Reviews with content warning for Violence - Just for the Summer

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

17 reviews

awaywithforestfae's review against another edition

3.75

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

My first Abby Jimenez, and I loved it! Mental health rep and complex trauma, family relationships, all tied in with a hilarious and heartwarming love story!

Emma and Justin both have a curse... Each person they date, goes on to find their soulmate after dating them, usually marrying within 6 months! They decide to try to break this curse by dating each other, just for the summer, as when they break up they should find "the one". But, have they found them already?

I loved how PTSD and trauma were explored in the context of Emma and Justin's relationship, and the surrounding friendships and plot. It was interesting to compare and contrast Amber and Emma, and think about the ways that Emma was working to be different to her mother.

Jimenez was also just so funny!!! The way the book started had me gripped, and this humour continued throughout. Another element of the writing style I really liked, was the focus on emotions and inner thoughts. This really got me into the characters heads, for the good and the bad.

The summer vibes were also immaculate, and Justin's date ideas and little "surveys" really added to this. The lake in Minnesota was an iconic location, which really added to this summer ambience. The romance was really sweet, and positive too!

While I missed a lot of the Easter eggs as I haven't read Part of Your World, it did really make me want to read it! And I appreciated that she put a lot into the references for long time fans. I also loved to see the amount of research Jimenez put into really knowing her characters, their issues and triggers, the background behind their mental illnesses.

All in all, an emotional rollercoaster, but also a funny and heartwarming romantic summer read!

(Note for content warnings: the toxic relationship is the mother-daughter one, there wasn't a toxic parent tag!)

Content Warnings

sarah_reads91's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Content Warnings

haveyouseencass's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I loved this book! It was cute, sweet, and funny, but there was also a healthy dose of reality. It was a beautiful look at trauma, what it does to us, how our upbringing shapes us, and how we can overcome it all and still find love and healing and forgiveness. Justin reminded me of my own husband, so doting and caring, and I really related to Emma and her problems with her mother. It was an adorable yet tear-jerking read that I really enjoyed.

Content Warnings

lydiayearick's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

thecatconstellation's review against another edition

4.0

emotional 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

This was a cute love story. I appreciated the descriptions of mental health and not shying away from complicated family dynamics that do not necessarily end “happily ever after” (not main couple - they of course have their HEA). You don’t have to have read the other books in the series to understand this book, but I think it would be helpful as characters from the other 2 pop up in this one.

Content Warnings

butterflypasta's review against another edition

4.5

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

Content Warnings

lilfwright's review against another edition

4.5

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

I absolutely loved this book and didn’t want to put it down. I loved the characters and that I thought I knew what twists were coming and was continually surprised. I have so much affection for the main characters and appreciated that the author let the characters struggle and the representation a woman with

CTPSD and avoidant attachment, as we often see these portrayed as a rushed part of a man’s story arcs in romcoms

. I wish there was more exploration of what Justin was working through and felt that it wrapped up a little too quickly, giving it a medium/fast/medium/fast pace throughout the plot.

Content Warnings

roni_schreuer's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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 felt like their relationship was a bit instalovey and that they parented each other which I didn’t love. The side plots were more effective for me and really quite emotionally intelligent. Hard subjects

Content Warnings

seastheday's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was so deep and emotional. It’s learning trauma, living through past patterns that you’ve never broken as well as absolute heartbreak. Justin was an amazing empathetic and caring character. He only ever wanted the best for everyone. I disliked Maddie at first & understood Amber throughout the book. There was one major part where I didn’t understand her

which was how she kept Emma from her ENTIRE BIRTH FAMILY AND MADE HER STRUGGLE & be abused by Amber & her foster families

. I ended up loving Maddie for knowing exactly where to meet Emma emotionally. But I wish we got her POV a couple of times, too. Justin & Neal were almost too perfect. That was the only part that felt impractical. The entire book was like, oh the men have no flaws & have fixed themselves!
All in all, it was a good listen. I finished it but if I wasn’t deep cleaning my house I don’t think I would’ve finished it.

Content Warnings

aschmitttyy's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted 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

Again, accidentally read this series out of order (classic me). Although, I loved it so much, I am really looking forward to reading Part of Your World and Yours Truly soon! Luckily, Just for the Summer does stand alone, and does a terrific job at that. Really fun fake-dating, curse-breaking plot line, packed with the best banter and with some serious real-life struggles thrown in as well. I think Justin's character really stole the show with this one.

Content Warnings

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