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bewhitedragon 's review for:
Just for the Summer
by Abby Jimenez
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Just for the Summer was a bit of a sensation last year that I kept hearing about often, including a Booktuber who loves romance. I've still been exploring romance books to see what I enjoy, so when I heard about this one and all the good reviews, I was intrigued.
It honestly ended up becoming a new favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with how deeply into it I got. It centers around two characters, Emma and Justin, who see themselves as "cursed" because everyone who dates them seem to find their soulmate except them. I do think them meeting up and such felt a little too fast for my personal liking, it's a very sweet journey of the two of them as things change and they end up having feelings for the other. But they both have their own baggage that they deal with throughout the story, and the way the trauma is handled from both is so well done. I read in the Aknowledgements that Abby spoke with some licensed doctors, and I truly respect that about her (if I remember correctly, there was also a trigger warning at the beginning. Good on you, Abby). The exploration of trauma and how it is handled is relatable, sad, and feels so real. While I can't say I've been through what these characters have faced, I still really felt for them. This book made me tear up quite a few times. I waited many months to read this, and it was genuinely worth it, because hot damn I had so many feels.
I look forward to other books Abby Jimenez has written, and I'm glad it helped me figure out what I really like out of romance. Sweet companionship mixed in with angst (and very little to no sex) xD
It honestly ended up becoming a new favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with how deeply into it I got. It centers around two characters, Emma and Justin, who see themselves as "cursed" because everyone who dates them seem to find their soulmate except them. I do think them meeting up and such felt a little too fast for my personal liking, it's a very sweet journey of the two of them as things change and they end up having feelings for the other. But they both have their own baggage that they deal with throughout the story, and the way the trauma is handled from both is so well done. I read in the Aknowledgements that Abby spoke with some licensed doctors, and I truly respect that about her (if I remember correctly, there was also a trigger warning at the beginning. Good on you, Abby). The exploration of trauma and how it is handled is relatable, sad, and feels so real. While I can't say I've been through what these characters have faced, I still really felt for them. This book made me tear up quite a few times. I waited many months to read this, and it was genuinely worth it, because hot damn I had so many feels.
I look forward to other books Abby Jimenez has written, and I'm glad it helped me figure out what I really like out of romance. Sweet companionship mixed in with angst (and very little to no sex) xD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury