Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
Life’s Too Short Review: Cute, Heartwarming, and Occasionally Frustrating
Alright, Abby Jimenez, this one was a solid read for me. Nothing life-altering, nothing terrible. Just a genuinely good contemporary romance with some really heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout.
I enjoyed the story, I liked the characters overall, and there were definitely scenes that made me smile. But unlike some of Abby Jimenez’s other books that emotionally hijack my entire personality for several days, Life’s Too Short did not leave me with that “I will think about this forever” feeling.
Still absolutely worth reading though, especially if you like character-driven contemporary romance with emotional themes, found family dynamics, and a little bit of chaos.
The Premise of the Story is Actually Really Sweet
The story follows Vanessa Price, a wildly successful travel YouTuber who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of her infant niece. Enter Adrian Copeland, her incredibly attractive lawyer neighbor who is basically the definition of emotionally available.
Honestly, Adrian is one of the better male love interests Abby Jimenez has written. The man cooks, helps with the baby, supports Vanessa emotionally, and is basically standing there waving a giant metaphorical green flag for the entire book and yet Vanessa spends a significant portion of the story self-sabotaging.
Now, to be fair, a lot of that stems from her childhood trauma and the looming fear surrounding her family’s history with ALS, which adds a much heavier emotional layer underneath the romance. Vanessa’s fear of building a future she may not get to keep explains a lot of her emotional distance and avoidance.
Did I understand why she acted the way she did? Yes. Did I occasionally want to shake her lovingly by the shoulders? Also yes.
The Communication Frustration is Real
This brings me to my biggest frustration with the book: the communication issues.
Some romance readers absolutely love the “will they/won’t they” tension built around misunderstandings and emotional avoidance. Me? I spend half the book aggressively whispering, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER,” and this book definitely had moments where I felt that frustration creeping in.
There were multiple scenes where the solution felt like a single honest conversation away, which personally is not my favorite trope in adult romance novels. I think it frustrates me more when the characters are adults because I am internally sitting there like, “Please. We are too grown for this.”
That said, the emotional reasoning behind Vanessa’s behavior at least felt believable. Her fear was rooted in something very real, and I appreciated that the story did not treat her trauma lightly.
The Heartwarming Moments Really Shine
Where Life’s Too Short truly shines is in its softer emotional moments.
One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Vanessa’s dad experience moments of breakthrough after struggling for so long. Those scenes added emotional depth beyond the romance and grounded the story in something more meaningful. Abby Jimenez is particularly good at weaving difficult real-life topics into otherwise light contemporary romance stories without making the book feel emotionally unbearable.
I also loved the dynamic surrounding Vanessa caring for her niece. Some of the sweetest scenes in the book were the quieter domestic moments where Adrian simply showed up consistently for both of them. Those scenes made the relationship feel genuine and comforting rather than overly dramatic.
And honestly, Adrian carrying this book emotionally? Deserved.
One Thing Abby Jimenez Does Extremely Well
One thing I absolutely love about Abby Jimenez’s books is how interconnected they are. Reading her novels feels like stepping back into a universe where previous characters still exist and continue living their lives. So when Adrian Copeland showed up, I immediately had that “WAIT A SECOND…” moment.
If you have read The Happy Ever After Playlist, his name should absolutely sound familiar because Adrian appears there as well. I genuinely love these little crossovers because it rewards loyal readers without making newer readers feel lost. It gives all of her books this cozy, familiar feeling that makes me want to keep reading more of them.
Final Thoughts on Life’s Too Short
Overall, Life’s Too Short was a good read with lovable moments, emotional themes, and a genuinely strong male lead.
Was it my favorite Abby Jimenez book? No. Did I still enjoy the ride? Absolutely.
If you enjoy contemporary romance books with emotional depth, family themes, witty dialogue, adorable domestic moments, and interconnected characters, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot. Just be prepared to occasionally yell at the characters to communicate like functioning adults.