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A review by sunshineinpages
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
2.0
This book had me conflicted the whole time.
I loved the chemistry between Kristen and Josh, and I loved how strong Kristen is. My issues are:
1) Josh constantly describing Kristen as “not like other girls”. He explains that girls are always indecisive about what they want to eat, but she always knows. Girls are always full of drama, but not her. Stereotypes, much?
2) While I wouldn’t exactly describe Josh as toxic, his macho vibe did bother me. He’s a fireman and ex-marine. When he finds out, not long after meeting her, that someone tried breaking into her place he immediately gets overprotective and says he’ll be spending the nights in her guest room until her boyfriend returns from deployment, and angrily tells her he’s going home to get his gun, and she’s coming with him because he won’t leave her alone. This is supposed to come off as sweet, but frankly it was just too much too soon. He could’ve calmly talked to her instead, given suggestions such as how she could stay at her friend’s until the culprit is caught, who knows, or even maybe, just maybe, have some faith that she’s not some weak defenceless creature who can’t survive without a big, strong man bu her side??
3) Her best friend’s fiance dying - WHY? Completely ruined the book for me, using death and the complete and total breakdown of her best friend as a way for her to see the value of love. Just no. Plus, it didn’t even have the desired effect, since they only actually got together after he compiled that list.
4) Her getting pregnant at the end was a complete cop out. I understand that women with infertility issues could still potentially get pregnant, but if the whole point was to empower women so they don’t see themselves as worthless if they’re not able to birth children, why do you go and get her pregnant?? It has the complete opposite effect, and instead of allowing women to accept, sends the message that if you just keep pushing through you might have a miracle at some point. This book could have been great, and could have empowered women to choose whether they want to have children (for themselves, not for society), and could’ve given a great plug for adoption!
5) His whole “I need to get her to marry me today, as soon as possible because I know that she believes in marriage and if we’re married she’ll honour it. She might have more health issues and if we’re not married she’ll want to leave me so I don’t need to deal with them so I need to lock her down quickly.” - hell NO! I know this is supposed to come off as cute and that he’s doing it because he knows her and it’s self-sacrifice and all that but it’s 2020, there’s this thing called CHOICE. Just no. Not okay.
TL;DR great chemistry between the characters, but book tries to come off as feminist when in fact it’s the complete opposite.
I loved the chemistry between Kristen and Josh, and I loved how strong Kristen is. My issues are:
1) Josh constantly describing Kristen as “not like other girls”. He explains that girls are always indecisive about what they want to eat, but she always knows. Girls are always full of drama, but not her. Stereotypes, much?
2) While I wouldn’t exactly describe Josh as toxic, his macho vibe did bother me. He’s a fireman and ex-marine. When he finds out, not long after meeting her, that someone tried breaking into her place he immediately gets overprotective and says he’ll be spending the nights in her guest room until her boyfriend returns from deployment, and angrily tells her he’s going home to get his gun, and she’s coming with him because he won’t leave her alone. This is supposed to come off as sweet, but frankly it was just too much too soon. He could’ve calmly talked to her instead, given suggestions such as how she could stay at her friend’s until the culprit is caught, who knows, or even maybe, just maybe, have some faith that she’s not some weak defenceless creature who can’t survive without a big, strong man bu her side??
3) Her best friend’s fiance dying - WHY? Completely ruined the book for me, using death and the complete and total breakdown of her best friend as a way for her to see the value of love. Just no. Plus, it didn’t even have the desired effect, since they only actually got together after he compiled that list.
4) Her getting pregnant at the end was a complete cop out. I understand that women with infertility issues could still potentially get pregnant, but if the whole point was to empower women so they don’t see themselves as worthless if they’re not able to birth children, why do you go and get her pregnant?? It has the complete opposite effect, and instead of allowing women to accept, sends the message that if you just keep pushing through you might have a miracle at some point. This book could have been great, and could have empowered women to choose whether they want to have children (for themselves, not for society), and could’ve given a great plug for adoption!
5) His whole “I need to get her to marry me today, as soon as possible because I know that she believes in marriage and if we’re married she’ll honour it. She might have more health issues and if we’re not married she’ll want to leave me so I don’t need to deal with them so I need to lock her down quickly.” - hell NO! I know this is supposed to come off as cute and that he’s doing it because he knows her and it’s self-sacrifice and all that but it’s 2020, there’s this thing called CHOICE. Just no. Not okay.
TL;DR great chemistry between the characters, but book tries to come off as feminist when in fact it’s the complete opposite.