Dr. Briana Ortiz is hanging on by a thread. Her divorce is being finalized and her brother's health is quickly declining. A new doctor joins the ER staff at her hospital and immediately there are whispers of dislike right off the bat. When Bri finds out that Jacob Maddox, the new doctor, may get the chief position she thought she was going to get, her dislike for him skyrockets. After a few rough initial interactions, Jacob decides to write Bri a letter to apologize and explain himself. That letter gives Bri a different perspective and begins a relationship that neither of them expected.

BRAVO, ABBY JIMENEZ!!! With each new release, I marvel with Jimenez's mastery of storytelling. I always think I am mentally prepared for her books, but I am proven wrong once I start reading them. Abby Jimenez has an uncanny ability to tell stories that have heart, depth, that make me laugh and make me cry. Her characters are fully formed and when I am reading them, it's easy for me to envision them as people because of her exceptional writing. I feel like I am in their world, feeling everything that they are feeling. I was immersed in Bri and Jacob's world for the two brief days it took me to read this book and I was sad to leave it when their story ended.

Jacob was a complex but super lovable hero. Despite all of his inner struggles, he lived to focus his energy on caring for others. He came off as a jerk to some because he was an introvert and Bri had to coax him out from behind his wall. When they fell into a rhythm of friendship and companionship, it was very sweet. The joy Jacob felt while he was with Bri shone through all of his darker emotions. I loved that even though he had a lot of other things to fear, he was open to love and he did not hesitate to jump into this thing with Bri with two feet. My favorite part of this book was the intense longing and needing that Bri and Jacob had for one another. I couldn't get enough of that good achy feeling in my chest from their love.

Abby Jimenez consistently knocks the ball out of the park and it was no different with this book. This book is an exceptionally written fake dating slow burn romance that features important representation of mental health and chronic illness. Although I read this within the first few days of the year, I am already shouting from the rooftops that this will be one of my top ten reads of 2023!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: anxiety, panic attacks, chronic illness, kidney failure, depression, mention of: divorce, infidelity (not between the main characters), death of a loved one, miscarriage

Abby Jimenez is an automatic read. Her books have only gotten better over time, and I really appreciate her humor and timing. Part of Your World was my favorite yet, so I’ve been so excited for Yours Truly.
I loved these characters! Jacob has my whole heart. I identified with Bri on many levels. Their “harmlessness” to each other is a plateful of cinnamon rolls. Friends to lovers is my favorite.
We do see our friends from Part of Your World, but this could easily be read as a stand alone, but why deprive yourself of the beauty that is Part of Your World?
The tropes abound, but it’s mostly all in good fun. Speaking of the tropes, everyone has their favorites and their least favorites. What I want to be clear about is that this is another 5 star read. However, two of my least favorite tropes do make appearances towards the end, and personally, it pulled my enjoyment away from the book. For most readers this will not be a problem as tropes and triggers vary so greatly among readers. I hope you love it as much as I did!

Dear Abby Jimenez,

You simply do not disappoint. Your books have a perfect track record with me so far, and Yours Truly is another heartfelt feather in your literary cap.

As someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, I appreciated the realistic and compassionate way in which mental health is presented. Jacob is such a sweet soul, and my heart broke each time he was judged unfairly. Whenever he faced uncomfortable situations, I felt like I was right there with him.

Briana’s impending divorce and her brother’s recently diagnosed health crisis have left her devastated. Honestly, she could benefit from some professional counseling, but I adored her optimism and extraverted energy.

Jacob is so sensitive and respectful towards Briana’s needs. He earned major points with me each time he bravely placed himself in an uncomfortable situation on her behalf. I also loved how intuitive Briana is towards Jacob’s emotions. They are well-matched and their chemistry is on point.

It’s such a shame that letter writing has become a thing of the past. The letters Jacob and Briana exchange are sweet, poignant, and quirky. They made me tear up and laugh so much, and I looked forward to reading each one. I was honored to be included in the precious keepsakes of their budding friendship.

Abby, we need to have a little chat. I do enjoy when romantic relationships are given time to slowly build and simmer, but did it really need to take so long for Jacob and Briana to become more than friends? Their road to love is paved with many misunderstandings, fear, and lack of communication. The waiting just about killed me, Abby! The payoff is great, though.

Their well-meaning but meddlesome family members are a huge source of entertainment. I can’t forget Lieutenant Dan, Jacob’s dog. I loved him to pieces. Each emotional, tender, and funny moment was a sheer delight to read. Until your next great book.

Yours truly,
~Angela (A grateful reader)

i can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this book is! yours truly will definitely end up as one of my top books of the year. it's so sweet, funny, raw, and emotional. this is the first book ever where i saw myself in both the mc and fmc.

the mental health and anxiety rep in this book were incredible. the struggles both characters face are so honest and inspiring. even with the heavier topics, abby jimenez balances them out with humor for comedic relief. there was a miscommunication trope, but because i love the book too much, i'm going to let it slide and pretend it never happened.

briana and jacob's unconditional love, support, and soul-deep connection are unmatched! i love how briana understands jacob perfectly. she looks out for him and is so protective over him. jacob is such a cinnamon hero and he's the absolute sweetest man. the way he expresses his love for briana in the tiniest ways made my heart melt. he does things without wanting to be praised or recognized and i admire that so much. their relationship from friends to lovers was so natural and it fell into place so perfectly. their love is to die for! highly recommend reading this book for a sweet heartfelt romance!

thank you net galley and forever for the arc in exchange for an honest review

This was my very first by Jimenez and I am officially running out to grab Part of Your World now!

I adored the two main characters, Briana and Jacob, along with all of the supporting characters and relationships! The dual perspectives of the MC’s were so insightful when getting to know and understand these two characters. I especially related to Jacob and his anxiety and loved that while both him and Briana dealt with very realistic and relatable mental health issues, they balanced each other out so perfectly.

“𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑢𝑝. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙.”

Jacob is the dreamiest fictional boyfriend-he went to such lengths to understand and be the person Bri needed him to be while constantly working on his own mental health. I loved that he journaled, was an organ donor, had a plant room, had a three-legged dog, and wrote letters to Briana. Him giving her his journal at the end had me mentally sobbing. Briana brought so much humor and independent, badass boss vibes to the book-although at the end, her trauma and how she projected that onto their relationship left me emotionally distraught. I rooted so hard for this couple-they truly felt so real to me. So many beautiful quotes were a result of their relationship and I’m so happy they got their HEA!

“𝐻𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑢𝑠.”

I will say that for a book with so many of my least favorite tropes such as miscommunication, third act break up and a spoilery one that I won’t give away, I started to struggle around the 60-80% mark. However, somehow by the end, it all worked somehow. There were also some really fun tropes that I did enjoy including work romance (set in a hospital), fake dating, and friends to lovers.

“𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑐. 𝑊𝑒’𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒’𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑤𝑒’𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ…𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑗𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙.”

Overall this is a book filled with memorable characters, emotional depth balanced with plenty of humor, mental health representation, and at the heart of it all is a beautiful love story. A must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for my gifted eARC!

What sets Yours Truly apart from other romance novels is its focus on the importance of self-discovery and growth in relationships. Abby’s writing style is authentic and relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters and become invested in their journey.

Overall, I would highly recommend Yours Truly to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance novels that are both heartfelt and meaningful. The story of Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Maddox is a beautiful ode to the power of love and the importance of chasing your dreams.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
I’ve been itching to pick this up and i didnt want it to end so I delayed it as much as possible. Ive been approved for the ARC for several months now and because it’s almost pub day, I finally did the inevitable. I savored every moment though, and I LOVED IT! As expected. This might just be my favorite Abby Jimenez book to date! Thank you Forever Publishing for my ebook copy!

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵”

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
After a divorce, Bri is on the running for chief doctor. But the newbie Jacob, after a bad first impression is being pushed to go against her. This fuels her hate, but he is actually is not as bad as she thought when he writes her an apology letter.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Abby Jimenez has done it again! Gosh I don’t think I can ever rate her books any lower. Like all her other ones, this book tackles heavy topics that will give you laughs in between to make it lighter. And despite the length of the book, you will fly through it! It felt like the characters came straight from Grey’s Anatomy, so if you’re a fan of the show you will enjoy this one. With anxiety being a main theme here, I could highly relate and appreciated the emphasis on one’s struggles and comfort that came with it, especially with love. Jacob and Briana complemented each other so well, but like the book said, even the perfect match isn’t perfect. I love their love story and how it all came together! Ch 37 made me bawl😭 Another book boyfriend added to the list, and a top fave romance this year! The author’s note and intent made this book all the more special.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘺, 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥, 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨

This wasn’t everything I wanted sadly ☹️

The ending was so unnecessary and I think was not needed especially given the content. I felt like the girl was really immature for her age and didn’t love her. The character arc just didn’t make sense to me sadly…

It WAS cute at times, I loved him but lulled after the first bit as it seemed like same old. The journal was also confusing. I felt like the characters just maybe needed to be a bit more consistent

Just when I think there is no possible way that Abby can churn out another perfect book, I am proven wrong!!! She is literally the GOAT and can do no fictional wrong. Her fifth book and honestly this is one of my faves. The letter writing was just SO GOOD!! And both of these characters - she dove right into their vulnerabilities, which just gave me all of the feels. I PROMISE this one will have you laughing, crying, and swooning the whole time!

What to expect::
•ER doctors, ER setting
•Enemies to lovers
•Fake dating
•Letter writing
•Slow burn (done right)
•Jacob’s family! Literally the best.
•Three legged dog
•ONE BED (with a unique spin)
•Would you rather
•LOL funny banter
🔥 Open door, minimal details, minimal scenes

The story of Briana & Jacob was a joy to read! Both dealing with struggles in their lives, their first meeting was less than desirable. But proving how powerful the written word can be, Jacob sends Briana a letter that opens her heart to giving him a second chance. This starts a new friendship that develops into more.
Jacob is a wonderful cinnamon roll hero. And Briana is someone I feel I could go have a drink with after work. Watching their relationship develop, the struggles they overcome to find their happily ever after is everything I hope for when I start a new book.
If you are looking for a book where the characters have real, complex, feelings & aren’t perfect cookie-cutter characterizations, look no further than Abby Jimenez. You won’t be disappointed.

PUB DAY BOOK REVIEW // YOURS TRULY

5/5

“We’re all a little broken, Briana. We are a mosaic. We’re made up of all those we’ve met and all the things we’ve been through. There are parts of us that are colorful and dark and jagged and beautiful. And I love every piece of you. Even the ones you wish didn’t exist.”

BE STILL MY FREAKING HEART!!!!!

As soon as I read Part Of Your World last spring, and I knew Bri was getting her own book…I was giddy with excitement!!!

Ya’ll: Yours Truly DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!! In fact I think I love Bri & Jacob even more than Alexis & Daniel.

The emotional connection was SO DAMN STRONG and I loved every single second!

Jacob, oh sweet and sensitive Jacob. I love him so damn much. I love how the anxiety rep was from a male perspective, and how he navigated everyday life.

Briana is an incredible sister, friend, doctor and all around a genuine person. Benny, Bri’s brother needs a new kidney and I first hand witnessed renal disease in my household. Last fall my dad had his left kidney removed due to cancer, so i could wholeheartedly relate to how badly Bri wanted a donor ASAP so he could live a healthy and full life.

Bri understood Jacob in a way that no one else did - and it was SO beautiful witnessing two people just completely GET each other. The way Bri KNEW what triggered Jacob in social situations and was there for him…UGH..it melted my heart.

This was quite the sloooow burn, the build up was raw and vulnerable. Both Bri and Jacob had issues from their pasts that hindered the future - but I appreciated the hoops they went through for true love.

I loved every single page of this love story and I am PRAYING Benny gets his own happily ever after in a future novel!!

SIMONE SAYS READ THIS IF YOU LIKE

dual pov
mental health rep
sloooow burns
both mc’s are doctors
fake dating
swearing parrots

thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for letting me read this arc.

This one was a bit complicated for me in many aspects but overall I loved it. I love Abby and her writing style. I love the development of the relationship between Briana and Jacob. I did feel like the book had a lot going on within the plot—I love each topic that was spoken about specifically but wish it was less packed in the book.

*spoiler*


I was not a fan of the miscommunication trope. If you don’t mind that trope it should be a good read!

Every time I read one of Abby Jimenez' books, I think that she can’t possibly write anything better… and then she goes and tops it with her next book. Yours Truly is definitely one of all time favorites and I DEVOURED it within 24 hours of getting the ARC. As always, Abby takes tough topics (chronic illness, mental health, relationships) and balances them with comic relief and amazing dialogue in such a meaningful way.

You will love this book if a strong, smart Doctor as a heroine sounds perfect to you... if you enjoy vulnerable and complex love interests… who fall first!... if mental health rep (anxiety, in this case) done well is important to you... and if you love dogs (as a Bernese Mountain Dog owner I was so pumped to see one in this book and on the cover!!).

I would highly recommend pre-ordering this and reading it as soon as you can get your hands on a copy!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Part of Your World and the best friend character of Briana. I am so glad she got her own story!

Briana has a lot going on in her life when this book starts. Her divorce is about to be final. She caught her husband cheating on her. She is an ER doctor and is hoping to get a promotion once her boss retires and has a younger brother on dialysis and in desperate need of a kidney transplant.

On top of all that there is a new ER doctor at the hospital and their first meet does not go well. She is not a fan of Dr. Jacob Maddox. What she doesn't know is that Jacob suffers from social anxiety.

I heart Jacob so much. He might be my new favorite book boyfriend. He is so sweet and caring and a really good guy. He has quirks because of his anxiety, and I loved that Briana took the time to learn these and help him out.

The only thing that I didn't like was the miscommunication trope added at the end. Just tell each other that you love each other, already!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“I always think that when we’re quiet, we’re agreeing to be harmless to each other.”

Yours Truly is yet another glorious novel from the queen of witty banter and sensitive, emotionally aware narratives, Abby Jimenez. In fact, it just might be my new favorite novel of all her novels.

When Doctors Brianna Ortiz and Jacob Maddox meet, it’s a confluence of awkwardness, miscommunication, and a one-sided rivalry. But when Brianna receives an honest letter from Jacob, her perspective begins to change. And as they both become friends and become more aware of each other, their “rivals” energy morphs into something infinitely more compelling.

I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this book. Jimenez is brilliant at creating fully-sketched characters who are both fallible and endearing. The way that she depicts Jacob’s anxiety hit an especially rich chord in me, because I also experience anxiety. Her authentic depiction of what it is like to manage felt so real and true to life. And the way that Brianna understands and cares for Jacob is beautiful to read. Similarly, Jacob also understands and cares for Brianna in wonderful ways.

This book was a top read for me, and is perfect for anyone who is looking to laugh, cry, and feel all the feelings.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I truly love Jimenez's books. All of her books have an amazing romance with alot of depth to them. Brianna had alot of trauma from her past relationship and is a caregiver for her younger brother so she has alot going on. Jacob has social anxiety and is also dealing with a past relationship.
I loved the romance in this book and the side characters. Another solid Jimenez book.

This is my first Abby Jimenez read and I have to say it’s been an absolute pleasure!
From start to end I have been laughing and swooning at every page and I have most definitely felt every emotion imaginable. I would like to take a moment to appreciate the REAL LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES that have been woven into the story line.
I am extremely appreciative to have finally read a REALISTIC stand point in regards to what sickness can do not only to oneself but to a family / to love and affection coming from a broken home and to the battle one must endure to trust and love in one’s partner after all trust and love has been flushed down the drain.
This book is phenomenally crafted and will hold a special place In my heart. I am so beyond appreciative to have had the opportunity to ARC read this beauty.

I LOVED IT.

When two ER doctors clash but then find common ground - with a bit of fake dating - readers are in for a super slow-burn treat of a novel.

The fake dating was done in a way that didn’t make it feel like every fake dating book. The sweet letter writing (that I would have been happy to have continued even longer!) drew me in and made me miss sleep. The fully seeing of each other even when others have failed. Abby Jimenez writes such beautiful, fully fleshed characters and Dr. Briana Ortiz and Jacob Maddox are no different. And you can tell Abby did her homework in terms of what it’s like to really work in healthcare - though I never worked in the ER, it felt very authentic based on my previous hospital experiences.

This is a solid 4.5 stars rounding up to five. Thank you to Forever Publishing and author Abby Jimenez for the advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

I haven't read any of Abby Jimenez's other books - including Part of Your World, of which this is a continuation of that universe - so I didn't quite know what to expect, other than knowing that a lot of people I trust have read her other books and had good things to say.

On nearly the first page, I was absolutely obsessed, and within 10%, I knew this was going to be a new comfort read. Jacob has just moved to a new hospital to escape a tense situation at his previous workplace. Bri has been working in the emergency room at that hospital for years, and immediately sees Jacob as an adversary. It doesn't help that their first impression is abysmal, not least because of Jacob's anxiety. Jacob has to deal with his ex-girlfriend getting engaged to his brother, and Bri is mid-divorce and trying to take care of her brother, who has fallen into a deep depression due to kidney failure. But then, through a series of convoluted events, they start fake dating. (THE BEST TROPE.) They get closer through letter writing, and Jacob does a lot of thoughtful little things for Bri to try to make up for their meeting. When they go to Jacob's family's house to meet everyone before his ex-girlfriend marries his brother, they realize that things will be even more complicated when it comes to faking their relationship because - TWIST! - Jacob's mum is a world-recognized relationship and sex therapist.

For people who yell at books, "Just talk to each other!" this one is not for you. (Although I think the miscommunications are understandable based on Jacob's anxiety and Bri's past relationship baggage.) It is just so caring, so tender, so patient, as they both work through their trauma.

Very Flatshare vibes, and even a bit of Pride & Prejudice. I LOVE LOVE LOVED it.

cw: miscarriage, chronic illness, anxiety rep, depression, infidelity (not hero/heroine)

A good enemies->friends->lovers romance with some heavier topics mixed in. I wouldn’t put it as a total miscommunication trope, just a bad first impression between coworkers (promotions on the line). Very enjoyable and can’t wait to get the audiobook and hear details I may have missed.