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caitlin_bookchats 's review for:
Just for the Summer
by Abby Jimenez
emotional
hopeful
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
Look, this is probably a solid, enjoyable three star romance, but it's also full of very specific Minnesota references which means it's more like four stars in my heart. Therefore, 3.5 stars.
Things that really worked for me:
1) Fake Kris Lindahl references. Every Twin Cities resident of the last 5 years knows what's up. Perfect, no notes.
2) the third act conflict made sense and was well developed from what we know about the characters leading to that point.
3) Our protagonists were in my their late twenties and feeling with some big stuff and it mostly worked.
4) Being about to chat about the book with my coworkers.
What didn't really work for me:
1) Excuse me who in their right mind goes to STILLWATER from LAKE MINNETONKA for a date. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?!?!
2) I'm sorry but that Nadia's Cake reference was CRINGE.
2.5) ok this is the nitpickiest not pick but when did these ladies get there MN nursing license? Because we are PICKY and are not part of the multistate compact.
3) look this is my own fault but wow, the references to the first two books in the series that I have not read went beyond cameo.
4) I really appreciate what Jimenez was trying to do bringing in serious family conflict, etc, but I kind of needed her Q&A at the end of the book to fully get what she was going for. The book alone didn't get me all the way there and the ending felt a little bit rushed. Honestly it could have been longer and showed us a little more of the third act.
Things that really worked for me:
1) Fake Kris Lindahl references. Every Twin Cities resident of the last 5 years knows what's up. Perfect, no notes.
2) the third act conflict made sense and was well developed from what we know about the characters leading to that point.
3) Our protagonists were in my their late twenties and feeling with some big stuff and it mostly worked.
4) Being about to chat about the book with my coworkers.
What didn't really work for me:
1) Excuse me who in their right mind goes to STILLWATER from LAKE MINNETONKA for a date. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?!?!
2) I'm sorry but that Nadia's Cake reference was CRINGE.
2.5) ok this is the nitpickiest not pick but when did these ladies get there MN nursing license? Because we are PICKY and are not part of the multistate compact.
3) look this is my own fault but wow, the references to the first two books in the series that I have not read went beyond cameo.
4) I really appreciate what Jimenez was trying to do bringing in serious family conflict, etc, but I kind of needed her Q&A at the end of the book to fully get what she was going for. The book alone didn't get me all the way there and the ending felt a little bit rushed. Honestly it could have been longer and showed us a little more of the third act.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
One character's parent is a terrible, selfish parent and conflict with her is a major source of tension in the book. The other has one dead parent and one parent who is incarcerated during the book. This is a major source of tension with that character .