Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

119 reviews

mountainside_reading's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

5.0

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marioosa517's review

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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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annabananadel's review against another edition

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5.0

“Be glad you don’t get it. It means your life has been a lot gentler than hers.” 

Abby Jimenez never failed me so far. I have read two of her books before this, both are rated five star - Life's Too Short and Part of Your World (yes, I should have read Yours Truly but it's so hard to get a copy here in the Philippines so I had to buy them from an online shop that gets book from the state so I waited a good 4 months but I am finally getting it this book, FINALLY). I got to buy this book once it was available in a bookstore in the Philippines (our country doesn't usually get books once it releases so I got this probably a little before a month since it was released; I even messaged the bookstore staff to reserve one for me once a copy arrives in their branch. I totally even forgot about this and just was so excited when I got the message! I didn't even know that the bookstore will have stocks!) and read it a week after since I was still in the middle of a book.

I saw how people raved over it and rated it high so I did have high expectation, especially since I loved her other books and it resonated with me. I immediately loved the premise - about a boy and a girl having a "curse" and they have to get together to remove the curse. I just didn't expect that I wouldn't even be thinking about that curse after a few chapters because Abby Jimenez really just wrote this book so you could be there with them and not focus on other aspect of the story. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions - I know I say it with other books I've reviewed but this one was the most extreme ride I've ever ridden. I definitely did not expect to have so many emotions over a span of a chapters. There was even a point where I had to stand up from my bed and just feel. The quotes as well were all over the place! Every thing that's been said, I can deeply feel it to my core. It's just that good.

They say you can read these books as a stand-alone but I would say, just read the first two books because it's so much impactful if you did.

 Might just be the best book I’ve read this month. 
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ashleyjean6's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have complicated feelings; the main character bothered me so much! Let's just get that out there. Mainly, I think this was a cross between a light romance novel and something more, like a heavy family literary saga. And it kinda worked, but not really. The overall tone and writing skill were solid romance book; a good one with a plot and good banter. But it lacked the true depth and character development when trying to deal with the family drama (honestly complex trauma) in the other part of the book. For it to work, there was too much convenient trope plot. And the characters were fairly well developed, especially the main 3, but there wasn't a supporting cast to carry off the nuance. Anyway, yes I liked it, but also it needed to pick a genre. Or maybe I need to adjust my expectations for this author and figure out a new hybrid genre... Elevated romance, but not quite a complex contemporary literature work??! I liked it, but. 
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carlynnnnne's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

Abby Jiminez never misses. This book is wonderful for the soul and a reminder that the real beauty of life is in the everyday. Justin is all things good and Emma is the epitome of bravery and grace. This book provided an intertwined universe of characters from the two prequel stand-alones and closure in some of those characters’ stories we didn’t even know we needed. But what was the best part of the whole book you ask? The forbidden puppies. Sorry, you’ve got to read it to find out. 
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crystalleighwrites's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

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bookdragonkatie's review against another edition

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challenging 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

5.0

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amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

Justin and Emma are both inflicted by the same curse. Everyone they date goes on to find their soulmate. They decide to date for the summer to break the curse. 

I love this book so much. It is absolutely hilarious, I must have looked insane laughing out loud to the audio while walking my dog. Though it is a really funny book, it also addresses some pretty heavy topics such as child abandonment, PTSD, and mental health. 

I think that Emma's PTSD was approached in a sensitive and informed manner. Emma has an incredibly rough childhood. Her mother dealt with a lot of mental health issues and would often abandon her for long stretches. Emma has trust and abandonment issues, her mother would pop in and out of her life always offering her a sliver of hope and then ripping it away. She can never get attached to anyone out of fear of them leaving. That is until Maddie. 

As a child she eventually ended up in foster care, where she was placed in Maddie's family. Maddie becomes her "docking station", her safe person. Maddie is the most incredible friend. She sacrifices setting down roots to ensure her best friend is cared for and loved. She is there for her through the thick and thin. I want a Maddie book! 

Even though it was
a difficult decision and really hard on Justin, I am glad that Emma took the time to work on herself and to heal before jumping back into the relationship.  It would have ended in disaster had she not taken the time to work on herself first.


Justin has endured a few crappy years, his father has recently passed away and now his mother is going to jail, leaving him to raise his 3 siblings. Justin is so compassionate, understanding, and selfless. He is lite ally the definition of a golden retriever BF.
Him crossing the lake on the floaties! My heart!
 

The surprise, was honestly not a suprise to me.
As soon as she mentioned her mom was Amber and that Emma was going a DNA test, I put it together. Daniel (book 1) was Emma's half brother and Amber never told her about him, never told her about any of her family. I did really appreciate how all the worlds came together in this book. I even appreciated the Neil redemption-ish story. It is easy to see Amber as a horrible person, but she obviously has severe mental health issues and needs help.


Tropes: fake-ish dating, slow burn, found family
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adeline_frierson's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book devastated me in ways that I haven’t felt in a while. Literally had to talk to my therapist about it. Abby Jimenez does an incredible job of showing mental health struggles, and this book is no exception to that. Because of life experience, I do my best to stay away from books deal with the foster system, but this is one I’m glad I accidentally picked up. I felt so seen and understood; I tear up just thinking about it. Well done, Abby. 
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atamano's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

3.25

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