Just for the Summer

Abby Jimenez has done it again—Just for the Summer was everything I wanted and more. I didn’t just read this book, I lived in it. From the very first page, I was pulled into the story, laughing out loud, swooning over the romance, and clutching my chest at the more tender, emotional moments. It’s the perfect reminder of why Abby is an auto-buy author for me: she writes stories that feel like a warm hug, even when they’re tackling real, heavy, messy parts of life.

The setup was such a fun twist—the idea of a “just for the summer” fling had me smiling before I even started, but Abby turned what could have been a simple trope into something layered and heartfelt. The chemistry between the leads was off the charts. Their banter show more had me grinning like an idiot, and the slow build of their relationship was so satisfying. What really got me, though, was the vulnerability they showed with one another. It wasn’t just sparks—it was trust, empathy, and learning how to let someone in when life has taught you to keep your guard up.

I adored both main characters. They were flawed and real in the best way—people I could see myself knowing in real life. I related so much to the way they wrestled with fear, love, and the risk of getting hurt. And yet, Abby balanced that emotional depth with so many laugh-out-loud moments that I was smiling through tears half the time. That’s her magic: she makes you feel everything.

The side characters, as always, added richness and heart. The family and community dynamics felt authentic and full of life. I loved how those relationships weren’t just background noise—they mattered to the story and to the characters’ growth. By the end, I felt like I wasn’t just reading about two people falling in love, but about a whole community of people finding healing, connection, and joy.

And can we talk about the setting? The summer backdrop was perfection. The beach-town vibes, the seasonal magic, the feeling of possibility that comes with long summer nights—it all added such a dreamy quality to the story. I honestly didn’t want it to end.

When I turned the last page, I just sat there, smiling and tearing up at the same time. Just for the Summer is more than a romance—it’s about hope, second chances, and the courage to risk your heart again. It made me laugh, cry, and believe in love all over again.

This is hands-down a 5-star read, and one of my favorite romances ever. If you’ve loved Abby Jimenez’s books before, you’re going to fall head over heels for this one. And if you’ve never read her before, what are you waiting for? Just for the Summer is the perfect place to start.X show less

If you came here looking for the third instalment of Abby Jimenez’ “Part of Your World” funny and fluffy romance series, you’d be both right and wrong. While starting out on a fun premise, “Just for the Summer” evolves into areas that are anything but fun and light, and—for me—Jimenez pulled it off really well.

Justin and Emma both feel “cursed” - they date someone and once it’s over, their respective ex meets their “soulmate”. When they realise they share this, any romance’s direction is clear: they have to date each other to “break” the “curse”, and, afterwards, meet their respective soulmate.

During the early parts of the novel, they meet, they like each other, and proceed to date—it’s all nice, show more light, and (mostly) easy…

»I dropped to one knee.
She sucked in air. “Uh, what are you doing?” she said, her eyes darting around.
“Romance.”
“Justin, stop it,” she whispered. “Get up! Get up!”
I took her hand and did my best to make my face straight. People were already stopping to watch. I made my voice low so only she could hear it. “Emma, would you do me the honor of delousing my family with me?”«

Emma is a travelling nurse, taking temporary jobs all over the US with her best friend, Maddy, always at her side. From early on, there is a feeling of unease about her—something feels not quite right…

Justin seems to lead a successful professional life, has a good relationship with his mother and his siblings—but there is also some avoidance, much anger, and a lot of hidden tension…

The typical romance would have gone on to scratch the surface of these issues, create some drama based upon them, thrown in a few common tropes, and secured a happily-ever-after (HEA). This is what I expected and came for.
When times are difficult, romance with its guaranteed HEA is my refuge.

Instead, Jimenez takes time to explore Emma’s constant travelling and detachment, as well as Justin’s own issues of a different kind. She does incorporate a few typical romance traits like some (very short-lived) miscommunication, a third-act breakup (even though it’s very different from the usual annoying ones), but, towards the middle of the novel, she really starts exploring her characters. And that’s where my perspective and expectations were turned upside down.

»She shrugged. “You don’t have to forgive [...]. You can still love someone that you’ve decided not to speak to anymore. You can still wish them well and hope for the best for them. Choosing a life without them doesn’t mean you stop caring about them. It just means that you can’t allow them to harm you anymore. But if you don’t think your life would be better without them in it, then accept that they have cracks. Try to understand how they got them and help fill them with something that isn’t ice.” She peered at me. “If you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy, Justin. It’s so much healthier than anger. For both of you.”«

Slowly and sensitively, Jimenez lets her story evolve, and I realised that my coveted HEA was far from assured. From the moment of this realisation onward, I practically became glued to my Kobo. I became immensely emotionally invested in both Emma and Justin as well as their families. Because the author carefully depicts not only our heroes but also the secondary characters. Especially Justin’s family was so relatable and likeable that I couldn’t help but root for them as well.

Just like them, I simultaneously hated and understood Justin’s and Emma’s third-act breakup. It was the mature and sensible response to their respective discoveries about themselves and, thus, a departure from the usual crap a third-act breakup is. Both of them took their responsibilities to themselves, their respective families and each other very seriously and Jimenez found a great way to show us.

“Just for the Summer” with its carefully handled issues of panic attacks, anxiety, PTSD, depression, depictions of undiagnosed mental health issues, a toxic mother, and past child neglect is not typical for the romance genre and especially not for Abby Jimenez. It surpasses its roots and while I understand the criticism “not a romance”, I applaud this successful attempt to create something that expands on the traditional romance genre—a romance, though, it is.

I also happen not to agree with those who reject this as “depressing chick-lit”: While parts are certainly not fun at all, the approach Jimenez chose is consistently and coherently life-affirming, though not always easy on the reader.

Furthermore, I take issue with the term "chick-lit” as it is dismissive and condescending. It trivializes its targets, by framing them as light, insignificant, or less valuable than other books. Plus, it assumes these books are only for women, which I find completely unfair. As a man, I’ve read and enjoyed many novels that get slapped with this label, and it frustrates me how it perpetuates gender stereotypes about storytelling and readership. It discourages diverse readership, and marginalizes stories that center women's experiences, unfairly implying they're frivolous or less universally meaningful.

Just like love is love (between consenting adults), a good story is a good story, regardless of who writes it or who reads it.

I would have loved to read a little more about what happens after the ending and at some points, I wished for a slightly faster pacing. On the other hand, the writing was good (albeit not great) and, ultimately, for daring to rise beyond the usual confines of its genre, while also having to apply slightly more rigorous standards for that reason, I award this four stars out of five.

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Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

I finished this and have been sitting for like half an hour trying to express how I feel about this.. Abby you take my heart and you put it through a ringer and I cannot hate you for this. Abby Jimenez has been slowly but surely become a favorite author. I love how she writes about real life anxiety and traumas in just a relatable way and although some people might find it triggering I find it therapeutic.

I only wish the romance in her books were also relatable in my real life, LOL, sadly no but still, this was such an amazing book, an amazing story, had it not been for sleep or work I would have finished this last night.

The depths of what Emma endured growing up and coming to terms on how to break a show more cycle is so relatable and although my mom isn't as traumatizing as hers I still felt connected to what she had to go through, what she had to face, and what she had to do to turn things around for herself. I may not have a friend like Maddy as she did and many things I had to face alone and maybe that is why this book hit me like 6 months of therapy would have. I don't even know what else to say but read this book. Of course check for triggers, because it does hit to the core but again well written and such an awesome story. If I can give it 10 stars I would. show less

Ugh. I bet that’s not what you expected to see on this review, is it? Ugh. Because it is UNFAIR when someone has THIS MUCH TALENT. Abby Jimenez is a disgustingly, gloriously, amazingly talented writer.

First, the premise/meet-cute is unique. Justin and Emma both seem to have the same curse. Any time they date someone, they break up and the very next person their ex meets turns out to be The One. So, these two decide – why not date each other? Then they’ll break up and both finally get their happily ever after!

Second, the characters have real depth and aren’t just caricatures. We get to meet a cast of supporting characters that flesh out their lives outside of one another. Each has some serious baggage – Emma has a super toxic show more mother and Justin is about to become guardian to three younger siblings. And these circumstances are given real weight and make us care deeply about them.

Third – realistic emotions and reactions. Emma had a rough childhood thanks to her mother, and it resulted in definite emotional baggage and PTSD. This isn’t glossed over like “and then she fell in love and was fixed!” Oh no, this is a real thing that affects her relationships and is written and handled seriously. One flaw we see in a lot of romances is someone acting out of character; they’re built up one way, but then make decisions totally out of left field, because it’s what the story needs, even if it doesn’t match the person the author has written. That is not something you need to worry about in Jimenez’s books! Everyone is true to their nature, and I find every decision believable.

Fourth – The dialogue. This is where Jimenez’s real talent bursts forth. It is fun. It will absolutely make you laugh out loud. It sounds like things real people would do and say, except much wittier. The things they do, the way the characters relate to one another, the quips, their reactions. Everything is realistic, but just that teeeeny touch better than reality. (The pre-date and exit surveys. Oh. My. God.)

If you like romance but haven’t read any of her books yet (are you living under a rock or something?!) then you should check this out. Fans of Emily Henry will feel right at home with this book as well! show less

Holy crap, grab some hankies before you read this because anyone who has ever dealt with a toxic parent is going to be weeping. What starts out as a fun and clever twist on the fake-dating style romance trope turns into a pretty profound emotional arc for both main characters and an especially evocative development of the relationship between the MC and her mother. I expected this to be fluff and it definitely wasn't; while it still reflects the conveniences of its genre, I was very impressed by both the depth and the deftness of the narrative. Honestly, read it if you need a little catharsis.

I thought this was going to be your typical chicklit romance but somewhere along the way it becomes more than that. Yes, there's the "love at first sight" trope, but the main characters are dealing with some heavy stuff - in one case a neglectful and abusive mother, in the other a mother who ends up in prison leaving her minor children in the care of their elder brother. These characters are fully adults yet they are coping with events outside of their control. How things play out and how real love emerges make for a compelling read.

Did I finally read my first ever Abby Jimenez book? Yes. Will it be my last? Absolutely NOT.

When I tell you I was sitting at my lab bench crying today… oof. I’m pretty sure my lab mates all thought I had completely lost my mind. I’ve always wanted to find another author who can make me feel seen the way Emily Henry does, and Abby did just that.

I loved this book and the idea of showing up for people where they are. The mental health representation truly resonated with me (maybe too much as I think about my next therapy appt lol) and what was even more special was the note at the end of the book talking about how Abby sought out feedback and input from mental health professionals.

I might be late to the game reading this one, but show more for anyone else who hasn’t picked it up yet, make this your next read. You won’t regret it. ❤️ show less