Audiobook Review: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Published by Forever on April 2, 2024
Pages: 400
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Christine Lakin, Zachary Webber
Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
Genres: Romance, Women's Fiction


Amazon Audible

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

I wish I could say that I’m able to exercise some self-control in my consumption of Abby Jimenez’s books, but the truth is I gobble them up eagerly, always lying to myself that I’ll read just one more chapter. Just for the Summer is deliciously funny and emotional—two great attributes that work well together for an addictive read.

I fell in love with Justin’s sense of humor from his very first Reddit post about his cursed love life. Whenever his relationships end, his exes go on to marry the next person they meet. When Emma DMs him that she shares the same curse, it makes for the most perfect meet cute. The two instantly hit it off, and their conversations are filled with witty banter that was my catnip. 

What a glamorous life Emma leads as a travel nurse. Seeing the world with her best friend Maddie, without attachments or commitments to weigh her down—it sounds like a dream. When their current contract is up, instead of moving to Hawaii, Emma convinces Maddie to accept a summer assignment in Minnesota, where Justin lives. Emma certainly tests the bonds of their ride-or-die friendship throughout the book.

Emma and Justin decide to try out the theory that if they date each other and break up, they could find their true loves. This is the weakest part of the story since neither of them is in a position to fall in love with anyone. They click so well, though, that I quickly forgot their silly little plan and so did they. 

The thing that draws me to Jimenez’s storytelling is that she is naturally very, very funny. She lures readers in with the makings of a great rom com but then hits you with poignancy as she delves into more serious matters. In this case, she deals with issues of abandonment, abuse, and mental health. Speaking from experience, the symptoms of mental illness are accurately and compassionately depicted. The way Justin cares for his younger siblings tugs at the heartstrings, and Emma’s volatile relationship with her mom hits you in the feels. 

I also love the metaphors Jimenez uses throughout the book, particularly Emma’s tendency towards physical and emotional isolation and the cute but impractical tiny island where Emma and Maddie live.

All the laughs and the tears combine to make Just for the Summer a rich read. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration by Zachary Webber and Christine Lakin brings the characters to life vibrantly. 10 out of 10. Highly recommend!

P.S. Those who have read other books by Abby Jimenez may be surprised by the guest appearances and mentions of some past memorable characters.

Recommended for fans of:
Dramedy
Mental Health
Islands
Unicorns
Dogs

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