Book Review: Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

May 8, 2026

So I know that this is is trilogy, but the books are stand alone and this was the one that sounded the most interesting to me. Anyway, we started with the third book then we went to the first then second. It’s fine.

I am a fan of Abby Jimenez. Earlier this year I read a collection of novellas that was based around Valentine’s Day and I really enjoyed her work in that project so I figured I would take a stab at her longer work (little did I know these were going to be 400+ pages, but when the book is good that flies by) and this was the book that’s synopsis grabbed my attention and I’m sold. Her characters have real issues that they actually have to go to therapy to resolve. They have a lot of heart and a lot of real personality. I have heard recently the complaint that Emily Henry’s men are always the grump and her girls are the sunshine. I will say, with the two that I’ve read so far (as I am typing up this review) both the men are golden retrievers and teddy bears. I will say, I enjoy this a lot. I love a good grump romance, but my husband is much more on the golden retriever side of things so they are, to me, a little closer to heart.

We follow the story of Emma and Justin who happen to meet on Reddit (of all places) because Justin’s post goes viral for claiming he is cursed with being the final person all his partners date before they find The One. Emma also has this issue and her best friend, Maddy, convinces her to message Justin about her issue and they strike up a conversation, and a solution to their problems. They’re going to date each other and break each other curse - canceling them out. It has to work, right? Maddy and Emma are traveling nurses and, even though it’s Maddy’s turn to choose, Emma begs her to go to Minnesota with her to see if this curse can actually be broken. Maddy agrees, and just when it feels like things are going to be good for a change, Emma’s horrible mother shows up seemingly out of nowhere. It’s not all peachy for Justin either - his mother is being sent to prison in a couple weeks and Justin is going to have to take custody of his three younger siblings. Who wants to take on that kind of baggage? Will Emma ever feel like she can shake the need to take care of her toxic mother? Will she ever feel like she doesn’t need to keep running? Will this little curse breaking fling actually work? And why does it no longer feel like just a summer fling?

Again, Abby’s characters are real and messy and honest and I really enjoyed this heartfelt book. I would highly recommend. Plus there is pretty minimal spice. There are a few scenes, but they are mostly fade to black and not very descriptive. (Which I like better anyway, my imagination can do the rest thank you very much!)