Just for the Summer

I highly anticipated this release because I absolutely love Part of Your World and Yours Truly. While I did enjoy this third book in the companion series, I am slightly disappointed by it. It is hard for me to pinpoint exactly what I do not love about it. All I can say it it just feels like “too much.”

Let me explain. In this story, Emma and Justin are two individuals in their late twenties who have a “curse” which leads the people they break up with to find love with the next person they date. Emma and Justin come together and decide to date each other with the intent of breaking up and then moving on to find their true loves. This is a fun premise, but from the beginning it is clear to me why Emma's relationships never last. The idea of a curse makes it seem like they are blameless in these failed relationships, but that is not the case with Emma. Also, both Emma and Justin have major difficulties in their lives involving their mothers. Emma has trauma from foster care and a toxic mother, and Justin has to raise his siblings for a few years while his mother is in jail. Through the course of their romance, they also experience other unexpected roadblocks and major life-altering revelations. As I said before, it's all a bit much for me.

So why then do I rate this with 4 stars? Well, there are also a lot of good things about this book despite the aspects that frustrate me. Justin is a lovable character who any woman would want to date. He is considerate and supportive. Emma's best friend is loyal and supportive as well. The cameos of characters from the previous books are fun and exciting. There is also a great deal of humor in the story. The pace is perfect, the setting is picturesque, and the themes developed are important. The author makes some very salient points about response to trauma. There is much to love about the book.

In the end, I settled on the 4 stars rating because I would say this book is a good romance that explores some important topics well. I just don't love all aspects of the book. I am still a fan of Abby Jimenez and will continue to read and recommend her books.