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sapphron 's review for:
Just One Day
by Gayle Forman
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A heartening journey of a girl from shy, sheltered, and risk averse to an independent adult. It's not really a romance, but instead an inspirational portrayal of a reinvention of oneself. There's a lot of life lessons sprinkled throughout that culminate into gaining the courage to become the person you want to be through one's own actions and that's why I love this. That's why I read it for the third time! I especially love this because of the stronger focus on friendship and internal reflection rather than the romance.
Having said that, reading this for the first time as an adult who has since dappled into classics and poetry after the last read through, it was apparent on the first page that the writing style isn't extraordinary - and I don't believe in handwaving that criticism just because this is YA. I found the first 40%, the part that focuses on the romance, to be quite gray. Now, is it because the author purposely wanted to show the effect of rose-colored glasses overly exaggerating the euphoria of limerence to tie into the book's theme of self-love? Or was it because the author struggles to write conversation and romantic connection? I struggle myself to choose one because the main character's, Allyson, development arc crescendos beautifully. The book sails in "Part Two" of the in-book divide, so while the writing isn't extraordinary it isn't bad, no not at all, just anonymous and at times, flat.
I understand the moderate rating as it is disappointing if you're under the assumption that it is a whirlwind, Parisian romance. But I must EXCLAIM how lovely this novel is for anyone who is like Allyson - struggling to exist for themselves, outside themself, to step into and embrace the discomfort. Ironically, this is a comfort read for me.
Having said that, reading this for the first time as an adult who has since dappled into classics and poetry after the last read through, it was apparent on the first page that the writing style isn't extraordinary - and I don't believe in handwaving that criticism just because this is YA. I found the first 40%, the part that focuses on the romance, to be quite gray. Now, is it because the author purposely wanted to show the effect of rose-colored glasses overly exaggerating the euphoria of limerence to tie into the book's theme of self-love? Or was it because the author struggles to write conversation and romantic connection? I struggle myself to choose one because the main character's, Allyson, development arc crescendos beautifully. The book sails in "Part Two" of the in-book divide, so while the writing isn't extraordinary it isn't bad, no not at all, just anonymous and at times, flat.
I understand the moderate rating as it is disappointing if you're under the assumption that it is a whirlwind, Parisian romance. But I must EXCLAIM how lovely this novel is for anyone who is like Allyson - struggling to exist for themselves, outside themself, to step into and embrace the discomfort. Ironically, this is a comfort read for me.