Review by Veronica

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Series Name: The Friend Zone, #3

She grinned. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

I looked down at Harry’s head poking out of my jacket. His tongue was hanging out, and he was shivering. “I don’t. I’m fostering him.”

“Oh. So we’re both fostering. Cool. It can be very rewarding, you know.”

I grunted noncommittally. “Well, right now it’s just shitting everywhere.” 

She laughed. “Yeah, mine too.” 

“Hey, we should probably exchange numbers,” I said. “So we know how to get in touch in case we need to.” I put a hand up. “I’m not hitting on you,” I added. 

She scoffed. “Well, thank God for that because you are hideous.”

Life’s Too Short is a book that you will want to read again and again.

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” (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). 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. 

Abby is just one of those writers who has this wonderful talent of always creating fresh, fun romances with some major heart. I have not read a book by Abby that I have not fallen head over heels for. Life’s Too Short is the third book in The Friend Zone series and can be read as a stand-alone. A fun side note, some characters from the previous book make appearances in this book. Woot woot!

I loved Vanessa! She is just one of those characters you can’t help but instantly like. For me, it was her positive, live life to the fullest attitude that drew me to her. She is kind, fun and a giving person. No matter what life throws at her (and boy, does it throw a lot of crap her way), she still tries to look at her life in a glass-half-full manner. It’s really refreshing to see someone with that attitude. Vanessa had every right to be bitter and mean to her family and the world. Still, she never once acted or spoke in a vengeful, hateful way. Yay, for positivity!

If you are a super fan like me, you might be thinking to yourself, Adrian, why does that name sound familiar? It’s because we already met this man in The Happy Ever After Playlist book; he was the guy Sloan went on a double date with near the end. Have I mentioned how much I like how Abby connects all of her books by having characters appear in each other’s books (it reminds me of the Avengers Universe)? Everything is just so connected, and it really shows how much thought Abby puts into this series.

 I think Abby has figured out the formula for creating the perfect book boyfriend. Every time I think she can’t possibly create another fictional man that will capture my heart, she goes and creates a man like Adrian that gives me all those warm fuzzy feelings. Adrian is a fabulous friend (and eventual boyfriend) to Vanessa. He sticks around even when Vanessa’s life would scare off most people (because it is a BIG hot mess). Adrian didn’t swoop in and act like a big man by saving the day. Instead, he was there when Vanessa needed that shoulder to cry on or was there to listen when she needed to talk. And if she wanted help, he gave it freely without any strings attached.

The relationship between Vanessa and Adrian is a friend to lovers with a dash of forced proximity (they are neighbours). I have to say that the banter between these two is just on point, and their banter really made this book stand out for me. When these two were interacting, I just got so sucked into their scenes that the world around me would disappear, and I would lose track of time. Not an easy feat when you are reading a book in a busy New York City park. I loved watching as the chemistry between these two grew as they spent time looking after Grace or just hanging out. The friends to lovers approach to their relationship helps to build up that sense of excitement and anticipation of knowing that when these two finally get together, AMAZING things are going to happen. And they did!

If you are looking for a fun modern-day romance, I would highly recommend reading Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez.