Just One Day (#1) - Jan. 8, 2013
Just One Year (#2) - Oct. 10, 2013
Just One Night (#2.5) - May 29, 2014
Published by Penguin Books
"Anything can happen in just one day."
Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.In my opinion, the whole Just One Day series can be done in one book. But I think that the three separate books are able to show many sides and angles to the whole story. Just One Day was told in Allyson's POV. Just One Year was told in Willem's. Just One Night was told in a third person POV.
A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.
Out of all three, Just One Day was definitely my favorite as Allyson was an easy character to connect with. And it's the book that featured Allyson and Willem together a lot. Allyson also met a lot of fun and inspiring people who I easily loved. I didn't like Just One Year so much because Willem was such a playboy and he was so depressed. I think it took too long for him to redeem himself too, but when he did, there was certainly rejoicing. Just One Night was definitely a good ending, but I wanted so much more of it. And the POV made me feel a little distant from the characters. I wish it were a whole book instead of a novella.
If I were to recommend a Gayle Forman book, I would still recommend the If I Stay series. But if you would ask me if you should read this one, then my answer would be yes. I think that Gayle Forman writes really well. Her wit and humor shines through in her books. She knows how to evoke thought and emotions. I didn't really love Willem (I may like him), but I still wanted them to be both happy together. They made me laugh, smile, and feel. I'm not sure I believe in falling in love in a day, but I do believe that a lot can happen, and maybe it is possible.
P.S. Fluffy Reader Sandra is Dutch so I totally asked her all about the Dutch things I found in this series. Hahaha!
SERIES VERDICT:
Fluffy Reader Francine
I read and enjoyed Gayle Forman's If I Stay and Where She Went (this book is an all time-fave!) but have not read this series. I know my cousin loved the first book but was really disappointed with the second though. So I'm still not sure if I'm going to give it a shot but I'm definitely thinking about it :) Great series review Francine!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series of Gayle Forman yet but it's on my to-read list. I've read her If I Stay and Where She Went. It was great, I think this one will be great too! Awesome review, thanks! :)
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