If you’ve spent any time on BookTok or scrolling through Goodreads lately, you’ve probably seen that vibrant purple cover staring back at you. Honestly, it’s everywhere. But Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez isn't just another "doctors falling in love in a supply closet" story, though, yeah, that definitely happens. It’s actually a pretty heavy look at what it feels like to live inside a brain that won't shut up.
Most romance novels treat "miscommunication" like a cheap plot device to keep the couple apart until page 300. In this book? It feels like a survival mechanism.
The "Dr. Death" Problem
We meet Briana Ortiz at a pretty crappy point in her life. Her divorce is finally wrapping up, which is exhausting enough, but her brother Benny is also in end-stage renal failure. She’s an ER doctor, she’s tired, and she’s holding out for a promotion to Chief of Emergency Medicine.
Then comes Jacob Maddox.
Jacob is the "new guy" who accidentally makes the worst first impression in the history of medicine. The hospital staff literally nicknames him "Dr. Death" because he seems cold, arrogant, and totally detached. Briana hates him on sight.
But here’s the thing: Jacob isn't a jerk. He has crippling social anxiety.
Abby Jimenez does something really smart here. Instead of just telling us Jacob is "shy," she shows us the physical toll. The racing heart. The way he has to hide in his car to eat lunch because the breakroom feels like a shark tank. The way he scripts conversations in his head and still trips over his words.
Why the Letters Actually Work
To fix his disastrous first impression, Jacob writes Briana a letter. Like, a real, pen-on-paper letter.
It’s sort of old-school, right? But for someone with social anxiety, it’s a lifeline. It gives him the "buffer" he needs to be his actual, funny, charming self without the immediate pressure of someone staring at him, waiting for a response.
They start this back-and-forth correspondence that’s genuinely sweet. They talk about tiny horses. They talk about "sob closets." It’s the foundation of their relationship, and honestly, it’s way more intimate than a standard first date.
The Kidney of It All
The plot takes a massive turn when Jacob finds out he’s a match for Briana’s brother, Benny. He decides to donate his kidney.
Now, in a lesser book, this would feel like a "deus ex machina" moment—a way to force the characters together. But for Abby Jimenez, this was personal. She was diagnosed with kidney disease herself in 2020. She’s talked openly about how she wrote this book to demystify living organ donation.
Jacob doesn’t do it to get the girl. He does it because he’s a "cinnamon roll" hero who actually cares. But it creates this massive emotional weight. Briana feels like she can never repay him, which makes the eventual "fake dating" subplot feel a lot more grounded. She agrees to be his fake girlfriend for his brother’s wedding because, well, how do you say no to the guy giving your brother a literal organ?
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
If you read the reviews, people get very polarized about the last 20% of the book.
Briana starts pushing Jacob away. She gets in her own head. She’s terrified of being "second best" again after her husband cheated on her. A lot of readers find her "push-pull" behavior frustrating.
But if you look at it through the lens of trauma and abandonment, it makes total sense. Briana spent years being gaslit by her ex. When she sees Jacob’s ex-girlfriend (who is now marrying Jacob's brother—yeah, it's a mess), she spirals.
It’s not just "miscommunication." It’s a full-on trauma response.
Why the Journal Matters
The resolution doesn't come from a big airport speech. It comes from Jacob giving Briana his journals.
It’s the ultimate act of vulnerability for an anxious person. He lets her see every messy, insecure, terrified thought he’s ever had about her. He doesn't just tell her he loves her; he shows her the evidence of it written down over months.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers
If you're picking up Yours Truly, or if you've just finished it and are reeling from that ending, here’s how to actually process what Jimenez is doing:
- Look for the Easter Eggs: This book is technically a sequel to Part of Your World. If you haven't read that one, you'll see Briana's best friend Alexis and get a better sense of where Briana's "tough as nails" exterior comes from.
- Understand the "Safe Word": One of the best things Briana does for Jacob is giving him a "code word" for when he's overstimulated. It’s a real-life tool you can use with friends or partners who struggle with social anxiety.
- Research Organ Donation: The book is a crash course in how the donor list works. If the story moved you, check out Donate Life to see how living donation actually functions in the real world.
- Check the Author's Note: Don't skip it. Jimenez explains her own health journey and the real-life inspirations for the "sob closet" and the medical details.
This book is a lot. It’s funny, it’s spicy, and it’s deeply sad in parts. But mostly, it’s just very human. It reminds us that even the people who seem "perfect" or "cold" are usually just trying to survive their own heads.
