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slugwifereads's review
DNFed at 27%.
✨she’s not like other girls, she’s worse ✨
I could see where the story was going with a miracle pregnancy angle, and I really disliked that with her infertility storyline. I also couldn’t hear one more time how she was “not like other girls” - it made it feel like it was written by a 17-year old boy. I enjoyed her other series but this one isn’t for me.
✨she’s not like other girls, she’s worse ✨
I could see where the story was going with a miracle pregnancy angle, and I really disliked that with her infertility storyline. I also couldn’t hear one more time how she was “not like other girls” - it made it feel like it was written by a 17-year old boy. I enjoyed her other series but this one isn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Medical trauma, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Misogyny
cutepatzie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's a nice book. And I understand the feelings os female lead but sometimes I think she was just so cruel to ml that I was honestly want to drop of reading this book. And also I wish that the side character the female best friend at the end of the book become like a nothing to the author. Just was like the main point and twist of the whole book, but she was sure just for that purpose and left behind like a garbe that no one want. but from a positive aspect I like that this book is not scary to talk about periods and femeal diseases of the reproductive system what was huge plus to me. Overall I am happy that book finishes with happy ending and shines the light on infertility and how hard it is to be a girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: War, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
bookmarkedbysarah's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
beckybeth's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’ve read two books by this author-the first (part of your world) I wasn’t a fan of, and the second (yours truly) I adored. This read trite and often misogynistic- like the stereotypical male writing a romance. For example:
“She was like a unicorn. A mythical creature. An honest, no-drama woman who didn’t bullshit and drank beer and cussed and didn’t care about what people thought of her. She was a unicorn, tucked in the body of an attractive woman with a great ass.”
And their romance turned my stomach seeing as she’s IN A RELATIONSHIP!! With a deported solider.The justifications for it? Just Gross.
And then the tragedy hit. It was unnecessary and awful and did not need to be done. I guess solely to create a sequel? Absolutely Disgusting.
“She was like a unicorn. A mythical creature. An honest, no-drama woman who didn’t bullshit and drank beer and cussed and didn’t care about what people thought of her. She was a unicorn, tucked in the body of an attractive woman with a great ass.”
And their romance turned my stomach seeing as she’s IN A RELATIONSHIP!! With a deported solider.The justifications for it? Just Gross.
And then the tragedy hit. It was unnecessary and awful and did not need to be done. I guess solely to create a sequel? Absolutely Disgusting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, and Infertility
Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Infidelity
clareasday's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Friend Zone was a charming book written about complex characters, and while I loved them and the writing, the actual plot wasn’t exactly my usual preference for a romance novel.
Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book. I did. But I didn’t realize how much of it would be because of a lack of communication. They keep having the same argument over and over, and never ask the questions they think or share the information that’s informing their choices. It got a little annoying, and while it payed off in the end I don’t think I would reread this book.
The banter hit so hard, the steam was steaming, and the tears were streaming. I love Abby Jimenez’s writing style. I also love all the characters in this book, and seeing them grow and heal together was lovely.
I’d definitely recommend this book, but if you’re sensitive to stories surrounding infertility or emotional cheating you may want to skip it. 4 stars.
Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book. I did. But I didn’t realize how much of it would be because of a lack of communication. They keep having the same argument over and over, and never ask the questions they think or share the information that’s informing their choices. It got a little annoying, and while it payed off in the end I don’t think I would reread this book.
The banter hit so hard, the steam was steaming, and the tears were streaming. I love Abby Jimenez’s writing style. I also love all the characters in this book, and seeing them grow and heal together was lovely.
I’d definitely recommend this book, but if you’re sensitive to stories surrounding infertility or emotional cheating you may want to skip it. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, and Car accident
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Cursing, Medical trauma, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
hannahbrixton's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was intense in a way I didn't see coming. I won't spoiler it but if you have medical trauma, consider that there's quite a lot of detail given in this book about a serious medical event and it was unfortunately quite close to something I experienced... so while I'm not triggered, it was pretty difficult to listen to and emotionally intense.
I loved the connection between Josh and Kristen but I felt like her steadfast refusal to be with him went on a little longer than necessary... even after they endured a traumatic event that should have been eye-opening, she stuck to her guns and it got a little frustrating.
The HEA ending was lovely for them and yet I would have liked to see it handled differently because it felt like the rug was pulled out from under the entire premise... I'm being vague on purpose so as to avoid spoilers here :)
The characters felt real, natural, and genuine and I loved the banter between the MCs. The writing was good, sometimes intense or suspenseful and emotionally evocative, which kept me listening and made it overall an enjoyable listen.
I loved the connection between Josh and Kristen but I felt like her steadfast refusal to be with him went on a little longer than necessary... even after they endured a traumatic event that should have been eye-opening, she stuck to her guns and it got a little frustrating.
The HEA ending was lovely for them and yet I would have liked to see it handled differently because it felt like the rug was pulled out from under the entire premise... I'm being vague on purpose so as to avoid spoilers here :)
The characters felt real, natural, and genuine and I loved the banter between the MCs. The writing was good, sometimes intense or suspenseful and emotionally evocative, which kept me listening and made it overall an enjoyable listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Body shaming, Body horror, Car accident, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Vomit
Minor: Miscarriage, War, Infidelity, Violence, and Blood
megbert581's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I just kept getting annoyed at these characters. So much angst could have been avoided if they just TALKED to each other and stopped being a martyr for no reason. I kept saying UGH while reading this. Woman are so much more than their ability to have children; I wanted to see more of that in this book, but it felt like there was barely any progress in this line of thought throughout the story and was just the same thoughts over and over. I strongly disliked the ending where she gets pregnant. It felt too easy and disregarded a bit of the struggle and growth the main character Kristen had gone through. I have not struggled with infertility, but if I was, I think I would have thrown the book across the room at that ending. Not everything works out like you want it to and I felt it would have been better with just Josh as her “happily ever after” and maybe they adopt. . I also expected more growth from the main character throughout the book, it felt like she only had a smidge of progress and it was in the last few pages. Generally, I love any book Abby Jimenez writes, but this was a miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity
Emotional cheating, heteronormative, stereotypical gender rolesmenrk's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It started off light and ended up with a lot of drama towards the end. I did find the drama unwanted as it seemed unfair to some of the characters somehow.
I preferred the first half because of the banter and chemistry, and I felt those scenes really would shine even without the plot lines about the boyfriend and infertility.
About the boyfriend plot. For me, they did cheat. They may not have acted on it physically (though that was also a grey line) but they cheated on an emotional level.
I preferred the first half because of the banter and chemistry, and I felt those scenes really would shine even without the plot lines about the boyfriend and infertility.
About the boyfriend plot. For me, they did cheat. They may not have acted on it physically (though that was also a grey line) but they cheated on an emotional level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
danielletepool's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Infertility
Minor: Infidelity