The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez | book review
What happens when a witty, no-nonsense woman with a secret crosses paths with a charming firefighter who dreams of a big family? That’s the story “The Friend Zone” sets out to tell — a romance that blends laugh-out-loud banter with emotional depth and real-life challenges.
Originally published in 2019, this debut novel by Minnesota author Abby Jimenez became the kickoff to her popular “The Friend Zone” series and was even nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in both Romance and Debut Novel categories.
I first read the book in 2022, but picked it up again in February 2025, this time for my book club. Since we’re all based in Minneapolis and the surrounding area, it felt only right to read something by a local author — and revisit a story that had once left a warm (if slightly fuzzy) impression.
Summary
Kristen Petersen has a problem—she’s met her perfect match but can’t pursue the sparks. Josh Copeland, a charming and kind-hearted firefighter, desires a large family in the future. However, Kristen is grappling with a medical condition affecting her ability to have children. Planning to have a hysterectomy and coming to terms with never having her own children, she faces the difficult decision of whether to pursue a romantic relationship with Josh, knowing that her condition may prevent him from realizing his dreams.
THIS BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Characters
Kristen Petersen
Meeting Kristen at the beginning of “The Friend Zone,” she is a strong, independent, no-bullshit woman with her own business. Her boyfriend is in the Marines and stationed abroad.
Kristen is struggling with her period—to the point that her menstruation lasts around three weeks. Kids were always her dream, but she is coming to terms with the situation.
Her coping mechanism is humor and sarcasm, especially when things get emotionally tough. She often puts others first and doesn’t ask for help—one of the reasons why she comes across as strong. But her independence is both a strength and a barrier. She doesn’t reach out even when she really needs it—like when she hits her personal low during her three-week period.
Knowing that her best friend Sloan will try to talk her out of it, she tells no one that she is planning (or has scheduled) a hysterectomy. I kind of understand that she doesn’t want to deal with outside pressure—but it’s freaking hard to go through something like that alone. In my opinion, her best friend should ask once if she’s sure and then be on her side—it’s Kristen’s decision. But nobody asked me.
If I remember correctly, she seems to have some issues with her mom because she went against her wishes—her mother wanted her to become a lawyer.
Sloan always suspects that Kristen and her boyfriend are only together because Kristen settled. And she’s right—Kristen knows that her current boyfriend doesn’t want to have kids. On one hand, that plays into her situation, but on the other hand, it creates emotional tension.
She also faces a constant inner conflict between what she really wants (a family, emotional closeness) and what she tells herself she’s okay with.
By always putting others first, she tends to make decisions based on what she thinks will protect them—even if it comes at a personal cost (e.g., not telling Sloan about the procedure or not telling Josh about her condition at all).
One of my biggest issues with her character development is that it ends up feeling a bit false, as if her emotional arc is undermined. Why does she end up naturally pregnant at the end of the story? Was her journey toward acceptance truly meaningful, or was it just a narrative setup for the twist ending?
Josh Copeland
Josh Copeland is a charismatic firefighter — and honestly, who doesn’t like a firefighter as a hero?
From the moment he meets Kristen Petersen, you can feel the chemistry between the two. Their initial encounter, sparked by a minor car accident, sets the stage for a relationship filled with witty banter and genuine connection. Josh’s ability to match Kristen’s sarcasm and humor highlights his quick wit and adaptability, making their interactions both entertaining and heartfelt.
He understands Kristen in a way not every guy would — probably because he grew up with several sisters. When he notices that her cramps and period last longer than “normal,” he senses that something’s not right and wants to support her.
However, Josh’s character isn’t without flaws. At times, he tends to elevate Kristen by subtly diminishing other women (why does the author feel the need to write that?!). He refers to her as a kind of “unicorn” among women because of her straightforwardness and lack of drama. No woman needs to hear, “You’re not like other women,” in my opinion. That’s — at least for me — off-putting.
Josh has a deep desire for a big family, which makes sense, given that he grew up in a tight-knit household with lots of siblings. This desire adds layers to his relationship with Kristen and highlights the complexity of love and compromise.
And again: why is the topic of adoption never really on the table, but instead treated like an inconvenient last resort?
In conclusion, Josh Copeland is a multifaceted character — someone who embodies both the ideal romantic partner and very human imperfections. While he’s super relatable at the beginning (I definitely felt that!), he might feel a bit off as the story progresses.
THIS BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Romance Elements
Let’s talk about the romance element in “The Friend Zone“. It definitely leans into the slow burn territory — with plenty of teasing, tension, and those little moments that make your heart flutter. The chemistry between Kristen and Josh? Absolutely there. From witty banter to heartfelt glances, you could feel the connection building page by page. Their relationship felt playful, emotional, and at times incredibly raw. While the emotional depth was mostly believable, some plot twists (hello, surprise pregnancy!) did take away from what could’ve been an even stronger, more grounded love story. Still, if you enjoy romance with spark and soul, there’s a lot to love here.
Spice Levels
Let’s be honest — if you’re picking up “The Friend Zone” hoping for lots of steam, you might want to manage your expectations. On the spice-scale, I’d give it a 2 out of 5. There’s definitely tension and chemistry, and the build-up is great, but the actual spicy scenes are more on the fade-to-black or mildly descriptive side. It’s sensual rather than explicit, and honestly, that fits the tone and emotional journey of the book pretty well. The romance feels authentic and character-driven, not just there for the heat. So if you’re here for emotional connection with just a touch of spice — this one delivers.
Writing Style
Abby Jimenez has a super accessible and easy-to-read tone — even if English isn’t your first language, you’ll likely fly through this book without any trouble. The style is a mix of humorous, heartfelt, and emotionally grounded, especially when it comes to Kristen’s health challenges. The dialogue feels natural and sharp, and there’s a great balance between lighthearted banter and deeper, more vulnerable moments. The pacing flows really well — no major slow parts, no chapters you want to skip. It’s one of those books where the writing pulls you along effortlessly, with just the right dose of emotion, wit, and warmth.
THIS BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Tropes & Themes
“The Friend Zone” brings together a handful of familiar romance tropes in a heartfelt and engaging way. At its core, it’s a friends-to-lovers story, with plenty of slow burn tension and a sprinkle of “he falls first” energy — a combo that works especially well here. The story also weaves in deeper themes like fertility struggles, chronic pain, and the emotional weight of difficult life decisions and the death of a loved ones, making it more than just a lighthearted romcom.
About the Author
Abby Jimenez is not only a successful author but also a talented baker and entrepreneur. Based in Minnesota, she runs her own bakery called “Nadia Cakes”, with locations in both Minnesota and California — you might even recognize it from TV baking shows. “The Friend Zone” was her debut novel. She went on to publish more beloved stories in the same universe, including “The Happy Ever After Playlist” (2020) and “Life’s Too Short” (2021), both part of the The Friend Zone series.
THIS BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Final thoughts
When I first read The Friend Zone, I actually liked it — it was an enjoyable read. Picking it up a second time for our book club and this review, I still felt okay about it, but I started noticing more things that didn’t sit quite right with me. Talking about it in depth and revisiting the details honestly made my opinion drop even further.
I appreciated that the book addressed topics like periods and infertility, which are rarely tackled in contemporary romance — that definitely stood out in a positive way. It also got praise in our book club for its authentic portrayal of friendship, love, and life’s emotional challenges. On a lighter note, we even discussed whether a firefighter would realistically ride a motorcycle without protective gear (jury’s still out on that one).
That said, the story didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. When we chose it for book club, I remembered having read it before — but couldn’t recall the plot at all. Even after rereading it, I struggled to hold on to details. By the time we met for discussion three weeks later, I had already forgotten half of it.
One thing that really started to bother me was Kristen’s indecisiveness. I wanted to shake her and say: Just talk to Josh! Let him decide for himself whether he’s okay with your situation. She was likable at first, but over time I got more and more annoyed by her emotional push-and-pull.
Another big topic in our discussion was the lack of real exploration around adoption. Why is it so often portrayed in fiction as a last resort instead of a valid, equal option? And why does it feel like every single character in this book places such heavy importance on having biological children? That emphasis felt outdated and left a weird aftertaste — especially considering that Jimenez seemed to want to write a strong, feminist main character. The way things were resolved at the end kind of took away from that intention.
So yes, I did like this book — but the more I thought and talked about it, the more critical I became. It’s one of those reads that starts off strong, but doesn’t quite hold up under closer inspection.
Have you read The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez? What are your thoughts? Share it in the comments!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Friend Zone
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: The Friend Zone #1
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: 06/11/2019
ISBN-13: 9781538715604
