4.5/5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun, wholesome, the main characters had great chemistry and banter. I liked that the FMC was grappling with a tough real life situation and she even solved the problem on her own without needing the MMC to swoop in and rescue her. I thought the side characters were quirky and fun too. I wish it was longer so the pacing could be better. I felt the conclusion was rushed. Overall really enjoyed it and wished it was a full length book.

Abby always excels at composing a story that makes you think. She takes a serious situation and gives you something to mull over way past when you're done reading. This book is short and sweet and there’s no crazy rushed spice and just a natural banter. it’s a good amount of eagerness amongst characters, but there’s still that emotional punch. This one in particular dealt with a tough subject but as always we had our loveable golden retriever boyfriend letting our girl take the lead and be in control while being supported fully along the way.

This was such a fun read in parts (I kept finding myself wanting to pick it up again for the banter and absurdity), but at the same time, it was profoundly uncomfortable, and ultimately, the feelings of discomfort win out in terms of my biggest takeaway from this story.

The description mentions that a stalker comes into play somehow, but to be clear, the female lead CURRENTLY has an active, potentially murderous stalker. She has spent literally years hiding from him and living in fear. And, as you might guess, this book is about how she finds [insta-]love in the face of that terrifying situation.

Mixing an incredibly serious real-world topic with a surface-level relationship just doesn't work. Especially when, to contrast, certain parts of the book felt like intentionally absurd placeholders jotted down just for fun and then, for some reason, left in for publication (the basic premise of the book—why don't we get an explanation of how the stair disappearance is logistically possible? the male MC's divorce—was that tangent an inside joke or a writers group dare?). I'm all for silly and weird, and I don't necessarily think that every aspect of a book needs explanation, but some level of tonal consistency would be nice!

Ultimately, this felt like a project a talented author rushed to conceptualize in a very short time and published without polishing. I think it could have been great if it were long enough to actually develop the characters and explore the serious issues at play, but as it stands, it needed at least 100 more pages and a sensitivity reader.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...
• You're already a big Abby Jimenez fan
• You're very into puns and millennial humor
• Side characters are just as important to you as main characters (these side characters carry the book—love 'em!)
• You're looking for a quick read with dark topics (but don't want to think too much)
• Insta-love makes you swoon

THIS ISN'T FOR YOU IF...
• You have any history with stalking or aren't interested in reading a book that makes light of the topic
• You have a background in architecture and will be bothered by an...architecturally improbable premise (the whole conceit of this book is that the characters' stairs are missing. How does this happen? How is this a legal dwelling?)
• You're looking for spice (spice level zero)...OR an entirely wholesome book (I wouldn't bring the cookies from this book to a church potluck, if I were the church potluckin' type)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eBook copy of the book! All opinions are, as always, 100% my own.

5 stars ⭐️ right off the bat, I will forever be a Abby Jimenez fan and even though this was only a novella and fast paced it still dealt with real issues like she always does in the right way. I will forever be buying her books whatever she writes.

This was so cute. I love anything Abby Jimenez writes and this little story did not disappoint! The characters were likable and the plot was great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Abby Jimenez, and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let’s start with the basics: I love a short story. I love Abby Jimenez. The Fall Risk? The perfect combination.

This novella is fun, cute, and wildly entertaining—all while tackling a really serious topic. It follows Charlotte, who moves into a new apartment building to hide from her stalker… and then, poof, the stairs go missing.

I absolutely loved Seth and Charlotte, but their best friends, Gabe and Izzy, stole the show too. Izzy is a total badass—she helps Charlotte see just how strong she is, but she’s also the kind of friend who would literally do anything to protect her. And Gabe? He’s the one trying (and failing) to get Seth to play it cool instead of rambling about trees. Iconic.

I would 100% read another book about these characters—or even a full-length novel.

Close proximity? Perfect.
No stairs, which forces close proximity? Even better.
10/10, would recommend.

It's a cute story. I liked both Charlotte and Seth and their dynamic. Things kind of progressed really fast but it's hard not to given that the book is a novella. I liked their friends as well. Abby Jimenez always manages to tackle some heavier topics in her novels and this wasn't an exception. I liked how it was handled. But I didn't feel too connected to the characters nor to the story. It's cute but forgettable.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

A wonderful story that has two neighbors becoming friends over Valentine’s weekend. Charlotte and Seth both have issues with relationships. Charlottes is way more intense because the man has become a stalker. Now with the two of them being trapped without any stairs they make the best of the situation and Seth realizes her fear and does things to make her feel safe all the while dealing with his divorce being final. What makes the story is the different wordplay and the way the author describes each scene which makes each character special and unique. This is an excellent book for a short story and very much worth the read.

I would read Abby's grocery list at this point! This is a fun short novella that follows two neighbors who form a relationship after the stairs out of their apartment are taken away. This was the perfect pallet cleanser for me while I waited for Say You'll Remember Me to come out! It's full of kick-your-feet banter and suspense! The perfect short read!

Review to come! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Fall Risk is the first story I've read by Abby Jimenez, and I enjoy reading short stories by authors I've never read before to see if the story speaks to me and makes me want to read more by the author. The Fall Risk is romantic, funny, and also serious. I found myself really enjoying the humor, and to be honest, I actually loved Izzy and Gabe (friends with Charlotte and Seth) hooking up more than Charlotte and Seth, who are the main characters. Not that I didn't find Charlotte and Seth's story interesting to read, but I do love it when authors write strong secondary characters. I'm looking forward to reading more by Abby Jimenez.

I am not usually a huge fan of short stories because I am always left feeling like there was not enough told to make it feel like a complete story. This, however, did not feel like that. Abby told an amazing love story filled with laughter, drama, and friendship in less than 100 pages.

Really quick and easy read, and has the signature style of any Abby Jiminez book that meant that I devoured this read!

Loved the characters - the side character especially were super great too, and great commentary on women’s safety.

If this was ever a full length novel, I know I’d be the first to read

This novella is classic Abby Jimenez, just short! I loved it. The characters are well-developed, even in this short space, and the story is fantastic. She shares the trigger warnings at the beginning, which is helpful. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this ARC and an opportunity to share my thoughts.

I have to say, it completely caught me off guard. I don’t usually pick up romance novels, but this one had me hooked from the first chapter. The chemistry between the two main characters was electric—it wasn’t just about the physical attraction, but the way they challenged and supported each other. I found myself rooting for them, even when they were making mistakes or letting their insecurities get in the way.

What really stood out to me was how real the story felt. The dialogue was sharp and natural, and the emotional moments hit hard without feeling overly dramatic. I could see pieces of myself in the male lead, especially in how he struggled to open up and be vulnerable. It made me think about my own relationships in a way I didn’t expect.

The pacing was perfect, with just enough tension to keep me turning the pages. And while there were moments that felt predictable, the journey was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. By the end, I was smiling like an idiot—it was that satisfying.

Short romantic comedy about two neighbors who are stuck in their apartments after the steps to their apartments are accidently removed and they have to wait the weekend for the contractors to come back on Monday to put new ones up. There is an emergency ladder and a bucket to haul stuff up....this was a fun quick read - can't go wrong with Jimenez!

My only complaint is that it wasn't longer. But I think she wants to leave us hanging for her new release set to come out - TAKE MY MONEY. This review is not that deep, but Jimenez knows she cooks.

Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite authors. The romance was so cute and easy to read. And the hard topics in this book were handled really well.

Abby Jimenez never fails, like never! That read was quick, fun and sweet. I loved how she approached the difficult topics in the book. Wish I had more but it's a novella so I won't talk about this... Also hoping for Izzy and Gabe story.

Such a great short story. I typically hate short books since there isn't time to develop the characters but Abby Jiminez pulled me in from the beginning and make me laugh out loud. Great romantic comedy!

Wow, wow, wow, I loved this! Abby Jimenez has quickly become one of my must-read authors, and this novella was no exception. I was really impressed by how much she was able to fit into under 100 pages. That said however, this definitely had the potential to be a full book. I loved Charlotte and Seth’s dynamic and how he was able to make her feel comfortable around him in such a short amount of time. I do wish we could have seen more of Izzy and Gabe but wouldn’t be surprised to see something written about them in the future. I also thought the heavier topics were handled well and with a lot of sensitivity, which I definitely appreciate. Overall, this was a really cute forced-proximity romance, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a quick read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Stalking, mentions of suicide, infidelity, and discussions about firearms for self-defence purposes.