A review by beate251
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Alexis Montgomery, 37, is an ER doctor at the prestigious Royaume Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and part of the Montgomery dynasty. For 125 years, a Montgomery has always been associated with this hospital. Her brother Derek has checked out by marrying a pop star and moving to Colombia so everything rests on her shoulders now, whether she wants it or not.

Daniel Grant, 28, is a carpenter in the small town of Wakan, two hours from Minneapolis. For 125 years, a Grant has always been associated with the town, been the groundskeeper and mayor and looked after the people.

When Alexis drives through his town one day she is distracted by a racoon and drives into a ditch. Cue Daniel pulling her out. This promises a light-hearted romantic comedy with an impossibly cute meet-cute. But we get a so much more intense story which is full of emotion, mental health issues, heartbreak and sadness.

The story is told in alternating dual POV, so both Alexis and Daniel get their say. Both have baggage due to their parents. Daniel has an absent mother who only ever calls when she needs money and Alexis's Dad is an emotional abuser undermining Alexis' confidence, like her ex Neil, a surgeon at the same hospital, who refuses to move out of the jointly owned home.

Abby Jimenez' books seem to have many similarities to each other. They all deal with difficult topics like abuse in any form, there is always a cute animal or two with a ridiculous name, a bearded man, the desire to have children, big feelings that border on obsession, and a couple of mentions of Nadia Cakes, the author's own business. Here, there are also some royalty / fairy tale elements.

The people of Wakan are wonderful. They rally around a domestic abuse victim but they aIso made me scream with laughter at their tips for taking a tasteful dick pic and the fact that the whole town got involved. What a community! But even the town itself is like a living spirit, communicating via the weather, trees and dragonflies and even a stained glass window. Wakan means "magic" and it's certainly that - attracting people it needs and repelling people it doesn't.

"When she called, my mood lifted. When I saw her coming down the driveway, my heart would pound. When she was here, I slept better. When she was gone, I was sad. She felt like the sun. Like she was the reason for everything. Like I'd always been waiting for her to get closer and bring me to life."

Abby Jimenez can write big, believable love stories like nobody else.
This is the most romantic book I have read in ages - it's a romance I can totally believe in and not the insta-love for someone because they are hot. A romance where someone is there for the other person because they don't know how not to. The main characters are fantastic. Daniel is the perfect book boyfriend - he never stops caring. I have never been so frightened in a story that it wouldn't work out for the main characters because of some silly societal restraints.

The book is eminently readable and the big feelings will have many readers swoon. I got so invested in the characters that I read this in one sitting, until deep into the night. This is as good as "Just for the Summer", another five star read of hers. A book in which the main characters quote "The Princess Bride" at each other will always get my seal of approval! There's even a crepe recipe at the back, albeit only with imperial measurements. And now I even know what quasquicentennial is. I can't wait to read Bri's story!

"Love follows you. It goes where you go. It doesn't know about social divides or distance or common sense. It doesn't even stop when the person you love dies. It does what it wants. Even if what you want is not to be in love."

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