Reviewed by Lynn on
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***
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 10 June, 2019: Finished reading
- 10 June, 2019: Reviewed