4.75 stars

I literally devoured this book in one day. I just couldn't put it down.

Just for the Summer follows Emma and Justin who believe they are cursed with being the good luck charm for anyone they date - meaning every person they date ends up finding their soulmates once they break up. When Emma and Justin connect via Justin's reddit thread detailing this phenomenon, they agree to a pact where they date each other so once they break up, they can each find their soulmates thus breaking the 'curse'. However, what happens when they end up falling for each other?

Emma and Justin's love story was just so easy to fall into and follow. It was so clear to see from the get go how perfect they are for one another, the chemistry was off the charts through just their DMs alone. There was also the subplot of both Emma and Justin's family dynamics and trauma, and how they choose to go about those. I've rarely read a book that handles trauma like the one in this book so beautifully, eloquently, and most of all realistic! I was so enraptured by the story that I couldn't put it down - and I was suffering with a migraine so I really should have been sleeping!

I don't know how it took me this long to read Abby Jimenez's books, even though I've heard nothing but great things about her books and her writing. It safe to say her books are bumping up on my tbr.

When I tell you this is one of my new favourite books of all time I really mean it. Abby Jimenez will be an autobuy author for me until the end of time. Just for the summer was hilarious, heartwarming and also heartbreaking. I read the whole thing in 1 sitting. Another amazing read from an amazing author. PS burning down the house was the best thing I’ve read

I couldn’t get enough of it. The writing was so consuming and just instantly pulls you into the story. Their romance is so endearing and their connection is superbly magical.

Title: Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

Release Date: April,2nd 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

Justin finds himself cursed - every woman he dates finds their soulmate right after they break up. When he connects with Emma, who shares a similar curse, they hatch a plan: date each other, break up, and cancel out their curses. As they spend the summer together in Minnesota, their fling becomes complicated when unexpected family responsibilities arise. Despite the challenges, they start to develop genuine feelings for each other.

"Just For The Summer" by Abby Jimenez is an absolute gem, deserving every bit of a 5-star rating! This book delivers the perfect blend of romance, humour, and heart, making it an absolute delight for any fan. From the captivating storyline to the charming characters, Jimenez has crafted a tale that will leave you swooning and smiling from start to finish.

Tropes:

Fake Relationship
Opposites Attract
Second Chance at Love
Summer Romance


Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Piatkus, Abby Jimenez & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

6 (★★★★★★) incredible stars !!

This book, when I tell you from the very first page I was hooked! From the first to last page this book had me in a chokehold, I didn't put the book down except to go to sleep! I loved the way Abby writes stories and romance and especially her characters. She makes you love two characters and them in love with them as a couple and truly believe in them. I thought Yours Truly was going to be hard to beat but Just For the Summer actually knocked it out of the park.

The romance, the banter, the family, the friendship, the clear mental health representation, every part of this book was told with perfection. I believed in their relationship. I loved his family and Maddy. And all the cameos.... Part of Your World, Yours Truly, and more! It was so perfect and I truly loved every minute of it. This book is up there in my top reads for the year and could easily be in my top 5 come December.

I also loved the pacing of their story and the way everything unfolded, it was perfect being imperfect and that makes is so real. Also the continual mention to Am I The A**hole and him sending her date questionnaires and then e-invites was perfect and Justin genuinely is one of my new book BFs.

My favourite read of the year so far. I could not put this book down because I just loved Justin, Emma and their family/friends.

The tension between them was 10/10 and I thought that the really sensitive topics included were written and handled so well.

As I delved into the pages of this captivating novel, I found myself immersed in a world where emotions ran deep and every word resonated profoundly within me. The initial connection between the main characters, forged in the vast expanse of cyberspace, felt serendipitous, drawing me into their story with an irresistible pull.

Throughout my journey, I became deeply invested in their struggles and triumphs, rooting for them through every obstacle they encountered. Our bond, tested by both past secrets and present challenges, remained unbreakable—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

To me, this book transcends the boundaries of a simple love story; it's a deep dive into the intricacies of human connection, resilience, and hope. It reminds me that even in life's bleakest moments, love possesses the strength to persevere and conquer. This realization resonates deeply within me, reaffirming my belief in the enduring power of love.

The storytelling skillfully evoked a whirlwind of emotions within me, leaving me captivated until the very last page. I found myself breathless, yearning for more, long after reluctantly closing the book.

This literary work has left an indelible mark on me, reminding me of the profound impact of connection and the unwavering hope that, even in the darkest of times, love prevails.

I loved every minute of it 🥹
Banter between not only the main characters but their friends was top tier, the chemistry and dialogue between Justin & Emma was so entertaining and built such a great relationship between them!
The deeper plot lines of childhood neglect and family trauma was heartbreaking but amazingly done. I loved that it weaved perfectly into the story and wasn’t just something casually mentioned every now and again as trauma is something that shows up in people’s everyday life and how they navigate the world.
I loved the Easter eggs from the previous 2 books, the characters featured really made this book even more special
Perfection

I was so excited to read this because the premise of it sounded sooo good & im so glad it lives up to it! I adore Abby’s writing and loved this story and the characters so much. Such a fun, cosy book.

‘Four dates, one kiss, and a breakup. Just for the summer.’

☀️he falls first
☀️online meet cute
☀️right person, wrong time
☀️he looks after after when she’s sick
☀️mental health rep
☀️dating pact
☀️found family
☀️dual pov

this book just gave me all the feels. The complexity of the relationships was heartbreaking at times, but I was just 1000000% rooting for Justin and Emma, I was INVESTED!
I loved Emma’s character arc, and her best friend Mandy was the BEST (she NEEDS her own book!) and Justin’s personality just made the whole book!!

thank you to NetGallery, the author and publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this felt like the perfect romcom- the story line was engaging, there were multiple climatic points in the book where I truly didn’t know where it was going to go and overall it made me laugh multiple times
 ‎ ‎ ‎
<b> justin </b> ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the perfect mmc and the definition of ‘if he wanted to he would’. in the year 2024 I can safely say justin is currently my favourite book boyfriend and completely delivered in EVERY aspect. he was sweet, funny, patient and overall I <i> loved</i> reading his pov. the way he took care of his siblings and he consistently showed up for emma made his character arc my absolute favourite. ‎
 ‎ ‎ ‎
emma ―୨୧⋆ ˚ i didn’t love emma quite as much… however in reading g the book you see the reason she acts the way she does and honestly it makes <b>a lot</b> of sense. that being said i still enjoyed reading about her and justin and the way their relationship blossomed.
 ‎ ‎ ‎
plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ it felt very all over the place and honestly not what i was expecting AT ALL… i still really loved it and it kept me very engaged all the way though however there were some parts of the book were it felt like there was a lot of information all at once..
as well as this, their relationship was very instalove which didn’t bother me in the slightest but its definitely something to keep in mind! overall i really enjoyed this book and it ticked all the boxes of a sweet romcom with a heavier plot line mixed in ..

thank you to netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Really loved Abby Jimenez's previous books and this one was no different. It's a slow burn without actually putting off the relationship element. Instead it introduces the idea of a curse. Two people whose exes always find the one straight after dating them. And so they decide to date each other to find the one themselves.

It was funny, emotional, sexy, romantic. Everything you look for from this type of book. You fall in love with the whole cast of characters, no just our leads. Honestly I'll probably buy it to reread over the summer.

This was my first Abby Jimenez book but definitely won’t be my last!

Emma and Justin are both cursed. Every time they break up with someone, their ex then goes on to meet the love of their life and settles down. But they’re determined to break this curse by dating each other.

Although it was kind of obvious what was going to happen, it was a really fun read. I loved the characters and the different types of love and friendship featured. A summer must read.

✨ To find their soulmates, all they need is four dates, a kiss and a breakup . . . ✨

Justin is cursed - every girl he dates ends up finding their soulmate after they break up. He decides to post in a Reddit thread about his curse which ends up catching the eye of Emma - a travelling nurse- who has the same problem as him. That’s when the two decide to come up with a pact, they date and then break up to break the curse.

This is Abby Jimenez's final installment of the Part of Your World trilogy but it can be read as a stand alone. I loved the freshness of this book which is one of the reasons I read it in one day! Not only is this a warm read which will make you giddy but also, it is full of emotion. I spend the last 40% of this book in tears. I immediately loved Justin, he is so cheesy with his questionnaires and E-Vites but it makes him so adorable. Also, his story pulls at my heartstrings and makes me want to give him a huge hug. Emma is so strong and positive which makes you love her even more when you find out all that she has been through. Both Emma and Justin lent on each-other through their flawed family and I admired the fact the two MCs needed to work through their traumas so they could have a solid and true relationship.

I hope that one day I will be able to speak about this book without getting emotional but today is not that day 😭

* Thank you Forever Publishing and Net Galley for the E-ARC! *

I couldn’t put it down. The story premise was a little unorthodox, but yet still felt real due to the very real problems the main characters faced. There was romance, yet there were also parental issues, struggles to balance normal day to day activities, and issues relating to historic abuse. You will need your tissues at times for this one, yet you come away feeling happy, and satisfied. I really enjoyed this story, and hope the author does a follow on about Maddy, which Justin and Emma could feature in. Is wholeheartedly recommend this book

I love this SOOO MUCHHHHH literally the best romance ever its so perfect😭♥️

It has the perfect amount of humor, conflict, romance, and angst. I love that this book doesn’t lean heavily on the smut, but rather the emotional aspect of the relationship. Only thing that lacking is THE ENDING bc I NEED MOREEEE🥹 but that’s ok I love Justin & Emma with all my heart now I need to read Abby’s previous books and I will definitely read her future books

3.75 ⭐️ From the first page, Just for the summer immediately pulled you in but it didn’t feel like the book lacked any exposition for throwing you straight into the action and having the main characters meet so suddenly (via a Am I the Asshole Reddit thread) which was great!

Justin was the epitome of “If He Wanted To, He Would” and I loved that about his character. The date surveys (that Abby said she based off a real couple); the ease of which he explains his feelings and that he cares about Emma, looking after his sister. Even his flaws were relatable – buckling under the pressure that he put on himself trying to do the right thing and hating his mum for putting him in that position. I think that’s why I loved the first half of the book so much because it was one of those books where you could see where Emma fit in to “complete” him, or rather give him the best version of himself – to teach him more empathy in situations that are hard.
Highlights of the book for me were: kitten date, the forbidden dog, unicorn floaty (if he wanted to, he WOULD), the friendship between Maddy and Emma – after previously reading a book where a friendship seemed like it should be the centre, but wasn’t, this highlighted how some friendships really are the rock that holds you down and are more important than men or anything else.
I loved that the two main characters obviously shared the same sense of humour and you could see that on the page with the texts they sent each other, and the fun that they had.
Yet – and this disappoints me to say – the last half of the book let it down. Abby Jiminez always has complex characters, but I think in this one, I couldn’t understand Emma’s trauma. It was well spelled out on the page what had gone on and you could see Maddy attempting to explain it to Justin, but I just didn’t feel empathy – ironic considering that’s what Emma preaches throughout the whole book. I think part of it was the “reveal” that happens on her birthday. Perhaps if I’d read Part of Your World more recently, I would have been in on it before then, but it all just seemed like so much happened so instantaneously that the believability of the rest of the book felt cheapened.
It was one of those cases were the subtle links between all of her previous books that I enjoyed was just thrown to the maximum and I really didn’t care for it. It’s one thing to have a music t-shirt of a main character; having worked with someone in passing; be best friends etc. But there was EVERYTHING. Every possible link to the other books seemed to be thrown in your face and I think for someone who hadn’t read her other books it might not have been as bad – but at the same time then the reveal also doesn’t have as much impact.
Maybe If the “reveal” had been spread out over a few weeks. I enjoyed the ending and felt like it did the ‘right person wrong time’ trope well.

AITA for wanting Abby Jimenez to write 7000 books right now???

I absolutely adored this book I cried I laughed.. I had such an amazing time. This is honestly one of my new favourite books and I can’t believe how much I loved it.

Every time I pick up an Abby Jimenez book I end up so happy but also so sad that it ended. The characters are so well written and they make me love them so much. I love seeing all of the different characters that have been in Abby Jimenez previous books. It just makes everything like all click together.


Emma is incredible. She is one of the strongest female main characters for what she’s been through, and she has been written so well, and I feel that PTSD is so well represented in this book.


Justin is the absolute dream man he is my new favourite book boyfriend and I will be sending this book to my fiancé so he can now send me a questionnaire every time we go on a date and the feedback and invitation card oh my gosh this man


I will 100% be recommending this to everybody.

Abby Jimenez just keeps getting better and better.

When I say I loved this book, I mean I want to live in this world and hang out with these characters.
In true Abby Jimenez fashion, our main characters are so fleshed out and felt so real that I felt their struggles like a rod through the heart.
This story had me on the edge of my seat, not something that usually happens when I go into a romance. This is so much *more* than a fun rom-com.
While it is full of romance and comedy, it also had some really powerful moments of the characters going through very real and painful struggles.
I’m obsessed with Maddie. She is the ultimate best friend and I will hear no Maddie slander.
The cameos!!!
The glances we get of the characters from the other books in this series are phenomenally done and had my jaw dropping.
I read Part of Your World in 2022 and I found myself going back and looking up names and situation that were referenced in this book because it was so well integrated that I can’t believe I didn’t see the connection sooner.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc! I was overjoyed when I received it, and now I’m even more overjoyed to have loved it this much! My jaw is still on the floor about the fact that I got to read this

Just for the Summer was an easy to enjoy, light hearted summer romance. It was very easy to read with fun characters. Emma is constantly travelling with her best friend for work and finds it hard to settle. She had a tough childhood and a very tricky relationship with her Mum. When she meets Justin there is an obvious connection and the story follows the issues they encounter as they navigate their emotions. I personally found the writing a little too simplistic and it lacked emotional depth to really give me feelings but I am sure lots of others will really enjoy it.