Just One Day

Just One Day by Gayle Forman is a contemporary, travel, coming of age, heartbreak filled story. I found it to be moderately good, so overall I'd say it's a 3.75 out of 5.

Allyson, Lulu, starts out as the straight A perfect student who obeys everything her Mom dictates, whom lives vicariously through her daughter. So when she's offered the opportunity to escape those shackles, while on her European group tour with her friend Melanie, and to live as Lulu, for just one day, she changes it up and agrees to have a mere stranger Willhelm (who's Dutch!) accompany her to a secret excursion to Paris! 

Her day trip, I found, was absolutely enviable! In fact, I openly admit to the internet that I'm jealous of dear Lulu! Will serves as a great tour guide, his looks adds heartily to it too, and you can feel the romantic tension between the two rather well, with it only being intensified that in 24 hours, they'll be heading in two very different ways, on another continent! When it begins to wind down the desperation is very noticeable! Though I'm sorry to inform you that this "desperation" is not graphic, it merely skims over it a bit... so if you're into that sort of literature, you definitely won't find it in this young adult book. 

I undoubtedly want to discuss the relationship between Lulu and will, but I fear it may spoil a big part of the book for you. So, I'll keep my mouth mostly shut. A on the surface understanding is formed that creates heartbreak and depression. However, it is this that instigates, along with the single day trip, Allyson to unchain those shackles and to search for who she truly is, self-discovery... introspection. The people that she meets along the way will guide her through her long transformation process. A few of them I really admire, there are some very interesting yet unique characters! All of the struggles that she goes through and eventually overcome can be very relatable to a wide variety of people, opening up its demographic and appealing to an array of creatures. Depression, heartbreak, over-controlling parents, travel, self-discovery: it's all very relatable. You will not be left untouched.

The descriptions in this book of the scenery is phenomenal! It'll transport you to the actually scenery, mainly the city of Paris and the country of the Netherlands. You'll be there with the characters in the field of Tulips, laying on the ground, in a boat, in a fancy French restaurant, running for your life, in a squat, and many other places. It'll make you truly believe that time really is fluid. It's beautiful. This is a terrific read for those who love international travel, though be warned: you are at risk of being infected with wanderlust. I caught it, therefore, you have the potential to catch it too. Especially for those who have been repressed from traveling or having an adventure for a long duration. I repeat, you have been forewarned. 

This will appeal to those who are a fan of Shakespeare!