I love a good romance. This one starts off with a funny story posted on Reddit. A man, Justin, bemoans that once he breaks up with someone, the next person they meet is their soulmate. Maggie tells her friend, Emma, about this-as Emma has the same problem. The two start texting and they make a plan to meet. However, Emma and Justin both have issues that need sorting. Emma doesn't know how to love, as she never had love in her life. Justin has to take care of his siblings, and Emma isn't ready for a ready-made family.
Justin's efforts to break Emma's hard shell are so sweet and endearing. But, the issues in Emma's life are real and heartbreaking.
Loved this story. ( )

https://youtube.com/@ChanelChapters

This woman hits me in the feels every goddamn time.
It’s like goodluck Chuck but with emotional depth and mummy issues. ( )

Absolutely delightful, and surprisingly moving. Loved it! ( )

Emma and Justin suffer from the same problem, each of their former lovers finds their soulmate in their very next relationship, so they decide to date each other to break the curse. Emma and her friend, Maddy who are traveling nurses, choose to take their next 6 week job in Minnesota where Justin lives. The timing couldn't be worse as Justin is about to take sole custody of his three siblings, and Emma's mother makes a surprise but unwelcome appearance.

If a rom-com is the kind of book you are looking for, Just for the Summer is not it. While the story does start out with a cute premise and first few meetings between Emma and Justin are fun, the tone of the book changes dramatically after that. The book delves into mental health issues that become the central conflict of the plot, and the humor from the beginning of the narrative is quickly gone. Even though the story is well written and the characters are sympathetic, I would classify most of this novel as literary fiction rather the romance, despite the fact that there is an HEA at the end. Overall, Just for the Summer is a very emotional, hard-hitting novel that doesn't pull any punches. ( )

As usual, Abby Jimenez brings some trigger points into her novels, and handles them with sensitivity She also writes some great dialogue. 2024 read. Rounded up in star ratings. ( )