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tigerkind's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
If you’re into boring, predictable books with idiotic asshole characters and think that the only way to be happy is to get married with kids, this is the one for you.
Also I hate the inane phrasemongering in these books. „Love shows up.“ „Love is meeting someone where they are.“ idk how about some original writing?
Only reason this is getting stars at all is because it has a semblance of structure and the characters don’t all blend together (only because their only personality are the issues they have.)
tl;dr this pissed me off. Cover is great though.
edit: took another 0.5 because the premise is so fun but it’s more or less abandoned in the first 100 pages
Also I hate the inane phrasemongering in these books. „Love shows up.“ „Love is meeting someone where they are.“ idk how about some original writing?
Only reason this is getting stars at all is because it has a semblance of structure and the characters don’t all blend together (only because their only personality are the issues they have.)
tl;dr this pissed me off. Cover is great though.
edit: took another 0.5 because the premise is so fun but it’s more or less abandoned in the first 100 pages
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Vomit, Mental illness, and Child abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Excrement, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Addiction, Dementia, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual content
readyforit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5⭐️2💧0.5🌶️(mention of sex throughout but it’s a slow burn to get there and the scene is nearly fade to black, very nondescript)
Apparently I did myself a disservice by reading this book before Abby Jimenez’s others! There are overlapping characters and Easter eggs throughout that I didn’t get. If that means I’ll have to reread it after the rest of her books I can’t complain! This is the first book I’ve borrowed from my library that I actually want to purchase and reread!! I loved the audiobook narrators but just a warning: they trick you in the beginning with duet narration (the best for 2 person pov), but only with text messages. The rest of the chapters are read by the respective narrators in a dual narration. The only way the book could’ve been better is if the entire thing were done in duet narration.
Abby Jimenez will make you laugh and fall in love with her characters before stabbing you in the heart with their trauma. If you thought this was a light and fluffy beach read think again! You’ll be crying if you have mommy issues😅
Justin is one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. He’s so funny, proactive, caring, and a good listener. In a world of boys, he’s a gentleman🫶 It’s nice to finally see a man say “I’ll take care of it” and mean it. Btw if you need someone to picture while reading, look up Daniel ricciardo👀 It’s lovely to see FMC with real jobs and a relationship that reflects how long Emma and Maddie have been in each other’s lives. At first I thought Maddie was harsh at times but you really need that friend that can be honest with you when you’re making a mistake. Without Maddie, I don’t think Emma would’ve ever let herself truly fall for Justin, orfind the rest of her family.
I never thought I’d say this but this book actually did thethird-act breakup well. It was necessary for the plot and character development and didn’t last too long for the reader (in the timeline of the book it lasted about 6 months).
I loved this book and can’t wait to read her others!
Apparently I did myself a disservice by reading this book before Abby Jimenez’s others! There are overlapping characters and Easter eggs throughout that I didn’t get. If that means I’ll have to reread it after the rest of her books I can’t complain! This is the first book I’ve borrowed from my library that I actually want to purchase and reread!! I loved the audiobook narrators but just a warning: they trick you in the beginning with duet narration (the best for 2 person pov), but only with text messages. The rest of the chapters are read by the respective narrators in a dual narration. The only way the book could’ve been better is if the entire thing were done in duet narration.
Abby Jimenez will make you laugh and fall in love with her characters before stabbing you in the heart with their trauma. If you thought this was a light and fluffy beach read think again! You’ll be crying if you have mommy issues😅
Justin is one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. He’s so funny, proactive, caring, and a good listener. In a world of boys, he’s a gentleman🫶 It’s nice to finally see a man say “I’ll take care of it” and mean it. Btw if you need someone to picture while reading, look up Daniel ricciardo👀 It’s lovely to see FMC with real jobs and a relationship that reflects how long Emma and Maddie have been in each other’s lives. At first I thought Maddie was harsh at times but you really need that friend that can be honest with you when you’re making a mistake. Without Maddie, I don’t think Emma would’ve ever let herself truly fall for Justin, or
I never thought I’d say this but this book actually did the
I loved this book and can’t wait to read her others!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
There’s a chapter where Emma gets norovirus and if you have emetophobia I would skip it and look up a summary.gpfot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Excrement
hereiskyra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
The freaking banter is off the charts from the first damn conversation. These two stole every bit of my heart! They are both adorable and witty. From dates to forehead kisses to sitting in beanbags chairs at the mall to taking care of each other when they were sick, there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t love about their love story.
Little things that I absolutely loved:
Justin on the pool floaty 🦄 🍩
Any mention of the docking station 😭
Surveys and questionnaires 📋
I went into this not even knowing it would be connected to my favorite Abby Jimenez book, Part of Your World. I love that! This is quite possibly my new favorite, or at least tied for favorite. It’s so damn good. Ahhhhhhh!
Emma is the girl who deserves the world and gets nothing but scraps her whole life and takes them with a smile. She is the embodiment of childhood trauma and going along with her journey of finding her way out of it was magical (and super depressing 🙂). I loved that this was so much deeper than a “curse” and a love story. It had all the depth in the world and included so many important and different subjects.
Listening to Justin struggle to come to terms with his own mothers betrayal and how it affected his life but home too. I never understand people who are able to forgive those that don’t even understand they need to apologize.
Emma’s mom always just chose wrong and yet she continued to forgive her and give her another shot, even though she put her in danger more than once and abandoned her both physically and emotionally. I don’t think I’ll ever look at carrots the same way.
She just wanted that love and acceptance from her mom. I get it.
“Always choose empathy”
“I wish I could do that, I wish I could go on with my life and not hold a grudge against mom”
Me too, Justin. Me too.
I think I identify with this story the most and it’s not because I experienced it but in a way, I do relate to her relationship with her mother.
Some of that really hit home. Being left by your mother at a young age is awful and I didnt starve and I wasn’t scared because I had my grandparents… which broke a little bit of my heart because Emma could’ve had hers and so much more family and support and love but didn’t because her mother was so selfish.
I’m glad she finally had enough. Good riddance!
And honestly… Fuck you, Amber.
“She wasn’t my burden anymore. And I hadn’t even realized how heavy she’d been for me to carry because I’d done it for so long. I’d finally set her down and that started with me forgiving her.”
On a (semi) happier note… This is the one and only time I fully support and think that a third act breakup makes sense. Emma desperately needed some time with her family and on her own to find her way through the grief she was experiencing. And she knew it wasn’t fair to put Justin or his family through the trauma of going through that grief.
She thought she was like Amber because she ran but her walking away was the most unselfish thing she could have done for everyone she cared about.
I love the relationship she had with his siblings and I thought her picking his sister up at the school when she got her period was just about the most perfect way the story could have come back together.
I love imagining a world in which all my favorite characters are thriving and living their best lives. These two deserved everything and I couldn’t love the ending they got more.
“Not just for the summer?”
“No, forever this time.”
Tropes:
Sunshine/Sunshine
Fake Dating
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Little things that I absolutely loved:
Justin on the pool floaty 🦄 🍩
Any mention of the docking station 😭
Surveys and questionnaires 📋
I went into this not even knowing it would be connected to my favorite Abby Jimenez book, Part of Your World. I love that! This is quite possibly my new favorite, or at least tied for favorite. It’s so damn good. Ahhhhhhh!
Emma is the girl who deserves the world and gets nothing but scraps her whole life and takes them with a smile. She is the embodiment of childhood trauma and going along with her journey of finding her way out of it was magical (and super depressing 🙂). I loved that this was so much deeper than a “curse” and a love story. It had all the depth in the world and included so many important and different subjects.
Listening to Justin struggle to come to terms with his own mothers betrayal and how it affected his life but home too. I never understand people who are able to forgive those that don’t even understand they need to apologize.
Emma’s mom always just chose wrong and yet she continued to forgive her and give her another shot, even though she put her in danger more than once and abandoned her both physically and emotionally. I don’t think I’ll ever look at carrots the same way.
She just wanted that love and acceptance from her mom. I get it.
“Always choose empathy”
“I wish I could do that, I wish I could go on with my life and not hold a grudge against mom”
Me too, Justin. Me too.
I think I identify with this story the most and it’s not because I experienced it but in a way, I do relate to her relationship with her mother.
Some of that really hit home. Being left by your mother at a young age is awful and I didnt starve and I wasn’t scared because I had my grandparents… which broke a little bit of my heart because Emma could’ve had hers and so much more family and support and love but didn’t because her mother was so selfish.
I’m glad she finally had enough. Good riddance!
And honestly… Fuck you, Amber.
“She wasn’t my burden anymore. And I hadn’t even realized how heavy she’d been for me to carry because I’d done it for so long. I’d finally set her down and that started with me forgiving her.”
On a (semi) happier note… This is the one and only time I fully support and think that a third act breakup makes sense. Emma desperately needed some time with her family and on her own to find her way through the grief she was experiencing. And she knew it wasn’t fair to put Justin or his family through the trauma of going through that grief.
She thought she was like Amber because she ran but her walking away was the most unselfish thing she could have done for everyone she cared about.
I love the relationship she had with his siblings and I thought her picking his sister up at the school when she got her period was just about the most perfect way the story could have come back together.
I love imagining a world in which all my favorite characters are thriving and living their best lives. These two deserved everything and I couldn’t love the ending they got more.
“Not just for the summer?”
“No, forever this time.”
Tropes:
Sunshine/Sunshine
Fake Dating
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Vomit, Excrement, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
katebrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Vomit, Medical content, Excrement, Sexual content, and Death of parent
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Title: Just for the Summer
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
I received complimentary eARC from Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Layered • Tender • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: they'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
💭 T H O U G H T S
After bingeing all but one of Abby's books in 2023, she's quickly become my favourite contemporary romance author, so it will come as no surprise Just for the Summer is my most anticipated romance of 2024. There is just something about Abby's writing and ability to include depth in her plots that hits all of the right spots for me, and being given the opportunity to read this story early was an absolute gift.
Abby Jimenez delivers another fantastic romance! Her signature witty banter, real and vulnerable characters, hidden Easter eggs, adorable furry companions, and emotional depth all shine. Told in dual POVs, I was swooning over Justin and instantly felt a personal connection to Emma. The idea of 'getting small' - of retreating into oneself, of not wanting to see or talk to anyone until the world feels safe again - was very relatable. Abby has managed (yet again) to take hard, real-life things and handle them with tenderness and care. Emma has every reason to be bitter and hateful, yet she chooses empathy and to see the good in people.
There are several different instances of mental health representation, each coming across as genuine. In fact, it never felt like Abby was including it just to tick a box. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the importance of therapy, and how the healing process sometimes requires choosing the difficult option. Overall, I just thought this aspect of the book was very well done.
Beyond the romance and the main characters, I adored the idyllic, secluded cottage setting. I found myself wanting to spend my summer there with these characters. The found family trope plays
a significant part in the plot, and I am here for it. Every. Single. Time. And of course, there is the strong female friendship with Maddy. The fact Abby includes friendship soulmates is something I absolutely love, and isn't used nearly enough in literature.
While there are a few over-the-top moments that require the suspension of belief, there are so many endearing moments: the scene where Emma helps the lady with dementia; the kitten date; the ice cream and antique store date; Justin sending questionnaires and follow up interviews; Justin stepping up to care for the kids; Emma showing up for Sarah (on various occasions); and of course, their unlikely meet-cute.
Just for the Summer is a reminder that life is messy and hard, that bad things happen to good people, that there is a path to healing. Abby just has a way of delivering impactful, comforting romances that I want to read over and over again. It's still very early in the year, yet it's safe to say Just for the Summer will touch to beat as my favourite romance book of 2024. And of course, I cannot wait to see which of her characters get a HEA next, or what new characters she creates next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Abby Jimenez devotees
• fans of the fake dating trope
• readers who want depth to their romance
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy, Justin."
"Sometimes the best way to show love or be kind to someone is to meet them where they are."
"Trauma changes you."
"Unhealed trauma is a crack. And all the little hard things that trickle into it that would have rolled off someone else, settle. Then when life gets cold, that crack gets bigger, longer, deeper. It make new breaks. You don't know how broken she was or what she was trying to do to fill those cracks. Being broken is not an excuse for bad behavior, you still have to make good choices and do the right thing. But it can be the reason. And sometimes understanding the reason can be what helps you heal."
"Sometimes I felt like I was roaming this earth as a ghost, seeing everything and feeling nothing."
"The best kind of love doesn't happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life."
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
I received complimentary eARC from Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Layered • Tender • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: they'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
💭 T H O U G H T S
After bingeing all but one of Abby's books in 2023, she's quickly become my favourite contemporary romance author, so it will come as no surprise Just for the Summer is my most anticipated romance of 2024. There is just something about Abby's writing and ability to include depth in her plots that hits all of the right spots for me, and being given the opportunity to read this story early was an absolute gift.
Abby Jimenez delivers another fantastic romance! Her signature witty banter, real and vulnerable characters, hidden Easter eggs, adorable furry companions, and emotional depth all shine. Told in dual POVs, I was swooning over Justin and instantly felt a personal connection to Emma. The idea of 'getting small' - of retreating into oneself, of not wanting to see or talk to anyone until the world feels safe again - was very relatable. Abby has managed (yet again) to take hard, real-life things and handle them with tenderness and care. Emma has every reason to be bitter and hateful, yet she chooses empathy and to see the good in people.
There are several different instances of mental health representation, each coming across as genuine. In fact, it never felt like Abby was including it just to tick a box. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the importance of therapy, and how the healing process sometimes requires choosing the difficult option. Overall, I just thought this aspect of the book was very well done.
Beyond the romance and the main characters, I adored the idyllic, secluded cottage setting. I found myself wanting to spend my summer there with these characters. The found family trope plays
a significant part in the plot, and I am here for it. Every. Single. Time. And of course, there is the strong female friendship with Maddy. The fact Abby includes friendship soulmates is something I absolutely love, and isn't used nearly enough in literature.
While there are a few over-the-top moments that require the suspension of belief, there are so many endearing moments: the scene where Emma helps the lady with dementia; the kitten date; the ice cream and antique store date; Justin sending questionnaires and follow up interviews; Justin stepping up to care for the kids; Emma showing up for Sarah (on various occasions); and of course, their unlikely meet-cute.
Just for the Summer is a reminder that life is messy and hard, that bad things happen to good people, that there is a path to healing. Abby just has a way of delivering impactful, comforting romances that I want to read over and over again. It's still very early in the year, yet it's safe to say Just for the Summer will touch to beat as my favourite romance book of 2024. And of course, I cannot wait to see which of her characters get a HEA next, or what new characters she creates next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Abby Jimenez devotees
• fans of the fake dating trope
• readers who want depth to their romance
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy, Justin."
"Sometimes the best way to show love or be kind to someone is to meet them where they are."
"Trauma changes you."
"Unhealed trauma is a crack. And all the little hard things that trickle into it that would have rolled off someone else, settle. Then when life gets cold, that crack gets bigger, longer, deeper. It make new breaks. You don't know how broken she was or what she was trying to do to fill those cracks. Being broken is not an excuse for bad behavior, you still have to make good choices and do the right thing. But it can be the reason. And sometimes understanding the reason can be what helps you heal."
"Sometimes I felt like I was roaming this earth as a ghost, seeing everything and feeling nothing."
"The best kind of love doesn't happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Cursing, Vomit, Excrement, and Sexual content
child neglect, anxiety, PTSD, depression, undiagnosed mental health aliment, drunk driving, foster care, adoption
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