Life's Too Short (Friend Zone)

I was so excited to read this I heard so much good positivity about this book and I loved it myself I loved the chemistry between characters. Such a moving story you love. The cover so pretty can’t wait to read more from this author in the future x

I absolutely loved this book, the story was very well done. I love to read books from both sides and this book did that perfectly. It plays on your emotions but its not a fault I want a book with ups and downs because life is like that. I know more about ALS now too, its sweet but too mushy , you won't regret reading it

<b> 3.5 stars </b> <u>Good things first:</u> • I liked the writing (this is a new author to me). I read this in record time because it just flowed very well, both the story and the way it was told. • I liked the humour, it wasn’t extremely funny but the banter between the characters was smart and entertaining. • The plot itself was simple and to be honest there wasn’t very much there, but that wasn’t a bad thing necessarily, I expected maybe a bit more but again, it was okay the way it was in the end. • I loved how the people in Vanessa’s life were portrayed. Her family was described as deeply flawed and yet that wasn’t written as being a bad thing necessarily, but as a learning curve. Everyone has their own battles and their own way of being there for their loved ones. I loved the uniqueness of those characters and the fact that they were humanised, not demonised. I particularly loved her dad and her brother. They were awesome and her brother cracked me up whenever he had any dialogue. • I definitely liked the overall message that the book tried to convey. It was all about living in the now, forgiving and letting go of grudges because they only weight you down, enjoying the little things if you can’t afford the bigger ones. Understanding and listening to those around us even if we think we know better because one experience does not fit all. <u>The bad:</u> • I think Adrian and Vanessa had a lot of chemistry but I feel like they should have had more build up to the kind of love they professed to have. I was left feeling indifferent to their love story by the end. • I think I loved the first part of this book more than the second half because I felt there was more potential in the beginning but I didn’t end up feeling the things I thought I’d feel. • I don’t think some of Vanessa’s accomplishments in regards to her job made sense. The logistics felt a bit off to me. I also didn’t particularly like the name dropping of everywhere she’s been and what she’s done and who she’s seen. I think it took away from the genuineness of why she’s doing what she’s doing. And she gave me a lot of the “I’m different than other women” vibes. • I don’t like how ALS was used as the instigator for most of the action in this book only to pull away at the end and give her a magical pass on the family genes - (<i>it was left kind of open ended but with hints that she won’t develop the disease, since she already reached 30- an age by which she should have died according to her family history)</I> I get her fears and struggles with her possible diagnosis, I think that was well done but the way it ended, it felt off. I’m not saying I wish she would have gotten ALS and a death sentence, I don’t really know what would have worked better, but I know I...

There’s a reason my coffee mug says “Author Abby Jimenez gutted me and all I got was this mug.” Abby is amazing at using witty conversation in her books to make you feel like you’re right in the room with the characters. You get to know and befriend them. And then...she shanks you in the flank. Still emotionally reeling from finishing an ARC book (a treat I am eternally grateful for!). Now I’m listening to the audiobook on Audible because the voice actors are fantastic!! Vanessa and Adrian were amazing. Multiple points of tearing up/crying. Old friends made an appearance, which of course added to the tears. This book took on some heavy topics, and reading it as I fed my three week old felt very apropos given how the book starts. Highly recommend, and make sure you read The Friend Zone and The Happily Ever After playlist too!! I’m already chomping at the but for Part of Your World coming April 2022!

Abby Jimenez has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I loved "Life's Too Short." I was happy to see Adrian get his own story after meeting him in "The Happy Ever After Playlist" and I really hoped he would get worthy leading lady; Vanessa Price exceeded all of my expectations and was the perfect match for Adrian Copeland. Vanessa is a young woman who refuses to waste a single moment and lives her life to the fullest, but has to hit the pause button after she unexpectedly becomes the temporary guardian of her sister's newborn baby. This is how she ends up meeting Adrian, who is what I would call a bit of a control freak. A very handsome and successful man who needs to learn to live a little. These two instantly clicked and watching their friendship grow and their interactions with baby Grace (all romcoms should include babies IMO) was so much fun. However, they were both a bit stubborn initially, insisting that neither was looking for a relationship, much less love. Vanessa, refusing to fall in love while her future is seemingly uncertain and Adrian believes he needs a break after his last disastrous relationship. Obviously, they fall hard for one another, but it takes them a bit to figure it out and then the real obstacles come into play when Adrian finally grasps the seriousness of Vanessa's possible future health issues and her decision on how to deal with them. I pretty much cried my way through the final few chapters, but I am so glad I read this story. I loved everything about Adrian - even the stubborn bits - but I absolutely adored Vanessa. Her character was full of light and courage and a true inspiration; I cried even more when I read the author's note at the end. "Life's Too Short" was another winner from Abby Jimenez and I cannot wait to see what's next. I understand Ms. Jimenez has already written books #4 and #5 so perhaps we will catch glimpses of Adrian and Vanessa like we did of Kristen, Josh, Sloan and Jaxon in this story. One can only hope.