Just for the Summer

Just for the Summer was such an engaging and heartfelt read! From the start, it pulled me in and kept me entertained through most of the story. The only reason I'm not giving it a full five stars is because there were moments where the pacing slowed, and it felt like it dragged just a bit. That said, I truly appreciate the depth the author brought to the story, it’s clear they took time to let the characters grow naturally, and by the end, I could really see and feel that evolution.The chemistry between Emma and Justin was absolutely incredible. Justin’s witty, charming personality made him instantly lovable, and his unwavering patience and affection for Emma showed just how well-matched they were. Their relationship felt genuine and full of heart.This was such an easy read, but one that still brought out all the emotions, I laughed, I cried, and I found myself rooting for these characters the whole way through. A perfect pick if you're looking for something romantic, emotional, and refreshingly real.

It's an interesting way to write, from two different people's perspectives. Showing the trauma that people have and how they deal with it, it's a good story.

Pretty sure I’m still on the verge of tears while writing this, and that’s because of how emotionally invested I was in the relationship. Jimenez is so skilled at writing these playful, chemistry-filled romances that make me smile one minute and have a churning in my gut the next. This one really put me through my paces emotionally, with these gorgeous, sunshiney moments juxtaposed with an undercurrent of heartache and pain. These two fell for each other in such an effortless way, even though that was never the plan. Our sweetheart of a hero was swooning from the start, and I LOVED how adorably smitten he was. So freaking adorable, this man. Our black cat heroine put up a good fight, but she didn’t stand a chance against him. The relationship was bright and easy, which contrasted perfectly with the chaos swirling around them both. Neither was in the right headspace to fall in love, but it found them anyways - even though the road to HEA was filled with landmines. Such a compelling and complex read, EASILY my new favorite from the author.The story follows Emma, a woman who is constantly on the move. She didn’t have the best childhood, so she prefers to take temporary jobs and travel around the country with her best friend. One day, Emma reads an AITA post and relates to the guy - every time he dates someone, the next person they meet ends up being their soulmate. The same thing seems to happen to Emma every time, so the two bond over DMs and text messages. It’s not long before Emma and Justin make a plan - they’ll go on a few dates with each other and break both of their dating curses. But once they meet face-to-face, that plan begins to crumble. Not only do they get along way better than either could’ve anticipated, but keeping things fun and easy is impossible to do when both of their messy families get involved. Soon, Justin and Emma are falling for each other in a very real way, which could cause trouble for them both.I loved the concept of two strangers who bond over DMs and messages before connecting in person, and the epistolary element was great. Justin and Emma both know they’re not in the right headspace for something real, but that’s not what they ever intended to be for each other. Their relationship developed so naturally, and it was easy to see how perfect they were for each other. I was laughing, smiling, and swooning right along with them, especially since Justin is such a fantastic man. He’s so steady and cuddly and adorable, even though he’s barely keeping his head above water. It’s definitely a case of meeting the right person at the absolute worst time, which ratchets up the tension in a major way. Emma is such a complicated character, but I loved her too. After six books, I’m never surprised when Jimenez emotionally devastates me with her twists and turns, but I was still taken aback by how much it hurt this time. It’s not a story I’ll be forgetting anytime soon, it’s both entertaining and impactful. I loved it!Audio note: The audio is fabulous, highly recommended in the format! The epistolary element at the beginning is almost duet-style, so I had my fingers crossed that it would be that way throughout (it’s not), but both narrators give excellent, emotive performances. I’m not familiar with Christine Laken, but I loved her voice and the emotion she was able to infuse into the story. There were a couple of instances where it was difficult to tell who she was voicing, but that would be my only complaint. This is the best I’ve ever heard Zachary Webber, he gives an incredibly strong performance. The runtime (11-12 hours) was just slightly more than I could get through in a single day, but I could not wait to dive back in. There’s a very minimal amount of spice, so no worries there if you plan to listen at work - just be aware that you might start crying at any time, lol. All in all, I’m very glad I was able to experience the story in that format.

I really enjoyed this ride. Abby Jimenez writes with such sincerity and humor. I loved Justin and Emma. Their dynamic was very genuine and I actually loved all of the side characters and best friends. It was a heart-warming love story with so many laugh out loud moments for me and perfect to read this summer. I highly recommend!!

I never leave Amazon reviews but I had to for this book. I started to get back into reading and I wanted something rom-com but also funny. I want to cry and laugh and shake a book in shock all at the same time. Just for the Summer is all that wrapped in a bow. Its now my new favorite book. It shares a story of friendship, romance, past trauma, and the bond of a family. It has a beautiful unique way of seeing both perspectives and is written so well you never want to put the book down. I highly recommend. I bought the book for my friends and we can't stop talking about it. 12/10 chefs kiss, just get the book it won't disappoint.

Very cute read. I liked the interactions between the main characters and their individual story lines. I wish there was more of them happy together at the end. I know we got the AITA post but it would have been nice to have some epilogue where we could read the HEA. Low spice but there was some.

fun and sad summer read, happy i read it during the appropriate season. it brings the vibes yet maintains its realistic qualities. justin and emma 🤩 i think yours truly is still my fav overall but the plot in this story was really good. i liked seeing how the past stories were incorporated bc THE TWIST OOOOOFFF.i enjoy how jimenez always incorporates themes surrounding mental health and family issues. it makes her stories more relatable and much more satisfying to read; the couples actually have to overcome their personal struggles before being in a relationship.in general, i think the plots are always entertaining and well written. i have come to really enjoy her romances and im so excited for more!