One of the first things I noticed when reading this book was... this was quite a long book. Not gonna lie, this intimidated me because I'm not used to reading a YA contemporary romance this long. But while this did unnerved me at first, it somehow added to the overall appeal of the book, for me.

I love the writing style, it was so easy to follow, easy to get into the head of the characters - which can be disconcerting sometimes as the characters (the main ones anyway) are going through rough albeit somehow different patch in their lives.I love how the author shows Jolene and Adam's interests without it being so in your face. I also love how complex and dynamic the characters were. Their relationship with each other (not just Jolene & Adam, their families as well) was so well written and developed quite nicely.

Overall, I really liked this book. The plot was not really the most original but the author gave it her own twist and made it really interesting. This was my first Abigail Johnson book and I will definitely keep an eye out on her books.

ps: I honestly dislike slow burn romances but this book made me appreciate this trope just a little bit more.

RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND is a sweet YA romance between Jolene and Adam, two teenagers who are navigating complex family issues. I like how this book centered around their family dynamics. Adam is coping with the devastating loss of his older brother and the resulting rift between him and his other family members. Jolene is dealing with the difficult divorce between her parents and rocky relationship with her father's new girlfriend. Jolene and Adam bond over these struggles as they meet every other weekend due to their split-family situations. This book explores love, loss, and the fallout of it, and addresses sexual assault in a way that honestly depicts how a young adult victim would feel and act. Definitely read this book for a romance that delves deeper into realistic and relevant topics.

A sincere thanks to Inkyard Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I made it about 30% through this book before I gave up. I was sitting there skimming pages trying to figure out how many I had left when I realized I didn’t have to finish it. I didn’t care what happened between Adam and Jolene. The mystery of how his brother had died was just being dragged on at that point. Jolene had potential, it was just Adam that was bring down the story for me.

While I didn’t finish the book, there were certain things about it that I liked. The first meeting between the two doesn’t exactly end on a good foot, but Jolene and Adam do have a true connection. It was a sweet friendship and they were really there for each other on their hardest weekends of the month. Plus Jolene is such a kick ass name. Who wouldn’t want to be named after a Dolly Parton song?

I might consider going back and reading this someday, but today is not that day.

I can't say as I loved this one. It's a bit too expected. There's no real mystery to what happened to Adams' brother and then to his family, regardless of how cagey Johnson is about it. There's no complexity to either set of parents or to their relationships. I kept waiting for it to take interesting directions but it never did.

I’ve read other reviews saying it was too long, that maybe some parts could be omitted, but I don’t agree. This book is the story of two characters who are so perfectly crafted they feel real. It was completely essential to go through everything the writer puts you through to fully understand the journey and growth they have during the story.

Coming from divorced parents, this hit close to home. It is so comforting to have all feelings you’ve experienced written down on paper.

I loved this book and fully recommend if you’re looking for a nice love story or need to feel understood.

This book packs a lot into a young adult novel. It was totally realistic in how it presented two angry kids, Jolene and Adam, who like many kids are forced to shuttle between separated parents. Adam, confused by his dad who left after Adam’s older brother died, and Jolene, who is a pawn in the constant battle fought between her parents, meet on the weekends when they are forced to spend time at the run-down neighboring apartments of their fathers. Coming to terms with love and real life are hard. As I read this, I thought that for the most part Jolene and Adam are very mature for not yet being 16 years old. And as an older adult who hopes kids look to book characters for guidance, these two set excellent examples. Well worth reading, even for old grandmas like me.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Teen for an ARC copy of this to review! It was a great book to start out 2020 with. I got the chance to review Abigail Johnson's previous book, If I Fix You, before, so I was happy to get the chance to review this one as well. 

Every Other Weekend is a look at how divorce can affect the lives of teenagers, and how grief can rock a family's life. Adam and Jolene are fully fleshed out characters, ones that you feel that you can relate to. They each are struggling with their own issues, and the find each other in times of need. Though it takes them a little bit to realize their feelings for each other, their relationship feels real when they finally do.

Outside of the romance, there are a lot of real issues here too. Johnson grounds Adam and Jolene's relationship in real feelings. Adam is struggling with grief over his brother's death--he doesn't know how to get passed it. Jolene has anxiety issues, stemming from her relationship with her parents. Instead of being "instantly fixed" when they're together, they're able to help each other work through their issues.

Overall, Every Other Weekend is well constructed and feels real. Many teens will be able to relate to the characters and the situations. If you're looking for a realistic romance, definitely check out this book!

Adam Moynihan is torn by the loss of his brother and the effects it had on his family. Unable to bear with the situation, his father decides to leave their home and separate from his mother. Caught between his anger over his father's cowardice, and his mother's sadness, Adam finds himself at life's crossroads.



For Jolene "Jo" Timber, life exists in the form of the movies she creates with her ever present camera. Except, she knows that life is not made of the picture perfect moments. There are empty scenes where her father is missing and instead Shelley, his girlfriend, crowds to be in the picture where her mother looks on in the background with a bottle in hand. Jolene dreams of being sixteen and gaining the freedom to escape and becoming a filmmaker in Los Angeles. Until then, the world is just a matter of pixels and structured narratives.



Both Adam and Jolene are forced to stay in a run down apartment complex as a result of their parents' separation and divorce agreement. At first glance, this building reflects the perfect ruins that comprises of their lives.



Yet, before long, boy meets girl and life floods back in.



Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson was an absolute treasure fulled to the brim with emotional gems and soul-searching characters who are finding their way in this world. Johnson's alternation between Adam and Jolene's narrative exhibits her own powerful voice that captures the spirit of the modern teenager. Between Adam's inherent sweet nature and Jo's spunky, unconventional personality, I became absolutely endeared to the story. For fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Every Day, this should definitely be your next read!

Thank you for the chance to read and review Every Other Weekend. This was my first Abigail Johnson book, and came highly recommended. I wanted to love it, but this is a case of, it's not you, it's me. I had trouble connecting with either Adam or Jolene, and while there is hope in the story, it is outweighed by the anger and angst Adam and Jolene experience.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Inkyard Press for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Okay fam. Again with a book that made me cry because of the plot and content. Again I have characters that I can relate to in some aspect and it brings back up memories of a time where I wasn’t as happy as I am today. Again, I’m so freaking happy that I had the opportunity to read another great book as part of a blog tour because I swear FFBC has never let me down before.

Let’s start with Adam, shall we?

The straight A student? Check.

Friends? Check.

Perfect home life? Semi-check but I didn’t know better.

While I am so thankful that I’ve never had a sibling die – I could not imagine but my cousin did pass away when we were younger and the aftermath of that really left his siblings broken – I understand the grief surrounding that kind of change. It’s such a huge shift in life that comes so unexpected and usually without any sort of warning. And then, how do you even react to something like that and move forward with your life?

Then we have our other main character: Jolene.

Parents divorced? Check.

Feeling used by at least one of your parents? Hella check.

I felt for Jolene in the sense that she just wanted to be able to make her life into one of the happy ones that she sees in movies, and wants to create in her own movies. I get that feeling because why would we choose to live in a world filled with pain and heartache? If we had the power to change how we live, wouldn’t we take it?

I just had a bunch of feelings okay? I need to lay down. I’m so glad I can read this one over and over again because I need to see this when I get in a mood to have some emotional alone time. Not to mention the friendship that spawned between Adam and Jolene is one of my favorites, and I’m glad that they were able to be there for one another on the weekends they got to see each other.

I wasn’t expecting this book to end up being as heavy as it was. I feel like it’s been marketed a slightly more lighthearted story. But that’s not what this is at all. There are intense emotions and story aspects (I’ll leave TW below). They didn’t bother me, and that’s not why I’m giving it a three star rating. I just wanted to mention it to let others know that this book deals with dark subject matter at times.

I’ll start with what I liked about the book. The narratives were fantastic. Duel first person narratives can be tricky, but Johnson pulled it off. Each character had their own voice and I really felt these characters.

What I didn’t like: it’s over 500 pages long. And it felt overly long. Sometimes it felt repetitive and sometimes it dragged. This book could have benefited greatly from being edited down. It could have been 100 pages less and still been able to tell the story.

I also felt that the ending was rushed. Considering the length of this book, the ending should have been fleshed out a bit more. I was left feeling underwhelmed by the ending.

Potential spoilers in the trigger warnings. If you don’t want anything spoiled, stop reading here.

Child neglect, verbal and physical child abuse, sexual assault of a minor.

While the sexual assault was a surprising addition to the climax of the story, the author note at the end of the book really hits you in the heart. You know why the author included this storyline. Because it’s a story that needed telling.

Every time Abigail writes a new book, I say it’s my favorite. Her writing style, the characters she writes, and how she makes me feel – that’s my favorite. I love them all.

“With one, I’d talked; with the other, I’d shared. The difference felt huge.”

But I especially love Every Other Weekend. I fell hard and deep for this story and I won’t soon forget that it made me laugh and cry and laugh-cry all at the same time. On a plane, no less. I finished this book in July and haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

“I know I’m here because my dad enjoys taking things from my mom, even things he doesn’t want.” I felt my own eye muscle twitch at that admission, convinced of it as I was. I couldn’t fully embrace the indifference I tried to show Shelly. I gave her the kind of smile usually reserved for videos of cats failing to jump over things. ‘You’re here because my dad thinks paying for sex is gauche.’”

Adam and Jolene are honest and hurting and falling for each other, every other weekend. Abigail told their stories in alternating chapters, intersecting them while also giving us side characters (and some familiar favs!) that you’ll want full stories for.

“The problem was that he’d made me want his happiness more than my own. And his future could be happier without me in it.”

For the youth who dealt with divorce, separate households, dysfunctional parents, trust issues, grief, death, falling in love, stepparents, or neglect, there’s something for you. But this is a story of finding yourself and finding hope and love while everything feels impossible.

Bring tissues. This one needs a Netflix movie.

I've had this book on my NetGalley backlog for a while now and finally got to it - somehow I requested a YA drama, not my usual fare. And surprise! It's 512 pages. I think that's a bit long! But I did enjoy the story of a friendship that develops over a series of every other weekends, time Jolene and Adam only get because their families are unraveling and parts of each moved into a rundown apartment building. Themes of grief, negligence, friendship, navigating good vs bad relationships, etc. But just too long. Although... I am not really the target audience.

The book cover to Abigail Johnson’s Every Other Weekend (in stores now!) is what first drew me in. The colour scheme is gorgeous, and you could tell from just the cover what the story was going to be about (the big picture, anyway). I wanted to read some YA, too, since I haven’t picked up anything in a while in the genre that I really liked, so I also had some pretty high hopes.

I want to preface everything by saying that this book does contain verbal and physical abuse, serious emotional distress, as well as one instance of unwanted sexual advances, so this might not be the best choice for some readers. Johnson was great, however, in including resources for anyone struggling with any of the above.

That being said, this book could have been very dark. It touches a lot of serious subject matter and contains characters that are going through some pretty terrible things, but somehow Johnson manages to keep it fun (most of the time) and endearing. The story focuses on Adam and Jolene, both children from broken marriages who spend every other weekend with their dads in a sad, rundown apartment building. I had a hard time understanding why Adam was constantly battling his dad, who seemed to be a good guy, and I found Jolene really hard to sympathize with until you got more and more of her story, so it was a bit of a slow burn for me.

I did really enjoy how the narration worked, taking turns between Adam and Jolene, while also mostly skipping over what was happening on the “other” weekends when they weren’t at the apartment, much like their relationship would actually be. I was always intrigued by what was going to happen next, and in the end I was surprised by how invested I was in everyone’s story—including many of the secondary characters. My biggest criticism was that Adam and Jolene were only 15/16 years old throughout the story…and I couldn’t see actual teenagers, even ones who are going through some bad stuff, actually having the kinds of conversations they were having. It seemed a little bit too mature, to the point where I was forgetting they were teenagers most of the time.

If you’re a lover of YA, I can’t see why you wouldn’t want to pick this book up. It’s a quick read with a lot of feeling and a lot of moving pieces that will keep you entertained all the way to the end.

4 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Teen and Inkyard Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every Other Weekend, written by Abigail Johnson, is a young adult romance novel published by Inkyard Press. Released on January 7, 2020, this novel is a beautiful tale of two teenagers whose worlds are turned upside down when their parents are separated.

Adam’s world had been wrecked two years ago, the day his oldest brother Greg died. Everyone in his family copes with the loss in their own way, breaking this loving family apart. His father leaves, and Adam cannot forgive him. As for Jolene, her parents had started tearing each other apart after her father left with Shelly, a girl young enough to be her sister, who used to be her father’s fitness trainer. During the divorce, Jolene’s parents end up lawyering up and fighting more about money and less and less about her. Between an absent father and a greedy mother, she is forced to spend every other weekend with Shelly.

Both Adam and Jolene find solace every other weekend in the time they spend together. From a favor to an unlikely friendship, love blossoms. Unfortunately, love is not everything, especially when one life mends while one deters.

With this book, I laughed, swooned, and cried. The story is beautifully written, and the main characters are truly lovable, even if they are flawed. Jolene is a passionate individual with a sense of humor, and I absolutely adored her. Her life broke my heart and, as a mother, I cannot even begin to understand her parents. Though there is no denying that some people are not meant to be parents, it is still heartbreaking to witness such behavior. Her environment is unhealthy, but Adam brings light to her life.

As for Adam, the tragic accident had left him raw and unforgiving. I find it heart-warming how Adam cares for and loves his mother. Jolene and Adam both confide in each other’s lives, which helps them to heal in some ways. They complement each other perfectly—she is the spark he needs, and he shows her what love should look like while grounding her.

I will not say too much, but I started this book expecting a funny romance novel. However, while there are some very funny moments, it is also heartbreaking. This book is a four-star read, and I highly recommend it to fans of John Green’s novels.

I cannot even begin to string coherent words together to describe how much this has touched my heart in so many ways. I was on am emotional roller coaster the entire time I was reading this, from laughing, crying, and smiling on each page. I first want to point out that this book has several trigger warnings for loss of a loved one in the past, divorce, separation, abuse (physical and verbal), as well as sexual assault and gray area cheating.

This book is told in dual perspectives. We follow Adam Moynihan and his older brother Jeremy in the aftermath of their parent’s separation. Tragedy has rendered Adam’s family broken and his dad has decided to move out. For a 15-year-old boy, who is a straight A student with a perfect home life, this situation is heart breaking to read.

Jolene Timber, also 15, has a home life that is extremely toxic. Her parents are divorced, and her dad is dating a girl much younger than him. Jolene dreams of becoming a filmmaker. But her parents and their lawyers are at war with each other. Jolene’s mom wants her to spy on her dad to see where he’s hiding his money so her mother can get more money out of him. Her dad’s never around. So, she’s stuck with Shelly, the 20-something year-old live in girlfriend her dad cheated on her mom with. I connected with Jolene’s story so well and my heart truly broke for her on multiple occasions.

These two emotional teenagers meet at the apartment complex they must visit every other weekend with their dads. The weekends they both dread and endure become their favorite as sparks fly and romance ensues. Things become rocky as one their lives start to turn around while the other is spiraling out of control. It always amazes me how love can spring up in the darkest of times.

Abigail Johnson has truly given us a masterpiece with this book. She accomplished a great feat in expressing how two 15-year-olds cope with tragedies very different from one another. I had a huge smile on my face after Adam and Jolene finally come to terms with the fact that they like each other, oh but they aren’t “dating.” And that first kiss!!!!! *sobbing*

Let’s talk about the sleaze bag. I saw this coming just like she did, and I couldn’t stop it any more than she could. I must applaud Abigail Johnson for this scene and the aftermath that comes from it. She gave us a heart stopping portrayal of what happens when a young girl who thinks she’s tough and doesn’t need anyone, can fall into a situation that she can’t get out of. When this situation arises, you can’t think, you can’t breathe, you can’t do anything but try to get away. This happens more often than we want to discuss, but we must discuss it. I was so relieved and happy with how this situation was handled and how brave she was for speaking out.

Overall, I am still in tears and at a loss for words on how I feel about this book. It hit a little too close to home but I’m thankful for the happy ending.

Every Other Weekend is a romantic coming-of-age story about split families, loss, and two teens learning to love and be loved. However, the length of the book and execution of several of the plot lines irked me, which has unfortunately lowered my rating.

The Good:
* Jolene! She’s alone, teaching herself to change her narrative, and everything she did I completely understood.
* I was horrified by her abusive family, and I wanted to reach through the pages and reassure her that everything will be okay, and that it’s good to imagine a thousand beautiful futures.
* I’m also a sucker for characters with creative hobbies, and Jolene is a filmmaker. She wants to direct movies, and I loved the way in her narration she described the world how she would film it: capturing angles, lighting, and telling stories.
* Adam, the other main character, has a rocky relationship with his older brother following the death of their eldest brother, but I liked the way their dynamic progressed. The sibling bond here is not to be missed!
* The exploration of grief’s effect on a family and individuals is openhearted and will surely resonate with readers, regardless of whether or not they’ve lost someone.

The Bad:
* The book was on the longer side for YA romance—512 pages.
* I think it was unnecessary to show every weekend Adam and Jolene spent at their shared apartment building. The plot progressed slowly, introducing a lot of different threads up until the middle of the book, but the chapters still felt identical to each other, because the characters spent their weekends in mostly the same way every time.
* In the ending, many of these plot lines came to rushed conclusions lacking emotional depth because of the lack of page time dedicated to them. In my opinion, Every Other Weekend bit off more than it could chew.

I want to pause here and say that although I had my difficulties with Every Other Weekend, I am rating it 3/5 stars and saying, “it’s not you, it’s me.” I believe there’s a book for everyone, and this could be yours, so give it a chance!

* I want to note something, though. SPOILER WARNING for this next bullet!!! Also, CW: sexual assault.
* Johnson handled this fairly appropriately, but I was made very uncomfortable by a couple of scenes involving Jolene (newly 16) and one of her neighbors (almost 30), who invites her into his apartment as a safe space, says some creepy/subtly inappropriate things, and later assaults her (kissing, groping). I don’t think this was necessary at all to the storyline, and though Jolene received proper support afterwards I still found the inclusion of this plot point surprising.

I am not sure what I completely expected from this book, but it wasn’t quite this much anger and disdain in both characters. I wanted to love them. I did, but the story was slow to go along with the constant anger. The author is very talented from what I can see and I would love to try again with a new title.

DANG THIS BOOK WAS GOOD
the characterization was phenomenal. Jolene and Adam are both so well fleshed out & my heart absolutely ached for them. I think I cried for the last like 100 pages. you hate some of the decisions they make but the decisions make so much sense for who they are and what is going on in their lives. Jolene was especially a stand out character for me and is probably one of my new fave female characters. she just absolutely came to life and seemed so real to me. that being said, Adam is an absolute sweet baby muffin and needs to be protected at all costs!!!
I absolutely loved that while there is a romance in here, the main relationship was entirely built on friendship. Jolene and Adam just cared for each other so much and ow my heart. I also loved the development of the relationships between Jolene & Shelly and Adam & Jeremy.
this is definitely a slow burn read and I was unsure in the beginning, but this totally hooked me and is def a new favorite.

I am mentally kicking myself for not reading this book sooner because now that I've read AND fallen completely in love with Adam and Jolene this book has easily become one of my all time favorite reads.

I loved that it made me laugh out loud, I loved that I claimed Jolene instantly as a BFF, I loved how easy it was to fall for Adam (even when he was at his moodiest and you could tell he didn't much like my girl Jolene in the beginning) and I even loved that it not only tugged at my romantic heart strings but it played all my other emotions like a well strung guitar.

This book deals with some pretty heavy stuff but it also gives you hope and friendship and love. Not just the romantic kind of love either. Family and friends play a huge part. And you get the good with the bad and all the complicated messes in between. Ever other chapter had me either laughing, getting all mushy with the fuzzy feels, bawling my eyes out or wishing instant death on certain characters (you know who you are!) I swear my heart got battered reading this!

I wasn't expecting such a deeply moving story but I'm so glad that I took a chance because I can't stop gushing over this book. It really left an impression on me.

Would I recommend? Yes, I really liked this one and hope others do too. This book just brought every emotion in me out and I know this story will stay with me for a long while.