Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up, and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time, Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

4.5 stars

This book is nothing short of amazing—this is hands down my favorite book in the trilogy! It felt like each installment kept leveling up, and by the time I got to this one, I was completely hooked. While I wish I could give this a pure five stars, I did have to knock it down a tiny bit for the cursing, vulgar language, and open-door spicy scenes, which aren’t usually my preference. But honestly, the story and characters were so incredible that I’m still rounding up and giving it five stars because it’s just that good.

I highly recommend reading the series in order since characters from previous books pop up and play a role in the overarching storyline. It makes the experience so much richer! I listened to the audiobook, which is dual POV, and let me tell you—the narrators absolutely nailed it. They brought so much life to Emma and Justin, and it was an absolute joy to listen to. I finished it in just two days!

The story gave me major Good Luck Chuck vibes (a movie with Jessica Alba and Dane Cook), and it’s the perfect summer or beach read. The small island town setting was just so cozy and dreamy, filled with that warm, summery vibe that made me feel like I was right there soaking up the sun.

Abby Jimenez’s writing is masterful—she strikes the perfect balance between heartfelt depth and laugh-out-loud humor. This book is more than just a fluffy rom-com; it’s a beautifully layered story tackling heavy, relatable topics with so much grace and heart. It’s messy, complex, and raw in the best possible way, and it made me laugh, cry, swoon, and feel every single emotion in between.

Emma and Justin completely stole my heart. Their chemistry was off the charts, their witty banter was so much fun, and Justin was the ultimate book boyfriend—caring, tender, and endlessly supportive. Watching their relationship grow, especially through the fake dating and slow-burn romance tropes, was a total delight. The unicorn floaty scene? Iconic! Loved it SO much!! (If you know, you know!)

I also loved that this book went beyond just the romance. The subplot of Emma’s complicated relationship with her mother added so much depth and emotion to the story. Abby Jimenez has such a gift for tackling hard topics and showing her characters navigate real-life challenges in such a relatable way.

This is definitely a book I’d love to annotate—there are so many beautiful quotes and moments worth highlighting. Emma’s perspective on life, especially her choice to approach the world with empathy over anger, was incredibly inspiring and left a lasting impact on me.

If you’re a fan of fake dating, slow-burn romance, emotional journeys, and rich character development, you need to pick up this book. Even though this author doesn’t write exactly what I’d typically look for in a romance (less language, no spice), I will gladly keep supporting her because her stories are just that meaningful and impactful. This book is a gem, and I can’t recommend it enough!