Yours Truly (Part of Your World, 2)

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

“Jimenez is a trule talent.” —Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Funny Story and People We Meet on Vacation

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.

“Abby Jimenez’s words … sprinkle humor and warmth all over my life.” —Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

Abby Jimenez is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of laugh-out-loud, pull-at-your-heartstrings romantic fiction. Her novels have sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into 28 languages. Some of her favorite highlights include a Good Morning America Book Club pick, a BOTM’s Book of the Year Award, and the Minnesota Book Award. Before her writing career, Abby was in the national spotlight as a Cupcake Wars champion and founder of Nadia Cakes bakery, which has since gone on to win numerous Food Network competitions and amass an international following. She lives near Minneapolis with her husband, three daughters, and four dogs—all TikTok famous in their own right. Abby loves romance novels, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.

“Sparkling prose, skillful plotting… contemporary romance gold.”―Publishers Weekly

“Jimenez is a true talent.”―Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers

"Abby Jimenez’s words are like fairy dust... they sprinkle humor and warmth all over my life.”―Ali Hazelwood, NYT bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

"Abby Jimenez once again flexes her ability to tackle big feelings and sensitive topics in this slow-burn romance."―Elle Canada

“A cute, slow-burn romance with plenty of funny moments and emotional challenges.”―Kirkus

"A must-read."―Country Living

“Jimenez continues to excel at emotionally resonant love stories with plenty of gentle humor.”―Bookreporter

“Beautifully written… This story is one that will stay in your heart and you’ll remember for a long time.”―BookTrib

“[Abby Jimenez] creates characters that make you feel like you’d step in front of a moving train for them, characters that embody a certain type of strong that is selfless and kind, characters that linger in our minds long after the book ends. Equal parts heart and heartbreak, yet every romantic’s dream come true, this is Abby Jimenez at her best.”―Natasha is a Book Junkie

Abby Jimenez’s Yours Truly is a warm, emotional, and gently funny contemporary romance about two people who are both carrying private pain and slowly learning how to trust each other. At its heart, the novel is about kindness, healing, and the way love can grow not through dramatic gestures alone, but through patience, honesty, and feeling safe with another person. The story follows Briana Ortiz, an emergency room doctor who is going through one of the hardest periods of her life, and Jacob Maddox, a new doctor at her hospital who first seems distant and unpleasant but turns out to be something very different once she gets to know him. What begins with misunderstanding gradually becomes a deeply meaningful connection.

Briana is exhausted emotionally and mentally when the story begins. She is dealing with the breakdown of her marriage, the stress of work, and the worry of her brother’s serious health condition. Her life feels heavy, and even though she remains competent and caring on the outside, she is carrying disappointment, anger, and grief underneath. When Jacob arrives at the hospital as the new physician competing for the same promotion Briana wants, she assumes he is cold, rude, and possibly arrogant. Their first interactions are awkward and tense, and Briana quickly decides that he is one more source of stress in an already overwhelming life. From her point of view, he seems impossible to read, and that uncertainty feeds her dislike.

What Briana does not understand at first is that Jacob is struggling intensely with social anxiety. He is not rude or dismissive by nature; he is nervous, withdrawn, and often unable to express himself clearly in high-pressure social situations. Once this becomes clear, the novel shifts in a very touching way. Jacob begins writing letters to Briana, and these letters become one of the most charming and emotionally important parts of the story. Through writing, he is able to be open, funny, thoughtful, and sincere in ways that he cannot manage easily face-to-face. Briana starts to see the real person behind the awkwardness: a deeply gentle, intelligent, and caring man who notices small things and gives of himself quietly.

Their relationship begins to soften through friendship, shared work, and acts of kindness that feel genuine rather than forced. One of the strongest elements of the novel is the way Jacob consistently shows up for Briana when she needs support, especially concerning her brother’s kidney failure. Jacob’s generosity in this part of the story is not treated as a simple romantic move but as an expression of who he is at his core. He is someone who loves deeply, gives sincerely, and does not always know how extraordinary he is. Briana, who has been hurt and disappointed before, is moved by his care but also afraid of trusting it too quickly. The book handles this emotional tension well, showing how difficult it can be to accept love when life has taught you to expect loss or betrayal.

As the story develops, Briana and Jacob enter into a fake-dating arrangement, a classic romance setup that Abby Jimenez uses with warmth and emotional intelligence. The arrangement serves practical purposes in their personal lives, but it also creates space for closeness to grow in a way neither of them fully expects. Spending time together allows them to become each other’s comfort zone. Their interactions are often sweet, awkward, and funny, but underneath the humor is a strong sense of emotional safety. Jacob, in particular, offers Briana a kind of steadiness she has been missing. Briana, in turn, sees and values Jacob in a way that helps him feel less alone and less trapped by his anxiety.

The novel is especially effective in showing that romance is not only about attraction but about being understood. Jacob and Briana are both wounded in different ways, and neither is presented as magically healed by love. Instead, the relationship gives them room to be vulnerable, imperfect, and honest. Briana has to work through her fear of being abandoned or let down again, while Jacob has to deal with the ways anxiety shapes his self-image and his relationships. Their journey is emotional because it feels grounded in real insecurity. There are misunderstandings, moments of retreat, and the kind of hesitation that comes when people want love but fear the cost of hoping for it.

Family plays an important role throughout the novel. Briana’s relationship with her brother is one of the emotional anchors of the story, and her love for her family adds depth to her character beyond the romance. Jacob’s family dynamics also shape him in important ways, especially in relation to expectations, emotional communication, and the patterns he has learned over time. Abby Jimenez gives both protagonists lives that feel full and complicated, which makes the romance feel more believable. Love is not happening in an empty space; it is unfolding amid work stress, health concerns, family loyalties, and personal history.

The tone of the novel balances lightness and heaviness in a way that many readers find appealing. There is humor, banter, and sweetness, but there is also grief, anxiety, and emotional realism. Jimenez has a gift for writing romantic heroes who are tender without losing depth, and Jacob is a standout example of that. He is not a flashy or dominant figure. His appeal lies in his sensitivity, loyalty, and earnestness. Briana, meanwhile, is strong, capable, and compassionate, but also tired and vulnerable in ways that make her feel very human. Together, they create a romance built less on dramatic intensity and more on trust, gentleness, and emotional repair.

As the story moves toward its resolution, the characters are forced to confront the difference between pretending and feeling something real. The fake relationship has created genuine attachment, and both Briana and Jacob have to decide whether they are willing to risk their hearts for something that matters deeply. The emotional payoff comes from watching them choose honesty over fear. The novel does not suggest that love removes all hardship, but it does suggest that the right kind of love can make hardship easier to bear. Being cared for, listened to, and accepted can change the way a person moves through the world.

Overall, Yours Truly is a tender and heartfelt romance that goes beyond the usual love story formula by paying close attention to emotional wounds, mental health, and the healing power of kindness. Abby Jimenez creates characters who feel flawed, lovable, and real, and she builds a relationship that is as comforting as it is romantic. The novel is ultimately about letting yourself be known by another person and discovering that love can feel safe instead of painful. It leaves the reader with the sense that even people carrying deep hurt can still find connection, hope, and a love that feels truly steady and sincere.