Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

28 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

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

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. 

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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

amateur_bookworm's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.25

Genre: Contemporary romance, fiction 

My summary: Josh is a firefighter and fresh off of a break-up. He relocates from South Dakota to California to work with his best friend, Brandon. Brandon and his girlfriend, Sloan, are getting married soon and Josh finds himself thrown together with Kristen, Sloan’s best friend and her maid of honor, in his best man duties. Kristen has a long-term boyfriend who has been deployed, putting Josh solidly in the friend zone. As Kristen and Josh become friends and circumstances change, the attraction becomes undeniable between them but not without plenty of obstacles in their way of finding a happily ever after together. 

My thoughts: This book felt like such a journey. Sitting here and reflecting on the plot, it seems that the early events of the book happened a lifetime ago. Equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking, it wades into some heavy topics while also weaving together a love story. I enjoyed the witty banter, and I appreciated the realistic life events and the handling of some touchy subjects as main plot points. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Death, Grief, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Alcohol and Panic attacks/disorders

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

sammymilfort's review

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Death, Body horror, Medical content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, War, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

callistabanks's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I was definitely expecting a cute cheesy romcom but this book was a lot more than that. It had me sobbing over so many different things, it was a really beautiful story. I loved all of the characters, this story made ma laugh, and cry and feel all the feels. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Miscarriage, Blood, and Body horror

inkandmuses's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: 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.

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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

sarahflanders's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Car accident, Gore, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, and Infertility