Part of Your World

Opposites attract in this magical, delightful contemporary romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Say You'll Remember Me.

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

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 6 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 dogs―all TikTok famous in their own right. Abby loves romance novels, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.

“Jimenez is a true talent.”―Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read

“The perfect embodiment of romantic joy… This book is an emotional experience that will tick all the boxes for passionate romance fans. A must-read.”―Kirkus, Starred Review

A “layered, soul-stirring romance… Jimenez dexterously tackles class difference and shades her endearing side characters with as much care as her lovable leads. The result is an emotional roller coaster centered on love as a source of empowerment.”―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Jimenez is an excellent storyteller, and her special blend of humor and angst is polished to perfection in Part of Your World."
―Bookpage, starred review

This “flawlessly written contemporary romance is another perfectly calibrated synthesis of richly nuanced characters, blazing sexual chemistry, and sizzling wit deftly infused into an empowering story line …while also offering a subtle wink and nod to the enduring charm of Disney fairy tales.”―Booklist, Starred Review

One of the most well-written rom-com books I’ve read. You’ll fall in love with how real Alexis and Daniel’s love story is.―New York Post

"Engaging and entertaining."―The Nerd Daily

“Genuine laugh-out-loud moments.”―USA Today

"Delectable."―Washington Post

“An absolute treat!”―Natasha is a Book Junkie

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez is a warm, funny, and emotional contemporary romance about two people from completely different worlds trying to figure out whether love is enough to bridge the gap between them. The story centers on Alexis Montgomery, a talented ER doctor from a long line of famous, wealthy physicians whose names are on hospital wings and medical schools. Her family expects her to carry on the legacy: stay in the city, climb the professional ladder, marry someone equally impressive, and keep the Montgomery reputation shining. On the surface, Alexis has done everything right—she’s respected, successful, and outwardly put-together—but inside, she’s exhausted, lonely, and still carrying scars from a toxic, emotionally abusive relationship with her ex. She’s the kind of person who spends all her time taking care of other people and almost none taking care of herself.

The book opens with a literal crash between worlds. Alexis is driving back from a funeral on a rural road when she accidentally ends up in a ditch and is rescued by Daniel Grant, a much younger, flannel-wearing small-town carpenter who appears with his truck and a cheerful willingness to help. Daniel lives in Wakan, a tiny, close-knit town that feels a world away from Alexis’s polished urban life. He runs the local B&B, does carpentry and restoration work, and is deeply rooted in his community. What begins as a brief, awkward meeting turns into a one-night stand that Alexis fully expects to stay a secret and never repeat. Daniel is ten years younger, lives in the middle of nowhere, and doesn’t fit her life plan at all. But she’s charmed by his kindness, his easy humor, and the way he makes her feel seen and safe in a way she hasn’t felt in a long time.

That “one time” doesn’t stay one time. Alexis finds excuses to go back to Wakan, drawn to the town’s warmth and Daniel’s steady presence. Wakan feels like stepping into another world: people know each other by name, neighbors help without being asked, and there’s a sense of simple joy she barely recognizes. Daniel is practically the heart of the place. He volunteers, fixes things, helps everyone, and becomes a sort of caretaker for the town’s stray animals, residents, and traditions. Alexis, who is used to being the responsible one, discovering that she can relax around Daniel is both a relief and a shock. The chemistry between them is strong, but more important, being with him lets her experience a version of herself that isn’t defined by expectations, status, or fear of disappointing her parents.

As their relationship grows, the book explores the clash between their worlds. Alexis hides Daniel from her family and colleagues because she’s sure they’ll judge him: he’s younger, not a doctor, and from a small town they’d consider “beneath” the Montgomery name. She still attends elite events, gets pressured to take on high-profile roles in the hospital, and hears constant reminders about duty and reputation. Her parents’ idea of success is very rigid: they measure her worth in titles and prestige, not happiness. Underneath it all, Alexis is still trying to earn their approval, even though that pursuit has already cost her years of her life, a sense of self, and emotional health. Her ex-boyfriend, a rising-star surgeon from the same social circle, is a symbol of that world: critical, controlling, and used to having power over her.

In contrast, Daniel has his own set of responsibilities, but they’re rooted in love and community rather than hierarchy. He feels obligated to stay in Wakan to care for the people and places he loves, especially the B&B and the town’s traditions. There’s also an old story about his family’s history in Wakan and how much they’ve meant to the town, which adds a sense of inherited responsibility, though it’s nothing like the cold pressure Alexis faces. Daniel constantly worries that he’s not enough for Alexis—he didn’t go to college, he doesn’t have a big career, and his world is small compared to hers. Yet, he is emotionally intelligent, gentle, thoughtful, and truly present with her in ways that matter much more. The book uses their contrast to ask what really counts as “success”: prestige and money, or kindness, connection, and joy.

A big part of the story is Alexis’s journey out of an abusive pattern and into something healthy. Her ex isn’t physically violent, but he’s manipulative, belittling, and controlling—classic emotional abuse. He makes her doubt her own judgment, feel guilty for wanting something different, and question whether anyone else would want her. Even after she leaves him, his voice lingers in her head, and he still tries to exert control over her career and life. Being with Daniel highlights the difference between a relationship built on fear and one built on genuine respect. Daniel listens, doesn’t push, and gives her space while always offering support. With him, Alexis begins to recognize that love shouldn’t feel like walking on eggshells. She slowly sees how much of her life has been shaped by people who use obligation and guilt as weapons, and how deeply that has limited her sense of what’s possible.

The novel is rich with humor and small-town charm. The people of Wakan—quirky locals, nosy but well-meaning neighbors, and loyal friends—add warmth and comedy. They gossip, meddle, and circle around Daniel and Alexis with a kind of protective curiosity. There’s a goat who acts more like a mischievous pet than livestock, local events, and community traditions that give the town a distinct personality. These light, funny moments balance the heavier themes of class difference and emotional abuse. They show Alexis how it feels to be part of a community that values her simply as a person, not as a title or a link in a prestigious chain. For readers, Wakan becomes as appealing as it is for her: a place that represents ease, connection, and a slower, more genuine way of living.

As Alexis spends more time with Daniel, the tension between her two worlds intensifies. Her parents expect her to step into a leadership role that keeps her firmly in the city, her ex exerts pressure and manipulates situations at the hospital, and her colleagues assume that her future will mirror her family’s past. Alexis knows that openly dating someone like Daniel will cause an explosion: he’s not from their world, he doesn’t carry the right last name, and he threatens the carefully curated image the Montgomerys protect. On the other side, Daniel wonders if asking her to embrace Wakan and a simpler life is unfair, like pulling her away from the career she worked so hard for. Both of them are terrified of asking the other to sacrifice too much, and for a while, that fear makes them dance around the deeper commitment they clearly want.

The emotional heart of the book is Alexis choosing herself for the first time. Her journey isn’t only about choosing Daniel over her ex or her family’s expectations; it’s about realizing she’s allowed to want a life that feels good, not just one that looks impressive on paper. Throughout the story, she learns to set boundaries, recognize manipulation, and accept that disappointing people who are never satisfied may be unavoidable—and necessary—for her own survival. Daniel doesn’t “save” her in a magical fix-everything way; instead, his love gives her a safe place to rethink what she has always believed, and Wakan offers her a concrete vision of a different kind of life. That shift gives her the strength to confront her ex, step back from her parents’ control, and decide what kind of doctor, partner, and person she wants to be.

By the end of Part of Your World the novel delivers a satisfying mix of romance and personal growth. Alexis and Daniel’s relationship becomes a symbol of two values colliding: legacy versus authenticity, appearance versus truth. Abby Jimenez shows that real love is not about fitting into a preset mold, but about building a life that’s honest and kind, even when that means breaking away from powerful expectations. The book leaves a lingering sense of hope: that it is possible to rewrite your story, even after years of living by someone else’s rules, and that the people who truly belong in your life are the ones who help you feel more like yourself, not less.