The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez Series: The Friend Zone #1
Published by Forever on June 11, 2019
Pages: 384
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
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Kristen Petersen 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.
I enjoyed Abby Jimenez’s The Friend Zone immensely. Way to knock a debut novel out of the park.
This is a friends to lovers romance, and I fell madly in love with Kristen and Josh’s friendship. Their food obsession indulgences, fun times with Kristen’s testy Yorkie, drunken karaoke, and shared pop culture references – I wanted it all. Whenever they are together, even the most mundane things are fun.
Kristen fascinated me. She is sharp as a tack and her bluntness is refreshing and hilarious. I admired her moral compass. Even though her tenacity drove me nuts at times, I respected how she lives her life unapologetically. Kristen suffers from chronic pain and I swear my heart ached for her.
Josh takes Kristen’s quirks and moodiness in style, and is always there to support her without an ounce of judgment. He’s charming, protective, and he truly gets her. Plus, he’s a hot firefighter so he has that going for him. There is a constant push and pull dynamic between them because they are clearly romantically compatible – you actually couldn’t find a more perfect pairing. However, there are obstacles in the way, and while Josh desperately wants Kristen to be his girlfriend, she puts the breaks on any emotional attachments at every turn.
My biggest peeve with The Friend Zone is Kristen’s insistence that she knows what’s best for Josh. It is incredibly frustrating. She doesn’t give him credit for knowing his own mind, and trying to force him from her life grows repetitive. Josh is an absolute saint for having the amount of patience he shows.
I might have had difficulties with the ending if it weren’t for the author’s note. It really puts the entire story into perspective. The emotional journey is witty, original, and poignant.
Recommended for fans of:
Snarky heroines
Friends to lovers romances
Hot firefighters
Wedding planning
About Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez is a Food Network champion, motivational speaker, and contemporary romance novelist living in Minnesota. Abby founded Nadia Cakes out of her home kitchen in 2007. The bakery has since gone on to open multiple locations in two states, won numerous Food Network competitions and amassed an international cult following. Abby has since turned her talents to penning novels. She loves a good book, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.
Your first paragraph puts in on the Well, another-to-be-read list. 🙂