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.

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.

Charlotte (accountant) and Seth (arborist) wake up one morning to find that the stairs out of their apartment building have been removed and they find themselves trapped. Though very unlikely, this was a cute, short story that touched on a challenging topic. I connected with Charlotte and her anxiety/constant fear of someone following her, especially since she actually had a stalker. Seth was sweet and understanding, prioritizing Charlotte feeling safe. I felt invested in the characters, even with it being only 82 pages. The banter and the puns were adorable and I loved the friendship that they built from such a unique and challenging situation. There was a lot of women empowerment in this book- self defense classes, owning guns, bats w/ socks and bear spray.

If you are an Abby Jimenez fan, you will like her latest romantic short story, The Fall Risk. Thank you, @Netgalley, for sharing it with me for review consideration. All opinions are my own. If you haven’t read Abby Jimenez books, run, don’t walk, to get them in your hands, brains and hearts pronto! My personal favorites are Yours Truly and Just for the Summer, both from the Part of Your World series.

If you like to read blurbs, the description of The Fall Risk is SO CUTE. It mentions the trigger warning, if you like knowing what to expect.

This was a quick, enjoyable story and it was perfect for me to read on Valentine’s Day, although reading it the other 364 days would work too! Charlotte and Seth are neighbors who are pretty much forced to meet one another. Seth is an arborist and I like the way trees make it into the story.

There is lots to love in this little story. Every single character was lovable. Well, except one. Funny and clever, with good tie-ins throughout. A complete story in a tiny package!

Abby Jimenez never fails to amaze me, even with this short story she managed to make me feel all the feels, silly goofy and emotional. It was a fun, unique story to read and I really enjoyed it. She really is one of the best romance writers out there.

You can honestly never go wrong with an Abby Jimenez book. This short story proves that and is a great reminder of the dangers that some women have to live with/encounter in their daily lives.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Abby Jimenez's "The Fall Risk" is beautifully crafted. The novella delves into human emotions, relationships, and the journey of self-healing. Although short, the story was charming with a lot of banter between Charlotte and Seth. There were themes of learning to trust and self-growth as well as a sweet romance.
Charlotte’s emotional depth and authenticity make her a character that readers can easily empathize with. Seth, on the other hand, is depicted as a caring with steadfast presence. Their interactions are marked by genuine happy moments, witty banter, and growth, which form the backbone of the story.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so invested in learning about trees. The information was interesting and the joking manner between Charlotte and Seth was cute to read. The dialogue was engaging, immersing me in the story.
Jimenez also excels in pacing, ensuring that the story flows smoothly especially considering it’s novella length! Additionally, her use of descriptive language brings the settings and scenes to life, creating a vivid reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fall Risk.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this Arc.

Grade
4/5 ⭐ overall
3/5 💗 romance
1/5 🌶️ spice