After reading a few too many thrillers, I needed a perfect palate cleanser and this book fit the bill. Yours Truly was an absolute delight! Briana is an ER doctor with trust issues and a cynical attitude about love due to her past relationship that ended after her husband cheated on her. She has completely sworn off love for good. Forever. That plan seems to be going well until she trauma bonded with the new ER doctor Jacob who has a past of his own, with his ex-girlfriend currently engaged to none other than his own brother. When Jacob agreed to give Bri's brother a new kidney kind of in exchange for a fake date to all the wedding festivities, their bond grows deeper and turns into something much more real.

This was the second Abby Jimenez book that I've taken in, and I think they just get better every time. Having not read Part of Your World (yet) I hadn't met the character of Briana yet BUT I definitely didn't feel cheated out that I didn't know her back story. Jimenez has a way of breathing life into character who end up feeling like people that you actually know. You learn so much about them in such good timing that it makes your bond to the characters so strong. I loved the anxiety aspect that Jacob had because social anxiety is something so many people suffer from! I'm also an ER nurse, so the trauma bonding thing is totally real, felt like this book could have completely happened in my own workplace. Finally, the blub in the back of the book in which Jimenez revealed that she has been suffering with Chronic Kidney Disease made me appreciate Benny's struggles more, because I felt like we learned more about Jimenez the author through this character. I loved this book, and cannot wait to buy a copy for all my friends when it is released!!!

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All the opinions in this review are my own.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Rating: ★★★★.5

Read if you like:
・ Forced proximity
・ Letter writing
・ Fake dating
・ Cinnamon roll hero / plant guy
・ Anxiety rep
・ Closed-door steam
・ 3-legged dogs

Yours Truly is a heart-warming romantic comedy guaranteed to make your jaw-drop and your heart literally explode. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!

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

*there might be some spoilers in here – proceed with caution*

While Briana and Jacob had a rough start, they quickly redeemed themselves through letter-writing. I love when authors switch up the book’s format to keep readers engaged and letters are the best way to do that in my opinion. I want my own ‘Dearest Briana’ moment now!!

Abby Jimenez always does a fantastic job representing and discussing illness/trauma and this time is no different. As someone who struggles with anxiety, Jacob put all of my worst fears and worries into words, and I have never felt more seen. The way Briana effortlessly calms his racing mind is a dream.

Both main characters are incredible. Jacob is tender, affectionate, and thoughtful in the best ways possible. His plant room, journal, and donation are such beautifully defining components of his personality. Briana is strong, independent, and inspiringly confident. I love how care-free she is about meeting Jacob’s family and how bold she is when enacting revenge on Nick and meeting Abby. On a similar side note, Jacob’s family is a HUGE highlight to this book: I would give Grandpa a cigarette any day.

I so badly wanted to give this book the full five stars, so let me explain why I did not. Abby Jimenez endings are absolutely killer because they are entirely unpredictable. She writes main characters with *completely* immovable obstacles in their way and yet, she somehow finds a way to blow them to pieces. Aside from Briana’s baby bump, I saw the ending to Yours Truly coming from a mile away. I will say, however, that this is just the nature of a miscommunication romance and Abby did a great job maneuvering within the confines of this accursed trope. While we are at it, I was also hoping for a little more Lieutenant Dan action. The dog MUST be the main character, no if, ands, or buts!

Some other notable things: “we agreed to be harmless to each other,” “love always shows up,” “Would you rather….” How am I supposed to live after finishing this book? There is so much more I could say, but you just need to read it for yourself to see its full glory.

If I could have a constant IV drip of Abby Jimenez books for the rest of my life, I would. If you don’t buy all her books after that statement, I am not sure what else could convince you.

Wow Abby Jimenez does it again...and if you ask me, this is her best one yet. 

This book starts with a not so good impression between Briana and Jacob. Jacob is the new doctor at the hospital and Briana thinks he is here to take her job. But just one letter from Jacob to Briana, their opinions about each other change and they begin to build a friendship. 

Let me tell you how much I loved this book. I knew from the first 20% that this book was going to be a 5 star book. The main characters Briana and Jacob are so real. Jacob has anxiety and for him it can dictate how he lives his life, he needs supportive people in his life and Briana becomes that person very quickly. She really sees him and accepts him for who he is. As someone that has anxiety, I thought the character of Jacob was so accurate. The way he describes his feelings was really a beautiful representation of how anxiety really feels. 
These two characters are in a strange place in their lives. They are both healing from heartache and not focused on finding a love match...but they quickly become so close and of course feelings begin to grow. 

Jimenez's writing is flawless. She can make me fall in love with these characters, shed tears and laugh out loud. I have definitely pre ordered this, I need it on my shelf.

Sad to report that this one wasn’t for me. In the past I’ve adored Abby’s books. There were moments I loved this one and other times where I found myself annoyed. I loved Jacob and Briana, they are cute together and have great chemistry. However, I couldn’t deal with the miscommunication trope and I felt the fake dating lasted for far too long. Overall, i found the book to be okay.

All right, fans of Abby Jiminez are in for a real treat this spring!

I have not laughed this hard while reading in so long. I annotated so many laugh out loud moments, and if I wasn't laughing, I was awwing 🥹 over the absolute PRECIOUSNESS of Jacob. PROTECT THIS MAN AT ALL COSTS. The letters at the beginning were so fun and original to this story...it reminded me of passing notes before AIM and texting were a thing, making it a bit nostalgic.

Yours Truly is fast-paced, hilarious, sweet, and sexy all wrapped into one fun fake-dating feel-good romance.

PUB DATE: April 11, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

This is a cute romance with Grey’s Anatomy vibes. Brianna is a very likable character with a quick wit. The will-they-or-won’t-they will have you on the edge of your seat until the last chapter.

4.5 ⭐️

Abby is back with supporting character, Brianna from Part of Your World as the female MC of Yours Truly. This book does a fantastic job of depicting anxiety, as well as the impact of autoimmune diseases not only in the person diagnoses, but also those who they’re closest with. I also loved how Abby depicted life post-divorce and the necessary healing both Brianna and Jacob had to experience-both characters endured unimaginable circumstances. My one gripe is with the miscommunication trope, which is probably my least favorite trope. That said, I found the way Abby wrote it to be less offensive than other books I’ve read, though it is still a frustrating trope to me. Overall, another winner from Abby!

This book was a 5 star read for me. Often I anticipate books and they fall short, however Abby's books have never fallen short. Abby's writing continues to get better--this is her best book yet. The book was engaging, fun, quirky, with great romance.

This might be my favorite Abby Jimenez book yet! I loved the Briana and Jacob individually and how they were so perfectly suited for each other! As always, Abby deftly handles challenging topics and representation with humor and heart. Can't wait to share this one with family and friends!

As someone who is anxious and has an autoimmune disease, I was worried I would struggle getting through Yours Truly, given the topics discussed - but holy cow this book is unreal. You did it again Abby Jimenez. You had me on a roller coaster ride of tears and butterflies, all at the same time. Absolutely loved it!!!!! Could not recommend this book enough. Everyone should run to the stores when it gets released!!

Abby Jimenez really doesn't pull her punches with her romance novels. This one definitely had some intense themes - acrimonious divorce, debilitating chronic illness of a close relative, severe social anxiety, and some other traumatic events. Jimenez handles all of these with care and also still manages to have some pretty hilarious moments and a sweet love story. As a chronically ill person with an autoimmune disease, I am always happy to see chronic illness rep, and it was interesting to learn from the author's note that Jimenez wrote this while dealing with her own diagnosis. I really liked Brianna as a side character in Part of Your World and was happy that she got her own book. She's funny, smart, and somehow both tough and sensitive at the same time. After a rocky start with her new colleague in the ER, Jacob, the two become friends by writing each other letters (it's very cute) and then end up in a fake dating situation after Jacob claims to have a new girlfriend to get his family off his back (his long-term girlfriend is now engaged to his brother). It's a romance, so the expected thing happens, but what kept me really wanting to turn the pages was how much I liked each of these characters individually. There's a plot point near the end that I wasn't a huge fan of (I won't say what because I feel like it's kind of a spoiler), but overall I thought this was a fantastic romance with a lot of heart.

Abby Jimenez consistently writes stories that draw the reader into the story, engaging your interest, and causing us to fall in love with the characters. I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed by one of her books. In fact, Yours Truly is my new favorite!. Briana and Jacob are both facing their own personal challenges. Their relationship and support of each other, the progression from dislike, to friendship, to love may be one of the most engaging while also dealing with serious issues.
This book struck close to home for me and I will remember it for a long time to come. Read this book and I believe that you will laugh, cry, and fall in love. All of the feels!

Briana Ortiz, heartbroken ER badass, has had enough. Her ex-husband cheated on her, her brother is in renal failure, her best friend moved away with the love of her life, and there is a new ER doctor in her hospital vying for Chief and killing patients. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but she has had enough. Jacob is a keep to himself kind of person with intense anxiety. When his ex-girlfriend announces she is marrying his brother, he accidentally announces to his family that (of course) he is over her as he has a new girlfriend. Cue an awkward run-in in the supply closet, handwritten letters, and some light instagram stalking and this fake dating trope soars to new heights. Can they keep up appearances long enough so they both get what they need out of the arrangement?

This is a follow-up to Part of Your World and focuses on Alexis's friend, Bri. These characters were so real and loveable. Bri's heartbreak and trust issues come across loud and clear in the writing, as does Jacob's anxiety. There is a section early on in the book where Jacob is describing how different people drain energy as a part of his anxiety and I resonated with that so much I'm going to be using it long into the future. The families on both sides are a hoot and are easy to fall in love with. I love how Bri cares for Jacob and their fit, and even how Wakan brought out some of its "maybe magic" for the two of them. The only frustrating part of this story was the internal assumptions both characters were making about each other and their feelings. Their fake dating relationship started off with understanding and communication and it doesn't make sense why they couldn't hash it out. The ending had me in tears!

So I’ve never read books by Abby Jimenez before but after reading this I think it’s safe to say that I’ll forever be Abby Jimenez’s fan. This book had a lot of tropes that I disliked but for some reason, I enjoyed this a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot because I was crying, laughing, gasping, and now can’t stop thinking about these characters. This was a fun read and so cute. I’ll never find a book that makes me feel like this again 😭

I love Briana! She and I are basically the same person. She kills plants, and so do I. Jacob was the cutest character ever. He struggles with anxiety and I love how the author didn’t make that his personality. The novel starts with Jacob’s first day as the ER doctor at the hospital Briana works at. He is not having a good time and he’s miserable but his personal life is also pretty bad when he finds out that his ex-girlfriend is getting married to his brother. Briana isn’t having a great time either because she’s getting divorced and her brother is in renal failure. Both of these characters have a lot of baggage and with the 2 POVs we get to see them work it out.

We get to see these characters grow on each other especially when they start writing letters to each other. I loved that! It was a great way to get the characters to bond. They become friends and then they start fake dating. Fake dating is my favorite trope so I was really excited to see this new dynamic between the characters. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Briana gives him safe phrases to say when he wants to get out of the situation and be by himself. I loved how the phrases were horrible yet funny and I loved how Jacob uses them.

Briana has never had an easy relationship with the men in her life and there comes a moment towards the end where she’s scared to be with Jacob when they start really dating. Jacob giving her his entire journal to read about how he has felt since meeting Briana was the cutest and most gentle thing ever. He has anxiety and doesn’t like sharing his vulnerabilities but he did it to show Briana that he was all in. My heart exploded.

I loved this book and I’ll continue to love this book because this was so amazing. There were some amazing side characters that helped build the story with their hilarious relationships with the main characters. Also, love the shameless plug for Jimenez’s bakery. I don’t know if she does that for all her books but this one did so one day when I’m in Minnesota I will be buying a red velvet cupcake.

I have to preface this review by saying I am really hard on romance books. A lot of it just doesn’t feel plausible to me, and I have a hard time connecting with the characters… That being said, I thought this was a really fun, well done, and well executed novel. Towards the end, I got so frustrated with the miscommunication between the two main characters that I really couldn’t stand it for one more minute! But maybe that means this was a really good read? There was so much going on here: nuanced discussions around mental health, meditations on what it means to lose the love that we thought was guaranteed, and how we move on from the path we thought we were destined for. I really loved Brianna, the main character. She was an all-around bad ass. I do have to dock a star for just how long the miscommunication went on for because, again, it was at times painful. Jacob was pretty cute too but my favorite was Lieutenant Dan!! This was my first Abby Jimenez novel and I really liked it.

My gosh. I don’t know, you guys. I’m starting to have some major suspicions about Abby Jimenez. Something is UP. She’s gotta be some kind of magician, don’t you think? Like a storytelling unicorn of some sort. Yours Truly is her fifth book, and once again, it’s a five star read. Every single time she releases a new one, I ask myself, “HOW THE HECK DOES SHE DO IT?” when I finish reading. It boggles my mind. What kind of bookish sorcery is this?

All kidding aside, I think it’s clear that I LOVED this book. Jimenez is obviously talented as heck. I’ve said it once before, and I’ll say it time and time again. She has a special gift for creating memorable and lovable characters, and crafting storylines that will suck you in immediately. Her books are always centered around one prospective couple, and the question of, “Will they or won’t they?” is always lingering in the air. The chemistry is sizzling, the sexual tension is always thick, and the bedroom scenes are usually open-door and super steamy.

In Yours Truly, we meet Briana and Jacob. I truly loved them both, but can honestly say that never in my life have I related to a fictional male character like I did with Jacob. He suffers from social anxiety, and all of his quirks were exactly mine. It actually made my jaw drop a little. On top of that, he’s extremely kind, sweet, caring, and lovable. He’s my new book boyfriend. I also loved how Jacob and Briana both worked in the same hospital as ER doctors. It gave me some serious Grey’s Anatomy vibes! Storage closet scenes included!

Also, be prepared for multiple comedic moments. I can’t even tell you how many times I laughed out loud with this one. The big family gatherings were hilarious. Jacob’s grandpa is the absolute best. Hands down, my very favorite character in the novel. He had me howling, snorting, and cackling. The man loves his cigarettes! LOL. Well, you’re now five for five, Abby. Keep the perfection going, please and thank you. But no pressure. 5/5 stars for Yours Truly! Out April 11th!

The excitement I had to read this book was unreal. When I got the email I had been approved for an ARC i squealed. truly obsessed with Abby Jimenez. And this did NOT disappoint at all. An MMC with social anxiety? sign me up? he writes her letters because it’s easier to get his thoughts out? same. between her understanding his “quiets,” his want to step out of his comfort zone for her and her making that easier on him by understanding his anxiety, this book cured all my ills. they have these quiet moments where they “agree to be harmless” to each other and it caused me physical heart sickness i was so giddy. I ached for their tension and their connection throughout this. fake dating, he gives her brother his kidney, it’s all just too much. all the stars, abby jimenez, take all my money.

I am so thankful for the tiny Read Now window and the opportunity to read Yours Truly in advance.
My gosh. Friends. This book.
Briana, recently divorced, just wants to become the head of the ED where she works. She’s a quick on her feet thinker and deserves the chance.
Jacob is the new doctor, running from his past, and wanting a fresh start somewhere.
Briana thinks the new guy is gunning for the position she wants and preconceived notions are formed.
So Jacob leaves a letter for her at the doctor station….
.
Enter in friends from Part of Your World, Briana’s mom and sick brother, as well as Jacob’s family and his dog.
It’s everything you can count on from Abby Jimenez.
Lastly, Make sure you read the Author’s Note once you finish. Out 11 April so you might as well preorder.
And remember, never take your health for granted.

This book…Abby has done it again!!!! I saw so much of myself in Jacob and learned so many things about why I react the way I do, toward others, in situations, with family. Abby brings to life the struggles of being an introvert (I’ve always just called it shy), of fear in social situations, of being around too many people. This book, like all of her others has many laughs out loud moments and equally has squeeze your heart until you cry moments. Some of the times I cried was realizing I feel EXACTLY the same way Jacob does. Change is hard, he didn’t do it because of the fear of the unknown. He avoided the hard conversations because of the unknown. I felt this to my core.
Abby brings her characters to life, like you are there, a part of it. You will be left thinking about this book long after the last page is turned.

Let me preface this with I LOVE ABBY. I love anything Abby related: I love her books, I love her cupcakes, I love her dogs.

Yours Truly is a book about Briana Ortiz (who we met in Part of Your World, if you are also an Abby fan) and Jacob Maddox. Briana is an established ER doctor and Jacob has recently become part of the staff. We follow how their relationship blooms from not getting along to more.

This wasn't just another typical boy-meets-girl romance, in each book, Abby tackles a serious topic. In Yours Truly we look into Jacob's anxiety and how it rules his life. While reading, I assessed several members in my circle and could relate to what I was reading. To be able to look at another, see their struggles and convey them with emotion to strangers is a talent Abby truly possesses.

Thank you to Abby Jimenez, Forever and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.