Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

117 reviews

smolivreads'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was a pretty hefty split between serious mental health discussions and silly happy romance and it kind of threw me for a loop. 

While I think the mental health topics were handled very well, it was jarring at times. Maybe this is a theme with this author and I wasn’t aware because this is my first Abby Jimenez book, but I wasn’t expecting it and it took a while to adjust to. 

I liked the mental health aspect in this book. I liked the silly little romance in this book. But I had a hard time bringing the two together. In a way, the romance helped add levity to an otherwise incredibly heavy topic. But sometimes it felt out of place and disjointed. 

I still liked the story and the silly little romance of it all. I liked that I could tell where it was going. I really liked the family aspect and that was actually what hit me the hardest- I even started to tear up at the very end. I was surprised I ended up liking this book as much as I did really.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

cmab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

I laughed, I cried and I seethed with anger. WHAT A BOOK! The romance is grounded in the kind of day-to-day love that is uncharacteristicly authentic for this genre. The main characters are going through it in two different but traumatic ways but it’s handled so well! The empathy and forgiveness is palpable and the maturity of the main relationship and secondary relationships are brilliant! The main characters act their age and are true to their backstories. The twists and turns and seriousness of this book took my by surprise in such a fantastic way! 20/10 ⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

emilylemmens's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.75

This was a really cute light hearted book for the most party. There is a mother who isn’t present but the daughter has too much love and empathy for her and everyone else. 

If you want a quick read romance. This is such a great book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This literally got me out of a weeks long slump. After posting an Am I the Asshole post on Reddit about his curse where all his ex girlfriends immediately find their soulmate, Emma a travel nurse with the same curse, contacts Justin to try and break their curse by dating and breaking up. Complicated family lives, trauma, and drama all come together to make one of the best books ive read all year. I laughed, I cried, and I felt seen. This is realistic in all the best ways and I literally can't recommend reading it enough! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

zemily83's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy

bukohime's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

cdobbertin's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit

megnut's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.75

This sucked me in so quick. I loved Justin & ached for Emma & I loved the strength of Maddy. The whole thing hit me in all the feels. 
It's not on my bookshelf yet, but it's definitely going on my wishlist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Car accident

lcampbell1003'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

5.0

Justin is a perfect book boyfriend. I hate spoilers so just in case, I’m blocking this out…

He cooks, is good with kids, drops anything for family (picking his mom and aunt up), and has a good job?!? And the date questionnaires??? I can’t 🩷🩷🩷🩷

I loved the friendship between Emma and Maddie, as well as how great Justin’s friends were. I really appreciate reading about healthy friendships and I feel like it often sets the main characters up as more stable humans. They can do something rash or even ridiculous for the plot of romance, but we know they are pretty regular people in everyday life if they can maintain healthy and functioning relationships with friends.

This book definitely touches on some heavy topics and I think Abby does so with grace.

In fact, the ending was incredibly mature and real. Even if I wanted to scream at Emma for leaving for 6 months because they are perfect together and could figure it out… that is not real life. It actually made me think about my own need to move on from things and never look back, rather than do what Emma does and show up to a situation they both made messy. And I was happy that Justin said his piece about a small part of him wishing she hadn’t came back. 

For them to ultimately understand that the path forward could have only happened if they each took time to work on themselves was a perfect ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

jennstrub's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

abby jiminez the woman that you are…this book is a work of art. emma and justin’s relationship, personalities, backstories, and everything in between is so unique and addicting to read and get lost in. personally I would shelve this book in fiction as sure this book is about a relationship and it’s romance but if you’re looking for smut and don’t care much for the plot this book isn’t for you. this book is all plot and character building and I loved every second of it. ‘just for summer’ is in my top 5 reads of all time, finished it in a day. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment