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Keena

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The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2

by Beth Brower (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 13, 2026 07:37AM

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The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1)

by Abby Jimenez (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 3rd time

read in October 2023

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Keena said: " I am so excited to finally begin my Abby Jimenez series of book reviews! I will be sharing my reviews in publication order, starting with The Friend Zone.

The Friend Zone may be her first published book, but it’s actually not the first book Abby Jimen I am so excited to finally begin my Abby Jimenez series of book reviews! I will be sharing my reviews in publication order, starting with The Friend Zone.

The Friend Zone may be her first published book, but it’s actually not the first book Abby Jimenez wrote! Abby wrote The Happy Ever After Playlist first and then decided to go back in fictional time and write the story of what happened BEFORE the events in Playlist begin.

The story follows Josh and Kristen, who first meet when Josh rear ends Kristen while she’s driving her friend’s new truck. Their meet-cute is filled with witty banter and fireworks from the very beginning!

Kristen is my one of my favorite female contemporary romance characters. I LOVE Kristen’s strong-willed attitude, big energy, and amusing personality. She hooked me right from the start with her determined demeanor and hilarious commentary.

Sparks fly right off the bat, but Kristen is currently in a long distance relationship with someone else (although there is NO infidelity in this book!). She’s also dealing with a debilitating medical condition that will prohibit her from ever carrying her own children in the future. Kristen knows Josh wants a big family someday, which complicates things tremendously.

I ate this book up! The hilarious banter, the tension, the angst… this book really delivered and was so satisfying as a reader. It also was healing in a way that I was least expecting.

As a woman who dealt with secondary infertility for 2.5 years, this was a book I never knew I always needed. Josh’s reaction when he finally learns of Kristen’s condition really opened my eyes to things my husband has been telling me for years, but I didn’t believe. When I say my broken heart was stitched up a bit reading this book, I absolutely mean it.

The spice in this one is hot but tasteful. Abby respectfully writes her spicy scenes with attention, giving us just enough to satisfy but not overdoing it. We absolutely get a Happy Ending for the main characters!

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SPOILER WARNING for those who are sensitive to death: About 75% into The Friend Zone, a secondary (but important) character dies, which sets up the entire premise for The Happy Ever Playlist. Reading about this death was difficult for me, but it also makes the story in book 2 that much sweeter. ...more "

Mar 21, 2024 09:41AM · see review