Just for the Summer
by Melody Carlson
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this fabulous new twist on an age-old fable, award-winning and bestselling author Melody Carlson introduces you to two career-focused women who are about to discover that there's more to finding happiness than just switching up the scenery.
The story follows Ginny, working at a high-end Seattle resort, and Jacqueline, at her family's fishing lodge in Idaho. Both discontent with their jobs, they decide on a 60-day job swap for the summer.
I read a lot of thrillers and this book provided a great escape for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it provided a delightful escape. In the midst of more intense reads, "Just for the Summer" is the perfect feel-good interlude. Highly recommended for those seeking a charming and uplifting novel to break up their literary journey.
I highly recommend the author and book!
5 stars

Two girls swap their jobs and their house for two months. Ginny is a hardworking manager from a hotel that is run by the ungrateful, demanding and unreasonable Diana. Jacqueline works for her grandfather’s fishing lodge, but unlike Ginny she’s quite lazy and only interested in the glam and glitz of a rich girl’s life. So when they swap jobs, both of them are in for a surprise. Jacqueline can't believe her luck when she meets the posh Diana, but soon realizes not everything is as wonderful as it seems. And Ginny’s co-workers can’t believe their eyes when Ginny helps out with cleaning and cooking and plans improvements to make the lodge more attractive for customers.
I was very invested in the book and curious about what would happen. Would Ginny succeed in getting grumpy old granddad to agree on improvements for the lodge? And if so, how? What will happen to Jacqueline; how soon will she find out about Diana being a nasty, unreliable boss? Who finds out first that the other one is faking it; Jacqueline or Diana? Will they get into a fight or will Jacqueline scramble to keep her job in order to have a chance to make it in the hip hotel world, full of wealthy people and opportunities? And how about the men: Diana’s son Adrian and fisherman Ben; are they potential love interest? This book has so many elements that can be used to mix it all up and create a great story.
The secondary characters are overall well-suited. I liked particularly Jack; him being spitting mad at the doctor made me laugh out loud because you could guess what would happen! Diana was the perfect horrible boss; Margie hardworking, Adrian a mommy’s boy - you can picture themselves in your head. Ben was a bit disappointing, I would have liked him more but his story didn’t really work for me. He had potential but adding Alexi to the mix made Ben look indecisive and immature. I felt it came out of nowhere and the way he acted and the people involved felt not really realistic to me.
But I liked the main characters and the way their stories evolved. Jacqueline was really self-centered and snobbish and a bit mean, but I liked that she had to eat some humble pie. I just would’ve had her eat it for quite some time; I think she came off lightly, but I like that forgiveness and a second chance were offered.
Overall a very nice, clean read about which I can recommend! Although I missed an epilogue and the story ended quite abruptly, the way both of Ginny and Jacqueline’s stories were written was satisfying. You will definitely like this book. This was my first Melody Carlson book but I am looking forward to reading more books by her!
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it. I picked it up because I had read a book by this author several years ago and remember enjoying it a lot and wanted to read another by her. I wasn't disappointed. This book was really well written and had a cast of characters who were realistic and likeable.

This book was a quick and easy read and I really enjoyed the story. It was easy to know what was going to happen from the beginning but that didn't make the book any less enjoyable to read. In fact, I found it to be a nice, comforting read and a nice way to spend an evening.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson has a cute premise. A job can get humdrum after a number of years. It would be a nice change of pace to be able switch positions with someone for two months. You get to go to a different state, meet new people, and experience new challenges. I like Ginny, but I really did not like Jackie. There was little change in Jackie’s character. I doubt this leopard would change her spots for long. I did not like that Ginny was labeled a workaholic (what is wrong with someone who enjoys their job and most of the people at their workplace). It was suggested to Ginny that she have fun and needed a man in her life. I did not like the implication that Ginny (or any person) needed a man (or woman) for her life to be complete. I enjoyed Ginny’s time at the fishing camp. There were some interesting characters and scenes as well as humor. One of the relationships did not make sense considering how the female manipulated the man for most of the story. Just for the Summer has a feel-good ending. Just for the Summer is a nice story, but I did not enjoy it as much as other books by this author.

Melody Carlson's novels are just gun to read and this is no exception. Two women switch homes and jobs for the summer and soon both are finding themselves in a fun twist of romance. Quirky, fun, and not to be missed.

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed Melody Carlson's Just for the Summer. She is one of my favorites for light hearted romance books and does a great job developing her characters in this book. If you are looking for a good book to take on vacation this one should fit the bill!

In this one Seattle native Ginny who runs an exclusive hotel as the manager is fed up with the hotel's owner. She signs up for a job swap website just to see what might happen. Meanwhile Jacqueline is fed up with the rustic fishing retreat owned by her grandfather and is willing to do anything to escape to something higher class. The two women start messaging each other, get the owners of their establishments to agree to a 60 day contract and they switch jobs and homes.

Will Jacqueline succeed in the big city? Will Ginny acclimate to a quiet, rustic lifestyle - read this one and find out. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I'm going to be sharing this one with friends because it's just that good!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Ginny Masters and Jacqueline Potter, two hotel managers, make the decision to “swap jobs” for sixty days. Ginny leaves her bustling (and unfulfilling) life running a boutique Seattle hotel for Jacqueline’s family fishing lodge and Jacqueline gleefully trades in her never-been-touched waders for her high heels at the promise of a glistening city life. Over the course of a month, Ginny discovers a new part of herself– one that enjoys learning to fish and watching the stars, and slowly finds herself falling in love not only with the handsome guide but also the serenity of Idaho. Jacqueline, on the other hand, flounders spectacularly.

Told in dual perspectives JUST FOR THE SUMMER is one of those books brimming with possibility that just falls a little flat. While I loved Ginny’s story of finding personal happiness and new chapters– Jacqueline was not it for me. She was abrasive, annoying, manipulative, and self centered, with ALL of her character growth occurring in the last few chapters at an unrealistic speed. Some characters, in my humble opinion, are not worth redemption– or at least unearned redemption.

Additionally, this book took an unexpected turn at about the 67% mark into Christian Fiction. Which is fine, and on further investigation seems to be the author’s wheelhouse, but nothing in the story leading up to the moment made me think this was a religious romance.

All in all, JUST FOR THE SUMMER probably won’t be my favorite summer read– but it was a fun story regardless.

This book surprised me, I was expecting an enjoyable read but I loved it and found it to be a five a star read for me.

In this book we follow two hotel/lodge managers, Ginny and Jacqueline, both discontent with their current lives, who sign up for a website and sign a contract to switch lives for 60 days.

I immediately warmed to Ginny's character, but Jacqueline took a while to grow on me, most of the time I just wanted to shout at her.

This is a great clean read, there is romance yet I think the character growth storylines are more prominent, both within our main characters and the supporting ones.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book. I enjoyed the main plot of switching jobs for the summer. I did think there were a lot of subplots in the beginning, like the author couldn't pick one thing to run with. Then, the ending almost felt a little rushed. This was my first book by this author, though, and I definitely liked it enough to try more!
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy!

Super cute summer read! I loved the characters and the plot!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Really enjoyed this light hearted easy read! Liked
The characters
And their development. Thank you

Oh, Melody Carlson knows how to write a story that keeps my interest from the beginning to the very end. The characters are well developed with relatable flaws. It was great to see their growth.

It was a heartwarming, easy read. A perfect light beach read that leaves you with a smile.

The ending was very satisfying. My only wish was that there was an epilogue, so we knew where they were now.

An interesting concept, swapping jobs with someone hundreds of miles away. This book inspires me to want to branch out and work in another part of the country. Melody Carlson never disappoints with her writing.

"Just for the Summer" by Melody Carson is a captivating read that kept me engaged from start to finish. I went into this story thinking it was going to give "The Holiday" vibes, one of my favorite movies. However, it was a bit different as we weren't really rooting for both sides of the job-swap.
The storyline focusing on Ginny and the Fishing Lodge plot was particularly enjoyable, I found myself rooting for Ginny and appreciating her journey throughout the book. Though, I would have loved to see more of the lodge improvement
Despite my enjoyment there were certain aspects of the book that left me wanting more. The ending, in particular, felt rushed. Character growth, especially in the case of Diana and Jacqueline, felt abrupt and could have been better developed over the course of the narrative. Their sudden transformation from unlikeable characters to more sympathetic ones felt somewhat forced and lacked the depth I was hoping for.
Furthermore, the romantic subplot between Ginny and Ben felt rushed as well. I would have preferred to see their relationship evolve more gradually, allowing for a more authentic and believable connection to develop. It wasn't until she was leaving the lodge that it seemed they were into each other, throughout the book they seemed just to be friends.
One aspect of the book that detracted from my overall enjoyment was the portrayal of women. I found the constant focus on gender stereotypes to be unnecessary.
Overall, the story is a compelling read, it was enjoyable and I did read it quite quickly.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book was a fun, quick read that takes place in two different settings. I enjoyed the writing style and the two characters Ginny and Jacqueline. I recommend this one if you want to read a quick read that gives you summer/vacation vibes.

Melody Carlson writes quick reads, and Just for the Summer is a great lighthearted beach read. While the book is listed as romance, that is just a small part of the story.
Ginny is tired of her demanding boss at her boutique hotel in Seattle and when a chance to change jobs with Jacqueline who manages a fishing lodge she jumps at it. The covers both of the ladies' experiences at their new jobs and new love interests. While Ginny thrives at the fishing lodge and updates it, Jacqueline fails at her new position in multiple ways.
Just for the Summer kept me reading for Ginny's story, but Jacqueline's journey was much harder to read as she was very immature and selfish. I would say this is a good book for those looking for a good beach read.
I received a complimentary copy thanks to Revell and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Just for the Summer was my first book by Melody Carlson. It was a lighthearted, fun, fast read. 3.5 stars!

Ginny Masters runs a fancy boutique hotel in Seattle and Jacqueline Potter runs her families fishing lodge in a small town in Idaho. Ginny longs for a change and Jacqueline can't wait to get out of the country town she hates. The two find each other on a job swapping site and decide to switch jobs for 2 months. This story is full of fun, laughter, misunderstandings and a little romance.



Thank you Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced ebook.

I thought Just for the Summer was a good, lighthearted summer read. I enjoyed the strong character development, I loved Jack’s character, and I found the timeline to be clear and the structure to be strong. I felt like Ginny mostly just did what she was told and I would have liked her to become a stronger individual on her own throughout the book. I also would’ve liked to see Ben and his daughters relationship strengthen without Ginny to show that Ben is capable and a good dad. Overall, I liked this book, it wasn’t anything crazy but it was a fine read.

I never hesitate to read a book from Melody Carlson. She creates contemporary stories with everyday characters. Just for the Summer actually is two stories in one as we follow both Ginny and Jackie when they exchange jobs just for the summer. Will this possibly lead to a permanent change for either or both of them? Thanks to NetGalley, Revel and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

An easy to read, page turner, perfect for summer! Ginny and Jackie swap roles for 2 months - what could go wrong?!