Wednesday, November 28, 2012

ARC Review & Giveaway: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Pre-Order: Amazon  | Barnes & Noble
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.
My Thoughts
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.”  This is a quote from an uncorrected proof.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman is what I would consider a worthy start to what I truly believe will have an epic continuation. This book delivered in all the ways Forman knows how, which is a great premise, a likable cast and a primer for a promising part two. I think the early readers of If I Stay will agree with me when I say we never considered the possibility that Forman would deliver a second installment to her beloved novel. I, for one, was ecstatic to hear she would continue Mia’s story, and when I stumbled upon the final pages of Where She Went, I was left with a feeling of pure bliss and cemented fandom for this author’s stories.

To hear she was coming out with a new novel, Just One Day, had me pulling out my dancing shoes and running in circles in pure excitement. When an author earns your attention and continues to deliver greatness, there seems to be an assumed allegiance that earns them a guaranteed audience. I can comfortably declare that with a handful of authors such as Marchetta, Dessen, Green to name a few, Forman has me at “Hello.”

Just One Day tells us the story of Allyson Healey who is suppose to be enjoying a life changing experience as she travels Europe with her best friend Melanie the summer before they both start college. As the trip progresses, Allyson struggles to find enjoyment in the trip until she comes across a Shakespearian Dutch actor, Willem, who sweeps her off her feet and delivers one of the most memorable days she could wish for. That changing event comes to a devastating halt when she wakes up the following morning to find he’s gone and left no means of contacting him. She returns home and goes on to start college, but she can’t seem to move past the shock of having come so close to happiness to only see it slip through her fingers.

I have to admit I struggled to like Allyson and Willem for a portion of the novel. However, I think that was a bit purposeful on Forman’s part because if she shows all of her cards early on, the possibilities of where the story can go is cut short. I remember feeling the same way about Mia in the second installment of Where She Went, but I have to commend Forman for challenging her readers to keep an open mind, don’t jump to conclusions and consider the possibilities. I recommend that to those who read this novel. Despite what you deduce of these two characters, don’t sell them short because as you peel away the layers of this intricate story, you’ll find a whole new element to the story ready to reveal itself.

In addition, the story somewhat left me craving for more secondary character time. There were a couple of hidden gems I wanted to learn more about including Dee and Wren. I felt like I was just getting to know Dee and his story when he was suddenly placed on the sidelines. The same felt true for Wren, so I’m looking forward to revisiting these two sometime soon.

I appreciated the themes Forman weaved into her novel around self awareness, growth and the pain of losing the possibility of what could have been. Those are topics that seem to always resonate with me, and Forman is great at delivering valuable considerations that shouldn’t be ignored.

Overall, as much as I liked this book to a certain degree, I’m more excited to see where it will lead with the next installment when Willam takes the stage in Just One Year. Good book that her fans are sure to enjoy!

3.5 Snowflakes
WinterHaven Books is happy to host a giveaway for this ARC. We are opening this giveaway Internationally for followers of WinterHaven. Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment related to this book, the author or her other novels. Good luck!
 
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53 comments:

  1. If I Stay was sooooo goood! I cried buckets after I finished it, but I read it again as soon as I finished it! I can't wait to read this one too.

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  2. I was excited when I knew about this book. If I Stay and Where She Went left a mark after I've read them and I am looking forward to be get to know the characters in this book.

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  3. I loved If I Stay and Where She Went even more so! I am so excited to read yet another book from this author. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

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  4. I loved the other books, definitely looking forward to this one!

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  5. Two of my all-time favorite reads are If I Stay and Where She Went, so I'm really looking forward to reading this! Excellent review Arlene. :)

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  6. I absolutely LOVED If I Stay and Where She Went, and words cannot express how excited I am to read Just One Day! :D

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  7. I absolutely loved loved If I Stay and Where She Went! Forman is a gorgeous writer and I can't wait to see if I love this next book just as much!

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  8. I absolutely loved If I Stay and Where She Went. I immediately put this on my wishlist!!

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  9. I'm really looking forward to this one. :)

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  10. I loved If I Stay and Where She Went! I can not wait to read this book :D

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  11. The only books I read were "If I Stay" and "Where She Went", but I loved them and I can't wait for another book from this author.

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  12. I would love to win this book. My sister in law told me about her previous books, "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" and I adored them. I can't wait to read this book!

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  13. Awww this is such a beautiful review Arlene, I can't wait to get my hands on this after being such a huge fan of If I Stay and Where She Went, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as you'd hoped. But thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  14. Great review & great giveaway. Keep up the good work!

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  15. First love can be hard to get over, especially if that love is unrequited. I'd like to read this book and follow the growth of this young girl. Thanks for the great review.

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  16. I love Foreman's writing. I read If I Stay in just a few hours on a car ride. I could not put it down. And I had boughts of crying for sure! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. I love If I Stay and Where She Went! I was crying over them, and I can't wait to read Just One Day!

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  18. I have already read and loved this book, I came across your review as I sat down to finalize my own. But my copy was a touring ARC and I would love to win one for my very own because honestly, I can not wait to read it again:)

    Loved your thoughtful, thorough review!

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  19. I totally loved Mia and Adam's relationship. I couldn't count the number of times I've read Where She Went and If I stay. So yeah, I'm pretty excited for this new novel. 2013 couldn't come soon enough.

    More power to your blog. :)

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  20. I absolutely ADORED her two other books, and I can't wait to read another book by her :)

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  21. I LOOOVVVEEE If I Stay and Where She Went so much. Gayle Forman really succeeded in describing the story from 2 different perspective, Mia's and Adam's and I could totally drowned and understand how they felt. And when I found out she writes different series that will be using 2 different perspective again, how can I wait to read it?? Totally anticipating these two!!!

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  22. I read If I Stay and Where She Went. Absolutely adore them. Can't hardly wait for this series (Just One Day)

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  23. I read "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" on my own 7 week adventure through Europe with a friend this past summer. I couldn't get over how amazing both of the books were and I have to admit that I can't wait to read this one either! Forman totally knows how to pull you in and not let you go!

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  24. I read "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" in the same day! I loved Mia and Adam's relationship and couldn't put the book down. I've been a huge Gayle Forman fan since and can't wait to read this and the subsequent book!!

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  25. I haven't read any of her books yet, but this one sounds amazing--can't wait to read it! :)

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  26. Gayle Forman's writing style just sucks me in. Every time I read If I Stay and Where She Went, I'm finished before I know it. (: I'm extremely excited about Just One day!

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  27. I haven't read any of her books yet, But ill sure will!
    And this one sounds amazing

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  28. The first time I read If I Stay, I didn't love it. I thought it was fine, but not as good as I was expecting. I re-read it probably a year later, and I don't know what I was thinking because it was amazing. It's strange how not being in the right mood can affect your take on a book. Needless to say, I'm now a really big fan of Gayle Forman's work.

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  29. I loved If I Stay and Where She Went, so I'm really looking forward to this one, so so much! Thanks for the giveaway!
    GFC: Gisele Alvarado (there's no extra box on the form)

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  30. My favourite genre is YA contemporary and I loved her previous two books, so very excited to read this upcoming one. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  31. I'm big, big fan of Gayle Forman's books, If I Stay and Where She Went I've read literally in one day. They totally sucked me in! :) So to say that I'm excited about this one would be an understatement of the century. January can't come soon enough! :) Thanks for a chance to win it! :)

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  32. AHHH great Review but honestly YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE! I want to read this so bad I love Gayle's writng!

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  34. " I'm not choosing. I'm just running out of fight." it's one of my most favorite qoutes from her book. I went through a whole boxs of tissues at the end of "If I stay" and I adore all of her books!

    sorry rewrite

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  35. As a huge fan of Before Sunrise and After Sunset, it sounds like this book is just perfect. I can't wait to read it!

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  36. I haven't read or heard of this book before, but I'm a huge fan of Gayle Forman's. Her books IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT are absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to read this book as well. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  37. What a lovely, thoughtful review. I love Gayle Forman as an author, weeping buckets over IF I STAY, even if I'm not convinced it's the work of genius everyone else does. Don't get me wrong- I loved it- and Forman is a tremendous writer. I've heard great things about JUST ONE DAY and can't wait to read it.

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  38. I loved If I Stay but I was completely blown away by Where She Went. And I can't wait to read this one.

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  39. I loved Mia and Adam so I'm definitely looking forward to Allyson and Willem!

    -Maggie

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  40. If I Stay and Where She Went were some of my favorite reads! Can't wait to read this one :)

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  41. I hope I'll enjoy Just One Day as much as Where She Went! The early reviews have me stoked.

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  42. Thanks for the giveaway I want to read this one

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  43. I loved If I stay, so I'm looking forward to this one now! ^^

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  44. This book is very interesting. Can't wait to see the winner

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  45. I love books that make you think about your own growth and discovery. I am EAGERLY awaiting this one - I love Gayle Forman (Where She Went had my lip trembling the entire time!), and I think this is a great concept.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  46. I loved If I Stay and Where She Went, and I'll read whatever Gayle Foreman writes. Plus I've already heard good things about this book!

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  47. I loved If I Stay, I'm really looking forward to this book!

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