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bri_14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is superbly balanced. This is for the readers that love romance but still need mature conflict instead of a useless one for the third act breakup. Probably best for Emily Henry fans. Abby had me highlighting certain lines too, very good writing! 0 notes, I would read more by AJ. It was actually funny AND heartfelt with the serious topic of mental illness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, and Death of parent
aksmith92's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
The Setup: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is a "rom-com" (in quotes, because it's more than that!) that intertwines humor and heartfelt moments with complex themes of family, personal trauma, and mental health. The story starts with a quirky premise: Justin has a curse, widely known thanks to a viral Reddit thread, where every woman he dates immediately finds her soulmate after they break up. Enter Emma, someone with a similar "curse." She slides into Justin's DMs, and they concoct a plan to date each other and break up, hoping to cancel out their curses and find true love.
Emma and her best friend/adoptive sister, both traveling nurses, change their assignment to go to Minnesota to stay in an idyllic lakeside cottage (and, oh, did I mention this is where Justin lives?!). Emma and Justin begin navigating their growing feelings while dealing with significant personal challenges. Emma's complicated relationship with her mother, Amber, resurfaces when Amber shows up unexpectedly, while Justin grapples with taking custody of his younger siblings due to their mother's legal troubles.
The novel masterfully blends light-hearted banter and romantic escapades with poignant explorations of trauma, family dynamics, and personal growth. The characters are intricately developed, making their journey engaging. This book is not just a romance, but a genre-bender that seamlessly weaves romance with other meaningful storytelling. It's a tale of two people falling in love while carrying extra baggage they have to navigate.
What I Liked: First and foremost, I liked the initial quirkiness - this idea of the "Good Luck Chuck" - where two people dated others, and when they would break up, their partners would go on to find their soulmate. It's so silly, to the point where it makes no sense, that it somehow works. The initial Reddit threads, their introduction to each other, and then getting to know each other organically through this idea was unrealistic, yet it worked.
It is remiss not to mention the extensive research about mental health in this novel. Abby Jimenez wanted to make this realistic for those suffering in similar circumstances. This is not just someone who thinks their mom is annoying; Emma had very deep-seated issues with her mother—and rightfully so. Jimenez did a phenomenal job with this idea and didn't sugarcoat anything. The portrayal of having someone fall for someone while going through a very traumatic experience can generally fall short, and I don't think that happened here.
Lastly, I loved the characters and how each one was human, with quirks and strengths that were unique to them. Jimenez did a fantastic job setting up these characters, the world, and the overall storytelling. I was immersed in the book and these characters.
What Fell Short: This book is getting a ton of praise, and I can appreciate that. But, here was where I slid from where others were standing and applauding: the main male character was too perfect. Listen, I want to read a book where the dude says all the right things at the right time and place. We read to escape! There is nothing better than a perfect book boyfriend that does no wrong. However, those books are not for me. Justin, while lovely, knew exactly what to do and say during an incredibly traumatic time for Emma. Additionally, he pivoted immediately when he said maybe the not-so-right thing (well, definitely the right thing, but it upset Emma). I think this happens often in contemporary romance novels - when the main characters use each other for growth. I'm not saying this isn't a good thing; I'm just saying it can't be the only thing. I think Jimenez pivoted near the end with this sentiment - and as she did, my rating went up from a 3.5 to a 4.0 because of it. However, for most of the novel, these two used each other as medicine, which shouldn't be the norm in romance novels, even if we want to use them to escape reality. Additionally, while I saw Emma go through a lot of growth and understanding about her past, mother, and self, I didn't see it with Justin. He was also dealt one of the worst hands ever, and Emma told him to "choose empathy every time!" Maybe that's your jam, but it wasn't mine, and it felt like while Emma could help herself, Justin didn't and only used Emma for that growth. It took me out of the romance near the end because it didn't mesh. I'll put spoilers around this,but because Justin was so enamored about Emma and couldn't pull himself up by seeking some outside help or therapy, I almost didn't want Emma and Justin to get back together again.
That said, I did enjoy how it wrapped up and how Emma worked on herself and her trauma. It was a complex book, and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for a summer read. However, prepare yourself for some pretty tough topics in addition to cute cottage scenery and romantic banter!
Emma and her best friend/adoptive sister, both traveling nurses, change their assignment to go to Minnesota to stay in an idyllic lakeside cottage (and, oh, did I mention this is where Justin lives?!). Emma and Justin begin navigating their growing feelings while dealing with significant personal challenges. Emma's complicated relationship with her mother, Amber, resurfaces when Amber shows up unexpectedly, while Justin grapples with taking custody of his younger siblings due to their mother's legal troubles.
The novel masterfully blends light-hearted banter and romantic escapades with poignant explorations of trauma, family dynamics, and personal growth. The characters are intricately developed, making their journey engaging. This book is not just a romance, but a genre-bender that seamlessly weaves romance with other meaningful storytelling. It's a tale of two people falling in love while carrying extra baggage they have to navigate.
What I Liked: First and foremost, I liked the initial quirkiness - this idea of the "Good Luck Chuck" - where two people dated others, and when they would break up, their partners would go on to find their soulmate. It's so silly, to the point where it makes no sense, that it somehow works. The initial Reddit threads, their introduction to each other, and then getting to know each other organically through this idea was unrealistic, yet it worked.
It is remiss not to mention the extensive research about mental health in this novel. Abby Jimenez wanted to make this realistic for those suffering in similar circumstances. This is not just someone who thinks their mom is annoying; Emma had very deep-seated issues with her mother—and rightfully so. Jimenez did a phenomenal job with this idea and didn't sugarcoat anything. The portrayal of having someone fall for someone while going through a very traumatic experience can generally fall short, and I don't think that happened here.
Lastly, I loved the characters and how each one was human, with quirks and strengths that were unique to them. Jimenez did a fantastic job setting up these characters, the world, and the overall storytelling. I was immersed in the book and these characters.
What Fell Short: This book is getting a ton of praise, and I can appreciate that. But, here was where I slid from where others were standing and applauding: the main male character was too perfect. Listen, I want to read a book where the dude says all the right things at the right time and place. We read to escape! There is nothing better than a perfect book boyfriend that does no wrong. However, those books are not for me. Justin, while lovely, knew exactly what to do and say during an incredibly traumatic time for Emma. Additionally, he pivoted immediately when he said maybe the not-so-right thing (well, definitely the right thing, but it upset Emma). I think this happens often in contemporary romance novels - when the main characters use each other for growth. I'm not saying this isn't a good thing; I'm just saying it can't be the only thing. I think Jimenez pivoted near the end with this sentiment - and as she did, my rating went up from a 3.5 to a 4.0 because of it. However, for most of the novel, these two used each other as medicine, which shouldn't be the norm in romance novels, even if we want to use them to escape reality. Additionally, while I saw Emma go through a lot of growth and understanding about her past, mother, and self, I didn't see it with Justin. He was also dealt one of the worst hands ever, and Emma told him to "choose empathy every time!" Maybe that's your jam, but it wasn't mine, and it felt like while Emma could help herself, Justin didn't and only used Emma for that growth. It took me out of the romance near the end because it didn't mesh. I'll put spoilers around this,
That said, I did enjoy how it wrapped up and how Emma worked on herself and her trauma. It was a complex book, and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for a summer read. However, prepare yourself for some pretty tough topics in addition to cute cottage scenery and romantic banter!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident and Fire/Fire injury
penandpaper's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
The romance was the least interesting thing about the novel, which is both a subtle dig and a huge complement to the side-stories here. The main characters have incredibly interesting backstories with complex lives, so pivoting back to their insta-love, millennial-cringe dialogue was jarring every single time. I wanted to tie up loose ends, not focus on a poorly-constructed romance and lackluster final act. Personally, the author’s humor just didn’t relate with me, and that’s fine (even if I had to force myself to get through parts). The mental health representation here was well-done. Even if I don’t always agree with the main character’s approach, it was sensitive and informed. Maybe the author’s only real “sin” here was falling for the trend of over-explaining a diagnosis with language and specificity a patient would never really use. Overall, this book was redeemed by the rich side stories and surprising twists. I just wish Josh and Emma had spent more time on those things, not insta-love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Medical content
megbert581's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Absolutely amazing, Abby Jimenez does I it again. I love how her stories have such depth and examine hard things in life, like complex trauma and abusive parents, while also having the perfect mix of romance, comedy, and fun. She handles these aspects of life SO well and her characters always have growth and depth. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. I read this in 2 days, I could not put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
Absolutely amazing, Abby Jimenez does I it again. I love how her stories have such depth and examine hard things in life, likeyzvt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
arireadsitall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
it was so good but my emotions are unwell!! Emma and Justin and their love and their chaos and alll the trauma!! Ugh it was beautiful it was devastating and it was just so so so real!!! This is only my second book of Abby’s but I gotta go back into the list!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction and Mental illness
mdavis26's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
emmalwooten's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
ripped through this one just as fast as the other 3 of hers i’ve read in the last few days - this one was my favorite of them all! loved all the easter eggs, connecting it back to alexis and daniel’s / briana and jacob’s stories really heart wrenching and challenging but some good takeaways too 🫶🏻 although i do think anger is still a good emotion, even if you can choose to act on empathy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
sophiexrose01's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Minor: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Abandonment
the_cat_on_a_bookcase's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emma reads a Reddit post by Justin about how they are both "cursed" with being the relationship before their exes find "The One." They connect and find themselves in the same city, but just for the summer. They make a plan to do an experiment: to date each other, so that the next person they meet will be their soulmate.
This book is totally worth all the hype. I've loved every book in this series, but I think that I fell for Justin the hardest. This shows that dating can be intentional even in the chaos of everyday life and how love sometimes grows unexpectedly.
I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings for this book. I appreciated the authenticity & complicated feelings that came with the extended families in this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a great romance!
This book is totally worth all the hype. I've loved every book in this series, but I think that I fell for Justin the hardest. This shows that dating can be intentional even in the chaos of everyday life and how love sometimes grows unexpectedly.
I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings for this book. I appreciated the authenticity & complicated feelings that came with the extended families in this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a great romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Death, and Medical content