Love, friendship, traveling, adventure, heartbreak, this book seems to have it all!
Just One Day's story is told from the perspective of Allyson, a very follow-the-rules-and-make-your-parents-proud, kind of girl. Upon her high school graduation, her parents surprise her with a trip to Europe guided by a teen tours company. Her best friend Melanie also goes on the trip and they spend the summer seeing and learning about the cultures of several countries. Surprisingly, Allyson doesn't actually find herself enjoying the tours, until close to the end of the trip where she takes a risk (after Melanie bashes her for being adventure-adverse) and the two of them ditch the tour group to see a Shakespeare play they were invited to by a theater group on the streets. One of the guys that invites Allyson and Melanie to the play, Willem, seems to take interest in Allyson and he throws her a coin at the end of the play as he takes his bow. It's not until Allyson and Melanie are on the train back to London that they somehow run into each other again. This kickstarts the whole adventure that Allyson and Willem take together. Willem ends up convincing Allyson, who he actually calls Lulu, to take a day trip to Paris with him, in which she does. The whole day is filled with romantic and exciting adventure between the two as they take on the streets of Paris together. After this day is described, the book takes a turn of heartbreak and Allyson is seen slumping through college and having to deal with other dramas with her parents, friends, academics and herself. Throughout the whole book, you can see how Allyson really grows and by the second half, she's bounced back from her seemingly downward spiral. She doesn't let the drama overtake her as she works to fix the relationships she has and takes on a bold persona as she goes on a whole new adventure.
Throughout the book I really appreciated the authenticity of Allyson's narrations and the way she described things. The descriptions really painted pictures for the beautiful settings, emotions and scenes. Although sometimes very dramatic, the plot was very engaging and I found myself continually wanting to know what's next. The fact that this book touched upon family troubles, love vs lust, true friendship, taking risks and finding adventure made it such a well-rounded novel. It'll throw you through so many different emotions because of how beautifully developed the characters are. You end up feeling like you really know each character and the roles they play within the novel, letting you become even more engaged as the plot carries on. By the end of the book, I couldn't help but feel proud of Allyson and how much she's grown.
This is the first book of a series by Gayle Forman. The sequels are Just One Year and Just One Night. Here's some links!
If you want more info on the author and her other novels:
http://gayleforman.com/
If you want more info on the sequels:
http://gayleforman.com/books/just-one-day-just-one-night-just-one-year/
Great post! I want to read the book now! I think its important for characters to feel authentic to the reader. This shows how skillful the writer is and I appreciate credible authors. Coming out of high school and transitioning into college is such a critical moment because we have to start all over and leave behind what we have known for 4 years. I found the transition to college to be rewarding because I was able to be around like-minded individuals. However, the transition is not easy for everyone and they struggle to make it work. Its good to hear that Allyson is working through it. I think her perseverance will resonate with a lot of readers.
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