Book Review | Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Title: Just One Year
Author: Gayle Forman
Publication: October 10th, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Children's
Source: Bought it

Rating: 5 out 5 stars


Synopsis: Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.
Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began....
When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn't know where in the world he is - Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day - that girl - makes Willem wonder if they aren't fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he'd thought....


Review: AHHH all the feels this book delivered! This is the one and only book that I have ever preordered and that's because I got a signed copy with a whole bunch of other goodies. I couldn't resist when Just One Day(check out my review here) has become one of my all time favorite books. I got it the week after it came out and I dropped what I was reading and read it right away. I just couldn't wait any longer. And I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. 

I'm going to do this review spoiler free as best as I can, so please don't mind my vague references. Remember the major cliff-hanger ending to Just One Day? This book does not begin there and I was anxious all the way to end, in fact I was so desperate to find out what happened that I have to admit, I peeked. The beginning of this book starts with Willem waking up and we find out what exactly happened to him and why he disappeared the morning after the day him and Allyson spent together. When he finds out that she has already gone, he goes on a search for her traveling all over the world.

I enjoyed reading about Willem's adventures just as much as I enjoyed Allyson's. His traveling and experiences were fun to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed vicariously traveling on his back throughout the book.

I loved the realness of emotions that Gayle Forman does a fantastic job of presenting. I felt that they were realistic perspectives of what a guy or girl would do if they were heartbroken. Willem was trying to move forward, but he kept going back to Allyson and I loved that we got to see how much he cared for her. I loved that he was passionate and sturdy in his love for her and it withheld everything he was faced with in this book.

There are moments in this book where you are on the edge of your seat with anticipation. Is he finally going to cross paths with her? What is going to happen? Are they going to end up happily ever after? While this book chipped off pieces of my heart, the ending put it back together again and made it swell. While I could have wanted more from the ending, it was adequately satisfying and so very sweet that I was very happy with it. Here's to crossing my fingers that maybe Gayle will change her mind and write a third book...

I recommend this book along with Just One Day to anyone and everyone. These books are all time favorites for me and ones I'm already dying to re-read. 

Have you guys read either of these books? How did you feel about the ending? Any good travel books that you have read before?








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