Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

69 reviews

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Infertility, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, and Emotional abuse

sammiejo928's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.25

Really enjoyed this one! I enjoy Abby’s writing and thought this story had a lot of depth to it. Good character development and I enjoyed each of the characters - except the ex that shall not be named. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Infertility

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Car accident

Minor: Blood

100_pages_hr's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

5.0

This is my original review from when I first read the paperpack:

This book started out light and funny and cute. Then it got deep. I couldn't put it down. Then I finished it and it made me moody and sad because lots of it hit way too close to home. Had I known some of the triggers would I have avoided reading it? Maybe. But maybe not. Sometimes we need to read the hard books. Sometimes we need to read the books that make us cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death, Infertility, Medical trauma, Blood, Medical content, and Cursing

netaliv3's review

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Sexual content

mels_reading_log's review

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Once again, Abby Jimenez has written a book that I couldn’t put down. I’m in love with the characters of this book, especially Stuntman Mike, and their lives that are not Hallmark-perfect. As someone who had terrible periods and had a hysterectomy when I was 30, I can feel Kristen’s pain and how hard it is to go through such a thing. But having a partner who loves you unconditionally and can help you get through those insecurities is imperative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Grief, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders

vperr's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident

Moderate: Mental illness

sarahryoung's review

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Infertility, and Car accident

bw1308's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

Ultimate booke boyfriend material right here. Also very relatable and current feminine issues discussed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Death, Grief, Infertility, and Medical content

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.

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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

lolitalamb's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Second read didn't live up to what I'd remembered but still above average for a romance novel

I listened to The Friend Zone for the second time in November 2023. I first listened to the audiobook a few years ago, and I remember generally liking it and finding it more irreverent and sexier than I had anticipated.  My memory gave me semi-high expectations and then this time it fell a tad flat.

Like most romance novels, the protagonist is a young woman named Kristen who is emotionally unavailable in some way. And then there's a guy, in this case, Josh, who's like, really into her and wants more than anything to commit to her fully. Because that's what we fantasize about, right? Emotional girl porn.

Anyway, Josh wants Kristen but it can't happen as there are obstacles ofc. There's a lot of drama because they refuse to communicate with each other. Their utter commitment to NOT communicating is astounding, but this is what drives the plot. I'm a therapist, and I was like, "I need to get these people into my office. I just...need a word with them. We can fix all this mess with only a few conversations."

The above description, though sarcastic, is not really meant to be a criticism. Those are just the elements of the genre. I was still invested enough in the drama to purchase the next book The Happy Ever After Playlist and I am on the waitlists at my library for her other three novels.
 
Main Strengths:

1.  Jimenez writes amusing banter, and gets even better in her next book The Happy Ever After Playlist.
2.  She excels in her ability to write about sex and attraction. We'll just leave it at that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Infertility

Moderate: Cursing