A hilarious, steamy debut novel with quite a bit of heart told in alternating perspectives between Kristen Petersen and Josh Copeland. I look forward to Abby Jimenez's next novel.

Really liked the first half but then things got pretty serious and lost the rosy glow. There was lots of repetition saying why they couldn't be together which got a bit redundant. And the ending was just awfully convenient.

This is on the lower side of three for me, but it was ok. Kristen and Josh meet accidentally (literally) when his car bumps hers on the road and she gives him plenty of sass...obviously he's intrigued, and then coincidentally they meet each other minutes later because their best friends are engaged. Kristen is taken, however, and she's also got some major infertility issues that she's sure would put Josh, who wants to have lots of kids, off even if she weren't off limits. Obviously, they fall in love, but there are things to overcome. Plus, the story takes some twists that made it a more nuanced story than I expected from the first pages.

So, I didn't think the writing started out strong and it definitely could have been shorter, but it was solidly ok.

Do you ever have the moment when you read an arc of a book, and just know immediately that you will be buying a physical copy to cherish on your bookshelves forever? I definitely had that moment with this book and only at a few chapters in. When I got an email from Forever about this book, the premise sounded really interesting with a slow-burn romance, and a female lead who had to deal with fertility issues and make a decision that could alter her life forever. The story follows Kristen and Josh, who happen to meet because they are the MoH and Best man for their best friends who are getting married (Sloan and Brandon - whose story isn't even the main one, but their story had me crying on the subway.. completely ripped my heart out and stomped on it). Josh is a firefighter and Kristen runs a small business for dog accessories and stairs. Kristen is also dating someone who is on deployment when they first meet, and Josh ends up helping her with her business to build the mini stairs. Also side note, I loved that Kristen's dog Stuntman Mike knew right away what kind of person Josh was. Kristen kept going on about how the dog didn't like her boyfriend at the time, and I'm like yes! dogs definitely can tell what kind of person a person is ;) Anyways, back to the review, they both find themselves hanging out with one another and just bonding over time. There's a clear attraction between the two, but they both don't act on it because Kristen isn't single. Along with all of this, Kristen has been having really bad periods her whole life, and she learns that her chances of having children are basically non-existent. She is faced with having to make a big decision about her future and what that can mean for her future relationships. I loved the rapport between Josh and Kristen. She has such a laid-back and straight-forward attitude that I just loved. She just says what she means, and Josh, he is just an all-around nice guy. I was rooting so hard for these two, and I just love stories that are built on friendship first. I don't want to say too much and give the book away, but I absolutely loved this book. It's one of those books that I wish I could go back and read for the first time again because that feeling of falling in love with a book is indescribable. This book is Abby's debut and I honestly cannot wait to see what else she writes. I am eagerly awaiting Sloan's story! Definitely going down as one of my favorite reads of 2019!! It's smart, funny, sexy, and absolutely heartbreaking, but soooo worth it. Please pick it up if you have a chance!

5 stars isn’t enough for this laugh out loud, beautifully honest, and sometimes heartbreaking novel. This book consumed me in the best way possible right from the start and I’m confident it will be one of my favorite reads ever. The Friend Zone was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and it was more captivating and moving than I ever could have imagined. It’s hard to believe that this is Abby Jimenez’s debut novel!

I absolutely loved Josh and Kristen! They were both such perfectly imperfect people. Their struggles (individually and together) were so relatable and honest. They had the best witty banter and their playful barbs were so much fun. I loved how they each gave as good as they got. Things start off on the wrong foot for them, but as they spend more time together, that spark they felt ignites and they recognize that their attraction is more than just physical. They truly see the other and that feeling of being known is so powerful. The build up between these two was delicious and their chemistry was off the charts. I felt all the longing and every stolen moment between them. It was all worth the wait though because when things come to a head, they aren’t just hot, they’re nuclear!

Without a doubt, Josh is a shoo-in for my book boyfriend hall of fame. He was everything I love in a hero - loving, considerate, loyal, understanding, funny, protective, intelligent, and an all around good guy. His thoughtfulness and unwavering patience only made him more endearing. Kristen was a fantastically complex heroine. I loved her blunt honesty and take no prisoners sarcasm, even though she mainly used it as armor to protect herself. She was fiercely loyal and cared so deeply and wholly for those that she loved. Her friendship with Sloan was unparalleled and I loved how they complemented each other so well. Yes, Kristen did frustrate me at times with the push and pull with Josh, but given her history and mindset, it made so much sense. One of the things I appreciated most about this book, is that the story was as much a love story between Kristen and Josh, as it was between Kristen and herself.

The author’s sense of humor really shines and there are some truly hilarious moments and dialogue that had me cackling like a mad woman. (I’m looking at you Shawn! LOL ) The humor balanced the poignant and heartwrenching scenes so well and readers will definitely want to have some tissues handy for the last quarter or so of the book. Through the tears though, there is also a wonderful message of hope and unwavering love. I don’t think I will ever be able to adequately express how much I loved this book. It resonated and touched me in a way that few books have. It was like the author opened my chest and held my heart in her hands. I felt every emotion while reading this one. Jimenez tackled infertility in such a compassionate and truthful way. It was gut wrenching and painful, but to those that have had their lives touched in this way or are a part of this club that no one ever wants membership to, it’s also unflinchingly honest. Kristen’s feelings of worthlessness and not being good enough will sadly hit home for many, but that’s what makes this book so compelling. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end as well since it gives greater insight into the story and characters. The epilogue brought everything together so wonderfully and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book, which features one of the beloved secondary characters who is sorely in need of their own happily ever after. Truly an incredible book and one that will stay with me.

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*

My emotions are everywhere and I seriously don't know where to put them.

Starting off with Kristen, who was so unapologetically herself and made me fall madly in love with her through the entirety of the story! Kristen is *the* heroine of al heroines and her and Josh were a romance couple made in heaven! The dialogue, the chemistry, OH THE ANGST! I love how Abby truly embodies that best friend love leading into a relationship. These two weren't two characters forced into a relationship by the author, they just fell in together. They wrote themselves, it seems.

Aside from that and despite this story having such an important and serious topic, this one had be double over laughing at times. The sarcasm, the wit, the banter!! All of the things I have longed for in a romance and felt I never truly got, I got HERE! And the story was just so realistic! The characters, the story, the feelings and emotions. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't cliche, it just was. A story that Abby allowed to play itself out and just became heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once.

Abby has truly made a name for herself in the romance world and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from her. Like seriously. She could write a grocery list ten miles long and I'd champion it all the way to the Times!

One last thing: Where is *my* Josh??

Abby Jimenez delivers an incredible rom-com with her debut novel The Friend Zone! I laughed, I teared up, and most importantly, I didn't want to put it down. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever Romance for granting my wish to read this novel.

When Kristen Petersen first meets Josh Copeland while helping plan her best friend's wedding, sparks instantly fly. He's attractive, attentive and gets a kick out of her biting sarcasm. There's just one problem: Josh is looking to build a relationship with someone he can have kids with and Kristen is set to have a partial hysterectomy after the wedding, making it impossible for her to get pregnant. Understanding how important a future with kids is to Josh, Kristen decides it's best for them to just be friends. However, the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for Kristen to keep Josh in the friend zone.

The chemistry between Kristen and Josh is off the charts. Seriously, I want The Friend Zone to be optioned for a movie so I can see their relationship played out on the big screen. I loved reading about Kristen struggling to keep Josh in the friend zone and Josh fighting to climb out of the friend zone. The push/pull of their relationship was so enjoyable to read.

The writing is well-paced and perfectly balanced. Abby Jimenez takes her time developing the friendship between Kristen and Josh, which makes their first kiss and first time together all the more satisfying. Readers experience so many emotions while reading this novel and it's a testament to Abby Jimenez's talent that readers are able to move through each hilarious, heartwarming and heart-wrenching chapter with ease.

It was so refreshing to see a difficult topic like infertility play such a significant role in a romantic comedy. Abby Jimenez took such care to realistically portray Kristen's health problems and the emotions that go along with those problems. I loved the moments where Kristen talked about her health problems with Sloan because you just knew Sloan's heart was breaking for what Kristen had to go through.

I highly recommend fans of romantic comedies dive into The Friend Zone! Thank you to NetGalley and

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC. I read this book in two sittings. I couldn’t put it down. It was heartbreaking, sad, emotional, so very real. I cried and laughed. It definitely brought out a lot of different emotions in me. I loved it so much.
I cannot wait for next year May, for the next book. This character definitely needs its own book and HEA.

5 bright and shining ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kristen is helping plan her best friend's wedding when she meets Josh, the best man. Not only is he good looking and sweet but he accepts her and her crazy dog as they are. Unfortunately, they can only be friends because Kristen has a fiance in the military.
After Kristen breaks it off with her fiance, she and Josh become involved but Kristen insists they keep it casual because Josh wants a big family and Kristen isn't able to have children.
This book is both funny and heartbreaking. I also loved that it dealt with infertility which is a rare subject in romance books.

DNF at 30%

I'm just going to be really honest here and say that the main character killed it for me. I found her very unlikeable. Her actions and inner commentary were so annoying and completely overrated.

I was interested in the synopsis about a main character struggling with infertility while fighting feelings for someone who wants a big family. However, after reading to about 30%, I can't read anymore. I found Kristen unlikable and Josh was simply okay but nothing special.

I had a fellow blogger friend tell me the key points and ending of the book and I feel like I honestly didn’t miss out on anything. Just this big secret that she could and should have told earlier in the story.

The Friend Zone is a (mostly) fun, engaging, and decently paced read. The characters are interesting and their alternating perspectives transition smoothly. Their central conflict (the heroine's stubbornness over their ability to be together, given her fertility issues) wears on too long. It begins to feel contrived after the male lead finds out about it (she also hides it too long?) and is fine with it. Also: these two meet *for* a wedding and having the groom die is a bit dark for my romance taste -- especially so close to the end of the book. It makes the main couple seem selfish to revel in their love while the heroine's best friend mourns her lost love and, in turn, I felt conflicted as a reader about rooting for them to just forge ahead in their happiness, following such a grave tragedy.

One of the most adorable meet/cutes I've ever read. I really loved this friends to lovers romance. It did get surprisingly heavy towards the end but the author handled it well without losing the main romance.

A really enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance with a lot of heart and depth. Abby Jimenez is one to watch!

It says it's for fans of Christina Lauren, and it's almost right. Almost.

Prior to reading this one, I had just finished my new favourite Christina Lauren novel, so jumping right into The Friend Zone had me expecting humour and saucy times. Sadly this didn't quite get there. In fact, most of it felt just okay.

The chemistry between Josh and Kristen was all right. I would have liked it to be a little bit more light-hearted, but that would take away from the deeper themes of infertility and the sacrifices that are made in relationships when that comes into play. The angle of Kristen's periods and he inability to have children was well done I thought. She's a young woman (24 years old) and every thought she has is reasonable and relatable. As someone who had some pretty rough periods growing up (albeit not even close to her point), I definitely related with her struggle.

Surprisingly, this took a very sad/sombre turn. One I didn't think would have interested me in the story, but had me eager to get home from work so I can finish the last 30 pages. *Spoiler* I do struggle a little bit getting on board with couples getting married after maybe two months and kind of despise it when romance novels do so. But then I think of the Bachelor, which is basically that, and I hate it, but I love to watch it and scoff, so who knows? I do see why they did it, but still.

Where this story lost me was when it started getting repetitive. A hundred and one angry and defeated conversations were started about the same thing and never finished! It became so frustrating when they just kept going back and forth about their relationship and the whole baby thing at the centre of this story. And really 90% of my frustration would have been gone if they had just talked, but alas, this is one of those whether both sides of the love interest keep tight-lipped and drag things on longer than they should.

4/5 stars

I love a girl with confidence and a kick-ass attitude. From the moment I was introduced to Kristen, I knew this was going to be an absolutely fabulous read. Funny, witty, comedic banter is my kryptonite and The Friend Zone is filled to maximum capacity with it. At this point, it would be a quiche to call it un-put-down-able, but it so totally is!

I think it's the juxtaposition of a very decidedly quirky Kristen against the even keel, yet witty Josh, that makes this one of the best reads of 2019 for me.

Trust me, this is going to make the top of every top ten list this summer and it will be well deserved.

When you read a lot of romance novels, you begin to expect a certain formula. But Abby Jimenez is anything BUT formulaic in The Friend Zone. There are, of course, certain must-haves, from the meet-cute to the steamy scenes to the perfect-on-paper ex, but Kristen and Josh's "will they/won't they make it official" dynamic and their twisty, bumpy road toward a happily ever after is far beyond anything you'd typically expect from a book you find in the "romance" section of a bookstore. You will laugh, you will shed quite a few tears...you will want to strangle both Kristen and Josh even though you'll love them, and you will DEFINITELY want to meet Stuntman Mike. This is a romance with heart, with reality, and with a fantastic cast of characters...I can't wait to see what Abby writes next!

I'm amazed by Abby Jimenez's ability to write a romance dealing with the main topic of infertility.

I was pulled into The Friend Zone from the very first chapter. There were some gut-wrenching moments when I couldn't stop myself from spilling tears but also so many moments where the sarcastic humor was freaking awesome.

The first time we meet the main characters Kristen Peterson and Josh Copeland is when they were involved in a fender bender. Their first interaction didn't go that great. Their second one was a little bit better.

Kristen runs her own business. Her company makes products for dogs including ladders to help small dogs climb, she makes cute little shirts too. In regards to her personal life, she's dating a marine Tyler (who's overseas), has a cute little dog (who hates the marine), doesn't have a close relationship with her mother and she's dealing with a medical condition that will end up in infertility.
The moment she meets Josh, she knows she's in trouble. He's handsome, super nice and available as her new carpenter on his days off. She has never cheated and she won't start now. Making Josh believe she has no interest in him is a priority. She will wear unattractive clothes, no makeup, and even rulers to prevent him from getting any ideas.

Josh has recently moved to California to be closer to his best friend Brandon who's getting married soon. He's joining the same firehouse as him but his new status as probie is not a fun one. He's frustrated with some of the calls they get. Some are completely and truly unnecessary. As for his personal life, his last relationship ended on a bad note. He wanted kids and his girlfriend didn't. He let her have everything they had but his credit card balance is still quite high. He needs cash fast to pay his debts and when an offer to be Kristen's new carpenter presents, he has no other choice but to take it. He discovers that he likes Kristen. He likes her sense of humor, her honesty, and her loyalty. He realizes she's not a cheater but he wants her in his life.

Kristen and Josh are both very creative characters. I love both. Kristen was funny, sarcastic and a true friend to Sloan. Yes, I got annoyed at Kristen more than once for pushing Josh away but I understood why she did it.
Josh was perfect. He had my heart. He was understanding and dedicated to Kristen and his best friend Brandon. He fell for Kristen's dog too (which is a bonus in my book).

The last third of The Friend Zone was hard to read. Plenty of sadness. I was devastated for Josh but even though the ending had some bittersweetness to it, the sweet overcame the bitter.

I was excited to see that Abby Jimenez is writing a second book with a secondary character. I'd love to see where she takes her story.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

I adored this story!! It was sweet and emotional and had moments that made me laugh out loud. The banter and the realness of the characters is my favorite part of this story. I completely fell in love with these characters. This was such an adorable story and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by Abby Jimenez before this and had no expectations either way. Happily, I did enjoy her writing style and would gladly read other novels in the future.

Have you ever read and enjoyed a novel in spite of the main (female) character? That's how I felt about The Friend Zone. The lead female character, Kristen, didn't't come across as "don't care what others think, I'm going to keep doing my thing" so much as just obnoxious and rude, but I ended up liking The Friend Zone in spite of her - mainly due to the lead male character, Josh, and the secondary characters. I found the novel to be well written and the dialogue between the characters was amusing at times.

The bad: the book summary was a little inaccurate. Kristen isn't really planning her friend's wedding, she's more a small business owner with medical issues who is peripherally involved in the sphere of her friend's wedding. Also bad, Kristen is not terribly likeable. I didn't empathize with her, she just came across as a shrew. Those criticisms aside, the author's writing style kept me reading and overall enjoying the book.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would! Reading The Friend Zone was such an emotional roller coaster. What started out as a fun Rom Com quickly turned into an angst filled slow burn romance with a heartbreaking plot twist and a triumphant happy ending. I laughed. I cried. I almost threw my Kindle against the wall a few times then I cried and laughed again.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.