Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

632 reviews

tishag's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful fast-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

I loved this book...the characters, the setting, the relationships, the focus on mental health. I also loved that it wasn't a light & fluffy romance. The author proved that romance and hard/heavy topics can co-exist well!

Justin is one of the best MMCs I've read...so supportive and caring to everyone around him, incredibly patient with Emma and so in love with her, willing to do or drop anything to help her, willing to put his own life on the back burner to take guarandship of his siblings. I mean, what a great guy!

Emma is one of the more complex FMCs I've read. Kind, easy going, seemingly serene and confident, yet has many layers due to the neglect she suffered as a child. Her journey to becoming mentally healthier was interesting to watch unfold.

The complexity of all the characters (not just Emma) and their lives was intriguing to me because the factors involved weren't superficial, like simple bad communication. PTSD, childhood abandonment, criminal conviction, mental health...all life altering situations that effect not only the character, but those around them. I enjoyed seeing how they struggled and dealt with those issues in a realistic way.

I liked that friendship was such a strong theme throughout the book. Emma and Maddy were the perfect pair and their loyalty to each other was special. Justin's mother and her best friend were a riot. Drunk Christine & Drunk Leigh were hilarious in the car ride scene! Even Justin's best friends stepped up in multiple ways to help him, his siblings, and Emma. 

This was a book where you don't just root for the couple, you root for everyone and you hope every single person has a happily ever after...even Emma's messed up mom.

So many things I loved about this books. Highly recommend if you love romance books with a good solid plot. Don't recommend if any of the topics mentioned above are triggers for you, although they are written about with knowledge, with the author working with medical and mental health professionals to make sure she wrote about characters in a realistic way.

One of my favorite reads of the year...5 stars!

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somebodys_fool's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.75


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annamay1021's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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


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mckays's review against another edition

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emotional 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

3.5


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gingerbiscuit's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Check trigger warnings.
Beautifully written and excellent exploration of complex topics. Multiple plot twists kept my attention, making this book a fast paced read. Not overhyped.

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tinysierra's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you have to chose between anger or empathy, chose empathy.

Just for the Summer is so worth the hype. Long books intimidate me, but it didn’t feel like a 400 page book. It was fun and real. 

I love Justin a lot! And Emma was a good protagonist, too. I loved the friendships and the family relationships featured in the book.

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jwag2016's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Another beautifully written book by Abby Jimenez. The way she has gracefully tackled mental health, grief and other big heavy topics in this series makes me speechless. The characters are lovable and relatable. And this made me cry (I don’t cry when reading often). 

Since I can’t find the words to describe my love for this book, this series and this author, here are five more stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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taliaalongi's review against another edition

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emotional funny tense 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? It's complicated

4.0


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gemmajones's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-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

“Four dates. One kiss. And a breakup.”
This book was a masterpiece. I am officially a huge fan of Abby Jimenez.
Where do I start? So much more than a simple summer romance. Jimenez tackles really complex themes extraordinarily well and I’m sure her writing resonates with many of us.
There is so much depth to this story, so much symbolism, it is really clever. I adore Maddy’s character, she is such a good friend and shows she cares by being so protective.
The mention of all the Easter eggs in this story means I HAVE to read the other books now.
Will have you sobbing in the best way possible. The book is very meaningful. Emma & Justin’s character developments were impeccable. They are tested as a couple with two separate attachment styles and two different backgrounds, both with challenges in their present life. Justin is so warm, and Emma so strong. I sympathized with both of them and felt so connected to all characters, I had so many emotions toward all of them - including anger (if ykyk).
The ending also wrapped me in a hug of self love, very healing for the inner child.
Couldn’t put it down!

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thegabscast's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

4.0


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