"I first read The Friend Zone, Abby Jimenez’s debut romance novel, when it came out in 2019, and I rated it five stars on Goodreads—I knew from the start that she had something special as a writer. However, for whatever reason, I didn’t read the rest of Abby’s novels until this year. All of them were sitting on my bookshelf, so I honestly don’t know what was stopping me from reading them—but when Just for the Summer was all over my feed starting this spring, I knew it was time to return to Abby Jimenez’s literary worlds. In this book lover’s opinion, her books are absolutely worth the hype. Here’s why:
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Why I love Abby Jimenez’s Books
In Abby Jimenez books, we get to see the point-of-view of both parties in the relationship. This means we get to see every love story unfold from two perspectives. We know when he first found her attractive and when she first thought of him as something more. We know how hard it was for her to wait for the first kiss and how good it feels for him when he finally gets to touch her.
And most importantly, we know how much each couple in Abby’s novels cares for each other. We know that he would conquer his biggest fear in order to be with her and that she would finally stay in one place long enough to fall hard for him. We know that they are in love.
They don’t shy away from real-life issues
Every character in Abby Jimenez’s books is dealing with something incredibly hard. In Just for the Summer, one of the main characters, Justin, has to assume guardianship of his three younger siblings. Alexis, one of the main characters in Part of Your World, disappoints her father by being an ER doctor in a family of world-renowned surgeons. In Life’s Too Short, Vanessa worries about developing the disease that took her sister’s life before she turned 30.
No matter if a character is struggling with family, work, or health, Abby handles the issue with care. Justin makes the best of his situation, getting help when he accepts that he can’t do it on his own. Alexis continues to forge her own path, addressing the challenges in her relationships as they come. Vanessa lives life to the fullest but still breaks down in honest moments of fear. The love interests in each romance novel are always there to lift each other up in times of need instead of distracting from the challenge at hand or making it harder for the other character.
They’re both serious and hilarious
Abby’s characters are always going through tough times, but that doesn’t mean they can’t laugh along the way. You’ll be cracking up at Kristen’s ability to constantly fluster Sloan with her absolute lack of a filter in The Happy Ever After Playlist. You’ll chuckle at the creative dates Daniel plans for Alexis in Part of Your World. The humor infused in these books is what makes them so fun to read because life isn’t always heavy—sometimes, the more challenging moments are intertwined with hilarious ones.
Is there spice in Abby Jimenez’s books?
Ah, the most important question for picking up a new romance novel: How much spice is there on a scale of 1-5 chili peppers? Frankly, Abby Jimenez books are not the spiciest romances out there, probably landing around one chili pepper. You can expect a couple of spicy scenes in each book, but nothing that’s going to get your heart rate up. And that’s totally fine! Sometimes, we need romances that are a little on the sweeter side.
Do you have to read Abby Jimenez’s books in order?
I am not a fan of getting lost in a series. My TBR list is so huge that it’s hard enough to pick the next book I read, never mind the next several. What I love the most about Abby Jimenez’s books is that reading another one makes me love the previous one even more.
Abby’s books are not sequential or character-focused in the way Sarah J. Maas’s books are, but they go farther than your average companion novel. Each book follows a different couple, but a narrator in a previous book will likely show up as a side character in the next book. For example, Kristen and Sloan of The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist are best friends. Without giving too much away, the narrators in Part of Your World and Just for the Summer are more related than I ever could have guessed.
For that reason, while each book can be read as a standalone, you’ll get the best experience out of Abby Jimenez books if you read them in publication order. Technically, The Friend Zone, The Happy Ever After Playlist, and Life’s Too Short are all related, while Part of Your World, Yours Truly, and Just for the Summer are each connected. Does six books feel like too big of a commitment? You can start with Part of Your World, the first book in her second series. Here’s what you need to know about each book:
Facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children, Kristen has no room in her life for guys who just don’t get her. But when she meets Josh—the best man to her maid of honor—he’s never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm. The catch? Josh wants a big family someday.
Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan still can’t get her life back on track. But when a trouble-making pup literally crashes into her, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. To her own surprise, she quickly develops a crush on the dog’s owner, Jason. But with Jason’s music career on the rise and Sloan ready to return to her art, is it possible for them to make a relationship work?
With a mother and sister who never saw the age of 30, Vanessa knows she needs to live her life while she can. That’s why she works as a travel vlogger—until her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter. The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian. But despite growing feelings, it’s best for them to remain friends. Because Vanessa can’t allow herself to hope for a future she may never see.
After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s 10 years her junior. City-girl and hospital legacy Alexis knows she should let Daniel remain a one-night stand, but she can’t stop herself from returning to the small town where he runs a bed and breakfast and serves as mayor. Alexis can’t leave Minneapolis, and Daniel can’t leave Wakan. So, how can they possibly make a relationship work?
Briana’s divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and the promotion she wants is probably going to a man. But it turns out that man isn’t as awful as his first impression. Suddenly, Briana and Jacob are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates, and meeting each other’s families. When Jacob decides to give Briana a kidney for her brother, Briana has no idea how she’ll be able to resist him.
Every person Emma and Justin date goes on to find their soulmate the second they break up. So Emma and Justin decide that, if they date, their curses will cancel each other’s out, right? Traveling nurse Emma changes her next assignment to Minnesota to test the theory. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three younger siblings, they’re suddenly navigating way more than they planned for—including catching feelings for each other.
Where I think you should start with Abby Jimenez’s books
Still not convinced that Abby Jimenez’s books are worth the hype? You can dip a toe into her writing style with Worst Wingman Ever, a short story in The Improbable Meet-Cute, a Kindle series by Amazon. At only 61 pages, it’s the perfect way to get a taste of Abby’s books. Following a hospice nurse and the “worst wingman ever” who accidentally exchange tons of notes before finally meeting face-to-face, this short story will have you laughing and crying, just like all of Abby’s novels.
Stephanie McKinley, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Stephanie is a freelance writer and product designer living in Charlotte, NC. She has been a Contributing Entertainment Writer for The Everygirl since 2021. She regularly reads over 100 books per year across young adult contemporary, women’s fiction, romance, thriller, and more.