I never hesitate to read a book from Melody Carlson. She creates contemporary stories with everyday characters. Just for the Summer actually is two stories in one as we follow both Ginny and Jackie when they exchange jobs just for the summer. Will this possibly lead to a permanent change for either or both of them? Thanks to NetGalley, Revel and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

An easy to read, page turner, perfect for summer! Ginny and Jackie swap roles for 2 months - what could go wrong?!

Thank you NetGalley and Revell for this ARC of Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson in exchange for a honest review.

Ginny Masters has devoted her entire life to managing one of Seattle’s most upscale hotels. So much so that the owner has lost an appreciation for the hard work Ginny contributed to the success of the Hotel Jackson. Ginny has also lost an appreciation for what life could and should be.

Jacquelyn has big dreams of running a resort or a high end hotel and living a high class life. Dreams that do not include her managing her grandfather’s deteriorating fishing lodge.

The ladies both sign up for a job swap leaving out key details to ensure their positions are filled and for 60 days take over the good, the bad, and the potential love interests.

This novel was such a cute page turner and really had me rooting for Ginny to realize there is more to life than work. The overall theme and writing kept me hooked. I do wish there was an epilogue or a little more to the ending for my own personal closure but overall this was great read.

Pub Date: March 19, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is one of the most beautiful romance book I have read this past 12 months or so! Or maybe even longer! Oh yes, I loved loved loved the romance in this book and how it was build up! It is not a straight forward romance, a lot is happening before anything happens. If you are a romantic at heart you can only fall in love with this book!!!!

A charming read that will be perfect for a holiday or a long trip. A re-working of the swapping roles trope but written well and with humour. I struggled to connect with it at times but I still enjoyed the read. The characters were engaging and I'd pick up another book by the author. (Copy received via Netgalley in return for an honest review).

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson is a fun. light-hearted read! The story was entertaining throughout and makes for a fun summer read! I appreciate Revell Publishing making a copy available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Thank you to Melody Carlson, Revell, and NetGalley for the gifted book!*

Synopsis: “She knew they’d have to start small. But she’d hoped for a little house with a big view, a cook’s kitchen, and a real wood-burning fireplace. Well, that dream, like the rest of her life, would have to remain on hold for awhile.” Feeling a bit burnt out, overworked, and under-appreciated, Ginny Masters finds herself looking for a change. When she discovers an offer to swap places with a rustic fishing lodge manager, she is a little apprehensive but also eager to try something different. Jacqueline Potter is thrilled to escape the lodge and try out city life. She’s always dreamed of bigger hotel management, and the grass definitely looks greener. As both women venture out on new experiences, they seek to find where they fit in this world. And they may just discover that happiness and satisfaction often come in unexpected places.

Analysis: With a classic swapping places trope, I found myself enjoying this super light and easy read! You couldn’t get more opposite with your main characters. Ginny and Jacqueline are polar opposites, and more than likely you’ll find yourself loving one way more than the other. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out who! I really enjoyed the two different settings! It felt like a summer vacation traveling both to city life and the outdoors. The themes of faith are very light, but both women learn about themselves, happiness, and contentment over the course of these pages. The romance was a little underdeveloped for my liking, but I enjoyed the focus on the women and their careers. If you’re looking for a quick, fun “beach read,” this is a great place to start!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell Publishing for the advanced copy. All opinions in this review are my completely own.

I liked this book! It was a fun read and I think will be perfect for the summertime. I was really intrigued by the plot and premise. I loved reading about the Fishing Lodge and Ginny, but was hoping to get more about Jackie’s experiences within the switch.

This delightful story takes place in Seattle WA, and a town outside of Idaho Falls ID. Ginny and Jacqueline both sign up for a job swap for 2 months. Ginny manages a high end hotel in Seattle, and Jacqueline manages a fishing lodge. They are both ready for a change of pace. Ginny works hard and enjoys making improvements on a dime, as needed. Jacqueline loves high end things and being noticed. We also meet Diana, Adrian, a few hotel workers, Jack, Margie, Cassie, Ben and Alexi. The storyline keeps you involved as the plot continues to wind between Ginny and Jacqueline and their progress at their swapped "hotels". A very enjoyable read from start to finish.

A complimentary copy was provided by Revell via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A solid 3-star book. The premise of two women in very different settings swapping jobs for 2 months intrigued me. I loved the fishing lodge and all of the characters there. I also really liked Ginny. But I don’t feel like the story loop was ever completed for Jackie. She learned how to work hard, but what about all of her lies and the people she hurt along the way? And how did she and Diana get along in the end? Also, I kept waiting for Diana to be redeemed and her cruelty explained somehow. The story didn’t feel as finished as I’d like. But the plot was unique, and I enjoy the sweet female characters Carlson creates, like Ginny.

Ginny has messed up big time. She double booked the hotel's event room with an anniversary celebration and a wedding reception. The fact that the bride's family is friends with Ginny's boss makes the situation even worse puts Ginny's job on the line. So Ginny signs up for a job swap for the summer.

Jacqueline is a fish out of water, running her grandfather's fishing lodge. Needing a change of scenery, she signs up for the same job swap as Ginny, and the plans are made.

Ginny hits the ground running making some changes here and there that enhance the ambiance of the lodge and entices more clientele to the lodge. Jacqueline very nearly destroys the hotel and enrages the owner in a way that Ginny never did. So the owner cancels the contract for Jacqueline and sends her home with her tail between her legs.

While at the lodge, Ginny has made inroads with Jacqueline's grandfather and his summer fishing guide, while Jacqueline has attempted the same with the hotel owner's son with not as stellar results.

Melody Carlson has built a most enjoyable book with places I know and believable characters who are real in the sense that they have real strengths and weaknesses. This gives them an honest touch in how they come across throughout the book. There is the man who continually seeks what he cannot have and is unwilling to accept what is offered. There is the couple who are falling in love without even realizing what is happening to them. There is the woman who wants to come across as stronger than she really is. All of these characteristics are part of the charm of the book that makes it all the more readable. Four Strong Stars.

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I highly recommend JUST FOR THE SUMMER for fans of light, clean romance. If you enjoy Hallmark movies, this novel has a similar feel-good vibe, which I really enjoyed. The premise of a job swap immediately captured my interest, and the author did a great job of introducing the characters, who are relatable and just complex enough to seem like real people but without the bitterness and angst that sometimes drags more serious books down.

Melody Carlson's writing style is breezy and fun and she will keep you turning the pages. I've read others of hers and can definitely say I'm a member of her fan club.

Ginny and Jacqueline get into all sorts of entertaining situations and I had a blast following right along. Ultimately the message here is that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and it's good to appreciate what you have.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell Publishing for the advanced copy. All opinions in this review are my completely own.

Just for the Summer is a super cute, behind-the-scences look at hotelier life, perfect for those of us who have gone down the rabbit hole of innkeeping on TikTok. Two women working at very different hotels swap places when they are fed up with their jobs, and it turns out that each one was exactly what that property needed.

Just for the Summer is a well written romance. I always enjoy Melody Carlson’s books and this was no exception. Great plot and characters. I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson is a charming and heartwarming novel about two women who swap jobs and lives for the summer. Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle, while Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather's fishing lodge in Idaho. Both women are unhappy with their current lives and long for something more. When they meet at a conference, they come up with the idea to swap jobs for the summer. Ginny and Jacqueline quickly learn that their new lives are not what they expected. Ginny struggles to adjust to the slower pace of life in Idaho, while Jacqueline finds herself overwhelmed by the demands of managing a busy hotel in Seattle. However, both women also find unexpected love and happiness in their new surroundings. Just for the Summer is a well-written and enjoyable novel that explores the themes of friendship, love, and finding one's place in the world. Carlson's characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is both heartwarming and humorous. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good chick lit story.

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I was hooked from the first paragraph. The story is about Ginny and Jacqueline. Both are in jobs managing hotel or resorts of different sorts. Ginny in Seattle in a Boutique hotel and Jacqueline in a fishing lodge. Through a site for a job swap they are able to swap jobs for a set time. In this case the summer. There are quite a few interesting characters. Ginny's boss Diane is very demanding and comes across as unreasonable and difficult to work for. Jacqueline is working for her Grandfather who she portrays as being stuck in time and unwilling to change the lodge.

There are other characters that help make the story but I won't say much as I want you to find out more. Its also Ginny and Jacqueline have a few things in common from childhood but interesting how different the Women reacted to this. I loved Ginny and her get up and go attitude but at times I wanted to reach in and shake Jacqueline for her attitude. It was interesting to see how the Summer played out and how the characters grow. I would love to talk more about this book as there is so much to unpack but you will have to read. Then we can talk about it.

The book does have a romance thread but its not the main thread.

“Just for the Summer” by Melody Carlson
A Sweet Summer Life Changing Choice, maybe
Loved this well written story. Searching for happiness, peace, calm, and being valued, essentially what most of us seek, and some actually find. Yes, there is some romance and heart-break and maturing character growth, too. A story I put the rest of my world on hold so I could stay with Ginny and the rest of the gang. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I can always count on this author to deliver an entertaining, wholesome novel. Just for Summer fulfills that expectation. There are no steamy love scenes or psychological thriller twists – just a solid escapist read with a likeable protagonist, a handsome romantic interest, conflicting personalities, and interesting venues.

Ginny Masters has reached her limit in dealing with her perfectionist boss, owner of a boutique hotel in Seattle. Simultaneously, Jacqueline Potter is longing to escape her grandfather’s deteriorating fishing lodge in Idaho. The two discover their mutual desires for a change in management responsibilities on an app offering to arrange job swaps and subsequently, contracts are signed for a 2-month swap. The problem: Jacqueline is in over her head and is second guessing her decision, while Ginny is flourishing in her new surroundings. The resolution unfolds with an unexpected turn of events and a feel-good ending.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

When two hotel/lodge managers decide to swap jobs for the summer months things get interesting. I thought this was a cute story that drew me in from the start. There was a touch of romance for each of the managers at their new jobs. I thought it was cute and entertaining . The characters were great and added so much to the story. Enjoyed the time I spent with this book.
There are two main characters. Ginny Masters is a manager at an upscale hotel in Seattle. She has worked at this place for ten years. She worked her way up from the laundry to the top manager position. Her boss Diana Jackson is a hard person to work for but Ginny rarely loses her temper. Lately she is feeling like a change would be good. She joins a Job Swap web site just for the heck of it. A sports resort catches her eye and she wonders what it would be like to work there for the summer.
Jacqueline Potter works as the manager at her Grandpa’s fishing Lodge. She is drop dead gorgeous but also very manipulative and seems like a spoiled brat. She has a college degree in hotel management. She hates working at the lodge. She wants out as soon as possible. She signs up on a Job Swap Web site hoping to find a place in the city where she can work for the summer. Then she sees an opportunity to go to a hotel in Seattle. This is just what she wants. Could this work for these gals and possibly become a permanent switch after the two months are up?
I recommend this book to readers of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and fans of Melody Carlson. It is a standalone book. This book is scheduled to be released on 3/19/24
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thought and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#JustfortheSummer #NetGalley

I wasn’t too sure I was going to like this book to start with. Jaqueline wasn’t the most pleasant character to read but as soon as it became apparent that was her role in this book I began to enjoy it a whole lot more. Ginny is everything a leading character should be, strong, kind and incredibly passionate about her work. I enjoyed very much seeing her able to slow down and find peace in the right place for her. Thanks netgalley