Just for the Summer

If you’re looking for a rom-com that actually makes you feel something beyond a few laughs, Just for the Summer absolutely deserves a spot on your reading list. When this book debuted in 2024, it didn’t just hit the bestseller lists—it became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and earned a spot on Good Morning America’s Book Club picks, and honestly? The hype is completely justified. This is the kind of book that proves contemporary romance can be both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Let’s talk about what makes Abby Jimenez’s approach to this story so refreshing. Here’s what you’re walking into:

• A “just for the summer” premise that genuinely has stakes
• Characters dealing with real trauma, but not in a heavy-handed way
• Humor that lands because it comes from authentic moments between people
• A slow-burn romance that actually earns its emotional payoff
• Supporting cast members who feel like real people, not just plot devices

The central conceit is delightfully simple on the surface: Justin and Emma decide to date exclusively for the summer to break what Justin believes is a curse. But Jimenez uses this framework to explore something much deeper—what happens when two people with complicated pasts find each other, and whether a temporary arrangement can become something permanent when circumstances demand it.

What really sets this novel apart is how Jimenez handles her characters’ trauma. Rather than making their pain the entire story, she lets them work through their issues with humor and genuine warmth. Emma’s dealing with a toxic mother who shows up at exactly the wrong moment, while Justin finds himself stepping into a guardianship role that tests everything he thought he wanted. These aren’t problems that get magically solved by love—they’re real obstacles that require growth, communication, and actual work. That’s mature storytelling wrapped in an entertaining package.

“Abby Jimenez writes characters working through their traumas with humor and joy.” This approach is what separates Just for the Summer from the typical rom-com formula. The book doesn’t shy away from pain, but it refuses to let pain be the final word.

The narrative structure works beautifully because Jimenez understands pacing. This is a slow-burn romance done right—meaning the tension builds naturally, the emotional stakes escalate organically, and when the characters finally connect on deeper levels, you’re right there with them. Readers consistently praised the book’s pacing, noting that it manages to be both page-turning and deeply thoughtful. It’s the rare romance that works equally well as a beach read and a book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.

One of the most impressive elements is how Jimenez balances humor with heartbreak:

1. The witty banter between Justin and Emma feels earned—they’re genuinely funny together because they understand each other
2. The comedic moments never undercut the emotional weight of what they’re dealing with
3. She finds humor in the heartbreak, which makes the hard moments feel hopeful rather than devastating
4. The supporting characters add comedic texture without becoming caricatures

The book’s cultural moment also matters here. Published in 2024, Just for the Summer arrived at a time when readers were hungry for romance that takes emotional intelligence seriously. This isn’t a book that treats feelings as frivolous or secondary to plot. Instead, Jimenez trusts her audience to want both: entertainment and depth. The fact that it immediately resonated with book clubs and mainstream audiences shows that this hunger is real.

What’s particularly memorable is how the book explores the tension between what we plan for ourselves and what actually makes us happy. Neither Justin nor Emma is looking for a serious relationship when they meet, yet they can’t help falling into something real. The “just for the summer” premise sets up the central conflict—can they find a way forward when circumstances change and temporary becomes complicated? It’s a question that feels urgent and deeply human.

This is romance writing that respects both the genre’s traditions and its potential for genuine storytelling. The humor doesn’t diminish the romance; the romance doesn’t eliminate the humor.

The legacy of Just for the Summer is already clear: it’s become the book that romance readers recommend to friends who say they don’t really like romance novels. It’s the one that sits comfortably in both romance circles and mainstream book clubs. That crossover appeal isn’t accidental—it comes from Jimenez’s commitment to writing full, complex people rather than romance tropes who happen to be human-shaped.

If you pick this up expecting a lightweight beach read, you’ll get that—but you’ll also get a book that surprises you with its emotional generosity, makes you genuinely invested in these characters, and leaves you thinking about the nature of commitment, chosen family, and second chances long after you’ve turned the final page.