Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨⬜
Title: Part of Your World
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Minnesota, USA
Month Read: May 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2022
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing / Forever
Pages: 388
*Book of the Month Selection
TRIGGER WARNING-
Sexual Content / Spousal Abuse / Domestic Violence / Police Brutality / Alcohol / Cheating / Classism / Emotional Abuse
"...well, we're all strong-ass women until a smoke alarm starts chirping at three an.m. on a high ceiling and there's no one to hit it with a broom but you."
No Spoiler Summary (Goodreads):
After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.
While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.
Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?
Review:
I'm so glad I picked up my first Abby Jimenez book when it was offered for May picks! It was a cute, fun, predictable romance- but hey, aren't most, and isn't that why people love them? This was pretty much my first Big town Girl meets Small Town Farmer Guy, but after years of binging Netflix rom-coms, I knew it would be up my alley for sure.
Things I didn't expect in this novel (some spoilers):
-Domestic Violence between the town sheriff and his wife, and it being a very heavy subplot.
-Emotional abuse by the leading ladies parents.
Both of these things could be triggers for some people for sure, and I'm surprised BOTM doesn't really offer TWs or CWs? If you are triggered by this kind of thing, I'd certainly want to know. I do like that the book offered references for people dealing with spousal abuse, it's super important, and I love that she had sensitivity readers to understand how to deal with this in her novel.
Some of the characters in this book are really cringe, and you really really hate them. Alexis is basically surrounded by nothing but truly horrible people, by relation and by choice, and the once exception (and bright spot) is Bri (who I also hope we get a spinoff book about.) Daniel, however, is surrounded by the best people, and you learn to love each of the wacky characters presented in his hometown. Big ensemble novels like this are really great, but I loved the balance between people you despise, and people you want to watch live happy, easy lives.
Overall, it was a cute romance- nothing super life changing but great if you want a quick read this summer. I definitely want to dive into her other books, and this might be a new auto-buy author for me, who knows!? Also, you get really cute animals, and a baby goat- so if I haven't convinced you yet, do it for the baby goat.
Recommendation:
Other fun contemporary romances:
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
"There’s something more final than forever. It’s never. Never is infinite."
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