Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - Just for the Summer

Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

132 reviews

kreglow's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Between this an Emily Henry's "Long Story," I might have misjudged the modern romance genre. A lot of Booktok and Bookstagram tends to focus on the steamy/dark romance stuff geared toward young adults, so that soured my opinion of the genre a bit. But I'm glad that my book club chose stuff like the aforementioned Henry book and this one to show that there is a lot of neat stuff in this genre I was not aware of.

The characters are entertaining, and the romance, while of course mushy, was a lot of fun to follow. The story follows some of the usual romance plot beats, while also doing its own thing and focusing on generational trauma and breaking the cycle. I also didn't realize that all of Jimenez's books are connected through recurring characters, which actually makes me want to read her other stuff to fully understand all of the references. Apparently, this is the third book in a series, but there's enough context here so that newbies (like myself) aren't completely lost.

Overall, I liked it. It's a very cute story that in the end, gives the reader those fuzzy feelings that a love story should give.

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justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition

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4.5

“The love stories sold us the wrong thing. The best kind of love doesn’t happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life. It’s not grand gestures that show how you feel, it’s all the little secret things you do to make her life better that you never tell her about. Taking the end piece of the bread at breakfast so she can have the last middle piece for her sandwich when you pack her lunch. Making sure her car always has gas so she never has to stop at the pump. Telling her you’re not cold and to take your jacket when you are in fact, very, very cold. It’s watching TV on a rainy Sunday while you’re doing laundry and turning her light off when she’s fallen asleep reading. Sharing pizza crusts and laughing about something the kids did and taking care of each other when you’re sick. It isn’t glamorous, it isn’t all butterflies and stars in your eyes. It’s real. This is the kind of love that forever is made of. Because if it’s this good when life is draining and mundane and hard, think of how wonderful it will be when the love songs are playing and the moon is out.”

This book was actually so, so good. It was my favorite out of the Part of Your World series. Is this the conclusion? Because it feels like it. This book started off super cute and funny and then dived into a lot of heavier topics that was actually really well done. Unlike Part of Your World and Yours Truly, I actually felt really emotional during the third act conflict, because it made sense. It made sense why the characters acted the way that they did. The communication that Emma and Justin had throughout the novel was so good, and the third act conflict was one that was not because of miscommunication, but where our characters were in the story. Like Part of Your World, Emma and Justin are at completely different points in their lives,

and I was actually dreading the third act conflict because I thought they would separate for good. I felt THAT sure that their lives couldn't mix. Unlike Alexis and Daniel, who I felt like they would be able to work past their age gap and the whole 'I'm not a good fit for your world' kind of thing - this time, I didn't feel that. What I did feel was two characters that deeply loved each other but couldn't be together because of where they were in their lives. Both of them had healing and growing to do.

Also, Justin is the best character in this book fr. I loved him so much in this book, and the dynamic, and the banter that he had with Emma was so cute to read. He just really fell in love with her and you could tell.

Also, I didn't realize that Amber was the same Amber as in Part of Your World, so the way that Emma was related to Daniel was something that I didn't see coming. And Amber really made me mad. And not to mention Neil was in this book as well! Neil was actually good in this book?? Which was surprising lol. Things happened in this book that I just was NOT expecting at all.

I'm glad I read this book after Part of Your World and Yours Truly. Seeing everything tie together, all the cameos from the characters, it really enhanced the book for me.

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noellegrace8's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was definitely a good one. The plot deals with such a juxtaposition of lighthearted and heavy stuff. You have Emma's childhood neglect and Justin's custody issues, but then you have them meeting on Reddit and the Toilet King bit. I think Jimenez's plots are rich, diverse, and interesting, like a good stew. This was no exception. And the characters were entirely loveable, plus their chemistry was so fun.

But despite Jimenez making good book stews, she has a certain ingredient she always includes, and it's frustratingly poignant: the last-minute trauma/poor decisions/bad reactions/miscommunications... basically anything with an unexpected, bitter taste. About 75% through, there's a screw-up. I will say, this one at least made some logical sense - Emma wanting to step away was reasoned out right on the page. But this idea that you have to be perfect before starting your life is odd to me. And honestly... just do better? Sorry but... she actively acknowledged that she would run away like her mom, but recognizing that should have been the only thing she needed to decide to stay with Justin (because being around YOUR person *should* make you better and help you work through your past & issues). She could have gotten therapy while being in Justin's home. I don't know why those things were presented as mutually exclusive. And if you find family/ learn lies about your past, why not rely on your boyfriend to help get through the trauma? It was all odd. They had a relationship but were only taking advantage of the uber happy portions of it. One of the perks should be that you have someone to rely on in tough times! I don't know. It was just odd.

I give Christine Larkin 4.5⭐, and Zachary Webber 5⭐ (as always, lol).

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keelirae113's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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bookwitch's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

The way I just LOVED this book. It is the second one I picked up this year because I saw my other two besties read it around the same time and both give it 5s. Abby Jimenez is becoming a must read author (and now I am going to have to go and get all her backlist books aren't I?)

We love a fake dating trope, and a summer romance. I loved the premise for this one too, though I do believe it has been done before; both characters seem to have this terrible curse; the people they break up with finding their soul mates right after. When the male MC posts about his dilemma on Reddit, and it goes viral, the female MC slides into his DMs to say the same thing happens to her all the time. Convinced that dating each other and then breaking up will solve this problem for the both of them, the female MC convinces her best friend and fellow traveling nurse, to change their next assigned location to Minnesota, so that she can give this a real shot. Some may find this cringey or cheesy but I just loved the cute little pre and post surveys he sent her, and the really stupid call back to the ugly billboard outside his window. The unhinged mother tearing through her temporary life here in Minnesota like a hurricane was a nice touch of drama that kept the story moving.
The way Abby weaves genuinely funny and cute romance into sometimes pretty serious, and real, issues is so refreshing. Let's face it, real life is not as picture perfect as the movies. Sometimes it isn't as dramatic either. Instead there are some very real problems that good, healthy relationships have to figure out to navigate, and I love that that is something that plays out for us in her books.

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khaben31's review against another edition

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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

5.0

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clara01's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.0

I really liked this book, it's a great summer/holiday read.
I really connected with both main characters, they are written so well. Both characters were lovable whilst having flaws and depth to them.
Abby Jimenez explores PTSD and childhood trauma so well. I really understood the 'getting small' part and I've never seen it described in such a relatable way before.

I highly recommend this book it had me wanting to laugh, cry and cheer them on all at the same time.

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