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Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Summary

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is a modern romance following Justin and Emma, strangers who share a belief that a “curse” prevents them from finding their soul mate. To end this pattern, they devise a plan to date each other and then break up. Exploring themes of love, family dynamics, healing from trauma, and self-discovery, this standalone novel, published in 2024, is connected to the author’s Part of Your World series.


Plot

Just for the Summer follows the unexpected romance between two strangers who meet on a Reddit thread for people who feel cursed when it comes to love. Emma, a 28-year-old traveling nurse, and Justin, a 29-year-old software engineer, share a belief that their past breakups lead to their exes finding true love. To break this pattern, they devise a plan to date and then dump one another so they can both move on to meeting their soul mate.

As part of their playful agreement, Emma and Justin rent a cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. What starts as a quick fling turns into something deeper—until life complicates matters. Emma has to deal with her toxic mother, and Justin is thrust into the role of guardian to his three younger siblings. In the midst of this turmoil, Emma discovers a half brother she didn’t even know existed and a supportive community. 

After years of avoiding relationships due to the trauma of being neglected and emotionally manipulated as a child, Emma reevaluates her views on home and stability. Despite developing genuine feelings for Justin, she ends their relationship, concerned about how his familial responsibilities will affect their future. This separation allows Emma to undergo personal growth with the help of her newfound family. After significant changes, Emma and Justin's relationship matures. They reunite with a deeper understanding, eventually leading to an engagement signifying a strong bond.


Characters

  • Emma Grant: A 28-year-old traveling nurse, Emma grapples with self-doubt due to being emotionally abused by her mother. Her journey includes healing from trauma and self-discovery.

  • Justin Dahl: A 29-year-old software engineer, Justin is thrust into the role of caretaker for his younger siblings after his mother's incarceration. He struggles to  balance work and familial duties with personal and romantic interests.

  • Maddy: Emma's best friend and fellow travel nurse, Maddy provides emotional support crucial for Emma's resilience.

  • Amber: Emma's mother, whose narcissistic and neglectful behavior significantly impacts Emma's emotional state.

  • Neil: A hospital surgeon and landlord, whose connection with Amber adds complexity to Emma's circumstances.

  • Christine: Justin’s mother, whose legal issues placed guardianship responsibilities on Justin, affecting his growth and decisions.

  • Alex, Sarah, and Chelsea: Justin's siblings, whose lives affect his sense of responsibility and add complexity to relationship with Emma.

  • Daniel: Emma’s half-brother, who brings new dynamics to Emma's family.


Themes 

Love

Love is a central theme in Just for the Summer. Driven by their mutual belief in being cursed with bad luck in love, Justin and Emma devise a plan to date and break up so that their curses will cancel each other’s out. This arrangement gradually evolves into genuine affection, showing that love can transform and heal amidst life's challenges. 

Trauma

Just for the Summer illustrates how Emma confronts and processes the negative impact of her narcissistic and neglectful mother. Her relationship with Justin plays a crucial role in her ability to overcome childhood trauma and move forward with resilience.

Personal growth

Both protagonists experience personal growth. Emma faces issues of self-worth, while Justin navigates responsibilities as a guardian to his siblings. This dynamic shows that shared challenges and support often lead to growth.

Mental health challenges

Mental health issues subtly underpin the narrative. The vulnerabilities and past traumas of Emma and Justin emphasize how mental health challenges influence their lives and relationships. Their stories highlight empathy and understanding as essential in fostering healing and maintaining mental wellness.


Quick facts

  • Just for the Summer mixes romantic comedy with serious themes such as mental health, child abuse, PTSD, and trauma.

  • The story revolves around characters Justin and Emma, who decide to date and dump each other to break their “dating curse.”

  • Justin and Emma connect through a humorous Reddit “Am I the Asshole?” thread, which plays a recurring role.

  • Justin takes custody of his siblings, adding complexity and depth to his character.

  • Emma, a traveling nurse, grapples with her troubling past, including an avoidant attachment due to childhood abandonment by her mother.

  • The story includes Emma discovering a previously unknown half-brother through DNA testing.

  • Just for the Summer was named by Harper’s Bazaar as one of the Top 10 Best Summer Romance Books of All Time.

  • The picturesque setting, a cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, enhances the romantic atmosphere.

  • The audiobook version features dual narration by Christine Lakin and Zachary Webber, alongside the author, Abby Jimenez.

  • A standalone novel, Just for the Summer includes characters and settings from the author’s previous books in her Part of Your World series. 

  • Abby Jimenez, an award-winning baker as well as a bestselling romance author, is the owner of Nadia Cakes, which includes a special Just for the Summer cupcake.


About the author

Abby Jimenez is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of romantic fiction. Her novels, which include The Friend Zone and Just for the Summer, have sold over 1.5 million copies and won honors including a Good Morning America Book Club pick and the Minnesota Book Award. Before her writing career, she achieved national prominence as a champion of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and the founder of Nadia Cakes. She lives near Minneapolis with her husband, three daughters, and four dogs.

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