Thank you Abby for the opportunity to meet these characters early via an advanced reader copy on netgalley from Forever Romance for Yours Truly will be published April 2023. I love how all of Abby’s stories are so relatable, funny and real. She tackles real life issues such as anxiety, illnesses, difficulty trusting people in such a touching manner that you truly feel like you are right there living in the characters brains. I always feel so emotionally invested in these stories and always want more of their lives and this new book being no exception. I love that her books are intertwined with little Easter Eggs of each other and the glimpses of the author we get from her own life. Love shows up.

I wanted to love this. I’ve loved other Abby Jimenez books, including the first in this new series of hers. But 70% of the book was dedicated to the most overdone and, in my opinion, most annoying trope in romance novels: the making of assumptions and subsequent lack of communication about said assumptions. Even though we all know how the book is going to end, you have to slog through the majority of the book screaming at the characters to just TALK TO EACH OTHER. So instead of reading a book about their relationship growing and deepening, I spent so much of the book skimming past pages repeating the same. “I love him but I KNOW he doesn’t love me so I can’t do anything about it” and vice versa. FINALLY, at 85%, we start getting somewhere. One a positive note, I do think the author did a phenomenal job describing what it’s like to live with anxiety. Four starts for the premise of the story. Two stars for the execution.

Abby Jimenez never disappoints! In Yours Truly, she delivers an adorable fake-dating romance featuring a hero with anxiety and a heroine who has some baggage from a shitty divorce. One of my favourite parts of this book was how developed all the family side characters were. I loved the characters fell for each other while writing letters and it was interesting to have a character donate a kidney. While I didn't love the use of the accidental pregnancy trope, I really enjoyed everything else in this romance book.

Trigger warnings: miscarriage, cheating ex-husband

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez is a fake dating romance that centers on divorced Brianna Ortiz and cinnamon roll ER physician Jacob Maddox.

The pen pals part of it all, which showed how sweet Jacob was and how Brianna was willingly opening her heart to him, was one of the tropes that really captured my interest, as well as the many others that Abby incorporated in her novel. Also, I thought that they were both such an amazing couple and balanced each other out despite Brianna's dread of her relationships failing and despite Jacob's shyness and anxiousness. .

With the way her marriage ended, I could understand why Brianna had trust issues, but throughout the book, she just kept breaking both Jacob's and her own hearts by assuming the worst of him and consistently drawing comparisons between him and her cheating ex—despite the fact that they had absolutely nothing in common!

Overall, Abby clearly portrays an anxious character as well as a character who is beautifully flawed!

*Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), to NetGalley, and to the author, Abby Jimenez, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!*

YOURS TRULY has everything good that Abby Jimenez ALWAYS brings to her books: laugh out loud moments, all the feels, meaningful female friendships, a highly emotional story, so much swoon, and hilarious family dynamics.

But...BUT... I had one pretty significant grievance with YOURS TRULY. This book is a seriously slow burn. But the author does an exceptional job at ramping that slow burn up until the reader is in a frenzy, needing these two to suck face (and not just "face", if ya know what I mean).

We finally, FINALLY, get to the slow burn payoff and that's where my problem occurred. There are 2 descriptive sex scenes in the book and neither is even remotely romantic. They each occur during an emotional breakdown of a main characters. There is an awareness that more sex is happening then just these two instances however, the reader doesn't get any sweet, meaningful, romantic steamy scenes between these main characters and I was seriously disappointed. Not only is it disappointing on the surface level (people, I like some sex in my stories) but it also felt very out of step for these characters, as they were written.

Part of reading romance books is an understanding that written sex scenes are not just there for fun. A good sex scene reinforces the characters' relationship, contributes to the story, and reveals different sides of each character. These two scenes did not accomplish that, in my opinion. They added to the high emotion and drama in this book, and nothing more.

Having said that, YOURS TRULY is a great book with laughs, love, heartache, and a seriously sweet happily every after.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: cheating ex, past miscarriage, anxiety disorder, anxiety attack, kidney failure, past parent abandonment
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 4/5 - Tackled some seriously tough topics.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but this was the first book I’ve read my Abby Jimenez. I know, I know, I’m late to the party.
However, I can tell you that I am in LOVE with her writing and this book.
I wasn’t even half way done this and I already knew it was getting 5 stars.
The characters are well developed, relatable and lovable. Jacob!
The storyline was excellent. It was funny but serious when it needed to be.

Things I loved most:
Mental Health (Anxiety) rep
Fake Dating
Adorable Dog
Workplace Romance

Only thing that I don’t love but it was done SO WELL that it actually didn’t bother me - miscommunication.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored Jacob and Briana. So unbelievably much. They had the most intense chemistry. And while this book may not be the spiciest book, it was perfect for what it needed to be. This book and story were so well written that it’s making me want to go out and get Abby Jimenez’s other books. I actually couldn’t put this one down. I read it in one sitting. I will say that there could be some triggering themes in the book if people aren’t aware but I LOVE that the main character dealt with anxiety. It made me feel seen in this book. Just seeing it well written and reading about Jacob going through it, it definitely made me feel more of a connection to the characters. HIGHLY recommend this book.

The emotional chokehold this book had me in from 19% in (according to my kindle, I dunno the specific page number) is unprecedented. I was crying every ten pages, IN THE BEST WAY. When I tell you this is now one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE MUST READ ROMANCE recommendations, I am not over exaggerating. I will be telling EVERYONE to buy this book the SECOND it hits shelves. Oh my goodness. What a fantastic read. I loved it. I loved every second of it. Abby, I can’t wait to meet you at Book Bonanza 2023 and get this one signed.

4.5 stars

*sigh* *swoon* *sigh again* I’m gonna need a minute over here to get my words for this review. We all know Abby Jimenez is a gem of an author, and she just solidifies her insane talent and gift for writing with Yours Truly. It is equally sweet and swoony. If I could only give this book a two word description I would give it those two words right there.

Jacob is the absolute sweetest, most thoughtful book boyfriend. He is so patient and his love for Briana just oozes off the page. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought of Briana as a hardcore badass who definitely leans a bit (read: all the way) on the jaded side when it comes to men. Her character development and personal growth was such an important and moving part of the story. My teeny tiny complaint is the steam in this book didn’t happen until like 80% into the book. This book definitely leaned toward love-angst vs sexual-angst, which is fine! I just personally always compare all of Abby’s books to TFZ (which leaned more toward sexual-angst I think) and Yours Truly is not that style. But I loved it so much still. It completely delivers on giving you major feels and maybe a tear or two!

I will say this book is chock full of possible triggers (listed as many as I could remember below) Abby went above and beyond to be as accurate as possible with also being sensitive to her readers. Her writing and portrayal of real life struggles is done wonderfully, and you really see Jacob and Briana’s softer sides and vulnerability through some of these struggles.

Yours Truly comes out April 11, 2023 and in true Abby Jimenez fashion knocked it out of the park!


TW: anxiety, depression, panic attack, family illness, miscarriage, infidelity of partner

4.25/5

this was so cute! i loved briana and jacob and found their whole relationship so incredibly charming. the ensemble cast was amazing and i loved the side characters, they were a real hoot. there were some tropes in here that are not my personal fav and so that’s why this wasn’t 5 stars for me, like i understand WHY it had to be there but it’s just not my cup of tea. so -0.25 and the other -0.25 for the tiktok fyp discussion they have. but other than that, this was perfect.

a hot er introvert doctor falls for me WHEN?

huge thank you to forever and netgalley for the arc!!

A huge thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!!!
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I have been hanging on to this book since August, afraid if I read it too soon I would have to wait far too long for the next installment in the Jimenez universe. But eventually, I just couldn’t wait a moment longer to start it. Brianna and Jacob are basically the couple’s goals of the fake-dating to true love trope, and they help to demonstrate the necessity of clear communication in any relationship. Both of them are working through hardships and they need to be honest with each other and themselves in order to not harm or be harmed by the other.
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Jacob has social anxiety, and the dual POV allows the reader a glimpse into his head and the spiral of overthinking that it is easy for him to fall into. Seeing the way Jacob and Brianna view the same situations is enlightening, and brings to light how making a simple way to the way one approaches those with anxiety can help people feel included and appreciated for who they are. The novel also focuses on kidney failure and the need for a live donation, which is a seldom discussed topic, but one that is literally lifesaving. Hopefully this book will inspire more people to consider being a donor and potentially change the lives of others. I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for Jimenez to release her sixth book, but for now I will just be rereading the others!

Thank you NetGalley + Forever for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Dr. Briana Ortiz is ...not having a great time. Her divorce is almost finalized, her brother desperately needs a kidney donation and now it turns out she probably isn't getting that promotion she thought was a sure thing. Oh, also? She can't stand the new Dr. on the ward, Jacob Maddox. That is, until Jacob writes her a letter. Before long, Briana considers Jacob a friend. Then Jacob gives Briana the best gift imaginable - a kidney for her brother - and Briana starts to reevaluate her feelings for Dr. Maddox. Friends give people gifts...right?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Fictional men written by Abby Jimenez are superior to all other men. She has absolutely done it again with Dr. Jacob Maddox, an introvert who struggles with social anxiety. The mental health rep in this story is really refreshing...it does not fully define who the MMC is nor how the FMC views him. I also loved Briana, she is a smart, strong, feisty woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. There were a few chapters at the end where I just wanted to shake Briana and tell her to snap out of it, but, as they say, all's well that ends well.

I am OBSESSED with this book! I laughed so much and I cried. Briana and Jacob were both amazing characters and I loved their development. Briana was hilarious, I want to be friends with her. I also don't think I've ever read a book that had such good anxiety rep. Though I do not have anxiety as bad as Jacob had it, I definitely felt seen reading some of the things he goes through and how he dealt with them. This is a book I could see myself reading again and now I want more of them! I highly recommend this book for lovers of the fake dating trope!

Will I ready every book by the author in one sitting? Likely yes. What a sweet romance with a thoughtful take on mental health.

Every new release by Abby Jimenez quickly becomes my favorite. After reading Part of Your World I didn't think she could top herself but this book was THE BEST. In the few moments Bri had in Part of Your World she was shining with star quality. I left that book saying I had a new book best friend and now we have her story!!

I felt like I really knew Briana and Jacob, they were both fully formed lovable characters with an endearing fake-dating love story. I didn't want this book to end. Except for the angst, oh the beautiful, torturous angst, I just wanted them together already!

Even the afterwards was beautiful. Abby Jimenez opened up with the reader and was vulnerable in a very personal way that meant a lot to this reader in particular.

I loved this book so much! It's now tied for my favorite Abby Jimenez book HEAP! I'm in the medical field in a hospital, so I appreciated the mix of medical elements and everyday romance. Abby always pulls at my heartstrings, but I love every minute of it! I highly recommend this book and, really, the whole series!

Thank you Forever for my gifted ARC!

"I agree to be harmless to you"

This book was a solid 4 stars for me. I cared deeply about the two main characters, and I liked the alternating points of view. What stood out about this book was the focus on social anxiety and how crippling it can be to someone who lives with it. I felt represented in Jacob in a way that I haven't experienced through a book before, and it was so refreshing.

The chemistry between Jacob and Bri was perfect. I loved both of their families, and I was so happy that Abby Jimenez wove in cameos of Alexis and Daniel from Part of Your World - it was like seeing old friends again. Bri was a strong female main character and I loved her independence as well as her vulnerability. I love the fake dating trope and this didn't disappoint.

The only thing that stopped this from being a 5 star read for me was the constant miscommunication. It was pretty much the entire book, and it drove me nuts. But other than that, a sweet and fun read!

Abby Jimenez does it again!! Absolutely loved the story about Bri and Jacob. I will recommend this book to everyone!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4

Abby never fails to make me smile. Yours Truly was filled with lovable and fun characters. Jacob and his family made me smile and man did grandpa steal my heart. I could just imagine all of this crazy happening when visiting a new boyfriends house. Brianna handled this with grace. The rest however really gave me a struggle. Brianna was quick to defend and seemed to truly understand Jacob and his anxiety, which I loved. However, she wouldn't give him an inch when it came to trust. I enjoy some angst but this was leaning more towards irritating for me, personally. I still highly recommend this book, I promise you'll laugh, possibly cry and maybe want to throw your book! That's a great combination.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the representation of anxiety but more specifically loved it being shown in the male main character, Jacob. I can’t not wait for people to read and share in this story!! I can’t wait to post a full review closer to the release date! Thank joy so much for the ARC. I was so excited to read Brianna story and it definitely didn’t disappoint!