Abby Jimenez delivers yet another delightful read with The Fall Risk, a short story that’s equal parts witty, charming, and heartwarming. Charlotte and Seth’s chemistry is instant yet authentic, and their forced proximity situation turns into a hilarious yet unexpectedly sweet exploration of trust and vulnerability. Jimenez’s signature humor shines through, making even the most precarious moments feel lighthearted, while still packing an emotional punch.

A very cute and super original premise. Gave and Charlotte two neighbors who had barely muttered a hello are now in close quarters without stairs!!

This is a hilarious and sweet story! I wish it would’ve been longer because I would’ve loved to get more on all the characters but I’m satisfied with this quickly blossoming love!

Funny, caring, and sweet novella by the queen Abby Jimenez. I loved how the characters helped each other in a short amount of time during an odd situation.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. Wow, Abby Jimenez does it again, i haven't read any Abby book that hasn't become a favourite and this novella was no different.
The fall risk is about two neighbours who are stuck in their building due to their stairs being removed. Within less than 100 pages Abby managed to create another five star read, it was the perfect quick pallet cleanser and everyone should read it.

The Fall Risk centers around Charlotte, who is grappling with the aftermath of being stalked. As a result, she’s dealing with a lot of anxiety, trust issues, and a fear of being vulnerable. This psychological trauma impacts her ability to navigate relationships and her personal life. Enter Seth, a caring and determined man who, despite his own baggage, becomes her support as she learns to overcome her fears.

Seth is not only supportive, but he’s also determined to help Charlotte regain a sense of safety and confidence in herself, but it’s a journey that requires both of them to face their emotional scars. Throughout the novel, Abby Jimenez carefully and sensitively explores themes of trauma, personal healing, and rebuilding trust.

What stands out about this book is Jimenez’s ability to balance the heavy, emotional subject matter with humor and warmth. The chemistry between Charlotte and Seth grows naturally as they both face their vulnerabilities. It’s a story about healing, not just in terms of romance, but also in how individuals process their past traumas and learn to move forward.

Jimenez’s writing is engaging, as always, with relatable characters and moments of lightheartedness even amid the seriousness of Charlotte's struggles. The pacing is well done, and the emotional depth makes this novel more than just a typical romance—it’s a compelling exploration of personal growth, trust, and love.

The Fall Risk is a heartfelt, emotional read for fans of Abby Jimenez who enjoy stories that explore deep, real-world challenges while still delivering the romantic and uplifting moments she's known for.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Charlotte has moved into yet another new apartment, hoping to escape her stalker once and for all.
Her next-door neighbor, Seth, is going through his own struggles—this Valentine’s Day marks his first since an unexpected divorce ended the marriage he thought would last forever.
Neither of them is in the mood to celebrate, but they end up stuck together for the weekend when a construction crew accidentally tears down the wrong staircase, leaving them trapped in their apartments.
However, what starts as an inconvenience might actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise!
This fun 82-page novella is packed with Abby Jimenez’s signature humor and charming banter. Honestly, it was a better Valentine’s Day treat than chocolate!
Sure, some of the dialogue was a little cheesy, and the romance stayed pretty tame, but I still loved meeting these characters (and their friends!). I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a surprise appearance in one of Abby’s future books—she does that a lot!
If you have Amazon Prime, you can read it now as a First Read for February, or grab it when it officially releases on March 1, 2025!
As always, just sharing my honest thoughts!

Shockingly this is the first time I've ever read something by Abby Jimenez! This was a quick read and pretty average so 3 Stars. Thanks Amazon Original Stories for the digital ARC!

THIS WAS SUCH A SWEET SHORT STORY.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of this book.

An unexpected maintenance mishap at their apartment complex causes Seth and Charlotte, two neighbors, to become closely acquainted as they wait for the issue to be corrected. This novella packs so much meaning that it's wild!

Seth is healing from a failed marriage, and Charlotte is running from an abusive ex. The way their story took shape was so beautiful to read, and their friends were the perfect respite between the heavy topic of love lost.

This is my first time reading one of Abby Jimenez's books, but it will not be my last. This was a good time.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, General Fiction (Adult) | Novellas & Short Stories | Romance, and Abby Jimenez, for the ARC of this fun novella.

A lone tree was a fall risk.

After months of hiding from a deranged stalker, Charlotte finds she is stronger when her roots are intertwined with those who care for her.

This was my first time reading anything from Abby Jimenez; I have a couple of her books in my physical TBR but I thought this short story would be the perfect introduction into her writing style and genre. I was so throughly impressed. I loved how easy her writing flowed and how she told the story. I absolutely fell in love with the characters very quickly and loved their wit and banter.

The story felt rushed because it was only meant to be a short story, but it would have done so well as a full length novel. In fact, I am actually craving their story to be more fully fleshed out because it would have been the most perfect slow burn.

I am so excited now to continue on my Abby Jimenez reading journey and will most definitely include more of her books to my ever growing TBR!

Thank you so much Abby Jimenez for the ARC of this book.

The Fall Risk was the perfect pallet cleanser I didn’t know I needed. It’s short, sweet, and to the point while also giving it that heavy serious Abby flair she does so well. Eleven chapters about two neighbors stranded together after their stairs are accidentally removed from their second story apartment was just what the doctor ordered to help me out of reading slump.

Less than 100 pages, but pure perfection! I adore everything that Abby writes ❤️

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

SWIM SHADY??
UNSOLICITED DECK PICS??
REDWOOD FACTS??
INCEST HUMOR??
AMAZING. kicking my feet. I was laughing out loud and telling my friends to read this. The humour was perfect and I never knew what was going to happen next.

Very cute and quick novella. As always, Abby writes top-tier MMCs, and Seth does not disappoint. I also loved Charlotte's development arc.

I could absolutely read a full length novel about Seth and Charlotte!

Thank you to Abby Jimenez, Amazon Original Stories, and to NetGalley for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

The Fall Risk is a short but sweet novella that packs plenty of charm and wit into its brief length. As always, Abby Jimenez's writing sparkles with humour, heartfelt moments, and endearing characters. The premise of two neighbours trapped together on Valentine’s Day makes for a fun and quirky rom-com setup, and both Charlotte and Seth are easy to root for.

While the story delivered enjoyable banter and tender moments, the novella's short length didn't quite allow the depth of the characters or their stories to fully unfold. The emotional layers—particularly Charlotte’s past trauma and Seth’s fresh heartbreak—deserved more exploration, which would have been better suited to a full-length novel. There’s no doubt Jimenez could have taken this premise and turned it into another signature slow-burn romance with all the nuance and emotional depth she’s known for.

That said, The Fall Risk is still an entertaining, light-hearted read that will leave readers smiling. I only wish there had been more time to fully savour the journey. Perfect for a quick pick-me-up with plenty of laughs and a hint of vulnerability.

The Fall Risk was a cute story. I love Abby Jimenez, and I did really enjoy this, but I think the short format made it a little hard to get the point across without being a bit over the top. The stalker plotline was unrealistic to me. It felt like there was just not enough time to give it the right level of seriousness. It felt like there was a lot crammed into this story and it was just too much at some points. That said, I did enjoy the characters and the plot in general. There was a lot there that was enjoyable. I also really loved the side characters. Overall, this was definitely worth reading, but not my favorite of what I have read of Abby Jimenez.

Abby Jimenez does such a great job making a short story feel complete. I love her short stories almost as much as her full-length stories.

Seth's divorce is final, and Charlotte is trapped in her home due to fear of a stalker. When the stairs leading to their apartment are removed in error, they chose to stay together instead of staying in a hotel. As each day passes, they get closer and closer.

The character development in this short story was amazing. The author touches on some pretty serious issues in this story. She does such a great job expressing the issues and how they affect the characters. Of course, she also adds in some humor to keep things light. Not to mention the bonus that we actually get to see two couples emerge in this story and even though they have small parts you still get some pretty great character development.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon original stories for this title. This is my honest review.

The Fall Risk was a delightful and fast-paced romance that takes place over the span of one weekend. Charlotte and Seth are neighbors and when the stairs to their second-floor apartments disappear, they're suddenly facing a lot of time together. Charlotte is dealing with a scary stalker situation and Seth is just a really good guy who loves to talk about trees. I loved the casual forced proximity, their two best friends, and the "bear in the woods" commentary. If you like Abby Jimenez, this has all of the heart as her full length novels with an extra-snappy pace.

The book was really good it's a nice short story about this couple of the stuck in their apartment cuz the stairs go missing in their apartment building it was just a cute little romcom

The Fall Risk is a short story by Abby Jimenez and it does not disappoint! It was a quick but fun read about two neighbors falling in love after the stairs to their second floor apartments is accidentally removed.

This story is the forced proximity trope and it was well done! It was a cute and fun even though it also dealt with the serious issue of stalking. The way everything came together at the end was prefect. I would love to read another book with these characters!

I'm convinced Abby can write anything. I'm obsessed. The balcony beach? The best friend subplot? The nursing home resident visit & cookies? The ending? So so good.

Also can we please get Gabe & Izzy's story? So much untapped potential there!

Trigger warning: stalking