I was really surprised by this book! I did not realize that these were characters from another of Abby Jimenez's books so I can't wait to go and read the rest of her collection. Justin and Emma were sweet but with some real depth. The story didn't feel cheesy or cookie-cutter. It felt like two adults really finding true love. At first I thought the premise was going to be hard to get into, but I could not put this book down. Can't wait to read more of Abby's work!

Add this to another truly great story done by Abby Jimenez. She knows how to write characters with complex issues while also keeping things light. You find yourself really rooting for the couple Emma and Justin as well. What a wonderful story and so glad I got an early copy to read

This book wrecked me. It started out sweet and funny, and I thought I was going to get a cute romcom, but I should've known better. Abby Jimenez is the queen of writing romcoms that yes, start out sweet, but then turn into emotional stories that leave you sobbing on your couch. She tackles tough subjects, in this case a toxic mother, grief and mental health in such a way that breaks your heart then puts it back together.
Justin is an amazing MMC, much like all Abby's other MMCs, as he is sweet and kind and funny, and incredibly patient. Emma has so much trauma to deal with, and while I did find myself getting frustrated with her that she couldn't admit that she'd been traumatized by her mother, eventually she came to her senses and got the help she needed. I could relate to her having parental trauma, and her need to isolate and her feeling small when those issues popped up, and I cried reading her POV a few times.
There are so many Easter eggs from Abby Jimenez's other books in this story, I loved seeing characters pop up! This can be read as a standalone though if you haven't read her other books. But if you haven't you should because they're amazing!
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

9/10. Abby Jimenez did it again! Her books never fail to make me laugh, cry, wish the characters were real people I can befriend, and also visit Minnesota.

I'm not a fan of rehashing a book's summary when you can find it in the description, but just trust me that you will enjoy every second of this book. I stayed up until 1a and then finished the last little bit the next day when I should have been working—don't tell my boss!

I was in SHOCK when I realized the crossover with Part of Your World. Abby's ease at creating a universe where the books are connected without being essential to one another is incredible. I love finding Easter eggs throughout her books—it just makes me want to read all of them every time she publishes a new title. Kudos!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Why yes, I did read this whole thing in one evening. I was really frustrated with one character for the first third of the book, and had it been anyone else but Abby Jimenez, I might've DNFed. But I kept going and was delighted by several scenes (the baby raccoons!) and overall enjoyed it. The Easter eggs with references to characters from Jimenez's other books were also fun!

Excellent book by Abby Jimenez. This book has a little bit of everything. Light hearted romance and addresses series issues as well. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #JustForTheSummer

My new favorite Abby Jimenez book. Oh my goodness the swoon! This book is just the absolute sweetest story. I loved all the cameos from past characters-especially Doug! 5 stars. LOVED!

Ohhhhhh, this book is absolutely perfect. The premise is charming and Justin's date surveys are sweet and funny as hell. I loved every single page and my only regret is that I can't read it again for the first time.

Abby Jimenez has done it AGAIN!!!! I have been a fan of hers since her debut novel " The Friend Zone" and she just keeps getting better and better! This book has some very heavy themes that I can sadly relate to especially making yourself small and isolating yourself when things get tough. Thankfully with therapy and meds I have made a lot of progress. Emma and Justin where do I begin?? I just ADORED them separately and as a couple as well. Maddy is the true definition of ride or die and we all need a Maddy in our life! I loved the Easter eggs that were in the story and the one reveal made me smile! I love how this book discusses the importance of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries especially with family. That is something I have struggled with as well and I was rooting for Emma when she finally had enough and put herself first. I'm doing my best not to spoil anything so I'll end my thoughts now but please read this book. Abby just keeps getting better and better and I love how lovable and relatable her characters are and how she has me rooting hard for them throughout the whole book.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez was a fun read. I loved all of the Minnesota references and cameos by characters from the author’s other novels. There was a lot going on in this book - it’s a love story, but also handles neglect, abandonment, and mental health amongst other things. I honestly felt a bit overwhelmed when reading it, but I’m thinking maybe I need to go back and read it a second time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Abby does it again! Just for the Summer was literal perfection. Chefs kiss.

I laughed out loud so many times I lost count, I cried real tears, I was SO ANGRY....I felt every single emotion. I'm not sure how a book can be so lighthearted while simultaneously being so heavy, but she somehow manages to pull that off here. Her characters are witty and funny and charming, and you can't help but fall in love with them. I devoured this book. I could not put it down. While Just for the Summer could easily be considered a standalone, you won't be able to appreciate it fully unless you have read her other books first; The easter eggs in this book were so well thought out and one of them even made me audibly gasp!

Just buy the book. SO. GOOD.

Heart squeezing, one day binge read.
Everything you expect from Abby Jimenez: Lovable characters you want to root for, an emotional backstory, family bonds and romance with a twist.

Loved Just for the Summer.

Every single one of Abby Jimenez's books finds a way to dig right into my inner most thoughts, pull them out and place them front and center in the pages of her books. She is not afraid of tackling those heavy, realistic, raw human experiences and feelings and she does it in such a beautiful and powerful way.

This book is no exception, I was either smiling out loud like a lunatic or ugly crying the entire way through. I have never wanted a happy ending for 2 characters more than I did for Justin and Emma. They learn what it truly means to love someone, what it means to trust and what it means to stick it through for your loved ones in the hard times.

This is one of those books that is going to stick with me for a very, very long time. Not only is it emotional, it is hilarious and filled with a perfect blend of rom-com laughs, sweet tender romantic moments and those emotional tug on your heart string lines that Abby Jimenez is known for.

Pick up this book right now, you will not regret it!!

“Nothing. That’s just what my face does when I leave it unattended.”

Justin is cursed. Every woman he dates finds her soulmate right after they breakup. When he shares his story, plus a funny side story on “Am I the a**hole?” Emma’s roommate Maddy decides the two need to talk. See, Maddy has the same curse. While the two planned to head to Hawaii for their next rotation as traveling nurses, they wind up changing to Minnesota and Emma and Justin figure if they date each other, just for the summer, they can break the curse and both find their person.

Ahhh a new Abby Jimenez book! Did I expect anything less than stellar? Of course not! As always Abby provides! I just adored Emma, but I think my true spirit character in this one was Maddy. The quote above is from Maddy and hello…she is I. I loved how protective she is of Emma and how much she was there for her through her struggles with her mom. Also…Justin’s family…be still my heart. Him stepping in to take care of the kids and how sweet he was with them was just so heartwarming. Abby has such an amazing way of covering insanely difficult topics without it turning the entire story into a downer. That’s not to say she discusses these topics lightly, but instead she gives them the space and respect they deserve while helping her characters through the struggles in such a beautiful way. As always Abby blew this one out of the water and I cannot wait for what’s next!

OH MY GOSH!!! I devoured this book in one sitting! Amazing 💗 I loved the writing, the characters and the complete realness of the book. There was trauma there was hard conversations there was unconditional love and humor. And did I cry? Yes of course. I highly recommend this book! Thank you so much netgslley for the chance to read this early!!

Oh. Em. Gee!
Though I have all of Abby Jimenez’s novels this is the first I sat down and read and my heart. I’m not usually a sappy person but this one did me in.
This wasn’t necessarily a “love at first sight” type of novel, the relationship came with many challenges both had to overcome and I just felt like they was so raw and realistic in a love story.
Though I loved the dynamic between Justin and Emma, I’m also loved the “not so perfect” family dynamic in the novel. Emma goes through some really difficult things that I have also went through and there was such a powerful message in Abby’s writing. Watching all these characters come together and learn about themselves and build their lives together and apart was a force for sure.
I laughed and I cried and my cheeks hurt from smiling with reading Just For The Summer. And I might have yelled a little bit because who wouldn’t?!
A solid 5 star read, this book was everything I needed it to be!

Abby Jimenez does it again! I loved the progression of Justin and Emma’s relationship. I loved how they showed up for each other, I loved how their friends showed up for them. I mean the MMC in caregiver mode? SWOON. The FMC taking care of and learning to prioritize herself? MEGASWOON.

I won’t spoil but Justin has some real ringers when it comes to what love can mean. Woah baby.

Also there are so many appearances (big and small) from Jimenez’s other works…this was like her Avengers: Endgame. And yet it is still its own fully stand along story.

There is a true TWIST in this story but at its core it is just a lovely romance. There are no games, no miscommunication tropes here, both characters lay it all out on the line and I found that so refreshing.

Another excellent addition to the Jimenez lineup
A great read, not just for summer :)

“he pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head. And for the first time maybe ever, I felt like I belonged somewhere.”

i cry frequently when reading books like this so it’s no surprise that this book made me emotional. the surprise was me crying more than normal this morning, which apparently concerned my dog enough to come over, put her paw on my shoulder and snuggle in while i finished this book.

abby jimenez has a way with words that I feel should be studied by many authors.
i love romance novels as much as the next person. i have so many recommendations for this genre that it’s overwhelming for both me and the customer when asked “what are your faves?” something though that makes it difficult for me to fall further into a romance book/into characters relationships is when i feel like their relationship is based strictly on physical attraction. for me to fully enjoy any book i need to feel like the mc’s enjoy/love each other on an emotional level. abby jimenez gives me that.

her characters are so well thought out that it’s evident within the mc’s sharing two words with each other that there’s an emotional connection and that their relationship is built on that but she also doesn’t shy away from writing in a physical connection (appreciated).

emma was an incredibly relatable character and in a lot of ways reminded me of harriet from emily henry’s ‘happy place’. if emma was a taylor swift song it would be ‘you’re on your own kid’ and that says a lot about her I think. emma and justin’s relationship was so wholesome and i really loved the development from start to finish and how he really showed her that he cared in ways her own mother didn’t.

this book was everything i needed to start 2024 with. i will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone who will listen

thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for an e-arc of this book!

Just for the Summer is pure Abby Jimenez gold. A beautiful love story of 2 very flawed individuals dealing with very different but traumatic family issues coming together and finding a path to connect, nurture and love each other. If I could give this book a 10 star rating it still wouldn't be a high enough rating.

My first five star read of the year. It’s not surprising to me that it’s an Abby Jimenez book. I love that she dropped in bits of her other stories within this one. The main female character was relatable, and I appreciated that the author did not shy away from talking about mental health issues. I will be recommending this book to anyone who asks!