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emotional
funny
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
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, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Dementia, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The Setup: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is a "rom-com" (in quotes, because it's more than that!) that intertwines humor and heartfelt moments with complex themes of family, personal trauma, and mental health. The story starts with a quirky premise: Justin has a curse, widely known thanks to a viral Reddit thread, where every woman he dates immediately finds her soulmate after they break up. Enter Emma, someone with a similar "curse." She slides into Justin's DMs, and they concoct a plan to date each other and break up, hoping to cancel out their curses and find true love.
Emma and her best friend/adoptive sister, both traveling nurses, change their assignment to go to Minnesota to stay in an idyllic lakeside cottage (and, oh, did I mention this is where Justin lives?!). Emma and Justin begin navigating their growing feelings while dealing with significant personal challenges. Emma's complicated relationship with her mother, Amber, resurfaces when Amber shows up unexpectedly, while Justin grapples with taking custody of his younger siblings due to their mother's legal troubles.
The novel masterfully blends light-hearted banter and romantic escapades with poignant explorations of trauma, family dynamics, and personal growth. The characters are intricately developed, making their journey engaging. This book is not just a romance, but a genre-bender that seamlessly weaves romance with other meaningful storytelling. It's a tale of two people falling in love while carrying extra baggage they have to navigate.
What I Liked: First and foremost, I liked the initial quirkiness - this idea of the "Good Luck Chuck" - where two people dated others, and when they would break up, their partners would go on to find their soulmate. It's so silly, to the point where it makes no sense, that it somehow works. The initial Reddit threads, their introduction to each other, and then getting to know each other organically through this idea was unrealistic, yet it worked.
It is remiss not to mention the extensive research about mental health in this novel. Abby Jimenez wanted to make this realistic for those suffering in similar circumstances. This is not just someone who thinks their mom is annoying; Emma had very deep-seated issues with her mother—and rightfully so. Jimenez did a phenomenal job with this idea and didn't sugarcoat anything. The portrayal of having someone fall for someone while going through a very traumatic experience can generally fall short, and I don't think that happened here.
Lastly, I loved the characters and how each one was human, with quirks and strengths that were unique to them. Jimenez did a fantastic job setting up these characters, the world, and the overall storytelling. I was immersed in the book and these characters.
What Fell Short: This book is getting a ton of praise, and I can appreciate that. But, here was where I slid from where others were standing and applauding: the main male character was too perfect. Listen, I want to read a book where the dude says all the right things at the right time and place. We read to escape! There is nothing better than a perfect book boyfriend that does no wrong. However, those books are not for me. Justin, while lovely, knew exactly what to do and say during an incredibly traumatic time for Emma. Additionally, he pivoted immediately when he said maybe the not-so-right thing (well, definitely the right thing, but it upset Emma). I think this happens often in contemporary romance novels - when the main characters use each other for growth. I'm not saying this isn't a good thing; I'm just saying it can't be the only thing. I think Jimenez pivoted near the end with this sentiment - and as she did, my rating went up from a 3.5 to a 4.0 because of it. However, for most of the novel, these two used each other as medicine, which shouldn't be the norm in romance novels, even if we want to use them to escape reality. Additionally, while I saw Emma go through a lot of growth and understanding about her past, mother, and self, I didn't see it with Justin. He was also dealt one of the worst hands ever, and Emma told him to "choose empathy every time!" Maybe that's your jam, but it wasn't mine, and it felt like while Emma could help herself, Justin didn't and only used Emma for that growth. It took me out of the romance near the end because it didn't mesh. I'll put spoilers around this,but because Justin was so enamored about Emma and couldn't pull himself up by seeking some outside help or therapy, I almost didn't want Emma and Justin to get back together again.
That said, I did enjoy how it wrapped up and how Emma worked on herself and her trauma. It was a complex book, and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for a summer read. However, prepare yourself for some pretty tough topics in addition to cute cottage scenery and romantic banter!
Emma and her best friend/adoptive sister, both traveling nurses, change their assignment to go to Minnesota to stay in an idyllic lakeside cottage (and, oh, did I mention this is where Justin lives?!). Emma and Justin begin navigating their growing feelings while dealing with significant personal challenges. Emma's complicated relationship with her mother, Amber, resurfaces when Amber shows up unexpectedly, while Justin grapples with taking custody of his younger siblings due to their mother's legal troubles.
The novel masterfully blends light-hearted banter and romantic escapades with poignant explorations of trauma, family dynamics, and personal growth. The characters are intricately developed, making their journey engaging. This book is not just a romance, but a genre-bender that seamlessly weaves romance with other meaningful storytelling. It's a tale of two people falling in love while carrying extra baggage they have to navigate.
What I Liked: First and foremost, I liked the initial quirkiness - this idea of the "Good Luck Chuck" - where two people dated others, and when they would break up, their partners would go on to find their soulmate. It's so silly, to the point where it makes no sense, that it somehow works. The initial Reddit threads, their introduction to each other, and then getting to know each other organically through this idea was unrealistic, yet it worked.
It is remiss not to mention the extensive research about mental health in this novel. Abby Jimenez wanted to make this realistic for those suffering in similar circumstances. This is not just someone who thinks their mom is annoying; Emma had very deep-seated issues with her mother—and rightfully so. Jimenez did a phenomenal job with this idea and didn't sugarcoat anything. The portrayal of having someone fall for someone while going through a very traumatic experience can generally fall short, and I don't think that happened here.
Lastly, I loved the characters and how each one was human, with quirks and strengths that were unique to them. Jimenez did a fantastic job setting up these characters, the world, and the overall storytelling. I was immersed in the book and these characters.
What Fell Short: This book is getting a ton of praise, and I can appreciate that. But, here was where I slid from where others were standing and applauding: the main male character was too perfect. Listen, I want to read a book where the dude says all the right things at the right time and place. We read to escape! There is nothing better than a perfect book boyfriend that does no wrong. However, those books are not for me. Justin, while lovely, knew exactly what to do and say during an incredibly traumatic time for Emma. Additionally, he pivoted immediately when he said maybe the not-so-right thing (well, definitely the right thing, but it upset Emma). I think this happens often in contemporary romance novels - when the main characters use each other for growth. I'm not saying this isn't a good thing; I'm just saying it can't be the only thing. I think Jimenez pivoted near the end with this sentiment - and as she did, my rating went up from a 3.5 to a 4.0 because of it. However, for most of the novel, these two used each other as medicine, which shouldn't be the norm in romance novels, even if we want to use them to escape reality. Additionally, while I saw Emma go through a lot of growth and understanding about her past, mother, and self, I didn't see it with Justin. He was also dealt one of the worst hands ever, and Emma told him to "choose empathy every time!" Maybe that's your jam, but it wasn't mine, and it felt like while Emma could help herself, Justin didn't and only used Emma for that growth. It took me out of the romance near the end because it didn't mesh. I'll put spoilers around this,
That said, I did enjoy how it wrapped up and how Emma worked on herself and her trauma. It was a complex book, and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for a summer read. However, prepare yourself for some pretty tough topics in addition to cute cottage scenery and romantic banter!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
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
After having a not so great experience with this author back when I was first starting to read again, I was interested to see how Jimenez has developed as an author and whether we just got off on a bad foot. Despite ripping through it in a few days, it's taken me awhile to figure out how I feel about this book because of the incredibly heavy and complicated subject matter that is explored alongside the more rom-com elements of this book. Both of the characters have really nuanced and complex trauma they are working through at the same time as they are falling for one another (I highly recommend looking up content warnings before reading this, especially if you are someone with tense parental relationships). For me personally, it was difficult to be invested in the love story when it's happening alongside unlearning and working through trauma. With any author that tries to do something like this, it's a balancing act between the heavy emotional parts and the lighter romantic elements and while I don't think this book did a bad job, it didn't quite feel balanced to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warning: The mom in this book is very similar to the mom in The Maid. There are mental health issues, child neglect, and incarceration in this story. The author works with licensed counselors to depict these issues in a dignified way.
I couldn’t stop listening to this book. I’m so happy for the medium-slow pace that let me live so much of life with Emma & Justin. Now, where can I meet a Justin? Emma and Justin are supposed to date so they can cancel out their curses, and finally meet “the one”. So many tropes and experiences in this book. I can’t wait for the next Abby Jiminez!
I couldn’t stop listening to this book. I’m so happy for the medium-slow pace that let me live so much of life with Emma & Justin. Now, where can I meet a Justin? Emma and Justin are supposed to date so they can cancel out their curses, and finally meet “the one”. So many tropes and experiences in this book. I can’t wait for the next Abby Jiminez!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit
Child neglect
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book is really pretty. I like the way the male and female main characters are written and the plot of the story. I don’t know why it took me so long to make connections to the other two books, but when I did, everything made so much more sense. I loved the way the story circled back in on itself to make all the other books connect to this one. I felt a connection with Emma because mom-trauma and I understood her deep desire to fix her cracks. I don’t know how anyone picks a favorite from this series — they’re all so good in different ways. None of the stories are alike, and lots of romance authors have a set recipe they use for a book that makes them all similar, so I found that really refreshing. There was a little spice but again, not too much. I think all of Jimenez’s books have so many nuggets of wisdom and truth about love, family, and relationships. I can’t wait to read more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Thank you to Edelweiss, Forever, & Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Abby Jimenez's books are just so. dang. FUN. I love how there are super serious topics presented in each of her novels, but that they are done in a way that lets you go through the tough things without feeling like you've been clobbered. This probably wasn't my favorite of the books, just because the logic/plot portion of it missed a bit for me (for the most part, I'm able to suspend disbelief for her plots, but this one felt a bit too far-fetched). That being said, I can definitely say that if you've liked her previous books, I would feel fairly confident recommending this one to you as well!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Forever, & Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Abby Jimenez's books are just so. dang. FUN. I love how there are super serious topics presented in each of her novels, but that they are done in a way that lets you go through the tough things without feeling like you've been clobbered. This probably wasn't my favorite of the books, just because the logic/plot portion of it missed a bit for me (for the most part, I'm able to suspend disbelief for her plots, but this one felt a bit too far-fetched). That being said, I can definitely say that if you've liked her previous books, I would feel fairly confident recommending this one to you as well!
Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 4.13
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol