Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

63 reviews

zalouis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Sexual content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Car accident

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This one has my heart. Both Emma and Justin are such gorgeous characters, this felt like I was observing a conversation between best friends; kindness, empathy and understanding forming the foundation of a budding friendship tinged with romance. There are complex, sensitive issues discussed in the book- the author sets out trigger warnings in the beginning so please do check these. Maddy, as a supporting character, was the supportive friend we all need to be there as a beacon of light when we find ourselves small, in a dark space. Such an easy read and probably the easiest 5 star I have ever given to a book. Becoming a huge fan of Abby Jimenez, I want to pick up Part Of Your World next after hearing great things.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Vomit, and Sexual content

madelynowil's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

I sobbed. SOBBED. When

Daniel showed up

. Absolutely incredible story. Have to read Part of Your World first, it’s the law 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting

oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

emotional 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

Abby Jimenez always delivers with rom coms that aren’t your typical light and fluffy read. 
Before I go further I will note to check content warnings on this book and to take them seriously (Jimenez also provides a note at the outset of the book discussing this as well). This book was not lighthearted in any way. It’s about two people finding themselves - and each other - after dealing with some really heavy traumatic situations. The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5 is that sometimes it feels like Jimenez is so heavy handed with the traumatic stuff that it can take away from the enjoyment of reading it. After all, these books are meant as an escape, and it can feel like an onslaught. Sometimes I feel like I need a good therapy session after reading one of her books! I will give Jimenez a huge amount of credit for doing the work to ensure she’s depicting and explaining complex health & mental health situations in thoughtful and accurate ways. These situations never feel exploitative or insensitive!
I generally really enjoyed these characters and the details that Jimenez expertly weaves throughout their love story. I truly believe and love her characters and the ways she writes them - it does feel like you could know them in real life! 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol and Vomit

juanat77's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Vomit

ms_books_a_lot's review against another edition

It was slow and the FMC was driving me crazy. I may consider coming back to it and giving it one more shot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment

ariana_m's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is the first time I'm rating anything I've read by Abby Jimenez under 4 stars.  This was just okay to me. It's a bad 3 star not a good one lol.  First off, this is not a romcom at all, it's emotional as hell. The marketing is very wrong lol.  I felt really indifferent towards the main characters Emma and Justin. Personally, I didn't feel the connection or chemistry or anything really between them at all. You have Justin who was great the ideal perfect book boyfriend who falls first but too hard and then you have Emma who can't fully reciprocate her feelings fully. This book was also straight up trauma bonding. I usually love trauma bonding books lol but this didn't do it for me. They were both dealing with very serious issues. They both desperately need therapy. I loved all of the side characters though. Also, this book isn't a standalone. In order to fully understand parts of the book, you have to read the others books even though some characters make the minor appearance, others had a slightly bigger role. It all ties in. I don't exactly hate this book but it was pretty much a miss for me. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

author2223'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Child abuse

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

theoceanrose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Grief

marinajonesreads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Of the three books in this shared world, this is my favorite. The traumas felt real, the emotions felt real and the sadness felt real. I loved the lesson that sometimes, love isn’t the only thing to consider. I also liked that really, you can read this book without the others. I love the shared universe concept. 

Emma and Justin were adorable. Emma is a protagonist I can get around. So very very flawed but also very relatable. I understood where she was coming from and my heart broke for her throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Grief, Cursing, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Alcohol