Non-Spoiler Book Review | “Just for the Summer,” by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I was so skeptical about jumping into this story. Mostly because I just finished reading an emotional rollercoaster and I told myself, “You know Abby is going to put you through it, right?” And then I was like, “Yeah, but what’s another emotional torment going to do to me?” Well, I’ll tell you what it did: I didn’t sleep well, cried multiple times throughout the story, laughed out loud in so many instances, and was even angry in some parts. Abby wrecked me and I loved every second of it.

In this book, we follow the story of Emma and Justin, and boy let me tell you, they’re going through it. I can’t tell much because I don’t want to spoil it since we don’t technically find out about it a few chapters into the book–but there’s a lot of stuff that they both have to sort through.

Emma is a travel nurse who meets Justin online through a very funny situation and they click immediately. For her next city, she decides to visit Justin’s hometown to give them a chance and they kick it off. However, Justin’s world was turned upside down by something that happened in his family and although he wants Emma to be part of it, he is not sure she wants to. With a mile-long list of why they can’t be together, Emma and Justin fight their way through their inner demons to be with each other. But the real question is, can they beat them or will they let the demons take over?

Emma is very charismatic and has so much empathy. I loved her best friend, Maddy, she reminds me a lot of myself. Emma has so much baggage from dealing with her mom abandoning her when she was young, so she’s trying to work through that with Maddy by her side. I have read many friendships throughout my life and Maddy is ride or die for Emma. Maddy is the kind of friend I want by my side whenever I’m going through it and for the good times too. I was cracking up with her throughout the story. She is hilarious. I liked her so much, I wish she had her own book. But moving on, I respect Emma taking some time for herself to go to therapy and see pro through her issues because Justin and her were great together.

It takes a strong person to admit you need help and do something about it. I admire that about Emma. She was willing to help everyone around her and when she needed help the most, she sought it. So good for her.

Furthermore, I also admired Justin. He took every punch life threw at him and made it work. Besides his life being turned upside down he still found new ways how to love Emma. He stuck by her side from the beginning and offered his support when she needed it most.

I know this review sounds mostly vague, but I promise you it’s for a good reason. This book taught me so much. And it’s not so much Trauma Porn as it is a romance book—trust me, you’re not reading a Colleen Hoover book—but Abby will put you through it. There are a little bit of spicy scenes but more like one to two peppers.

I highly recommend this book if you are into books by Ashley Poston, Hannah Grace, Talia Hilbert, Christina Lauren, etc. Anyone above the age of 18 can read this book. There is a trigger warning page before you start reading the book if needed. Thank y’all for reading my review. Until the next one!

Non-Spoiler Book Review | “Bride,” by Ali Hazelwood

• Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I started reading this book yesterday on my commute to work and finished it by the end of the day. Would’ve finished faster if the aforementioned job wasn’t on the way. (If any of my corporate friends read this, know that I was able to complete my job as normal yesterday, even during the spicy scenes). 

One thing I want to start with is the fact that I had no idea what to expect from this story. I mean, the title kind of gives it away but not really. In this book we follow the story of Misery, she’s the daughter of the most influential Vampyre in the country. War is on the brink of happening between the Vampyres and the Werewolves–to prevent this–his father decides to marry her off to the Alpha of the most prominent pack in the country. That’s how the story of enemies, animosity, friendship, and love begins to develop. But will Misery be careful to guard her heart or will she let it ruin everything she’s worked for?

 I loved this book. This book was amazing. There were some moments while I was listening to the book at work yesterday when I had to stop and move away from my desk for a more private area. There were some scenes that I couldn’t possibly be listening to at my desk if you know what I mean. But anyways… I digress. This book had me sweating, crying, laughing, but most importantly, horny. Damn, Ali Hazelwood can write a good romance book. I am a little bit biased because I’ve loved every book she’s written but my opinion matters. Her tropes are a little overdone, sure, but her writing feels like a bit of fresh air when everyone else keeps writing the same thing.

She took some liberties while writing this story as well. This storyline follows vampires and werewolves and we’ve read this story many times. And although there are some inconsistencies with her world-building, Hazelwood still manages to put her twist into her version of it. We follow a 21st-century world in her book where Vampyres and Weres live within the current human world and have to navigate around it. But humans aren’t a focus here.

Now the tea, Lowe is what I picture my future version of a werewolf to be. Like, he has to be on my top 20 fictional boyfriends. My top Ali fictional boyfriend of all time, and the epilogue chapter has me craving the next book ASAP.

With that being said, read this book if you like authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout, the Twilight series, Renee Ahdieh, Roby Dixon, etc. You get the gist. Anyone 18 years and older can read this book. Thank you as always for reading, I’ll catch you on the next one!