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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
To be quite honest: I didn't really like the main character. At all. I don't even know why, but I didn't. She was naive and stupid enough to go off and spend a day in Paris with guy she'd just met. But sometimes, people confuse stupidity with courage, so I suppose I actually admire her for having the guts to travel on her own (I know I wouldn't.)
The book didn't really click for me until the last few chapters, when she began saving up for Paris and she traveled.
It wasn't a great book, no. But it wasn't half bad either.
(I feel like I'd contradicted myself in this review, but I guess it's okay since I'm just really confused about how I feel)
The book didn't really click for me until the last few chapters, when she began saving up for Paris and she traveled.
It wasn't a great book, no. But it wasn't half bad either.
(I feel like I'd contradicted myself in this review, but I guess it's okay since I'm just really confused about how I feel)
Gayle Forman, you've done again. Creat a story that tugs at my heartstrings, make me want to cry and deliver a beautiful romance. I definitely enjoy and adore this book, and I think setting wise, I enjoyed it more than If I Stay and Where She Went, for the simple reason of Paris. I love Paris. There we so many emotions reading this book and it was just. Amazing. The ending is killing me though! I really really really want to know what's going to happen next/what happened in the past. AHHHHHHHHH!!!
Definitely an amazing contemporary, Gayle Forman, you get a big big A plus from me on this book, and it will not be soon enough until I get my hands on Just One Year.
*****************
Pre-read:
Update: THE COVER IS GODDAMNED GORGEOUS. OMG. MORE EXCITED THAN EVER!
Love Gayle Forman! She's is a genius~ she made me cry, she made me fall desperately for contemporary, and she writes amazing guys. :D
I will admit I was a little late to the game with Gayle Forman's other books, [b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)|Gayle Forman|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347462970s/4374400.jpg|4422413] and [b:Where She Went|8492825|Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)|Gayle Forman|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347810457s/8492825.jpg|10706553]. I read both of them, in rapid succession, late last year. When I found out she had another book coming out in just a few months I was incredibly excited.
Allyson has always been the good girl, constantly living up to her parents' expectations and never doing anything wild. As part of her high school graduation gift her parents send her on a group teen tour of Europe and, at one of the final stops, Allyson has a chance meeting with Willem, an actor in an underground Shakespeare company. Allyson ends up following Willem to Paris where they spend a wonderful day and night together. When Allyson wakes up the next morning Willem is gone and she spends the next year of her life coming to terms with her time with him and him abandoning her.
I am delighted to say that this book actually exceeded my expectations. As a character Allyson rang true for me right from the beginning until her absolutely great line at the end (no spoilers, but it was fantastic!). One of the most unexpected parts of the book for me was how much I enjoyed the year after Allyson and Willem's Paris adventure. Half of the book or so revolved around Allyson and Willem being together, and I loved them together, so I expected to experience a letdown when the story only revolved around Allyson. However, I think I actually enjoyed the next year of Allyson's life more than the day she spent with Willem.
Forman decided to pick one day from each of the following months to focus on, which I felt was a unique and completely effective way of telling the story. From the depression that Allyson experiences to her trouble settling in at college to her rebellion against her parents to her coming to terms with what happened to Willem, I thought that part of the story was laid out and told perfectly.
Gayle Forman remains one of my favorite YA authors and I am very excited to read the story from Willem's perspective this fall in [b:Just One Year|12842134|Just One Year (Just One Day, #2)|Gayle Forman|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361369717s/12842134.jpg|17992883].
Random Thoughts:
- What a great cover! Even if I had never heard of Gayle Forman or read her previous books this cover would have immediately caught my eye in the bookstore. I'm super picky about covers but this one is fantastic.
- I love how Allyson wasn't ashamed that she wasn't a virgin and that it just wasn't a big deal. As you will discover I really like (in a totally not creepy way, I promise) when female characters, especially (mature) teenagers, own their sexuality in positive, empowering ways.
- Why are so many friends of main characters so annoying? Is it just me? I can't remember the last time I read a book and didn't find myself wishing the main character's friend would just go away.
- I kind of think Willem is a jackass so while I am excited to read Just One Year I'm also kind of worried.
This review first appeared on my blog: http://justacouplemorepages.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/book-review-just-one-day/
Allyson has always been the good girl, constantly living up to her parents' expectations and never doing anything wild. As part of her high school graduation gift her parents send her on a group teen tour of Europe and, at one of the final stops, Allyson has a chance meeting with Willem, an actor in an underground Shakespeare company. Allyson ends up following Willem to Paris where they spend a wonderful day and night together. When Allyson wakes up the next morning Willem is gone and she spends the next year of her life coming to terms with her time with him and him abandoning her.
I am delighted to say that this book actually exceeded my expectations. As a character Allyson rang true for me right from the beginning until her absolutely great line at the end (no spoilers, but it was fantastic!). One of the most unexpected parts of the book for me was how much I enjoyed the year after Allyson and Willem's Paris adventure. Half of the book or so revolved around Allyson and Willem being together, and I loved them together, so I expected to experience a letdown when the story only revolved around Allyson. However, I think I actually enjoyed the next year of Allyson's life more than the day she spent with Willem.
Forman decided to pick one day from each of the following months to focus on, which I felt was a unique and completely effective way of telling the story. From the depression that Allyson experiences to her trouble settling in at college to her rebellion against her parents to her coming to terms with what happened to Willem, I thought that part of the story was laid out and told perfectly.
Gayle Forman remains one of my favorite YA authors and I am very excited to read the story from Willem's perspective this fall in [b:Just One Year|12842134|Just One Year (Just One Day, #2)|Gayle Forman|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361369717s/12842134.jpg|17992883].
Random Thoughts:
- What a great cover! Even if I had never heard of Gayle Forman or read her previous books this cover would have immediately caught my eye in the bookstore. I'm super picky about covers but this one is fantastic.
- I love how Allyson wasn't ashamed that she wasn't a virgin and that it just wasn't a big deal. As you will discover I really like (in a totally not creepy way, I promise) when female characters, especially (mature) teenagers, own their sexuality in positive, empowering ways.
- Why are so many friends of main characters so annoying? Is it just me? I can't remember the last time I read a book and didn't find myself wishing the main character's friend would just go away.
- I kind of think Willem is a jackass so while I am excited to read Just One Year I'm also kind of worried.
This review first appeared on my blog: http://justacouplemorepages.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/book-review-just-one-day/
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Why I Loved It: This was a book for me that was read in just one day. That's because it was incredible. For me, this review may be biased. Just going to throw that out there. Sometimes books are just the perfect thing for that time. The book you need for the mood you are in becomes the perfect thing for you. And that was what Just One Day was for me. Perfection.
Here's the thing. I tend to fall head over heels for any book that would let me travel the world. London? Paris? Yes, please. It seems that I have been falling in love with books full of world travel and Shakespeare lately. *Even though I honestly dislike Shakespeare in general.* The book was not at all what I was expecting. I don't think the summary really quite captures what happens in the book. Allyson spends her summer traveling Europe with her best friend Melanie. Melanie is all about changing and redefining who she is and in turn who Allyson is. During their last stop, they decided to ditch the official production of Hamlet and go see an underground Shakespeare performance of Twelfth Night... mostly because the boy who invited them caught Allyson's eye. The boy is also part of the play, and then pops back up the next day and manages to convince Allyson to spend the day with him in Paris. That day changes her life, and the rest of the book picks up about a year later.
I really hope that doesn't give too much away, but there is so much I didn't say so *whew*. The book explored some deeper concepts that I wasn't expecting. Considering it was Gayle Forman, I probably should have. Melanie is an interesting character, showing just what college can be like for some of us. Allyson, though, is different from Melanie. Her year is a reflection of that one day, and her experiences show just how much one day can make an impact on us. A lot of time isn't necessary to change our lives.
If loved exploring who she was with Allyson and meeting the people she comes in contact with in college. I loved seeing who Allyson slowly became. It gave me all the feels.
The storytelling is incredible, the characters are real and relatable, and Europe is always a plus. Just One Day is the kind of book that you make memories with.
Who Should Read It: If you too love finding books that sweep you away to Europe and enjoy finding cute boys within the pages of a book, I am going to recommend this book to you. It's an incredible contemporary.
Here's the thing. I tend to fall head over heels for any book that would let me travel the world. London? Paris? Yes, please. It seems that I have been falling in love with books full of world travel and Shakespeare lately. *Even though I honestly dislike Shakespeare in general.* The book was not at all what I was expecting. I don't think the summary really quite captures what happens in the book. Allyson spends her summer traveling Europe with her best friend Melanie. Melanie is all about changing and redefining who she is and in turn who Allyson is. During their last stop, they decided to ditch the official production of Hamlet and go see an underground Shakespeare performance of Twelfth Night... mostly because the boy who invited them caught Allyson's eye. The boy is also part of the play, and then pops back up the next day and manages to convince Allyson to spend the day with him in Paris. That day changes her life, and the rest of the book picks up about a year later.
I really hope that doesn't give too much away, but there is so much I didn't say so *whew*. The book explored some deeper concepts that I wasn't expecting. Considering it was Gayle Forman, I probably should have. Melanie is an interesting character, showing just what college can be like for some of us. Allyson, though, is different from Melanie. Her year is a reflection of that one day, and her experiences show just how much one day can make an impact on us. A lot of time isn't necessary to change our lives.
If loved exploring who she was with Allyson and meeting the people she comes in contact with in college. I loved seeing who Allyson slowly became. It gave me all the feels.
The storytelling is incredible, the characters are real and relatable, and Europe is always a plus. Just One Day is the kind of book that you make memories with.
Who Should Read It: If you too love finding books that sweep you away to Europe and enjoy finding cute boys within the pages of a book, I am going to recommend this book to you. It's an incredible contemporary.
I seriously couldn't connect with Allyson for the most part. By the time she stopped being a whiny teenager, I was already 65% through the book, and too late to convince me to like the book. Sorry to all the fans out there!
SERIES REVIEW:
Allyson and Willem's story started in the first book, Just One Day. A series of fortunate circumstances - serendipity, you might say - brought them together to spend an amazing day in Paris, and within twenty four hours, find love in one another.
To be honest, I was really hesitant to pick this up at first. I didn't really like the sound of Shakespeare in the synopsis. I only picked it up because of the endless gushing of bloggers and readers alike. I still can't say whether it was worth it or not.
On the first book, we got to see Allyson's side of the story. We got to see how she and Willem met, talked, and eventually went on a trip to Paris together. Before meeting Willem, Allyson was the shy goody-two-shoes, but then after just one day, everything changed and she became this whiny teenager that I really hated! It was like she wanted to inflict more pain to herself by thinking about crazy things. Because of this, I wasn't able to enjoy the first book so much. But then about the middle or so of the book, Allyson goes to college and meets Dee, which is the redeeming point. Of course, at first she was still a bitch, but then with the help of Dee, she finally puts herself together and stopped being the whiny teenager that I've come to hate so much. So thank you, Dee, for being that thing that salvaged the book for me, and for being one of the reasons why I continued on to the next book. I seriously couldn't connect with Allyson for the most part. By the time she stopped being a whiny teenager, I was already 65% through, and too late to convince me to like the book.
As I said, Dee was only one of the reasons. The second is that, I thought: Well, I got this far already! I couldn't just go on with another book without knowing Willem's side of the story! I felt a need to understand what really happened, so I dared to read the second book, and hoped that it would at least be a bit better than the first book.
Reading Willem's point of view is definitely a great change because I didn't have to deal with a whiny teenage girl anymore. It was refreshing, and it actually made me thankful for continuing on to the second book, despite not getting what the fuss was about the first book. Willem's POV definitely made things better, and I began to like the story. In Just One Year, we get to see what really happened that night in Paris. Why had he left Lulu, and had he tried to look for her? All things were answered in the second book and more. Willem's book is definitely the better of the two, and I even picked up a few wise words from him here and there. I really like the second book, which make me almost thankful for picking up the first one. Almost.
Overall, I don't get what all the fuss was about the first book, but I finally understood after reading the story in Willem's point of view. I guess it was just the whiny part that I didn't like about the first book, but you've got to admit, it's pretty much a big part of the book. I give the first book 3 stars, and the second book 4.5 stars.
SERIES REVIEW:
Allyson and Willem's story started in the first book, Just One Day. A series of fortunate circumstances - serendipity, you might say - brought them together to spend an amazing day in Paris, and within twenty four hours, find love in one another.
To be honest, I was really hesitant to pick this up at first. I didn't really like the sound of Shakespeare in the synopsis. I only picked it up because of the endless gushing of bloggers and readers alike. I still can't say whether it was worth it or not.
On the first book, we got to see Allyson's side of the story. We got to see how she and Willem met, talked, and eventually went on a trip to Paris together. Before meeting Willem, Allyson was the shy goody-two-shoes, but then after just one day, everything changed and she became this whiny teenager that I really hated! It was like she wanted to inflict more pain to herself by thinking about crazy things. Because of this, I wasn't able to enjoy the first book so much. But then about the middle or so of the book, Allyson goes to college and meets Dee, which is the redeeming point. Of course, at first she was still a bitch, but then with the help of Dee, she finally puts herself together and stopped being the whiny teenager that I've come to hate so much. So thank you, Dee, for being that thing that salvaged the book for me, and for being one of the reasons why I continued on to the next book. I seriously couldn't connect with Allyson for the most part. By the time she stopped being a whiny teenager, I was already 65% through, and too late to convince me to like the book.
As I said, Dee was only one of the reasons. The second is that, I thought: Well, I got this far already! I couldn't just go on with another book without knowing Willem's side of the story! I felt a need to understand what really happened, so I dared to read the second book, and hoped that it would at least be a bit better than the first book.
Reading Willem's point of view is definitely a great change because I didn't have to deal with a whiny teenage girl anymore. It was refreshing, and it actually made me thankful for continuing on to the second book, despite not getting what the fuss was about the first book. Willem's POV definitely made things better, and I began to like the story. In Just One Year, we get to see what really happened that night in Paris. Why had he left Lulu, and had he tried to look for her? All things were answered in the second book and more. Willem's book is definitely the better of the two, and I even picked up a few wise words from him here and there. I really like the second book, which make me almost thankful for picking up the first one. Almost.
Overall, I don't get what all the fuss was about the first book, but I finally understood after reading the story in Willem's point of view. I guess it was just the whiny part that I didn't like about the first book, but you've got to admit, it's pretty much a big part of the book. I give the first book 3 stars, and the second book 4.5 stars.
I absolutely 1000% adore Gayle Forman and her books. I raved about the print version here.
But I cannot give the same five-star review to the audiobook simply because of the narration of Willem's voice: IT ANNOYED ME TO DEATH! Rather than having the narrator deepen her pitch or even hiring a second reader to read Willem's parts (which are so few in this book!), readers are "treated" to a computerized version that is jarring and distracting. Rather than the dread and sadness I felt in the print version when Allison/Lulu returned to the United States, with the audio, I instead heaved a sigh of relief.
I pray that the narration of Just One Year is less off-putting.
But I cannot give the same five-star review to the audiobook simply because of the narration of Willem's voice: IT ANNOYED ME TO DEATH! Rather than having the narrator deepen her pitch or even hiring a second reader to read Willem's parts (which are so few in this book!), readers are "treated" to a computerized version that is jarring and distracting. Rather than the dread and sadness I felt in the print version when Allison/Lulu returned to the United States, with the audio, I instead heaved a sigh of relief
Spoiler
knowing I wasn't going to have to hear that darn computerized voice again until the last pagesI pray that the narration of Just One Year is less off-putting.
Admittedly, I will read anything that Gayle Forman writes. I devoured her last two novels, If I Stay and Where She Went . So it is no surprise that I simply adored Just One Day—and read it in just one day!
For as long as she can remember, every minute of every day of Allyson's life has been planned and organized. Even her whirlwind tour of Europe consisted of a structured group moving in mass from museum to monument to meals. On the last day of the tour, the tour is in Stratford scheduled to attend a Royal Shakespeare Theater performance of Hamlet. While the group waits to enter the theater, a ragtag troupe of actors walks down the line handing out flyers: “Guerilla Will. Shakespeare Without Borders. Shakespeare Unleashed. Shakespeare for Free. Shakespeare for All.” On an impulse, Allyson drags her friend Melanie off to see this rogue production of Twelfth Night. At the performance's end, the actor playing Sebastian, Willem, tosses her a coin and, later, an invitation to spend one miraculous day and night in Paris. But, at the end of the amazing night...Willem is gone!
Allyson spends the next year searching for herself and maybe even true love.
The story is told in such a relaxing, lyrical voice that the reader will feel like they are sitting in a coffee house chatting with Allyson about her journey. The descriptions of Allyson's travels through Paris will take you to those places—a bonus armchair travelogue. The multiple allusions to various William Shakespeare plays was an added bonus for any lover of Shakespeare—and made me think of what a wonderful tool this book would be to help students with a basic understanding of his plays' themes as well as draw others into Shakespeare's magnificent worlds.
Just One Day is an amazing voyage of self-discovery both metaphorically and physically. I eagerly await the release of Just One Year, told from Willem's viewpoint, which is slated for release October 2013. If this companion novel is anything like the format of Where She Went, the reader will get Willem's view of the events that occur in Just One Day while also revealing more about Willem and taking the reader on new adventures.
* Review also published in Livermore Public Library March 2013 Staff Picks *
For as long as she can remember, every minute of every day of Allyson's life has been planned and organized. Even her whirlwind tour of Europe consisted of a structured group moving in mass from museum to monument to meals. On the last day of the tour, the tour is in Stratford scheduled to attend a Royal Shakespeare Theater performance of Hamlet. While the group waits to enter the theater, a ragtag troupe of actors walks down the line handing out flyers: “Guerilla Will. Shakespeare Without Borders. Shakespeare Unleashed. Shakespeare for Free. Shakespeare for All.” On an impulse, Allyson drags her friend Melanie off to see this rogue production of Twelfth Night. At the performance's end, the actor playing Sebastian, Willem, tosses her a coin and, later, an invitation to spend one miraculous day and night in Paris. But, at the end of the amazing night...Willem is gone!
Allyson spends the next year searching for herself and maybe even true love.
The story is told in such a relaxing, lyrical voice that the reader will feel like they are sitting in a coffee house chatting with Allyson about her journey. The descriptions of Allyson's travels through Paris will take you to those places—a bonus armchair travelogue. The multiple allusions to various William Shakespeare plays was an added bonus for any lover of Shakespeare—and made me think of what a wonderful tool this book would be to help students with a basic understanding of his plays' themes as well as draw others into Shakespeare's magnificent worlds.
Just One Day is an amazing voyage of self-discovery both metaphorically and physically. I eagerly await the release of Just One Year, told from Willem's viewpoint, which is slated for release October 2013. If this companion novel is anything like the format of Where She Went, the reader will get Willem's view of the events that occur in Just One Day while also revealing more about Willem and taking the reader on new adventures.
* Review also published in Livermore Public Library March 2013 Staff Picks *
I really enjoyed this book! I have wanted to read it for such a long time and I'm very happy I decided to pick it up. It was a fun, light read that had so many inspirational and real moments. I felt the characters were very easy to relate too. They were very real, and I enjoyed that. My favorite part had to be the middle/the one year section. I loved seeing Allyson's life without being in Paris and how that day really affected her. I wasn't the biggest fan of the end, I thought it was a bit confusing and almost kind of rushed. Nevertheless I still enjoyed the last couple pages and was so shocked at the cliffhanger. I'm very exited to read Just One Year and hear from Willem's pint of view! Overall I really liked this book and very happy that I picked it up!