Who Would Like This Book:
If you love your romance novels with a strong side of emotional depth and real-world themes, this is a must-read! Abby Jimenez does a fantastic job depicting travel nurse life and mixing in Minnesota lake town vibes that feel like the perfect summer escape. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories, witty banter, slow burns, found family, and honest portrayals of mental health will feel right at home here. It’s especially great for those wanting a romance that’s both heartwarming and unafraid to dig into complex issues.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers have found the story heavy on emotional drama and mental health topics - expect more depth and less pure escapism than a standard rom-com. If you prefer your love stories without significant family trauma, trigger content, or therapy arcs, you might not vibe with this one. Others mention the book has a bit of a ‘blending characters’ problem if you read a lot of modern romance, and some weren’t a fan of the way the book tackles certain issues around abuse and therapy. Plus, if you’re wary of contemporary books feeling a little product-placement-y, you might be distracted by the number of real-world brand mentions.
About:
'Just for the Summer' by Abby Jimenez is a slow burn romance with a lot of family drama and personal baggage that keeps the characters from fully committing. The story follows Emma, a travel nurse, who falls for Justin, a software developer, amidst a backdrop of tension, heartfelt moments, and deep emotional exploration. The book delves into themes of complicated love, childhood trauma, and the challenges of forming connections in the face of past struggles. The narrative switches between male and female points of view, offering a well-rounded perspective on the evolving relationship between the characters.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are medium content warnings for issues including emotional abuse and childhood trauma.
Has Romance?
Romance plays a significant role in Just For The Summer, making up a central part of the narrative.
From The Publisher:
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club Pick!
This witty, slow-burn rom-com is the "ideal beach read." - Elle
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?
Ratings (167)
Incredible (39) | |
Loved It (86) | |
Liked It (21) | |
It Was OK (16) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (268):
Read It (176) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (73) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (12) |
9 comment(s)
This book had my in my FEELINGS by the end of it. I was laughing, enjoying the banter. The crossovers were on point. I was crying sad tears, I was crying happy tears. I highly recommend all 3 of these books. SO GOOD. It's everything I've wanted.
5/5⭐️
Respectfully, FU Abby Jimenez
5 ⭐️
AHHHH! This book was so cute! I was between a 4.5 ⭐️ and a 5 ⭐️ but decided to round up. The two main characters are unbelievably millennial but it’s okay, I forgive them. Because they are so freaking cute! It took me a while to warm up to this book but it was so worth it!
Justin is ultimate book husband material:
Funny ✅
Good with Kids ✅
Responsible ✅
Makes Good Money ✅
Good Looking ✅
Empathetic ✅
Name starts with anything other than J ❌
Smart ✅
Loyal ✅
Tall ✅
Loves Pets ✅
Lives in Minneapolis ✅
I wish men like that existed in real life (also crazy he has a J name and isn’t a douchebag).
As a Minnesota girlie, I loved all the Minnesota references. It really made me appreciate my home state and realize it is a lot cooler than I give it credit for.
This is probably the first romance novel I've read that I think is more of a rom-dram rather than a rom-com. There are few comedic moments but it focuses a lot more on mental health and trauma and overcoming your past. I really appreciate how well written and mature this book felt.
Why not forgive? In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.
Also why is Emma so profound?! I love that girl she is me frfr.
This is not a smut fest. TikTok girlies stay away.
Between [b:The Fake Mate|123199658|The Fake Mate|Lana Ferguson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685353278l/123199658._SY75_.jpg|144515064] (which I just read) and this book, I have met my quota of doctor-themed romance novels. My Grey’s Anatomy loving heart is filled to the brim (this book has subtle references to it too and I love it). THEY AREN’T DEAD UNTIL THEY’RE WARM AND DEAD (idk if this is a real doctor saying but I can’t imagine it is)
Don’t trust that Emma met her true love on Reddit. It is tempting to randomly DM AITA OPs on Reddit to find love like Emma, but don’t believe it. IT WON’T WORK IT’S A LIE!
Also: The audiobook is good. I love different narrators for split POVs.
I try to read a couple of romance books per year. I chose this one randomly and ended up pleasantly surprised! I loved the characters and how the relationship was built. The portrayal of mental health issues included in the book made it even more interesting and realistic. I enjoyed so much this book!
It is hard to describe in words how beautiful and amazing this book is, so all I will say is this novel will never leave my mind and the characters and they’re stories will always mean so much to me♥️
Started for the love story, stayed because all of the sudden I was crying halfway through thinking about my complicated relationship with my mom.
Justin is not a real person and needed to be more of an asshole. If they were both more asshole-y this would have been a BOOK book
okay this was cute but also ouch for the relatability abby
The best kind of love doesn't happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life. It's not grand gestures that show how you feel, it's all the little secret things you do to make her life better that you never tell her about. Taking the end piece of the bread at breakfast so she can have the last middle piece for her sand- wich when you pack her lunch. Mak- ing sure her car always has gas so she never has to stop at the pump. Telling her you're not cold and to take your jacket when you are in fact, very, very cold. It's watching TV on a rainy Sunday while you're doing laundry and turning her light off when she's fallen asleep reading. Sharing pizza crusts and laughing about something the kids did and taking care of each other when you're sick. It isn't glamorous, it isn't all butterflies and stars in your eyes. It's real. This is the kind of love that forever is made of. Because if it's this good when life is draining and mundane and hard, think of how wonderful it will be when the love songs are playing and the moon is out.
I’ve been reading a lot of romance novels lately, and I’ve been increasingly frustrated with the characters’ communication skills and coping mechanisms. While this story certainly has its frustrating moments, I found myself less bothered by it all than usual. I think Jimenez did a great job building Emma’s character up and her friendship with Maddie provided some .
I knocked a star off for the unrealistic timeline of the relationship and the “happily ever after”- ending. It felt a little too good to be true and corny.
What can you read after
Just For The Summer?
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