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Just for the Summer
Book Club Night - Cozy night

Just for the Summer

Abby Jimenez

A tender, witty romance about two people who agree to swap hometowns for the summer and end up swapping a whole lot more, including the chance to finally feel at home somewhere.

Reading level: Easy Best for: clubs that love warm romances with emotional heart and a side of laugh-out-loud moments

Discussion

Warm-up

  1. 1.Curl up and tell us: where were you when you read most of this book, and did you have a snack or drink with you?
  2. 2.What was the first scene that made you smile or sigh out loud? No spoilers, just the feeling.

Digging in

  1. 1.Justin and Emma both carry a lot for the people they love. When in your own life have you felt like the person everyone leans on, and what helped you feel cared for in return?
  2. 2.The Minnesota lake town feels like such a comforting hug. What real place in your life gives you that same settled, soft feeling?
  3. 3.This book is full of small kindnesses between strangers becoming family. Which gesture in the story warmed you most, and has someone ever done something similar for you?
  4. 4.Emma's relationship with her mom is so tender and complicated. How did the book's portrayal of imperfect family love sit with you?

Going deep

  1. 1.Abby Jimenez writes about mental health and burnout with so much gentleness. Was there a moment that felt especially seen or comforting to you personally?
  2. 2.Without giving anything away, how did you feel when you closed the book? What did it leave you wanting more of in your own life?

On the table

Slow-cooker Minnesota wild rice and chicken soup
A hug in a bowl, nodding to the lakeside Midwest setting
Warm blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream
Summer berries plus cozy oven warmth, perfect for the book's bittersweet sweetness
Buttery garlic bread or soft dinner rolls
The kind of comfort carb you tear and share while everyone gets settled on the couch

To sip

Honey chamomile tea (no alcohol)
Soothing and nurturing, like Emma finally letting herself rest
Spiked blueberry lemonade
A lake-house porch sipper with a summer-romance glow
Hot cocoa with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick (no alcohol)
Because cozy night, always cocoa

Run of show

7:00
Soft landing
Greet guests in slippers or comfy socks, pour warm drinks, let the playlist do the work
7:15
Soup and settle
Everyone fills a bowl, finds a cozy spot, and shares one warmup question while eating
7:35
Heart of the chat
Move through the theme questions slowly, no rush, encourage tangents and personal stories
8:10
Trivia break
Light, low-stakes trivia round with the crumble and ice cream as the prize for everyone
8:30
Deeper waters
Bring out the deep questions while folks are warm, fed, and feeling open
8:55
Scorecards and send-off
Fill out scorecards together, hand out bookmarks, share next month's pick

Host tips

  • Set out throw blankets and a few extra pairs of fuzzy socks so people can really nestle in
  • Keep the lighting low: lamps, candles, or string lights only, no overheads
  • If a question gets quiet, share your own answer first to model the warm, personal tone

Playlist

Soft acoustic warmth with golden-hour summer feels

  1. 01The Night We Met - Lord Huron
  2. 02Sunflower, Vol. 6 - Harry Styles
  3. 03Like Real People Do - Hozier
  4. 04Cardigan - Taylor Swift
  5. 05Heat Waves - Glass Animals
  6. 06First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
  7. 07Wildflowers - Tom Petty
  8. 08Lover - Taylor Swift

Trivia

  1. 1. Who is the author of Just for the Summer? (Abby Jimenez)
  2. 2. Just for the Summer is set primarily in which U.S. state? (Minnesota)
  3. 3. Abby Jimenez is also well known for owning what kind of small business? (A bakery (Nadia Cakes))
  4. 4. In what year was Just for the Summer published? (2024)
  5. 5. Just for the Summer is connected to which earlier Abby Jimenez novel featuring Justin's sister? (Part of Your World)
  6. 6. What general genre does this book belong to? (Contemporary romance)
  7. 7. Abby Jimenez's debut novel, which launched her romance career, is called what? (The Friend Zone)
  8. 8. The book leans into a popular romance trope involving a temporary arrangement during which season? (Summer)

Rate the book

Coziness ☆☆☆☆☆
Swoon factor ☆☆☆☆☆
Emotional warmth ☆☆☆☆☆
Comfort reread potential ☆☆☆☆☆
Made me feel seen ☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book left me feeling: ______________________
The scene I want to crawl back into: ______________________
Who I want to hand this book to next: ______________________
You're invited
Soup, Stories, and Summer Hearts

Bring your softest sweater and your tender feelings. We're cozying up with Just for the Summer, some homemade soup, and the kind of conversation that feels like a long hug.