Friendzone to End Zone

A Second Chance for the Rich and Famous #4

by Judy Corry

Dating Coach Rule Number 1: Don't fall for your client, especially if he's your best friend.

Cole
I don’t suck at dating. I suck at getting over the girl who friend-zoned me back in college.
But I have a plan: Let her set me up. Bomb the dates.
Then she can be my dating coach and I can finally show her I’m the one for her and not that jerk boyfriend she’s always crying on my shoulder about.

Arianna
I’ve had the same boyfriend for three years, which practically makes me a relationship expert.
So when my famous best friend asks for my help, I know turning him into boyfriend material will be a piece of cake.
I’ll tell him to get a haircut, maybe open a few doors here and there and the guy will be golden.
I mean, with all those muscles and jaw-dropping good looks, it really should be no problem.
There’s just one thing I didn’t expect: to want him for myself.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Fiction, Ebooks

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2020

About the author

Judy Corry is the USA Today Bestselling Author of YA and Contemporary Romance. She writes romance because she can't get enough of the feeling of falling in love. She's known for writing heart-pounding kisses, endearing characters, and hard-won happily ever afters.

She lives in Southern Utah with the boy who took her to Prom, their four amazing kids, and two dogs. She's addicted to love stories, chai latte's and dark chocolate.

She is represented by Lane Heymont at The Tobias Agency.

Keep updated with Judy and her books here ➜ https://subscribepage.com/judycorry

Find her on Instagram and TikTok: @authorjudycorry

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touchdown!

The friendship that Cole and Arianna shares is golden, but not without its complications. Arianna has a boyfriend and Cole has a secret thing for his best friend. I'm not opposed to a love triangle with a dash of a fake relationship, and maybe that's because that may or may not have been how my husband and I got together years ago. 😬

Corry does a fantastic job of writing likable characters and believable relationships. No emotion is spared and I was swept away in this romantic drama. Cole is an amazing friend and support to Arianna, and I'll never look at pineapple quite the same way. Arianna is slightly naive, which leads to some major eye-opening experiences in both her private and public life, as she is a social media influencer.

The romance is like a wave--subtle and sneaky at first, but then knocked me off my feet, leaving me breathless. Corry writes in a way that skirts the line, flirting with some innuendo, but stays sweet and swoony. I adore this author and can't wait for more!

Content: mild+ romance (mild innuendo, kissing/making out, teen rebellion)

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

well… this book had incredible potential of being one of my favorites, but i guess it doesn’t work like that. i’m one of the most best friends to lovers trope obsessed people you’ll ever meet, and that alongside dating coach? the perfect recipe!

however, i didn’t connect much with the characters. the story felt so bland to me to the point where i considered dnfing at almost 70% because i was completely bored. for a book this short it took me a good while to finish because i was dragging myself…

with that said, it wasn’t a BAD book. there were a few points i enjoyed, but i just know by next week i’ll have forgotten everything about this story.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Ms. Corry is a great author and this was well written.

But I sadly, did not connect with the story. I guess this trope is just a pet-peeve of mine, I mean I like friends-to-lovers when they are friends and naturally fall in love. I'm not a fan where the heroine is in a long-term relationship with one man, and her best friend is a guy who has been secretly in love with her. But love-triangles are really hard for me to get into.

I only read about half of this, I just didn't connect Arianna all that much and didn't really care for her character. Mainly, because of the trope and how she handled Chad and Cole. Even though she has been dating Chad for three years, he's always been second-place (IMO) to Cole. And when he voices his valid concerns, she brushes him off as being insecure. What a horrible way to treat someone you claim to be in love with and want to marry. Its no wonder why he strays. (And come on, you know if the situation was reversed, Arianna would NOT be ok with her boyfriend spending so much time with another woman.) And I admit, I was hoping Cole would meet and fall in love with someone else. Arianna can get a fresh start with someone new. lol

Anyway, I know this trope is very popular, so don't let my review scare you off. It is well written, and had good pacing and all that. It just was a miss for me.

Content Rated PG
Only read about half, so the first half was clean. Mild talk of intimacy - no details, not sure about the second half, but I assume it was clean as well.

Second Chance for the Rich and Famous Series

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 6%. This was a "stuff your kindle" find and the writing isn't for me.

[Rachel Luke Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a Friends to Lovers romance this may be the one for you!

The MMC Cole is such a sweetheart who you just can’t help but cheer for and that you wish Arianna could just see what she has right next to her.

I love that they have been best friends for years and that Cole has just been waiting patiently until he can finally show Arianna everything she means to him.

I love that we got to follow Arianna not only as she sees Cole in a new light but also as she grows and sees her own worth.

This quote is just the best, “Maybe all it took was breaking away from the negative influences in your life to realize that we all were of infinite worth and should never settle for something that made us feel less than.”

If you want a MMC who just uplifts, supports, is patient, kind and caring. Cole is going to be a new favorite.


Physical Intimacy Lvl 3 (Descriptive making out and some innuendo)
Zero Swearing
Dual 1st person pov
Triggers: A character has a history of drug use/alcoholism. A few medical issues take place. Mentions of teen pregnancy and a series of events relating to that in past tense

[𝕸𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖊𝖑 𝕮. · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this book only rated 3.9?!?!
It is so so good! 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chad was the perfect dirt bag boyfriend; the author wrote in his character really well. I also appreciate how he apologized to Arianna in the end.

Great plot, writing, pace, romance scenes, and dual POVs! Finally a romance book where most of the content is between the two main characters and not all about her friends or mom or his random teammates !! There were so many great conversations between Cole and Arianna.

Gosh this story was just good. I love how it was clean, but it still got you so into their romance story; it wasn't boring or flat at all.
Arianna wasn't immature like most female lead characters are, and I totally appreciate that!

I really could go on and on about how good this book was, because it really does outshine these other romance books that are so common and popular on Amazon.com! The scenes were just so good. There was so much depth and I really enjoyed the flashback to their accidental/unplanned kiss thing that happened a while ago but that was weird for her so they shelved it and simply continued to be friends without bringing it up.

Oh, & Cole being so kind, gentle, and cautious about showing his love for Arianna absolutely melted my heart!!!! I would definitely read this book again in a few months!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️🥹

The added back story of Arianna's past problems and sufferings was unexpected and very well written. I wasn't expecting this book to go deep at all, but it did! 😁

I LIVE FOR COLE'S POV CHAPTERS!!!! They were absolutely epic!!! So so so fun to read. He was the perfect gentleman and he loved her so much! 🥹❤️
#TeamCole ❤️🥹🥹🥹❤️🥹❤️🥹

Seriously good romance book!!!!!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super cute novel by this author. Friends to lovers is one storyline that I really enjoy. My only complaint - why would Arianna not see the light sooner? Three years is a long time to date such a jerk. I always have a hard time with characters that choose to live in their circumstances. Clean and sweet. I love how this book has a morsel of the next book for the reader to chew on - the author knows how to keep you reading.

[James Calhoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Star!

Judy Corry writes a very good story, I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it to you. She writes her stories with such feelings, that the reader almost fee!s like a part of the story. This is a good book, you will enjoy reading it.

[Kristina Brownell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Great characters. The pages flew by. I’ll probably binge read the rest in the series.

[Aminata Coote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

I enjoyed this friends to lovers story. It took Arianna a while to realize Cole was perfect for her but I'm glad she did.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so excited for this one! I haven’t even read it yet and I know I’m going to love it!
Update: currently reading ARC and am obsessed with Cole. So good!
82% through reading and that kiss... 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🔥😍😍😍🥰💯🤪🤩

[Judy Corry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun writing Arianna and Cole's story. I hope you love it!

[JK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Judy Corry books so I'm trying to soak up all of the ones I can get my hands on, but this one was so frustrating!
1. As a dyslexic, having 2 main characters with a 4 letter name that start with the same letter (Chad and Cole) is extremely difficult. I kept getting the names mixed up and it really took away my ability to stay in the story.
2. Cole is a simp. It took him 2 years to make a move and even then it wasn't enough to win the girl. So 3 years of pining for a girl before she changes her mind? Totally not masculine, and a complete turn off.
3. This is petty, but a girl who is 5'8" is not "petite." Don't try to steal the one good adjective to describe us shorties over here.
4. A pet peeve of mine is this quote: "I don't want to make him choose between having a family or being with me." A husband and wife (without kids) IS family. Don't cheapen the value of the word by insisting kids are required for family.
5. I absolutely HATE when entertainment (movies or books) have the "bad guy" not want kids. They're always portrayed as self-absorbed, selfish pricks who are too busy in life to care about having kids. Those aren't the only kinds of people who don't want kids. There are good people who love their lives and spouse and do not feel the need to stoop to the pressure of social norms that say we have to reproduce. Not everyone who doesn't want kids is selfish. In fact, I've never once heard anyone give an unselfish reason for *wanting* kids. No one is having kids for the sake of the kid. They're having kids to make themselves feel better about themselves or to fill a void that their spouse isn't able to satisfy. Not healthy in my opinion.

Ok, rant over. This book was just triggering and irritating on so many levels. Probably my least favorite book of Judy Corry's (followed closely by the Vincent/Emerson story before this).

[Sonya Wasden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arianna and Cole are best friends. Cole is a famous tight-end for the Denver Dragons NFL team and he secretly loves Arianna. The problem is that she has a long-time boyfriend. Arianna wants to see Cole happily settled with the right woman so she offers to be his dating coach. The problem is that she begins to see what a wonderful catch he would be for her. Actually, she always believed that but never felt that she was even in his league or would ever have a chance with Cole. Cole, however, doesn't agree and he is determined to make Arianna see that they would be perfect together. Is it possible for them to go from friends to lovers? You'll have to read to find out.

This was a sweet story and I absolutely adored Cole. It was also a clean romance without foul language or graphic intimate details. There are other books in this series and it is fun to see the other characters and how they have progressed in their relationships, too.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

[Summer Song · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Judy Corry's books! Each book in this series has been a 5 star read for me including this one. This author always does wonderful work creating characters who feel three-dimensional and like real people. Complete with thoughts, emotions, personalities, and personal difficulties of their own. I always enjoy seeing favorite characters from the rest of the series! Cole and Arianna are so sweet together! I really enjoyed seeing them slowly realize how deep their feelings for each other are and seeing Arianna realize her own self-worth. The speed of the plot was just right, the writing style is smooth, the romance is sweet and swoony with lots of emotional depth and romantic tension, and like the rest of the series is— SO. MUCH. FUN. I highly recommend this book and author. Pick up any Judy Corry book and you will love it. Must reads! All of them

[Katie Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun friends-to-lovers story! 😁 I really liked it and the characters, and thought Arianna’s fears were understandable. Cole was such a great guy and knew how to treat a woman. 😍 I only wish there’d been better resolution with Chad. I feel like he was made up to be such a bad, toxic boyfriend who betrayed her trust, but when she confronts him he’s let off the hook so easily and his betrayal was kinda swept under the rug. That and the not-so-great morals of the book (nothing inappropriate happened on page, but the characters talked about having slept with their boyfriends/girlfriends, and then when Arianna and Cole finally kissed they both wanted to take it further but chose not to only because they didn’t want do everything on the first day) made me give it 4 stars, but I still enjoyed Friendzone to End Zone!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love always wins!

It’s hard not to root for Cole. He’s kind of awesome. Poor guy had turned in his man card from the moment he met her. It’s just sad how long Arianna put up with her terrible boyfriend. The story kept me entertained and unable to go to bed until I read the last page. I love the queen for a night date. So cool!
Great book to follow up the first one.
Rating: PG, although the events that happen on the page of the book stay within a clean G/PG rating there are other previous events are referenced but not detailed that cross into PG-13 categories and include several triggers.

[A.M. Hogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't turn the pages fast enough!

That was such a great book! I love the friends-to-lovers trope! Judy has such a way with words that it instantly forms a connection between you and her characters, and this book was no different. I was rooting for Cole the whole time, just waiting for Arianna to realize what's been in front of her all these years. I loved the heated looks and the swoon-worthy kisses.

This is a clean romance book: no swearing and no sex. While sex is briefly talked about having happened before the book's narrative begins, there is none on-page.

[Dew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweater Weather

This book left me cold. I didn’t much care for the characters and the plot was a nonstarter. Arianna prefers to date jerks and Cole is pretending to be her friend. There’s no conflict and certainly no “will they or won’t they” romantic tension. By the fantasy first date night where Cole buys Arianna designer clothes, designer shoes, expensive jewelry, a new car, rents out a restaurant, and hires her favourite band, I realised I really don’t care what the deal is with Arianna wanting kids or not wanting kids or whatever happened re: Harper.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good One

I wasn't sure about reading this book . . would the characters be to young for me? The answer was, "No!"

It was a sweet love story that I think most women can relate to.

I mean, how many of us have had a male friend who treated us amazingly yet we kept them in the friend zone? Some realize the error of their easy like Adrianna and Cole did. Yet, there are some of us who lost out in the friend equation.

The characters are typical Judy Corry . . well written with depth. Same as the storyline . . you know where the story is going yet the ride is fun.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can ALWAYS count on Judy Corry to give me the sweetest love stories ever! This story was seriously so sweet. In high school I dated my best friend for a short period of time and let me just say it did not end up going over as well as it did for Cole & Arianna. The story starts out with Arianna dating Chad. If you’re wondering if he lives up to his name… well you’ll have to read the book to find out. This story has the cutest ending ever and I just smiled throughout most of the book. Can we just clone Cole and make every guy as sweet as him? Please!

[Rumina · Rating 5 out of 5]

° friends to lovers ° pg13 ° the story was so different then I expected
° her getting over from having kids from a accident and trying to end things with a guy she thought was her endgame
° it kinda makes things feel real how people deal with their emotions, feeling and of all what they really wanted
° him being in NFL was not the highlight here
But being patient and being the person someone needs to rely on , a best friend who understands you more than anyone
Moral of the story- maybe you should be friends with you partners at first.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good clean friend to lovers’ romance: Cole has loved Arianna since he met her three years ago. Arianna has been in a relationship for those three years to a cheating jerk, when she finally realizes she deserves better, she breaks up with her boyfriend. Here's Cole chance to get out of the friend zone. Can he do it or will it ruin their friendship?
I really enjoyed this story. Its characters were well-developed, and its continuity was good from previous books.

[Brittany (happy.ending.always) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing!!!!

Cole is the absolute must have book boyfriend. He is so head over heels for his best friend. But she doesn’t see it. So instead she offers her help to coach him through dating. What a brilliant concept. This boom was so fun to read. The two characters chemistry flew off the pages. I receive Judy’s newsletter, and when I read the description for this book back when it was available for pre-order, I one-clicked this book so fast.

I am a huge fan of Judy’s writing. I love all her books from the young adult to books such as this one which is more contemporary new adult romance. All her writing is phenomenal and an absolute must read!!!

[bookish Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced romance

I honestly loved it. The first few pages I thought I couldn’t go through it. It’s not an elaborate thing but when I read further I began to love it more and more. The writing is simple and sweet and makes you kick your feet up and cackle like a maniac at 1:30 am(I know you not this so the time I’m writing this review). A story about loving yourself before you are able to figure out what you do and don’t deserve!!?? Sign me up.

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute light romance.

Romance, clean, contemporary
Light clean romance. Friends to romance after Ariana is cheated on by her boyfriend who isn't treating her very well. Cole who has been nursing a love for Ariana for many years sees his chance and decides not to miss it. Sweet, clean romance with two honest hearts.

[Shebb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in this series.

I loved all the previous books (especially Vincent & Emerson's), so I had high hopes for Cole and Arianna.

Not disappointed! Heh! I loved their friendship, cheeky banter, and unconditional support of each other. So very sweet... and several degrees of heat nearer the end of the book. 😉

[Khadejah R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite of the series

I loved this story the best. Arianna and Cole were introduced in “Her Football Star Ex” and was super excited to learn they got their own story.

Cole was so endearing, I just wanted to shake some sense into Arianna. Fortunately she came to her senses and al worked out.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just get like there wasn’t enough time for Arianna to get over her ex who she was with for three years so it felt like she used Cole because he was there. I dunno. I felt a bit bad for him and thought it was a bit pathetic how he just waited around for her to figure out what a jerk her boyfriend was. Overall, I didn’t connect with these characters or their “friendship.”

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a friend's to lover book! First I want to say I love Coles character. He's such a supportive friend to Arianna. The way he cares about her and wants the best for her. The way he supports her social media videos. The breakup basket he gave her. That made me love his character more. When it was time for the practice date he went all out. I absolutely love this book and I recommend it to everyone. This book is part of a series but you can read it as a standalone.