REVIEW: Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

In Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone #3) by Abby Jimenez, As a travel and lifestyle vlogger on YouTube with millions of fans worldwide, Vanessa Price tries to use her social media platform to bring awareness to the beauty this world has to offer. She is also honest about her family’s genetics and how it’s important to live life every single day in case it is taken away suddenly. And Vanessa was doing just that–traveling the world, making videos and raising money and awareness–until her sister leaves her with Vanessa’s newborn niece Grace. Who thankfully turns out to be a very happy baby until one night when Grace just won’t stop crying.

‘It was like every single day something humiliating had to happen to me in front of him, just because the universe needed a good chuckle.’

Vanessa and her neighbor, lawyer Adrian Copeland, have never officially met until he comes over to see if she needs help when Grace’s wailing alters his plans for the evening. He has no problem taking charge and helping Vanessa out as she’s clearly in over her head. Adrian and his busy schedule are thrown for a loop when he finds himself spending more and more time at Vanessa’s, but he definitely enjoys their burgeoning friendship. Although he can’t let go of his attraction to her. Even if her life is in shambles. Adrian doesn’t realize, though, that Vanessa’s world is likely a ticking time bomb, potentially limiting the amount of time they have together. But once he finds out, he’ll do all in his power to enjoy every moment with her and Grace.

‘I was starting to feel a building desperation. Like I knew in my soul we were supposed to be more than this and I didn’t know how to make her know it too.’

An effervescent romantic comedy about taking chances, living life to the fullest, and how love can overcome anything, Life’s Too Short finds author Abby Jimenez at her most heartfelt and hilarious yet.

‘He had no idea what he was getting himself into. My life was like a warehouse with one of those This Many Days Since the Last Accident signs, and the number was always at zero.’

Trigger warning: View Spoiler »Cheating, addiction, suicidal thoughts, terminal illness discussed in depth. « Hide Spoiler

Talk about a novel that will have your emotions up, down, and sideways! I enjoyed every moment spent with Adrian and Vanessa–even during the darker times–because they were genuine, and honest about their faults and the mistakes they made. I really thought Abby Jimenez got the mix between lighthearted and serious just right. The majority of the story was fun and flirty, filled with incredibly entertaining conversations between Vanessa and Adrian that had me laughing out loud. But when it came to Vanessa’s possible future health issues…ugh. My heart broke and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. All I can say about that without spoilers is: don’t give up hope. And read all the way to the end!

I think Adrian and Vanessa will easily be likeable characters for most readers. They were quite different in personality which made things oh so interesting. Adrian was a workaholic defense attorney who needed control in his life, whereas Vanessa was a free-spirited world traveler who didn’t have a verbal filter. The one thing they definitely had in common was they both were the go-to, capable ones in their family, which is how Vanessa ended up taking care of her adorable newborn niece Grace.

Let me just say that Grace–well, her one night of incessant fussing–was the reason for Adrian and Vanessa having their official meet-cute and was an absolute doll. There’s not much that’s sexier than a big (bearded, oh my heart!) guy holding a tiny baby, coaxing smiles out of them and calming them down when nothing else will. Sigh. And Adrian accomplished that with Grace the first night he went over to Vanessa’s.

It’s not often that a book can make me giggle uncontrollably and then be a teary-eyed mess all in the same chapter but that was the magic of Life’s Too Short. Whether you read this as a standalone or as part of The Friend Zone series, Abby Jimenez’s writing will certainly grab you by the heart and not let go.

Book Info:

Publication: Expected publication: April 6th 2021 | Forever | The Friend Zone #3

A brilliant and touching romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist.

Vanessa lives life on her own terms — one day at a time, every day to its fullest. She isn’t willing to waste a moment or miss out on an experience when she has no idea whether she shares the same fatal genetic condition as her mother. Besides, she has way too much to do, traveling the globe and showing her millions of YouTube followers the joy in seizing every moment.

But after her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter, she is housebound, on mommy duty for the foreseeable future, and feeling totally out of her element.

The last person she expects to show up offering help is the unbelievably hot lawyer who lives next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. But as they get closer, Vanessa realizes that her carefree ways and his need for a structured plan could never be compatible for the long term. Then again, she should know better than anyone that life’s too short to fear taking the biggest risk of all. . .