Cover Image: Just For A While

Just For A While

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I received Just For a While by Zøe Haslie in exchange for a honest review. I have given this book two out of five stars ⭐️⭐️

Unfortunately this book really started to pick up around two thirds of the way through the story which made the story feel rushed and missed opportunities to develop on certain relationships and characters. This book had a lot of potential but this story didn’t do it for me.

Was this review helpful?

This book was sad and heartwarming at the same time.
Just For A While was short and sweet, with all the feelings of a young relationship. It was a little predictable, and it felt like a few other contemporary books I have read, but it
also held its own uniqueness. It was easy to read and a good summer contemporary story.

Was this review helpful?

I received this through Net Galley for my honest opinion.

I have to say at first it was hard to get through the beginning, the phrasing was a bit choppy and the paragraphs blended into one another changing from one person to the next without showing that change. But I can honestly say that I am very happy I held on and read through the entire book because it really was worth it. The story progressed nicely and the emotions of the main characters were coming through on the pages. I was now invested.

The premise of the story was good and the characters were interesting to read about and I truly felt for them. I enjoyed reading/learning about their struggles and the bonds they started forming throughout the book. This wasn't a love story, it was more of a story about a girl who is finding herself and finally letting her feel for those around her. Letting people in, in the best way possible. I enjoyed this book.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank NetGalley for a eARC. Just For A While is a delightful YA book. The writing style was different than what I normally read. I love the characters of Charlotte & Misha. The chemistry between them was so electric. I 'm giving this book a 3 out 5 stars. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first book by Zoe Haslie and I really enjoyed it!! Such a sweet small town romance!!! Will Charlotte and Misha be able to open their hearts to romance again? Read and find out!!! Enjoy!!!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book with it's small town cast of characters, love and friendships. Charlotte arrives in the small town where her father is mayor for the summer and tries hard not to like the town or its people, including a father she doesn't know. What she finds is friendship, love, family and truths about her life she didn't know. This sweet book shows that minds can be changed and people forgiven but it takes time, friendship and love to make it happen sometimes. This is a quick read and makes you feel good. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I liked this book. I was stoked to receive a review copy of it. It didn't disappoint either. it was an exciting story

Was this review helpful?

Just For A While by Zoe Haslie is a sweet young adult romance that I really enjoyed. Charlotte is seventeen years old and has always lived with her mother, including her first fight with cancer. When the cancer comes back, Charlotte’s mom sends her to live with her father, that she doesn't know at all, while she goes to an inpatient treatment center. This takes place over the summer. Charlotte is angry, feeling alone, and resentful, in a new town. There is romance, friendship, and family that will lift your spirits. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a sweet young adult romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't a huge fan of the book mainly because I felt there was so much potential for character development that it let it down a bit. I felt that the romance was slightly rushed in the middle whereas I would have liked more chapters of the two of them.

I also felt that Charlotte and Daniel's relationship could have started much slower and really developed properly, I think this would have made the book much more enjoyable.

However, it was well-written, compelling and it was a real page turner, I just felt because the character development fell a bit flat it wasn't a 'must read' book for me sadly.

Was this review helpful?

A nice short love story, perfect for the summer. Wonderful cover and very good entertainment. I lice Charlotte and Misha together.

Was this review helpful?

I must admit that although sometimes I gravitate away from third-person narration in novels, in this book it really truly did just enhance the reading experience. This book broke my heart and mended it all at once. I was always engaged while reading and yes it was slightly predictable, but that's the beauty of it. It's this sweet read that will leave you in love with so many different characters. To see Charlotte and her family dynamic and to fall in love with Misha who is caring for his sister. This book touched on so many issues yet it was still a light read and I would always recommend it to anyone that's a sucker for a good contemporary read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc for an honest review!

Honestly I’m not one for contemporary but I really wanted to give this one a try. And my oh my did I fall in love. I don’t want to spoil much but I truly fell in love with the main charcaters and the way their romance developed. It was breathtaking. Made me even a little emotional at times. If anything for me this was more or so s fun read. Something to get me out of my reading slump.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a really sweet story and had intriguing characters. The ending was somewhat abrupt and the perspectives changed quickly so that took some getting used to. Overall a story about complex emotions that I wish was a little longer but had lots of promise. A nice quick read.
ARC thanks to publisher and Netgalley in exchange for review

Was this review helpful?

At first, I thought the plot of the story was good. While forced to spend a summer with her distant father, Daniel, Charlotte meets Misha and becomes more open to the town and its people. But then I have one rule when it comes to good books - no books where the character is fine with smoking. It's a personal turn-off of mine, and I couldn't read any further. If they took out Charlotte smoking, I'd be fine and continue to read it. But sorry, I can't get past the smoking.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. The characters and story line were very well developed. I hope there's a sequel to see what happens next for Charlie and everyone else.

Was this review helpful?

I was excited to read this debut novel by Zoe Haslie and I wasn’t disappointed. It is a bit heavier of a YA contemporary romance as it delves into some pretty serious issues like parental illness, mental illness, teenage pregnancy and parental abandonment. But it was still filled with the youthful fun and young romance that I enjoy in a YA novel. I liked reading Charlotte’s evolution and her love story with Misha was flirty and romantic. My only critique would be that the hardness of teenage pregnancy was a bit looked over and should maybe have been emphasized a bit more. Overall, it was a quick read and I enjoyed the story a lot. I would pick up this authors future books.

TW: mental illness, cancer, parental abandonment

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book. All opinions remain my own as always.

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 15%.

I wanted to love this book, I thought the pretense was really great and I was excited to read it. However, when I actually read the book I had a few things that made it less than what I was hoping.

1. The writing feels juvenile. It's kind of choppy (at least in the ebook) and the paragraphs don't indicate when the narrative will be changing. Like all of a sudden we're in Daniel's head but in the sentence right before it, we were in Charlotte's.
2. Early on in the book, Charlotte lit a cigarette. At first, I couldn't really even figure out how old she was, but then as I read farther on I realized she was 17. For positive messages, a 17 year old should not be smoking a cigarette, and she's also not even legal to buy cigarettes. I liked that her character was set up for a redemption arc but some of her choices made it hard to love her, which meant her would-be redemption lost its effect.
3. It felt like Daniel was flirting with Anna and Anna was DEFINITELY married. His descriptions of her, at least in the beginning, were definitely flirtatious and that's not sending a great message to readers either. Husbands mean that the woman of interest is off limits, and that should be clearly expressed (in my opinion).

I really wanted to love this book and I was so excited for this lighthearted YA read (that I'd been so desperately looking for), but it didn't follow through on what I was wanting. This being said, this is my personal opinion and only reflects me, so other readers may really love this!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Just For A While is a sweet, entertaining beach read, a feel good story. It is fluently written and quite a quick read.

Was this review helpful?

DNF @ 25%.
This was not for me, I found it boring and the writing very stiff and awkward. The way Charlotte spoke was very formal and not enough was happening. This lacked depth and I wasn’t able to connect with Charlotte. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I guess that this book was just really not for me. I didn't agree with all of the views of the main character and found her annoying most of the time. My other main issue with this book was the writing. I found myself not really interested or impressed with it. I have to say that I did like a few of the characters including Olivia and Sophie. As always this is just my opinion and I encourage you to give it a try and find your own thoughts on it. 2/5 stars

Was this review helpful?