was not even half of it. I got tired of Allyson (and her mom) quickly and wanted to slap them both many times. But, there were also a lot of smiling and happy moments (although a bit too unrealistic sometimes) especially in the last part. Like those romantic comedies stories that will never happen in real life, but make you feel good anyway :) I think I will try Just One Year too, see Willem's side of things.
Absolutely loved this story, definitely can't wait to get to the second book!
Whoa, Gayle Forman! How did you DO that?! Just One Day is a simple story about being a person trying to figure out the whos and whats, that somehow manages to be so much more.
Allyson is a character I'm sure a lot of readers can relate to. There's a little bit of Allyson in everyone, and a little bit of Lulu (her spontaneous alter-ego), which is why this book works so well. Gayle Forman managed to make "finding yourself" seem not at all cheesy or over done. It's just something we all have to go through, and Allyson does it beautifully/disastrously/just-want-to-hug-that-girl-ly.
While both the character and plot could have carried this book on their own, the surprise treat for me was all the travel. This book brought back a lot of the fantastic feelings that came with my own European travels, and it also brought back the ones that make me facepalm. Also, Paris is amazing.
Here's the part where I wish I could talk about the ending. I'm not sure I agree with it, but I loved it all the same.
My only problem with this book is that every time I see it mentioned on Twitter One Day More from Les Mis get stuck in my head for a few hours, but that's something I can live with.
Allyson is a character I'm sure a lot of readers can relate to. There's a little bit of Allyson in everyone, and a little bit of Lulu (her spontaneous alter-ego), which is why this book works so well. Gayle Forman managed to make "finding yourself" seem not at all cheesy or over done. It's just something we all have to go through, and Allyson does it beautifully/disastrously/just-want-to-hug-that-girl-ly.
While both the character and plot could have carried this book on their own, the surprise treat for me was all the travel. This book brought back a lot of the fantastic feelings that came with my own European travels, and it also brought back the ones that make me facepalm. Also, Paris is amazing.
Here's the part where I wish I could talk about the ending. I'm not sure I agree with it, but I loved it all the same.
My only problem with this book is that every time I see it mentioned on Twitter One Day More from Les Mis get stuck in my head for a few hours, but that's something I can live with.
I really enjoyed Gayle Formans lastet novel. I wished there was more time spent together with Allyson aka Lulu and Willem. Either way I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to see where it picks off in just one year in willem's perspective! I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you enjoyed if I stay and where she went by Gayle Forman.
Ugh.
Unoriginal plot to the point that even the country/city is so commonplace - falling in love in Paris? C'mon!! Too inspired by Before Sunrise??
Narration/ writing isn't bad, but making the female protagonist so whiney at not finding a boy she met for one day and year ago... Again, c'mon! Do we really need more Bella-type girls??
(I'd love to read a story where the girl gives things like this a fair thought and moves on!)
No, not reading the second book in the series.
Unoriginal plot to the point that even the country/city is so commonplace - falling in love in Paris? C'mon!! Too inspired by Before Sunrise??
Narration/ writing isn't bad, but making the female protagonist so whiney at not finding a boy she met for one day and year ago... Again, c'mon! Do we really need more Bella-type girls??
(I'd love to read a story where the girl gives things like this a fair thought and moves on!)
No, not reading the second book in the series.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Char: 3/5
Hum: 0/5
Rom: 3/5
Writing style: 4/5
Warnings: Non graphic sex scene
This book left me... conflicted. I really enjoyed the actual reading of it -her style is very readable- but it left me dissatisfied at the end (okay, partly because it is one of two).
Allyson... I don't know. Sometimes I sympathized with her, other times I wanted to shake her. Her struggle to find out who she is and where she's going I identified with a lot, but her life hinging on one boy not so much.
It also didn't seem to be a very happy book, a bit depressing. Still, I'll be looking out for the sequel.
Plot: 2.5/5
Char: 3/5
Hum: 0/5
Rom: 3/5
Writing style: 4/5
Warnings: Non graphic sex scene
This book left me... conflicted. I really enjoyed the actual reading of it -her style is very readable- but it left me dissatisfied at the end (okay, partly because it is one of two).
Allyson... I don't know. Sometimes I sympathized with her, other times I wanted to shake her. Her struggle to find out who she is and where she's going I identified with a lot, but her life hinging on one boy not so much.
It also didn't seem to be a very happy book, a bit depressing. Still, I'll be looking out for the sequel.
So. I'm wavering between a 3.5 and a 4, but I'm going with a four because of the signifigant character growth that we got in this one.
I don't really know what to say. I feel like this is the second Gayle Forman book I've been a tad let down by, and this is the second book I've read by her. I suppose it was inevitable, but honestly, I'm still a little disappointed.
I think I just had a hard time coping with the ideals behind this book. I understand that it was supposed to be a whimsical idea of a one day swing, but I just wised for something a bit more realistic in some things. It also took me far too long to connect with Allyson. And, some of the description just jarred me out of the story- but that's just me being picky.
Nonetheless, I liked this, and will be checking out the sequel although I'm irritated that this ends on a cliffhanger.
Full review to come!
I don't really know what to say. I feel like this is the second Gayle Forman book I've been a tad let down by, and this is the second book I've read by her. I suppose it was inevitable, but honestly, I'm still a little disappointed.
I think I just had a hard time coping with the ideals behind this book. I understand that it was supposed to be a whimsical idea of a one day swing, but I just wised for something a bit more realistic in some things. It also took me far too long to connect with Allyson. And, some of the description just jarred me out of the story- but that's just me being picky.
Nonetheless, I liked this, and will be checking out the sequel although I'm irritated that this ends on a cliffhanger.
Full review to come!
This is such a wonderful coming of age novel. It gave me such a sense of wanderlust, I honestly contemplated booking a trip to Paris for a weekend. The book didn't take me at all where I expected it too and that captures Allyson's journey just as much as the reader's. Definitely recommend!