Kristen Callihan

Gray doesn't make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy. The last thing star tight-end Gray Grayson wants to do is drive his agent's daughter's bubblegum pink car. But he needs the wheels and she's studying abroad. Something he explains when she sends him an irate text to let him know exactly how much pain she'll put him in if he crashes her beloved ride. Before he knows it, Ivy Mackenzie has become his best texting bud. Because the only thing Gray can think of is being with Ivy. Ivy doesn't have sex with friends. Especially not with a certain football player. No mayor how hot he makes her. Gray drives Ivy crazy. He's irreverent, sex on a stick, and completely off limits. Because, Ivy has one golden rule: never get involved with one of her father's clients. A rule that's proving harder to keep now that Gray is doing his best to seduce her. Her best friend is fast becoming the most irresistible guy she's ever met. Which means Gray is going to have to use all his skills to get himself out of the friend zone and into Ivy's heart. Game on

The Friend Zone

Gray doesn’t make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy. The last thing star tight-end Gray Grayson wants to do is drive his agent’s daughter’s bubblegum pink car. But he needs the wheels and she’s studying abroad. Something he explains when she sends him an irate text to let him know exactly how much pain she’ll put him in if he crashes her beloved ride. Before he knows it, Ivy Mackenzie has become his best texting bud. But then Ivy comes home and everything goes haywire. Because the only thing Gray can think of is being with Ivy. Ivy doesn’t have sex with friends. Especially not with a certain football player. No matter how hot he makes her… Gray drives Ivy crazy. He’s irreverent, sex on a stick, and completely off limits. Because, Ivy has one golden rule: never get involved with one of her father’s clients. A rule that’s proving harder to keep now that Gray is doing his best to seduce her. Her best friend is fast becoming the most irresistible guy she’s ever met. Which means Gray is going to have to use all his skills to win Ivy’s heart. Game on.

lexie

It gets better. i loved gray and ivy’s friendship and the dancing in the bar while i look at you across from the booth.

melina25

** spoiler alert **
           Gray and Ivy are perfect match. Absolutely loved their friendship and eventually their relationships 😩 that scene where Ivy says it's like watching Thor and Capitan America having a beer had me screaming as a marvel fan😩😩

Trish

meh this one was cute but a little boring at times. still fun and raunchy and gray is adorable obvs.

Kathleen Tom

Rating: 5 Stars ★★★★★

HI BOOKLOVERS,

I freaking love this book! Good Lord, I prefer this from the 1st one. Damn. It's so hot I don't even know how to explain so much about this. But Know that I really like Gray & Ivy better hehe. Their Chemistry is just amazing and I love their Friendship too! 

OH! IT WAS FRIENDS TO LOVER :)) And to those who love this trope you should read it. Never too late to start though. 

And back to the book, the writing is just perfect. I don't know where to start but It was funny and loving at the same time. I love Gray character it was so different when I ready him on Drew's book. He was different. Big different! I adore his character. 

Highly Recommended! :)

xoxo. Kath!

Lover of Romance 

In The Friend Zone, Gray Grayson, who spends his time driving his agent’s daughter pink car and become friends with Ivy over texts while she is in London training to take over one of her mother’s bakeries. When she returns home, chemistry sizzles between Gray and Ivy. Despite the complications it could bring, both Gray and Ivy can’t deny what is between them.

I had a ball of fun and giggles with The Friend Zone and I still have no clue why I waited so long to read it. Especially when I couldn’t get enough of the first book. However there were many unique qualities to this story that makes it a fantastic romance. One of the things I was drawn by was the friends to lovers trope that is put in this one. I love this trope for many reasons, but I love seeing a solid friendship turn into a winning romantic relationship. Because in my mind….they make some of the best relationships when the friendship is solid and their relationship already has a great foundation that they both build on. They do come across some hurdles they have to cross, including the fact that Ivy will need to decided what she really wants to do with her life, and come to terms with her parents unstable marriage and take fate into her own hands and trust in what she has with Gray. There were some unexpected happening in this story, and I loved the surprise that comes upon them. Because it truly tests them both, but they come together when it matters and lean on each other in the good times and the bad times. We see their relationship gets tested in brutal ways but also in joyous ones. I love the depth of emotion but also is balanced out with play and giggles.

Annabella

UUUUUH, NOPE. I'll pass. (PS: Elle Kennedy left me in a weird state aka wanting more sports romance but feeling like hers can't be topped. Like, AT ALL)

Jennifer Eggleston 

Friends to forever

Ivy and Gray and a few harmless texts to friends to lovers to forever. The road to forever of course is paved with rough times (but more good) but thankfully they do get there and it’s beautiful. I loved the vulnerability between the two along with the chemistry. The story kept me involved until the end. I love a good sports romance! 

Next up Fi’s story. ... I’m totally invested in this series.

Sven Test

This review was first published on Latte Nights Reviews.

"You are the happiness I never realized I needed."

I'm so glad I gave this one a chance since I didn't really like the first book. This one, though, was great! Right from the start I was hooked with the text conversations that were going on. Those were definitely fun to read about—I had a huge grin on my face while reading their witty banter. The chemistry between Gray and Ivy is palpable as soon as they meet. You would think that since they haven't met face to face things would be awkward. Well, let me put your worries aside and let you know that these two characters have a very strong bond as soon as they meet for the first time. Their friendship is what any girl would look like to have with a guy. The reason being that Gray is always there for Ivy, even when she is sick. He was always there during her time of need, helping her with everything and anything. Ivy is a stubborn woman so Gray had his hands full but he didn't care. He just loved being there for her and loved her company.

I've just officially met Ivy Mackenzie, and I realize I've missed her for what seems like years.

Gray has been a player for a long time. Apparently, it had been for so long that it started to bother Ivy a lot because Gray couldn't see himself as a one woman kind of guy... That is, until he met Ivy. On this book, you get to see the vulnerable side of Gray that we hadn't seen before and it will make you fall for him, if you haven't already. I mean, the guy cooks! Anyways, I believe that Gray made Ivy a better person and made her realize what she really wanted out of life. He showed her the way to self-discovery and Ivy learned to own it.

Make me stop, Ivy. Be the one who makes it all stop.

The plot was interesting and kept me going until the very end. The Friend Zone focuses on friendship, family and the past—one that Gray isn't ready to deal with yet. Sometimes people forget, me included, that these stories have these powerful messages or just powerful stories that one doesn't forget easily. While a story can be fun, like this one, it will also have real life feelings and real life situations that will have it's readers seeing themselves in these characters. These characters were real and got to be fully developed, in my opinion. 

The romance was spectacular. It wasn't insta-love! You hear that, guys? It wasn't insta-love!! Let's celebrate! *throws confetti* Anyway, there was an attraction that was built quickly but it was instantaneous. The romance was built very slowly and developed at a very realistic pace that readers will enjoy. When everything clicks into place, you will be so far gone into it [the romance] that will swoon at every detail.

"I'm crazy about you, Ivy. You have to know that. I'm so lost in you, I don't ever want to find my way back."

There were so many funny, laugh-out-loud moments in this story. There are comments that the characters make that will have you bursting with laughter. There's a specific story that is told that will have you full on laughing, rolling on the floor, too. In case you're interested, it is the Cheerio story! I honestly couldn't stop laughing. This book put me in such a good mood while reading. If you are looking for a very funny and romantic story, then you have to read The Friend Zone!

"Seriously, Iv... You could climb him like Everest, make base camp at his cock, and tackle the rest in the morning."

catia

“The fact is, Ivy, for me, there is one absolute truth. The sum of my existence equals you.”


Definitely I liked this one better than the first, I do like Kristen Callihan's writing and that's one of the reasons I wanted to continue with the series but also because Gray-Gray stole my heart in the first book and I had to read his book! Ivy and Gray didn't dissapoint and friends to lovers remains superior I don't make the rules, it's literally a fact! Even tho I think their friendship happened a little fast, they were so damn sweet and fun and cute together I just fell in love with them and of course since the beginning they connected and I just know they wanted each other more than friends ever since!
Ivy was so fun, I really liked her and seeing her finally founding what she truly wanted to do with her life and professional career and so proud of her!! Gray Grayson, that man is a softie and no one can tell me other wise, also hot of course but he's so caring and sweet and kind and the way he kinda falls first and harder for Ivy was so beautiful to read!! 
Now, I found out Fi and Dex are next so I am definitely going to read because I do like Dex ever since the first book sooo I am excited and Fi in this one caught my attention!! Drew and Gray's friendship was so good to read in this book and also some Drew and Anna crumbs were totally cute!!


  “Gray Grayson, I want to marry you. I want you to be my family. And I’ll be yours.”

Ana Matti

Nedu

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
.

Friends to lovers stories will always be among my favorites and Kristen Callihan's latest, The Friend Zone, is no exception. I had pretty high expectations for this book after I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Hook Up, as much as I did. All expectations were exceeded. When it comes to NA sports romance, this series is near the top of my favorites list. 

This was just a FUN book. I loved how Ivy and Gray began to get to know each other via text message. It was such a cute setup. Their banter – even via text – had me grinning like a fool while reading this book. They clicked right from the start, sight unseen. Once face-to-face, they tried to stay just friends, but the pull between them was too strong... and I'm glad. As much as I enjoyed them as friends, I adored them in a relationship. 

I loved both of the characters in The Friend Zone. I know Gray has a bit of a past with women, but it didn't matter during this book. Once he and Ivy became friends, she was all he could see. Other women became irrelevant. He really was a sweet guy. He was also vulnerable, something you definitely wouldn't see on the outside. Ivy was great right from the start. She was spunky and unafraid to call Gray on his BS when it was needed. She was at a bit of a crossroads, trying to decide who she really wanted to be and what she wanted to do with her future. I loved how Gray supported her and helped her realize her dreams. 

The Friend Zone gets a resounding five stars from me. It was sweet, sexy and real. I loved the romance. It had me swooning all over the place. Near the end of the book, there was one thing that kinda bothered me, but I can't get into details because of spoilers. Even if I didn't love that part, I respected the way it was handled and it didn't color my thoughts on the rest of the book. It was amazing and I loved it so freaking hard.

I can't wait to see what Kristen gives us next! 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

(HOT DAMN!!! THAT COVER!!!!!!)

Holy mother of god… Gray’s book was absolutely phenomenal!! I had such high expectations for The Friend Zone after reading and loving The Hook Up, one of my favorite reads of last year, and The Friend Zone went above and beyond what I expected! I fell for this book – for Gray – hook, line, and sinker. I completely ADORED Gray and Ivy’s book… maybe even more than Drew and Anna’s. I seriously loved every single thing about this book – the humor, the friendship, the banter, the combustible chemistry. The friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite tropes and I’ve read so many books about it that sometimes they all seem to blur together. But The Friend Zone is one of the few that stands out to me and truly made me feel. I got that warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart, I couldn’t stop smiling, I wholeheartedly loved the main characters… This book is just perfection!

“The fact is, Ivy, for me, there is one absolute truth. The sum of my existence equals you.”

When star football player Gray Grayson borrows his agent’s daughter’s bubblegum pink car, the last thing he ever expected was to form a friendship with a girl who would soon become one of the most important people in his life. We get to see Gray and Ivy bond over hilarious, heartwarming texts and become each other’s closest and dearest friend. But when Ivy comes home and these best friends finally get to meet each other in real life, things start to get a little complicated. Because beneath their friendly touches, their banter, their friendship, lies an intense attraction they’ve never felt with anyone before. Though both Ivy and Gray are hesitant to risk their friendship, they quickly realize that the once-in-a-lifetime love growing between them is worth… everything.

But what hits me the most is the way just seeing him makes me feel as though night has turned to day. Everything around me feels brighter, fresher. Gray is my joy. I know this now.

I loved loved loved the slow burn romance between Ivy and Gray. It’s perfectly paced with just the right amount of tension that keeps you wanting more. These two characters… they’re absolute perfection together, and being best friends adds such a great depth to their relationship. Gray and Ivy are MEANT to be together – their love comes across so clearly off the pages. The characters themselves are fantastically written as well. I’m a sucker for a reformed manwhore, and Gray is the perfect example of one. The things he says and does for Ivy… I’m so in love with him. It’s just so clear how much he belongs to and with Ivy that you can’t not root for them! And I adored Ivy as well. She’s an awesome heroine who I was able to connect with right away. The Friend Zone is a romance, but it’s also so much more. Alongside the love story is a journey of self-discovery, and I loved every single page of it.

“I’m crazy about you, Ivy. You have to know that. I’m so lost in you, I don’t ever want to find my way back.”

The Friend Zone is a stunning, beautifully written friends-to-lovers romance that everyone needs to read. I felt so much while I was reading, and I almost didn’t want the book to end. I loved this book SO FREAKING MUCH!!!! I loved Drew from The Hook Up, but GRAY…. he completely stole my heart. Fans of The Hook Up are going to LOVE Gray and Ivy’s book!

5 perfect stars!

“I’m so fucking glad I borrowed your car,” he chokes out, his hand gripping my calf, rubbing it as if I’m precious. “The thought of you not being in my life tears me up. I… You are the happiness I never realized I needed.”

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1GI9PKz

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