Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2025.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Blurb:   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?

My Thoughts:  I have heard nothing but raves about Abby Jimenez so my expectations were high going in to this one.  And for the most part those expectations were met.  Daniel is a fantastic character and I think you pretty much have to love him from the moment he appears on the page.  Alexis is a little bit more of a challenge.  I connected with her from the beginning though she isn't always likable.  She has been raised with absurdly high expectations and a legacy that she has been made to feel that she has to live up to though she always disappoints a bit.  Alexis is smart, driven, and incredibly kind but has always felt that she wasn't enough and while it's not true it's hard to just flip a switch and let that go all of a sudden.  I very much sympathized with her even though at times I wanted to reach into the pages and shake her.  I did like her growing awareness of the world around her as well as the realization that not everyone around her are people she needs to keep around her.  I liked the book but I did feel a little frustrated at times as Alexis seemed paralyzed.  But that ending ... I listened to this and the narrators were fantastic but for the ending I wish I had a print copy because I would have liked to flip back reread a few scenes.   I'm really looking forward to reading the next book to see Bri's story and I will definitely be reading more from this author.  My Rating:  Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)