Kristen is helping plan her best friend's wedding when she meets Josh, the best man. Not only is he good looking and sweet but he accepts her and her crazy dog as they are. Unfortunately, they can only be friends because Kristen has a fiance in the military.
After Kristen breaks it off with her fiance, she and Josh become involved but Kristen insists they keep it casual because Josh wants a big family and Kristen isn't able to have children.
This book is both funny and heartbreaking. I also loved that it dealt with infertility which is a rare subject in romance books.

DNF at 30%

I'm just going to be really honest here and say that the main character killed it for me. I found her very unlikeable. Her actions and inner commentary were so annoying and completely overrated.

I was interested in the synopsis about a main character struggling with infertility while fighting feelings for someone who wants a big family. However, after reading to about 30%, I can't read anymore. I found Kristen unlikable and Josh was simply okay but nothing special.

I had a fellow blogger friend tell me the key points and ending of the book and I feel like I honestly didn’t miss out on anything. Just this big secret that she could and should have told earlier in the story.

The Friend Zone is a (mostly) fun, engaging, and decently paced read. The characters are interesting and their alternating perspectives transition smoothly. Their central conflict (the heroine's stubbornness over their ability to be together, given her fertility issues) wears on too long. It begins to feel contrived after the male lead finds out about it (she also hides it too long?) and is fine with it. Also: these two meet *for* a wedding and having the groom die is a bit dark for my romance taste -- especially so close to the end of the book. It makes the main couple seem selfish to revel in their love while the heroine's best friend mourns her lost love and, in turn, I felt conflicted as a reader about rooting for them to just forge ahead in their happiness, following such a grave tragedy.

One of the most adorable meet/cutes I've ever read. I really loved this friends to lovers romance. It did get surprisingly heavy towards the end but the author handled it well without losing the main romance.

A really enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance with a lot of heart and depth. Abby Jimenez is one to watch!

It says it's for fans of Christina Lauren, and it's almost right. Almost.

Prior to reading this one, I had just finished my new favourite Christina Lauren novel, so jumping right into The Friend Zone had me expecting humour and saucy times. Sadly this didn't quite get there. In fact, most of it felt just okay.

The chemistry between Josh and Kristen was all right. I would have liked it to be a little bit more light-hearted, but that would take away from the deeper themes of infertility and the sacrifices that are made in relationships when that comes into play. The angle of Kristen's periods and he inability to have children was well done I thought. She's a young woman (24 years old) and every thought she has is reasonable and relatable. As someone who had some pretty rough periods growing up (albeit not even close to her point), I definitely related with her struggle.

Surprisingly, this took a very sad/sombre turn. One I didn't think would have interested me in the story, but had me eager to get home from work so I can finish the last 30 pages. *Spoiler* I do struggle a little bit getting on board with couples getting married after maybe two months and kind of despise it when romance novels do so. But then I think of the Bachelor, which is basically that, and I hate it, but I love to watch it and scoff, so who knows? I do see why they did it, but still.

Where this story lost me was when it started getting repetitive. A hundred and one angry and defeated conversations were started about the same thing and never finished! It became so frustrating when they just kept going back and forth about their relationship and the whole baby thing at the centre of this story. And really 90% of my frustration would have been gone if they had just talked, but alas, this is one of those whether both sides of the love interest keep tight-lipped and drag things on longer than they should.

4/5 stars

I love a girl with confidence and a kick-ass attitude. From the moment I was introduced to Kristen, I knew this was going to be an absolutely fabulous read. Funny, witty, comedic banter is my kryptonite and The Friend Zone is filled to maximum capacity with it. At this point, it would be a quiche to call it un-put-down-able, but it so totally is!

I think it's the juxtaposition of a very decidedly quirky Kristen against the even keel, yet witty Josh, that makes this one of the best reads of 2019 for me.

Trust me, this is going to make the top of every top ten list this summer and it will be well deserved.

When you read a lot of romance novels, you begin to expect a certain formula. But Abby Jimenez is anything BUT formulaic in The Friend Zone. There are, of course, certain must-haves, from the meet-cute to the steamy scenes to the perfect-on-paper ex, but Kristen and Josh's "will they/won't they make it official" dynamic and their twisty, bumpy road toward a happily ever after is far beyond anything you'd typically expect from a book you find in the "romance" section of a bookstore. You will laugh, you will shed quite a few tears...you will want to strangle both Kristen and Josh even though you'll love them, and you will DEFINITELY want to meet Stuntman Mike. This is a romance with heart, with reality, and with a fantastic cast of characters...I can't wait to see what Abby writes next!

I'm amazed by Abby Jimenez's ability to write a romance dealing with the main topic of infertility.

I was pulled into The Friend Zone from the very first chapter. There were some gut-wrenching moments when I couldn't stop myself from spilling tears but also so many moments where the sarcastic humor was freaking awesome.

The first time we meet the main characters Kristen Peterson and Josh Copeland is when they were involved in a fender bender. Their first interaction didn't go that great. Their second one was a little bit better.

Kristen runs her own business. Her company makes products for dogs including ladders to help small dogs climb, she makes cute little shirts too. In regards to her personal life, she's dating a marine Tyler (who's overseas), has a cute little dog (who hates the marine), doesn't have a close relationship with her mother and she's dealing with a medical condition that will end up in infertility.
The moment she meets Josh, she knows she's in trouble. He's handsome, super nice and available as her new carpenter on his days off. She has never cheated and she won't start now. Making Josh believe she has no interest in him is a priority. She will wear unattractive clothes, no makeup, and even rulers to prevent him from getting any ideas.

Josh has recently moved to California to be closer to his best friend Brandon who's getting married soon. He's joining the same firehouse as him but his new status as probie is not a fun one. He's frustrated with some of the calls they get. Some are completely and truly unnecessary. As for his personal life, his last relationship ended on a bad note. He wanted kids and his girlfriend didn't. He let her have everything they had but his credit card balance is still quite high. He needs cash fast to pay his debts and when an offer to be Kristen's new carpenter presents, he has no other choice but to take it. He discovers that he likes Kristen. He likes her sense of humor, her honesty, and her loyalty. He realizes she's not a cheater but he wants her in his life.

Kristen and Josh are both very creative characters. I love both. Kristen was funny, sarcastic and a true friend to Sloan. Yes, I got annoyed at Kristen more than once for pushing Josh away but I understood why she did it.
Josh was perfect. He had my heart. He was understanding and dedicated to Kristen and his best friend Brandon. He fell for Kristen's dog too (which is a bonus in my book).

The last third of The Friend Zone was hard to read. Plenty of sadness. I was devastated for Josh but even though the ending had some bittersweetness to it, the sweet overcame the bitter.

I was excited to see that Abby Jimenez is writing a second book with a secondary character. I'd love to see where she takes her story.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

I adored this story!! It was sweet and emotional and had moments that made me laugh out loud. The banter and the realness of the characters is my favorite part of this story. I completely fell in love with these characters. This was such an adorable story and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by Abby Jimenez before this and had no expectations either way. Happily, I did enjoy her writing style and would gladly read other novels in the future.

Have you ever read and enjoyed a novel in spite of the main (female) character? That's how I felt about The Friend Zone. The lead female character, Kristen, didn't't come across as "don't care what others think, I'm going to keep doing my thing" so much as just obnoxious and rude, but I ended up liking The Friend Zone in spite of her - mainly due to the lead male character, Josh, and the secondary characters. I found the novel to be well written and the dialogue between the characters was amusing at times.

The bad: the book summary was a little inaccurate. Kristen isn't really planning her friend's wedding, she's more a small business owner with medical issues who is peripherally involved in the sphere of her friend's wedding. Also bad, Kristen is not terribly likeable. I didn't empathize with her, she just came across as a shrew. Those criticisms aside, the author's writing style kept me reading and overall enjoying the book.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would! Reading The Friend Zone was such an emotional roller coaster. What started out as a fun Rom Com quickly turned into an angst filled slow burn romance with a heartbreaking plot twist and a triumphant happy ending. I laughed. I cried. I almost threw my Kindle against the wall a few times then I cried and laughed again.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved Josh as a male protagonist, but the "cool girl" trope is OVERPLAYED, every girl likes to eat, gets hangry when they haven't eaten, and is moody. While Kristen was an extremely stubborn character (almost to the point of being unlikable) I did enjoy the love story, the supporting characters and the plight of infertility.

A lovely romantic comedy that shows the bonds of friendship and romance. Kristin is dealing with infertility and the author handles it with honesty and authenticity. The joys and challenges of dating while facing medical issues is written with such blunt charm, it makes for an enjoyable book.

I had to read this book twice, just to make sure I fully absorbed everything. This book gave me all the feels, I laughed, I cried, I wanted to punch a wall. This is a book I feel everyone should read at least once, if not more. I know I plan on reading it again, just in case I missed anything the first two times I read it. I love how the author lead with humor while really driving home the message that you are enough the way you are. Of course it was tinged with romance and humor, but that didn't take away from the meaning of the story. It really brought to the forefront that we really are our own worst enemies. I cannot wait to read more from this author, its been a long long time since a new author has made me sit back and just say "wow".

A sweet banter between two friends/ co-workers who have to deal with this tension between them, and also learn how to cope with having life obstacles...

So you see that gif above? Yup! That gif explains this novel perfectly without using any words. But because I am me, I have to use words to better help you, the reader, understand what I mean. As you can see, the gentleman who is walking through the FRIEND ZONE door, is demonstrating an expression of hesitation. That was me when I first read the synopsis of this novel. Very, VERY hesitant about it because of multiple reasons, the main reasons being are because Abby is a new author to me and when it comes down to romance novels that involve (sort of) a third party to the equation, I am not the biggest fan of. I have never been disappointed with any of the novels that Forever has published so that's an upside to everything they promote or publish, so my hesitation did diminish a tiny bit when I saw who the publisher was. That fact for me makes a big difference. Don't ask why, because I don't even know that answer.

Following up that analysis of the gif, we proceed on over to seeing the "nurse" or "surgeon" entering the FRIEND ZONE, and he stumbles upon many different peeps. That to me represents all the different obstacles that the characters go through to be together. The difficulties are there, and there was a problem for me to get past 18% of the novel. Hence why it took me a tiny bit longer than usual to read this novel. This being the debut novel of Abby's I want to give her full credit for being part of the author world now and also creating such a comedic novel. Because that is for sure the one thing that she did not fail on. I could not stop laughing at some scenes where laughter was needed. Considering this novel as a rom-com, is the ideal description for it.

At the end to finalize this analysis of the above gif, the peeps inside are all happy with smiles when seeing the "nurse"/ "surgeon". That is how I feel because after finishing the novel, I truly did enjoy it. Not as much as I was hoping for but there were positive sides to it that made me fall in love with Kristen and Josh. Thank you to the wonderful Estelle at Forever Romance for recommending this novel, I am looking forward to more books by Abby!

(Said GIF can be found on my original post on GOODREADS)

One of the best romantic comedy books I've read in awhile. No cheating, just a good old fashioned friends to lovers story with a plot twist that will gut you. Fiery (pun intended), sweet, and romantic, with some drama and heartbreak. In a world of predictable books, "The Friend Zone" knocked it out of the park.

THE FRIEND ZONE BY ABBY JIMENEZ BOOK REVIEW
This book has it all. Countless pop culture references, reluctant friends to lovers, laughs & tears. Oh my gosh, I love every second of it!

DRUNKS & LEGGINGS ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH
Let’s get one thing straight, Abby Jimenez is hilarious. Whether she’s trademarking the term Vageode or posting hilarious encounters on Instagram she cracks me up! She also speaks to my heart with her Twitter feed dedicated to The Princess Bride. I may have responded with an Andre the Giant GIF. Did I mention she’s a hugely talented baker & owner of Nadia Cakes? She even won Cupcake Wars! Seriously, can I be her new best friend?

LOVERS & FRIENDS (IN USHER’S VOICE OBVIOUSLY!)
Truly, there is nothing like falling in love with your best friend. Josh & Kristen meet under hilarious circumstances. Talk about a different kind of meet-cute! Quickly, their friendship begins to bloom. Kristen’s acerbic wit matches well with Josh’s easy-going demeanor. Their banter & their chemistry can set the world on fire. It sure keeps me turning the pages.

READ IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!
The Friend Zone isn’t your typical romance. First, we’ve established Abby is hysterical. I found myself laughing time and time again & smiling throughout the story. Second, there are so many pop culture references in the book. I ate all of them up with a spoon. The Friend Zone is definitely a book you want to buddy read so you can laugh your way through it with someone. So many times I wanted to look up & say, “Ahhhh. Love that part!” Truthfully, I also squealed audibly a few times. This book is just precious. I want to clutch it to my chest & never let it go.

DID YOU SAY ROMANCE?
I’m going to say this loud & clear for the people in the back. (clears throat) Read this book even if you don’t read romance! The Friend Zone is filled with love, friendship, loyalty, second chances & who doesn’t love that?



Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all fluff. Abby goes deep with the emotion. I’m not spoiling anything for anyone, but I sure cried some ugly & happy tears. As soon as I finished reading, I wanted to jump back into the story. Anyone who thinks they don’t like romance needs to read The Friend Zone. It’s a game changer.

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! The Friend Zone is sweet & memorable. Abby also makes you rethink where your partner sits on an airplane. This book even has a Casino reference! The Friend Zone is a touching love story. It doesn’t hurt that it’s funny as hell. I can’t wait for everyone to read it so we can chat all about it!

Special thanks to Abby Jimenez & Read Forever for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Abby Jimenez!!! Where have you been hiding?!?! I fell in love with the book, I couldn't read it fast enough to see what was going to happen to Kristen & Josh...but as soon as I finished it I wanted to start right back at the beginning...I experienced all the feelings throughout this book.
When Kristen meets Josh for the first time to say things go well would be a lie; they end up arguing with one another and Kristen leaves him in a parking lot without his favorite shirt. Cut to 20 minutes later they are officially meeting (thanks to their mutual friends that are engaged) and even though they are both mad at one another they can't deny that the sparks that are flying between them are often and very strong.
When Josh ends up working for Kristen, to pay off some debts, he doesn't expect to learn that this ball buster of a woman is actually very sweet, almost vulnerable in some ways....he doesn't expect to fall head over heels for her. Kristen hires Josh as a means to an end, her business shouldn't have to suffer because she can't separate her personal feelings from business...but again, Kristen doesn't expect to find a calm, funny, giving man beneath that gorgeous exterior. As fate would have it, Kristen can't do the one thing that Josh is looking forward to the most. As they battle the growing attraction between them, their lives will be upended from a tragedy that will make them look closer to what they really want from life and each other.
I was crying in one breath then laughing out loud in my next one....Abby Jimenez has written something very special and I can't wait to see what else she does!

I think Abby Jimenez is a witty and engaging writer. I enjoyed her prose and loved Kristen, the heroine. I'll definitely read more of this author's work in the future, and I think this book will enchant many readers. Her writing made me stick with a book I might have otherwise DNF'ed because of some tropes/happenings that are not to my personal taste.

Romances that have "ONE BIG SECRET" as the entire basis for the tension in the romance are not my personal favorite and kept me from completely falling in love with this story. I just wanted to press Kristen and Josh's faces together and say TALK.

I'm also glad the blurb mentions laughs and tears, because there is big sadness in this novel, but don't worry, there is a sweet HEA.

As the blurb states, Kristen is having a procedure that will mean she cannot have children from her own uterus. Josh wants kids eventually so she hides this from him. In various ways. Major points for this story in the way Josh handles Kristen's menstruation. I'm glad this book talks about how crippling periods can be for many women.

So, for readers who enjoy contemporary romances with a bit of sadness and a lot of angst, this one is for you!

Content warnings are on my Goodreads review!