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amiraonthewa11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
cady_sass's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual harassment, Blood, Car accident, and Chronic illness
bookbuyingwithkatie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Car accident, and Medical content
fxygchn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Infertility, and Car accident
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
thequeengeek's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The end of the book had a real turn in tone and I actually didn't mind it. It worked well for the story. I knew what was eventually going to happen because my book club is reading the sequel (why I read tis one, actually), and so I had read that book blurb which spoiled this book (*shakes fist in air). So maybe I was primed not to be surprised, but I thought the depiction of how friendship and romantic love would work in that situation were very realistic and I enjoyed reading it.
It's weird that I liked a book so much and the review is mostly critique, but I went into this one primed to be mad because of other reviews I read. I can see why people are upset at the very end, but it's a romance novel, ya'll. The HEA is not a surprise.
Overall, 3.5 stars. I read most of it in one sitting, the characters are fun, the pining was satisfying, and it was a touch steamy but not hide under the covers STEAMY. I'm not mad I have to read the second one next.
Graphic: Infertility, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
bethjaynne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Kristen meets the perfect man, but there’s one problem—he wants a huge family, and she cannot have children.
This book had SO much potential—I thought the premise and the chronic illness/infertility representation was excellent and so important. But unfortunately, the book itself didn’t fully land for me—I was really frustrated with a number of plot points (which I can’t really name because of spoilers). I also really hate the “she’s not like other girls, she’s a cool girl” trope (which is super sexist) and didn’t love that this was a big part of the MMC’s inner monologue in the first half of the book.
I do think that part of my issue with The Friend Zone may have also been that I’m not a big fan of either love triangle or miscommunication/lack of communication tropes, and this novel had both in spades. If you enjoy either, you might have a better time with this one!
All of the above said, I liked the characters Jimenez created, there was a lot of great emotion (and some truly heartbreaking moments) and I really am looking forward to continuing the series (I’ve heard great things about the second and third books!)
Recommended if you like: rom-coms with a lot of emotional weight; he-falls-first + pining; love triangle vibes
CW: Infertility/chronic illness; grief/death; injury/medical emergency
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Death, Grief, and Infertility
carmenflorea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Chronic illness
cliterature's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infertility and Medical content
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Death, and Injury/Injury detail