TITLE: Yours Truly (Part of Your World Book 2 of 2)
AUTHOR: Abby Jimenez
GENRE: Contemporary romance
PUBLISHER: Forever
PUBLICATION DATE: April 11, 2023
TROPES: Fake dating, friends to lovers, workplace romance
TWs: social anxiety, chronic illness, organ donation
NARRATORS: Zachary Webber, Kyla Garcia
Yours Truly, book 2 in the ‘Part of Your World’ series, details the romance between Brianna Ortiz, Alexis’ best friend from book 1, and Jacob Maddox, a fellow ER doctor who might just be the sweetest human being you’ll ever meet. I absolutely adored Daniel and Alexis’ story from the previous book, and I didn’t think Jimenez could top it, but she knocks it out of the park again with Yours Truly. With humor, heart, and unflinching honesty, she weaves an inspiring and moving tale about loving someone just as they are, flaws and all.
Synopsis
Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.
And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.
Characters
Abby Jimenez has a knack for crafting genuine and relatable characters you cannot help but root for. With Brianna and Jacob, we are introduced to two imperfect individuals who treat each other with such tenderness that it’s no surprise that their friendship blossoms into something more. Both of them have insecurities that drive the story forward well, but my favorite aspect of their relationship is the small, intimate gestures they share with each other.
JACOB
Why did he have to be sweet and thoughtful? I blame romance novels for my unrealistic expectations of men. He rescues injured dogs, sutures broken dolls to soothe children, and donates kidneys anonymously. His heart of gold is what made me feel for him when I read about his struggles with social anxiety.
Jimenez penned such a realistic portrayal of what it feels like to struggle with social anxiety. Even if you don’t personally know anyone with this issue, you will still find yourself relating to Jacob in some way. I saw myself in his shoes so many times with the constant rumination of thoughts and watching the same TV shows over and over again for comfort. Reading about his struggles made me feel validated and seen, and encouraged me to always remember the invisible battles people face daily.
BRIANNA
She’s smart, witty, and one of the most likable female MCs I’ve encountered. I adored her relationship with her brother, who suffered from chronic kidney disease. Anyone who has ever cared for a sick loved one and felt helpless during this time can find pieces of themselves in Brianna Ortiz.
Her insecurities and struggles were easily relatable, and even though there were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into her, I was already in love with her character that I didn’t even mind the angsty slow burn. I especially loved how she created a safe space for Jacob’s anxiety – it showed what a perfect match they were.
SIDE CHARACTERS
From quirky family members to feisty hospital co-workers, the side characters in Yours Truly added great humor and dimension to the main story. One of my favorite characters was Jacob’s grumpy grandfather, who demands cigarettes from everyone he meets, knowing damn well he can’t have them (he moves around in a wheelchair attached to an oxygen cylinder).
Lieutenant Dan is an excellent addition for fellow dog lovers, and I like that Jimenez extends her characters’ quirkiness to her animals. It was also really nice to get glimpses of Alexis and Daniel and see how their story has progressed since book 1.
Plot
Abby Jimenez masterfully balances lighthearted romance with heavier issues such as organ donation, social anxiety, and chronic illness. Her personal connections to these issues, which she highlights in the author’s note, really bring the book to life and make it even more relevant and poignant.
Despite being a slow burn, their progression from friends to lovers feels organic and genuine. Usually, I’m not too fond of miscommunication in stories, but it was well done in this case. Instead of the characters refusing to talk to each other, the story progressed through a series of unfortunate coincidences, making it much more enjoyable.
Writing
I am always a sucker for dual POVs. Getting into the heads of both main characters allows for a greater grasp of the whole picture. It’s so much easier to sympathize with the characters’ internal struggles, and it helps to alleviate any frustrating miscommunication.
The author uses letters as a catalyst to grow the initial friendship, and they are a great addition to the story. It felt like an older, classical take in a modern world. Reading it felt very nostalgic to me and reminded me of simpler times.
The author’s note is a must-read at the end. I was surprised to learn how much of this story was based on Abby Jimenez’s real life, and it was genuinely heart-wrenching to read about it. But she also uses this platform to shed light on important issues like organ donation, which is commendable.
Narration
Zachary Webber is one of my favorite audible narrators. After hearing his voice for Daniel in Part Of Your World, I was excited to dive into another book from him. The way he conveyed Jacob’s emotions and gentleness was perfect and really made me adore the character even more. Kyla Garcia’s voice for Brianna was also spot-on and exactly how I imagined her to sound.
Conclusion
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez contains all the humor and heart you could ever want in a romance book. It’s a heartwarming story of a quiet, tender love blossoming into something wonderful and emotionally fulfilling. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good inspiring, and moving read that will leave you feeling comforted and content.
Best Quotes
Where to Buy
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Yours Truly
RATING: ★★★★★/5 ᐧ || ᐧ With humor, heart, and unflinching honesty, Jimenez delivers another home run in this moving tale about loving someone just as they are, flaws and all.
URL: https://www.amazon.com/Yours-Truly-Abby-Jimenez/dp/1538704390
Author: Abby Jimenez
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