I picked up my first Abby Jimenez book to get out of a reading slump, and each one of her books is better than the last.

“Life’s Too Short” comes out April 6. Thanks to Netgalley and Forever, the romance imprint of Grand Central Publishing, for an advanced reader copy. Opinions are my own.

It is the third book in the Friend Zone series and while you don’t have to read them in order, I highly recommend it.

In “Life’s Too Short,” we meet neighbors Vanessa and Adrian, who are quite clearly into each other from the get-go. Vanessa is a YouTube-famous travel vlogger who’s raising her sister’s newborn while her sister battles drug addiction. Adrian is a high profile attorney.

There’s a strong possibility Vanessa will develop ALS, which killed her sister (and would have killed her mother, but she was killed in a car accident first). Vanessa is determined not to waste a second of her life; she jets off at a moment’s notice to create new content for her channel. Adrian has a much more ... rigid personality. As the two of them figure out if and how they can build a life together, the reader is treated to a really, really good contemporary romance story.

As an aside, this book was chock-full of references to “The Office,” and you know that makes my heart flutter.

Kristen, Sloan and their partners from “The Friend Zone” and “Happily Ever Playlist” make an appearance in this book, and it was such a fun surprise when they showed up.

With “Life’s Too Short,” Jimenez remains my reigning rom-com queen. Her books are smart, steamy, and incredibly readable.

Life’s too Short

Wow, this was one of those romance books that just lifts you up so much. So much tension is created between the characters and you're just biting your nails waiting for them to both realize they are meant for one another! When they end up together and the book still has another 30% you know they will have another obstacle before love prevails, but you are there for it!

Synopsis

Vanessa was almost certain her life would be taken by ALS. Her mother had it and herolder sister died from it. It was only a matter of time before it took her life. That’s why Vanessa decided to travel the globe and live everyday as it was her last. During her travels she became a youtube sensation with most of the proceeds going to ALS research and supporting her dysfunctional family.

Her father had let himself go professionally and personally once he lost his wife. Her younger sister, Annabel, didn’t handle her sister’s death well and turned to addiction. Vanessa’s traveling lifestyle changes once Annabel leaves her newborn baby Grace on her doorstep to care for.

This could have been a disaster but instead brings Adrian into Vanessa’s life. He is a successful, attractive defense attorney that is her neighbor. He also owns the building. He offers to help Vanessa calm Grace down one night when she refuses to stop crying. That night begins the bond between Vanessa and Adrian. Vanessa is spontaneous and wants to live every moment to its fullest where Adrian likes more control over life. They each bring to the relationship what the other is missing.

This was the best romance I have read in a very long time. Although it deals with serious topics such as terminal disease and addiction, the banter between Vanessa and Adrian brings a lightness to it that keeps you from being able to close the book to the very end! I can’t wait to read more of Abby Jimenez’s work.

"One Day Syndrome. You live your life like there’ll always be one day to do all the things you put off. One day you’ll take the trip. One day you’ll have the family. One day you’ll try the thing. You’re all work and not enough play. Money can’t make you happy unless you know what you want, Adrian. So what do you want?”

Life’s Too Short follows Vanessa, a famous traveling YouTuber who doesn’t know whether she shares the same genetic disease ALS as her late mother and sister. Living each day to its fullest, Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing a new challenge: motherhood. When her addicted half sister abandons her child and Vanessa is appointed her legal guardian, it throws her life plans of seeing everything there is to see in the world for a loop. Overwhelmed with a baby that won’t stop crying, Vanessa is at her wit’s end.

Enter Adrian Copeland, the unbelievably hot lawyer next door, who immediately burrows into Vanessa’s heart when he soothes the baby within seconds. As they grow closer, Vanessa realises that Adrian’s need for structure is the exact opposite of her carefree lifestyle. And yet, the two of them keep finding their way into each other’s lives until one tragedy is followed by another and it’s anyone’s guess what the future holds…

First things first, this story was nearly flawless. I loved how this book both had me laughing at some of the playful banter between Vanessa and Adrian yet also had the ability to make me tear up when things weren’t going the way I envisioned. And that mostly comes down to the lifelike and painfully relatable main characters, Vanessa and Adrian. From their incredible meet-cute to the very end, these two held my attention like I was a watching a tennis match go down right in front of me.

Vanessa has been dealt some shitty cards in life – she’s inherited health conditions that almost certainly determine that she will have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and most likely not live past the age of thirty. ALS may sound familiar to those who remember the ice bucket challenge that was going around a few years ago, but it was harrowing to watch Vanessa spend her present with the knowledge that she probably won’t get a future. Already having seen her sister be consumed by the illness, her other sister falling into drug addiction and her father becoming a hoarder, you’d think Vanessa would just tuck in her tail and give up. Nuh-uh. Vanessa is a fighter. She dedicated her life to living every moment as if it was her last—which it very well might be—traveling the world, experiencing everything and not shying away from challenges. Even when she’s faced with sudden motherhood after being appointed the guardian of her sister’s baby, she takes it in stride and does what she can to make it all work out.

Adrian, meanwhile has always been a workaholic who rarely relaxes or takes time off for himself. After a brutal end to a long-distance relationship, he finds comfort in Vanessa’s friendship and the easy familiarity they quickly become accustomed to. Watching Adrian realise that there’s another way of living and that there’s more to life than work (without ever giving up on being a passionate lawyer) really made this a beautiful romance to witness. The two of them definitely had chemistry and their interactions always left me either laughing or awing.

There were so many topics discussed in this book—from expectations in a relationship to found family and repairing broken bonds to addiction, mental illness and physical illness—and yet it never seemed like it was too much. Everything tied in together quite well and made for a harmonious, fast-paced and unputdownable romance.

Life-affirming and generously upbeat despite the daunting theme, Life’s Too Short is a swoonworthy romance with dashing characters and a reminder to live each day to its fullest!

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time- definitely my favorite Abby Jimenez book to date!!! Vanessa & Adrian are characters that have so much depth to them- they are witty, sarcastic, loving & they have the best banter with each other. Jimenez tugs at your heart strings while making you laugh out loud at the very same time! She also discusses the topic of ALS and mentions real life charities such as the ALS Ice Bucket challenge that took over 2014. This story definitely raises even more awareness to ALS and the effects it has on everyone involved.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

This very enjoyable read starts out with a wonderful "when first we meet" scene. Both main characters are interesting and believable. I usually have issues with accepting social influencer characters, but this time around it just worked for me. Lots of fun baby and doggie scenes to keep things light, and quite a few celebrity name-dropping moments that somehow didn't detract from the story. Abby Jimenez's third book is sure to be a hit, and I'm certainly looking forward to her next effort.

Faced with 50% chance of having inherited ALS from her mother, Vanessa chose to live in the moment and enjoy her life to its fullest, no matter how long or short it ended up being. She embraced her wanderlust and swore off romantic relationships. That was until she became the de facto parent to her sister's new born, and the baby's crying brought her handsome neighbor Adrian to her door. They were supposed to be "just friends", but their hearts didn't seem to receive the message.

Another hit from Jimenez for me! Every time I pick up one her books, I know to prepare myself for some big emotions, and OH BOY! She had me on emotional overload. Honestly, I am dumbfounded that people in my general area weren't drowning in all the tears I shed.

After watching her sister die from ALS, Vanessa made a decision for herself. I honestly respected her decision. I even understood it. However, it didn't make it any less painful. The fact that this is a real illness, and there are people out there who have to live with this kind of uncertainty made it even more emotional for me, but I love that Jimenez chose to shine a light on this disease.

Despite such a serious illness being a big part of this book, the story was still infused with lots of happiness and joy. Vanessa was full of life, and her desire to live her best life was a great reminder for me. Jimenez blended lots of humor and rom-com moments into the story, and it felt quite balanced, regardless of how many tears I told you were shed.

Adrian was also an incredible character. He was her knight in shining PJs, the baby whisperer. I, personally, was rooting for them from their first meeting. I just knew that they would form a winning combination. Adrian needed to learn to appreciate the now more, and Vanessa was the perfect person to show him how. Though they spent most of the book trying to resist each other, the love and swoons were there. I was totally caught up in these two, and more than anything in this world, I wanted their HEA.

I can always count on Abby Jimenez to bring the pain, but she also brings love, warmth, and joy. Her books bring awareness to different issues., and this time, ALS was a focus, as well as accessibility for people with disabilities. Jimenez has a talent for attaining the perfect balance of heavy and light, heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I will forever welcome her stories into my life.

I basically SCREAMED when I received an early copy of Life’s Too Short. Ever since The Friend Zone, I’ve been a huge fan of Abby’s & I couldn’t wait to get into Life’s Too Short. Thank you @netgalley & @readforever for the copy!

What I loved: The friendship between Vanessa and Adrian was top notch. This is a favorite when it comes to friends to lovers! Vanessa said anything and everything that was on her mind, especially when it came to how attractive Adrian was. And Adrian...gimme more Copeland boys Abby! He was perfectly swoony & just all around a fantastic guy.

While this wasn’t as emotional as Abby’s first two books, it was still very good. It has Abby’s signature humor, snipit’s of our beloved Josh, Kristen, Sloan and Jason & a beautiful message of life being too short & to enjoy each moment!

Life’s Too Short can be read as a stand alone, but I highly suggest you read them in order, you won’t want to miss anything!

Abby Jimenez does it again. I really love how all the books build on each other. Adrian is a truly terrific man, and I loved his unconditional love for Vanessa. It was really beautiful and I loved this story so much! I can't wait to read what else Abby Jimenez will write.

Oh my.... Adrian Copeland. What a lovely love interest. This book was everything I would expect from an Abby Jimenez novel. She covers heavy subjects with an air of comedy that is unparalleled. Everyone has issues, everyone has been to/or will go to therapy. We love to see it. I couldn't put this one down... I think I only stopped to eat, and even then I was still reading when I could. I will read anything this woman comes out with.

OMG. I'm shattered. SHATTERED. Abby Jimenez is an absolute master at blending hilarious dialogue and loony situations with grief, sadness, and just the regular stuff that makes life suck sometimes! And she knows how to write the perfect book boyfriends. Just like her first two novels, Life's Too Short blew my mind with how fantastic it was. I'm ready for Book 4.

I devoured this book over the course of 24 hours. Friends turned lovers. Unexpected parenthood. Addiction, recovery, ALS, mental health, complicated childhood.

This is a wonderful romance set in the same world as The Friend Zone and Happy Ever After Playlist. Vanessa is a travel vlogger who has unexpectedly taken custody of her newborn niece, but even that isn't as unexpected as her super hot neighbor Adrian showing up to help her out one night when the baby won't stop crying. Their relationship builds really slowly and wonderfully throughout the book.

This does have a HEA, though the book definitely makes you doubt it at times. I do wish the ending had been longer. I would have loved more of the last chapter and epilogue, but it's a wonderful romance that, like all Jimenez's novels, made me laugh and cry.

I really enjoy how Abby writes what her characters are thinking. Their inner monologues are always good and they feel like you're watching a confessional on a reality TV show (Real World, anyone?). Once again Abby nails this aspect of her characters and makes you feel like you know them.

This book is fun but it's also hard. Adrian and Vanessa are just instantly the perfect match for each other. They banter well, they bring out the best in each other, and they're just genuinely good characters. The story line is good and different and it's fun to see some throw backs to The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist.

But this book is hard, too. It touches on addiction, chronic and life-ending disease, the knowledge that you might be dying and how will you spend what time you have left, hoarding, and family issues. The topics are handled well and respectfully, but they can be hard to handle if you have experience with these topics or you aren't expecting them.

Overall this book is really great and I'm glad I read it.

Abby Jimenez has another great book. I have enjoyed everything I have read by her. This book was sad at some points but overall happy. It deals with the hard subject of ALS and how someone has the right to choose how or if they get treatment for a life-threatening disease. It also talks about addiction to drugs and hoarding. Overall this book makes you think about some of these hard subjects but still has lots of happy and heartfelt moments.

This book really intrigued me because I have a friend whose son died with ALS recently. I loved how this book brought awareness to ALS. There were funny times and tearful times as I read this book. I really loved getting to know Vanessa. I will recommend this book to the patrons at the library.

Abby Jimenez books have been my ultimate quarantine comfort reads. The characters she has created in the previous Friend Zone series books are full of heart and Vanessa & Adrian in the latest installment, Life’s Too Short, are no different.

Adrian is a paint inside the lines kind of guy. A dedicated lawyer, he throws himself into work in order to create a cocoon of control. Did I mention he’s hot and good with babies?
Vanessa has learned to focus on the positive despite a life full of loss. Not knowing how long she might remain healthy, she is determined to live life to the fullest and takes her YouTube followers along for the ride. Their sweet friendship that may or may not blossom into something more is fun and engaging.

Abby is able to seamlessly weave together all of the emotions we deal with in life. It is messy and difficult at times, but also full of love and humor. There are hardships and tough topics but joy and fun are there too. This is what makes her books so memorable and unputdownable. These characters bring out the best in each other and what a treat it is to read.

Vanessa, a famous youtuber with a heart of gold, has found herself stuck with her sisters baby and supporting her entire family. After a long night where Grace wont fall asleep Adrian, her neighbor and high powered attorney knocks on the door and gets her to stop crying. This starts a very fast and furious friendship full of good dinners, lots of 'The Office' and plenty of sexual tension. It's a will-they won't-they scenario. And when they finally do, it is full of fireworks, that is until a health scare turns their world upside down. Is it something they can come back from? You'll have just have to read to find out!

WOW ABBY JIMENEZ CAN DO NO WRONG! I absolutely loved this book. It took me less than 24 hours to go through it. I usually don't like slow burn novels but this was perfectly paced and it left me wanting more of Vanessa and Adrian. I loved that it was a continuation of the first two books but it could read as a stand alone as well! They previous two story leads make a small cameo. It was full of swoon worthy moments, but nothing to graphic or erotic and all over a stellar read!

Abby Jimenez brings us to the end of the Friend Zone trilogy with a compelling read that brings out all the feels. I had a hard time putting it down, but also didn't want it to end too soon!

Vanessa is an independent vlogger unexpectedly taking care of a family member's child. During one-too-late night, she is introduced to her neighbor Adrian. It's the start of an interesting relationship, and each has their own battles.

Abby doesn't shy away from complex personalities, real trauma - and gives people empathetic perspectives. You get absorbed in the characters and can't wait to see what happens next. So worth the read!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing/Forever and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

I really enjoyed this one 😍

What I liked about this book...

•As always with Abby’s work, it was easy reading to get lost in. Characters are well defined right off the bat, and easy to connect with right away too. I loved both main characters Vanessa and Adrian. (Adrian is Josh’s cousin, who we met in The Happy Ever After Playlist). Vanessa is Adrians new next door neighbour, who is a bubbly YouTube famous blogger! They vow to remain “just friends”... but we all know that never sticks! 😆

•I really appreciated the focus on ALS in this book, and how much Vanessa focuses on fundraising for a cause that has impacted her family. It was nice to have that element woven into the romance story.

•Loved that Vanessa is an ~independent woman~!! She is a high earner with her YouTube job, supports her family (both emotionally and financially) and takes care of herself. I always appreciate strong female leads.

Ultimately this book was another great story from Abby and I recommend grabbing it, if you’re someone who is looking for a fun, adventurous, and lighthearted romance! 💓

I had such a delightful time reading this novel. It was romantic, funny, cute, and emotional all in one.

I was interested to see how Jimenez would portray a social media star but I am so happy to see her portray her in the light that she did. It was also incredible to see Jimenez touch on so many different topics. Ranging from hoarding to addiction to ALS. I found myself learning new things related to all of these illnesses and I was happy to see the author touch on these topics with such grace.

The romance in this novel was understated and perfect. I loved how it built up slowly and wasn’t cheesy like a lot of romance novels we see these days.

All in all, this novel was a shockingly great read. I was surprised in all the best ways.

Plus it didn’t hurt to read about a sexy man taking care of an adorable baby.