Title: The Friend Zone
Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton, Erin Mallon
Published: June 2019, Hachette Audio
Length: 9 hours 32 minutes
Source: Library
Summary:
Kristen Petersen doesn’t
do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in
her life for guys who just don’t get her. She’s also keeping a big
secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it
impossible for her to have children.
Planning her best friend’s
wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best
man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide
streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry.
Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a
big family someday. Kristen knows he’d be better off with someone else,
but as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to keep him at
arm’s length.
The Friend Zone will have you laughing
one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities
of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.
My thoughts: Once again, I am coming to the party way late but better late than never, right? I managed to get my hands on an ALC (advanced listening copy) of Abby’s new book, The Happy Ever After Playlist, and I happened to read a comment on Goodreads from Abby herself that stated you really needed to read The Friend Zone before reading her new book…so here we are. And it’s not that I wasn’t going to read this one…it was on my list but we all know that saying – so many books, so little time!
Guys…this book was amazing! I never laughed so much and then cried so much in one book. And I mean that in the best way…happy tears all around. This book gutted me but it also spoke to me because – and I apologize for once again bringing my own story into this – but I dealt with fertility issues myself. There was no specific reason for it, but it was a devastating blow to me and my husband nevertheless, and so I could so relate to Kristen (and I just happen to be a Kristin myself!) on a number of levels. And then there is Josh…OMG – he is every bit what I see in my husband. Never giving up, never deterred by what is thrown in his path.
I loved that the characters in this book were so complex as are the relationships. And I’m not just talking about the romantic ones. I’m also talking about the friendships and the mother-daughter relationships and the working relationships. Each and every inter-personal dynamic we see has a depth to it and that is what makes you become so much more invested in it. I couldn’t get enough of what was going on, not only with Kristen and Josh but with everyone involved.
This is not your typical chick lit fluffy love story and I am so glad I finally made time to pick this one up. This story will stay with me for quite some time and if you by some chance have not read it, I highly encourage you to do so…it is story that inspires hope despite the journey these characters take. And it has made me a fan of Abby Jimenez!
Audio thoughts: This was such a fun audio to listen to and I thought both narrators did an amazing job with their characters. Each narrator really brought out the necessary emotion and their pacing and intonation was spot on.
Great review! This sounds fabulous!