Just for the Summer

TL;DR

Two people who both believe they're cursed to end their partners' next relationship decide to date each other, on the theory that shared bad luck might cancel out. Just for the Summer uses that gimmicky premise as an entry point into much more grounded material about caregiving, grief, and found family — funnier and more substantial than its high-concept hook suggests.

What Is Just for the Summer About?

Emma and Justin meet online, each convinced their next ex will end up happily partnered immediately after breaking up with them — a "curse" that's made dating exhausting for both. They agree to date each other specifically to test the theory, assuming neither of them actually risks falling for someone they've entered into things with so cynically. The novel complicates that setup as real feelings develop, and as Justin's role raising his younger siblings and Emma's strained relationship with her own mother pull the story into more serious territory than the premise initially signals.

Who Should Read It?

Readers who want fake-dating-adjacent romance with real emotional stakes layered underneath the comic setup, rather than a premise that stays purely light throughout. It's a strong pick for readers who enjoy Jimenez's blend of humor and unusually specific, well-researched serious subject matter.

Strengths

Jimenez's dialogue carries the book's comic energy without undercutting the more serious material once it arrives, which is a difficult balance many rom-coms don't manage as gracefully. The subplot involving Justin's caregiving responsibilities for his siblings is handled with real specificity and respect, giving the novel more substance than its premise alone would suggest.

Weaknesses

The "bad luck curse" conceit that kicks off the plot is charming at first but strains credulity the longer the characters take it seriously as an actual theory. The middle section loses some momentum once the initial fake-dating setup is established and the plot needs to find its next gear.

Verdict

Just for the Summer is a rom-com that earns its emotional back half by taking its supposedly lighter premise more seriously than expected.