Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (Yours Truly; Part of Your World; The Happy Ever After Playlist) is a brilliantly bittersweet rom-com. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory or Christina Lauren, Jimenez's novel blends lighthearted summer romance vibes with some deep emotional themes.
Thanks to a Reddit thread, Justin and Emma realize they each have the same curse: they're the person that someone dates right before they meet their forever person. Emma and Justin decide to try to break the curse for at least one of them by starting a relationship with each other, and they plan to have some breezy (and sexy!) Minnesotan summer fun.
But when Justin has to take over guardianship of his three younger siblings and Emma's incredibly toxic mother, Amber, shows up, they both have more to deal with than they expected. Emma thought she was past her childhood in and out of foster care and felt ready to help Justin with his siblings, but Amber's unwelcome appearance forces her to face truths she's suppressed. Justin tries to support Emma while juggling three heartbroken kids and his own loss, which makes it hard to be available for a new love. Is it a case of the right person at the wrong time, or can Emma and Justin finally break their curse for real?
Just for the Summer, both truly sad and exceptionally funny, is an irresistible romance. Fans of Jimenez's previous books are sure to appreciate cameos from other characters, while new readers will vicariously enjoy the lovely Minnesotan summer setting and root for Justin and Emma to find true love at last. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer