Book review, full book summary and synopsis for Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, a cute summer romance about two people who agree to be each other's "good luck charm" but end up falling for one another.
Synopsis
Emma is a traveling nurse whose romances generally fizzle out before she's headed to her next location. Her curiosity is piqued when she sees a post online from a guy living in Minnesota who says that he's every woman's "good luck charm" -- in that each woman he dates ends up marrying the next guy.
Emma reaches out to tell Justin that she suffers from the same fate, also a "good luck charm" for the guys she dates. The two soon hatch a plan to be each other's "good luck charm" and to date for just a few weeks to make it happen.
They soon find they both see this as more than a fling, but both their lives are complicated by their families. But despite the complications, there just might be enough there for them to make it work...
(The Full Plot Summary is also available, below)
Full Plot Summary
Chapter-by-Chapter SummarySee the Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of Just for the SummerQuick Plot SummaryFour paragraph version: Emma and Justin connect over being other people's "good luck charm" since the people they date seem to get engaged to the very next person after them. They agree to a plan to date each other and be each other's "good luck charm". Emma, a traveling nurse, is able to sign a six-week contract to spend time with Justin at his place in Minnesota. As they date, Justin develops strong feelings for Emma, but his personal life is complicated by him needing to take over legal guardianship for his three younger siblings when his mother is sent to prison for white-collar crime.
Meanwhile, Emma develops feelings as well, but she is someone who has always been aloof in relationships and does not like to get attached. Emma does realizes how strong her feelings for Justin are and decides to stay in Minnesota for another six weeks, though she continues to struggle with her desire to remain alone and unattached.
Emma grew up with foster parents because her mother was so unreliable and abandoned her, drifting in and out of her life. Her mother Amber is still in her life and shows up in Minnesota but continues to be selfish with Emma and only calls on Emma when she needs something. When Emma's mother has another breakdown, Emma finally realizes she needs to stop cleaning up after her mother. Then, Emma takes a DNA test and learns that she has a half brother Daniel that her mother hid from her. Daniel reveals they have a large loving family that Emma's mother kept from her, and she breaks down. She finally cuts her mother out of her life.
After the interlude with her mother, Emma is convinced she's incapable of loving someone or being loved because of what she's been through, and she's certain she will sabotage any potential relationship or flee. Her best friend Maddy tells her she needs to learn to work through it and fix this. Emma breaks up with Justin, saying she's not ready to be stable presence in his sibling's lives. She spends six months living with Daniel's family, working and going to therapy. She then approaches Justin to tell him she loves him, and two years later they get engaged.
For more detail, see the full Chapter-by-Chapter Summary.
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You noted you were new to Abby Jimenez – her book Yours Truly is excellent! Especially if you’re looking for (another) light-hearted rom-com!
Thanks for the recommendation — I’ll look into it! :)