Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Release Date: January 8, 2012
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320


Summary: 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!


My Thoughts: I expected to like this a bit more than I did. I still enjoyed it a lot but I thought this would end up being a 5 cupcake for me, but it just wasn't.

We are introduced to Allyson who goes to England with a traveling group to enjoy the sites, and experience culture, and something she hasn't really given the chance to explore before, she’s happy and content, but she never has as much fun as she hopes.

Until she meets Willem. Willem is so sweet, and he’s a bit of a charmer. But, even though Allyson connects with him, I really didn't. She spends one amazing day with him and then its all over, and she goes home.  During the year, she constantly thinks about him, and that one amazing day. She doesn't even know his last name. So she decides she’s going to hunt him down, and things go from there.

Honestly, I wanted to love this more. The middle half felt like it dragged on, and I just thought she was being too depressed over a guy she spent one day with. It’s just one day!  I get it, I do. She gave a big piece of herself to him that day but if he was stupid enough to leave then that is his fault.  She was just too special to have to deal with that.

Just One Day was an interesting start to a series. I heard this is supposed to be another one. And of course this ends right on the spot I wanted to know what happened next.

I felt like this book was pretty neat, but I wanted a little more out of it, and some parts of it probably could have been taken out, and I would have been fine with that.

I did like Allyson as a person though, and a few of her friends. The characters were interesting enough to keep me reading, and want to finish this one.

Overall: Really enjoyed it, but had hoped to enjoy it a little more. Maybe I’ll like Forman’s next book a little more. I can’t wait to see what everyone else thinks of this one.

Cover: Like it. It makes you feel like you're really sitting there with her. Love the watch!

What I’d Give It: