It should be the start to just another weekend—but then Charlotte and Seth step out of their respective apartments to find that the stairs are gone, and they're trapped (after a fashion) with only each other for extended company.

I've only read one of Jiminez's novels, but it was enough to know I'd be in for something lively here, even with the locked-room aspect. And that held true—in a few dozen pages, we get not one but two romances, a bevy of nosy senior citizens, a lot of context for Charlotte and Seth's respective perspectives, and some action to boot. I probably could have used a hair less evil ex plotline, though to be fair it was written to be quite over the top, so it bothered me less than it might have. (What did bother me: the neighbors repeating their transgression—vague to avoid spoilers—and Charlotte not minding the second time because circumstances had changed; if anything, their second overstep could trigger legal trouble for Charlotte, so...terrible neighbors all round, there.)

It's so short a story that I don't want to say much, but the characterization is nice—especially Seth's—and this made for a very speedy read on a day when I was very tired!

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This was a great read. Short stories can be tough, but this one didn't feel cut short, though it was over too fast! Revolving around the serious issue of a stalker, it touched on both light and heavy issues with grace and humor while still focusing a light on the issue. Wonderful characters and dialogue made for a great story..

«Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.»


Abby Jimenez has me in a chokehold—and for good reason, too.

I swear I screamed a little seeing a new release by Abby before April? And let me tell ya, it did not disappoint.

The Fall Risk gave me little pandemic flashbacks, with the MCs trying to find fun things to do while stuck together. But the reason they’re stuck? Literally the most hilarious thing I’ve read in a while—repairmen took their ladder away for the weekend?

As if that wasn’t enough, Abby threw in the suspense.
A freaking stalker? Not gonna lie, that was scary—and, unfortunately, way too realistic in today’s world.

«Please, let me. An apology on behalf of a member of my gender for making you weird.»

This was a fun and quick read. I really liked how it touched on topics like stalking and even included some unique tree facts, which added an interesting touch. However, I do wish there had been a deeper discussion about Charlotte’s trauma and mental health. The romance between Seth and Charlotte also seemed rushed, likely due to the shorter length of the story, which made their relationship feel somewhat underdeveloped. While some parts fell flat for me, I still found moments I enjoyed and overall found it to be an entertaining read.

This was cute. And it is Abby so her characters are top notch. I do think this packs a punch with the serious topic it is covering. Will I remember this forever? No. Am I glad to have read it? Yes.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an ARC.

The fall risk is a small but impactful read.
Would have loved a full length book with this story! Loved all the characters, Seth the dream book boyfriend, Charlotte’s character progression. Gabe and Izzy could have a book of their own!
The only thing i found weird was the cousin thing.. but all in all a quick little powerful read.

Two neighbors with bad Valentines trapped in the same apartment building when their stairs are removed find a new chance at romance. It's Valentines weekend and for Charlotte and Seth, it's not going to be a great one. Charlotte is hiding from a stalker, living in self-imposed isolation while Seth is newly divorced and finds that plants make him happier than his cheating ex. Two people who haven't really talked much despite living in the same building find themselves getting to know each other for the first time and possibly opening themselves up to love... while trying to also watch out for Charlotte's stalker! This was such a fun read and an absolutely fun time! I always adore reading an Abby Jiminez story and this one is perfect for Valentines! I love the slight thriller aspect but also the cute rom com moments.

Release Date: March 1, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I don't use kindle/ereaders so i'm sooo so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this short story by Abby via NetGalley. god bless read nows!!
This was fun, I genuinely love Abby's ability to connect you to characters in just a matter of chapters. 🩷

Jimenez is my go-to for comfort romance novels, so I grabbed this so quickly I didn't even see it was a short story! I'll need to read some thicker tomes in the next few months to make up for this and all the poetry padding by Goodreads challenge so far this year...

I found this short story to be a fun, quick read with a unique meet cute and a relationship that blossoms (almost immediately) from forced proximity. Seth, the main male love interest, doesn't just have a six pack; he has an EIGHT pack. He is gainfully employed, sensitive, and protective despite his recent divorce. Charlotte, however, is in the midst of restarting her life for the fifth time to avoid her stalker. Beyond that and the anxiety surrounding her situation, I wasn't able to get much more about her personality. That didn't prevent me from liking the little we got to see of their growing connection, which was adorable and mildly swoonworthy.

I thought the structure of the plot was overall good, but I found it wrapped up too tidily. How could four single adults find their soulmates in the course of one weekend, and how likely is it that it would be within their very small circle? How likely would it be that her stalker is waiting nearby? How quickly would he return to her life if this were real life and stalking wasn't seen as harsh a crime in most states?

Predictable? Yes. Will it make you forget the real world for a little bit? Yes.

Quick little novella. I’ve enjoyed Abby Jimenez’ other books and this was no different. This was very cute - I only wish it was longer!

This would be great to get out of a reading slump. Read this in one sitting and wanted more.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this short story of The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez. This story is under 82 pages. I love reading a short book with a good content. This book was cute and aww with two people getting to know each other when there was a situation of stairs remove. I gave this book a 4 stars.

This is such a cute short story! Charlotte and Seth have great chemistry and the storyline is very relatable. I love Abby Jimanez and this book didn't disappoint at all!

This was so good. Read it straight through. What I love about Abby is she writes real life. Her stories are always rooted in reality, but then she shows how love and healthy relationships can help us repair and reclaim our lives. The Fall Risk is such a great story with an eerie parallel to my own life, I'm sure many others readers will feel the same. But what I wasn't expecting was a smokin' hot arborist? Like, why have I been sleeping on the hot tree lovers? Anyway, don't waste any more time on this review. Just go straight to the story and start reading.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a very short read and one that dealt with a difficult topic. The author did a very nice job including humor and some fun bantor for both characters that were going through a rough patch. This was my first time reading this author and I have wanted to try one of her books for awhile. So glad I was able to receive an advanced copy.

Great short read and definitely one I would recommend.

Two neighbors spend time together when their stairs are removed by accident. Yeah, we're starting off with an unbelievable setup imo, but it made me chuckle so it gets a point.

Charlotte's friend is a bit too aggressive for me to truly appreciate but I can empathize with being overly protective of a friend who's traumatized. I'm just kinda tired of the rude friend who doesn't have good boundaries or social etiquette in novels.

The info dumping about trees was fun but the story fell flat for me in the end. The stalking plot didn't mesh with the cheesy flirting. The writing style started to bug me after awhile as well. A lot of the characters sound too similar. Statements are phrased as a question like this? And I don't care for it? You can have *a* character talk like that. But why is it basically everyone? It's very distracting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Third Abby book in a row that hasn't worked for me mom I'm scaaaaaaaarrrrrreeeeeeedddddd!!!!!!! To be fair, this was a tiny novella, but I think I'm just not enjoying how the majority of her recent stories seem so focused on cramming in so many big serious issues in the characters' lives, and it feels like the romance (let alone the comedy) has become an afterthought. An unfortunate 'fine but disappointed' from me. (Thankfully none of the sentence structure issues that I had with Say You'll Remember Me though!!!!)

This is a short story and it hits all the marks. It's sweet and swoony with funny tree pins and adorable banter. This books also touches on a deeper storyline that empowers women who are harrased and stalked. I loved the quick pace and how well this played out. I know real life stalker situation don't end this way often but it's nice to have a bit of fantasy and hope in there. Well done.

5 ⭐️

I don’t know what kind of magic Abby puts in her books, but she literally never misses, and this was such an easy 5 star for me! In just 81 pages and a 108 minute audiobook, she cemented her (long-held position) as my favorite contemporary romance author.

I laughed so hard at the cousin fucker story and the old ladies who made fun of it, and I swooned at the Valentine’s Day date. But mostly I channeled my feminine rage so hard. It felt unbelievably good to read a book about a woman taking back her life and her power, being strong, and protecting herself because the people in power now don’t give a shit about women’s safety. The timing for this book release could not have been better. I’ll definitely be coming back to read it again whenever I need to mentally take out some of my rage at the current state of our country and women’s rights.

The audiobook was fantastic. Julia Whelan can do no wrong, literally ever. Connor Crais sounded perfect in this role. I’m so glad I waited to read it until I could enjoy the audio, even though I’ve had the ebook for a month.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC of the ebook! I bought the audiobook myself. This is my honest review.

4.5 ⭐

I am so happy right now because I finally–finally–found a contemporary romance I actually enjoyed. So much so I finished this cute novella in a day. ☺️

I mean it’s straight to the point and I also appreciated the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

It’s cute, some of the dialogue was corny but in a good way, and the characters were relatable, funny, and tolerable. I laughed and smiled like a fool at how perfect Charlotte and Seth were together. This is my first time reading anything by Abby Jimenez and I am sold! Her writing, wit, and flow of the story were fantastic and I will be reading more of her work in the future. ☺️

I received a free digital arc from the publishers via NetGalley. All opinions and statements are my own.

#TheFallRisk #NetGalley

I'm going to start by saying that the only reason I gave this book a 4-star rating is because it's too short.
I 👏🏻 Want 👏🏻 More 👏🏻
I want more of Seth and Charlotte, and I most definitely want to read more about Gabe and Izzy.
These characters are absolutely adorable.
I gotta give my girl Charlotte props for being a total badass at the very end, too.
And who knew being an arborist could be so freaking cool?!
Abby Jimenez writes some of the cutest rom-coms out there and The Fall Risk is no exception.