Just for the Summer

*Spoilers*Who knew a silly billboard for a plumbing company could bring you love? This book was super heartwarming and at times very upsetting. I loved Justin from the moment we are introduced to him, Emma upset me for so long because despite the trauma you would have thought with a supportive friend/sister in Maddy she would have seen what was coming. Seeing the character development though of Emma towards the end was worth all the heartache you felt for Justin. Mental health is such an important part of this book because PTSD and avoidant behaviors are so common in a lot of people’s lives that it’s no wonder Amber and Emma have their issues. Even if there is no second book for this, it would be a cool short story to get an update on Amber saying she finally went to an actual therapist or inpatient care facility and went back to Wakan to see Daniel, just to run into Emma and apologize for everything she’s ever done to her and explain now with a clear mindset what had truly happened to her growing up. Overall, this book was a great read and I enjoyed the set up from different viewpoints of Emma and Justin. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FMC: Emma GrantMMC: Justin DahlSpice: 🌶️.5Pages: 424Tropes: Summer Romance, Rom-Com, Slow Burn, Childhood Trauma, Single GuardianSetting: Lake Minnetonka, MinnesotaThoughts: As well written as this book was, I picked this up looking for something light on the long 4th of July weekend, and this was not that. Even though it started pretty light with a rom-com vibe, about half way through it became a little emotionally draining. I loved Justin’s character and the way he stepped up for his siblings. I loved how he was ready to step up and be a partner to Emma. But Emma just wasn’t ready. She thought of their summer fling as just that, a summer fling. The second half of the book was seeped in traumatic truths and dealing with a childhood that still haunted Emma. Her character growth in the second half of the book was commendable as was her finally opening up to Justin and his siblings. I liked how the ending cam about and appreciated that it wasn’t a simple and easy fix, everyone had to face their demons to come out the other side stronger.

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a fan of Abby Jimenez to begin with, and I think this is my favorite of hers so far. This a rom-com at its finest with lots of laugh-out-loud moments, challenges to overcome, and a very sweet ending. This is a perfect light-hearted summer read. In books like this, I can usually predict what the issue will for one or both of the main characters to work through before they’re “fit” for love, but this twist truly surprised me. Childhood neglect of the woman mc played a very big role and it was painful to read at times, but I felt there was a great balance and a realistic sense of triumphing over the hardships of that mc…at least, as realistic as I need in a rom-com read. I definitely recommend this, and I’m excited to pick up another Jimenez book next!

This book broke me, I got angry, I got sad, I laughed way too hard in some places and over all I couldn’t put this book down! From the AITA Reddit post to the very last page and second AITA post I had a blast!I will not lie I went back and forth between liking Emma and hating her. I knew and I understood that she was so damn broken but my gawd girl you hurt ME. lol. But I like that she was able to fix herself and get back to Justin.I loved Justin from the beginning! He was just downright adorable and just the right kind of spite and petty. Loved him, I loved how much he loved his siblings and did his best to deal with the circumstances.In all seriousness I loved the laughs and even the ugly crying I did, no shame in admitting. I also felt the strongest pain when Emma found out the truth about her mother and her world. I had to take a long pause for that one. I love this author she got me, twice already I think I found my new favorite!

Emma is such a sweet soulMaddy is my ride or dieJustin is the golden retriever I never knew I neededEmma is empathy and self preservation all wrapped up in a pretty bow.Justin, oh my sweet Justin is just a package deal. He had me giggling and giddy.But together? These two?! Amazing chemistry, somehow opposites yet two peas in a pod.I love that it has some mental health representation and we follow their experiences and journey towards healing. This is literally a see your glass half full take in life and I was rooting for them.This is such a cute romcom. It’s light but heavy, sad but happy..I unpacked so much from this and loved every second of it!

4.5⭐ This was really good and it surprised me with it's emotional depth. The FMC is a traveling nurse and the MMC is a computer web designer. The both have a weird curse that anyone they date, they will break up/stop dating and the other person will find their true love. The agree to date each other, then break up so they too can find their soul mate. The FMC has significant part trauma and the MMC is struggling with a difficult life situation. Finding true love is one thing but working to heal the trauma is another. It's funny, fun, sweet and painful and so worth the read. Highly recommend.

Emma and Justin are characters to fall in love with baggage and all. I was not expecting the depth of character or story in what I thought was a light funny romance to break a curse. Emma and Justin meet after Justin posts an “I’m I a the A-hole” describing his predicament — everyone he dates ends up finding their “happily ever after” after him. Emma had had the same effect. And through the course of an experiment they decide to date each other, cancel the curse, and find true love. It’s easy to predict that Emma and Justin will fin love but their windy path is not what I expected. Jimenez’s novel is about loving yourself and your story first, about the layers of relationships, and how are childhood shapes our being. While it’s not the light beach read of summer, it’s the story that stays with you long after you’ve passed all the Toilet King billboards and headed to your next adventure.