Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Just for the Summer

I loved this book...the characters, the setting, the relationships, the focus on mental health. I also loved that it wasn't a light & fluffy romance. The author proved that romance and hard/heavy topics can co-exist well!

Justin is one of the best MMCs I've read...so supportive and caring to everyone around him, incredibly patient with Emma and so in love with her, willing to do or drop anything to help her, willing to put his own life on the back burner to take guarandship of his siblings. I mean, what a great guy!

Emma is one of the more complex FMCs I've read. Kind, easy going, seemingly serene and confident, yet has many layers due to the neglect she suffered as a child. Her journey to becoming mentally healthier was interesting to watch unfold.

The complexity of all the characters (not just Emma) and their lives was intriguing to me because the factors involved weren't superficial, like simple bad communication. PTSD, childhood abandonment, criminal conviction, mental health...all life altering situations that effect not only the character, but those around them. I enjoyed seeing how they struggled and dealt with those issues in a realistic way.

I liked that friendship was such a strong theme throughout the book. Emma and Maddy were the perfect pair and their loyalty to each other was special. Justin's mother and her best friend were a riot. Drunk Christine & Drunk Leigh were hilarious in the car ride scene! Even Justin's best friends stepped up in multiple ways to help him, his siblings, and Emma.

This was a book where you don't just root for the couple, you root for everyone and you hope every single person has a happily ever after...even Emma's messed up mom.

So many things I loved about this books. Highly recommend if you love romance books with a good solid plot. Don't recommend if any of the topics mentioned above are triggers for you, although they are written about with knowledge, with the author working with medical and mental health professionals to make sure she wrote about characters in a realistic way.

One of my favorite reads of the year...5 stars!

Content Warnings

hrh_victoria's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This would be a great book club pick. The novel adeptly navigates complex family dynamics, attachment theory, and healthy new love.

Content Warnings

zicontrerasvil's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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bookishkale's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I had a lot of fun with this, and this is the first romance I’ve really liked in a while. It’s kinda heavy but in a satisfying way. There was a lot of depth I wasn’t expecting. Justin and Emma are really sweet together.

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annamay1021's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

mckays's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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esnygf420's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

omg this kinda made me tear my hair out but it was alright

Content Warnings

gingerbiscuit's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Check trigger warnings.
Beautifully written and excellent exploration of complex topics. Multiple plot twists kept my attention, making this book a fast paced read. Not overhyped.

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