A cute valentine's day novella!

A bit violent for what I thought the story was going to be (even with the content warnings) but overall a sweet and enjoyable short story.

My only complaint is this was only a short story. Loved all the characters so much and would love to see a sequel.

Abby Jimenez never disappoints, even in this short story, where she expertly brings her characters to life. After a misunderstanding, Charlotte and Seth’s apartment building stairs suddenly disappear, forcing these two neighbors into an unexpected situation.

Charlotte, who has spent the last two years living in fear of a stalker, finds comfort in staying inside, while Seth, nursing an injured leg and grappling with the anniversary of his divorce, has no problem being stuck as well. As they spend time together, they begin to open up about their lives, forming a connection neither expected. With the support of her best friend Izzy and self-defense classes, Charlotte finds the strength to stand up to her stalker when he finally comes for her.

The secondary characters, including Seth’s best friend Gabe and Charlotte’s best friend Izzy, add depth and charm to the story, proving that opposites truly attract. This was a heartfelt, engaging read that packed plenty of emotion despite its shorter length.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I really enjoyed this short story. It was so cute and very fun to read and, at the same time, very real and powerful.
I wished it was a full length book, I wanted to know more about all the characters.
The pacing was great and I loved the banter between the characters.
This story makes me curious about her other books, this was the first of hers I’ve read.

Favorite quote:
"They said it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I wasn't sure I agreed. Something told me I'd never get over the loss of this."

After years of avoiding the Romance genre, I got into it last year, in part by buddy reading some excellent Ali Hazelwood books with a friend. As such, I've now built up a fondness for the genre although I am still hesitant about diving into new authors and subgenres. Cari Can Read did a video on Abby Jimenez, though, so when I saw The Fall Risk I decided to give it a chance. Good Lord is this story insane, but mostly in a hilarious way. Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

The Fall Risk begins with a little dedication to the women who would choose the bear and the men who try to understand why. Reader, I LOL'ed and the madness didn't really stop. This story has one of the most bonkers set-up I have ever read in Romance, or even fanfic, and that says quite a bit. Charlotte and Seth are stuck on their floor because... the stairs have accidentally been taken off. They will be stuck together till Monday and from there begins something of a 48-hour date, which isn't really a date but kinda really is. That alone is a set-up which is delightfully nonsensical, especially if you enjoy the forced proximity trope. BUT added to that is Charlotte's current nightmare of a life. She has been stalked, for the past two years, by a man with (probably) serious mental health issues. As Jimenez herself says in the foreword, she likes including more serious topics in her fiction, but I do not think this short story was the place to try and address stalking and mental health? I do have to admit I have no experience with stalking, so perhaps this is good rep? It didn't feel like it, but an argument could be made that it shows a way of moving past something like this. Seth himself is very recently divorced due to what Jimenez lists among her content warnings as "kissing cousins". Honestly, I LOL'ed again. There is so much going on that, after its 80-odd pages, I had to voicenote my friend to tell her about the nonsense of The Fall Risk. So, it is hilarious, but no sense is being made.

This is my first time reading Abby Jimenez and I did like how she built up certain aspects of her characters, her eye for a fun use of Romance tropes, and her quippy writing. I'm absolutely down to read a full-length book by her, to see how all of this, as well as her interest in more difficult themes, works out there. The Fall Risk, however, I cannot take serious as a romance story. I would have absolutely bought the attraction and vibes between Charlotte and Seth if we didn't have the whole stalking thing looming over Charlotte. It is described as absolutely debilitating, ruining her life, stopping her from even going outside for almost two years. But all it takes is one hot man across the hall to make her consider a different life? I think the set-up, in many ways, is really fun, but maybe there is just a little bit too much going on. However, as I said, I am still down to try more from Abby Jimenez in the future.

The Fall Trap is bonkers, but you'll have a fun time with it if the stalking themes are not triggering.

This was such a cute book. I think both main characters were portrayed relatively realistic, and the relationships/friendships between the characters were so healthy in a way. Even though this book only had 82 pages, I really felt sucked into the story and wouldn’t have minded if it were a way longer book, with a more in-depth view of the characters’ background stories.

This was a very nice short read, huge fan of Abby Jimenez and all her work. Really enjoyed this and recommend it.

Another hit from Abby Jimenez. Such a fun quick read with a happy ending!

I recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings prior to starting the book due to some sensitive topics throughout the story line

Leave it to Abby to create such a compelling and heartfelt story in less than 100 pages 💕 Even with such dark and deeply disturbing topics such as stalking, Abby breathes light and love into the story despite all that.

Abby did what Abby does and took something that is so very serious and made a rom-com. To be clear, no disrespect was done to the seriousness of the situation, it was handled respectfully. But also, so adorable. I never thought I'd be swooning over tree puns, but here we are.

Charlotte and Seth were great. Another hit from Abby.

The perfect valentine's short story - sweet, funny, and even has two romances. Abby Jimenez just never misses. How have I read 700+ books with less character development than this 88 page novella?

This was my first Abby Jimenez book and I was hooked! Finished this book is less than an hour. Is it too much to ask for a full length book of this story?

I loved Charlotte and Seth from the first page. The missing stairs is such a quirky and unique meet-cute that I was living for. It gives a whole new meaning to forced proximity. The chemistry between these two was instant and I was eating it up. I love how they were completely open with one another from the start as opposed to keeping secrets for the other to eventually find out.

Seth is the definition of a golden retriever and cinnamon roll. He was instantly there for Charlotte and was willing to do whatever it took to make her comfortable, even if that meant smiling through the pain of his sprained ankle. Plus, his tree love is so nerdy and cute.

Charlotte is such a strong and resilient character. You have to commend her for the steps she has taken to protect herself. I am so glad that she found Seth when she did because she needed that human connection to make her remember that life was worth living and that she should not be putting her whole life on hold.

The added bonus of this story was definitely Izzy and Gabe. Kinda want a whole novella on them because they were cracking me up.

I loved this novella and will now be adding all of Abby Jimenez's books to my tbr!

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of this novella via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Abby is one of the only authors who can pack an entire story into a short story, giving us fully fleshed out characters and plenty of swoony moments.

This one was such a unique story, and it made me giggle and kick my feet while reading. My only complaint is that I could have used a full length story to know more about these characters and their best friends' relationship too!

Thank you for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
Contemporary romance, chic lit novella.
When the stairs are accidentally taken down from the second floor apartments, neighbors Charlotte and Seth team up for the weekend with a temporary ladder and bucket for pulling up groceries or delivery. Charlotte didn’t plan to go out so she’s not really inconvenienced but she doesn’t know her neighbor. She’s been hiding from a stalker so is a bit leery. When Seth hears about the stalker, he’s all in on making her feel comfortable and safe. Together, they make the most of the unexpected weekend interruption and find pleasure, comfort and more in spending time together.

Surprisingly emotional for a quick moving novella. Friendship and support combined with a hot and buff tree expert plus a hilarious group of old ladies that vouch for his eight pack abs.
Provocative and endearing.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Abby Jimenez delivers yet another delightful read with The Fall Risk, a short story that’s equal parts witty, charming, and heartwarming. Charlotte and Seth’s chemistry is instant yet authentic, and their forced proximity situation turns into a hilarious yet unexpectedly sweet exploration of trust and vulnerability. Jimenez’s signature humor shines through, making even the most precarious moments feel lighthearted, while still packing an emotional punch.

A very cute and super original premise. Gave and Charlotte two neighbors who had barely muttered a hello are now in close quarters without stairs!!

This is a hilarious and sweet story! I wish it would’ve been longer because I would’ve loved to get more on all the characters but I’m satisfied with this quickly blossoming love!

Funny, caring, and sweet novella by the queen Abby Jimenez. I loved how the characters helped each other in a short amount of time during an odd situation.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. Wow, Abby Jimenez does it again, i haven't read any Abby book that hasn't become a favourite and this novella was no different.
The fall risk is about two neighbours who are stuck in their building due to their stairs being removed. Within less than 100 pages Abby managed to create another five star read, it was the perfect quick pallet cleanser and everyone should read it.

The Fall Risk centers around Charlotte, who is grappling with the aftermath of being stalked. As a result, she’s dealing with a lot of anxiety, trust issues, and a fear of being vulnerable. This psychological trauma impacts her ability to navigate relationships and her personal life. Enter Seth, a caring and determined man who, despite his own baggage, becomes her support as she learns to overcome her fears.

Seth is not only supportive, but he’s also determined to help Charlotte regain a sense of safety and confidence in herself, but it’s a journey that requires both of them to face their emotional scars. Throughout the novel, Abby Jimenez carefully and sensitively explores themes of trauma, personal healing, and rebuilding trust.

What stands out about this book is Jimenez’s ability to balance the heavy, emotional subject matter with humor and warmth. The chemistry between Charlotte and Seth grows naturally as they both face their vulnerabilities. It’s a story about healing, not just in terms of romance, but also in how individuals process their past traumas and learn to move forward.

Jimenez’s writing is engaging, as always, with relatable characters and moments of lightheartedness even amid the seriousness of Charlotte's struggles. The pacing is well done, and the emotional depth makes this novel more than just a typical romance—it’s a compelling exploration of personal growth, trust, and love.

The Fall Risk is a heartfelt, emotional read for fans of Abby Jimenez who enjoy stories that explore deep, real-world challenges while still delivering the romantic and uplifting moments she's known for.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Charlotte has moved into yet another new apartment, hoping to escape her stalker once and for all.
Her next-door neighbor, Seth, is going through his own struggles—this Valentine’s Day marks his first since an unexpected divorce ended the marriage he thought would last forever.
Neither of them is in the mood to celebrate, but they end up stuck together for the weekend when a construction crew accidentally tears down the wrong staircase, leaving them trapped in their apartments.
However, what starts as an inconvenience might actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise!
This fun 82-page novella is packed with Abby Jimenez’s signature humor and charming banter. Honestly, it was a better Valentine’s Day treat than chocolate!
Sure, some of the dialogue was a little cheesy, and the romance stayed pretty tame, but I still loved meeting these characters (and their friends!). I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a surprise appearance in one of Abby’s future books—she does that a lot!
If you have Amazon Prime, you can read it now as a First Read for February, or grab it when it officially releases on March 1, 2025!
As always, just sharing my honest thoughts!