Just One Year

Starred review from August 19, 2013
Those who have read Forman’s Just One Day (published earlier this year) already know what happened to Allyson, the foreign exchange student whose whirlwind romance with a Dutch actor, Willem, was cut short. In this companion novel, Forman shares Willem’s captivating side of the story as he embarks on a global quest to find his lost love. Besides discovering how and why Willem left Allyson stranded in Paris, readers will learn what makes him tick, as Willem’s passions and troubled history come to light. Although Willem has plenty of money, there are things he can’t buy, like affection from his emotionally distant mother or a sense of rootedness he hasn’t felt since his father’s death. It also can’t buy the commitment Willem will need to become a serious actor. Old acquaintances and new friends guide Willem on a path spanning three continents, helping him realize the possibilities that lie before him. The complexity of Willem’s character, the twisting plot, and far-flung settings (including the Netherlands, Mexico, and India) create an alluring story that pushes beyond the realm of star-crossed romance. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sarah Burnes, the Gernert Company.