A review by ppalimar
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Friends Zone is a lovely and engaging read, with great storytelling that showcases authentic banter and genuinely heartfelt friendships. Abby Jimenez has a knack for creating characters that feel real and relatable. I particularly appreciated the way she tackled the sensitive topic of infertility, choosing a male lead who embodies support throughout such a challenging journey.

However, I found the on-again, off-again nature of the central relationship to be somewhat repetitive. It felt like there were too many cycles around the same issue—at least two fewer breakups would have made for a tighter narrative without losing any emotional impact. Despite this, there were moments that truly resonated with me; the wedding scene had my eyes getting glassy, which is no surprise since I tend to cry during vow exchanges in real life too!

Overall, while the story shines in many areas, it could have benefited from a bit more restraint in its romantic turmoil.