When my youngest daughter was small, we had conversations about her favorite ‘au-fers.’ Aside from the lisp, what was most endearing about those discussions was her excitement about the author’s books. We knew she loved them because her eyes lit up at story time and her little arms hugged the covers when she asked us to read with her.

Favorite ‘au-fers’ remain a household conversation today. Abby Jimenez is one of those authors for me. Her books make my eyes shiny and I hug their covers. Just for the Summer was no different.

Summary of Just for the Summer (No Spoilers)

When Emma stumbles across Justin’s Reddit thread asking if he’s wrong for naming his world’s ugliest dog after his best friend and former roommate (who left him in the lease for a girl), she knows she has to reach out because they have the same problem. Whenever Emma and Justin end relationships, their significant others’ immediately find their happily ever afters. As they get to know each other online and over the phone, it’s clear that Emma and Justin have a connection, and they’re think maybe a few dates would help cancel out the one-before curse.

Emma convinces her best friend Maddy to change their traveling nurse plans for the next six weeks and arrives in Minnesota so she and Justin can test their theory. It’s clear from early on that there’s much more to this connection, but complicated family dynamics and responsibilities on both sides make a real relationship difficult, especially for Emma. She must decide if standing still is safer than running before she gets too attached, which is what she’s always done.

What I Loved about Just for the Summer

Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite authors because she does so much so well in her books.

• Character development: Emma and Justin are fully realized characters from the start, and their growth is key to the plot of Just for the Summer. Also, like with other Ms. Jimenez books, the side characters are colorful and they add to the story.
• Romantic tropes: The one-before trope may be the impetus for Emma and Justin’s meeting, but it’s not heavy-handed in the book. Ms. Jimenez uses romantic tropes with care, and I never feel like they’re overdone in her books.
• Mental health: Just for the Summer addresses post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. There are discussions of trauma and abandonment. None of this is treated lightly. It’s refreshing to read an author who understands how mental health impacts relationships on multiple levels and the internal struggles that can occur as well.
• Easter eggs: I love to catch the connections between Just for the Summer characters and characters in Ms. Jimenez’s other books. I won’t give them away here, but definitely be on the lookout!

My Final Thoughts about Just for the Summer

Just for the Summer is another reason for Abby Jimenez as a favorite author. This is an emotional romance with enough lighthearted moments to keep you smiling from an author who knows what real romance should look like.