Book Review: "Just for the Summer" by Abby Jimenez

Simply put, Abby Jimenez is one of my absolute favorite authors. I have loved every book she has written, and her newest book, Just for the Summer, was, unsurprisingly, exceptional. I can never get enough of the incredible way she balances humor, emotion, romance, and steam with amazingly vivid characters.

Justin has a curse: whenever he breaks up with a woman he’s been dating, she goes on to immediately meet her soulmate. Like, every single time. It’s a little depressing for him.

Emma reads about Justin’s “curse” on the internet and it’s all too familiar, because the same thing happens to her. Egged on by her best friend, she reaches out to Justin to commiserate about their shared burden. It’s not long before they’re talking or texting every day, so Justin proposes an arrangement: they go on four dates, kiss, and break up, and then they’ll meet their soulmates. Of course, Justin is in Minnesota and she's supposed to head to Hawaii, but with some finagling, she's able to change her schedule.

The thing is, Emma never expected Justin to be as hot as he is. She definitely didn’t expect him to put so much effort and creativity into their dates. And Justin didn’t expect to fall as hard for Emma as quickly as he has, but he knows that her time in Minnesota is short before she leaves for another traveling nursing gig.

When Emma’s mother, who has neglected her most of her life, surfaces in Minnesota, it opens up a lot of old wounds. Then Justin has to assume custody of his three younger siblings. Both have so much trauma and baggage to deal with; how can they hope to even get through four dates?

I loved the appearances of characters from all of Abby’s previous books (but you don't have to have read them first). Once again, Jimenez made me smile and cry, and I’m there for it every time. Many thanks to Forever for the free copy!