Book Review – The Friend Zone

Title: The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone #1)

Author: Abby Jimenez

Publisher: Forever

Publication date: June 11th, 2019

372 pages

4/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

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.

Review

I accidentally read the second book, The Happy Ever After Playlist, before reading The Friend Zone (oops) BUT I’m going to do the reviews in order for continuity’s sake.

The Friend Zone follows Kristen’s story of love. Currently dating a man serving overseas in the Marines, she meets Josh – her best friend Sloan’s fiance’s best friend. He may be everything she’s looking for, but she’s committed to her boyfriend whose tour is ending soon and they will be moving in together. When circumstances bring her closer to Josh, she learns he really wants to have children, which she isn’t able to do. She tries to ignore the growing chemistry with Josh in order to save him, but when her Marine boyfriend re-enlists without talking to her first – she gives in to Josh, still thinking it’s a mistake. Can Kristen let Josh get close when she can’t give him what he wants?

So, I did really enjoy this book. HOWEVER, I had an issue with books where the whole entire dang plot can be resolved through one fairly simple communication. Sure, a lot of the plot of books needs to be interesting, otherwise who would read the book? But I feel there are levels and I was just getting frustrating with Kristen’s refusal to effectively communicate with Josh, and then whining about it. It got a bit tedious by the end, when very similar scenes kept happening without adding much to the plot.

However, like I said I did still really enjoy this book because JOSH WAS WORTH IT. Hot dang Josh is a pinnacle book boyfriend characters and was from the very beginning of the story. And by the END?! Without spoilers, I’ll just say y’all need to read it to see what I’m flailing over. We love a man who can plan and prove his commitment to a lady, that’s all I’ll say.

Come back next time for my review of The Happy Ever After Playlist, starring Kristen’s best friend, Sloan!

Happy reading, folks!