Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is a book that really highlights the long term impact of trauma while helping the main character find her way to her true love and her family. The novel, while heartbreaking and maddening at times, was uplifting and thoughtfully written. I loved meeting Emma and her roommate and best friend, Maddy.
Emma has a lot of baggage from her mother and her upbringing. Together her roomie and Emma go to a new location every three months exploring the states and working in various hospitals. Emma is convinced to try a new place to meet with Justin. Justin is always the “man before”. The man before the man who is the try love of the girl. Emma feels she is like that as well and they make a pact to go out with each other in order to break the curse. Too bad it doesn’t work like that!
On top of the new setting in Minnesota, they rent on a lake and need to take a boat to the cottage. Then Emma’s mother shows up and it is clear that she is not there for Emma. Maddy’s sage advice begins to make sense and Emma has to search her heart to find her way forward.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez was at times a wonderful romance and a poignant read with Emma working her way to finding and accepting her happily ever after. Just for the Summer was just a good read.
