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Life's Too Short (The Friend Zone, 3) Paperback – April 6, 2021
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"A hilarious, tender, and altogether life-affirming gem of a book." --Emily Henry, bestselling author of Beach Read
A brilliant and touching romantic comedy about two polar opposites, one adorable dog, and living every day to its fullest.
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.
- Minnesota Book Awards winner
- BookRiot, Top Books of 2021
- Goodreads, Best of 2021 Romance Finalist
- She Reads, Best of 2021 Romance Winner
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherForever
- Publication dateApril 6, 2021
- Dimensions6.15 x 1.4 x 8.35 inches
- ISBN-10153871566X
- ISBN-13978-1538715666
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- “You should always have an adventure lined up. Having something to look forward to is tantamount to happiness.”Highlighted by 4,020 Kindle readers
- “One Day Syndrome. You live your life like there’ll always be one day to do all the things you put off. One day you’ll take the trip. One day you’ll have the family. One day you’ll try the thing. You’re all work and not enough play. Money can’t make you happy unless you know what you want, Adrian. So what do you want?”Highlighted by 3,891 Kindle readers
- Hate is exhausting. Life is too short to hate. Let it go. And while you’re at it, it might help you to try to see him as a whole person who isn’t all black or white.Highlighted by 3,743 Kindle readers
From the Publisher



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Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars 865
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3.9 out of 5 stars 90
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4.1 out of 5 stars 135
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4.1 out of 5 stars 88
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4.2 out of 5 stars 628
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4.3 out of 5 stars 60
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Price | $13.80$13.80 | $12.60$12.60 | $14.00$14.00 | $12.59$12.59 | $17.32$17.32 | $17.99$17.99 |
Love Abby Jimenez? Dip into some Forever favs you'll love, too! | He's her enemy. She's his muse. | A bad boy cellist, a herbalist, and a love curse. | It's time to escape... into the woods. | Small town but make it spicy. | Rival engineers dabble in personal chemistry while at a tropical company retreat | A jaded journalist challenges a celebrity fitness instructor to prove her job isn't a scam. |
Editorial Reviews
Review
“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
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Forever
- Publication date : April 6, 2021
- Language : English
- Print length : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 153871566X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1538715666
- Item Weight : 11.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.15 x 1.4 x 8.35 inches
- Book 3 of 3 : The Friend Zone
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Contemporary Women Fiction
- #170 in Romantic Comedy (Books)
- #532 in Contemporary Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Abby Jimenez is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of laugh-out-loud, pull-at-your-heartstrings romantic fiction. Her novels have sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into 28 languages. Some of her favorite highlights include a Good Morning America Book Club pick, a BOTM’s Book of the Year Award, and the Minnesota Book Award. Before her writing career, Abby was in the national spotlight as a Cupcake Wars champion and founder of Nadia Cakes bakery, which has since gone on to win numerous Food Network competitions and amass an international following. She lives near Minneapolis with her husband, three daughters, and four dogs—all TikTok famous in their own right. Abby loves romance novels, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book to be a fun and heartwarming story about living life to the fullest, with well-developed characters that they fall in love with easily. The writing quality has improved, and they appreciate how the author manages to balance humor throughout the book. Moreover, the book deals with serious topics like illnesses and addictions, and one customer notes how it provides a breathtaking look at life.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fun and engaging story that they loved.
"...This story is beautiful, warm, realistic, funny, and fun...." Read more
"Great read, with interesting characters and fantastic story line. It was very relatable to life. You will laugh and you will cry." Read more
"Loved this book, it was fun and an easy to read highly recommended. So many different story lines to connect with" Read more
"...Overall, great read and I recommend this trilogy!" Read more
Customers find this book heartwrenching and incredibly relatable, describing it as an amazing story about living life to the fullest.
"...the bravery it takes to deal with living with a chronic illness, is emotional and hard … it was difficult for me as a reader to NOT be upset at..." Read more
"...It’s just a story about hope, love, loss and living." Read more
"...This is such a beautiful story that I was so hooked on and binged so quickly. This has Abby’s trademark humor and banter...." Read more
"Cute, frustrating, and sad! Love a girl next door type of romance...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them wonderful and easy to fall in love with, with one customer particularly enjoying the heroines' zest for life.
"...Her characters are layered and deeply human, navigating real fears and finding joy in the most unexpected places...." Read more
"...Vanessa is an interesting character. While her “life is too short” motto is a little cliche, it comes from an interesting place...." Read more
"Another good one from Abby. What would you do if you thought you’d be dead in a year? Maybe not what you think." Read more
"I liked the book and I really liked the characters. Adrian and Grace were amazing! Vanessa kind of bugged me...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting the author's way with words and easy readability, with one customer highlighting how well it handles serious conditions.
"Such a fun & easy read. This is my second or third book by Abby & I absolutely love them." Read more
"Loved this book, it was fun and an easy to read highly recommended. So many different story lines to connect with" Read more
"...The book is well written, grammatically correct (“me” where it is supposed to be, not “I” just because), a fun cannot-put-down romance story..." Read more
"...These books have captivated me. Abby Jimenez is an amazing author. I am smitten with her work." Read more
Customers love the storyline of this book, particularly the ending, with one customer noting it's a beautiful story about loss, while another mentions being hooked from the first chapter.
"Life’s Too Short was amazing!..." Read more
"...It’s a poignant, deeply moving story about love, loss, and choosing joy even when life feels unbearably uncertain...." Read more
"...Nothing was left out I found it difficult to put down! Loved the ending..." Read more
"...It’s funny too - especially if you love The Office. It has a happy ending too." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it full of laughter and well-balanced wit throughout.
"...Life's Too Short was witty, heart-breaking, believable, and full of humor...." Read more
"...I laughed, smiled and teared up all while reading this story. I related to this story on SO many levels...." Read more
"...This was a sweet read that made me smile, laugh and cry - it was also a quick easy read. Abby tackled a tough, heavy topic with a lot of care...." Read more
"...But that’s not all. These books make you laugh and they make you cry. Life’s Too Short is no exception...." Read more
Customers find the book beautiful, describing it as absolutely lovely, with one customer noting it provides a refreshing perspective on life.
"...This story is beautiful, warm, realistic, funny, and fun...." Read more
"...If you like romances, you'll enjoy this one. It's cute and sweet, without being sickeningly so, and there are lots of moments that make you laugh...." Read more
"...Their dynamic was so well written—heartfelt, frustrating, and undeniably beautiful...." Read more
"...I am dying to visit Minnesota to we all these beautiful places you describe so well and let's not forget eating at your Bakery Nadia's Cake...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's educational content, with one customer highlighting its coverage of illnesses and addictions, while others note its serious topics and ability to touch on deeper issues.
"...story (even though it felt voyeuristic sometimes) and it dealt with interesting life issues. Worth reading." Read more
"I have loved all of Abby's books. They are interesting...." Read more
"...the fullest” message while also being extremely (surprisingly) educational about ALS! So that was cool...." Read more
"...Her research is unsullied, I do not think she read piles of academic or scholarly publications, but she talks to the people on all sides; who have..." Read more
Reviews with images

Exceptional story that was incredibly entertaining and heartfelt
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HOT LAWYER MEETS A CHAOTIC YOUTUBE STAR…
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseOkay, yes—that’s totally clickbait (just like the start of every chapter), but Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez deserves every bit of the hype.
I devoured this book. I started it just before bed, thinking I’d read a chapter or two—and if it weren’t for work, I absolutely would’ve stayed up all night to finish. Abby Jimenez has a magic touch, and Life’s Too Short might just be my favorite of hers yet.
The chemistry between Adrian and Vanessa? Technicolor. Electric. Honest. Their connection practically jumped off the page. Abby doesn’t just write love stories—she writes life stories, filled with humor, heartbreak, healing, and hope. Her characters are layered and deeply human, navigating real fears and finding joy in the most unexpected places.
Every Abby Jimenez book leaves me feeling a little more open-hearted, and Life’s Too Short was no exception. It’s a beautiful reminder to live fully, love deeply, and find laughter even in the messiest moments. I’ve now read her entire backlog and am seriously considering going back for seconds. There’s just nothing like the world she creates.
If you’re looking for a romance that’ll break your heart just enough to make it feel fuller when it’s put back together—this is the one. xx- @ella.ro.reads
- Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseAbby Jimenez has a way of crafting stories that feel achingly real, and Life’s Too Short is no exception. One minute, I was wrapped up in the warmth of Vanessa and Adrian’s budding connection, and the next, I was absolutely wrecked, tears streaming down my face. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster—full of laughter, tenderness, and gut-wrenching devastation.
Vanessa’s possible ALS diagnosis looms over her like a dark cloud, and Jimenez doesn’t hold back on portraying the raw, heart-wrenching reality of living with such uncertainty. It was devastating to feel her despair, to imagine what it must be like to live every day knowing that at any moment, everything could change. I understood why she wanted to embrace life on her own terms, but I also felt Adrian’s struggle in wanting her to fight, to hold onto hope, to let herself be loved in spite of it all. Their dynamic was so well written—heartfelt, frustrating, and undeniably beautiful.
The audiobook performance by Zachary Webber and Christine Lakin was perfection. They didn’t just narrate; they brought the story to life. Christine Lakin embodied Vanessa’s free-spirited nature while also making her pain and fears so tangible. Zachary Webber captured Adrian’s tenderness, frustration, and unwavering care effortlessly. Hearing the emotions in their voices made the experience even more impactful—like I wasn’t just reading a story but living it.
Life’s Too Short had me bouncing between warmth and heartbreak, laughter and tears. It’s a poignant, deeply moving story about love, loss, and choosing joy even when life feels unbearably uncertain. Jimenez once again proves she’s a master of balancing humor and heartbreak, and this audiobook only amplifies the emotional depth of her words. Absolutely stunning.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2025Format: KindleVerified Purchase*SPOILERS*
I swear Abby does not miss. This book has a very, very special place in my heart.
Life's Too Short was witty, heart-breaking, believable, and full of humor. I loved being able to root for Vanessa & Adrian, and I adore them so much.
Though I don't have ALS, I do struggle constantly with my own health issues and concerns. And like Vanessa, I have a similar approach to life--carefree, stubborn, happy, and optimistic. It felt GOOD to live through this book.
Such an amazing book, Abby. Thank you, truly.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis an entertaining, heart-warming read. It’s funny too - especially if you love The Office. It has a happy ending too.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2021Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseVanessa is a famous travel blogger/YouTuber. She spends her life as she wants, seizing the moment. She lost her mom and sister to a genetic disease and--not knowing if she will wind up like them--doesn't want to waste a moment of her life. But when her troubled half sister leaves Vanessa custody of her infant daughter, Grace, Vanessa finds herself stuck at home. She's forced to deal with her sister and her father and confront her illness. But she also meets Adrian, her handsome next-door neighbor. A lawyer, Adrian turns up on her doorstep, and suddenly he and Vanessa become inseparable. He's helping care for Grace as they share take-out dinners and their life stories. Vanessa knows she cannot get close to Adrian, but she's finding it really hard not to.
I loved the first two books in this loosely tied series. This was probably my least favorite of the three, but I still enjoyed it. Jimenez writes excellent slow burn romances, and this one was no exception. Plus, it offers excellent escapism while delving into serious subjects, which I always love about her work.
Adrian was my favorite here--dependable, sweet Adrian. Both characters have a lot baggage in this book, so be prepared. Beyond her genetic illness woes, there's a lot going on with Vanessa's family. Some of the way the book deals with mental illness is excellent; sometimes, I'm not so sure. And Adrian has his own issues with his family as well. As for Vanessa, her attitude and approach toward her potential genetic illness was a little hard for me to handle. It's one of those things where you just want to take the character and try to shake some sense into them. Yes, Jimenez provides some backstory and reasoning for Vanessa's attitude, but... this was the one part of the book that was hard for me to swallow. (And it was, um, key to the plot.)
If I overlooked that piece, Vanessa and Adrian were cute together. There's lots of the patented Jimenez banter, romance, and cuteness. Someone needs to learn to trust again, someone needs to come out of their shell. But, because it's Jimenez, it's done in this adorable, funny way tinged with a heartfelt touch. And this time there's a baby! (Who is amazingly portable and never causes any trouble--wish my kids were like that, ha.) The book can be heartbreaking at times. I honestly adored Adrian, his outlook on the world, and how supportive he was of Vanessa. We could all use an Adrian to take care of us.
If you like romances, you'll enjoy this one. It's cute and sweet, without being sickeningly so, and there are lots of moments that make you laugh. It's also serious in places, covering illness and family. It's not the best of the series, but it's worth a read. Just be prepared for some frustration with some of the characters! 3.5 stars, rounded up.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseLoved this book, it was fun and an easy to read highly recommended. So many different story lines to connect with
Top reviews from other countries
- Célia D.Reviewed in France on May 7, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!!
Rating : 4.5 ⭐.
Review : Yet again Abby Jimenez successfully won my heart with the last book of The Friend Zone serie. Funny, cute, sexy and yet going through serious topics. Looking forward for more!!
- jane thorpeReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, easy read
This is a lovely book that’s heartwarming and funny. It’ll have you up 1/2 the night as you won’t want to put it down.
- RENATA RODRIGUESReviewed in Germany on April 21, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read romcom
Be prepared. This story will make you swoon, laugh out loud, but also share a high amount of tears. But I wouldn’t change that last fact, if that meant I wouldn’t have read this book.
I must say I finished it being a different person than how I was before I started. And I love it.
I love stories that make you think about your life and about how single moments are precious. How you can not take it for granted — life’s too short for that!
Having myself lost a parent because of a health condition without any warning, literally changed my life. I started seeing things a lot different, also seeing people with other eyes, and kept in mind what truly mattered for me. It sounds weird for a looot of people when I say that — that I’ve left my family behind to go follow my dreams. But I don’t have any regrets, I then started living.
So there was SO MUCH I could relate with the heroine in this story, I could only imagine what her life meant for her, how precious every moment was and why she did everything she did.
Vanessa had so much wisdom that got me speechless. A person enduring what she did, living with the weight of time on her shoulders, and being able to smile, be strong and compassionate towards people around her, is someone worth admiring. Even knowing that she is fictional, she is a fine example of a person that I would like to be.
A character like her makes my heart full, and how Abby Jimenez mixed these heavy issues of her life with humor and love, was exceptional!
Adrian was the kind of character that you always want to say “he is my new book boyfriend”. His kindness and empathy were some of his strongest characteristics. He was a man of habits, plans and a control freak, but also a man that got his walls let down — brick by brick, and started to fully live and understand the meaning of the things around himself after he met the heroine. I loved how good an influence she was in his life, how light she made him and how crucial her own story was to his life.
People who know me, knows that I love single parents romance tropes, and I looooved how a baby was introduced in this book, how that created an even stronger bond between the main characters and how her existence in the storyline was important.
Also: the audiobook was amazing. I could feel every single word through Christine Lakin and Zachary Webber. I’ve heard him in several other narrations, but for her this was a first and I loved it!
So if you have the possibility to listen while reading, do it. You won’t be disappointed.
With all that being said, this is a book I would recommend to everyone who is not afraid of sharing a few tears and don’t mind a HFN.
This is a story about resilience, about living to the fullest, without thinking too much about the future — because it can never be.
I loved it. Loved every second of this story, how the author wrote about things that are destined to happen, how the heroine found the love of her life and did the best she could to.. live!
Because if we think about it, one lifetime sometimes is not enough for us to accomplish things that we want for ourselves — to fall deeply in love, to travel the world, to be successful in your work.. so why not live day-by-day as if it were the last?
- Erika BReviewed in Spain on January 25, 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars Good and entertaining reading
The book is good and Abby is always a master riding romcoms. I gave it 4/5 ⭐️ just because I already read Just for the summer, Yours Truly and Part of your world and I don’t really know what could be better than those.
- Nayeli Martell CisnerosReviewed in Mexico on February 22, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe my favourite book of the series
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI read it a few weeks ago after convincing myself that I should finish the book series and I don't regret it, Abby Jimenez has no idea how many fibers these 3 books touched, didn't disappoint me.
It has a special place in my heart.