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dark
emotional
funny
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
This was well done all around. This is my first Abby Jimenez novel and I’m already hooked. I really appreciated the complexity she was able to give the characters and the research/authenticity she gave to their psychological states/disorders. I also love the dual POV. Made the story so much richer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
The constant use of "being small!" was INCREDIBLY frustrating to read as the book progressed. Otherwise an enjoyable read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment
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
I loved this! It had strong found family vibes which I really enjoy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
Just for the Summer was a bit of a sensation last year that I kept hearing about often, including a Booktuber who loves romance. I've still been exploring romance books to see what I enjoy, so when I heard about this one and all the good reviews, I was intrigued.
It honestly ended up becoming a new favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with how deeply into it I got. It centers around two characters, Emma and Justin, who see themselves as "cursed" because everyone who dates them seem to find their soulmate except them. I do think them meeting up and such felt a little too fast for my personal liking, it's a very sweet journey of the two of them as things change and they end up having feelings for the other. But they both have their own baggage that they deal with throughout the story, and the way the trauma is handled from both is so well done. I read in the Aknowledgements that Abby spoke with some licensed doctors, and I truly respect that about her (if I remember correctly, there was also a trigger warning at the beginning. Good on you, Abby). The exploration of trauma and how it is handled is relatable, sad, and feels so real. While I can't say I've been through what these characters have faced, I still really felt for them. This book made me tear up quite a few times. I waited many months to read this, and it was genuinely worth it, because hot damn I had so many feels.
I look forward to other books Abby Jimenez has written, and I'm glad it helped me figure out what I really like out of romance. Sweet companionship mixed in with angst (and very little to no sex) xD
It honestly ended up becoming a new favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with how deeply into it I got. It centers around two characters, Emma and Justin, who see themselves as "cursed" because everyone who dates them seem to find their soulmate except them. I do think them meeting up and such felt a little too fast for my personal liking, it's a very sweet journey of the two of them as things change and they end up having feelings for the other. But they both have their own baggage that they deal with throughout the story, and the way the trauma is handled from both is so well done. I read in the Aknowledgements that Abby spoke with some licensed doctors, and I truly respect that about her (if I remember correctly, there was also a trigger warning at the beginning. Good on you, Abby). The exploration of trauma and how it is handled is relatable, sad, and feels so real. While I can't say I've been through what these characters have faced, I still really felt for them. This book made me tear up quite a few times. I waited many months to read this, and it was genuinely worth it, because hot damn I had so many feels.
I look forward to other books Abby Jimenez has written, and I'm glad it helped me figure out what I really like out of romance. Sweet companionship mixed in with angst (and very little to no sex) xD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This one is a little hard to review honestly. It was hard for me to read, harder than I thought it would be.
I didn't think that the toxic mother situation would get to me as much as it did since I don't have a toxic relationship with my own mom. But my best friend did and I saw the same traits in Amber as I did in her mom and it made me so angry the whole book. I was just so mad on behalf of Emma but also my best friend. And every time Emma made excuses for her mom hurt my heart so much.
Anyway, that made this book very personal for me, but yet I didn't enjoy it as much as I have with Jimenez's other romances. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two main characters. They had some cute moments together, but I didn't feel their love grow as much as I usually do with Jimenez's characters. And I know that has something to do with Emma's characterization and it was necessary for her arc, but it was still a bit of a let-down.
At the same time, Emma's character arc was really phenomenal. Jimenez has a great way of pushing her characters as far as they can go and then watching them break in order to watch them pull themselves back together as something new and better and I think she did that very well here too.
I do feel like Justin's personal issues took a back seat in this novel. He was going through a lot with his mom going to prison and him taking over the guardianship of his brother and sisters. That's a lot to deal with and I feel like it should have been a bigger deal and more of a focus in this book than it was. I think the book just didn't quite have the time to do that. I also think it would have been a lot if it had tried to go more into it. Therefore, I don't know if it was a good idea to have that element at all. I feel like it could have worked just as well if Justin didn't have quite as much to deal with so that the reader would expect his story to be more on the back burner like it was.
Finally, I LOVED that plot twist. I did not see it coming at all.I did read Part of Your World, but I don't have a good memory and I forgot most of the characters' names and what happened to them so I was very surprised when I finally connected everything together. The only perk of having a terrible memory!
So yeah, there are conflicting feelings about this one. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two, but I understand why that is and I do appreciate the artistic ability it took to write this so well.
I didn't think that the toxic mother situation would get to me as much as it did since I don't have a toxic relationship with my own mom. But my best friend did and I saw the same traits in Amber as I did in her mom and it made me so angry the whole book. I was just so mad on behalf of Emma but also my best friend. And every time Emma made excuses for her mom hurt my heart so much.
Anyway, that made this book very personal for me, but yet I didn't enjoy it as much as I have with Jimenez's other romances. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two main characters. They had some cute moments together, but I didn't feel their love grow as much as I usually do with Jimenez's characters. And I know that has something to do with Emma's characterization and it was necessary for her arc, but it was still a bit of a let-down.
At the same time, Emma's character arc was really phenomenal. Jimenez has a great way of pushing her characters as far as they can go and then watching them break in order to watch them pull themselves back together as something new and better and I think she did that very well here too.
I do feel like Justin's personal issues took a back seat in this novel. He was going through a lot with his mom going to prison and him taking over the guardianship of his brother and sisters. That's a lot to deal with and I feel like it should have been a bigger deal and more of a focus in this book than it was. I think the book just didn't quite have the time to do that. I also think it would have been a lot if it had tried to go more into it. Therefore, I don't know if it was a good idea to have that element at all. I feel like it could have worked just as well if Justin didn't have quite as much to deal with so that the reader would expect his story to be more on the back burner like it was.
Finally, I LOVED that plot twist. I did not see it coming at all.
So yeah, there are conflicting feelings about this one. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two, but I understand why that is and I do appreciate the artistic ability it took to write this so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment