Easily a front-runner for my own book of the year, Yours Truly is a story of two ER doctors brought together by circumstance. Briana is hoping for a promotion when another doctor, Jacob, is brought in the mix. So now Briana has competition and she’s tasked with caring for her brother who’s in need of a kidney. Her feelings for the new doctor change though when they begin a letter-writing campaign to one another. His thoughtful musings change her opinion of him. When he becomes a match to give her brother a kidney, she can’t help but like him. And when Jacob asks if she’ll be his fake girlfriend up until his brother’s (and ex-girlfriend’s) wedding, she can’t help but say yes…

This story, its characters, the tension – it’s all just *chef’s kiss*. Briana is coming off a rough divorce and wants to move on with her life. Dating hasn’t been successful for her so she focuses on her work. I appreciate her open-mindedness in throwing Jacob a bone to endear him to the nurses and her urge to protect him. Jacob suffers from social anxiety, much like myself, and it was refreshing to see someone like me reflected in the pages of a book. I appreciate the delicate approach that was taken to explain his preparation and thought process for events.

Once again, Abby Jimenez does not disappoint. I’m already recommending this book far and wide. Do yourself a favor and read it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I LOVED this book. This was my first Abby Jimenez book and I could not believe I have not previously read her books. The characters were lovable and they had so much characterization to them. This made them feel so real and made me want to root for them even more. I did not love the miscommunication trope but I could look past it because I loved everything else in the book. I was genuinely laughing so much throughout the book and adored the mutual pining. The family dynamics were also very well done.
As someone with anxiety, I thought the anxiety representation was very good. The little coping methods to deal with anxiety were similar to my own. Jacob was such a lovely character and I loved how Bri approached his anxiety. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to read.

Last year I read Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, my first book by Jimenez and it was probably my biggest surprise of the year. I absolutely ADORED it and I am happy to say that it was not a one-off and I did in fact love Yours Truly.

A dual POV story told from the perspective of two doctors, Brianna and Jacob. I had met Brianna in Part of Your World and I was really excited to get her story. I feel like I don't see a lot of romance books about a divorced main character and Brianna is dealing with not only her feelings about the divorce but the fact her ex cheated on her with her friend and then left her for that friend as well. Jacob is a new doctor who arises on the scene and he is dealing with his own trauma related to an ex and even though they get off on the wrong foot, when the two of them start connecting it really is just magic.

One of my favorite parts about this book is the way they slowly open up to each other and really become friends before anything further develops. This is technically a "fake dating" book but it felt a little different from other fake dating books that I've read in that the two of them just feel like really good friends who are able to show up for one another first and foremost. I love that their relationship starts with letters and I was just swooning reading them. Jacob is a top tier book boyfriend. Noone ever touch him. His family was also hilarious and I hope we get to see more of them.

I will say the ending sort of fell apart for me with just one too many miscommunications. I do think a lot of these are rooted in the respective trauma of the characters but it was just a lot for me when I had been waiting for the two of them to get it together and just be together. I would love a further epilogue or something.

I can't wait to read even more Abby Jimenez in the future and I am so grateful to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5

Hear me out: books about second chances usually center around young love at the wrong time and manage to find each other once they've matured..in their twenties (and early thirties). At my age (albeit happily married), we just need a feel-good story about someone our age finding love a second time.

And this book delivered just that.

Dr. Briana Ortiz is practically starting over. The end of her ten-year marriage is nigh with the impending divorce, and she might be getting passed on for the promotion she's worked hard for...to the newcomer Dr. Jacob Maddox.

Dr. Jacob has his own set of new beginnings, too. He has moved to a new job and is nursing a broken heart after his ex is getting married to his own brother.

Two people who want nothing to do with love and are gunning for the same job shouldn't get along, but a series of letters turn them from rivals to friends to fake lovers and maybe something more?

This was a great read. Jacob Maddox is incredibly sweet and unexpected, and I love this fun surprise. The development of their relationship, especially amidst the adversities they face individually and as a couple, was so fun and heartwarming to ride along with.

This is my first Abby Jimenez read, and it certainly won't be my last. It read well as a standalone, though I get the impression that some of the characters were from previous books.

There are sections that bring spikes of angst, so make sure to read the CW. But the book overall approached those issues with careful consideration and balanced them nicely with romance and comedy.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Abby Jimenez, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

The best book by Abby Jimenez yet. It's like a hallmark movie on the set of ER and I am not mad about it one single bit. I could have read 500 more pages.

4.5 stars

Dr. Briana and the new Dr. Jacob did not get off on the right foot. Briana was determined to hate and avoid him but then Jacob flips the script and writes her a letter. One that shows her he may actually be a sweet, funny guy and soon they are exchanging letters and having lunch together. Then Jacob decides to donate a kidney to Briana’s brother and she wonders how in the world she’s suppose to resist this man. Feelings become even harder to ignore when he calls on her for a favor….to be his fake girlfriend.

The characters in this one made it for me, I feel in love with all of them, even the side characters. Jacob is the definition of cinnamon roll and definitely secured a spot on my book boyfriend list!
He is so awkwardly lovable and so relatable to me. I loved the anxiety rep, and thought it was done well, you could see the care she took into writing it. Brianna was an amazing character as well, I loved her. She is so strong and loyal and witty.

They were fantastic characters separately and together man they were just perfect. Their banter, chemistry, softness, agreeing to be harmless to each other it was all just so heartwarming and swoony.

I love love fake dating and enemies to friends to more, those are some of my favorite tropes. However where the book lost a half a star for me was I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope and another trope that I won’t name to avoid spoilers.

Overall this was my first by Abby and I can see the hype around her, it’s definitely valid. Her writing style is so beautiful and fun and sweet. I can’t wait to go read from her backlist.

“‘It’s like I always say,’ Mom said, wiping under her eyes. ‘Love shows up. That’s how you know when it’s real.’”

It’s Bri’s book guys! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 And boy oh BOY do I love her. She is an unapologetic, sassy, whip smart, and feisty girl and I am HERE for it. I damn near squealed when I saw the reference to Alexis from Part Of Your World, the author’s 2022 book that is probably in my top 10 of books I read last year…or possibly ever. Adored doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt about that book. Baby goats?? But I digress..

First of all, here here for the STRONG mental health representation. Thank you. I was utterly lost and completely engrossed in this story. Utterly. Lost. I laughed out loud. I wanted to cry (actually choked up twice, which is HUGE for me-I only cry in books when dogs die). I laughed out loud some more. The parrot and his…ummm…shall we say..colorful vocabulary had me roaring. I could not possibly have loved this book more. It’s a book I would want to forget so I could read it and experience it for the first time again.

And Jacob? Oh, my heart. Do men like this exist in real life? Vulnerable yet strong. Honorable and smart and sexy and…a doctor. What an awesome character! My favorite of the year thus far.

“The only problem with anger is that it burns hot and fast. It doesn’t tend to burn long. Sadness burns long. Grief. Disappointment.”

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and the author for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Here is my honest review.

BAD BAD BAD stuff:

- The BABY trope!!! Everything was going so well 3 months into the relationship and she gets PreGnAnt. UGH
- Relationship was only 3 months in before all this crazy stuff started happening

SORTA BAD stuff:

- This book has quite a lot of thinking happening inside the two main characters' heads. I often skipped a few lines or so to get to the actions / conversations
- Miscommunication trope! Literally just have a conversation people

GOOD GOOD GOOD stuff:

- Absolutely love the two main characters (their jobs, the way they interact, etc.)
- These two lovebirds are so romantic!
- Made me laugh OUT LOUD multiple times
- Banter to DIE for
- The spice was just enough to be spicy but not enough to be smutty :)

Briana is an ER physician who is having a rough go at life- she is going through a tough divorce, and is caring for her younger brother with kidney failure. She soon meets her new colleague, Jacob, who makes a horrible first impression by having several patients die on his watch. To make things worse, he is there to supposedly steal the position of Chief of Emergency Medicine which she was inline for. Jacob has just left a long term relationship and experiences anxiety that makes new spaces and socializing difficult.
However, after a few letter exchanges and shared lunches in the "sob closet", Briana and Jacob realize they share a natural chemistry. Not only is Jacob a hot new doctor, but he is a perfect match for Briana's brothers kidney transplant. When Jacob asks her for a favour... the rest is history!

This was a cute light hearted romance that also approached sensitive topics with care (tw anxiety, chronic kidney illness, and cheating/divorce - it is great that the author includes this in the beginning and works with a sensitivity writer when writing the story). I am not usually a fan of the miscommunication trope, but it worked for me in this book. More often than not, I wanted to shake Briana! Sometimes I felt like the miscommunication was a big dragged on - but it wraps up nicely in the end. This was a fun romance and I look forward to reading more books by Abby Jimenez

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review! This book will be published on April 11, 2023.

This is my first read by Abby and it did NOT disappoint! This has been my first 5 star read in awhile and I know I'll be thinking about this book FOREVER.

Briana is about to be newly divorced woman with a brother desparately in need of a kidney donor and to top it off - a new doctor who can't seem to do anything right seems to be encroaching on her long awaited promotion. However, this doctor turns things around by leaving Briana a letter and they slowly start to form this friendship (as well as fake relationship) in order to help one another out. Briana was sure she wouldn't give love another glance but Jacob might be turning that all around.

I loved absolutely everything about this book. I always appreciate a content/trigger warning prior to reading as I think it's such an important piece of information. The trigger warnings mention chronic disease as well as cheating, clinical anxiety and pregnancy loss.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, I was thrilled to meet a character like Jacob who I could relate to and I love how normalized it was in Abby's story. This book had me smiling, laughing and definitely crying and it's pretty much everything I'm looking for in a romance. It included some of my favourite tropes like fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers. We also love a one bed scene.

It was a feel good story with a little bit of spice and I loved the slow burn relationship and quite honestly couldn't put this book down. I will definitely be recommending as well as picking up more of Abby's books.

Thanks to Abby, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the e-arc. Can't wait to pick up the physical copy.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it SO much! I can definitely see the hype around her books and can’t wait to read more of them in the future.

In this romance we have Briana and Jacob, but it is more than just a love story. There are a lot of incredible topics addressed in this book. Jacob has severe anxiety. Briana is divorced and has intense trust issues. Her brother needs a kidney transplant and has become depressed after his diagnosis.

I appreciated the anxiety storyline so much. I could relate to everything that Jacob went through, especially the stuff about googling a place before he went there so he could get a full layout of the place in preparation. I loved that Briana was such a good fit for him and knew exactly what he needed.

The little notes they exchanged back and forth were adorable, but the letter near the end that Jacob wrote to Briana was just too precious for words.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me was the miscommunication. It was such a prominent part of the book and my blood was boiling. Talk to each other! Make your feelings known! This could be solved so easily, people.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for my gifted copy.

•𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑚 𝑓𝑢𝑧𝑧𝑦 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑐𝑜𝑚
•𝐹𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
•𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
•𝐷𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑂𝑉
•𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑦

Yay for my first arc via Netgalley- I was pumped to get this approval and devoured it shortly after creating an account 😍

There are some heavy topics that are covered in this one relating to mental health, anxiety, pregnancy loss, and more. Check them if needed 🫶🏼 Jimenez does a fantastic job of addressing and weaving the stories of loss, acceptance, and growth together.

Abby Jimenez strikes again with another heart warming, grinning from ear-to-ear, laughing out loud romantic *swoon worthy* comedy. The story dives into Bri, best friend from Part of Your World (please read if you haven’t) and her life back in Minneapolis. Coming in hot to the story is MC Jacob, who is unlike many other leading men I’ve read about. Ding ding! We have a cinnamon roll winner of the year. He is absolutely fantastic and endearing…filled with so much hope and personal growth throughout the book.

Both characters are vulnerable, relatable, and take on their own traumas…attempting to heal together. I’m envious of their communication skills and especially Lt. Dan 😉 The banter of everyone, including the supporting roles, had me laughing out loud at so many points! Their families are ridiculously realistic & I loved every second.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication trope. It happened a few different times, changing the pace abruptly and making the ending seem a bit rushed. This book didn’t have as much steam as the first..a little disappointed but didn’t detract from the story.

I need to go read all of the other books written by Jimenez- she is an instant buy author for me now 🥰

I don't think I will ever meet an Abby Jimenez book that I don't absolutely adore, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

Yours Truly is the love story between Brianna and Jacob. Two busy doctors, working in the same hospital, and fighting for the same promotion.

I'm a big fan of epistolary novels, and the letters that Brianna and Jacob exchanged throughout the book were a great way to keep the story moving. The letters helped work through some of the miscommunication that they encountered, which was a great way to model writing as a mechanism to work through big feelings.

Abby books are never just about the HEA, and Yours Truly was no exception. Both main characters had big things going on in their lives that they had to work through while also working on their relationship - which is how relationships work in reality.

Bravo AJ for another knock it out of the park novel, everyone should pick it up, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next,

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this wonderful ARC.

I adore all of Abby Jimenez’ books, but I think this one might be my favorite.

Briana and Jacob’s interactions were everything. Just as amusing and great to read even when Bri “hated,” him as when it was quite the opposite.

There was only one bed. But called out.

Jacob’s anxiety reminded me greatly of what I deal with (minus the social part). It was enlightening to read about a partner that understands it to that extent as well. And how Briana reacts based on past trauma, man, this book hit home. It was everything.

It comes out next week. Preorder NOW. You won’t be disappointed.

Abby’s books feel like a big hug when you need it most ❤️

Briana and Jacob’s story feels relatable and authentic. Honestly, the tropes used in this story are a bit overdone in my opinion, but Jimenez develops her characters so perfectly that I don’t even mind and it still feels unique. The letters the MC wrote back and forth to each other had me smiling and swooning 😍 Actual LOL’ing

Jacob may be one of my favorite male MC’s ever. As someone that also struggles with anxiety, I felt his pain and understood his actions.

Briana irritated me in the second half with miscommunication and lack of trust. Her feelings were certainly valid, but I found myself yelling at her “come on! You’re a smart woman, don’t act like this!” Of course, the fact that she could get under my skin so much just shows how effectively Jimenez writes her characters.

I loved the tones of girl power and feminism scattered throughout the novel! Plus a side character is in a same-sex relationship. Romance novels are becoming more and more progressive, and I am HERE FOR IT!

Yours Truly can easily be read as a stand alone, but I adore how each book written by Jimenez has connections and character cameos. It feels very Easter egg-like. I can’t wait to see which character’s story will be next!

Read this if you love
•Fake dating
•Friends to lovers
•Characters with relatable struggles

TW- Mention of pregnancy loss and postpartum depression, anxiety and panic attacks, parental abandonment, discussion on dialysis and kidney failure

Briana is a newly divorced ER doctor that has decided that relationships just aren’t for her. Enter Jacob…the newest ER doctor. He is handsome, but kinda socially awkward and the two of them certainly don’t get off to the best start. However, when circumstances lead Jacob being able to help Briana’s brother like no one else has been able to, she agrees to play the part of his girlfriend in front of his family.

In a story as that has been told a million times, this one just hit different. I absolutely fell head over heels for these characters. I laughed out loud more times than I can count and I was brought to tears at the end of the book. Best book I have read this year…will highly recommend to all my friends and customers!

Thanks to #netgalley and #abbyjimenez for the chance to read and review this one!

Abby Jimenez is a relatively new-to-me author but I absolutely loved her book Part of Your World when I read it last year. I enjoy how she incorporates funny banter, great love interests and a focus on mental health within her stories so I was eager to read this advanced copy of Yours Truly.

This book centres around Brianna Ortiz who we briefly met in POYW as the BFF of POYW's Alexis. Brianna is an ER doctor who loves her job but has had a hard year dealing with and supporting her brother through his chronic illness. When a new doctor starts in the ER, he seems like a total arse. Jacob and Bri get off to a bad start, but for various reasons, soon decide that fake dating each other is in their best interests.

Once again Jimenez includes good banter and compassionately incorporates mental health issues into her story. Anyone who lives with social anxiety will be able to see themselves in Jacob's thoughts and struggles. He is endearing and awkward and totally lovable. I particularly connected with how some people with social anxiety appear 'standoffish' when people don't realize all the emotional turmoil going on in our brains, sometimes in the simplest of interactions.

What I didn't quite love:
- the miscommunication trope is my least favourite and it is in full force in this book. It became repetitive and went on for far too long when I just wanted these two to find their HEA.
- I felt like Jacob's social anxiety evaporated once love took over and while love is a powerful thing and support from your significant other is important, it is not a cure-all for social anxiety.

Read this book if you love:
- Tropes: second chance love, fake dating, miscommunication
- a connection with Part of Your World
- strong secondary characters
- great bond between the main characters
- compassionate and accurate portrayal of mental health
- supportive post-break up relationships

Overall, this was a fun read with good banter, a swoony lead male character and a great message -- show up for the people you love! The added depth from its compassionate focus on mental health and complicated family dynamics is the icing on the proverbial RomCom cake.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Forever for my advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

More than 5 stars good! Every book I read by Abby is even better. I loved every single word of this book. I smiled. I felt deep emotions. I laughed. I love how deep this books dives. I loved Jacob and Briana. How Briana judged Jacob so quickly from miscommunication but quickly fixed it. I loved the stolen moments. The supply closet. The letters and post it’s. I loved Jacobs Wild invested family. The twins. Grandpa. The bird. This book just had so many amazing things. The trip to Waken. That was nice. This is a must read book!!

“I know trust is hard for you. So that’s what I’m going to help you with.”

This was such a fun and enjoyable fake dating romance with a cinnamon roll MMC and great anxiety/ptsd rep. It was extremely readable and easy to get through.

The first 50% of this book was a 5 star for me. I loved Jacob and Briana falling in love and writing letters to each other. I started to go into full on obsession mode. Then the tension plateaued and the conflict started relying on miscommunication. I found myself restless, trying to finish it. The ending dragged out which is why it ended up being a 4 in the end.

Regardless I really liked it! I especially liked how Briana’s ptsd and Jacob’s anxiety was handled and how they each cared for the other through their struggles.

I really enjoy all of Abby Jimenez books. Rom-coms with healthy relationships (just enough drama to make it interesting but not be icky). Yes, the fake dating trope is done a lot, but I think it was done well here. I thought the plot of the donated organ was a little bit unrealistic, but it made for a good story!