Author: Gayle Forman
Series: Just One Day #2
Publisher: Speak
Publication Year: 2014
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 323
Picking up where Just One Day ended, Just One Year tells Willem's side of the story. After spending an amazing day and night with Allyson in Paris that ends in separation, Willem and Allyson are both searching for one another. 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.
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Stating that this book picks up where Just One Day ended would be misleading (which what the book cover does to some people) because it technically picks up just before Allyson and Willem’s one day in Paris ended. I’m just saying that to answer some expectations that the first book’s readers might have. Sorry but this book won’t give the continuation that you want. Since this book is a companion novel to Just One Day, you should have read Just One Day first before starting this one. With that being said, I’m giving a little warning that I might spoil Just One Day here but I’ll try my best not to.
To recap what happened in Just One Day, It follows Allyson Healey, an 18 years old girl who’s just graduated from high school. She went on a post-graduation Europe cultural tour. In Rome, while on the way to watch a Shakespeare play, she and her best friend Melanie bailed and watched a street Shakespeare play instead. There she met a Dutch actor/ traveler named Wilem. After meeting him again on a train, Willem asked Allyson to explore Paris with him for a day. But after spending the night together, Willem left Allyson without any explanation. Then the book follows Allyson’s one year journey of self-discovery after that one day in Paris.
In Just One Year, we see another side of what happened after that one day in Paris. This time, it’s told from Willem’s perspective. It starts with Willem being disoriented in a hospital in Paris. After receiving treatment from the doctor, he remembered to meet Allyson. But it ended up too late. This answers Allyson’s question as to why Willem left her without any explanation. From then on, it’s pretty much the same with Just One Day but told from Willem’s side.
Just One Year also spans a whole year of Willem’s life after Paris. If in Just One Day we only see a glimpse of Willem’s personality, we see more of it in this book. In the first book, Willem comes across as a flirty guy and pretty much a womanizer. He also seems detached from his roots and aimless. We learn why in this book. Willem has been estranged from her mother and even more so after his father’s death. As Willem travels to look for Allyson, he also tries to reconnect with his families. While travelling, Willem tries to figure out where he belongs too, which I think is more important and it makes me enjoy reading this book.
Just One Year ends coincidentally with the ending of Just One Day. It’s like a meeting point of Allyson and Willem’s journey of finding themselves. I think that’s nice because it implies that they will meet again at the right time when they’re ready. I find it sweet although it might irk some people since it’s a cliffhanger ending for their relationship. Thankfully, Forman wrote a novella called Just One Night which wraps it all up and concludes what will happen to them and their relationship. Since it’s a companion novel, you don’t have to read this book after reading Just One Day but this book definitely fills in the gap that’s left in Just One Day.
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