I absolutely loved this short story. Abby Jimenez has a way of writing characters that make you fall in love with them and their story. I knew it was a short going into it but I wanted more! I’d love a full length with these characters!

Charlotte and Seth, both hesitant to pursue romance, find themselves trapped in a precarious situation on Valentine's Day weekend. Charlotte is on high alert due to a stalker, while Seth, a newly divorced arborist, struggles with trust. When they become stranded together, they must break down their defenses and may find themselves falling in love.

I have to admit, I'm probably the only one who hasn't read a single book by this author. But I'm determined to make things right! I've decided to start with this delightful novella, a sweet and heartwarming love story that focuses on women's empowerment and more...

This fast-paced and heartfelt story that if you're a fan of this author, you'll absolutely adore this short story. Not only does it capture the essence of empowerment, but it also beautifully portrays the unexpected relationship between two completely different characters who happen to live next door. Get ready to be swept off your feet by this captivating tale of love, empowerment, and the beauty of unexpected connections!

Thank you, Amazon Original Stories, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Abby hit it out of the park with another perfect short, delivering all the Valentine’s feels in such a fun and unique way. Charlotte and Seth’s situation had me hooked from the start, and the bonus of a double love story and found family element made it even better. So much charm, humor, and heart packed into such a quick read—Abby makes every page count.

this was so cute and swoon worthy! this is a short 82 page novella but it did everything it needed to do and more in that time. i loved charlotte’s story; it was so empowering seeing her overcome such a scary situation and take back her life! seth is the definition of a “good man” and i loved seeing him find his person. the side characters only made this book better!

Classic Abby Jimenez — funny, sweet, serious and heartwarming. Abby has a way of creating character interactions that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It almost makes me wish she’d develop this into a longer story so I could hang out with Seth and Charlotte a little more (though it’ll be unfair to them to have to be stuck in their situation longer than a weekend).

4 solid stars - I really appreciated this romance novella! While I understand that there are some TW’s for some readers (stalking), I felt that it brought a different angle to the story & I liked how the FMC took control of the situation. I also liked that it was a “clean” story. Will check the authors back list out!

A light hearted quick read, there are serious topics in it with the stalking aspect but I felt it was appropriate with how it was represented. Seth and Gabe were golden retrievers in all aspects and just lovely. Even though it was novella length and a quick read the story didn’t feel rushed or incomplete.

3.75🌟
No spice
Forced proximity novella. An interesting story built around the “man or bear” question that was all over social media. Sweet relationship growth for such a short amount of time.

I’m shocked at how invested I can get in only 80 pages. In true Jimenez style, The Fall Risk is sweet, funny, reflective and with just the right emotional punch.

I would have eagerly inhaled a full length version of Charlotte and Seth’s story. However this short form also satisfies, and is so rich in narrative that I didn’t feel anything was missing.

A warm and delightful read, this is perfect for anyone looking for a palate cleanser, a pick me up, or for those looking for a fix whilst waiting for Jimenez’s next book!

Thank you Amazon Original Stories for this arc. Opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. It was short and sweet, full of humor and seriousness. I love the forced proximity trope. This gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. I would love a spin off story to dig into the dynamic of the best friends as well. Thanks for another fantastic read.

I’m not a rom-com kind of reader so I’ve steered clear of Abby Jimenez, despite seeing her books everywhere and being tempted each time. Thanks to Netgalley for the free e-copy of The Fall Risk.

This was a CUTE short story I blasted through in about 35 minutes and it was FUNNY!! Seth was such a cutie with his tree jokes. Often with short stories I just don’t feel like there was enough to feel emotionally invested, and while the ending of this wrapped up really quickly, I do feel satisfied.

Always like Abby Jimenez's stories, believable characters in a realistic settings, this could have been a full book, wanted to see and hear from all four of the characters

A short romance story with a twist, two neighbours decide to turn their Valentine’s Day around. One has a stalker and the other is recently divorced. I thought this would be a cute, cozy, romance read but I was wrong. The whole stalker thing was creepy. I also found the very frequent use of the f word and other swear words unnecessary and honestly ruined the book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own

A Delightfully Hilarious, Bite-Sized Rom-Com with a Twist - The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

It’s been a long time coming, but I finally read my first Abby Jimenez romance—The Fall Risk—and I’m officially sold. I’ve been on a rom-com hiatus for a while, but this charming, laugh-out-loud novella reminded me exactly why I used to love them.

Coming in at under 100 pages, The Fall Risk is a quick, deliciously entertaining forced proximity romance with a side of suspense (because, surprise—there’s a stalker). Over the course of one eventful weekend, Charlotte (an armed and lethally trained accountant) and Seth (a tree-loving botanist with an A+ sense of humor) find themselves stuck together… literally. Turns out, when your apartment building staircase disappears, you’re in for some unexpected bonding time.

Why you need this in your life:
- Forced Proximity – Stuck on their landing with no way out. ("Where did the staircase go?")
- Hilarious secondary characters – And yes, they get their own HEA!
- Nerdy tree jokes & innuendo – Who knew botany could be so flirty?
- Endearing & fun banter – The kind that makes you grin from ear to ear.

As for steam, this one keeps it sweet with on-the-page kisses and nothing beyond that. Definitely tamer than my usual reads, but honestly? It was so utterly delightful (stalker situation aside) that I didn’t mind one bit.

The Fall Risk landed on March 1, 2025.
If you love your rom-coms short, snappy, and sprinkled with a bit of chaos, I highly recommend grabbing this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Abby Jimenez, and Amazon Original Stories for the advanced reader copy.

#ForcedProximity #RomanceNovellas #RomanceBooks #RomanceNook #AbbyJimenez #TheFallRisk #NetGalley

I will read anything by Abby Jimenez. This short story is perfect and sweet. Quick reads like this are the perfect palate cleanser between books. Definitely give this one a try.
4 stars!

This was my first Abby Jimenez and I loved it so much!! This would have made such a good full length novel but it was perfect in novella form too. Charlotte and Seth end up in forced proximity when the stairs to their apartment building are accidentally removed and they’re stuck on the second floor together. Charlotte has been a bit of a recluse for the past couple years because her stalker is still walking free and she lives in fear of being found.

This book does a great job of handling the serious subject of violence against women and what men are allowed to get away with while also showing how strong women can be. It also manages to be absolutely hilarious and romantic in between. Charlotte and Seth stole my heart in 82 short pages. This may have been my first Abby but it will definitely not be my last!

Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No because I don't understand HOW a short story like this held so much meaning and depth in the span of not-so-many pages. Yes it was short but Seth and Charlotte's story felt complete and that's all that matters.

somehow Abby Jimenez can make you completely fall in love in 80 pages.

I AM THE FALL RISK, IT'S ME.

This author knows how to do characters.

I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Jimenez's last two novels, and will probably stick with audio going forward. She makes stylistic choices that can feel stilted and repetitive to me. That being said, I read this short story in two sittings (separated by sleep), which isn’t common for me at the moment!

What a clever little novella!

I loved the integration of Seth's profession and passion for being an arborist through so much of the story. Charlotte's situation is not an easy one, and he stepped up big time to help her feel safe and supported when he learned of it.

I also loved the sidekick love interests that ran parallel to Seth and Charlotte's story. It really reminded me of the movie Failure to Launch and just made me smile so much.

I can't imagine it's easy to write a story this robust and emotional in such a small amount of pages, and though I thought the main plotline was a little underwhelming in the finale, this did a great job of delivering a great story.

If you only have an hour or two on a weekend to indulge in reading, this is the perfect story to get your reading mojo restarted!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.