Just One Year by Gayle Forman

 
When I read "Just One Day" by Gayle Forman (the first book in this 2 - technically 2 part series) I really enjoyed it so of course I had to read the sequel, "Just One Year." And let me tell you I was not disappointed. While "Just One Day" tells the story from Allyson's point of view, "Just One Year" follows Willem's side.
 
Just like the first novel there's a lot of traveling and pining for someone across the ocean, but following Willem's character development through a whole year was very interesting. Sadly though, I must admit, this was the first book I ever read where I didn't always like the narrator. Willem sometimes came across as a spoiled, womanizing jerk. But the more I kept reading the more I realized he had serious Mommy Issues and definitely didn't cope with his dad's death too well since it spiraled him into taking a 2-3 year journey across Europe.
 
But anyhoo .... on to the review >>>>>
 
The Characters
 
 
Ok, so there were a lot of characters but as I typed earlier the main one is Willem, the guy Allyson spent 1 day with in Paris, France in the first book. The story picks up kind of in the middle of book 1 - where Willem has awakened in a French hospital after he and Allyson shared this amazing night in an artist' squat. He supposedly was going to get them some breakfast and along the way got attacked by the same skinheads that tried to attack them in the first book. By the time he makes it back to the squat Allyson is gone and he spends the next year trying to find her (kind of) and more importantly trying to find himself.
 
Along the way he meets some pretty interesting and surprisingly realistic characters. There Prateek from India and Kate in Mexico and not to mention his friends in Holland. All of these people - in their own ways - help Willem realize that there's so much more going on with his heart than finding a girl he spent one day with.
 
The Conflict
 
 
The conflict is more internal than external for Willem. He's dealing with the death of his father, the move of his mother (who moves to India after his dad's death), and basically the feeling of not having a home anymore. With his parents basically gone Willem has to figure out where he fits in the world and whether or not finding Allyson (or Lulu, as he knows her) is worth his time. He's spent his whole life running from the things he loves and the people he cares about most but after his day with Allyson in Paris, he's sort of (accidentally) sent on a journey to find out where he belongs.
 
>>>>>>>>>>
 
So, all in all I enjoyed all the travel and descriptions of the places Willem got to visit. You can tell that the author has definitely been some places in her day because the way she describes traveling internationally is very realistic - it's definitely not a fairy tale - there are frustrations and moments of lost in translation but totally worth it because you get to experience a whole new culture.
 
And while Willem was not always likable he helped to propel the story forward and in the end he gets some much needed closure. So I give this book 4 ****stars out of 5. If you're looking for solid read with some self-evaluation and travel "Just One Year" is the ticket for you.
 
XOXO,
 
Nellie

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