I Have Been Personally Victimized by a Paperback

 The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

I have been personally victimized by a paperback. This was supposed to be a cute little romcom. I was NOT supposed to be crying about fictional characters. And yet, there I was with less than 100 pages to go (probably closer to 50) sobbing. How very dare she. Josh was everything that is good in this world. He communicates, is clear about what he wants, doesn't play any games, has a steady and well paying job, and knows how to lay it down. Not to mention he is loyal. All of which is unheard of for someone with a J name. (IYKYK). Kristen was great; she was real and flawed, driven, knew exactly what she wanted, but she also had her insecurities. Despite those, she was fiercely protective and determined. They were great together. And their meet cute was adorable; he rear ends her then follows her to the nearest parking lot to assess the damages where he promptly starts checking out her ass. Then, turns out he's her best friends fiances best friend; the man set to be the best man in Sloan and Brandon's wedding, where she will be the maid of honor. She also ends up hiring him to do some carpentry for her business and they become friends. They are both super into each other, but she has a boyfriend so nothing happens. Then he re-enlists, which ends their relationship and she finally gives in to the attraction. It's amazing because of course he is blessed and knows how to work it. But she decides it's only a friends with benefits situation. He is trying to be understanding since her relationship just ended and he thinks she cared about him more than she actually did. But really, she knows that he wants kids and she can't have any so she doesn't want either of them to get attached because she is convinced it will never work and that she's not worthy of him because she's broken. During a drunken phone call on Brandon's bachelor party Josh tells her that he loves her, and she says it too. He really doesn't understand her hot and cold and she finally tells him. He, of course is stunned, and she runs away. She finally decides to talk to him and shows up at the fire station. He gets sent out on a call and it's Brandon. He was on his motorcycle and hit by a drunk driver. Josh is losing his shit but has to keep it together to do his job. Once they get Brandon to the hospital he calls Kristin and tells her to go get Sloan. She does. There are a lot of longs nights at the hospital, but Brandon seems to be making improvements; they plan to take him off the vent. When Josh and the night nurse are chatting during one of her checks, Brandon's pupils are blown; he had a stroke and is dead. Josh wakes up Kristin and makes her get Sloan. She doesn't handle it well, but does better than his parents who, since the wedding didn't happen, are the decision makers. They are praying for a miracle and won't donate his organs even though that's what he wanted. Josh has to convince them, before the organs are no longer viable, which he does. Kristin, meanwhile is dedicating her life to taking care of Sloan who is practically catatonic with grief. Then, Sloan kicks her out and she returns home to a binder from Josh with plans about all of the potential fertility options before them. She calls him and he's waiting outside her house. He asks her to marry him and she says yes. They rush to the courthouse and are the last appointment of the day. Sloan comes running in at the last second so she doesn't miss it, looking an absolute mess, but she's there. Fast forward a few days and they have an appointment with a doctor about scheduling her hysterectomy, but surprise she's pregnant. Oliver is the only child she gives birth to. They start house hunting to be closer to Sloan, who refused to move in with them and refused to let them move in with her. The book ends 2 years later with them trying to make peace with Kristin's horrible mother, who dotes on baby Oliver. I really like this, until it crushed my heart. And then once I stopped crying I liked it again. I went to bed before writing this review, and woke up thinking about this book. I no longer trust Abby Jimenez, but I like her work and will be reading the next book in the series.