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A review by talknerdybookblog
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Representation: Salvadorian-American Heroine, Hero with social anxiety, Salvadorian-American supporting character with kidney failure, Black side character
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
- Hero tells the Heroine that he's still in love with his ex-girlfriend, who is engaged to his younger brother. This leads the Heroine to be dismissive of the Hero's professed feelings for the Heroine, as she refuses to once again be in a relationship where the guy hasn't resolved his feelings for the woman he can't have.
- However, in his POV, it seems like he wasn't still (or ever) in love with his ex-girlfriend. But, he didn't know how to communicate the complexity of his emotions (still feeling angry, betrayed but also maybe relieved?), so he kept it very simple so that the Heroine would agree to fake date him.
- I think authors who want to depict Heroes having a healthy attitude towards their exes (the Hero remarks many times that his ex is a good person, kind, etc.) need to be balanced, where they do not put the ex's needs over the Heroine/current love interest.
- Also, I found the quip of the ex-gf (it was friendly and during a scene where the Heroine and she were bonding) regarding how good in bed the Hero was jarring and just ew
• Does have OM drama
- Heroine has unresolved trauma associated with the end of her marriage. When she runs into her ex-husband and mistress/his new wife, this brings up everything that she's been avoiding.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
- See the bullet under OW drama
• No separation (they go through a rough patch but don't actually break up)
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Infidelity (Heroine's ex-husband had an emotional and eventually physical affair with his best friend - they're now married and expecting)
• Heroine has PTSD over miscarrying alone (she miscarried after discovering her ex-husband's infidelity)
• Ableism (Hero's ex-girlfriend's attitude toward Hero's anxiety was dismissive and problematic - challenged by Heroine)
• Hero's ex-girlfriend starts dating his brother three months after they break up - creating a tumultuous environment for his family
• Parental abandonment (Heroine's father abandoned her and her mom when her mom was pregnant with her brother)
• Side character has depression at the start of the book
• Heroine experiences a depressive episode at the end of the book
Ending:HEA. In the epilogue, they share a daughter and are about to get married after two years together.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
- Hero tells the Heroine that he's still in love with his ex-girlfriend, who is engaged to his younger brother. This leads the Heroine to be dismissive of the Hero's professed feelings for the Heroine, as she refuses to once again be in a relationship where the guy hasn't resolved his feelings for the woman he can't have.
- However, in his POV, it seems like he wasn't still (or ever) in love with his ex-girlfriend. But, he didn't know how to communicate the complexity of his emotions (still feeling angry, betrayed but also maybe relieved?), so he kept it very simple so that the Heroine would agree to fake date him.
- I think authors who want to depict Heroes having a healthy attitude towards their exes (the Hero remarks many times that his ex is a good person, kind, etc.) need to be balanced, where they do not put the ex's needs over the Heroine/current love interest.
- Also, I found the quip of the ex-gf (it was friendly and during a scene where the Heroine and she were bonding) regarding how good in bed the Hero was jarring and just ew
• Does have OM drama
- Heroine has unresolved trauma associated with the end of her marriage. When she runs into her ex-husband and mistress/his new wife, this brings up everything that she's been avoiding.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
- See the bullet under OW drama
• No separation (they go through a rough patch but don't actually break up)
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Infidelity (Heroine's ex-husband had an emotional and eventually physical affair with his best friend - they're now married and expecting)
• Heroine has PTSD over miscarrying alone (she miscarried after discovering her ex-husband's infidelity)
• Ableism (Hero's ex-girlfriend's attitude toward Hero's anxiety was dismissive and problematic - challenged by Heroine)
• Hero's ex-girlfriend starts dating his brother three months after they break up - creating a tumultuous environment for his family
• Parental abandonment (Heroine's father abandoned her and her mom when her mom was pregnant with her brother)
• Side character has depression at the start of the book
• Heroine experiences a depressive episode at the end of the book
Ending: