Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Penguin Group
Edition: I/eBook English Version
Published: January 2013
Page: 300
ISBN: 978-1-101-59274-8
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Traveling
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." (Chapter 12)
Allyson was on her Europe Tour when she first met Willem, a Dutch actor. His desirable appeal and mysterious character just made her flirting him from the very first sight. The following day, they met again and just agreed to travel together to Paris. Leaving her best friend, Melanie, behind, Allyson whom Willem called Lulu went to Paris with him for just one day.
In Paris, Allyson and Willem spent most of their time to travel around. However, there was something really annoyed Allyson during their short trip. Willem seemed meeting many of his "girl friends" anywhere. That made Allyson curious about Willem. Besides meeting Willem's "girl friends", Allyson also caught him with Celine, a French girl he said he used to fall in love with. Allyson simply got jealous. But, Allyson couldn't resist Willem and his enchantment. She wanted him a lot even though it was just one day.
They had just made out when in the morning Allyson found herself alone. Willem had just gone without her notice. There must be something wrong about it. But, Allyson just too afraid to figure it out. She could not stay for more days there after Willem ruined it all. Her heart broken into pieces. A year after that, Allyson decided to go back to Paris. Following her heart, she wanted to meet Willem once more for an answer. However, it was not as easy as she thought to be. Something about Willem seemed puzzling around. Willem was not who she used to know before. He hid so many secrets Allyson did not know. Would her heart broken again?
~o~
Just One Day written by Gayle Forman has just become my favorite romance book. This book explores a lot about love at first sight, belief, and strong love intuition. Besides, this book also takes so many references from Shakespeare's works. That makes this book's really worth reading.
The main characters in this book are Allyson Healey and Willem de Ruiter. Allyson herself is described as a young girl who likes traveling. She gets accidentally in love with a stranger, who is Willem, on the way back to London. Meanwhile, Willem is described as an Shakespearean actor who is also a player. He seems having many girls around. He is also mysterious that makes the reader as curious as Allyson.
The setting of this book is mostly in Europe. There are London, Paris, Utrecht, and Amsterdam. Besides, there is some touch about USA as well as Allyson is living there. Further, the time setting is in modern days.
The conflict faced by the central character, which is Allyson, is more about her self-belief in true love. In this book, she also faces other conflicts with other characters. But, the most explosive conflict is about her effort to witness true love. That's why she goes back to Paris just to make sure that true love does exist.
The plot is very easy to follow. It delivers comfort when reading this book. Besides, how the author writes the story just makes me curious about what's next that I get motivated to read and read more pages. On the other hand, the ending is very exciting. It makes me wonder many things.
In my opinion, this book is worth reading especially for those who like reading books about traveling and romance. This book tells so much about Europe, especially France, England, and Holland. How the author describes each location involved in the story just makes me wonder how those countries look like, since I haven't gone there yet. Furthermore, this story also involves some Shakespeare's works which seems enriching my knowledge about them.
Over all, I love this book. Just because it is the first series, so I am looking forward to reading the next sequel entitled Just One Year. To give you some spoiler, the second book of Just One Day series will reveal more secrets about Willem. It will talk a lot about him and his feelings. I can't wait to read it!!!
The quotations I like the most:
"Traveling’s not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. Like breathing." (Chapter 4)
"You have to fall in love to be in love, but falling in love isn’t the same as being in love." (Chapter 6)
"Because nothing that beautiful lasts forever." (Chapter 6)
"Because if time can be fluid, then maybe something that is just one day can go on indefinitely." (Chapter 9)
"The fates. I think that’s another word for accidents." (Chapter 19)
"No one is who they pretend to be." (Chapter 20)
"Maybe accident isn’t the right word after all. Maybe miracle is. Or maybe it’s not a miracle. Maybe this is just life. When you open yourself up to it. When you put yourself in the path of it. When you say yes." (Chapter 39)
Rating: 5 out of 5 crowns
~Happy Reading~
xoxoxo
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