In my view, Abby Jimenez can do no wrong, and The Fall Risk is just another sample of her literary genius. There's a meet-cute, character development, explorations of trauma, and top-notch tree facts. Even when it's only a novella, Abby's books carry an emotional resonance that cannot be matched. I would love to just crawl inside her brain because the situations and banter she comes up with are *chef's kiss* perfect. I highly recommend this book or any other by the author that you can get your hands on!

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This little short story was as charming as ever! Abby Jimenez packed an impressive amount of heart and character development into such a small space—it honestly felt like magic. I was immediately invested in the characters, and Julia Whelan's narration was the perfect finishing touch (truly a chef’s kiss). If I had one critique, it’s simply that I wish it had been a full-length novel—I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Seth and Charlotte!

This short story was so good, I was invested as soon as I started and I appreciate the way everything was tied up in this perfect little bow. The Fall Risk lived up to its name because you definitely fall in love with all the characters very quickly and while I wanted more of them, the conclusion was enough to leave me more than content and at peace with it being the end. Abby never misses and I’m so happy I received this as an ARC.

This short story is a perfect blend of humor, charm, and unexpected romance. The witty banter and quirky setup make for a fun and engaging read, while the emotional undercurrents add depth beyond the lighthearted premise. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and their predicament leads to some genuinely hilarious and heartfelt moments. Despite its brevity, the story feels satisfying and complete, packing in warmth, humor, and just the right amount of romance.
With sharp writing and a unique scenario, this delivers everything needed for a quick but memorable read. The characters are easy to root for, and their interactions feel authentic, making the journey from strangers to something more entirely believable. A perfect pick for anyone who loves clever dialogue, a little forced proximity, and a feel-good romantic escape.

Leave it to Abby Jimenez to absolutely SLAY a short story!! I loved this so much, Seth is so sweet and understanding towards Charlotte and I loved seeing that. I also loooved the friendship that Charlotte has with Izzy, you could tell how much Izzy cares and was worried about Charlotte having another encounter with her stalker. The stalker aspect was such a unique storyline and was done so well, I have never read a book like that! All in all, I thought this was really cute and would 100% recommend this book to everyone!

Really cute short story. Loved the chemistry and humor which is so Abby Jimenez’s style. I learned a lot about arborists, fascinating. Find out more by picking up this chick lit.

Absolutely loved this adorable rom-com!

Short, sweet and in true Abby Jimenez fashion she also incorporates serious topics that help make the story real and engaging.

Great for a quick trip or a Sunday afternoon!

Abby Jimenez is fast becoming a favourite for me, and this was no exception. It's short but it still captures all of the impact of a longer format book in terms of likeable characters, interesting plot, and some funny moments. The stalker part was definitely upsetting, especially seeing how one person being left to do "what they want" despite a legal system there to protect victims was just so wrong. And it's definitely not unheard of. In fact, the worst part about Charlotte's experience is that it is very much the norm in society these days. It was good that she had an opportunity to get to know Seth, and sure they fell hard and fast, but it felt somewhat real because of their situation. And ultimately, they don't fall insta love quite as much as they could have in other books. I also loved that their best friends were so outspoken and funny, because it added just a bit more to the story as a whole, making it feel like more than a novella.

And Seth's tree facts were so fun. I learned something.

All in all, a solid stand alone story about two people getting to know each other under interesting circumstances. And two likeable people too.

The Fall Risk follows the story of Seth and Charlotte who get stuck in their respective apartments when the stairs to their floor get accidentally destroyed. They strike up a friendship, but will Charlotte's past catch up with her?

"It was like fate conspired to place the perfect woman in the apartment across from mine, and then it knocked out the stairs for good measure, and my only job was to make her interested in me..."

Overall this is a very sweet short story. It's a bit cheesy and on the nose, but sometimes that is just what you need. I also enjoyed the sense of humour in this. The millenial slang had me cringing a couple of times though and has me worry about the timelessness of this story, but I still had a good time with it. One detail that surprised me in the best way was the calling out of animal abuse. Specifically the abuse of fish, who are often neglected in this discussion.

“Sometimes the start of something good begins during something bad,” he said. “We don’t get to pick when these things happen.”

The Fall Risk is for you if you enjoy sweet, short love stories with a unique premise. Expect plenty of cozy, healing vibes from this one.

This is a cute short story. Charlotte is a strong FMC, and Seth is just absolute perfection as the MMC. I'm not usually one for short stories, but this was a wonderful exception!

✨️ Forced Proximity
✨️ Dual POV
✨️ Insta Love
✨️ Protective Cinnamon Roll Hero
✨️ Opposites Attract Side Couple
✨️ Banter
✨️ Clean Romance

Abby Jimenez's books have been on my tbr for some time, but I haven't had a chance to read any of her books. I saw this one available on NetGalley and thought a short story would be a good introduction to her writing.

When I read the blurb and then saw it was only 82 pages. I'll admit I was skeptical. How could you fit all of that in a short story and make it believable? Well, I didn't have to wonder for long because I couldn't put it down once I started it. Abby nailed the perfect mix of sweet and serious. She even managed to fit in a cute side match up with the main characters' best friends.

The only thing that bugged me (and I recognize this is extremely nit picky) was the overuse of question marks in the dialog. Sometimes, it absolutely made sense that the characters would intone things as a question, but not every time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read, and it just added to my excitement to read Abby's other books. It is also a great reminder that short stories can be great reads.

The Fall Risk is another wonderful story by Abby Jimenez. Charlotte and Seth are neighbors and neither is looking for love even though it's Valentine's Day weekend. Charlotte has put herself in isolation with a dangerous man stalking her. She's already moved several times, had to change jobs, and live a life inside her apartment. The stalker always finds her. The police can't do anything more until the stalker does something to Charlotte. She already has a restraining order against him and that's the most she can do by law. Absolutely ridiculous! Charlotte has many guns she's learned to use, she's taken self defense classes, and she always carries bear spray with her everywhere. She is ready for the worst to happen.

Seth is recently divorced as of the day he and Charlotte met. His wife cheated on him and then left him! Lot of nerve she has! Seth is a good man and works as an arborist. He loves trees and talks about trees almost non-stop. Charlotte finds this endearing, but most people get bored by it. Seth and Charlotte meet because the workers took the steps to their building down. They weren't supposed to, but misunderstood the job. They won't be back until Monday and it's Friday. Seth and Charlotte are trapped with only a ladder acting as an escape route in case of emergency. They also have a bucket attached to a rope for food deliveries and such. What could go wrong?

Charlotte is afraid of heights and doesn't want to get close to the edge. They're one story up and trapped for the weekend. Seth isn't afraid at all and does all of the talking to people below and accepts the deliveries. Will Charlotte let her guard down and let Seth in? Will she trust him enough to tell him what's going on with her? Will Seth share his trust issues now that his divorce is official? Will two people not looking for love find it right next door? This is a sweet story that I wish had been longer. There's also tension built in with the stalker element. I thoroughly enjoyed The Fall Risk and rate it 5 stars. The story is available now and for all of the Abby Jimenez fans should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of The Fall Risk in exchange for a fair review. #TheFallRisk

This was really cute and sweet while dealing with some harder topics. Seth was adorable and I liked how he and Charlotte just clicked right from the start.

This short story was a perfect palate cleanser and one that could get anybody out of a reading slump! Abby Jimenez is truly a master at developing characters in so few pages that are not one dimensional people. Her books always have so much heart and this was no exception. It is easily read in one sitting. In this short story we get awareness of mental health issues and stalking, but they’re written with such finesse that it doesn’t take you out of the story. I even loved all the tree puns, and the side characters deserve their own story as well. Highly recommend this short story if you need a quick afternoon read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This was my first Abby Jimenez book and I was pleasantly surprised. This was the perfect fast and fun novella to get me out of my reading slump.
Charlotte and Seth find themselves to be new neighbors and forced together when an unfortunate event happens. This booked showed forced proximity in the best way possible. I do wish that the book was longer so I can keep reading about Seth and Charlotte but nonetheless, I very much enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more titles by Abby Jimenez.

This is the second short story that Abby Jimenez has released, and this is the second short story that gives us a adorable meet-cute and lovable characters that left us wanting more. The hardest part of a short story is the author has very little time to really develop the characters, however it was really easy to like Seth and Charlotte. The plot was a bit heavy for my taste and could use a little more of AJ’s typical humor to lighten it, although since it’s a short story that might not be possible to include. The only other critique (kinda) is that I wish I got to know more about the characters…again, not really possible with a short story, but they seemed fun and interesting enough that I’d want more. Overall, definitely a great quick read!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate the opportunity!**

Seth and Charlotte are neighbors who become stuck on the level of their apartment building without stairs. Two neighbors, both with baggage, show us what can happen when people are isolated and let the problems of the outside world fall away.

I absolutely loved The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez. It's a quick read with a great plot and lovable characters. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this fantastic romcom. I highly recommend!

What a fantastic book! I always love Abby Jimenez's books but this one may be her best one yet! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

This was a delightful little snack of a story! I would absolutely read a full length story about either of these couples and really enjoyed the interwoven relationships between all four of them. The stalker bit was a little over-the-top in certain places and the seriousness of that didn't really blend with the fun and carefree tilt to the story, but I understand how it pulled pieces together and helped form the bonds between several of the characters.

This was my first exposure to this very popular, very talked about author and from this short story, I understand what all of the fuss is about! I usually don't go for the "it" authors or reads, but I just bought a book by Ms. Jimenez after reading this story, so it definitely did the trick! I look forward to reading more of her work soon and will definitely recommend this to others!

This novella was so super cute. It had just the right amount of sappiness. I can see myself rereading this one when I just need something short and light to make me swoon.