Abby Jimenez knows how to pack a punch even in a short story. I would have loved to read more from them, but the short story will suffice.

While it sounds ridiculous to have an entire staircase removed for a weekend, I love a good ridiculous plot to get two people together. Charlotte and Seth were super cute and I loved that Seth got that Charlotte had some mental hurdles to go over due to her stalker. and didn't push her in any to "get over it".

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: March 1

This was my first ever short story! Overall, I’d say full length novels are my preference, but it was nice to get something different for a short palate cleanser in between reads.

Even within such a short number of pages, Abby has the unique ability to create characters and a story that you are invested in. It has her trademark wit and humor while addressing deep themes. I’ll read everything she writes!

This title will be fully published on March first, but is available now on Amazon First Reads!

Perfect for you if you like:
Something short and sweet
Neighbors
Dual POV
Past tense narration
Wit and humor + deep themes

Magic. I'm convinced Abby Jimenez is magic. How did she make me so invested in these characters in less than 100 pages? Seth and Charlotte had amazing chemistry right off the bat. The heavier themes didn't overwhelm the overall story, and the climax was both exciting and rewarding. As always, I will eagerly await a new release from Abby Jimenez!

My only criticism is that I wish this was longer! I love Abby's writing and this was no exception. Seth and Charotte's relationship was delightful and I loved the forced proximity aspect! Nothing like a short story to bring you out of a bit of a reading slump. This one did the trick!

This was a cute, super quick read that inspires female empowerment.

In today's society, if someone wants a quick short story where the FMC learns her own strength, I recommend this.

I am so far behind in my reading goals this year's so I was excited to see that one of my favorite authors wrote a novella. I really needed this little gem. I am not always a fan of novella's because I love character development and in-depth storytelling and that is so hard to do in such a short period of time but in perfect Abby Jimenez fashion, she made me fall in love with these characters.
Mostly I am in love with Seth. Charlotte had so many issues and the situation they were good have been very scary for her but he realized without needing to be told. He just found a genius solution and then proceed to fall in love with her.
The story had funny parts, and quick banter. Obviously, it is quick and easy, but you could really feel them falling in love.
I loved the botany club, I love her best friend Grac and I love that they are stuck in apartment over Valentine Day's. Not sure how such a short quick story can give you all the feels but this book did!
I am soo happy I got to read this quick story.

5⭐️ | 1🌶️

Abby Jimenez once again proves she’s a master of heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romances—this time in novella form! The Fall Risk delivers the perfect mix of swoony moments, emotional depth, and an empowering storyline that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Set over a Valentine’s Day weekend gone completely sideways, Charlotte and Seth—two unsuspecting neighbors—find themselves stranded in their second-floor apartments after a construction mishap takes out their stairs. Seth, a tree-loving, fun-fact-spouting arborist fresh off a messy divorce, isn’t exactly looking for love. And Charlotte? She’s spent the past two years on high alert, constantly on the move to escape a relentless stalker. Trusting a man is the last thing on her mind—until Seth and his warm, protective presence sneak past her defenses.

Despite its shorter length, this novella delivers a beautifully paced romance with real emotional stakes. Seth isn’t here to play the hero; instead, he encourages Charlotte to reclaim her power, and their slow-burn connection is everything. Plus, their best friends, Izzy and Gabe, steal the show with their fierce loyalty!

A fast-paced, heartfelt read that packs a punch in under 100 pages—Abby Jimenez, you’ve done it again! Five stars for romance, resilience, and a man who whispers to trees!

I’ve always wanted to read Abby Jimenez’s books, so I thought I’d give this one a try. I really liked it - even though it’s a short story, there is still character development and some adorable scenes between Charlotte and Seth. I’ll definitely need to check out more of the author’s books!

The Fall Risk
ARC Review -
4 ½ stars

Tropes:
Short story
Valentine’s Day
Forced proximity
Neighbors to lovers
Heroine in danger
Closed door
Mental health rep- check TW/CW

I’m not sure I’ve ever been so captivated by a short story before. Sometimes short stories fall short in some aspects but this was so well rounded and balanced. It was heartfelt and serious but it also had great banter and fun silly moments. I would read five more books about Seth and Charlotte but I was very happy with their story as it was.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this arc in exchange for an honest review

Love Abby Jimenez and all her books!! This one was no exception! So cute! My only complaint is I wish it was a full length novel! I wanted more.

5⭐️ I loved every too short moment of this novella. All the classic moments Abby is known for. Banter, hilarious, and depth.

5⭐️ for the audiobook too since I have no self control. Had to get a copy.

Synopsis:
It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

Thank you @netgalley, Abby Jimenez, and @amazonpublishing for a copy of The Fall Risk.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was really wonderful. I loved it!

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.