Just Like That Summary, Characters and Themes

Just Like That by Lena Hendrix is a small-town romance that blends emotional complexity with warmth and wit. 

It’s a story about unexpected parenthood, chosen family, healing from trauma, and the messy beauty of love that arrives when we least expect it. Set in the quaint, fictional town of Outtatowner, Michigan, the novel follows Hazel, a free-spirited woman thrust into guardianship of her nephew, and JP King, a guarded man with a troubled past. As their lives collide over shared responsibility, old wounds, and deepening affection, the story gracefully explores the journey from brokenness to belonging—just like that.

Summary

Hazel never planned to become a mother. But after her sister Olive’s sudden death, she finds herself the guardian of her young nephew, Teddy.

To honor Olive’s final wishes, Hazel embarks on a mission to track down Teddy’s father—a man named JP King, who Hazel has never met. All she has is a name and a will that insists JP is Teddy’s dad.

JP King is not exactly thrilled when Hazel shows up on his doorstep. A successful, emotionally closed-off businessman living in the small town of Outtatowner, Michigan, JP is grappling with his own demons.

Chief among them is the tarnished legacy of his family name and the recent public disgrace of his father’s criminal behavior. When Hazel informs him that he may have a child, JP denies the possibility but reluctantly agrees to a paternity test.

While waiting for results, Hazel and Teddy park their renovated school bus—Hazel’s quirky mobile home—on JP’s property. The three begin an uneasy cohabitation.

Hazel is everything JP isn’t: warm, unfiltered, colorful, and open-hearted. She’s also internet-famous for her DIY skoolie lifestyle, making her presence impossible to ignore in the tight-knit town.

Teddy, sharp and endearing, quickly captures hearts. JP starts to see flickers of himself in the boy.

Despite his initial resistance, JP begins to form an emotional connection—not just with Teddy, but with Hazel as well. Their chemistry is undeniable.

Though they clash in temperament, there’s a growing intimacy that neither of them can ignore. As JP’s siblings and friends get involved, the family begins to untangle decades of dysfunction and secrecy.

Hazel, meanwhile, is working through her own grief and the fear of failing Teddy. The paternity test results return, and just as JP is beginning to accept a new role in Teddy’s life, the truth lands like a gut punch.

JP isn’t Teddy’s father. The real father is Russell King—JP’s own abusive and manipulative father.

This revelation devastates Hazel and JP alike. For Hazel, it means the man she trusted with her sister was a predator.

For JP, it’s a cruel confirmation of the toxic legacy he’s been trying to escape. Despite the biological bombshell, JP refuses to walk away.

He chooses Teddy not because of DNA, but because of love. JP steps fully into the role of father and partner.

He tells Hazel and the world that family is built through commitment and care, not blood. Their relationship deepens, rooted now not just in chemistry but in trust, healing, and shared responsibility.

As JP and Hazel try to move forward, the King family confronts Russell’s past one final time. In prison, Russell is killed by Oliver Pendergrass, a friend of JP’s brother Abel.

It’s an act of retribution and protection. While morally complicated, it brings emotional closure.

With Russell gone, JP and his siblings can finally breathe. Hazel and JP find their rhythm as a family.

Hazel lets go of her fear and starts to imagine a stable, loving life for Teddy and herself—one that includes JP. He, in turn, embraces vulnerability and commits to being present, real, and loving.

In the Epilogue, time has passed. The makeshift family enjoys a peaceful moment on the beach.

Teddy plays, JP captures the memory on his phone, and Hazel feels the quiet joy of finally belonging somewhere. Tarot cards are shuffled, stories shared, and hopes whispered.

It’s not perfect, but it’s real. And sometimes, love shows up just like that.

Characters

Hazel

Hazel is an unconventional woman who unexpectedly finds herself taking on the responsibility of raising her nephew, Teddy, after her sister Olive’s death. Hazel’s character is marked by her free-spirited, DIY-driven nature, which contrasts sharply with the more rigid and controlled personalities around her, especially JP.

Her background as a minor online celebrity adds an interesting layer to her identity, though she grapples with the challenge of stepping into the role of a guardian while still mourning the loss of her sister. She is emotionally complex, struggling with grief, guilt, and the responsibility of being the mother figure for Teddy.

Despite her doubts about her capabilities, she is determined to honor Olive’s wishes and provide stability for Teddy. Over time, Hazel grows emotionally, learning to trust again and finding the possibility of love with JP.

Her transformation reflects both the heavy burden she carries and her resilience in the face of uncertainty.

JP (John Paul King)

JP is initially introduced as a cold, wealthy man with a guarded emotional wall built up from his traumatic upbringing. His stoic exterior hides deep pain from the scandal surrounding his father’s criminal past and the manipulative actions of his family.

When he first meets Hazel, he is skeptical and resistant to the idea of becoming involved with Teddy, but as he spends time with him, he begins to soften. His paternal instincts gradually emerge, and he grows increasingly protective of Teddy.

His evolving relationship with Hazel complicates things further, as he begins to develop romantic feelings for her, despite his initial reluctance. JP’s emotional journey is one of healing, acceptance, and ultimately, profound commitment.

His relationship with Teddy, though initially strained by the revelation that he is not the biological father, grows to reflect the idea that family is defined by love, not blood. By the end of the story, JP’s commitment to Hazel and Teddy is solidified, and he takes on the role of a father and partner in every meaningful sense.

Teddy

Teddy, Hazel’s young nephew, is the catalyst for much of the story’s emotional evolution. Though only a child, his presence in the story forces the adults around him to confront their own feelings about family, love, and responsibility.

His precociousness and innocence serve as both a source of joy and a reminder of the heavy burden Hazel carries. Teddy’s interactions with JP, despite the initial tension, gradually help soften the hardened walls around JP’s heart.

His relationship with Hazel is pivotal as well, with her deep love and protective instincts driving her to do everything in her power to give him a stable life. Teddy, in many ways, represents the possibility of hope and new beginnings, encouraging both Hazel and JP to heal and embrace the future with open hearts.

Russell King and the King Family

Russell King, JP’s abusive father, serves as a dark force in the narrative. His manipulative actions, which include impregnating Olive and hiding the truth about Teddy’s parentage, form the emotional backdrop of much of the story’s conflict.

The King family, particularly JP’s siblings, also play crucial roles in the development of the narrative. Their personal struggles and the complex history with their father create a charged atmosphere where loyalty, betrayal, and the search for redemption are at the forefront.

The eventual revelation about Russell’s abuse and manipulation brings an emotional reckoning for JP and his family, leading to both a confrontation with the past and an opportunity for closure.

Supporting Characters

Other key figures in the story include JP’s siblings and close friends, who each contribute to the emotional complexity of the narrative. Characters such as Abel, JP’s brother, and Oliver Pendergrass, a former inmate with ties to the King family, add layers of moral ambiguity and tension.

The relationships and dynamics between these characters highlight the themes of forgiveness, justice, and personal growth, which run throughout the novel. The confrontation with Russell’s past, including Oliver’s act of revenge, introduces a darker moral element to the story, forcing characters to grapple with complex emotions and actions.

Themes

Identity and Family in the Context of Genetic and Emotional Connections

One of the most profound themes in Just Like That revolves around the complex intersection of biological ties and the emotional bonds that form a family. The novel deeply explores how familial relationships are defined not only by genetics but by the love, sacrifice, and commitment that come with them.

Hazel’s initial quest to find JP as Teddy’s father serves as the catalyst for this exploration. As the plot unfolds, both Hazel and JP discover that biology is only one factor in what makes someone family.

The revelation that Russell, JP’s abusive father, is actually Teddy’s biological father further complicates the characters’ perceptions of family. This betrayal forces Hazel and JP to confront their own beliefs about parenthood and their responsibility to each other.

JP ultimately declares that his love and emotional connection to Teddy make him his father, regardless of blood. This theme asks the difficult question of whether genetic connection truly matters when emotional and nurturing bonds define the family unit.

Overcoming the Legacy of Abuse and Dysfunction

Another central theme in the novel is healing from deep-rooted trauma. Both JP and Hazel are shaped by the trauma they have experienced in their pasts—JP with his difficult upbringing and Hazel with the grief of losing her sister and the revelation of the abuse Teddy’s biological father inflicted on her.

This trauma permeates their relationship and influences their decisions, especially as they uncover the painful truths about Russell King’s manipulations. JP’s emotional walls are the result of years of emotional neglect and abuse, and his struggle to open up to others, particularly Hazel, forms a significant part of his character development.

The story shows how the process of healing is not linear and requires confronting painful truths. For Hazel, healing is a dual process: coping with the loss of her sister while also trying to provide a stable and loving home for Teddy.

The characters’ journeys toward healing are deeply tied to their ability to forgive, accept, and redefine what family means. By the end of the novel, the scars from their pasts remain, but the characters show that healing is possible through love, vulnerability, and acceptance.

The Complexity of Forgiveness and Redemption in the Face of Betrayal

A significant theme that plays out in the latter half of the novel is the complexity of forgiveness and redemption, particularly in the face of betrayal. When the truth about Teddy’s parentage is revealed—that JP is not his biological father, but rather Russell’s son—both JP and Hazel are thrust into a painful reckoning with their pasts.

Hazel must grapple with the betrayal by her sister’s former lover and the legacy of abuse left by Russell. Meanwhile, JP must confront the possibility that he has been emotionally manipulated by his father, whose actions have left scars on not just JP but the entire family.

The novel delves into the notion of redemption, not necessarily for Russell, who remains an unrepentant figure in death, but for the people who have been affected by his actions. JP and his siblings must find a way to move forward without being consumed by the darkness of their past.

The moral complexity of the revenge against Russell, orchestrated by Oliver Pendergrass, further underscores the blurred lines between justice and vengeance. The novel shows how individuals deal with the long-lasting effects of familial betrayal and the difficult choices they must make.

The Power of Vulnerability and Emotional Risk in Romantic Relationships

At the heart of the romance in Just Like That is the theme of emotional vulnerability and the risks that come with opening oneself up to love. Both Hazel and JP are initially resistant to letting their guard down—Hazel due to her fear of not being enough for Teddy and the overwhelming responsibility she faces, and JP because of his deep-seated trust issues stemming from his tumultuous upbringing.

As they grow closer, the novel reveals how both characters slowly shed their emotional armor, despite the fears and uncertainties that linger. The romance between them is not just about attraction but about taking the emotional risks required for intimacy and trust.

The novel shows that true emotional connection is built not through perfection but through shared moments of vulnerability and the courage to face one’s flaws and fears. By the end of the novel, both characters have learned to trust each other and themselves, and this vulnerability becomes the foundation for their new family dynamic.

Embracing New Beginnings Amidst Old Wounds

The theme of reconciliation with the past is a prominent one, especially in the novel’s final chapters and epilogue. Hazel and JP’s journey is one of navigating the emotional weight of their pasts—Hazel with the loss of her sister and the trauma caused by Russell’s actions, and JP with his deep-seated resentment and pain from his abusive upbringing.

Both characters must face these dark parts of their lives in order to build a future together. The epilogue highlights how, despite their scars, they are willing to embrace new beginnings.

This theme suggests that while the past cannot be erased, it does not have to dictate one’s future. By the end, Hazel and JP find peace not by forgetting the pain they’ve experienced but by accepting it and choosing to move forward in a way that honors both their history and their love for one another.