Ginny and Jacqueline have similar occupations, both managers of very different places. Ginny manages a boutique hotel in Seattle and is under the thumb of a demanding boss who treats her more like her personal servant than a valued employee. Jacqueline, feeling displaced by her mother's new choice of a husband, flees that situation to manage her grandfather's fishing lodge in a beautiful rustic setting. Jacqueline wants to do bigger and better things with her life, so she is not happy with fish, smelly fishermen and log cabins. Since neither young woman is happy, the perfect solution is for them to swap jobs for the summer. This is an amusing story with some deep undertones about finding happiness within yourself instead of expecting circumstances to always go your way. Once the young women switch jobs, Ginny continues to be a stellar employee, looking for ways to improve the lodge and to make everyone as happy with the setting as she is. Jacqueline, on the other hand, has taken her demanding and self-centered personality along with her and manages to alienate the other employees at the hotel while enraging her new boss. The two young women have several conflicts, some drama and a lot of fun finding out what their strengths and weaknesses are and discovering how to be their best selves, no matter where that may take them. I enjoyed the characters, especially the fishing guide Ben at the fishing lodge and the grandfather Jack. Both are common sense, no nonsense men who have learned to cope, adapt and adjust with changes. All of the characters are fully developed and fun to get to know. Even spoiled and entitled Jacqueline ended up having some redeeming qualities, making her one of the most dynamic characters in the book. The plot was well-paced, perfect for a rom-com with some drama mixed in. With life lessons about moving forward, taking chances and learning from mistakes, this is a book not to be missed by fans of entertaining and engaging reads.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16th CFR, Part 255, "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising."

Ahhh. What an enjoyable romp through the imagination! Once again, Melody Carlson has given readers a delightful tale with characters that make their way into our hearts. JUST FOR THE SUMMER is what I call a "Let's Put on A Show" story. It harkens back to the Little Rascals overcoming odds to pull together a great stage production to save some project. Except, with JUST FOR THE SUMMER, the productions are a boutique hotel and rustic, rundown fishing resort.

THE STORY: Ginny, an underappreciated, overworked boutique hotel manager has no life. While she's great at what she does, her life has become work, work, work, and no joy. Meanwhile, Jacqueline manages her grandfather's rundown fishing "resort" and longs to leave the rustic life behind for a more glamorous venue-and a more glamorous life.

When the two managers discover a way to swap jobs, they hurdle into two great adventures. This is when we get to know great characters that jump from the pages and into your heart.

Loved, loved, loved this book. The conflict was realistic with dialog that rings authentic. I'd love to see a sequel or series with these characters.

Highly recommended to readers who love contemporary romance with substance, faith journeys, clean romance, strong character development.

I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

What an interesting idea..... a job swap. When someone is in the same profession and they want a little break that they are able to swap jobs with someone else in the same profession for a certain length of time and this is what happened in our book today. It was just for the summer, 60 days. Ginny who manages a classy hotel is tired of her complaining boss. A woman who wants everything to perfection and never ceases to complain. So when she is invited for this job swap, after all it's only 60 days, she readily accepts it, looking on it as a vacation away from this bossy woman. Or else she will consider quitting her job. On the other hand Jacqueline is interested in getting away to the big city. She manages her grandfather's fishing lodge and she is thoroughly sick of this backwoods fishing lodge. She is looking for glamor and good times.... It was most interesting to read how this swap came about and what each learned about themselves during this time. There is also integrity and reference to what God would have you do and romance also.... Thanks to the publisher by way of NetGalley for this early copy and I am very happy to leave my review.

Just for the Summer took me on such an emotional journey. It hooked me with banter and laughter. Then it broke me with hardship and tears. However, it never leaves the reader devastated or hopeless. It’s never too much. It somehow brings the reader through with realism and a touch of magic at the same time. In the most beautiful way, this is a feel-good book. I fell in love with these characters. This Target special edition has an exclusive 20 page bonus chapter, and it is so worth getting the book at target just for this chapter. It’s so good and you won’t want to miss it. Abby Jimenez always does her research. Trigger warnings are mentioned at the beginning and handled respectfully throughout the book. Even the “antagonist” is treated with an appropriate amount of empathy and kindness. As a result, I feel like I’ve grown as a person just from reading this book. Just for the Summer is also a love letter to Minnesota. Of all Abby Jimenez’s books, I think this one finally made me think I need to move there. If you love romcoms with depth, read this book. I promise you won’t regret it.