[Mid-Week Read] Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories, graphic novels and anything in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

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Title: Just One Night

Series: Just One Day #2.5, 40 pages

Author: Gayle Forman [Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Website]

Publisher: Viking Children's Books an imprint of Penguin

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 29, 2014

Format: personal copy – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.

General  thoughts:

Taking place when Willem open the door to see Allison and concluding after only one night together we learn about their respective adventures, missed connections and steamy love for each other. 

Oh Willem, I've missed you. One thing about Gayle's writing is that the duologies have always been told from the female's POV first and then the male's in the second book. This novella is told in third person and I'm not sure that I like it, but I do see the necessity. All the inner dialogue which carries the drama and humor is lost, instead we must rely on body language and speaking dialogue which falls flat in places. If anything, we learn never to assume you know the situation. Even if it unfolding in front of you. Missed connections will happen, but so do coincidences, and happy ones at that.

Does it add the story?

Not really, Just One Day and Just One Year filled in their respective gaps and the endings give us closure. However, this novella continues on to set up a more comfortable happily ever after with Allyson and Willem living in the same place. Maybe. Probably. 

3 Stars: While I love a vague ending, this is the happy ending that readers were waiting for.