The Friend Zone: the most hilarious and heartbreaking romantic comedy

Paperback / ISBN-13: 9780349423401

Price: £9.99

ON SALE: 10th April 2025

Genre: Modern & Contemporary Fiction (post C 1945) / Romance

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‘No one does funny, emotional, life-affirming love stories quite like Abby Jimenez. She just keeps outdoing herself’ EMILY HENRY

‘Funny and poignant, relatable and aspirational, heart-tugging and satisfying. It is, in a word, perfect’ CHRISTINA LAUREN

‘Abby Jimenez’s words . . . sprinkle humour and warmth all over my life’ ALI HAZELWOOD

‘The sort of emotionally resonant love story I adore – I was captivated from the very first page’ PAIGE TOON

…………………….


He’s the best man . . . and that’s the problem.


Kristen Petersen is perfectly fine. She has friends she’d fight to the death for and the very best dog in the world: Stuntman Mike. In fact, everything’s calm in the world of Kristen, until she starts to plan her best friend’s wedding and meets the best man, Josh Copeland.

Josh is funny, sexy, stands up to her sarcasm, and is always one snack ahead of her hangry. Even Stuntman Mike adores him. But he wants a big family, and Kristen knows children are probably not a part of her future.

She’s sure he’d be better off with someone else, someone who can give him everything he wants, so Kristen keeps him at arm’s length: in the Friend Zone. But as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to resist falling for the man who seems to be everything she’s not allowed to have . . .

.…………………….

🌟 DISCOVER WHY READERS LOVE ABBY JIMENEZ . . . 🌟

‘Sweet and achingly romantic – a truly wonderful love story’ BETH O’LEARY

‘Full of fierce humour and fiercer heart’ CASEY MCQUISTON

‘A deliciously hot, sweet debut. This book is an absolute treat’ L. J. SHEN

‘This book deserves all the stars in the universe’ READER REVIEW

‘Things I loved about this book . . . I mean it’s literally everything. Not a single flaw’ READER REVIEW

‘Wow. wow. WOW. Every book I’ve read of Abby’s just gets better and better’ READER REVIEW

Reviews

This new romance novel will have you both laughing and crying throughout its entirety
Women.com
This romcom novel will have you feeling the falling-in-love autumn vibes
BuzzFeed
The Friend Zone is a beautiful tale of learning to accept the love you deserve and finding a path to self-acceptance along the way . . . a zippy, instantly recognisable voice and fresh, funny characters
Entertainment Weekly
Zingy dialog, laugh-out-loud humor, and plenty of sass temper the heartbreak of infertility in this modern, well-grounded debut that is sure to satisfy
Library Journal
Harnessing sass, heartfelt struggle, and unapologetic sexuality, Jimenez's debut is as hysterical as it is tear-jerking
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Harnessing sass, heartfelt struggle, and unapologetic sexuality, Jimenez's debut is as hysterical as it is tear-jerking
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Friend Zone gave me belly laughs, shook me up, and made me feel hopeful about love and the human strength of spirit. A romance for the ages!
Tessa Bailey, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>Fix Her Up</i>
Your next favourite romantic comedy . . . The Friend Zone is that rare beach read with tons of heart that will make you laugh and cry in equal parts
Popsugar
An excellent debut that combines wit, humor, and emotional intensity
Kirkus Reviews
The Friend Zone gave me belly laughs, shook me up, and made me feel hopeful about love and the human strength of spirit. A romance for the ages!
Tessa Bailey, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>Fix Her Up</i>
An excellent debut that combines wit, humor, and emotional intensity
Kirkus Reviews
The Friend Zone is a laugh-out-loud, wickedly clever book that sneaks up on you with a cathartic emotional payoff
Jenny Holiday, author of <i>Three Little Words</i>
A deliciously hot, sweet debut. This book is an absolute treat
LJ Shen, <i> USA Today </i> bestselling author
The Friend Zone is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and emotional. Abby Jimenez wrote a difficult story line with sensitivity, heat, humour, banter and unwavering friendship
Harlequin Junkie (top pick)
This romcom novel will have you feeling the falling-in-love autumn vibes
BuzzFeed
Jimenez's dazzling debut is a brilliantly written romantic comedy that seamlessly toggles back and forth between scenes of laugh-out-loud, snarky wit and serious emotional issues without missing a beat, all the while delivering maximum reading satisfaction
Booklist (starred review)
You can expect to laugh and cry during this one
Good Housekeeping
The Friend Zone is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and emotional. Abby Jimenez wrote a difficult story line with sensitivity, heat, humour, banter and unwavering friendship
Harlequin Junkie (top pick)
You can expect to laugh and cry during this one
Good Housekeeping
I think I've found a new favourite contemporary romance novel with The Friend Zone . . . This book made me laugh and cry, and it filled my heart with so many emotions . . . I'll be recommending this book to everyone
Bookish
Your next favourite romantic comedy . . . The Friend Zone is that rare beach read with tons of heart that will make you laugh and cry in equal parts
Popsugar
The Friend Zone is a beautiful tale of learning to accept the love you deserve and finding a path to self-acceptance along the way . . . a zippy, instantly recognisable voice and fresh, funny characters
Entertainment Weekly
Jimenez's dazzling debut is a brilliantly written romantic comedy that seamlessly toggles back and forth between scenes of laugh-out-loud, snarky wit and serious emotional issues without missing a beat, all the while delivering maximum reading satisfaction
Booklist (starred review)
This novel doesn't shy away from anything - it's fiercely loving all the way to the HEA
NPR
The Friend Zone is a laugh-out-loud, wickedly clever book that sneaks up on you with a cathartic emotional payoff
Jenny Holiday, author of <i>Three Little Words</i>
This novel doesn't shy away from anything - it's fiercely loving all the way to the HEA
NPR
A deliciously hot, sweet debut. This book is an absolute treat
LJ Shen, <i> USA Today </i> bestselling author
A debut novel that has it all-tears, sarcastic humour, romance and the heartbreaking issue of infertility
Greenville News
Zingy dialog, laugh-out-loud humor, and plenty of sass temper the heartbreak of infertility in this modern, well-grounded debut that is sure to satisfy
Library Journal
This new romance novel will have you both laughing and crying throughout its entirety
Women.com
I think I've found a new favourite contemporary romance novel with The Friend Zone . . . This book made me laugh and cry, and it filled my heart with so many emotions . . . I'll be recommending this book to everyone
Bookish
A debut novel that has it all-tears, sarcastic humour, romance and the heartbreaking issue of infertility
Greenville News