APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
In the latest audiobook in The Friend Zone contemporary romance series, Adrian, a lawyer, and Vanessa, a travel vlogger, form a friendship over Vanessa’s newborn niece. Despite complications in Vanessa’s life, their attraction grows, and love blooms between them. Christine Lakin and Zachary Webber’s extensive experience as both solo and dual narrators is apparent in their performances. Their differing delivery styles work well to enliven the protagonists. Webber’s internal dialogue has a matter-of-fact tone, yet he performs scenes of high emotion with passion. Lakin’s narration consistently portrays the myriad emotions Vanessa experiences. This is a production sure to keep the listener entertained. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Abby Jimenez’s Life’s Too Short is a hilarious, tender, and altogether life-affirming gem of a book. This is the kind of novel that leaves you a little better than when it found you. Jimenez is a true talent.”—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
“Heartfelt and swoony… Jimenez masterfully blends heavy issues and humor, lacing the tear-jerking heartache with sass and sarcasm. Series fans and newcomers alike will be moved by this emotional rom-com.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Abby Jimenez’s knack for tackling heavy subjects with humor and care shines through in this exquisitely written story about love, difficult family relationships, and living life to its fullest.”—Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author of The Boyfriend Project
“Jimenez continues to burnish her well-deserved reputation for delivering truly unforgettable love stories by gifting lucky readers with another sneaky-sweet yet surprisingly sexy romance. Jimenez achieves stunning emotional depth as her realistically imperfect characters power a story line that is in equal measures heartbreaking and gloriously hopeful.”—Booklist
"A heartwarming romantic page-turner about embracing and living life to its fullest no matter the obstacles, Life's Too Short will make your heart flutter. With refreshingly real characters and compulsively readable prose, Abby Jimenez captures the thrill of falling in love without shying away from deeper themes. Clear your schedule because you won't be able to put this delicious book down!"—Katherine St. John, author of The Siren
“Sweet and funny!”—PopSugar
"Further showcases Jimenez’s masterful blend of genres and tone. ...These are irresistible characters, and Life’s Too Short will win readers over with its charm."—BookPage
“This story was nearly flawless… Life-affirming and generously upbeat despite the daunting theme, Life’s Too Short is a swoonworthy romance with dashing characters and a reminder to live each day to its fullest!” —The Nerd Daily
“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.”—Harlequin Junkie
APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
In the latest audiobook in The Friend Zone contemporary romance series, Adrian, a lawyer, and Vanessa, a travel vlogger, form a friendship over Vanessa’s newborn niece. Despite complications in Vanessa’s life, their attraction grows, and love blooms between them. Christine Lakin and Zachary Webber’s extensive experience as both solo and dual narrators is apparent in their performances. Their differing delivery styles work well to enliven the protagonists. Webber’s internal dialogue has a matter-of-fact tone, yet he performs scenes of high emotion with passion. Lakin’s narration consistently portrays the myriad emotions Vanessa experiences. This is a production sure to keep the listener entertained. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2021-02-10
When neighbors become so much more, it changes the trajectory of their lives forever.
Vanessa Price may have only a year left to live. She inherited a gene that gives her a 50% risk of contracting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fatal disease that afflicted her grandmother, her mother, and her older sister, Melanie. She’s dedicated her adult life to enjoying each moment like it’s her last, traveling the world and using the funds from her popular YouTube channel to donate to ALS research. Vanessa’s not looking to be tied down by this disease, her dysfunctional family—or a romantic relationship. But when her half sister, Annabel, descends into drug abuse and drops her infant daughter on Vanessa’s doorstep, she has no choice but to stick around in Minnesota for the first time in years. Luckily, she’s got a hot next-door neighbor, and he’s knocking on her door at 4 a.m. When Adrian Copeland helps Vanessa with a screaming baby, he doesn’t expect to get wrapped up in her universe so quickly. But they start seeing each other every day, and he finds himself falling for her. The problem? She’s made it clear that she doesn’t date. And when Vanessa reveals that she’s been displaying symptoms of early-onset ALS, they both must decide what they really want out of life. Jimenez has become known for books such as The Happily-Ever After Playlist (2020) that blend tragicomedy with romance, and she tackles many big issues here—mortality, drug abuse, mental illness—with tact. But the plot gets tedious as the mystery of Vanessa’s prognosis drags on. Some readers may also balk at the instant connection between the two main characters, who share everything from house keys to child care in just days.
Jimenez's rom-com formula feels a bit stale on the third go-round.