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A review by abidavisf
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I feel seen. I had no idea going into this book that it would represent fertility struggles, lack of self worth, or the fear of opening your heart to someone, particularly when you feel that you are lacking the thing they really want. I understand Kristen so deeply. Her fears are my fears. Her plans for her health are continuously considered in my brain. Thank you, Abby Jimenez, for seeing me.
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.Knowing that Sloane’s book is next, that she finds love after unimaginable tragedy, is both humbling and haunting. I am fascinated by the idea of having multiple soulmates, and I’m ready to have my heart ripped out with The Happy Ever After Playlist while also completely terrified. I know this one’s going to hurt.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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