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emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first part of this book was a slightly annoying. A ton of “not like other girls” dialogue that got really old really quickly. Plus adding in the emotional affair that was the start of the MCs relationship almost had me DNFing the book.
However, I’m glad I stuck it out. The FMC’s story of self-acceptance was really great. Plus the best friend’s story twist broke my heart. I need to listen to the next audiobook so I can know what happens with her.
However, I’m glad I stuck it out. The FMC’s story of self-acceptance was really great. Plus the best friend’s story twist broke my heart. I need to listen to the next audiobook so I can know what happens with her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the first half felt super misogynistic (major 'not like the other girls‘ energy, made worse by the male character‘s pov).
the second half was much better, albeit really emotional and included a sudden major character death. the infertility storyline could’ve been really good but the ending ruined it entirely. the ending actually made me so angry that I never finished the last 10 minutes of the audiobook.
the second half was much better, albeit really emotional and included a sudden major character death. the infertility storyline could’ve been really good but the ending ruined it entirely. the ending actually made me so angry that I never finished the last 10 minutes of the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Pregnancy
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m very conflicted about this book. No denying that it’s written well. In general, I’m conflicted about Abby Jimenez’s books because they can be a bit more sad and realistic than I usually want in a romance novel, so the books are not bad, I think it’s just my own preferences. Additionally, this book had some main character flaws that were very difficult to see past, for me. For example, the FMC is in a relationship with someone who is deployed when she meets the MMC and develops feelings for him. This is something, growing up military, that I just can’t abide by/see past. Additionally, the MMC has some tendencies and opinions about women that are borderline toxic and misogynistic. And the FMC is frequently described as a “cool girl who isn’t like all other girls” (in that she isn’t “hysterical” and is more logical, can “hang with the guys,” isn’t high maintenance, etc.) which is something I’ve always found off-putting. Finally, there is death of a significant other which is a major anxiety for me, and I wish this book had a trigger warning for that. If these aren’t dealbreakers for you, it’s worth a read, though. The relationships overall are healthy though, and I especially enjoyed the friendship between Kristen and Sloan. The exploration of Kristen’s struggles with OCD was also thoughtfully written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
The FMC struggles with infertility due to uterine fibroids causing heavy, debilitating periods.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this author and the book was good but I was surprised by the smidge of misogyny in it. Just a smidge. But most of her MMC's are what I'd consider feminist and this was was a little bro-ey. It fit a stereotype of a firefighter which I didn't expect. Small things like the "cool girl" stereotype, a love for Terentino films, and "pretty girls are a little bit crazy", and guy friends referring to 'b***hes'. Usually this author would have their MMCs address this behavior and not so. It was minimal but surprising. I guess just know that most of her other books aren't like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity, Car accident, Classism
Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
unlikable, misogynistic protagonists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Misogyny, Car accident
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This relationship is toxic, not aspirational, not romantic, very very unhealthy, and to idealize it feels troubling.
So much of Jimenez's writing is so causally and obtusely misogynistic, that I actually stopped this time to wonder whether this is a pen name for a man. (Especially Kristen's menstrual issues. Only a man would write that the worst part, worse than the excruiating pain, worse than the constant bleeding, is the bloated tummy. A ruined figure = reason for a hysterectomy.)
Her male main, Josh, is possessive, jealous, demanding, completely without compassion (see: every comment about having to help drunk people on his EMT calls -- he signed up to help people for a living, but resents who he has to help! He was happier killing people in the army!), and worst, non-consentual. He does not accept Kristen's nos, because he loves her, okay! that makes it fine. At one point, he actually says he's going to go to her and pick ehr up and kiss her "whether she likes it or not." And this is romance? This is who we are to lust after?
And he keeps saying he likes her BECAUSE SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS. My god! We know this is misogynistic, we have known for a long time, but the author based an entire book around it. She likes Pulp Fiction: cool girl. She has opinions: unheard of in women.
But what makes it all better, what makes him deeply desirable, is that he's not afraid to buy her pads. And he is willing to have sex - not oral, though - when she's bleeding. Like this is rare. Like this is exceptional, and makes up for his treating her like a possession, for not respecting her boundaries, for pushing her into sex when she's already said no.
The story is a little predictable than others, but not well-written enough, and far too problematic, to warrant much more than 2 stars.
So much of Jimenez's writing is so causally and obtusely misogynistic, that I actually stopped this time to wonder whether this is a pen name for a man. (Especially Kristen's menstrual issues. Only a man would write that the worst part, worse than the excruiating pain, worse than the constant bleeding, is the bloated tummy. A ruined figure = reason for a hysterectomy.)
Her male main, Josh, is possessive, jealous, demanding, completely without compassion (see: every comment about having to help drunk people on his EMT calls -- he signed up to help people for a living, but resents who he has to help! He was happier killing people in the army!), and worst, non-consentual. He does not accept Kristen's nos, because he loves her, okay! that makes it fine. At one point, he actually says he's going to go to her and pick ehr up and kiss her "whether she likes it or not." And this is romance? This is who we are to lust after?
And he keeps saying he likes her BECAUSE SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS. My god! We know this is misogynistic, we have known for a long time, but the author based an entire book around it. She likes Pulp Fiction: cool girl. She has opinions: unheard of in women.
But what makes it all better, what makes him deeply desirable, is that he's not afraid to buy her pads. And he is willing to have sex - not oral, though - when she's bleeding. Like this is rare. Like this is exceptional, and makes up for his treating her like a possession, for not respecting her boundaries, for pushing her into sex when she's already said no.
The story is a little predictable than others, but not well-written enough, and far too problematic, to warrant much more than 2 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Car accident
Minor: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident
The regular ol’ misogyny, internalized misogyny, patriarchy and toxic masculinity were TOO MUCH. None of these seem to be teaching moments or ironic. Just bad ideas.
My read of the Part of your World series was nothing like this. Present, maybe, but in a passable way. I devoured those books! This one, though, just no.
My read of the Part of your World series was nothing like this. Present, maybe, but in a passable way. I devoured those books! This one, though, just no.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
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:
Complicated
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, Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism