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abidavisf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Friend Zone is remarkably unique in its warmth & comfort that is paired with gut-wrenching pain. We all know and love Abby Jimenez for the way she can make us laugh and cry in a matter of seconds, and The Friend Zone is a gentle wade into the tragedy that would come in books further down the line. As a debut novel, it establishes Abby Jimenez’s writing style perfectly: you’re going to feel warm and fuzzy, and you’re also going to sob so hard you can’t breathe, and you’ll love every second of it.
Sloane and Brandon’s love story was so beautiful, and I wish they could have had their own book.
I’d love to know more about Josh’s family further down the line, how he was raised, what made him decide he wanted NINE children. From the sounds of it, it was a happy childhood so maybe there wasn’t much to go into, but it would have been nice to meet some of his relatives all the same, maybe even Celeste.
Kristen’s decisions so accurately reflect my own, and this book was truly cathartic to read. The acknowledgments and Abby’s note were too. Your life and worth do not end because of infertility, and that’s an important message that I need to believe for myself. I’m working on it.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
nyquillll'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? No
3.5
I identified with the fertility issues and irregular menstrual symptoms Kristen experienced. I appreciated the representation of her condition and difficulties - not only the physical ones but also the psychological ones. A lot of her feelings of unworthiness and disbelief that someone could stay was very relatable.
I think what knocked off a few points in the rating for me was how “insta-love” this book felt to me. They literally fell in LOVE with each other in a matter of weeks. I know spending time with someone, intense time, can cause feelings to develop, but to this extent? And how it began
I will also say I disliked the (many) misogynistic comments and pounding-on-chest-“She’s-mine” inner dialogues. Really could’ve done without that, especially since she was posited as a very independent, fiercely herself kind of woman.
ALSO WHY DID
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny
kjord3985's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, and Car accident
Moderate: Chronic illness and Mental illness
meeeshell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Miscarriage and Misogyny
emlo23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
- misogynistic as fuck MMC
- pick me "not like other girls" FMC
- the communication issues in this book were soooooooo drawn out and unnecessary
- sex scenes were really basic he has a giant magic dick shit
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Graphic: Death, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
beate251'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
It is chock full of misunderstandings & miscommunication (the tropes I hate the most) and a character who decides she knows what's best for another character while that character is incessantly protesting that she's wrong. Kristen emotionally cheats on her long-distance boyfriend Tyler (who is selfish and disrespectful himself), by falling hard in love with Josh but because he wants kids and she can't have any, she first ghosts him then pushes him away. Or the other way round. It happens a lot because she blows hot and cold. So I was on Josh's side for a while but he is another male character who doesn't know when to give up or take a woman's feelings seriously. Also, he owns a gun and Kristen finds that sexy - an attitude so alien to me that I can't compute it. I actually don't read many American authors because often the experiences feel so unfamiliar. Abby Jimenez had been an exception - now I'm not so sure anymore. Also, it's "firefighter", not "fireman", and it's a vocation - if you just moan about the people who call you out, why are you doing it?
And, what the heck was the storyline with Brandon? It's kind of cold to
Apparently Kristen does not feel worthy of love without the ability of giving birth because her cartoon villain of a mother had put her down all her life. But it doesn't matter because Josh loves her and her uniqueness, which manifests in her simply being outspoken, sarcastic and getting hangry. 🙄
It annoys me not just that there was a
Basically, if you're someone battling with fertility issues, this book is not for you. Seriously, walk away now.
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Pregnancy
dominiquer's review against another edition
Moderate: Misogyny
slugwifereads's review against another edition
✨she’s not like other girls, she’s worse ✨
I could see where the story was going with a miracle pregnancy angle, and I really disliked that with her infertility storyline. I also couldn’t hear one more time how she was “not like other girls” - it made it feel like it was written by a 17-year old boy. I enjoyed her other series but this one isn’t for me.
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Medical trauma
beckybeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“She was like a unicorn. A mythical creature. An honest, no-drama woman who didn’t bullshit and drank beer and cussed and didn’t care about what people thought of her. She was a unicorn, tucked in the body of an attractive woman with a great ass.”
And their romance turned my stomach seeing as she’s IN A RELATIONSHIP!! With a deported solider.The justifications for it? Just Gross.
And then the tragedy hit. It was unnecessary and awful and did not need to be done. I guess solely to create a sequel? Absolutely Disgusting.
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
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: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Vomit, Pregnancy, and War