Review by Scribe After Five
Aug 22I just finished reading The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. Of all her books I’ve read so far, Just for the Summer and Yours Truly are still my top favorites. This one was a cute read, and I absolutely loved the friends-with-benefits trope. That said, Kristen could be a little annoying at times—she gave off pick-me vibes here and there—but Josh balanced their dynamic so well that it kept me engaged.
One thing I appreciated about this book was how it tackled infertility, hormonal imbalances, and the pain and severity that come with them. As someone who doesn’t get regular periods, I was able to relate to parts of Kristen’s struggles, though not to the same extent as hers.
The storyline with Brandon left me feeling sad, but not devastated. To be honest, it felt like his fate was used more as a plot device—a way to create stakes—rather than something that carried real emotional weight. I’m currently reading The Happy Ever After Playlist, which follows Sloan and Brandon’s story, so I’m hoping it does more justice there.
Overall, The Friend Zone was an okay read—cute, light, with moments that stood out but didn’t quite reach the level of my favorites.
Song choice: Linger by The Cranberries
I just finished reading The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. Of all her books I’ve read so far, Just for the Summer and Yours Truly are still my top favorites. This one was a cute read, and I absolutely loved the friends-with-benefits trope. That said, Kristen could be a little annoying at times—she gave off pick-me vibes here and there—but Josh balanced their dynamic so well that it kept me engaged.
One thing I appreciated about this book was how it tackled infertility, hormonal imbalances, and the pain and severity that come with them. As someone who doesn’t get regular periods, I was able to relate to parts of Kristen’s struggles, though not to the same extent as hers.
The storyline with Brandon left me feeling sad, but not devastated. To be honest, it felt like his fate was used more as a plot device—a way to create stakes—rather than something that carried real emotional weight. I’m currently reading The Happy Ever After Playlist, which follows Sloan and Brandon’s story, so I’m hoping it does more justice there.
Overall, The Friend Zone was an okay read—cute, light, with moments that stood out but didn’t quite reach the level of my favorites.
Song choice: Linger by The Cranberries
