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?

My Review

The beginning of this book was a little confusing. We don’t get the main character’s name right away, just a lot of circumstances and information that didn’t initially connect for me.

Once the story settles in, we meet Emma, an ICU travel nurse. She and her friend Maddy have become experts at investigating online dating profiles. Emma also seems to have the best, or maybe the worst, luck because every man she breaks up with seems to find his happily ever after immediately afterward. Through a Reddit thread and Instagram, she meets Justin, a computer guy and dog lover who happens to share the same strange dating curse.

I loved that Emma is a reader, and Justin is immediately charismatic with such a positive personality. Emma carries a lot of family baggage, but she’s also incredibly resilient. With plans unexpectedly changing, the two end up spending the summer together in Minnesota.

The Minnesota setting was a pleasant surprise. The lakes, cabins, and small-town atmosphere created wonderful summer vibes, even if it wasn’t the beach setting I expected from the cover. Unfortunately, this story quickly becomes much more than a summer romance.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted summer read, this isn’t it. The constant family trauma becomes a major focus throughout the novel. Both Emma and Justin are dealing with deeply complicated family situations, including mental health representation on one side and difficult family decisions on the other. While their romance is sweet, it is frequently interrupted by the weight of real-life struggles.

I appreciated the heart of this story, but at times it felt less like a summer romance and more like a journey through years of unresolved trauma.

The romance itself isn’t built on grand gestures. Instead, it is found in the quiet moments. Showing up for each other when life falls apart, offering support, and choosing love despite difficult circumstances. Justin absolutely shines as the hero. He is caring, dependable, and consistently steps up for Emma, his family, his dog, and his friends. Emma, on the other hand, frustrated me throughout much of the story. She struggles to process her emotions, has difficulty letting go of toxic relationships, and is terrified of allowing herself to be loved.

While this is often recommended as a romance, the emotional trauma takes center stage. The romance develops slowly, and although there is eventually an open-door scene, the emotional connection is what stands out most. I especially enjoyed the found family elements and felt the story became much stronger once the family drama wasn’t dominating every chapter.

The emotional damage these characters carry is very real. Their pasts are heartbreaking, and even their present-day lives continue to be shaped by those experiences. I kept waiting for Emma to finally walk away from the people who continued to hurt her and choose herself.

By the end, the story embraces the idea that sometimes loving someone means letting them go, allowing both characters the opportunity to heal before finding their way back to one another. The ending was satisfying and felt earned.

Abby Jimenez writes beautifully and isn’t afraid to tackle difficult, realistic subjects. I appreciated the emotional depth and the way she handled complex family dynamics. However, this wasn’t the light, swoony summer romance I expected from the cover or title. Instead, it is a gritty, emotional story about trauma, healing, and learning to love despite the scars.

The summer setting is certainly there, but for me the heavy emotional themes overshadowed the romance and carefree lake-life atmosphere I was hoping for. Had I gone into this expecting women’s fiction with a strong romance instead of a light summer rom-com, I likely would have enjoyed it more.

For that reason, I’m giving this one three stars. 

If you would like to read Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases. 

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Mental Health Rep, Grumpy/Sunshine, and Damaged MC.