Tag: Reading

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.

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 TBR – MARCH

On By KaylieIn To Be ReadLeave a comment

I hope you’re having a lovely afternoon!

I realize March is already halfway over, so for a moment we are going to go back in time, and imagine we are reading this on February 29th 🙂

First up, The Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Poston. This will be my first Ashley Poston novel. A friend gifted this to me, and I am pretty excited to read it! It sounds suspenseful…

Second, The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden. This book sounds super super suspenseful, and I am really looking forward to reading this. I have seen this recommended by so many people, and am a huge fan of a good thriller.

Third, The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. I have heard a lot of really great reviews about this book where people report it really makes them think about their lives.

Next, The Housemaid’s Secret, by Freida McFadden. This is the second book in the Housemaid series. Another thriller!

Then, The Inmate, by Freida McFadden. This also sounds like a gripping thriller, and I have found that I really like Freida McFadden, so a no-brainer!

And, Maame, by Jessica George. Based on the recommendations I have heard of this book, it is a standout from the rest of this list so far in that it is not a thriller, but I’ve been told it is heartwarming, and so so good.

Also, Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes. I really enjoyed Someone Else’s Shoes, so I have been wanting to read another book written by Jojo Moyes. Honestly, this sounds really sad, and based on the fact that there are sequels, the ending is pretty clear. I fear it will be very sad, so I am a bit hesitant to start it… we’ll see.

And last on the bookshelf, The Guest List, by Lucy Foley. Back to the suspenseful thriller theme here, this one sounds like a real whodunit!

YOUR TURN! If you have read any of these, please let me know your thoughts (or ratings at least), and let me know if you have any recommendations for what should be put on The Bookshelf – Reviewed TBR shelf for the month of April! Once I read each of these, I will link my review to the title.