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A review by abbeyroad1410
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is heartfelt, funny, and has a beautiful message. I have very few complaints and debated giving it five stars.
To start, the main characters feel like real people. Jacob has a full, chaotic family. Additionally, he deals with heavy social anxiety which feels very real in his chapters. (My boyfriend would also like me to add that he really likes Jacob). Briana is clearly traumatized from her past relationship but has not fully processed it throughout the novel. Even the side characters of Benny and Amy get personalities and deal with their problems in a way that helps you understand their core personality better.
In addition, the humor throughout the novel carries through with jokes from the beginning making it into the very last chapter. This element both adds to the humor of the book and makes you feel like you are part of the couple's relationship because you know their inside jokes.
The ending was incredibly wholesome and raw. I was particularly taken with the fact that Jacob gave Briana his journals to read through because he knew his words alone were not enough to convince her that he was being truthful. My boyfriend wanted to shout out Jacob's conversation with his mom because it captured the feeling of being able to love someone without being able to help them in a realistic way (I read the last 9 chapters to him). This ending was extremely powerful and emotional and makes the book entirely worth reading.
The single reason I am rating this book four stars rather than five is because the miscommunication trope/ simply not communicating trope lasts for way too long. It was resolved in a two second conversation proving my point that it was almost entirely unneeded. I understand that it increased the pining between the two characters, but when their chemistry was already there, I didn't find the 200 pages of their nonsense necessary. The secondary conflict was significantly better than this one.
Overall, I really like this book. I would suggest it for someone who wants to laugh as much as they want to cry and looks forward to happy endings.
To start, the main characters feel like real people. Jacob has a full, chaotic family. Additionally, he deals with heavy social anxiety which feels very real in his chapters. (My boyfriend would also like me to add that he really likes Jacob). Briana is clearly traumatized from her past relationship but has not fully processed it throughout the novel. Even the side characters of Benny and Amy get personalities and deal with their problems in a way that helps you understand their core personality better.
In addition, the humor throughout the novel carries through with jokes from the beginning making it into the very last chapter. This element both adds to the humor of the book and makes you feel like you are part of the couple's relationship because you know their inside jokes.
The ending was incredibly wholesome and raw.
The single reason I am rating this book four stars rather than five is because the miscommunication trope/ simply not communicating trope lasts for way too long. It was resolved in a two second conversation proving my point that it was almost entirely unneeded. I understand that it increased the pining between the two characters, but when their chemistry was already there, I didn't find the 200 pages of their nonsense necessary. The secondary conflict was significantly better than this one.
Overall, I really like this book. I would suggest it for someone who wants to laugh as much as they want to cry and looks forward to happy endings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infidelity