Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

65 reviews

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

lindyhopper's review

challenging emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

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

rainbowbritekid's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Where do I even begin? I devoured this book. I love Abby Jiminez, so I was very excited to scoop this up with my Audible credit. First, the players are 2 lucky but unlucky in love individuals. Think Good Luck Chuck style when they begin a friendship on Reddit which leads to 6 weeks trying to break the curse for both of them. There are unexpected love connections, family secrets, toilet humor and so much past trauma. 

There are trigger warning at the beginning and against my better judgement I continued on. I am so glad I did. The story of Emma's childhood mirrored mine some as did her relationship with her biological mother. This one is definitely one that needs to be in your TBR list. I cried, laughed and well unpacked my suitcase by the end. 

No spoilers!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Grief

dkh's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism

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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Excrement

whatemilysreading's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is Abby’s best so far. She REALLY stepped it up with this one and it is worth ALL the hype. I’ve thought all of her books are in that Romance+ world, and Just For the Summer took it even further.

I was expecting a light and summery romance, but this book has so much more depth than the beach read I thought it would be. Compared to other AJ books, this one is LOW on the spice (like, almost none at all) but honestly the forehead kisses were enough (!!!!!)

Justin is THE ONE. He was the absolute best, so thoughtful and reliable, and I loved every cute interaction we got between him and his siblings. I loved Emma and her empathy and how much she grew over the course of the book. Her friendship with Maddy was so special.

Beyond the romance, there was SO MUCH going on here with their respective families. To finally get the full picture of Emma’s mom made the whole book really click for me. The family dynamics on Justin’s side were really compelling too, to see how he adjusted to this new role that he never asked for but couldn’t say no to.

I just really loved this book. It was one that I wished I was reading all day until I could pick it up again, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Mental illness and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death of parent and Grief

bibliomich'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A million stars for Abby Jimenez, always! I didn't think it was possible to find an Abby Jimenez book that would top my love for Part of Your World, but Just for the Summer might just be my new favorite.

What I loved:
- Just for the Summer takes place in the Part of Your World universe, and I loved getting to see some of my old favorites (and some not-so-favorites, *cough cough* Neil) return in this installment. I love that her new books feel like getting an extra epilogue to her earlier works. If you haven't read Part of Your World or Yours Truly, I do recommend reading them first, just because it improves the overall reading experience of Just for the Summer.
- Abby Jimenez uses sensitivity readers and mental health consultants when writing her books, and her mental health representation is excellent. I especially appreciate the way she shows how mental health can impact an individual's personal growth, as well as their relationships with others.
- I love all of Jimenez's MCs, and Justin is no exception. He is so, so lovable, and I was rooting for him and his family the whole time.
- The return of Doug. That's all. (IFYKYK)

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Content Warnings

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

jennipea382's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child abuse, Cursing, and Sexual content

Minor: Dementia, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol