Review: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Thank you Forever for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
THIS BOOK. Not only will be a favorite of the year, but a favorite of all time. Abby Jimenez is the master of the modern romance. She packs her books full of very real issues humans deal with on an everyday basis while also falling in love and learning how to be in a relationship with a true partner. This book made me laugh, cry, kick my feet and giggle and smile like no other. I loved these characters, I love their journeys, and I am so sad it’s over. Wow. It’s truly incredible.
What started out as a bet to help each other move on from a “curse” became something so full and affirming. No matter where you come from, no matter what you’ve been through, the right person will still always be there for you if you just let them in. READ THIS BOOK!
Synopsis:
“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?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Characters—I LOVED Justin and Emma, oh my goodness. But as Abby does, the whole world she creates is so full of wonderful characters that fully flesh out the book’s universe. Sarah, Alex, Chelsea, Maddy, seeing glimpses of Daniel, Bri, Jacob, and Alexis. It was so so good.
The Setting—A lake in Minnesota but also returning to Grant House, the hospital. I am so attached to this world.
The Very Real Issues at the Forefront—I don’t know how Abby does it, but she can create a story that gives me butterflies and makes me kick my feet giggling while I read while keeping the characters grounded in painful realities. I cried so much reading this book as Emma and Justin walked through their trauma together and apart.
What Didn’t Work:
Nothing. I loved every page of this book. More golden retriever heros! More Minnesota. I love it all.
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 5/5
Content Warnings:
Abandonment, PTSD, mental illness, incarceration, grief, child abuse, toxic parental relationship, vomiting, gaslighting, fire