Reviews : Just One Year and Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Just One Year
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Children's
Date Published: October 13, 2013
Kindle version

Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.

Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began....

When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn’t know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren’t fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he’d thought. . . .

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents that happen—and the happiness we can find when the two intersect.  

My Thoughts:

As I mentioned previously, I did not love Just One Day, however, there was so much build-up in it. And with that cliffhanger? Well, I had to find out what was going to happen next.

I was a little leery when I discovered that Just One Year was told from Willem's point of view. I'm not really a Willem fan, however, he really had some explaining to do, and I wanted to hear it. Plus, I wanted to know who this guy really was!  On a side note: I really enjoyed Gayle Forman's book, Where She Went, which was told from a guy's point of view, and she has a real talent for that, so I thought I would keep going and read Willem's story.

While Gayle Forman still did a great job writing from a guys point of view, I still wasn't sure what to think about Willem. I did like him a little more once I found out what he had gone through. I don't know that it warranted being so secretive with Allyson, especially since he had felt such a deep connection with her. Deep enough that he still thought about her for months afterwards. A fair part of this book was about his, uh..."activities", and that didn't make me love him either. At the same time, I enjoyed reading about his adventures abroad, as well as learning a little bit about The Netherlands. I was also happy to see his personal growth.

I felt like this book seemed to stretch and I kept waiting until the part where book one left off. I just kept wanting to get to that part, and was getting really anxious. When we finally did, the book just...ended. It was shocking to be honest. I know some authors want part of the story to be left to the imagination of the reader, but in this case, I cannot understand why this author did that? To build all of this tension and suspense, and then just stop, without a resolution? It felt incomplete. If I did not know that there was a short story waiting to be read, I would have been so disappointed and pissed off!

I wasn't sure how to rate Just One Year, and debated it for awhile. While I liked hearing about Willem's growth and adventures, the ending just killed it for me. I am so grateful for Just One Night, but feel it should have already been a part of Just One Year, as and epilogue.

3-3.5 Stars





Just One Night
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Date Published: May 29, 2014

(I decided not to add the synopsis here, because it was very spoilery, and I don't want to ruin anything, folks).










I just want to say, Thank You, Gayle Forman. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I really feel for the people who read this in 2013, and didn't have this little gem. I don't want to give anything away, but I just wanted to say that the author did a great job wrapping everything up, and it was all that I could hope for. Well, I did want to see Dee again, but hey. ;)

4 Stars

Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Title: I'll Meet You There
Series: Standalone
Author: Heather Demetrios
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Date Published: February 3, 2015

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

My Thoughts:

Wow! This book has just pushed its way into my heart. I was so touched, and so moved by everything. Not just by Josh's story, but by Skylar's, as well.

I know this is technically classified as a Young Adult novel, but I would dare also say that it is New Adult too. The characters experienced so much growth and change in this story. Sky and Josh were both on the verge of starting a new life and a beginning. They weren't sure which direction to go and/or what do. At times, it seemed like they were torn.

Skylar. There were a few times while reading, when I was transported back to when I was a teenager, twenty-something years ago, and had just experienced what she did. Having my mom choose someone else over me. Taking care of my mom, who had seemed to revert back to her youth. Working full time to help make ends meet. I hurt for Skylar, and it brought me some relief to know that someone else had experienced what I did and knew my pain, even if it was simply a character from a story. It just felt so real. I often wondered what would have happened to me if I had made the same choices that Skylar did.

I loved Josh. I loved reading from his point of view, even if it did make me cry. Again. (You probably wouldn't have guessed this- but I am not normally a crier. But, man, I sobbed). I was so grateful to Heather Demetrios for allowing us inside of his head and into his thoughts. He went through so much, and had so many demons. After I read the last page of I'll Meet You There, I couldn't help but wonder what he decided to do with his life, and what became of him. I can only imagine the struggles he would always battle.

I also adored the side characters- Marge, Dylan, Chris, and even Blake. They all had their quirks, but they all brought so much to the story, and spoke to me in some special way.

I would definitely recommend I'll Meet You There to anyone, no matter what genre you read. I know I want to read everything that Heather Demetrios writes now.

 5 Stars

edited: While writing this review, I was listening to Mumford & Sons'  Sigh No More album, and this song (After the Storm) made me think of Josh.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten YA Contemporaries I Can't Believe I Haven't Read

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

 Top Ten YA Contemporary Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read 

 

 

It was really tough for me to choose which genre to focus on today. I debated between New Adult and YA Fantasy, but then realized that I hardly talk about YA contemporary lately, and I really do enjoy this genre.

 

So, here we go!

 

 

 

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

 

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

 

Graffiti Moon by Cath Rowley

 

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

 

Golden by Jessi Kirby

 

On the Fence by Kasie West

 

 

Summer in the City by Elizabeth Chandler

 

 

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

 

 

*Honorable Mentions:

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Call Me Crazy by Quinn Loftis

 

 

 

What are some YA Contemporaries that you've been wanting to read?

 

 

 



Review: Tragic by J.A. Huss

Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

 

This was a great start to a new series!

I wasn't sure what to expect going in. I had been told that this was a New Adult book, but when I read the synopsis, I wondered if it would end up being borderline erotica. Although, I do read the occasional erotica book, I still want to know prior to reading any book, what I am getting myself into. Although, this book did have a few sexy times (and the main characters have a sexy job), I would still say it fits in the NA category.

 

First off, I really like Rook's character. This girl has been though so much, and she is still a sweet, yet strong, young woman with a good head on her shoulders. She did what she had to in order to survive. When she first met Ronin, I thought to myself, "oh no, is Rook going to turn into a different person now?" It's not that I didn't like Ronin, exactly, it's just that sometimes the heroines change (in a bad way) and/or become a different person, just because they meet a hot guy. I didn't want Rook to lose any of those good qualities.

 

I wasn't sure what to think about Ronin. He wasn't a perfect guy, and he did have his flaws. While he was sweet and tried to make sure his girls were okay, sometimes I felt like he was a bit too controlling, and this bothered me a bit. I found myself worrying for Rook, because of that. I have to say that a minor character- Spencer, totally stole the show for me! I really loved that guy and almost want to jump ahead in books, just so that I can get to his story next.

 

I am grateful and happy as to how Rook handled the events in the end, and stayed true to herself and her goals. She knew what she needed in life, and didn't sway from that. Hopefully, she will continue to grow and become even stronger as the series progresses. I know that I am really looking forward to the next book, Manic.



 

 

3.5-4 Stars

 

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman



During the end of last year, I binge read the Just One Day series by Gayle Forman. I really enjoyed her If I Stay series, so it was time that I gave her other series a try.







If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Date Published: January 8, 2013

From the New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay

Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

The first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

My Thoughts:

One of my dreams is to backpack through Europe someday, so I was thrilled when I discovered that Just One Day took place over there. I couldn't wait to read about Allyson's thoughts and adventures, as well as moments where she experienced the self growth that often comes with traveling abroad.

I have to say that while I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it like so many of my friends do. I just had a really hard time relating to the main characters- Allyson and Willem, especially in the first half of the book. As I said, I would absolutely love the opportunity to travel to Europe someday, so I couldn't understand why Allyson was so pissed off about going. She seemed to complain about a lot of things though. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but Allyson did a couple of things that absolutely baffled me, and it wasn't just because she did something a teen might do. These were common sense things!

I also wasn't a big fan of Willem, and cannot put him on my list of book boyfriends. He just seemed so shady and revealed so little about himself, and it surprised me that Allyson was so willing to trust him and would travel in a foreign country with him. He also came up as kind of a jerk, if you ask me. I just didn't understand their connection or believe it, especially as a lot of it seemed based on looks. He didn't even ask for her real name?

Strangely, I preferred the second half of Just One Day, to the first half. It was nice to see Allyson in a different setting, and I admired her personal growth. I also loved her best friend, Dee! I loved that he gave it to her straight, and he was the friend that she needed.

3 Stars