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historyoftape's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book gave me hope for the Romcom genere as a whole. I liked how it truly did not take itself too seriously (banned from Uber for drunk racoon saving?? The toilet king?) and still managed to vividly portray two people with very different lives and circumstances falling for each other & trying to navigate that. Sure there were parts that were super cheesy but I could forgive them because the rest was so immersive and entertaining. I did not want to like this book as much as I did and originally read it for the
Norovirus plotpoint that my friends and I had a couple of animated discussions about. But I might pick up some other Abby Jimenez books after this :)
Norovirus plotpoint that my friends and I had a couple of animated discussions about. But I might pick up some other Abby Jimenez books after this :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Vomit
Minor: Confinement, Medical content, and Death of parent
streberkatze's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the first romcom I had read in years, and I picked it up because I had heard it had a bit more of a serious backstory. And it was definitely an enjoyable summer read! Not sure I'll need more of this genre anytime soon, but I'd definitely recommend this book to readers who are not usually fans of the genre and am interested in picking up another one of Abby Jimenez's books at some point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Car accident, and Pregnancy
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.75
Finished reading: August 7th 2024
“Maybe home isn’t a place. Maybe it’s a person.”
I've been loving the Part Of Your World books so far, so of course I was excited to dive into the newest addition Just For The Summer. There is just something about the way Abby Jimenez writes her romances that is nearly always a big hit for me, and she has become one of my favorite romance authors. And I think Just For The Summer might just be my new favorite story written by her! It came at exactly the right time for me, and this was the fake-dating slash second-chance romance I never knew I needed. Despite the fact that this book includes multiple heavy topics including abandonment, toxic relationships and child abuse, the majority of the story still felt uplifting. Or at least I was immensely invested in both characters, as they were clearly made for each other... Things can be said about a possible insta-love vibe, but I personally didn't mind or care at all. There is just something about Justin and Emma that makes them extremely loveable, and you just want to hug them and tell them everything is going to be okay. The side characters are brilliant as well; especially Maddy, Justin's family and the dog Brad of course. The curse was a fun way to start the story, and it was the perfect way for the main characters to start building their connection. There are definitely some darker moments along the way and especially Emma's toxic relationship with her mother Amber can be hard to read about, but it does make the story feel more realistic. Do make sure to have some tissues/chocolate at hand especially once you near the end! I hardly ever cry while reading a book, but Just For The Summer made it hard to keep it dry. I loved how everything was wrapped up and the references/connections to some of the characters in the previous books were a nice touch as well. Another title for my list of 2024 favorites!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
heymarykathryn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This started quickly for me and slowed down quite a bit in the middle. The storyline is very cute, but some of the side stories added a bit too much fluff for me. Still a very fun summer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
hailey_brueggen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER! I literally felt every emotion ever reading this book. giddy, heartbreak, love, anger, regret, grief, joy, fear, embarrassment, heat-like ugh omg! JUSTIN is literally the blue print and I fell in love with him and Emma and Maddy and the whole Dahl family. If you are looking for a romance with but also real life problems and actual hard conversations this is the book for you 🤍🙌🏾
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
crystalleighwrites's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
kerosenelit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
From the first chapter, maybe even the first page, my five-star radar was tingling. All-around perfect and my new favourite from Abby Jimenez!
A witty online interaction leads travel nurse Emma to Minnesota for a sporadic, unconventional agreement with Justin—but just for the summer. The intense longing and deep conversations paired with the absolute torturous anticipation of a first kiss was just ... exhilarating. I couldn't get enough.
A witty online interaction leads travel nurse Emma to Minnesota for a sporadic, unconventional agreement with Justin—but just for the summer. The intense longing and deep conversations paired with the absolute torturous anticipation of a first kiss was just ... exhilarating. I couldn't get enough.
"Sometimes I feel like the seasons could come and go and come and go, a hundred years could pass, a thousand, the ground could collapse under us, this house could crumble and go back to the earth, and we would still be standing here frozen in time, because every second I'm with you is eternal. I've never felt anything like it."
Be still my heart.
This explored childhood trauma in a way I haven't read before. I loved the approach from a deeply empathetic character like Emma; the story acknowledging the importance of showing others grace, but also accepting when to cut ties permanently.
Rest assured, there is plenty of humour to balance the tears. And the way Abby connected these characters to her previous books? I gasped. Amazing. Memorable. Left me on cloud nine!
(heat level: a couple open-door scenes, mild details)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement
abidavisf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
As I predicted, Just for the Summer had me bawling, laughing, blushing, and yelling at the sky.
Abby Jimenez has done it again. How she is able to create such beautifully complex characters and weave them all into this interloping Minnesotan family tree is beyond me. The time, effort and logic that must go into making these connections is astounding and I LOVE THEM ALL.
Emma broke me in so many ways. The life that was chosen for her was so unjust, and yet she fought her way to become this caring, empathetic and adventurous woman. Watching her accept and heal from her trauma through this tale was both beautiful and heart-breaking. No child should ever have to experience what Emma did. I am so proud of her but, most of all, I hope she is proud of herself.
Where to start with Justin? The unicorn symbolism woven throughout this book fits him so perfectly. He is available emotionally, a protector, a carer, but also deeply burdened by his own trauma. The juxtaposition of Emma, whose trauma began at a young age, and Justin, whose was given to him in his twenties, is so interesting. Emma was able to teach him how to handle the shock of his seemingly perfect and romanticised life turning inside out through her own experiences and her own empathy, which, as Maddy points out, is her strongest quality and yet also her biggest weakness. Justin deserves the world, and I hope that we can see him get that in later books. No doubt they’ll pop up again around Minnesota.
Maddy, Maddy, Maddy. She’s a real one. To be loved by somebody like Maddy is a beautiful thing, and something that everybody deserves. I’d love to see more of her and meet her moms, but I also think that I know enough about Maddy to know that she was so loved in her life that she has grown to have the ability to care incredibly deeply for those that she loves. She has a beautiful soul, loves fiercely, observes and tends for everyone she can, and is truly a gift to all who know her. She’s also hilarious. 10/10 would be her best friend.
Just for the Summer is a grilling tale of trauma, grief, friendship, and love. It encourages its readers to hold those they love best, to choose empathy over anger, but also to set boundaries when needed to protect themselves. You should always love you more.
Thank you, Abby, for another life-affirming read that I will be thinking about forever. I can’t wait to re-read already.
Abby Jimenez has done it again. How she is able to create such beautifully complex characters and weave them all into this interloping Minnesotan family tree is beyond me. The time, effort and logic that must go into making these connections is astounding and I LOVE THEM ALL.
Emma broke me in so many ways. The life that was chosen for her was so unjust, and yet she fought her way to become this caring, empathetic and adventurous woman. Watching her accept and heal from her trauma through this tale was both beautiful and heart-breaking. No child should ever have to experience what Emma did. I am so proud of her but, most of all, I hope she is proud of herself.
Where to start with Justin? The unicorn symbolism woven throughout this book fits him so perfectly. He is available emotionally, a protector, a carer, but also deeply burdened by his own trauma. The juxtaposition of Emma, whose trauma began at a young age, and Justin, whose was given to him in his twenties, is so interesting. Emma was able to teach him how to handle the shock of his seemingly perfect and romanticised life turning inside out through her own experiences and her own empathy, which, as Maddy points out, is her strongest quality and yet also her biggest weakness. Justin deserves the world, and I hope that we can see him get that in later books. No doubt they’ll pop up again around Minnesota.
Maddy, Maddy, Maddy. She’s a real one. To be loved by somebody like Maddy is a beautiful thing, and something that everybody deserves. I’d love to see more of her and meet her moms, but I also think that I know enough about Maddy to know that she was so loved in her life that she has grown to have the ability to care incredibly deeply for those that she loves. She has a beautiful soul, loves fiercely, observes and tends for everyone she can, and is truly a gift to all who know her. She’s also hilarious. 10/10 would be her best friend.
Just for the Summer is a grilling tale of trauma, grief, friendship, and love. It encourages its readers to hold those they love best, to choose empathy over anger, but also to set boundaries when needed to protect themselves. You should always love you more.
Thank you, Abby, for another life-affirming read that I will be thinking about forever. I can’t wait to re-read already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
pattykcreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The AITA phrase was a bit overused, and the Latino representation was a Mexican maid… a bit disheartening since for a long time, we Latinos have said that we’re tired of being represented that way. My only negative feedback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Abby's latest does it again. I loved absolutely everything about this book. Her characters are so relatable and reality. She writes my favorite heroes and Justin is no exception.
I loved the family dynamics in this book. Both main characters are dealing with family challenges and they way they work through them is so woven throughout the book that I was very emotionally invested and yes I needed Kleenex.
I absolutely loved the romance in this book. The premise of the curse the back cover tells you about is a great meet cute and I loved how their relationship evolved. Justin is definitely on my 2024 book boyfriend list. No spoilers but he is wonderful.
True to Abby fashion this book has tons of Easter Eggs. I probably didn't even catch them all on my first read, but the ones I did catch were fabulous.
I could gush all day about this book but I can tell you it will be worth the wait if you didn't get an ARC. Pre-order now and it will drop on your device or doorstep April 2!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
I loved the family dynamics in this book. Both main characters are dealing with family challenges and they way they work through them is so woven throughout the book that I was very emotionally invested and yes I needed Kleenex.
I absolutely loved the romance in this book. The premise of the curse the back cover tells you about is a great meet cute and I loved how their relationship evolved. Justin is definitely on my 2024 book boyfriend list. No spoilers but he is wonderful.
True to Abby fashion this book has tons of Easter Eggs. I probably didn't even catch them all on my first read, but the ones I did catch were fabulous.
I could gush all day about this book but I can tell you it will be worth the wait if you didn't get an ARC. Pre-order now and it will drop on your device or doorstep April 2!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
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