The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
sammymilfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Death, Body horror, Medical content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, War, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
callistabanks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Miscarriage, Blood, and Body horror
hannahbrixton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved the connection between Josh and Kristen but I felt like her steadfast refusal to be with him went on a little longer than necessary... even after they endured a traumatic event that should have been eye-opening, she stuck to her guns and it got a little frustrating.
The HEA ending was lovely for them and yet I would have liked to see it handled differently because it felt like the rug was pulled out from under the entire premise... I'm being vague on purpose so as to avoid spoilers here :)
The characters felt real, natural, and genuine and I loved the banter between the MCs. The writing was good, sometimes intense or suspenseful and emotionally evocative, which kept me listening and made it overall an enjoyable listen.
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Body shaming, Body horror, Car accident, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Vomit
Minor: Miscarriage, War, Infidelity, Violence, and Blood
wellreadmegs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Also I didn't really like how they used the big twist at the end to move the plot along and a device to get Josh and Kristen back together. It really felt like Sloan got the shit end of the stick & it was unnecessary. I was hoping Josh and Kristen would have a more non-traditional ending and was slightly disappointed to find out they didn't. Everything wrapped up a little too nicely in the last 30 pages despite an absolute mess of a situation that was happening beforehand.
Looking forward to reading Book No. 2 but glad the author has grown from this one.
Moderate: Death and Medical trauma
Minor: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
sarahflanders's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Car accident, Gore, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, and Infertility
sarah_lamendola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Grief, Death, and Mental illness
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: The Friend Zone #1
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: June 11, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Sassy • Wholesome • Emotional
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.
Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Abby Jimenez has quickly climbed the list of my favourite romance authors after reading Part of Your World and Yours Truly (her two most recent releases). With that being said, I was incredibly excited to unwrap a copy of The Friend Zone, Abby's debut, as one of my blind date with a book in my most recent order from Em's Reading Boutique. I think this may just be my favourite so far.
The characters, the romance and the depth were all what made this novel standout for me. Told in alternating POVs between the male and female leads, the chemistry felt so real. Abby does the male POV really well. I've loved each of her male leads, for different reasons, so far. Their banter was fantastic and really eluded to just how comfortable they were with one another, despite Kristen's huge secret. I really connected with Kristen's inability to talk about her uterine fibroids, painful periods, and impending hysterectomy. It's hard to talk about things, especially when you don't know how the other person will react, even when there's a level of trust. In my opinion, that's part of being human. I know many readers have had issues with that part of the storyline, but I got it.
I also appreciate Abby detailing in her author's note how she based much of the story on her own best friend's infertility journey. There's also a lot of contention surrounding the ending, and it's quite possible a different ending would have been more impactful, yet I respect Abby for telling the story how she saw fit. For me, it was more about Kristen accepting the love she deserves than the 'miracle'. It's important to remember that everyone's journey is different. This is one story, and there are millions of other stories out there.
This book holds a lot of pain, which felt very realistic. I like my romances with the rawness of real life struggles and this one certainly fit that bill. I'd definitely recommend caution and doing some research before picking this one up. If you're looking for something light, this likely isn't it. But I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! I'm looking forward to more of Sloan's in book two.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Abby Jimenez devotees
• fans of dual perspective romcoms
• readers looking for a romance with depth
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'Before I broke inside. Before my body made me wrong for you. Sometimes soul mates don't end up together, Josh. They marry other people. They never meet. Or on of them dies.'"
Graphic: Chronic illness, Car accident, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Blood, Cursing, Mental illness, and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Pregnancy
death of partnercady_sass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual harassment, Blood, Car accident, and Chronic illness
nicolewithbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Miscarriage, Violence, Gun violence, War, and Death of parent
Ocd, breakupzalouis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Infertility, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Medical trauma
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Miscarriage, Violence, and Classism