Welcome to Litsy!

Loved this! Family trauma, mental health struggles, and some great characters. Devoured this over the weekend, couldn‘t put it down!

This could have been a fun but with purpose five star rom com but fell flat to me & is a low pick. Both Emma & Justin are grappling with big issues, parental dramas and general trauma to the extent that their story feels heavy under the weight. Justin is more well rounded but seems to be written to be a bit try to hard on the quirky- dog named after his best friend, surveys for dates etc. ticks of my season in the title prompt for #readthedate

July 15, 2024 Which one should I pick for my next TBR? Im stuck between another summer read (as it is summer still) and a memoir by Rebel Wilson. I will tell you that I am a sucker for memoirs, only if the celebrity is worth reading about and if the story is personal and shares photos of the celebrity at a young age. sigh decisions decisions haha I may start the memoir tbh

Jiminez always does a fantastic job melding hard truths and traumatic experiences with romance, and this novel is no different.
Justin is a fantastic book boyfriend and perfect older brother and caretaker to his siblings. Emma‘s relationship with all of them is beyond sweet and had me tearing up several times.
I have to go back and read Part of Your World and Yours Truly as characters from those books make an appearance in this one.

So good. 🤩 The epitome of a great summer read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really liked my second Jimenez book even though it is quite a bit heavier than Yours Truly.

Lots of family trauma for both main characters, but it was written with care and sensitivity.

In reading the q&a at the end, I learned that Jimenez brings in lots of characters from her previous books. I think I might have squealed when Benny popped up 😄

Abby Jimenez's signature writing style is felt throughout this easygoing, but deeply emotional, novel. The book balances humor, romance, and thoughtfulness gracefully, resulting in a thoroughly entertaining and poignant story......
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6535708995

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is only my second read by Abby Jimenez, but I love how her romances feel really authentic and multifaceted. Justin and Emma‘s story captured my heart (and made me laugh)! I‘m realizing I should have read these books in order since they‘re slightly interconnected… but now I‘m looking forward to reading Alexis and Daniel‘s story last to complete the “Part of Your World” series! 🎧

The entire story revolved around trauma. So much sabotage and instantaneity.
I wouldn't say there's a lot summer vibes...

It was a good one! Sweet romance, solid friendship, but also a deep dive into childhood trauma. Mixed bag but it worked. Just a smidgen too long for me, but otherwise pretty perfect. Mild mature content.

Loved both the hero and the heroine, both such good people 💕

3rd IRL book club was so much fun! 💖🫶🏻💫

Labeling this a romance feels…odd. The over arching themes here are mental health and complicated family dynamics. Being in a healthy relationship won‘t magically fix your life and a lot of the cute elements in this are straight up codependent and not believable. My heart goes out to poor BFF Maddy — where is her gold medal for being a side character in all this? 🤔😂🤷🏻‍♀️

If you can choose between anger and empathy, always choose empathy.

I‘ve been neglecting my book tracking! Here‘s one:

This was a great read — an interesting premise, and a more than fun follow through. I LOVED how the characters communicated openly and honestly with each other, and that the problems they had were real, situational or deep-rooted issues that had to be thoughtfully worked on and resolved. All the characters were well drawn and enjoyable, funny and relatable, and all too human. Really enjoyed this!

I loved everything about this book. It's my favorite of the year so far ❤️ and the first Abby Jimenez book I've read (I'm sad to admit) so I have purchased all her others. My summer reading plan made. 🤓

This book was so sweet.
I couldn't put it down. I loved Emma and Justin.
I love how they both actually talked to each other. There wasn't that annoying feeling of me wanting to shake them and tell them to just talk.
I wasn't expecting that specific fallout.

I hadn't realized it was part of a series when I first picked it up. I'm so so so happy there is more to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
05.27.2024

Starting in on my third pick for my IRL book club. Romance is not my usual fare and I‘ve got plenty of dark/horror lined up for June so…we‘ll see. This has some pretty stellar reviews everywhere I look. 🤷🏻‍♀️🫖☕️

I'm only 20 pages into this and laughing pretty hard. That's a good sign. 🤣🙃

Now reading the newest Abby Jimenez.🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed this, my first Abby Jimenez! Loved the silly dating “curses” and the “Toilet King” detail. Funny and serious and cute. The unstable family part was a bit much, but felt kind of real, and was a necessary part of the background and story, so I get it. Looking forward to reading the other #PartofYourWorld books!

Another good one! Jimenez‘s books are a little slice of cuteness and fun but never cheesy. I‘m currently mildly obsessed with reading all of her books bc it‘s all my brain can handle currently, but I‘m so glad I‘ve found her work and I‘m pretty sure I‘d love them any time (not just end of crazy school year time). Any suggestions for other non-cheesy authors in the same vein as Jimenez? Others you love as well?

Great way to start a weekend.

These are the books I read on vacation. They‘re great picks because I loved them all. Just for Summer was my favorite, but not by much because they‘re all great!

“You‘re not asking too much,” he said. “You were just asking the wrong person. Ask me instead.”
Such a simple sentiment, but also sort of beautiful. The thought that you can not be so independent and ask someone for help and actually get it is really everything! This story is so good, like all the Abby Jimenez I‘ve read so far.

Fans of Abby Jimenez will not be disappointed! Cute concept, likable characters, a dog. Thank you, Abby!!!

I wanted a GOOD rom-com and this hit the spot. Both Emma and Justin‘s characters were very complex. Their “relationship curse” brought them together and their humor made the sparks fly. It‘s very witty with lots of family drama, the baggage is deep and it almost overshoots the story of Justin and Emma, but it actually brings them together and helps them grow. Book #34 in 2024

Up next on audio. 🎧

Feels like summer…
#bookspinbingo

Finished all the books I will for April. Tagged was definitely my favorite read and it definitely beat out Kilt Trip.

Sorry but Ruthless Vow beat Just for the Summer for me. Even though they‘re completely different books.

I also added a bonus book for April with The Bone Shard Daughter because I also loved this book.

#readingbracket2024

Been wanting to pick up this one, and found it on Spotify Audiobooks! Started listening today and it‘s my first audiobook since the kid was small! Very much enjoying so far…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book and Starbucks were both sweet treats for me! I absolutely loved this adorable romance💘

This book definitely has all the feels. Great characters, plot and outstanding prose. 4⭐️

First book completed for the #AwesomeApril readathon hosted by @Andrew65

It‘s Indie Bookstore Day so I bought my next in-person-book-club pick (& some Swiftie pens) at my neighborhood shop, aka my Happy Place. 🥰

A great summery read of two people who are right for each other but seemingly meet at the wrong time in their lives. Emma and Justin plan to date and breakup but somewhere in the weeks of dating, they really connect. Justin is such a caring man whose love language is acts of kindness from bringing her lunch and caring for her when she is sick. I just loved him! This was my April #BOTM pick and it was a winner.

#justforthesummer
#botm

“In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.”
##JustForTheSummer. #BookQuote. #SummerReading

Loved it! Such a great story. Quick read and hard to put down. Loved the characters

#MotivationalMonday @Cupcake12

1️⃣ Nothing special. Just work.
2️⃣ Bella my fur baby.
3️⃣ Horse

@BookmarkTavern @bnp @Texreader

Another grid of satisfaction and the tagged was everything I was hoping it would be! …And thank goodness for tax dollars being baked in to the support of public libraries so I can experience so many new books in a month!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I love it when authors succeed in writing a stand-alone series where supporting characters in one book become the MC‘s of the next book. It doesn‘t matter to the current story if you‘ve read the previous books, but it‘s delightful Easter egg when the memory of current supporting character rushes back from its place in memories almost lost. I also love a rom-dramedy with meaningful issues.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

"r/Amltheasshole
Posted by just_in_267
AITA for naming my ugly dog after my ex best friend?"

This was an absolutely beautiful read. More than just a stereotypical rom-com, though it definitely was cute and funny. It was also absolutely heartbreaking at times as both main characters were dealing with tough family trauma. Both characters were written so well but Justin is everything. A top read of the year so far. 5⭐️

Just started this and I‘m already completely charmed by both characters. I‘ve been reading slower lately and this is just what I needed!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#ShananigansReads24

Just finished it. It was worth postponing my nap. 😴

I LOVED this book! Might be my favorite Abby Jimenez so far! I loved all the Easter eggs in this book from her other books!

Ahh it was so good, I devoured it! Read it!

So so good! Could be read alone but filled with Easter eggs and nods to earlier AJ stories.