The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1)

by Abby Jimenez

He's the best man . . . and that's the problem.

Kristen Petersen is perfectly fine. She has friends she'd fight to the death for and the very best dog in the world: Stuntman Mike. In fact, everything's calm in the world of Kristen, until she starts to plan her best friend's wedding and meets the best man, Josh Copeland.

Josh is funny, sexy, stands up to her sarcasm, and is always one snack ahead of her hangry. Even Stuntman Mike adores him. But he wants a big family, and Kristen knows children are probably not a part of her future.

She's sure he'd be better off with someone else, someone who can give him everything he wants, so Kristen keeps him at arm's length: in the Friend Zone. But as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to resist falling for the man who seems to be everything she's not allowed to have . . .

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Helen Hoang, Sally Thorne, Jo Watson and Sophie Kinsella.

• ISBN10: 1538715600
• ISBN13: 9781538715604
• Publish Date: 11 June 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Forever
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[The Romantic Comedy Book Club]

I want to say this book was all fun, all laughter, and a REALLY good time (and for the most part it was) but it took a dramatic turn in the middle that broke my heart. It also made me fall in love with the series as I wanted to see what happened next.

[maggiefan]

The objectification and stereotypes in this were not cute.

[chelyat]

This was a re-read because I didn’t realize I read it in 2019 before I even knew who Abby Jimenez was. I didn’t remember a lot from when I read it the first time but I knew I loved it and I still do!

[leahrosereads]

Before I go into my review, I wanted to mention that I think it's important to remember that many illnesses, diseases, and health issue can affect people in many different ways, and that no two people have the same story or same symptoms even if the health issue is the same. And when one of those topics is handled in a book differently than you hoped or expected, it's OK to criticize but to be kind. Because what you're criticizing as being unrealistic or insensitive may be exactly how someone's story unfolded.

I won't speak anymore to the sensitive topic that is brought up in this book, because of my own struggles with the topic and some of these reviews on this platform hurt, even when they're valid.

Now, onto my thoughts of this book. Obviously, you can see I'm giving it 3 stars and that's for some of the tropes that I absolutely DO NOT like in books - the unicorn girl and the possessiveness here are pretty much no-gos for me.

I liked the chemistry between the characters and didn't mind most of the goings on here, including a plot devices that'd be a bit spoilery to mention, but have been mentioned in reviews (look into those at your own risk). None of that bothered me, but the characters personalities...those weren't great.

I think this book would've been a five star had it been the same plot, same chemistry but with a lady lead that could be like other girls and herself and that being OK and a male lead that possessiveness isn't sexy.

[girlinthepages]

Oh boy, where do I begin with this one? I've gotten really into romance novels the past year or so to break up all of the YA I read, and saw a LOT of hype around this novel. Plus, the author has such a cool backstory- Food Network star, bakery owner AND romance novelist? Talk about life goals. So I was excited and ready for a good read when I checked out The Friend Zone from my library, sure it would provide a fun and escapist setting perfect for the hectic time I've been having in real life lately.

Oh how wrong I was.

Let me clarify one thing: The Friend Zone is not a bad book. In fact, it was quite entertaining and kept me turning the pages late into the night. It just was not what I was expecting (even though I had read several reviews that warned me things took a big turn in the second half of the novel). It had a meet-cute, sassy banter, a great supporting cast, etc- all of the makings of a good romance novel. I also loved the firehouse setting (give me more firefighter romances, please!) and the fact that Kristin was an entrepreneur who sold apparel and accessories for dogs online (we love a #girlboss protagonist). HOWEVER there were three major points in this book that didn't sit well with me and ultimately knocked this down to a 2 star read:

1) Kristin is very much the "cool girl," "not like other girls," etc. stereotype. She's tough as nails, never cries, curses incessantly, seems like one of the dudes, etc. Now, I know female protagonists can come with all kinds of personality traits and that's wonderful! However I just really felt like Josh liked her BECAUSE she "wasn't like other girls" and that's a trope I am SO tired of. Like, what is so wrong with being a crier, or liking "feminine" things, or going to Starbucks in your yoga pants and uggs?? Can we stop shaming basic and/or stereotypical female traits? (Ironically, I thought that the protagonist's best friend, Sloan, was a much more balanced character who was unique without feeling like she was a special snowflake).

2) (Beware, this one is a little spoilery)A little over halfway through the book, a very traumatic and jarring event happens that leads to a character death. It COMPLETELY changed the town of the story into a real downer. There was nothing wrong with this plot point really, and I might not have minded it in a different book, but it felt jarring in a romance novel and also a bit exploitative as it forces two people to finally come together over a shared tragedy.

3) (show spoiler)[One of the biggest plot points of the novel was that Kristin wasn't able to have children and suffered from many reproductive health issues. This was constantly brought up and obsessed over since Josh wanted a big family and Kristin felt a lot of guilt over not being able to give him one (which I didn't like, this self-shaming she participated in) but it was refreshing to see her make the medical choices that were best for her and not cave to societal expectations. I wondered throughout the book if she would "miraculously" conceive but didn't think the story would actually go there after how much emphasis and detail was put into Kristin's fertility struggles. Yet at the end of the story, after this traumatic death forcing her and Josh together, SURPRISE she's pregnant with basically a miracle baby. That really didn't sit well with me. Though in an author's note she explained this circumstance was based on the experiences of a real life friend, it felt irresponsible and I could only imagine it being very hurtful to someone who struggled with similar health issues who perhaps was excited to find a protagonist they could relate too...only until they couldn't any more. ] (hide spoiler)

Overall: The Friend Zone is an addicting read for sure, and I enjoyed the writing and the pace of the story. However, it took a few turns that made it into a story that was very different than the one I was expecting. There is of course nothing wrong with that, but it personally did not sit well with me.This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages

[Rowena]

This book gets a giant NOPE from me.

[Sam@WLABB]

Fate, in the form of a fender bender, brought them together. Their obligations to their respective best friends and a business arrangement, kept them in each other's orbit, but timing and the heart's wishes may keep them apart.

Buckle up, people, because Jimenez took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. The first half of the book was all fun and games, but then stuff got real. Barriers to this relationship between Kristen and Josh were broken down and re-erected, and then something really tragic happened, and I was a snotty crying mess, and then my heart exploded, but I was still crying. Needless to say, I loved every minute of it.

Let's start with how fantastic Kristen was. When I first met her, I automatically wanted to be her friend. She was witty and sarcastic, and came across hard as nails. Josh kept describing her as the "cool girl", and she really was. She owned and operated a doggie business, which produced, among other things, hilarious dog clothing and stairs for every little dog, and she was serious about her food. But, there was so much more to Kristen then met the eye and lots to admire and love about her.

Then, there was the lovely unicorn man - Josh. I don't know how anyone would be able to resist his charms. He was so open and wonderful and warm and inviting. He knew how to be a friend to a women, because his six older sisters' training, and he just understood how to navigate Kristen. There were so many times he was sweet and tender and persistent. Oh! This guy was really willing to fight for her, and that, my friends, made me swoon. And, the TFioS "okay" has been usurped by Josh's "just say okay". I swear, my heart exploded.

Jimenez did such a amazing job shedding light on infertility, as well. Kristen's pain and sorrow was felt in the depths of my heart. I ached for her as she struggled with the pain and treatment and what her condition meant for her future. It's good to see issues, like this, being spotlighted.

I just can't express what a wonderful reading experience this was. I laughed a ton, and cried a river. My heart both exploded and imploded. But, because this was a romance, I was left with a smile on my face and tears of joy in my eyes.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lynn]

Wow! Be ready! The Friend Zone packs an emotional punch. Prepare yourself to laugh and cry your way through Kristen and Josh's journey to a happily-ever-after. 

Weddings and relationships are not on Kristen Petersen's horizon because it makes life too complicated. That's until she meets the best man for her friend's wedding. He's everything she wants, but his desire for a family means she won't get involved with him.

The baby brother in a family with six older sisters, Joshua Copeland knows how to steer his way around a woman – he's had an excessive amount of practice. When he meets Kristen, he's not offended by her sarcasm and standoffish behaviour, after all, he's seen it all before and he likes the challenge. However, when faced with the reason for her attitude, will he relinquish his dream and accept a life with this woman comes at a price?

Have tissues at the ready. This story is intensely heart-aching yet full of humour too. For a début novel, the author knows how to wring out every drop of emotion from the protagonists. They are complex characters, made for each other but in time-honoured fashion, the journey for them to realise it is a difficult one for them to navigate. In some ways, the narrative ended up where I expected it to go. As a reader, I chose not to be disappointed but instead, embraced it because I wanted Kristen and Joshua to have their happy ending – to have what neither thought they could achieve together. Both are engaging characters in their own way but most importantly, they complement each other perfectly. Therefore it's easy to fall for their own unique charm in a relatable way. They are characters you'd want to be friends with in the real world.

After reading The Friend Zone, the justifiable buzz surrounding it is notable and I'm pretty sure it will end up in my top five favourite books of the year.

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever Romance via NetGalley***

[Cocktails and Books]

I ❤️ this book hard! Kristen and Josh were perfect! Full review to come.