Loved the concept of the dating curse and the travel nurse background. Start of the story was quite slow with not a great amount of twists in the plot. predictable but enjoyable romance perfect for a cosy summer love story read. Enjoyed the ending a 3.5⭐️

∞/5 ⭐

Thank you for the ARC Abby Jimenez and little brown book group.

Honestly, I don't think Abby Jimenez ever misses. Her books are sooooo comforting, it's like a warm hug to my soul. She does it every single time for me. For me, Yours Truly was one of the top books I read last year and I never thought anything could top it after that. But she proved me wrong. We're gonna have an Abby Jimenez book again for the top books pf the year list and I'm not in the least bit surprised.

This book was so so good. The plot, the execution, the writing.... Everything was done was damn well. It was hilarious, cute, a little emotional, touching and had so much romance that it made my heart ache with longing.

Justin is the kind of man you hope to have in your soulmate. Funny, kind, attentive... Let us all try and manifest a Justin in our lives!

I have never related to an FMC more. Emma felt the need to always care, always keep everyone around her happy, always choose empathy and had to stop expecting from people because of everything she went through in her childhood. The way she was, the way she thought and experienced things, even the way she became "small" when things didn't go her way... That's exactly how I am and how I become. She is one of the most relatable characters for me. I was so proud of her progress by the end of the book and how far she had come.

Honestly, I wish everyone reads this book atleast once to experience the magic of this book. Because if I had to use just one word to describe how I felt reading this book, it would be exactly that : magical. ✨💕🥺

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This is an interesting one for me to rate because I DNFed it about 40% in, but I genuinely think it is an amazing book.
It is so well-written and so emotional, and therein lies my problem: It was TOO emotional for me.
There was a lot of trauma in the main characters' pasts and presents, several issues and conflicts that were coming up, and I found myself incredibly stressed and anxious while reading it, and I couldn't do it anymore. I do occasionally enjoy a more emotional/heavy romance book, but I have to be in the mood for it and most of the time I'm not. I think both conflicts with their respective mothers also just hit hard for me because of some of my own life experiences.

I truly think this is a wonderful book and I'm sure a lot of people will love it and find it very cathartic. I think the topics present in this book were handled with much care, it never felt like trauma was added in just for the sake of it.
The main characters were both so amazing, I really loved them and I hope they find their happy ending (I mean I would assume they do) and help each other heal.

The vibes of this book were also immaculate, it had me ready to book a flight to Minnesota in the summer so that I can get my own house on a lake and it made me YEARN for summer lake days.

So even though this ended up being too heavy for me, I'm really glad I picked it up and I think it deserves all the love it seems to be getting.

My first Abby Jimenez book and I really enjoyed it.
Emma and Justin are really loveable characters and you are really rooting for the romance from the off-set.

The mental health issues of some of the characters are really handled well as the effects it has on relationships is explored.

Emma and Justin meet online and realise that they can help each other to find a soul mate. They make an agreement to go on four dates, purely to help each other out.....

Some supporting characters are from the authors other popular books, but this is a stand alone and you don't need to have read them first.

Being back in the world that Abby creates is a wonderful, heartwarming and emotional time. Since 'The Friend Zone' Abby has had me hooked on her writing, characters, and plots, so my excitement for Just For The Summer was unreal, and it was completely warranted.
Just For The Summer follows Emma and Justin on a journey to break a mutual curse where their exes find their true loves after the break up. They decide to date each other for one summer so that the next person each of them dates is their true love, and they will both be free from serial dating.
Packed full of lovable (and some not so loveable) characters, witty banter and complicated emotions, this book provides much more than a fake dating love story. This is a story about family, trust, and stepping up for the people you love. It's about forgiveness, acceptance, and learning how to be the best version of yourself. I loved everything about this book, Emma and Justin's story was multifaceted, dynamic, and so beautiful to read. Abby Jimenez has once again stolen my heart and continues to make it impossible to pick a favourite.

Just for The Summer by Abby Jimenez
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
POV: Dual

Abby, Abby, Abby. Why do you do this to us?

“He put a gentle hand out to touch me. A thumb rubbed against my cheek to mirror the one I had on his. “If this isn’t magic, then what is?” He asked. “What does it feel like to be under a spell if this isn’t it?” His gaze held mine, and I couldn’t break it. It was a spell.”

“I wanted him hold me after. To wake up with me in the morning and eat cereal in my bed while we watched TV. I wanted to see his pyjamas on Christmas morning and find out what he looked like with birthday candles lighting his face and snow in his hair. I wanted to be tangled in him, in all his limbs and all his strings.”

Just for The Summer, the story of Emma and Justin, two people who start talking after Justin posts up a Reddit thread saying that every girl that breakups with him goes on to find their soulmate. Funnily enough, Emma has the same problem too.

I was glued to this book and just loved it, so much so that I couldn’t stop raving about it to my book bestie, great thing it’s available to purchase on 2 April.

I felt like I was part of this story. When they cried. I cried. When they screamed, I wanted to scream too. The fact that Abby was also able to touch on so many important day-to-day topics in just 400 odd pages just shows what a talent she has when writing books. The representation of PTSD, mental disorders, grief and loss were so well placed.

I only have one criticism for this book and that is that I felt it would have been at least a six star read if there was some mention of Tess and Stuntman Mike in it, even if only minor. I’ll have to send a heavily worded letter to Biggie Smalls about this.

Overall, I highly recommend Just for The Summer. I know it’s labelled as a romcom, but I firmly believe that it is so much more than that.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

*4.5 stars

I absolutely loved this!

There's just something about Abby Jimenez's writing style that's just so addictive! I literally could not put this down and had to really force myself to stop reading and go back to work when I was on my lunch break lol

This book follows Emma and Justin, who get chatting after Justin's reddit post goes viral. He claims to have a curse where the women he dates immediately find The One after they break up with him. Emma has the same thing. So they decide to date just for the summer to break the 'curse' for both of them. But maybe they're destined for more than just breaking each other's curse?

As I said, I really vibe with Abby's writing style! I think she has a good level of light-heartedness to suck you in and fall for the characters and then BAM! - it's time for the trauma-bonding.

I'll admit, I think sometimes she goes overboard, and the climax of this book was very much over the top, but I still really enjoyed my time reading it. It looks like it's going to be very light-hearted, but be warned, it packs an emotional punch.

Anyway, I loved it and would highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I went into this book wanting to love it and truly thought I would. Just For The Summer opens with a AITA (Am I The Asshole?) post and from this point I was hooked. I love watching these on social media! I was so excited to see where this would go but it really missed the mark.
The romance felt rushed, immature and insta-lovey and I couldn’t feel myself getting invested at all. There needed to be more tension in order for me to have loved this! I felt as though the book focused more on the issues that the characters had rather than the romance itself.
I really couldn’t connect to Emma or Justin and found myself not really rooting for their relationship. But I do have to say, I loved the surveys Justin did before their dates!
There was lot of talk on heavier topics which I really appreciate but please check trigger warnings before reading.
I do also recommend people to read Abby’s other works before this book due to character crossovers. This is a stand-alone but it fell a little short for me as I didn’t understand any of the references.
Overall, I liked this book but I just didn’t love it. I will be picking up some of Abby Jimenez’ other books as I really enjoyed her writing style!

I waited in eager anticipation for this book, and it didn’t disappoint - I adored Just for the Summer. In true Abby Jimenez style it is full of beautifully nuanced relationships, witty banter, cute animals; balanced with sensitive exploration of some really difficult situations.

Emma meets Justin via a reddit post - they share a common curse. All of their exes go on to meet their one true love immediately after breaking up. Logic dictates therefore, that if they date each other, they will break the curse, and each meet their own true love. Embarking on a quick fling becomes much more complicated, when Emma’s toxic mother shows up, and Justin has to take on care of his siblings.

Whilst this makes for a great meet cute, Emma and Justin’s story is much more. I thought Jimenez did a beautiful job of exploring the enduring impact that trauma and abandonment can have on relationships. I loved Emma and Justin’s chemisty, relationship development, and the way they taught each other to heal and thrive. I'm hesitant to share much more, as I found so much joy in the twists and turns of this book.I had a great losing myself in this story. It was the perfect blend of romantic, fun, poignant, heartfelt, witty, and silly.

True of her other books, there were so many easter eggs and cameos! This is a great book as standalone, but I would highly recommend reading Part of Your World and Yours Truly first for an even more enjoyable experience.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Love Abby Jimenez! Her books are engaging and so romantic, but there’s always something more. Just for the Summer is as good as Part of your World, and bonus, we get to see Daniel and Alexis again.

Justin and Emma are trying to outwit fate. Their meet-cute is hilarious and their texts are so charming.

Two things happen at once here in such a clever way. We love Justin and his cinnamon roll goodness with Emma, but there’s a strong sense of foreboding. Romance or no, how is this going to end well? Emma’s mum feels like a train crash, best friend Maddy is a wild card, Emma worries me, Justin has a saviour complex, I feel so much disquiet, while being fully engaged in all of their lives. I couldn’t wait to turn the pages and see what would happen next.

This is a romance of course, and it’s exquisite, there’s pining and longing and a slow burn. But it’s also about abandonment, and grief. Abby doesn’t offer easy answers, and even with all the lightness and fun, Emma can’t escape and neither can we.

My copy offers book club questions and insight into Abby's writing process and this makes it even more satisfying.

Heartfelt and highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley, Abby Jimenez and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Absolutely fan-flipping-tastic
The whole premise of how they get in touch, to the traumatic and deeply sad truth of their background/family, to the simmering chemistry and stunning backdrop of Minnesota, this book is the full package of a fantastic story. Deeply relatable, heartbreaking and with very interesting characters, and Brad the dog stealing the show!

There are elements of this story which I like: dual PoV’s give depth to the story, the romance develops naturally and Emma and Maddy’s friendship, which is super supportive, feels authentic. However, overall, I found this book a little hard going; the root of the problem being Emma’s relationship with her mother and being a constant doormat - I found it infuriating and frustrating. Alongside the romance, the book deals with some dark subjects; mental health issues and child neglect, so don’t go into this story just expecting a lighthearted summer romance read. Many thanks to NetGallery and Little, Brown Book Group UK, for allowing me to get an early copy of the book, which is out on April 2, 2024.

Abby Jimenez does it again! Her ability to write such beautiful and in depth characters never fails to impress me. Not only that, but her ability to weave in more serious topics, like mental health issues, is handled with such grace and sensitivity!


Emma and Justin’s relationship meet cute was so funny and original that i was sold from the start. Not to mention the fake dating element which is a trope i simply adore!! The chemistry between the characters was just off the charts, and the banter was witty enough to have me giggling throughout. And who could forget the perfect slow burn to their relationship! Their relationship was complex and yet equally as entertaining and I devoured every second!

I can’t wait to have the physical copy of this book in my hands!

abby jimenez you have done it again !!!

first of all, the mental health rep in this book is EXQUISITE! as someone with a sister disorder to c-ptsd i felt so much of how the mc was feeling

second of all justin is *the* blueprint for all men ever like remind me to reread this book the next time i start tolerating the bare minimum from a man

the “third act breakup” is probably the best i have ever read because it actually made sense and was feasible and fair and human ????

finally the fkn connection to the previous books ?! i was GAGGED

i ate this book up and have already preordered the paperback lol

thank u negalley + the publishers for the arc

Abby Jimenez always writes with so much emotion. I almost teared up many times reading this. Her characters are rich and flawed, they feel like real people and react how real people do.
The book was well paced and whilst it had some well loved romance tropes, they were done in a unique way that felt fresh and unique to the characters. Will be reading more of her books ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I didn't realise until I started reading that this book was set in the same world as Part of Your World and Yours Truly and I was delighted when I realised it was! While not a direct sequel like Yours Truly, Just For The Summer is very much a standalone but knowing the world just made some of moments, feel that little bit more special.

I loved this book. I sat down to read it at 4pm and by 9pm I was finished and hadn't even stopped to eat. Emma and Justin were both such beautiful characters who I fell for as soon as I started reading. I was so invested in these two that I was even crying with them.

I have onjy just started reading Abby Jimenez this year and I can't wait to go back to other series and meet some of her other characters!

I can't recommend this book more!!

Abby Jimenez does it again! I don’t think this lady can write anything bad. She will forever be an insta buy author for me and this book is an absolute banger. This book brought out so many emotions in me from happiness to sadness it has everything. Emma and Justin are both convinced that the people they date and break up with find their soulmates straight after, so they decide to date with the hope that they will meet theirs. Both characters have a lot going on in their personal lives and getting to see this play out and the support they offer each other is incredible. Such a great read with cameos from some of our faves from previous books! Not one to be missed!!

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I almost NEVER read contemporary romance and this is my first true adult contemporary romance. I picked it up because the synopsis sounded interesting and thought that this would be a fun, easy read. I never thought I'd be so invested in the story or end up loving the characters so much. This was a big hit for me!

Both Justin and Emma are very well crafted characters and I was equally invested in both their POVs. The romance did start of a little too fast for my liking and felt insta lovey at first but gradually developed into something beautiful. Justin is the perfect green flag. All the little things he did for Emma and his endearing relationship with his siblings just made my heart melt. Emma has been through so much trauma and following her on this journey of healing was, in a way, healing for me too. Her character development was fantastic. I really loved the side characters too. While this is a romcom, there are moments where this gets dark, so do check out the trigger warnings

Just for the Summer was laugh out loud funny but also profoundly heartfelt and emotional, with well developed characters and romance that will heal your soul. I highly recommend this!

I’m giving a romance book five stars?!!

Emma and Justin have a curse.
They find each other over Reddit, following a thread where they both seem hounded by a curse where every partner they date more than a few times ends up finding their soulmate after we break up.
They agree to date to break the curse.Four dates, one kiss, and a breakup. Just for the summer.
Especially since Emma has a deadline date as a travelling nurse.

This has everything.
Dealing with trauma, found family, best friends who would murder and die for you, a goblin rescue dog.

If you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.

Justin’s mother is being sent to prison so he’s taking custody of his three younger siblings, so he feels crushed by the pressure to hold everything together.
Emma had a troubled childhood, with an absent mother, foster care, and wondering when her mother will next nuclear her life. This has left her with some attachment issues.

Something happened in my chest. A flutter. Or a crack. I had to clutch it with a hand like a part of me was going to spill out.

I really appreciated how well Jimenez handled dealing with your baggage. How to develop a healthy relationship with yourself, your past, and your future. She brings up therapy, CBT.
It’s handled with such care and emotion and compassion that despite its rawness, it managed to feel like the book was holding my hand the entire time.

Not everything that comes out of crisis is bad. Sometimes your traumas are the reason you know how to help.

There’s also lots of Easter eggs for Jimenez’s other books, I won’t spoil who but let’s just say Part of your World, the Friendzone, etc.

Whilst this isn’t a five star in comparison to other books I have rated five stars (I know I’m extremely picky), as a romance book I know I can’t compare it to the intricate epic fantasy or occasional literary fiction I normally read. It’s not supposed to.
I read this on a 15 hour flight and I felt so emotionally cleansed afterwards.

So yes, this is getting five romantic, emotional, healing stars.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group for providing an arc in exchange for a review!

Another brilliant book by Abby Jimenez. I loved the development and relationship between Justin and Emma. Their initial interactions and early dates are full of chemistry and witty banter. It’s definitely a book that has me smiling along with the characters.
As usual with Abby Jimenez the book touches on more serious issues surrounding mental health and complex relationships which I felt were well incorporated and felt realistic for the character arcs.
Overall a really enjoyable read that I will definitely be recommending.