Abby can do no wrong and this was her best one yet. Love a fake dating trope and the ending was perfect.

{Book Review} Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

I cannot thank @readforeverpub enough for this review copy because Abby Jimenez is a Queen. I don’t understand how I can start a book and be IMMEDIATELY obsessed in half a page. Like how does she do that?!

Jimenez’s latest novel JUST FOR THE SUMMER can easily be added to the hall of fame of incredible romance/women’s stories novels. Emma and Justin meet by chance on a DM slide after they both realize they’re a good luck charm for people they date. Their banter and witty replies drew me in immediately. I couldn’t put this down, laughed out loud multiple times, and also shed a few deeply emotional tears.

Emma and Justin’s feelings are intense and pretty instantaneous but Jimenez works with *just* a hint of…let’s call it fate magic in her books that makes it believable. The romance is great but where she really, truly, incredibly excels most in her stories are the friendships she writes. Maddie and Emma were friendship goals and we should all be so lucky to have a friendship like Jimenez continues to writes in all her books. Even the boys’ friendships were amazing, I shed a tear when Benny and Brad showed up for Justin when he needed them! I am happy to say I do have that kind of friendship so I feel like I can love it that much more because Jimenez writes soulmate friendships so perfectly.

The trauma of Emma’s childhood and Justin’s current life circumstance lead to some heavy emotional content and complicated feelings. Per usual, I think Jimenez writes this with understanding and empathy. I also loved that Emma and Maddie were nurses because you’d think we’d see a lot more nurse heroines in books and let me tell you
—we don’t; I pay attention and we don’t. So thanks, Abby!

Highly recommend this newest novel by Abby Jimenez because unless your taste is absolutely terrible, you’ll love this book.

let me start off by saying i've only read yours truly (book 2 out of this part of your world, standalone series), and i thoroughly enjoyed that! similarly, just for the summer was a nice, light read!

what i really enjoy about both just for the summer and yours truly is mental health is at the forefront of her books. it's refreshing to see anxiety, depression, ptsd, etc. so openly experienced and discussed by her characters. i also love reading abby's author's note at the end of her books to get a deeper insight into why she wrote certain characters/plotlines the way she did.

to me, just for the summer was the perfect romcom! it was funny and cute and sweet, everything i would want and expect. i especially found justin extremely loveable and hilarious, the perfect golder retriever boyfriend. his commitment to the bit (toilet king :D) was truly unmatched. emma was a very broken character. as a result, emma has adapted an avoidant attachment style, finding it hard to be committed to people and places. despite all this, emma is extremely empathetic, and it really resonated with me when she finally decided to go no-contact with her mom and to choose herself over others.
although i'm reviewing this after pub date, still would like to thank netgalley for sending me an arc!

Abby Jimenez has become a big name in romance fiction. Just for the Summer is well written with characters you care about with complicated lives. I got sucked into the drama and rooted for the main characters to have a happily ever after ending.

Abby Jimenez has once again captured the hearts of her readers with her latest offering, "Just for the Summer". Known for her captivating writing style and endearing characters, Jimenez has created a story that is both heartwarming and entertaining.

One of the most commendable aspects of Jimenez's work is her ability to create characters that readers can't help but fall in love with. In "Just for the Summer", she introduces us to a new set of characters who are charming, relatable, and utterly lovable. From the witty banter between the protagonists to the genuine emotions they express, Jimenez has crafted a cast of characters that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page.

One of the strengths of Jimenez's novels is their interconnected nature, and "Just for the Summer" is no exception. While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, fans of Jimenez's previous work will delight in the subtle references and connections to her other novels. It adds an extra layer of depth to the story and creates a sense of familiarity that readers will appreciate.

However, despite its many strengths, "Just for the Summer" does have some elements that may not resonate with all readers. Some aspects of the plot may stretch the bounds of believability, making it difficult for some readers to fully connect with the story. While Jimenez's writing is undeniably engaging, there were moments where the plot veered into territory that felt a little too unrealistic for my taste.

Overall, "Just for the Summer" is a delightful summer read that showcases Abby Jimenez's talent for crafting heartfelt romances. With its lovable characters, engaging plot, and interconnected storyline, it's sure to be a hit with fans of the genre. While it may not be without its flaws, it's a charming addition to Jimenez's body of work and deserving of the four stars it's been awarded.

JUST FOR THE SUMMER
RATING: 4 ⭐️ - I (REALLY) Liked It

ABBY has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors and deservingly so - her books are fun, heart-felt, funny, and wholesome!

I’ll start off this by saying I picked up this book at the BUSIEST part of my spring so it took me weeks to get through. I think if I’d had proper time to read this one, I could have been a 5 star read.

JUST FOR THE SUMMER follows Justin and Emma who are both “cursed” - everyone who they date and break up with, goes on to meet their “one” right after. How to break the curse? Date each other - 4 dates, 1 kiss, just for the summer.

❤️ for my LOVERS of dual POV romances, “meatier” romances, one’s that are LAUGH OUT LOUD funny, the most SWOONY men, SUMMERTIME romances, FAKE dating vibes

❤️ these CHARACTERS - oh JUSTIN, how you have my heart!! Emma was COMPLEX and at times didn’t love her, MADDY the best BFF, the KIDS!

❤️ another one for JUSTIN - his love for his family, his meticulous nature in planning the dates, the DATE SURVEYS?!

❤️ I didn’t realize this was considered part of the POYW universe, but I LOVED the CAMEOS from POYW/Yours Truly characters!

💔 there were some HEAVY topics in this one - trauma, PTSD, depression - read those trigger warnings!

💭 Have you read Abby’s latest?

I loved the uniqueness of the storyline, the first page had me cackling, and I just knew I was gonna fall for yet another book boyfriend. From one of their first conversations, there was something so real and refreshing about the honesty and vulnerability that both Justin and Emma showed; for people who barely knew each other. It drew me in…no gimmicks, no fakeness, no "rules", just genuine openness and interest in getting to know each other.
 
I feel like I say this about all of Abby's books but the characters are so relatable! There's so much depth engrained in the storyline where it's not just romance but humans navigating life, both the big and mundane things, dealing with traumas, looking for their place in this crazy world.
 
Emma had a tough life and coped with it the best way she could.Despite the hand life and people dealt her, she wasn't resentful but instead showed compassion, even to those who didn’t deserve it.
Justin’s life took a sudden and unexpected turn which he didn’t know how to handle but he willingly showed up and took on a huge responsibility with the help of his friends, purely out of love and selflessness.
 
Justin and Emma’s journey was a joy to witness. They helped each other heal, gave each other hope and are a reminder of what it feels like to love and be loved.
 
Everyone needs a friend like Maddy. Someone who will stand up for you when you can't do it for yourself. Someone who supports you through the ups and downs. Someone who is not afraid to tell you the truth even if it hurts. Someone who gets mad when you don't recognize your worth and who will fight anyone who doesn't cherish you. Maddy's that girl. 

I really loved this book, currently rereading slowly as I zoomed through it the first time and I’m falling in love again. One of my faves so far this year.

Just for the Summer was not quite what I expected - I was judging this book by the gorgeous, fun cover. This is a romance, but one with heft - both of the main characters have some trauma that they are grappling with as they try and find love. Justin, the male love interest has a fabulous sense of humor and I loved his surveys he sent before and after dates. Emma has a similar dating curse to Justin - everyone she stops dating goes on to find their "soul mate". When Emma changes her traveling nursing schedule to come to Minnesota to meet Justin, she also encounters her mother - who abandoned her to foster care when Emma was eight - and has been an unreliable source of love and support ever since. A bit heavy, but the ending was satisfying.

Abby Jimenez WILL get you in the feels, don’t you worry.

The characters, the town, the premise - all so well written and deeply specific (Toilet King is *chef’s kiss*)

The thing is this book is really heavy. Childhood trauma is being discussed and dissected left and right. I never mind that, especially because the author does it well. But it does set the tone of the romance.

It was hard to enjoy the story at times because it was depressing as hell.

This author will remain an auto-buy for me, but this was not my favorite book of hers, sadly

(I didn't give a star rating on goodreads)

Abby's books always have me feeling a range of emotions. This one was no different. I really fell in love with both Emma and Justin. I thought that their dating curses was a fun storyline and also a fun way to bring these two together. Both Emma and Justin had their own "baggage" in this story and there were lessons in both of them. I felt connected to both of their stories and felt seen reading this book. I have a strained relationship with my mother, so to see the way Emma and Justin had to work through their complicated relationship with theirs was insightful. Also, when I get hurt or upset I tend to isolate like Emma does too. The thing that always amazes me with Abby's books are how we get this fantastic, unforgettable love story but also so much more. It is insane how she does it and how she inspires and makes a mark on all of us readers. This book was one of my favorites of hers.

Oh man, did I love this book.

This was my first novel by Abby Jimenez and I am absolutely pumped to read more from her after how much I enjoyed this novel. The family drama, the intensity of the connection that the main characters had, and the overall plot and story arc was absolutely exquisitely crafted from start to finish.

I will be recommending this book to everyone for a long long time.

Another super stellar book by Abby Jimenez. Once I started I couldn't stop reading and got lost in the story. The curse of both characters always being the last person someone dates before they meet the love of their live is original and charming and there's not a false note in the book . Bravo,

Although I had some struggles with some of the middle of this book, the second half made up for so much of it! At times I felt like the story dragged on and was a little too repetitive, with SO MANY plot lines (but that could just be a me thing or the space my head was in), and it took me almost 2 weeks to finish it which is not common with a romance, especially an Abby Jimenez book.

I loved Justin, Emma, and Maddy. I related in so many ways to Emma and was honestly so triggered anytime Amber was on the page. Emma’s story is one of neglect which was difficult and heartbreaking to read, especially as you began to see how it affects her into her adult life and her friendships/ relationships.

I adored justin. The effort her showed, his humor and playfulness, his steadiness and care. He was truly a soft place to land for Emma. I could say so much more but overall, really enjoyed the book!

No spoilers but chapters 40/41 hit me HARD. I love Abby!

Just for the Summer is a perfect summer read. I love Abby Jimenez witty and smart dialogue. Her characters Justin and Emma have rich back stories that the reader will be rooting for. I highly recommend. Add this to your summer read list!

This book was hard to put down! I am a sucker for the fake dating trope, and this was a unique twist on the genre.

A MILLION DANG STARS. WOW.

“You haven’t been asking too much. You’ve just been asking the wrong people.” 😭

Y’all I literally have no words. This book was absolutely perfect. I love a golden retriever book boyfriend and Justin has completely stolen my heart!

Dare I say this is Abby’s best book yet! The Easter eggs were so much fun and I loved the cameos of past characters. I won’t ruin it, but there’s one in particular that I was super excited about!

This book had the most adorable online meet cute and plenty of swoon-worthy moments! I also love how Abby does such an amazing job with the mental health representation in her books. It’s easy to see the effort she puts in to her research!

If you need the perfect summer read, add this one to your TBR asap! Thank you Abby Jimenez and Forever for my gifted e-arc.

Amazing.... Absolutely amazing! The depth of these two characters, their love for each other, and the strength they showed overcoming some of the hardest life circumstances made me love this book the most, out of every one of Abby's books I've read.
Each of her last 3 books are connected, yet stand alone- and I loved them all. This truly came full circle and I just, it's squeezed my heart and I loved every minute of it!

Abby Jimenez you will always be famous! For every novel after The Friend Zone that is. Sorry that one just wasn’t for me BUT Just for the Summer was! Filled with flirty dialogue, actual lol moments, AND emotional depth, you’ll love this book much longer than just for the summer.

Also highly recommend the audio version, the narration is excellent!!

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million gazillion times… Abby Jimenez is a GENIUS and I adore her work. This was a phenomenal end to the Royaume medical women who SLAYYYY series (or Part of Your World… if you wanna get TECHNICAL)

Justin and Emma have a curse, every person they date goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When they connect online 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 supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But what if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Now, let me just say… Jacob my boy has my whole entire heart and soul. Justin however… comes in a close second. JFTS wraps you up in a warm blanket, talks you through your childhood trauma, hushes you with a soothing voice and gives you allll the forehead kisses. This one didn’t absolutely gut me like some others but damn if I didn’t love every minute of it…

I really enjoyed this one. I had tried a while ago to read the ebook, but I just was struggling with it. It turns out it was mostly the timing, because once I picked it up later on audio, I was eager to keep reading.

The narrators were wonderful; I loved their performances. I was listening while on a walk one evening, and I caught myself laughing out loud several times regardless of the onlookers. Abby's writing plus the stellar narrators made this book so compulsively readable – just as I have found all of Abby's books to be.

Knowing how I have cried reading some of her other books, I shouldn't be surprised that this one got me too – I choked up several times and definitely had tears in my eyes. I wasn't expecting so many of her other characters to be weaved into this story, either – so that caught me by surprise! Especially the biggest thing towards the end.

The one little thing that tripped me up was that at times the writing felt stiff or green – one reason I originally struggled to get into it. Thankfully it was only here or there, so in the end, it didn't negatively impact my enjoyment.

Overall, a great read and, as always, I'm eager to see what Abby does next!