If you’re wanting a book that’s laugh out loud funny, sweet, sad, sarcastic, dramatic and traumatic then you need to check out The Friend Zone!
Kristen Peterson 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.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

This book broke my heart. Josh and Kristen are absolutely perfect together but what they want out of life is (seemingly) pushing them apart. They're pushed together and pulled apart so many times in this book, with a huge roadblock stopping them every time. All I wanted the entire time I was reading was for them to just talk about their problems, but I totally understood where Kristen was coming from; if she'd really talked to Josh, there was absolutely no way he would not have wanted to stay with her for emotional reasons and she would have been afraid of his resentment for the rest of their lives. This was a really well-crafted and beautiful story. I do have some problems with the ending (as most other people have), but I was glad that they got the ending they did. It's a fictional world, why shouldn't they get everything?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so late reviewing this book and some of the reviews of this title did make me wonder if I should read it but I'm glad those didn't stop me. Jimenez creates characters who you instantly feel you know based on their experiences and actions. I love the character of Kristen and her fight to find herself to be worth loving was one that I could understand and her fertility issues made for a romance book unlike any others that I've read. I loved the hero, Josh, and how willing he is to fight for Kristen and how devoted he is to the other characters in the novel.

I'm really looking forward to Sloane's novel that follows to see how she deals with the obstacles this novel threw her.

I love a well-written Romantic Comedy and this is just that. It was fun, gave me all the feels, and just the right amount of romance I want. What a great, quick read. Loved it!

The Friend Zone was one of my favorite debut books this year. The characters were just so great, and the story ended up being so touching. I will admit I shed a few tears in the end. It all just felt so real and not like a typical HEA.⁣ One of the first books I plan to read next year is Abby Jimenez's follow-up, The Happy Ever After Playlist.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez is such a fantastic story. A rom-com full of depth with scenes that will no doubt hit you right in the feels.

I absolutely could not put this book down and stayed up way too late reading it—a sign of an impactful novel. It reminded me of some Taylor Jenkins Reid’s earlier work in contemporary fiction. These are stories that really show the human experience—the happiness, joy and pleasure but also the frustration, disappointments and tragedies. The characters in the stories really do feel real and even though it ends, it’s like life—there’s still events happening.

I’m so glad we have writers like this tackling real subjects—there’s talk about periods, women enjoying sex; focusing on a successful career; wanting a family (whether that involves a partner, children, or both), etc. Of all the stories out there, contemporary stories are the most relatable.

Final review thoughts: a sweet, funny and, at times, heartbreaking read about two people navigating life.

Contrary to what the publisher’s blurb and cartoonish cover lead you to believe, this is not a light-hearted piece of chick lit. Yes, there are many humorous moments and the wonderful banter between the main couple, but there’s also heartbreak and baggage galore. Kristen and Josh meet when he rear-ends her car. She’s snarky from the start and he loves it. He has 6 older sisters, so he’s well-trained in how to deal with women’s moods. When they meet up at the fire station where Josh has just begun working (after a break-up and subsequent move from S. Dakota to LA), they realize that they’re best man and maid of honor at their best friends’ upcoming wedding. Although there’s an immediate attraction, Kristen is awaiting the arrival of her long-distance Marine boyfriend Tyler who is leaving the military and moving in with her. When she hires Josh to build doggy steps for her (working out of her garage), the close proximity makes her begin to wonder why she’s settling for Tyler. However, she’s aware that Josh wants a baseball team worth of kids and, due to uterine fibroid tumors, she’s scheduled a hysterectomy for just after the wedding. So, she friend zones him (with benefits) but refuses to tell him why, even as their feelings for each other intensify. Is there any chance for a happily-ever-after if she’s not willing to share her secret believing that he’ll resent her for giving up his dreams?

There’s so much more to this story than just a run-of-the-mill romance with conflict and misunderstandings. Yes, there are LOL moments, but there are tear-inducing plot twists as well. The issue of infertility is handled well, although the ending is a bit of a cop-out, and the anguish the couple feels is visceral. Jimenez’s writing is compelling, and she does a wonderful job of balancing all of the emotional elements, even if Kristen’s stubbornness gets frustrating at times. If you’re a fan of Christina Lauren, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Friends-with-benefits to more is one of the romance tropes I quite enjoy. However, there were some things in this book that detracted from my overall enjoyment.

This book is funny and sexy and, I’ll say it, had me hooked. I loved the characters and I was invested in them. I wanted to know if Kristen and Josh would give in to their attraction. I wanted to know how it could work between them given that Josh wants kids. My heart hurt for her, going through something painful in more ways than one and knowing that it could affect any potential relationships. The book was shaping up to be a complex romance, and I was here for it.

However, there are some things that happen which kinda put me off the book. Firstly, I hate when something serious is used as a throwaway plot point to push the story forward or ‘force’ characters into certain mindset they wouldn’t normally be in. The other thing is the ending. The ending kind of seems to undo all the work the rest of the book had done in terms of plot and character arc. I wasn’t sure that the ending really sat right with me, because it seemed like a “TADA! Here’s your happy ending even though this is totally out of the blue!” moment. There’s an author’s note in the book which explains the choice for the ending, and while it did help me understand her motivations, I don’t know if the ending was a great choice for the book. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t get more specific than that. Some goodreads reviews do discuss the spoilers in depth, though.

The Friend Zone had so much promise, but some of the conflicts and events towards the end of the book didn’t quite sit right with me. Before that point, I was really really enjoying the book. The romance is sweet and sexy. The will they/won’t they is fun and also full of emotional and physical tension. But unfortunately I didn’t end up loving the book.

I was over this book the moment the heroine suggested the hero take her dog to the store and he was like "I can't, it isn't a service dog" and she was like "Um no, he's an accessory." Get out of here with that crap and stop taking your dog to the store. You're what's wrong with America.

Pet peeve aside, I thought the story was predictable and I didn't care for the two leads. I knew going in that this book wouldn't be a romance, but the two dramatic plot twists in the last 100 pages or so didn't make a whole lot of sense for me. Without getting into spoilers, I thought one was too sad and one was too happy and I liked neither.

The Friend Zone is a fresh new take on the romance novel. I loved that Kristen is so relatable & I loved the twist on women's fertility issues! We need more exposure to real women's concerns!!

What an emotional ride; I laughed, I cried and everything in between. I always enjoy a book with humor and attitude and this book has that & more. Kristen has health issues and is in constant pain & Josh is a firefighter new to the city. The two main characters just fit each other with her snarky & sarcastic attitude and his enjoyment of her. Excellent writing, likable characters and relate-able story-line.

This is one of my favorite books of 2019 and if you're a fan of Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating or anything similar, you NEED to read this book.

I absolutely LOVED this book. There was so much truth to it, and I felt the characters were so real. They were flawed, in real and honest ways, which made them so much more loveable in the end.

I got a copy of this book off of #Netgalley. I absolu loved this book! It felt like I was the main character. When I found out her secret, I started crying. Abby Jimenez, without knowing it you made your story totally relatable and heartbreaking/heartwarming for those of us with PCOS. So thank you!

The Friend Zone will break you heart but it will also repair your heart at the same time. It's just an emotional romance read. Get ready for the tissues.
The Friend Zone will bring Kristen and Josh together but before they can be together, they are going to face some hardships that will break your heart. And let's get start.
Kristen and Josh have insane chemistry with each other. But they cannot be together as first for several reason. The big ones would be Kristen having a huge infertility issues. It is a big one that takes emotion toll on her that she does not let anyone knows about her condition until the middle. It sucks to have infertility issues. I can never understand and I definitely feel for her. It's a lot of her to take especially when she is falling for Josh but he has always stated that he wants a big family. It's a big issue for them to overcome if they do want to be together and that's where their hardship begins. It's a big roller coaster for them but I know they can pull through. They just need to have faith and move toward each other. It would be a shame if they don't. I won't spoil anything for you cause you got to read it!
The Friend Zone will challenge Kristen and Josh but it is up to them to be together since they are meant for each other.
Four Star

I was hooked into this book. I got halfway through it and then ended up staying all night finishing it. So well done. Great characters, interesting story and such a roller coaster of emotions. A must read.

Please excuse me while I try to stop weeping and catch my breath...⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This. Freaking. Book. Y’all!!! I laughed. I cried (more like weeped). @authorabbyjimenez broke my heart, stomped on it, and then put it back together again, and I loved every single second of it. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This isn’t just a story about love. It’s a story about life, tragedy, friendship, and infertility. What resonated with me the most is the painful struggle of feeling worthless. I can’t speak to that feeling specifically related to infertility, but I do think that we have all probably struggled with self-worth at some point in our lives. We are all worth it, and that is an important message to share. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What I loved most about The Friend Zone is how authentic it feels. Kristen is a hilarious character that often times I saw myself in with her spicy sarcasm. On the flipside, I felt myself getting angry with her because she was so stubborn, which I also am! She was so relatable to me that I could almost picture myself going through all the things she encountered. Let’s not forget about Josh.. dreamy, sexy, sweet, and funny Josh. :::swoon::: I didn’t know until I read the note from the author that Kristen’s struggle with infertility was based on real life. Kudos to you, @authorabbyjimenez, not only for writing about such a difficult subject, but also making it feel so real. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I’m still wiping away tears as I write this review. Obviously, I 1,000% recommend this book. There wasn’t a single thing that I didn’t like about it. It gave me all the feels, and I feel lucky to have stumbled upon such a heartfelt and important story, not only for those suffering from infertility, but for women in general. Please know that you are ALWAYS worth it!

I finally read The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. Honestly, I have been hesitant to even read this book EVEN THOUGH I requested an ARC for it. I liked the premise and I thought I was brave enough to read it but the publication date had come and gone, and the hype for this book grew and grew, and still, I couldn't start reading it.

For those of you who are not familiar with me, I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and have been struggling for it for years. I expected to be triggered and emotional, but while I was emotional, I wasn’t triggered at all. This is why I enjoyed this book. Oh, and if you don’t already know yet, Kristen, the heroine, has reproductive issues, which is the central conflict of The Friend Zone.

Points for the rom-com feel

I did not know what to expect when I started listening to the audiobook. But I NEVER expected it to be a legit rom-com! I think this lent a light tone to this very serious health topic. Especially one that is not talked about freely.

The book opens up with a light-hearted and totally LA scene, and I could not help but LOL while listening. This opening scene sets the tone of the whole book - especially with the seriousness of the situation, PLUS another serious non-laughing matter situation that took me unaware.

It’s set in my hood

One thing that really liked about The Friend Zone, is that it is set in Los Angeles. Specifically, in the San Fernando Valley. So the places mentioned were very familiar to me. In fact, Brandon and Sloane (the couple who are getting married) lived in Canoga Park (I live here, BTW). I liked that it was set in the Valley. Usually, LA books are always set in Hollywood (or around that area), so I'm glad for the representation to the normal side of LA!

Because it was also set in my hood, one of the most nerve-wracking scenes in the book added a level of realism for me. That scene was when Josh and his team responded to a motorcycle accident WHILE I WAS STUCK IN LA TRAFFIC! I had cars cutting me left and wright during that time! It was weird and disturbing to be listening to that scene and sorta living it.

Can they just talk now?

The most frustrating about The Friend Zone was Kristen’s hot/cold attitude towards Josh. It was quite obvious that Josh already had feelings for her, and she kept stringing him along and just didn’t talk to him! I GET that Josh wanted a big family, but just tell him to end his suffering! It was a little annoying TBH since it was the main conflict of the book.

While I get why Kristen didn’t want to share her health issues to Josh, she was already falling for him. I just couldn’t get WHY she waited so long to share it. KWIM? While I did not share my issues with Pierre before we got married (culturally, we just couldn't talk about this, but we do now), Kristen already knew that Josh wanted kids, plus it was clear that they already had feelings for each other. I don't get that BS about her not knowing Josh's feeling. Heck, the guy wanted to be exclusive!

Quick Hook-up - gah!

While The Friend Zone doesn't have a love triangle, Kristen was currently in a relationship when she met Josh. Hers was a long-distance relationship since her boyfriend was in the military. And while she didn't cheat on him during their relationship, I found it too gauche that she immediately slept with Josh when she listened to the voicemail that he reenlisted to the military thereby breaking up with her. The situation leading to this was also questionable because she had already been avoiding her boyfriend's calls and she was hanging out with Josh! Gaaah

Seriously, as someone who was on the other end of this (I was ghosted by an ex while we were on an LDR), it really made me pissed. So yeah, that was not nice, Kristen!

Unnecessary plot device

There is one unnecessary death that I was not happy with. Why did there have to be a death and why did it have to be THAT death?! I feel like there would have been other plot devices that could have been used to get Kristen to FINALLY commit to Josh. Yeah, I do not get it at all. I mean, I was rooting for Sloane and Brandon!

I was also told that Abby Jimenez wrote Sloane's book first, so the death had to happen. I still don't know what I feel about this, but I am looking forward to reading Sloane's book.

That ending, though!

The ending was a bit bittersweet for me. As someone who is still having infertility issues AND happily married, I don’t understand why Kristen had to be pregnant in the end. While the author's note stated that this was not the point, I still wanted Josh and Kristen to be happy WITHOUT kids, just to show that there can be an HEA without having biological kids. I mean, it was the conflict of the book and Josh had already accepted it? Yeah, that surprise pregnancy was not what I wanted the ending to be.

Listening to the audiobook helped

While I have issues with The Friend Zone, I still enjoyed it. I think the audiobook made me like it more, as opposed to just reading it. Erin Malon and Teddy Hamilton are one of the good narrators, so their reading was perfect for me.

I also liked that this book is written in alternating first-person POV because this was a book that needed the hero's POV. Josh's POV, especially his confusion about Kristen's hot/cold attitude, was something I really liked to read and get his perspective.

I know the overall tone of my review sounds negative, it's really not. I loved that infertility was one of the main conflicts here. I love that periods and cramping and real girl issues were discussed here. I also liked that Josh was very supportive during her period issues. Plus, this book was written really well!

I highly recommend reading The Friend Zone even if you think you might be triggered. I credit the rom-com tone of the book for helping me finish this book.

I just had the pleasure of reading a different kind of book, a book where a woman’s health condition is front and center in the plot of the story. Kristen suffers from uterine fibroids and has had a bad time of it. Very long and painful periods, anemia caused by the excessive flow, loss of social life due to the condition, difficulty in sustaining a sexual relation with a boyfriend, and most probably infertility. I had never read a woman condition portrayed in such a compassionate and realistic manner, a condition that is more common than we realize.

Josh moved from South Dakota to California to get away from a nuclear girlfriend he broke up with. He moved to be near his best friend Brandon who is about to marry the love of his life, Sloan. On his arrival day, he has a rear bender and the woman whose car he hit was very snarky and strange. He liked her on the spot. Later they meet again, as best man and maid of honor of their best friends, Brandon and Sloan. The snark, the witty repartee, the joking start immediately, with Kristen scowling and Josh enjoying himself immensely.

Kristen is immediately very off-putting with Josh, but since he has six sisters, he’s an expert managing snarky females so he’s at home managing her. He’s so great at it that they form a friendship and get along extremely well. Kristen recognized in Josh a perfect partner, but she has a boyfriend who’s deployed and arriving soon to move in with her. She’s torn because Josh is so much more compatible with her, he understands her because he observes her so closely as if she’s very important to him. She’s finding she feels for him more than for her actual boyfriend. Her problem: Josh wants kids in a future relation and she has none to offer due to her defective uterus.

Here we have the situation of a woman who feels defective because she doesn’t have healthy uterus. She settles for what she can have instead of what she wants and refuses to see any other alternative. Even though Josh is falling for her, she is extremely obstinate and will not compromise on her position.

There were many funny moments and other heartbreaking ones. Kristen is a very creative prankster and Josh is an exceptional accomplice. Fun times! The author draws you into the life of these characters and you’re delighted and irritated and angered at the many human situations portrayed. I was specially irritated by Kristen’s stubbornness in not having an open mind and frequently wanted to hit her on the head. I felt that the situation was stringed on a little longer than was necessary but maybe that was my impatience to get them to communicate. I felt for Josh who was the perfect boyfriend and didn’t seem to get a chance.

I loved this author’s writing, I found it refreshing and human and loved that she approached a sensitive subject matter with accuracy and sensitivity. I think any woman who has ever had a painful period sympathized and identified with Kristen’s disorder. Great reading!

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. I love friends to lovers romances, and this one sounded right up my alley. I am pleased to say that for the most part, I loved it so much and it did not disappoint! I loved the characters, and kristen and josh had such amazing chemistry. their moments together hooked me in from the very beginning. they were funny & so sweet, and I could feel their connection. If really felt like they found their perfect match, and it warmed my heart.

I felt like this could’ve easily been a 5 star, but two things took back a star for me unfortunately:
- I wasn’t a fan of some of the things that happened at the end of the book, but reading the author note at the end helped me warm me up to them a bit more actually!
- I wish I could’ve gotten more moments of them as just friends in the beginning because I was LOVING that part. I feel like they started their friends with benefits portion of the relationship too soon!

but overall I really enjoyed this way even more than I already predicted I would and i cant wait to read more by the author!

I did not like this book. I did keep reading to find out what happened, though, so it did have that going for it. But I couldn’t get over my dislike for the main characters, Kristen and Josh. Josh repeatedly calls Kristen a “cool girl” because she likes beer and swears. I thought that Gillian Flynn had laid all that ridiculous “cool girl” garbage to rest with Gone Girl, but apparently not. Anyway, Josh was nice and thoughtful, but he was too Stereotypical Man for me. He is ex military, has a gun, loves hunting, and is over protective to the point where he says things to his friend like “why do you let [his fiancee] drive that car?” Um, what? Kristen likes Josh because, unlike her (in my opinion wonderful) boyfriend, he’s “unsophisticated." By which she means he doesn’t like museums. Josh and Kristen also have an obnoxious issue with vegetarians which seems unnecessary and petty. They’re both pretty immature. Then about three quarters through the book something happens that dramatically shifts the tone and it felt like a different book. It was kind of jarring. I did like that Jimenez writes about infertility in a way that felt very realistic (she writes at the end that a friend was her inspiration), and Kristen's concerns made sense. However, Kristen not talking to Josh about her issues didn't make sense to me, and I didn't like where Kristen's story ended up - while Jimenez explains that, too, in the author's note, it felt too perfect. A lot of their conflict would've ended if they'd just had a conversation earlier in the book. This one did not work for me at all.