Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Just for the Summer

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

1155 reviews

kaelaceleste's review against another edition

4.25

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

This was sooo sweet I enjoyed it so much. A really authentic and heartfelt exploration of how past trauma affects and leaks into all aspects of your life, including relationships. I expected it to be super predictable but it surprised me - eventually what I expected to happen DID happen, but I liked the ride we took to get there. I also typically don't like the instalove trope but I thought it was done a lot better here than it usually is. Emma and Justin's love story felt realistic and I loved watching it develop.

The writing in this was so fun and lighthearted but also serious when it needed to be, and I really enjoyed the main characters and their dynamic. Justin was so sweet and I had to laugh when they literally voiced that he was the epitome of "if he wanted to, he would" because that's exactly what I was thinking the whole time. Both the leads having mommy traummy hit kinda hard at times 👁️ I do think literally every character needs badly to go to therapy but it seems like we got there in the end. My only critique is it seemed like we crammed a lot in the last thirdish of the book and it made the pacing feel a bit off, but I really like how everything wrapped up so I don't mind it too much. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this universe!

Content Warnings

sofiajnieto's review against another edition

3.75

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

Content Warnings

acharlick's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I can’t get over this book. I laughed, I cried, just a rollercoaster of emotions - good and bad.
This is the best book I’ve read in a while and cannot recommend it enough.
It deals with a lot of sensitive topics surrounding trauma and maternal relationships and abandonment, and while those were hard to read about, it was depicted a beautiful story of growth, dealing with these issues in a healthy and realistic way.

Content Warnings

ivonmart09's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny hopeful 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

Content Warnings

csharp's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I have very conflicting feelings about this book, and I’m not sure how my feelings may clash with my understanding (or lack of) of trauma responses and coping mechanisms.

The first 75% of the book was cute and enjoyable, but of course you knew that something would inevitably go wrong soon. Then the thing happened. And I felt so miserable reading it from then on. It all just felt so messy and sad that I was detaching from the first part of the story.

Emma’s relationship with her mum is very difficult. My raw thoughts are that

it was so frustrating to read Emma explicitly detailing how her mother would neglect her so much as a child, and Maddy explaining to her OVER AND OVER again that she is not a good mother. Yet Emma doesn’t come to this realisation until almost the end of the book?

But upon reflection, I am trying to understand Emma’s actions in conjunction with the trauma she experienced growing up, and how that plays a role in how she thinks.

Justin - I thought he was a lovely character. He loves Emma to a fault.

Maddy - Thank god for Maddy. Everyone needs a friend like her.

Overall, I did like the book but I think the predictability (Emma coming to the realisation that she loved Justin and wanted to be with him for the millionth time) and the climax ruined my enjoyment of it towards the end. I completely understand and respect the perspective on childhood trauma and PTSD and found that Emma’s decisions at the end made the most sense for her healing.

Content Warnings

elisabethc01's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny 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

Content Warnings

leneliest's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

s_wandering's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A solid read easy to get into. Saw it on a few favourites of 2024 and decided to give it a chance and so happy I did. Will definitely pick up more from this author. I usually hate kids in books but this was done so naturally, the relationship between Justin and Emma, Emma and Maddy was just 👌

Only negative would be the metaphors are just a bit too heavy handed. Also the repetition- small and docking station. Realistically it’s a 3.5⭐️ but it made me happy and cry so I bumped it up lol.

Content Warnings