A review by ppalimar
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I finally finished the "Part of Your World" trilogy, and while each book stands alone, I highly recommend reading them in order to fully appreciate the Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. "Just for the Summer" was my least favorite of the three, but it still delivered an excellent story.

The dynamic between the unavailable female lead and her incredibly kind yet sometimes nerdy male counterpart didn’t capture me as much as I expected. Interestingly, I found myself more drawn to the side love interest involving her mother and the landlord—an overlap with former characters that added depth to the narrative. The growth and redemption arc for that character felt like a satisfying conclusion to a storyline that had been developing over two books.

While I would rate this book a solid 3 for its insightful exploration of trauma-filled relationships, it tipped up to a 4 thanks to the engaging crossover elements, a touching epilogue, and an informative author Q&A included in the audiobook. This novel is an emotional journey rather than just another slow burn or romcom typical of fake relationship tropes. Overall, it’s a great read—just make sure you start from the beginning!