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aren18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Based on the previous books in this series, I knew going in that there probably would be some heavy topics, but this felt like so many heavy topics all at once. Regardless, I loved their story. To me the ending didn’t really live up to the hype of the first 80%. I also wanted more epilogue. I feel like Grace wasn’t in it enough in the end, and the happy ending wasn’t long enough I wanted more!
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit
wolfebh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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."
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Pregnancy
overdose, sibling death, hoardingkyleethecatlady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
juanat77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
amateur_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Pregnancy
goodboibeefs's review
2.75
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Terminal illness
Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident
kellydarla's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
wellreadmegs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I repeat I love it when romance books tackle deep subjects while also falling for someone. It feels realistic and messy and truthful. I came into this book not knowing anything about the plot and never reading an Abby Jimenez book - but I will now be going back to read the others because wow I loved this one!
Vanessa is such a cool character and I loved her relationship with Adrian. Adrian also sounds so perfect in so many ways I still don't believe men like this exist! The end of the book had me guessing what was going to happen until the very end which I appreciated. It was just such a lovely, hopeful read about living your life to the fullest every day which after the past two years we've experienced I want more life.
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment