The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Jimenez, Abby. Yours Truly. Forever Books, 2023.

Dr. Jacob Maddox’s first day at Royaume Northwestern Hospital is not an easy one. Six of his patients die, earning him the nickname “Dr. Death.” Dr. Briana Ortiz urges the nurses to go easy on him.

Briana’s boss, Gibson, summons her to his office to inform her that Jacob is her rival for the role of head of emergency surgency. Briana is furious and feels she is being cheated out of her rightful title. Briana is going through a divorce and dealing with her brother, Benny, who is suffering from kidney failure. Her best friend Alexis reassures her that everything will be fine.

After his first day, Jacob gets drinks with his ex, Amy, and his brother, Jeremiah. Amy and Jeremiah announce that they are engaged. He congratulates them, then flees. Jacob’s anxiety makes crowded bars difficult for him.

The next day, Jacob’s family calls him to check in. He reassures them that he is fine. He lies and says he has a girlfriend to get them off his back. After hanging up, Jacob is accidentally shoved by Briana, who is running to Benny’s room. He follows her to see what is wrong. He is so overwhelmed by her beauty that he is at a loss for words. He lamely tells her she bumped into him. She apologizes, then asks to be left alone with Benny.

After seeing to Benny’s needs, Briana sobs in the supply closet. Jacob finds her and presents her with a warm washcloth for her face. Briana tells him about Benny. Jacob’s mother, Joy, also suffered from kidney failure so he understands some of what she is going through. Briana tells him she is prepared to fight for her rightful role.

Jacob gets drinks with his friend and colleague, Zander, as well as Gibson. He tells them he does not want to compete for the promotion and that he wishes to donate his kidney to Benny. The next day, Briana regrets her cruelty to Jacob. She tells him that the best way to win the nurses over is by buying them cupcakes. The next day, she finds a cupcake on her desk with a letter from Jacob in which he apologizes for his rudeness and explains that he suffers from anxiety. Briana writes back to apologize for her own actions. The two start a playful correspondence at work.

Benny moves in with Briana so she can help him with his dialysis. Briana moved into her childhood home after her ex-husband, Nick, cheated on her with her friend Kelly. After a few days with no letters from Jacob, Briana decides to follow him on Instagram. They exchange a few messages before deciding to talk on the phone. They spend hours talking while Jacob sits in a restaurant near his cabin. The next time they see each other at work, they have lunch in the supply closet. They are interrupted by Jewel, Jacob’s sister, who comes by to check in on him. Jewel tells Jacob’s whole family that she met his girlfriend.

At a bar, Jacob tells Zander about his dilemma. Zander suggests Jacob openly ask Briana to pretend to be his girlfriend. He informs Jacob that his kidney is a perfect match for Benny. Jacob says he is ready to donate. When Benny gets the call informing him he has a donor, he cries out for joy.

The next morning at work, the whole staff is overjoyed for Briana. She tells Jacob the happy news. In his office, Gibson accidentally tells Briana that Jacob is the donor. He did not realize Jacob wanted his involvement to be anonymous. Briana can hardly believe Jacob’s generosity and rushes out to find him. They hug. Briana asks him to tell her about the family stuff he mentioned the other day. Jacob informs her about his girlfriend lie. Briana immediately offers her help. Jacob reluctantly accepts.

Jacob brings Briana to his parents’ house for dinner. She fits in with his family right away. They stick to the truth about their relationship as much as they can.

Jacob leaves Briana her favorite junk food—Taco Bell—on her desk at work. Briana enjoys their charade. Jacob comes over one night for dinner. They play a few silly rounds of Would You Rather and discuss their past relationships.

Three weeks later, Jacob brings Briana to his place. He has a cozy home and a beautiful room filled with plants. Briana feels privileged to be let into Jacob’s life. After, they head to his parents’ place for Amy and Jeremiah’s engagement party. While there, Briana overhears Jacob and Amy fighting. She is convinced Jacob is still in love with Amy. Briana realizes she has romantic feelings for Jacob.

Jacob drops Briana off at her place. He says he likes her and asks her on a real date. Briana says no. She does not want to be his consolation prize because he cannot have Amy.

That night, Briana flees to Alexis’ house in Wakan. The next morning, Jacob calls to ask Briana to get breakfast. When she tells him she is out of town, he asks whether he might join her. Alexis and her husband, Daniel, encourage him to come.

They spend a blissful day in Wakan together. That night, Briana and Jacob accidentally get locked in his bedroom. Alexis and Daniel leave an air humidifier outside the door overnight with the hopes that it will open more easily the next morning. Briana is freaked out about spending the night alone with Jacob. They drink bourbon and talk all night. They decide to move in together so that their families believe their relationship is real. Before she passes out, Briana tells Jacob she loves him. Jacob thinks she only said it because she was drunk.

Briana comes home to find her mother, Rosa, cooking. Briana announces that she is moving in with Jacob, who is Benny’s kidney donor. Rosa hurriedly packs food for Jacob.

Jacob is glad when Briana moves in, then disappointed when she insists that she sleep on the air mattress. Regardless, they enjoy their time together.

One day, Briana’s childhood friend, Levi, shows up at the emergency, in need of stitches. They exchange numbers and agree to catch up soon. Jacob feels jealous. Over the next couple of days, he imagines that Briana is texting Levi whenever she is on her phone.

At the next family dinner, Amy announces she is pregnant. Jacob is distracted thinking about Briana and Levi. He has a panic attack. Briana finds him in the basement. To comfort him, she tells him over and over that she loves him. They have sex. Briana is horrified with herself after, as she still believes Jacob loves Amy.

At Amy’s bachelorette party, one of the bridesmaids makes an inappropriate comment about Jacob’s anxiety. Briana tells her off before driving to the gas station to get Grandpa some cigarettes. Amy finds Briana with Grandpa. Amy apologizes for the bridesmaid’s behavior. Briana confesses that she thinks she loves Jacob more than he loves her. Amy insists that that is impossible. Amy can tell how much Jacob loves Briana. When she gets back to Jacob’s place, Briana tells him she does not want to be his second choice because he cannot have Amy. Jacob insists that he has no feelings for Amy. They tell each other they love each other, then kiss.

The wedding goes smoothly. In the hotel elevator, Jacob and Briana run into Nick and Kelly. Kelly is pregnant. Briana freaks out and vomits on Jacob’s shoes. She leaves Jacob and returns to Rosa’s home. She wants to be alone.
Briana tells Rosa she is pregnant. Briana wants to break up with Jacob because she is certain he will leave her someday. Rosa says that just because Briana’s father left them—and Nick was a cheater—does not make all men bad. Meanwhile, Joy encourages Jacob to be patient with Briana.

On surgery day, Jacob presents Briana with his journal to read. She does and is overwhelmed by the love she sees in his words. When Jacob wakes up, Briana vows to remain by his side forever.

Two years later, Jacob and Briana get married at their cabin. They have a daughter named Ava. Jacob is a stay-at-home dad. Benny is dating Jacob’s sister, Jane. Briana is in therapy.