★★★☆☆
Yours Truly was my first read by contemporary romance writer Abby Jimenez. The story opens with soon-to-be divorced Dr. Briana Ortiz pissed about her new colleague, Dr. Jacob Maddox, coming out of nowhere as a candidate for a promotion she was sure was hers.
This was an endearing story about embracing the messiness of life and learning to love again after loss. The characters, especially Jacob, were sweet and lovable. I appreciated how his and Briana’s connection grew and deepened through old-fashioned handwritten letters. It added a charming dimension to a modern love story set in a medical environment that relies on technology.
I could relate to Jacob’s introverted, giving nature and how he managed his anxiety while navigating a high-pressure job. He ranks right up there among my favorite men in a romance novel. I mean, he even uses a Dirty Dancing reference to make Briana laugh.
My only complaint about this book is that it features a grab bag of romance novel tropes. It throws them all in when a less-is-more approach would have worked better. I could have done without the fake dating- the story had enough tension without introducing this overused romance trope.
Yours Truly is very light on the spice factor, so you might want to pass on this novel if you’re looking for something with a high steam quotient.
I’m glad I read this one, which lingered way too long in my unread Book of the Month pile.
Favorite line: “Silence was always my default response. Sometimes things are easier to understand when unsaid. Sometimes words complicate things and make them murky. This moment didn’t need them.”