Tag: Abby Jimenez

Just for the Summer – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn FIVE STARSLeave a comment

I gave Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez FIVE stars. I loved this book!

“Am I the a**hole?” Justin asks in a Reddit post where he mentions he has a curse where all of his girlfriends have found “the one” immediately after they break up with him. Emma, a travel nurse with the same curse, reads it and sends him a flirty message. The two devise a plan to fake date, fake breakup, and then find real love. What could go wrong? It’s not like they’ll fall in love, right?

Emma and her best friend, Maddy take turns deciding where they will take their next travel nursing contract, and it is Emma’s turn to choose. She moves them to a cute little cabin on Lake Minnetonka in the interest of fake-dating Justin, and falling in love after their fake-breakup.

I was so invested in all of the characters and all of the conflicts in this book. Some of the conflicts were serious, but most were just funny and unique. Two of the main conflicts in this book center around Justin’s and Emma’s mothers. Justin’s mother, whom he loves, is going to jail for six years, which leaves him now to parent his younger siblings, which is an issue for Emma because she is falling for Justin (obviously), but doesn’t want kids. This issue kind of left me feeling annoyed and like Emma was being a bit childish herself, because this situation was very unique, and Justin’s siblings were not his actual children, or even Emma’s responsibility. Justin was so genuine and sweet, and I was really sucked in to how he was handling all of these new responsibilities.

In terms of Emma’s mother, Amber, she was never rarely around, basically a dead beat, and comes and goes as she pleases. When Amber arrives, she finds someone to take advantage of, and when she leaves, she blows everything up, sometimes literally. I hated Amber, but I really couldn’t wait to read what was going to happen with her next.

At various times throughout the story, Abby Jimenez brings back all of the characters from the previous two books, and she did so in such subtle and satisfying ways. We also get justice for Alexis when something tragic happens to Neil’s house! 

There were a few twists and turns in this book that I didn’t see coming, and one that made me super angry. Like, I wanted to throw the book across the room, angry. I kept reading, though, and I am so glad I did, because the ending was the best part! We love a book that can make us feel all of the emotions, right?

Abby Jimenez brings this book full circle, when it ends with Justin, once again, asking Reddit if he’s the a**hole, but for an entirely different reason. I loved this ending, and I found it so perfect and satisfying.

I think Abby Jimenez’s writing is so easy and refreshing to read, and I enjoyed every second of this book. This is only my third Abby Jimenez book, but I also find she does character development really well, really consistently. This book is written from two different points of view, Emma’s and Justin’s, and this type of writing makes this story specifically really interesting. I love knowing how each character is perceiving what is going on. Honestly, I think all of my favorite books are written in at least dual POV!

I recommend this book to everyone, however I do recommend you read the other two books first. There are references to the previous books, and as I stated characters from both books pop up all throughout this book, and the context given from the other two books is certainly helpful.

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May TBR

On By KaylieIn To Be ReadLeave a comment

Last month was an unusually slow reading month for me, I only finished two books. I am feeling good about this month though, and I have some books I am really looking forward to on deck!

First, Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. This is the third book in the Part of Your World series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, so I have high hopes for this one.

Second, Funny Story by Emily Henry. I have been waiting for this one to be released for quite some time, and I am so excited to finally read it! Daphne’s Fiance, Peter, leaves her for Miles’ girlfriend, Petra, then Daphne and Miles move in together, and probably fall in love.

Then, Faithful Place by Tana French. This is the third book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and this one follows Frank Mackey, and the mystery of the disappearance of the girl he was in love with when he was young, which he thought nothing of until now, decades later. These books are so well written; if you like a good slow crime/mystery, this series is definitely for you.

Next, The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren. I actually did not mean to order this as my Book of the Month, but I did, and it doesn’t sound bad. Anna and Liam marry in college for cheaper housing, and she is under the impression they have since divorced. However, in order to inherit a sizable fortune, Liam must show his family he has been happily married for five years. With a vacation coming up, and the two of them still, in fact, married, Liam convinces Anna to come with him to prove he has fulfilled the prerequisite for the money.

Also, The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter. Growing up, I LOVED the Gallagher Girls series, and I was SO excited to hear this book was coming out! I am hoping it will be like Gallagher Girls, but grown up. I finally got my hands on the book, and I plan to wait to read it until I have a whole day free so I can read it through without stopping!

Last, Beach Read by Emily Henry. I ordered this simply because it sounded like a cute little romance, and because I have heard people have loved it. Basically, two writers are on a beach, complete opposites, both with writers block, and they come up with a plan to switch genres.

Leave me a comment if you’ve read any of these!

Yours Truly – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn FIVE STARSLeave a comment

I gave Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez FIVE stars. This is the second book in the Part of Your World series, and I would recommend reading Part of Your World first. It’s not required, but would give you a better understanding of the backgrounds of some of the characters.

I was so upset when this book was over; I wish I could read it again for the first time. If you are considering reading this for the first time, cherish it! You’ll only get to read it for the first time once!

The first few pages of this book I wasn’t so sure how I felt about it, but sure enough, every time I picked it up (three times in total) I didn’t want to put it down.

Briana Ortiz is an ER physician, and also the best friend of Alexis – the main character of Part of Your World. Briana’s brother is in renal failure, and her divorce is almost final when an annoying, and annoyingly handsome and perfect new doctor, Jacob Maddox, transfers to her hospital. His first day, he kills almost every one of his patients and everyone hates him, especially Briana after he barges in on her lunch/secret cry closet. Everything changes though, when Briana gives Jacob a bit of unsolicited advice, and in response he gives her a handwritten letter… and her brother his kidney…

This book made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it made me want to cry. I didn’t cry, but I could have. The development of Briana and Jacob’s relationship starts off as a fake relationship to appease Jacob’s family into thinking he is fine, after Jacob’s ex-girlfriend and his brother announce they’re getting married. Obviously, things don’t go as planned with the fake relationship, and everyone develops some very not-fake feelings. The journey of self-doubt through this book on the part of both Briana and Jacob, relating to their feelings for each other and doubting the other person feels the same way, is so realistic and so relatable, and in turn SO frustrating. There were plenty of times throughout this book I just felt like screaming nothing in particular into the ether because of it. I LOVE a book that can make me feel that way!!

This was another novel where Abby Jimenez wrote about past trauma in relationships and how they show up in current relationships, and I thought she did such a great job conveying this reality. I felt like for the duration of the book the trauma Briana went through in her previous marriage was hinted at and maybe minimized, until it came in like a WRECKING BALL, just as it might present in a real life situation. I don’t like to bring other reviews into mine, but I have seen some other reviews that have suggested this detail wasn’t executed well, because the reader didn’t have all the information prior to the bombshell, and it was surprising to us, therefore we couldn’t understand it well. I disagree with this viewpoint. I think the presentation/initial omission of the extent of Briana’s trauma made her response to the events of her relationship with Jacob SO much more impactful. As the reader, we were left waiting for an explanation, just as Jacob was. And oh my, did my heart just entirely go out to Jacob during that time?? I really don’t think any book has ever made me FEEL as much as this one did.

She also tackled social anxiety HEAD ON, and reading between the lines I believe she intended to portray that Jacob was actually autistic. A constant theme throughout the book, was that Jacob was super duper wicked uncomfy in social situations, and that Briana brought him out of that, and knew how to manage it. I thought this specific dynamic between the two of them was so well-written, and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I felt through this aspect of the story, we could really feel the love between them.

I also loved the incorporation of Alexis and Daniel into this storyline. It didn’t feel necessary, per se, but it was definitely an added bonus. A gift, if you will, to be able to get a little update on them throughout this other really incredible love story.

My only neutral observation was that the moments where they were both at work felt very Grey’s Anatomy inspired. I can’t call this a complaint, as a Grey’s Anatomy fan, and I can’t think of any way I’d have liked to see these moments written differently, I just felt like my thinking about a Grey’s Anatomy-esque environment took a little bit away from the story at hand. Maybe that was just a me problem!

There is so much I am missing in this review, but I really don’t want to ruin the thrill of the read for anyone.

I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody. I LOVED this book with all my heart, and again, I wish I could have the experience of reading it for the first time.

Yours Truly,

Kaylie 😉

Part of Your World – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Four StarsLeave a comment

I gave Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez four stars! This is the first in the Part of Your World series, and I vow to include zero spoilers in this review.

Part of Your World follows Doctor Alexis Montgomery, as she navigates life, post-divorce, and bearing the weight of a family legacy of world-renowned surgeons. She is expected to continue the family legacy at Royaume Northwestern Hospital, where her family has performed as prominent surgeons for decades, but will that plan be derailed when she attends a funeral out of town? She ends up putting her car into a ditch on the way home, and then along comes Daniel, who tows her out, and also happens to be a carpenter and the town Mayor, and maybe the love of her life?

This book felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie, and I can’t lie, I love a good Hallmark movie. Big city girl goes to small town, falls in love with small town boy, but her rich pretentious family would never accept small town boy as their own, so what is she to do?? This book includes some sensitive topics, such as emotional and physical abuse, and Abby Jimenez tackles then perfectly in my opinion.

In the beginning, Alexis thinks she and Daniel are polar opposites, and their lifestyles certainly serve to say so, but as the story goes on and Alexis learns more about Daniel, she learns more about herself as well. I thought the character development in this story was so well-done and relatable, and I loved that Alexis shared everything with Briana from the start. I also just read Yours Truly, the next book in this series, and knowing all of the details from Alexis and Daniel’s story just made Briana’s story that much more interesting.

The conflict in this story comes from Alexis being a big-shot doctor in Minneapolis, Daniel being an all-around, do everything guy from a small town outside of the city, and Alexis not wanting to admit to herself, or WORSE, her family, that she is in love with him. I loved the back and forth, both literally and figuratively, on Alexis’s part, of hiding this relationship, and then coming to terms with it.

This book was written in such an honest, real, and candid tone, and I found myself giggling throughout it. With that being said, I was also deeply concerned the entire time that the ending I thought NEEDED to happen, was somehow not going to, and I could not put this book down in the interest of finding out how everything played out. I was seriously invested in this book. The reason I gave four stars, and not five, is because I was slightly underwhelmed by the ending. I felt like it was a bit rushed, and the predictability of it for literally half of the entire book preceding the ending made it even more underwhelming. Overall though, a great read.

I have said it before, I am not a huge romance novel girlie, but after this I think I might be turning into one. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute, easy to read, relatable rom-com that they can get through in a weekend!

TBR’s April TBR

On By KaylieIn To Be ReadLeave a comment

Hi! I’ve already posted this to my instagram, and I know it’s a bit late, but I figure it’s better late than never, right?! As of last night, I have already finished the first book on this list, but without further ado, here is my to be read list for April:

First, Annie Bot by Sierra Greer. In this novel, we follow Annie, a sex bot, who tries her hardest to learn how to act as human as she possibly can. This is interesting, since her owner, Doug, spent tens of thousands of dollars to have a robot instead of a human companion.

Next, Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. This is Abby Jimenez’s most recent book, and I came across it a few days after it’s release in a really tiny bookstore, so I had to pick it up. Honestly, I didn’t even know what it was about when I bought it, I was just excited about another Abby Jimenez novel, but it sounds like a cute little romcom!

After that, Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris. Lately I have been trying to go through books that are actually on my bookshelf to read instead of buying new ones. I feel like this will be relatable to some, this is one of those! Every year for Christmas, my parents used to put a gift at the end of our bed to occupy us as children, so we would wait longer to wake them up in the morning. I have a sister who is much younger than I am, and I have tried to spend the night there every Christmas eve. About four years ago, I think this book was left at the end of my bed, but I definitely just went back to sleep. Funny enough, this book has been recommended to me bunch of times since then! This seems like a thriller about how you just never know what is going on beyond the façade people create for their friends and family, and seems like a really good thriller!

Then, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reed. This novel was lightly inspired by Fleetwood Mac, and is about a band of six who go on the road, one of them an expectant father, and the wild ride from there. I have heard people rave about this book, and I am excited to read it. I LOVED Malibu Rising, so I am hopeful this will be another five star rating!

Next up, is Tinkers by Paul Harding. I picked this book up in a little bookstore the other day, because I thought the cover was beautiful. This book follows George Washington Crosby who, lying on his death bed, drifts in and out of consciousness reflecting on his past. The reason I bought this book was because it sounded like it would make me cry – I’ll let you know.

Lastly, and not pictured, Funny Story by Emily Henry. This is Emily Henry’s latest novel, which is set to be released April 23, 2024, and follows the story of Daphne, who maybe falls in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fianceé’s ex? We’ll see how that turns out.

As always, I’ll link my reviews as soon as they’re published, and if you have any thoughts on these titles, PLEASE share them! I’d love to chat!