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.

I’m in loveeeeee with Seth and Charlotte!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Why was this so short? It was a quick and cute read.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book!!!


Ps: The stalker part gave me chills and I don’t know how but the story was wrapped up perfectly for a short story.

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

Abby, you’re the best lol

4.5/5 rounded down

One of my very rare highly rated contemporary romances, and my first Abby Jimenez at that.

After a construction mishap leaves Charlotte, a woman in self-imposed isolation, and Seth a very recent divorcee trapped in their apartments on Valentine's day weekend, sparks start to fly.

This was exactly what you want out of a rom-com. Fast paced, sweet and hilarious to boot. I only wish this was longer and we got more from the retirement home ladies and their bonsais.

Actually refreshing to have such a short romance novella not just be a spice fest. Does the plot happen in a very short space of time and is parts of it a little unrealistic? Sure. But it's not like they're saying I love you straight away. It's sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

This is a cute story! I loved the whole forced proximity situation and that when it came down to it, Charlotte was capable of protecting herself!

First of all - Content Guidance from the author:
All my books are rom-coms, but I do like to include more serious topics within them that some may find triggering. If you feel trigger warnings are spoilers, feel free to skip the next paragraph. Everyone else, see below. This story is about a woman who is being stalked by a mentally ill stranger. There are mentions of suicide, kissing cousins, and discussions about firearms for the purpose of self-defense.

I'm a huge fan of Abby Jimenez and the book cover totally got my attention. When I read the blurb, I was even more intrigued.
The combination of romantic comedy with a more serious topic? I didn't even know I could like it that much.

Charlotte and Seth are neighbours who lost their stairs at home. Sounds funny, but it's the truth.
Both try to make the best of it over the weekend... but there's still the problem with Charlotte's stalker.

This story was absolutely enjoyable, funny, but also really emotional.
I instantly fell in love with Seth.
Oh my, this guy is an arborist, kinda shy, but also really really cuuuuute. What he did for Charlotte to make her feel better... *SWOON OVERLOAD*
And Charlotte? I felt with her! Well, I don't how it is to deal with a stalker. I can only imagine how horrible it is. 😔

I liked this cute but also serious short story really much.

Thanks a lot to Abby Jimenez and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

Seth and Charlotte deserve the world (and a whole book about their happily ever after).

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is the only short story ever that I’ve rated 5⭐️.. it was sooo cute I loved it!

This coming from someone who rarely dabbles in the romance genre is high praise.

The characters were genuine and interesting, there was no annoying miscommunication tropes and no third act break up.. just adults having real honest healthy conversations and being adorable human beings

Thank you to Amazon original stories for the gifted copy!

A cute valentine's day novella!

A bit violent for what I thought the story was going to be (even with the content warnings) but overall a sweet and enjoyable short story.

My only complaint is this was only a short story. Loved all the characters so much and would love to see a sequel.

Abby Jimenez never disappoints, even in this short story, where she expertly brings her characters to life. After a misunderstanding, Charlotte and Seth’s apartment building stairs suddenly disappear, forcing these two neighbors into an unexpected situation.

Charlotte, who has spent the last two years living in fear of a stalker, finds comfort in staying inside, while Seth, nursing an injured leg and grappling with the anniversary of his divorce, has no problem being stuck as well. As they spend time together, they begin to open up about their lives, forming a connection neither expected. With the support of her best friend Izzy and self-defense classes, Charlotte finds the strength to stand up to her stalker when he finally comes for her.

The secondary characters, including Seth’s best friend Gabe and Charlotte’s best friend Izzy, add depth and charm to the story, proving that opposites truly attract. This was a heartfelt, engaging read that packed plenty of emotion despite its shorter length.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I really enjoyed this short story. It was so cute and very fun to read and, at the same time, very real and powerful.
I wished it was a full length book, I wanted to know more about all the characters.
The pacing was great and I loved the banter between the characters.
This story makes me curious about her other books, this was the first of hers I’ve read.

Favorite quote:
"They said it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I wasn't sure I agreed. Something told me I'd never get over the loss of this."

After years of avoiding the Romance genre, I got into it last year, in part by buddy reading some excellent Ali Hazelwood books with a friend. As such, I've now built up a fondness for the genre although I am still hesitant about diving into new authors and subgenres. Cari Can Read did a video on Abby Jimenez, though, so when I saw The Fall Risk I decided to give it a chance. Good Lord is this story insane, but mostly in a hilarious way. Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

The Fall Risk begins with a little dedication to the women who would choose the bear and the men who try to understand why. Reader, I LOL'ed and the madness didn't really stop. This story has one of the most bonkers set-up I have ever read in Romance, or even fanfic, and that says quite a bit. Charlotte and Seth are stuck on their floor because... the stairs have accidentally been taken off. They will be stuck together till Monday and from there begins something of a 48-hour date, which isn't really a date but kinda really is. That alone is a set-up which is delightfully nonsensical, especially if you enjoy the forced proximity trope. BUT added to that is Charlotte's current nightmare of a life. She has been stalked, for the past two years, by a man with (probably) serious mental health issues. As Jimenez herself says in the foreword, she likes including more serious topics in her fiction, but I do not think this short story was the place to try and address stalking and mental health? I do have to admit I have no experience with stalking, so perhaps this is good rep? It didn't feel like it, but an argument could be made that it shows a way of moving past something like this. Seth himself is very recently divorced due to what Jimenez lists among her content warnings as "kissing cousins". Honestly, I LOL'ed again. There is so much going on that, after its 80-odd pages, I had to voicenote my friend to tell her about the nonsense of The Fall Risk. So, it is hilarious, but no sense is being made.

This is my first time reading Abby Jimenez and I did like how she built up certain aspects of her characters, her eye for a fun use of Romance tropes, and her quippy writing. I'm absolutely down to read a full-length book by her, to see how all of this, as well as her interest in more difficult themes, works out there. The Fall Risk, however, I cannot take serious as a romance story. I would have absolutely bought the attraction and vibes between Charlotte and Seth if we didn't have the whole stalking thing looming over Charlotte. It is described as absolutely debilitating, ruining her life, stopping her from even going outside for almost two years. But all it takes is one hot man across the hall to make her consider a different life? I think the set-up, in many ways, is really fun, but maybe there is just a little bit too much going on. However, as I said, I am still down to try more from Abby Jimenez in the future.

The Fall Trap is bonkers, but you'll have a fun time with it if the stalking themes are not triggering.

This was such a cute book. I think both main characters were portrayed relatively realistic, and the relationships/friendships between the characters were so healthy in a way. Even though this book only had 82 pages, I really felt sucked into the story and wouldn’t have minded if it were a way longer book, with a more in-depth view of the characters’ background stories.

This was a very nice short read, huge fan of Abby Jimenez and all her work. Really enjoyed this and recommend it.

Another hit from Abby Jimenez. Such a fun quick read with a happy ending!

I recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings prior to starting the book due to some sensitive topics throughout the story line