Rules of the Friend-Zone

Hot Texas Nights #5

by Kat Baxter

You know those stories you hear about the chubby, awkward geeky girl in glasses who’s stupidly and secretly in love with her hot jock of a best friend? Yeah, that’s my life. I am a walking cliché of unrequited love.

When a freak Texas snow storm hits, we’re forced to cuddle and share body heat to stay warm. There are some things you just can’t hide when you’re pressed skin-to-skin. Now I have to figure out if we’re truly just friends or if maybe he’s been in love with me too.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance, New Adult

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Kat Baxter writes fast-paced, sweet & STEAMY romantic comedies. Readers have dubbed her “The Queen of Adorkable.” and her books “laugh-out-loud funny,” and “hot enough to melt your kindle.” She lives in Texas with her family and a menagerie of animals. Kat is the pseudonym for a bestselling historical romance author.

Connect with Kat online.

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Reviews

[Tetyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Дуже мило і гаряче, але мало

[Анастасія ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я дуже двояко відношусь до тропу кращі друзі, але тут вона була дуже короткою, і немає таких дратуючий моментів, як це буває в книжках на 500 сторінок.

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Estoy enamorado de ti, Piper. No quiero tener una aventura contigo porque una aventura tiene fecha de vencimiento. Quiero tenerte para siempre'. Tomo sus mejillas, luego deslizo mis manos en su cabello, asegurándome de que me mire a los ojos, cuando digo: 'Quiero ser tu para siempre'.





•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers

•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen





Rules of the Friend-Zone de Kat Baxter


Argumento:

¿Sabes esas historias que oyes sobre la chica gordita, torpe y con gafas que está estúpida y secretamente enamorada de su mejor amigo, el deportista? Sí, esa es mi vida. Soy un cliché andante del amor no correspondido.

Cuando llega una extraña tormenta de nieve en Texas, nos vemos obligados a acurrucarnos y compartir el calor corporal para mantenernos calientes.

Hay algunas cosas que no puedes ocultar cuando estás presionado piel con piel.

Ahora tengo que averiguar si realmente somos solo amigos o si tal vez él también ha estado enamorado de mí.





Mí humilde opinión:

Una dulce y sexy historia de amigos a amantes!

La verdad lamenté que fuera tan corto porque la historia de amistad de Dylan y Piper era muy linda y genuina, lo notaba en sus diálogos y acciones, podía sentir lo profundamente conectados que estaban y eso me ayudó a creer que estaban enamorados. Por lo que cuando ambos pasan la línea de la amistad, no lo encontré apresurado porque esto ya se estaba cociendo desde años. Me encantó lo nerds que eran y que se aceptaban y querían cómo eran.

Me encantó el epilogo de tres meses, no podía ser más adorable.

No hay dramas aquí, todo son buenas sensaciones. Pasé un buen momento con esta pareja, me gustó su amistad y amor, los detalles románticos que son los mejores cuando hay nieve para calentar las cosas, la química era perfecta!

Me dejaron queriendo más!

[ya.vl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чого так мало😭😭😭

[Grecia Robles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Está muy cortito pero está lindo.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

хотілось щоб їх було трішки більше 🤭

[Jennifer Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the Friend Zone!

I just adored Dylan and Piper. I remember getting glimpses of them in her brothers story and was anxiously waiting her story. Piper is the nerdy girl with the knee high socks and cat eye glasses. Dylan is her best friend who she thinks is way out of her league. Leave it up to a fluke Texas blizzard to snow then in and give them time to discover they are both in love with each other.

[Karla✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cortito, pero bonito 🤭♥️

[Granger McGringot · Rating 4 out of 5]

No virgin
Dual PoV, 1st person
BFF since college turned lovers
No cheating
No drama/angst
Safe read, HEA, epilogue
Overall score: 3.4 friend to lovers stars

[Lyrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous friends-to-lovers romance! Both have liked each other for a while but didn't want to ruin their friendship. FMC and MMC are stuck together due to a snowstorm. The heat goes out so, of course, they need to share a bed to stay warm. That's when they take their relationship to the next level. Piper, the FMC, does have a small freak out the next morning, but Dylan, the MMC, recognizes what's happening and puts all her fears to rest. Low drama, high sweetness, and some spice is exactly what I need in a novella.

[Viri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Estuvo muy cortito pero cumple su objetivo... me entretuvo.

Aunque igual no les creí tanto la amistad jiji

[Daria Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so so sweet

[Kate Russo ❦ (Rina Kent’s Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh this was fucking adorable 🤭🤭 also the nickname socks is so fucking adorable AND HOW HE PROPOSED OMG

[wlkr16 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Непогана мила новела, єдиний мінус - коротка🥺💔

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends Forever... and More? . . .

Piper has been best friends with Dylan Waite since she became his tutor in college. Now that she has graduated, she will be working for her brother 3 hours away from here. Her heart is breaking at leaving Dylan. Actually both of them have been having stronger feelings about each other and moved way past friendship. But neither said anything for fear of messing up what they already have as friends.

Piper came over to Dylan’s house and ordered groceries since he never stocks tons of food. There was snow predicted, a rarity actually, but as soon as he put the groceries away, the snow began. So when they get snowed in and the house is freezing cold, they need to cuddle for warmth. Touching like this was almost more than either could resist. Can they remind each other of the rules? Or are they both ready to move forward and acknowledge the love that somehow sneaked up on them?

This was an adorable story where deep friendship meant so much to them. Rather than fear that love would damage a friendship, I totally know that friendship makes a strong foundation for the love that follows. Will they take the chance and tell each other what they feel? Grab your copy and see where their friendship might lead them.

[hottie men · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 STARS. This story is about Piper and Dylan. Piper and Dylan have been best friends since college and are in love with each other or should I say Dylan is in love with her? They spend the night together due to a snowstorm heading there way and their temptations are getting them angsty. No more spoilers.

SMUT: AHHHHH THE SPOONING TROPE. 3/5

[Carlyn Zanidean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh swoon.... I absolutely love best friend to lovers books and I could not get enough of these two. This book was funny, sweet, romantic, and steamy all together.
This was a short read that I guarantee every reader will fall in love and love this book hard.

[riena. · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my this is so freaking cute!! they're best friends but they're actually in love with each other for years! so sweet and swoony, and the epilogue??? ooh i love it! a quick read and i was having a so much fun!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 estrellas
La verdad es que para ser tan cortito no esperaba que me gustara tanto. Es una lectura súper dulce, predecible y sexy.
Quiero leer algo más de la autora pronto.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dylan and Piper have been besties since college but when they get trapped during a freak snow storm in Austin TX (yes you read that right!!) things heat up.

A sexy and hot short story that’s as sweet as it is steamy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Geeky Girl Review Cafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hehe Socks

I am a huge fan of friends to lovers romances and this one was exactly what I needed tonight.

A geeky FMC, a hunky MMC with a inner geek, a snowstorm and all the adorable knee-high socks. Seriously swoony.

This books is a shorty and does end at 75%

[Fanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rules Of The Friend Zone es breve pero muy adorable. Me gusto.

2 Estrellas!

[A-reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reviews always contain spoilers, I write them so I can remember the story.

Best friends Piper and Dylan get trapped in his bungalow when a freak snowstorm hits Texas. To stay warm they have to cuddle but when Dylan won’t spoon her completely she tells him she will sleep on top of him to which he says no. Thinking it’s cause she’s a curvy girl she is hurt until he lays on her letting her feel his massive hard on. Clothes quickly come off and they are having their first time together. The next morning she’s freaked out this will ruin their friendship until Dylan confesses to loving her for years. She doesn’t believe him, how could a gorgeous ripped jock love a nerdy curvy girl like her. He shows her the drawings of her he has kept hidden that show how he sees her as a smart, sexy, beautiful, strong woman. Epilogue three months later with a cute proposal and more I love yous.
Loved how he was always so turned on by her cute knee socks. Friends to lovers is a least favorite troupe because one or both are usually dating and/or sleeping with others until the realize they have feelings for each other. But this book does it well and it’s believable.

[Lynn Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper and Dylan have been best friends since she was his tutor in college and now she has just finished college and will be moving 3 hours away. They have unspoken rules or boundaries to their friendship that include no inappropriate touching or kissing. Lately, however, Dylan has been fantasizing about being with Piper and she has been having sexy thoughts about him. When they are snowed in by a freak Texas blizzard will they still follow their rules or will cuddling in the cold house lead to a new relationship between them?

I enjoyed this cute short story where both Piper and Dylan started to have feelings for each other beyond friendship. However, they didn’t want things to become awkward between them and ruin their friendship. It was fun to read both of their thoughts and the epilogue was a perfect ending for their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[EstelaReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starring Dylan and Piper

Tropes: Best friend, college friends, unrequited love.

First of all, holy WOW!! This story starts with full on steam right outta the gate. I means, oh yessss, Dylan. Then you get to the heart of the book and I’m a sobbing, ugly cry AF of a blubbering mess!! Dylan and Piper just absolutely gave me all the wonderful feels!! I love characters with established history. I think it makes their coming together so much sweeter… and these two just kept a silly grin on my face page after page!! Loved, loved, Looooooooved it!! (Best epilogue… EVER!!)

Another winner from the fabulous Kat Baxter!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.

My Star Rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were freaken amazeballs. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will definitely be reading this story over and over and over again!!

[See Julia Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟Review🌟

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🤗 What I liked: I loved the way they both broke the “rules” and even though this is an instalove book the pace worked nicely
😐 What I didn’t like: I can’t think of anything.
📖 Fav Chapter: the first chapter. 😏
☕️ Fav Character: I loved the male lead Dylan.
💟Sweet scale: 5/5
🌶Spicy scale: 4/5
🛏Tropes: friends to lovers, snowed in trope
⚠️Trigger Warnings: none

🎉Releasing: OUT NOW
🛒Buy it here: https://tinyurl.com/eyf89zzp

You know those stories you hear about the chubby, awkward geeky girl in glasses who’s stupidly and secretly in love with her hot jock of a best friend? Yeah, that’s my life. I am a walking cliche of unrequited love.
When a freak Texas snow storm hits, we’re forced to cuddle and share body heat to stay warm. There are some things you just can’t hide when you’re pressed skin-to-skin. Now I have to figure out if we’re truly just friends or if maybe he’s been in love with me too.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“RULE #1: Do not have sexy dreams about your best friend.”

Piper is the nerdy, cat eye glasses, skirt with knee length socks wearing kind of girl.
She and Dylan have friends for a few years now. Ever since her first year of college where she tutored him.

“I should just give you a key,” I murmur. Not that I want her letting herself in while I’m fucking her in my dreams, because that would be all kinds of awkward.”

Dylan is hot. He used to play football in college and the years have done nothing but made him hotter.
He has been in love with Piper, pretty much since the beginning of their friendship.

This is a fast, steamy and quick best Friends to lovers kind of romance.
I loved Piper and Dylan. Loved their friendship and loved the way they took the leap into something more.

The only thing I’ve to point to this book is the fact that it’d benefit from proof reading.

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Piper and Dylan as friends, lovers, and everything in between. These two characters were awesome to read about and I loved the story that Kat gave them! I’m always a sucker for a good friends to lovers romance and this is at the top of my list now!!

Piper and Dylan have been best friends for years. An unlikely duo since she’s nerdy and he was a jock, but they find they have so much in common. Piper has been in love with Dylan for years as well but never wanted to rock their friendship. When they get snowed in, it gets harder to conceal her feelings. Wait until you read about how Dylan feels about her. I think I loved his POV even more than Piper’s. I definitely recommend reading this short, steamy, and oh so beautiful best friend romance.

I received an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[꧁ᙏᗣᙃⱿꙆᗣ꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Texas Nights Series :
✅ 1. Knocking Up His Best Friend (2019) - 3.5 🍪 delicious cookie
-ALLY and COOPER - read 19.07.2025r.
✅ 2. Fakesgiving (2020) - 3.6 ⭐
-KAITLYN and JACSON - read 20.07.2025r.
✅ 3. Billionaire on the Beach (2021) -4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-CALLIOPE and RHETT - read 20.07.2025r.
✅ 4. Merry Christmas (2021) - 4 ⭐
-MAGGIE and BROOKS - read September 19, 2023
[...]
-'Starting with hate is better than indifference,' says Jackson.
I raise my eyebrows at him.
-“I just want to say that hate is a strong emotion. And this cliché exists for a reason – there is a very thin line between love and hate.”
✅ 5. Rules of the Friend-Zone (2021) - 3.7 ❄️ Winter Snowflakes
-PIPPER and DYLAN - read 20.07.2025r.
❌ 6. Short-Term Shag (2022)
❌ 7. Built to Last (2023)

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Texas-Nigh...

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth installment of Kat Baxter's Hot Texas Nights series, Rules of the Friend-Zone, is a super steamy and swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers short romance. Dylan and Piper have been best friends for years, since she tutored him when she was a freshman and he a junior in college. But when they get snowed in during a freak snowfall in Austin during their post-Christmas time together, it becomes difficult for both of them to continue fighting their respective feelings for one another. This is another fabulous fast-paced short romance by the pen of Kat Baxter, and this steamy read is a must-have for your holiday collection!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.