Hallmark vibes!!! This was such a sweet, fun and easy read to get through. It kept my attention from the beginning, and I enjoyed the aspect of the swapping which is always really fun to read in stories.

When I started reading this book, I thought it might be a little cheesy...but it got better! The storyline was cute and I ended up enjoying it. The characters are fun. The book is an easy, lighthearted escapist read.

The end then went back to the cheesiness the author managed to work past in the majority of the book. Overall, this was cute but the ending could have been much better.

The book captures the essence of summer perfectly, with its light, breezy atmosphere and a charming setting that will make you long for sunny days. Carlson’s writing is warm and inviting, and the characters are easy to connect with, especially as they navigate their personal journeys over the course of the summer.

While the plot is a bit predictable at times, the genuine moments of growth and self-discovery keep the story engaging. The romance is sweet, and the overall feel-good vibe makes it an ideal beach read or a cozy escape. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good, uplifting story with just the right amount of romance and charm, Just for the Summer will not disappoint!

Just For The Summer by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming story of two women seeking a fresh start in their lives. Ginny Masters, overwhelmed by her high-pressure job in Seattle, and Jacqueline Potter, yearning for a more glamorous life than her small-town fishing lodge, decide to swap jobs and lifestyles for the summer. As they step into each other’s worlds, they discover that true happiness isn’t as simple as changing scenery. Carlson’s novel is a charming exploration of self-discovery, love, and the realization that fulfillment comes from within, not from external changes.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Another book that fell flat and I could not connect with, also DNF'd.

A fun quick read, a great palate cleanser. Really fun read without any real spice. I highly recommend it for someone looking for a change from high stakes books.

Sadly this book just wasn't for me. I didn't really feel too into the story at any point and didn't really seem to care too much about any of the characters. The constant changing of pov in the middle of each chapter also threw me a lot so I didn't really know what was going on most of the book. I can however see the cozy summer vibes the book was trying to go for and maybe it could be good for others.

A fun, light hearted read from one of my favorite Christian authors. I loved the whole story and it was such an engaging read.

2.75 stars

Having read many Melody Carlson books when I was a teen, I was interested in reading something new from her. Just for the Summer was a quick and easy read that started out fun with a great home/job/life switching trope but I found myself losing interest and was ready for it to be over.

Ginny Masters runs a busy boutique hotel in Seattle and is feeling like her life is just too busy and unfulfilling. She finds Jacqueline Potter who is running her family's fishing lodge in Idaho and they make a plan to switch jobs for sixty days. Jacqueline is at first excited to trade up and enjoy life in the bustling city but finds out it's a lot different than she imagined. Meanwhile Ginny finds out that she really enjoys fishing and a quieter pace.

Just for the Summer is told in the POV of each woman and I really enjoyed reading about Ginny gaining new happiness and skills that she didn't ever have a chance to experience. I didn't love Jacqueline's character as much, though. I thought she was quite selfish and manipulative in her actions.

I also thought that there would be more faith based dialogue or actions, seeing as I know Carlson to be a Christian author. I'm not sure, but maybe she's branched away from that.

Overall this was a quick read that started off strong but eventually fell flat with a mix of likeable and unlikeable characters and a little romance and faith sprinkled in for good measure. I'm not sure that this author is for me anymore, but I know that it had a lot of good reviews and I encourage you to try it out for yourself!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Swapping lives sounds amazing. You get to try something different and live somewhere else while discovering your passions. Melody always writes great books and this was one of her best!

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, second chances, and the surprising ways life can change when we step outside our comfort zones. The story follows Ginny Masters, a busy hotel manager in Seattle, and Jacqueline Potter, who manages her grandfather’s fishing lodge in rural Idaho. Both women are yearning for something more, and when they swap jobs for the summer, they hope to find the answers to their personal and professional frustrations.

Carlson does a wonderful job of capturing the contrasts between the two women’s lives—one in a bustling city, the other in a quiet, remote town—while exploring the deeper question of whether changing one’s surroundings can truly bring happiness. As Ginny and Jacqueline step into each other’s shoes, they quickly realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and that true fulfillment comes from within, not from simply swapping places or careers.

With its relatable characters, light romance, and introspective themes, Just for the Summer is a charming read perfect for anyone seeking a feel-good, thoughtful escape. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the biggest changes we need are the ones that happen inside us.

I liked this book. It was an easy read, and left me feeling good. I laughed a lot. I would reccomend it to my friends.

This was such an adorable summer read! I had so much fun with these characters. Every moment with them made me feel so giddy.

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Just for the Summer Book Review
A big thanks to NetGalley for providing me this book in exchange for my own opinion!
From Amazon:




Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle with aplomb. But the daily challenges and irritations of a fast-paced job and a demanding boss are starting to get to her. Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather's fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after graduating with her hospitality degree. She's grateful for the work but longs for a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan life she's just not going to find in this backwoods town.

The solution to both their problems seems obvious. Just for the summer, they'll swap jobs and lifestyles. But they never anticipated swapping love interests . . .


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.

My Take:


Melody knows how to mix romance and humor! I have read a number of books by this author and I am always in such a great mood while I read! Two women, both who are unhappy at work, go online and sign up for a job exchange. What follows is a hilarious mix between love, jealousy and two women who find what they want and need not too far from where they started. The characters are enjoyable and friendly, the settings sound amazing and a place I'd like to visit. I took this book on a cruise and it made the cruise a lot of fun!

About the Author:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at MelodyCarlson.com.

Entertaining, minimalist read. Good, clean fiction. A pleasant way to pass the time.

That's about all I have to say.

Ginny Masters has worked her way up to manage a popular boutique hotel in Seattle, but she is burned out due to the owner’s unreasonable demands. Jacqueline Potter has managed her grandpa’s fishing lodge since she got her degree in hospitality, but she wants a chance to work somewhere more prestigious. The two agree to swap jobs for the summer; will they find the answers they are looking for?

The story was just OK for me. I like Ginny’s part of the book, but Jacqueline was obnoxious, and her ‘growth’ at the end felt fake. There were too many flat characters, and I did not feel any chemistry between either of the protagonists or their love interests. Sadly, this book was not for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Ginny Masters was devoted to her job, managing a boutique hotel in Seattle. She turned the place around in her tenure as manager, but her boss doesn't appreciate her, and never lets her forget that she had no training before working her her. As well, her boss' son has asked her to marry him, but she knows he is not the one for her. She is just not happy. Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather's fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after graduating with her hospitality degree. She also longs for a relationship with the handsome guide and friend, but he's happy with a friendship. The shine is off and she longs for a job managing a high end hotel in a busy city. Both women stumble on a job-swapping website and agree to a 60-day contract to trade management positions. It sounds perfect, but things don't work out as planned. With a very different work ethic and attitude, the swap doesn't work out as planned and if they can't work things out, both women will be unhappy once again.

I do enjoy Melody Carlson's stories and this was no exception. The expression, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" comes to play in this book, but does it work out that way. I really liked Ginny, her attitude, her work ethic, her caring and kind personality and her outlook on life. She fit it easily at that lodge and was able to get things done. Jacqueline, on the other hand, was not easy to get along with. She was like a fish out of water at the hotel, but was more interested in the city life and her new friendship. Although the job was just for the summer, I think both women were hoping it would be longer than that. There were a few twists that I liked, and a lot of personal growth for both women. There is a bit of romance, but the story is more about finding where you belong and growing to be the person you were meant to be. I enjoyed this story and recommend it as an entertaining summer read.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson is a fun summer themed rom com. This book is a fun read for anytime of year. I loved the premise of the book and the crazy antics that ensued. One of the main characters was not that likeable and that made her story a bit frustrating to read. Overall, it was a great book and I recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

A fun summer read!! Some of the writing was a little cringe but overall it was a quick fun light read!