Review: Yours Truly

Author: Abby Jimenez

Book: Yours Truly

Themes: terrible first impressions, fake dating, mental health

CW: character with clinical anxiety, chronic kidney disease, mention of suicide and miscarriage

P.S. I’m writing this at 2:40 am because I wanted to get my thoughts out before I sleep them away!

This story was so tender and I enjoyed every moment of it.

This is the sequel to Part of Your World which I talk about here.

Right off the bat, I loved this so much more than POYW. Not because I think it is “better” as a book, but solely based off my enjoyment and how much I connected to the story.

This follows our two main characters who are both ER doctors—they meet, make very terrible first impressions of each other (more on one end actually), and go on to become friends. I was very impressed and happy with how quickly the first impressions they had of each other was corrected, and that the author did not drag that out to the point where the characters still dislike each other half way through the book. Truly hate when they do that!

I loved the use of letter writing as a plot-moving device in the development of their relationship—like I’m obsessed with it. Letter-writing gets me every time. Theres something so traditional and old school about writing a letter to someone. You have to wait for a letter and the process of putting pen to paper is such a visceral act as opposed to typing a text or emailing. It is truly a lesson in trust and patience and is so rewarding when you get it - ughhh someone write ME a letter damn it!

Anyway, they become friends and then they pretend to be lovers so that he will have a date to his—wait for it—brothers wedding to HIS ex-girlfriend. It’s a slightly messy situation but she agrees to help him and they, of course, develop real romantic feelings for each other.

This is so tender (I know I said that already) in how the story was written and I love the main male character (Jacob) so much. He was so sweet and so considerate; I guess in part due to his own experiences as an anxious person.

In general, I think that consideration is so underrated when it comes to how we interact with each other. In all our relationships, familial, platonic or romantic, I think that it’s very heartwarming to know that someone made a decision that accounts for your state of mind at the time or you perception. I think it’s very sweet.

I will also say that , if you are NOT a fan of the miscommunication trope done in romance, this book might not be for you because the second half of the book is basically one giant angsty miscommunication plot. As a plot-device, it is either a hit or miss for me, depending on the book as a whole and this was definitely a HIT. It made me want to pull my hair out (in the best ways) and I really could not put it down once I made it past the second half of the book; like I just had to get to the end of it—which is why I’m writing this at almost 3am.

For me, it all came down to the characters in the story because there is not much that is unique about the plot of the book—fake dating, secretly falling in love, misunderstandings etc—but Jimenez totally sells you on the absolute sincerity of these characters AND the journey they take to get to said predictable destination.

My point is, I think the reasons why someone will love this book is the exact reason why someone else will not like it. I can see how it can be annoying to watch characters be so committed to hiding their feelings from one another because they are so sure of what the other is feeling; and so unsure at the same time LOL. But, it is also deeply and innately human to be hesitant to let someone know how you’re feeling. It’s basic self-preservation. Talking about your feelings can suck and can sometimes be disappointing. It does takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable and open with someone, even a person who you know cares for you? So, I get it.

One of the characters also says a quote that I have always loved, “if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it’s stupid”. I always interpret that to mean as long as you stay focused on YOUR path and not judge yourself by someone else’s abilities or their personality, you will win. Don’t score yourself based off someone else’s test!

This was such a fun read!

On that note, please don’t forget to read the content warning for both books.