The banter and wit in Abby’s books is always on point and this book doesn’t disappoint. 
There’s a lot of miscommunication in this book, so be prepared, but it’s accidental. 
The characters are wonderful and charming, and the love story is well written and cute. 
I loved the ALS side of this story, I know there’s more to it than just this story but it was a good way to include chronic illness and bring awareness to a chronic illness that needs some attention. 

I couldn’t put this book down I really enjoyed it! 

While I did enjoy this book, I felt that these two characters did not have as much chemistry as most of Jimenez's characters do. That might have seemed to be only because the circumstances of this book are more serious than her others, so there is less room for wit and banter, but to be honest, I think her books always tackle intense situations and traumatic events, so I don't see why this one should have been any different in portraying the main relationship. But then again, these characters felt different than the others, which makes me appreciate the diversity. Adrian isn't necessarily your joking type.

I will also say, this created and beautiful yet seemingly unattainable picture of a man. He babysits her kid, helps her family, etc. without having any sort of real responsibility to Vanessa. While it sounds nice to have someone who cares so much about you, this did seem a bit unfair and odd because no realationship boundaries were actually established. And lastly, more than anything else, the conflict portion of this book (because we all know Jimenez ALWAYS has one!) is a nightmare. Both of them have unrealistic expectations of the other and have not communicated their boundaries or concerns, and when they finally do, it's mean and terrible.

This is why I didn't really connect with either of them as characters - they don't make very good decisions. For example, Adrian allows his boss to use and abuse him as a worker. And then we don't get comeuppance on-page, plus we lose one of the only sidecharacters, Becky. And Vanessa is 100% enabling her family. She doesn't have good boundaries and financially allows them to flounder because she's always there to save the day. As someone with eight siblings, I completely understand her compassion. But as a human being with general needs, a grasp of basic cause-and-effect, and a limited supply of money, I don't understand how Jimenez didn't more blatantly condemn Vanessa and her family's behavior. Also, Adrian having that issue with his dad and Vanessa just chalking it up to petty grievances was such an overstep, and just having the tension evaporate afterward felt underwhelming and unrealolistic.

The book was enjoyable, but it had a couple flaws that could have made it even moreso.

I give Zachary Webber 5/5⭐'s.

I give Christine Lakin 4.5/5⭐'s. While her narration is typically great, she struggles a bit with secondary character accents (tends to want to make them southern for some reason, and her Australian one is not good).

Title: Life's Too Short
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: The Friend Zone #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: April 6, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Witty • Tender • Wholesome

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn't expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn't just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn't want to take anything for granted.

But after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from "daily adventure" to "next-level bad". The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she'd be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.

Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Life's Too Short was the final book of Abby's repertoire on my TBR. The third installment in The Friend Zone companion series, I knew the major plot centered around ALS, and that there was a social media aspect as well. I knew very little more than that, which is exactly how I like to go into her books.

Another signature Abby tale with witty banter, complex characters and mental health representation. I really liked both Vanessa and Adrian, they each felt so wholesome. Getting both of their POVs allows for a more in depth look into their thoughts and actions. Their connection was believable very early on and felt genuine. Their ability to co-parent was organic and simply beautiful. Additionally, I loved getting to see Vanessa's relationship with her family and how each one dealt with the tragic losses in a different way. This really shows how grief is deeply personal.

For me, the first half was definitely stronger. The manner in which the whole medical aspect was handled didn't sit well with me. It became harder and harder to believe as the story progresses and at times felt dragged out. I understand Abby wanted to add depth, yet I think it could have easily been done in a different way and it would have worked better.

Life's Too Short was an enjoyable story with realistic and flawed characters, yet it was easily my least favourite of Abby's books (even though there were aspects I adored). Regardless, I have come to the end of Abby's backlist and will be impatiently waiting for her next release.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• modern families
• furry companions
• Abby Jimenez

⚠️ CW: mental illness, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, overdose, death, death of parent, sibling death, grief, car accident, terminal illness, chronic illness, abandonment, dementia, panic attacks/disorders, sexual content, cursing, medical content, pregnancy, hoarding, toxic relationship, infidelity

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"'Life is no excuse,' she said. "You should always have an adventure lined up. Having something to look forward to is tantamount to happiness.'"

"There are people you can know for a lifetime and they never get your heart. And then there are those who are already inside it, before you ever lay eyes on them." 

So emotional. I love the characters. This was a really unique book. I haven’t read another book like it, and I really enjoyed it. 

She’s a vacation blogger showing the world her life with possible ALS whose drug addict sister just dropped off her newborn and disappeared. Of course the super hot, rich, lawyer that lives next door wants to hold the baby to her at 4 am so she can shower. Like, that’s totally something that happens in real life. But there he was helping and that’s what started an epic friendship, and maybe a little something more.