Oh my gosh … I can’t believe I just started reading Abby Jimenez (starting with Part of Your World) because she is becoming a new favorite author for me. I want to write a separate book review for Part of Your World, so that’s coming, but I just had to start out with THE book that is Yours Truly.

Synopsis:

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match from "a true talent" (Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

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.

My Review:

Abby Jimenez writes good stories. Not only that, but her writing flows so well that you want to keep turning the page to stay in the story. She writes such great dialogue between the two characters, building the tension between the love interests. I also love how she creates the setting; I love the small town setting—it’s giving Gilmore Girls vibes.

Before I start on the iconic character who is Dr. Jacob Maddox, I want to give Briana her moment. I liked Briana. I think that she had a lot of trauma that came from relationships that led to her having trust issues; I liked that we got to learn that along the journey of her learning that and learning how to love again after a traumatic event in her life (her divorce). Not only her divorce, but she has her brother to worry about, who is suffering from kidney failure, and in need of a kidney transplant. Then she meets Dr. Jacob Maddox, who at first is seen as competition for a job she’s on the short list for, but then she sees the true Jacob Maddox: a totally-loyal, devoted cinnamon roll who deserves the entire world. Because of Jacob, she starts to let her walls down with him and I love that.

Okay … Jacob Maddox. Let’s talk about him because this man is everything that I want and more. First, the way Abby Jimenez wrote Jacob’s characters and his innermost thoughts, specifically when he was going through anxiety and racing thoughts, and even a panic attack, I loved it all. That man is such an Enneagram Type 2 that it’s not even a joke. He’s loyal and cares about other people, sometimes even if it means risking his peace of mind. We see him wanting to do this incredible favor for Briana and her brother, Benny, because he sees the need. Not because of his feelings for Briana, but because he sees the need—and he saw how his mother needed a transplant when he was 16 years old, and he didn’t want Briana to go through any of that anymore. But then as their relationship progresses, and they enter into a fake dating arrangement, because he wants his family to approve of his ex-girlfriend marrying his brother, Jeremiah. Like, does this man do anything for himself?? He learns how to do that and protect his peace.

Overall, I would definitely say to read this book (and the first book in the series!). I love Abby Jimenez’s writing and honestly, she’s becoming a favorite author for me.

Rating: 5/5

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