The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho was a good read. It had interesting characters development and plot points.

i'm so sorry. i tried, but i couldn't get through this. the plot was all over the place and the fact that it went back and forth between the past and the future didn't help at all. hard to grasp the story and i'm not patient enough for this kind of narrative.

the audiobook narrator was okay, tho. too bad i couldn't vibe with the story.

This book was a little more intense than what I thought I was getting initially. The revenge set up and the life of the male lead was just a little too depressing for what it was, and I couldn't really get on board with the female lead either. It just did not work for me, and the cover and title felt misleading for the story within. I'm also not sure the audio narrator was getting the accents right. the Malaysian sounded off and it was distracting for me.

This was a wild ride! I was surprised by the intensity of the storyline given the lightness of the cover design and the title. Personally, I would classify this as more of a drama with a dash of romance in the same vein as Crazy Rich Asians or a K-drama. I enjoyed the setting, the writing, and the complexity of the storylines. I wasn’t prepared for how tense I was reading about the family drama and politics! Ultimately, I think this book found a very interesting balance of romance and other themes, but it would have benefitted greatly from vastly different marketing than what it was given.

I liked the dual timeline in this one, it really added a good element to it. I’m also a sucker for second chance romance so I, of course, enjoyed this one. Though not my list of favorites I’d recommend it to a friends. To be honest, the whole vengeance thing from the main male character felt like a bit much but otherwise it was good.

I just finished reading “The Friend Zone Experiment” by Zen Cho, and I am absolutely in love with this book! From the very first page, I was hooked by the witty dialogue and the charming characters.

The story centers around two best friends who decide to conduct an experiment to see if they can transition from the friend zone to something more. What ensues is a delightful mix of humor, awkward moments, and heartfelt confessions. Cho’s writing is so engaging and relatable that I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing all the ups and downs of their journey.

One of the things I adored about this book is how it explores the complexities of friendship and love. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their banter is both hilarious and endearing. It’s not just a romantic comedy; it’s a story about understanding oneself and the people we care about.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear or two, “The Friend Zone Experiment” is a must-read. Zen Cho has crafted a beautiful, heartwarming tale that reminds us all of the magic that can happen when we take a chance on love. Highly recommend!

TBH I was lost for most of this book. I almost DNF many times, but I ending up pushing through. I'm lot at the title, because there was no "experiment" at all, or it least it did not feel that way to me. This is one of those books, that I admit I thought was cute because of the cover and just didn't do it for me.

I just finished the Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho and here are my thoughts.


When Renee’s father wants to retire but her brothers are still not up to the task of taking over so her dad wants Renee in the running. Trouble starts when she runs into an old love and he is trying to solve a mystery surrounding a company but it's the same company Renee’s fathers business is bidding for a contract with…

The narration was wonderful. I love melodic voices and this was perfect.

Renee is rich and lovely but being estranged from her family and in a country that isn’t her native home, she is lonely and her heart is fairly closed off after a man she loved, Ket, stopped talking to her right when she thought they were going to get together and she never quite got over it.

Ket left her out of family obligation but he never told her the truth and 10 years on, he never really got over her either. It was a wonderful second chance romance story.

I loved the plot, it wasn’t just a fluffy romance, there is a really interesting mystery weaved in it too. It’s a secondary plot but it gives you context of why Ket is the way he is. He had to give up on his dreams and he also had to leave his home because of the secret his family is hiding. They are in danger and he isn’t willing to put anyone in danger.

It was a really great book. One of the best ones I have listened to in ages. A romance with some real depth… CHEFS KISS!!

If you like a little mystery in your romance, give this one a go.

4.5 stars

Thank you to @macmillanaudio and @netgalley for my gifted copy. OUT NOWW!!!

#alc #friendzoneexperiment #zencho #romance #romancereader #romanceread #audiobook #audiobooklover #bookloversofig #bookloversofinstagram #readergram #igbooks #netgalley

Crazy rich Asian gone wrong

The Friend Zone Experiment 🎧
Written by: Zen Cho
Narrated by: Rebecca Yeo
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Downloaded from: NetGalley

My Review
⭐️

The story starts with Renee Goh getting dumped by her boyfriend because of her focus on her company. Her rivalry against her siblings causes drama that interfere with who her father will select to be CEO of his company. To add to all that, she bumps into her first love, Yap Ket Siong. Ket Siong has something against Renee’s father and this causes conflict in the two being together.

The pace of this was a little too slow for me. This is the first time I listened to an audiobook at 1.25x. There were lot of details here that I didn’t feel were necessary, and the scenes that I would have liked to be more detailed, weren’t. For instance, the intimate scenes could have had some redemption for the book, but they lacked depth and were not so steamy.

I didn’t connect with the characters. Renee came across as ditzy and superficial. This book seemed like it was going for a crazy rich Asian theme, but didn’t quite do it for me. I found myself mostly bored or uninterested in the storyline. I gave this a 1 star because I did finish listening to the audiobook and the synopsis did have potential. If I were reading the physical copy or e-book, this would have been a DNF for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a copy of this ALC.

#AugustReads #August 2024 #crazyrichasians #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #audiobook #TheFriendZoneExperiment

This book reminds me a lot of Crazy Rich Asians in the sense that it is set in a world of South East Asians with wealth, power, and access to things that normal people do not. The main male character does not come from the world of privilege, so I see how the author is trying to balance it out. However, it requires a lot of suspense of disbelief. The storyline is ok at best because it was anti-climatic. As a South East Asian ex-pat living it London, I like the book overall, but feel the story itself might not be very interesting for people not interested in London or South East Asian culture.

This was an okay book in my opinion. Nothing super overwhelmingly exciting. I wouldn't deter anyone from reading it. But I know I'll forget I read it in 2 months.

A thought-provoking, K-drama-esque romance that was everything I imagined it would be and more!

Delving into the complex (and slightly dysfunctional) bonds of family, class, corruption and ethics, Zen Cho’s social commentary-infused prose was a masterclass in nuance that had me glued to my seat.

The emotional depth in our main characters was really well executed and the backstory that unwinds between them added a layer of complexity to their second chance romance that I found compelling.

I do think the romance aspect does occasionally take a back seat to some of the more important issue (like corruption, unethical business practices and family struggles) which is perfect if you love your romances to have a little depth.

Overall, an engaging contemporary romance with a cast of flawed but compelling characters that fans of Crazy Rich Asians definitely want to consider checking out!

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my review!

I enjoyed this read from Cho. I'm not usually a romance reader, but I have enjoyed all of the books by Cho that I have read. That said, to me the romance here was the B-plot. There was very little spice, romantic interactions, and conflict. What took centrestage was the story of Renee's relationship with her domineering father and grasping brothers as well as Ket Siong's family loss.

The portrayal of family obligation and the fight for acceptance was done well and I liked the depiction of Renee having come into her own yet still having doubts and fighting to see her worth and how it does not need to be connected to her father and his perceptions of her.

Ket Siong's role here was pretty much bodyguard as his story really revolved around Renee and his brother. I really wish more had been done to develop his character path and arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this arc!

What a great book! This one had me blocked right away. Great storyline and great writing! Perfect summer read. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Also my first by this author but will not be my last!

Rebecca Yeo did a fabulous job with the narration for The Friend Zone Experiment. Even though the story was more miss than hit for me, Rebecca Yeo kept me going from start to finish. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, especially during the family meetings, and I was able to distinguish who was who without much thought. I could also listen at 2.5x speed without an issue so that was a plus. Overall, great audiobook.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

This is a perfect read for fans of k-dramas, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, and Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev. Renee Goh is a successful business woman running her own clothing company in London when she is dumped by her boyfriend. Emotionally and physically isolated from her uber wealthy family in Singapore, Renee pours her loneliness into her business. However a chance encounter with her first love, Yap Ket Siong, changes things for Renee. On top of that, Renee's father wants to step down from the Chahaya Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. He wants his two sons and Renee to compete to be the next CEO.

Ket also has problems of his own. He was compelled to leave Renee heart-broken at university years ago when his family lost everything and he was forced to move home. He's living in London again to try and uncover the truth behind the kidnapping and most likely murder of a close family friend.

Narrator Rebecca Yeo shines! Her voice is soothing, rich, and expressive. I'd listen to another audiobook by Yeo any day!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading and loving Black Water Sister, I was excited to see what Cho would do with a romance! As expected, her focus on family drama sparkled in the face the actual romance part. I do think there is valid critique on the plot getting bogged down a bit by these tiny details, and it would've excelled more as a novella.

2.5 rounded up.

Narrator: The narrator chosen was fine. She fit the character I pictured and did her best telling the story. The story wasn't great, so I know she worked with what she was given.

Story: This is not a romance book. The romance is not a focus, the chemistry is not there between the two main characters. They have two hook ups and when they hang out it feels more like old friends hanging out (which they are).

The story started off on a good note, but somewhere along the way just didn't hold. There are other parts of the story that felt like they had more focus other than the "romance the two main characters had". At first I wondered if maybe the narrator wasn't the best fit, but there was a poorly written sex scene that just solidified the story wasn't great.

The characters were interesting and the story had Malaysian representation. This was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

✨The Highlights✨

- Friends to lovers
- Second chance romance
- K-Drama vibes
- Family Dynamics
- Corporate Intrigue

🎧 The narrator did a great job with the pacing, and many of her voices were excellent, especially considering the several accents she had to juggle! While I wasn't a huge fan of the American accent for Renee, the book mentions that her accent is unique, so it might have been intentional. Either way, it didn't detract from my listening experience, and I'd recommend the audio version.

✨The Feels✨

This book was an enjoyable read, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me as a romance. Ket Siong, our male lead, was such a sweetheart, and his character was endearing throughout. I also very much appreciated the strong and likable protagonist, Renee, and her journey navigating corporate and family dynamics, which kept the plot intriguing! The book is well-written and descriptive, but the romance sometimes takes a backseat to other elements, which might leave romance fans wanting more. If you're into soap operas, corporate takeovers, or Korean dramas, this book might be right up your alley!

✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨

Meet Renee Goh, the picture-perfect CEO of a chic women's clothing brand in London, who's just been dumped by her never-seen, pop star boyfriend. As she battles smeared mascara and loneliness, her dad drops a bomb: he wants her to run the family empire back in Singapore. The catch? She'll have to work with her screw-up brothers, who chased her away in the first place. Just when things couldn't get more complicated, she runs into her first love, Ket Siong, who’s tangled up in some risky revenge plot.

A moving and enjoyable dual timeline second chance friends to lovers romance set in London that sees a successful Asian businesswoman living in London working hard to impress her father and win a role as CEO of his Singapore based company while also reconnecting with the first man she fell in love with.

Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao or Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. This was my first book by Zen Cho and I very much look forward to reading more. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!