Just One Day is still my favorite book which I had read this year. I had also read If I Stay and Where She Went, both of which I loved. To say I had high hopes for this book is a bit of an understatement.
I did like the book. But I didn't love it. I was never able to connect with Willem as I have been with Gayle Foreman's other protaganists. The ending was a let down.
I think this is one of those cases where you build up a sequel in your mind so much it can't be met. But I feel there could have been more.
The ending with them finding each other (well Allyson finding him, since he did a terrible job of finding her. He had a perfect lead at one point and dropped it!) and then kiss to fade to black was too Hollywood for me. Yes they had a great day in Paris and have searched for each other since, but I need more for the relationship to work. Where She Went did a great job of having the two of them figure out why they broke up and why they are getting back together.
Granted, I've always thought of the romance being in the backseat for Just One Day. The focus of the story was Allyson and her finding out who she really was and who she wanted to be. I guess Willem's story was the same but I couldn't connect to it as well as I did with Allyson. So then when the final scene is just them kissing and not actually talking about how much they have changed, I feel it just ignores what the books were about.
(show spoiler)
I can't say for certain but I feel that reading this book right after Just One Day would be better since they take place at the same time. I do still have this from the library and have put Just One Day on hold again so I can compare them. I'm curious if any parts match up.
 - Gayle Forman)
