Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

Found Family, Healing, and Reddit: Just for the Summer Is the Romance You Didn’t Know You Needed

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez had me completely in my feels. This book is the perfect pick for fans of Emily Henry who love a heartfelt romance with emotional depth—minus the spice. It delivers a story that’s tender, funny, and healing, all while steering clear of steamy scenes.

The premise alone is irresistible: a romance that kicks off from a Reddit post on the “AITAH” subreddit (Am I the Asshole?)? Genius. From there, we dive into a layered, emotionally rich story that touches on much more than love.

What stood out to me most were the complicated familial dynamics. Jimenez explores adoption, abandonment, and the lifelong impact of being orphaned in a way that feels honest and unflinching. Emma's relationship with her best friend and adoptive sister was especially moving—supportive, messy, real. On the other side of the spectrum, the portrayal of toxic mothers was painfully accurate: the kind who control, isolate, and manipulate under the guise of love.

But at its heart, this is a story about healing. Healing from childhood wounds, learning to trust, and making peace with the parts of yourself shaped by loss and trauma. The emotional arcs were so well-done that I found myself tearing up more than once—not out of sadness, but from that beautiful, cathartic kind of recognition.

Deep and entertaining in equal measure, Just for the Summer is a reminder that love—whether romantic or familial—can be a powerful force for healing.