Review: Just One Year

I received this book for free from Edelweiss, FTC: Exchange for honest opinion in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson’s own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

I was so excited to continue this series and see where it will end. I fell head over heels for Just One Day with the plot, characters, and the emotion. Gayle Foreman is an author who will take me on an adventure with words that bring something different.

I was not expecting the book the way it is. I felt that this book was a total 180 from the first book I thought; the book was not bad because it was different. The book still lived up to my expectations creating the emotion that I have seen in Ms. Foreman’s previous books. We are once again in a point of view of a character introduced in the first book, Willem.

Willem at the beginning is lost, can’t remember much, especially the girl who he was with. The girl he gave the name Lulu too. Willem goes on a year adventure, hence the name of the book, where he finds out who he is as a person. Makes accidents, reconnect with people he once knew, and of course trying to find the girl of his dreams. I think Willem is a character that shows characteristics that everyone can relate to, even though you are not a guy. He felt things which made him feel real. Not many characters are able to do this and I think that is what makes the connection between Willem and the reader special.

Willem kept thinking about Lulu and he was given opportunities to feel that gap with another girl but every time he refused. I feel this is something that a male character lacks in books. Yes, we know most guys will jump at the idea of getting in bed with a girl but the real special guys would not. Willem does think about it but let us be real, who doesn’t?

The ending I was somewhat expecting it to be sort of the way it ended. The thing I was not expecting was how it just ended. Like really, just like that. I knew there was not much else you could do with the book but I just wanted something else to happen which didn’t and I was all sad.

Gayle Foreman sure knows how to end this duet. Grabbing the reader’s attention right from the beginning this book was different from the first but a good different. Beautifully written to meet the reader’s expertise, I wonder how Gayle Foreman will top this.

I give it 5 bites!