REVIEW: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

In Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, Being a traveling nurse is perfect for Emma who grew up being dragged from one location to the next by her flighty mother. But this is on her own terms. Well, hers and her best friend Maddy’s terms. It’s when they’re ready to move on to their next destination that Emma reads a Reddit thread and finds out there’s a guy with the same relationship woes she has: each time she and a man she’s dating break up, shortly after he finds his true love. It’s happened enough over the past few years to convince Emma something weird is going on. When she contacts the guy, Justin, not only does it sound like they are in the same predicament, but she has to admit he’s also very, very handsome. Then he throws a crazy idea out there–he thinks if they try dating each other and then break up, the issue will stop so they can go on to find The One. Emma has to admit that it’s so far-fetched it’s worth a shot.

‘He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head. And for the first time maybe ever, I felt like I belonged somewhere.’

Justin didn’t realize the type of attention he would get with his Reddit post. So, when Emma contacts him, he’s a bit suspicious at first until they begin to text and talk on the phone. Then he figures out she’s the real deal–and is someone he doesn’t want to be just temporarily in his life. Knowing she’s a flight risk, Justin tries to play things cool. His thoughts on dating in order to break the supposed curse is really a twofer as he’ll be able to spend time with Emma as well as hopefully be able to finally find the woman he’s meant to be with forever. But once he and Emma start dating, Justin wonders if maybe *she’s* The One. Unfortunately, the timing is terrible. His family is about to implode, with him having to take over the care of his three younger siblings soon so he won’t be able to follow Emma on her travels. Things look bleak. But Justin doesn’t want to give up hope just yet if he doesn’t have to.

‘Everything in me was shouting that she was important. But I also knew I couldn’t make it work now. Not with my life like this. I felt selfish for wishing she would stay, meet me where I was, in the rubble that was my family.’

If Abby Jimenez wasn’t already an auto-buy author for me then JUST FOR THE SUMMER would have sealed the deal. Everything about this romance worked–the incredible cast, the delicious tension, the slow-burn anticipation, and of course the terrific ending.

‘Four dates, one kiss, and a breakup. Just for the summer.’

CW: View Spoiler »Anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, depression, toxic parent, child neglect/abandonment (historical). « Hide Spoiler

THIS. This book right here is why I keep coming back to Abby Jimenez’s work time and time again. JUST FOR THE SUMMER alternated between lively, lighthearted conversations and the heavier, more deeply emotional issues the characters were navigating, which all perfectly melded together to make this a romance with substance. And even though it was a seemingly no-win situation our couple found themselves in, the magic was in the tender moments and the heartbreaking truths they laid out to each other. It was raw. It wasn’t easy. But it was oh so relatable.

I have to say that Jimenez not only creates kickass heroines that would be fun to know in real life, but she also creates the best perfectly imperfect heroes that you can’t help but love. Emma and Justin were extremely easy people to adore. A traveling nurse and a software engineer, respectively, they were both truly kindhearted people who longed to find their soulmate. I thought the premise behind their meetup was an intriguing one–how they each realized that when they dated someone and there was an inevitable breakup, the person they dated then went on to find their true love in a very short time period.

Neither Justin nor Emma really thought it was a curse or magic, but they knew there was something going on. So, the idea of them dating for a while to then break up and hopefully find their love match afterward? Seemed pretty plausible. But of course, their attraction and the way they were drawn to each other took them by surprise. The way Jimenez described it, showing us in each scene (instead of *telling* us) how Emma and Justin felt as they were falling in love was…everything. It was uber romantic, sweet, and pulled at my heartstrings, making me want more time with this wonderful couple.

I do want to mention the secondary cast was also stellar. If you’ve read any of her other books, then there will be some major Easter eggs–and a tie in to Part of Your World that had me all misty-eyed in the best of ways. Her down to earth characters (particularly Emma’s BFF Maddy, who was awesome!) made this story come to life with the way they supported Justin and Emma through every trial thrown at them.

QOTD: Do you have a favorite Abby Jimenez book?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: April 2nd, 2024 | by Forever |

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?