Siempre tuyo
by Abby Jimenez
- First published 2023
- 400 pages
- Spanish
Dr. Briana Ortiz's life is in a holding pattern. She's navigating a painful divorce, her brother's health is in decline as he waits for a kidney transplant, and the promotion she desperately wants seems to be slipping away. The last thing she needs is Dr. Jacob Maddox, the new, anxiety-ridden doctor at work who makes a terrible first impression. He seems poised to take her job and disrupt the little stability she has left. But just when she's ready to write him off, Jacob flips the script entirely by sending her a letter - a heartfelt, handwritten letter that explains everything.
What begins as a simple apology soon blossoms into a constant exchange of notes, revealing the kind and compassionate man behind the awkward exterior. As their unlikely friendship deepens on paper, Briana finds her carefully constructed walls beginning to crumble. This is a story about terrible first impressions, the vulnerability of opening up to another person, and the surprising ways love can find you when you are most certain it has passed you by. It explores how two people, burdened by their own pasts and anxieties, can find a way to heal each other.
What begins as a simple apology soon blossoms into a constant exchange of notes, revealing the kind and compassionate man behind the awkward exterior. As their unlikely friendship deepens on paper, Briana finds her carefully constructed walls beginning to crumble. This is a story about terrible first impressions, the vulnerability of opening up to another person, and the surprising ways love can find you when you are most certain it has passed you by. It explores how two people, burdened by their own pasts and anxieties, can find a way to heal each other.
What readers say
4.29
978K ratings across the web 9 in 10 readers loved it
The book is widely praised for its deeply lovable characters, particularly the male protagonist, Jacob. Reviewers describe him as a sweet, understanding, caring "cinnamon roll" hero who manages his anxiety in a healthy and self-aware way, making him incredibly relatable and easy to root for. The female protagonist, Briana, is equally cherished for her intelligence, fierce loyalty, kindness, and protective nature. Many readers found their developing romance to be a soulmate-level connection, characterized by mutual respect, understanding, and patience. The initial letter exchanges between them were highlighted as an adorable and effective way for the characters to build intimacy and trust. Additionally, the story is commended for its emotional depth, tackling significant themes such as anxiety, depression, divorce, infidelity, and chronic illness with sensitivity and realism, offering both light-hearted moments and serious reflections.
Despite its strengths, the book draws criticism for several key aspects, primarily revolving around its pacing and narrative choices in the latter half. Many reviewers felt the story, while starting strong, became bogged down by excessive and prolonged miscommunication between the main characters, leading to unnecessary angst and frustration. This often manifests as repetitive inner monologues, where characters dwell on similar doubts and assumptions rather than resolving conflicts through dialogue. Some readers also found the portrayal of Jacob's anxiety to be inconsistent, with it seemingly diminishing too conveniently when he was with Briana, potentially feeding into an unhealthy narrative of a partner "fixing" one's problems. The narrative attempts to humanize a generally disliked ex-partner were also a point of contention, with many finding the character irredeemable. Furthermore, some felt the story contained too many tropes, making the plot feel overly complicated, and that significant new conflicts were introduced too late in the book, disrupting the overall pacing.
Ultimately, this book elicits a range of strong emotions, from profound adoration to significant frustration. It stands out for its heartwarming character portrayals and its sensitive handling of serious emotional and health challenges. While the prolonged miscommunication and pacing issues in the second half were a notable drawback for many, the genuine connection between the protagonists and the emotional resonance of their individual journeys often redeemed the experience. This book is likely to be cherished by readers who enjoy deeply emotional, character-driven romances featuring "cinnamon roll" heroes and strong heroines, particularly those who appreciate realistic mental health representation and are patient with slow-burn relationships and miscommunication tropes. It is a good fit for those seeking a tender, angsty story that explores healing and finding love after past hurts, even if it requires overlooking some narrative frustrations.
Despite its strengths, the book draws criticism for several key aspects, primarily revolving around its pacing and narrative choices in the latter half. Many reviewers felt the story, while starting strong, became bogged down by excessive and prolonged miscommunication between the main characters, leading to unnecessary angst and frustration. This often manifests as repetitive inner monologues, where characters dwell on similar doubts and assumptions rather than resolving conflicts through dialogue. Some readers also found the portrayal of Jacob's anxiety to be inconsistent, with it seemingly diminishing too conveniently when he was with Briana, potentially feeding into an unhealthy narrative of a partner "fixing" one's problems. The narrative attempts to humanize a generally disliked ex-partner were also a point of contention, with many finding the character irredeemable. Furthermore, some felt the story contained too many tropes, making the plot feel overly complicated, and that significant new conflicts were introduced too late in the book, disrupting the overall pacing.
Ultimately, this book elicits a range of strong emotions, from profound adoration to significant frustration. It stands out for its heartwarming character portrayals and its sensitive handling of serious emotional and health challenges. While the prolonged miscommunication and pacing issues in the second half were a notable drawback for many, the genuine connection between the protagonists and the emotional resonance of their individual journeys often redeemed the experience. This book is likely to be cherished by readers who enjoy deeply emotional, character-driven romances featuring "cinnamon roll" heroes and strong heroines, particularly those who appreciate realistic mental health representation and are patient with slow-burn relationships and miscommunication tropes. It is a good fit for those seeking a tender, angsty story that explores healing and finding love after past hurts, even if it requires overlooking some narrative frustrations.
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Details & editions
- This edition
- Roca Editorial, 2024
- ISBN
- 9788419743923
- Language
- Spanish
Original edition Yours Truly Originally published in 2023 · English · Forever
