Review: The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from Bramble in exchange for an honest review.

The Friend Zone Experiment

by Zen Cho

August 6, 2024

Goodreads Summary:

From the outside, Renee Goh’s life looks perfect. She’s thirty and beautiful, runs a glamorous―and profitable―women’s clothing company in London, and is dating a hot Taiwanese pop star.

But Renee is lonely. Estranged from her family in Singapore, she practically lives at the office, and now she’s just been dumped by her supposed boyfriend. Who she never saw anyway, so why is she ruining her Instagram-ready makeup by crying?

Before she can curl up on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, Renee’s father calls. He’s retiring, and, thanks to the screw-ups of her wastrel brothers, he is considering her as the next CEO of the family Chahaya Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. That stamp of her father’s approval would mean everything to Renee, but can she cooperate with the brothers who drove her out of Singapore?

But fate isn’t done with her. That same night, Renee bumps into her first love, Yap Ket Siong, who broke her heart during university. They spend a wonderful night together, but Ket Siong is pursuing a dangerous vengeance for his family. In the light of day is there any hope for the two of them?

Review

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Friend Zone Experiment. The story featured a lot more than its title suggests. The two amazing main characters were extra thoughtful.

The Friend Zone Experiment gave off the most down-to-earth vibes. Ironic, given how entitled Renee’s family acted. But Renee, herself, never took anything for granted. She fought tooth and nail for her career and worked so hard to build her own company. I could tell how extremely capable she was.

The Friend Zone Experiment was a much more intense story than I expected. Renee did not get along with her family- especially her brothers who undermined and disrespected her all the time. It was truly so satisfying when she gained the upper hand over them. Renee and Ket Siong had an instant connection when they met. But due to their different backgrounds, they regrettably went their separate ways. It was just not their time. Yet.

The Friend Zone Experiment surprised me with how many hard topics it tackled. Renee seeking her father’s approval is classic Asian upbringing. I didn’t like how he made Renee feel but I understood the dynamics. Ket Siong, on the other hand, quietly processed the loss of a family member. It was such a complicated situation but I felt he handled things as best as he could given the circumstances. Other problems like workplace sexism and political corruption were fairly discussed. The major issues were dealt with while others remained which I found to be realistic. Not everything can be neatly wrapped up.

I couldn’t get enough of the tenderness between Renee and Ket Siong! Seeing them reunite in the present while simultaneously flashing back to their past as friends showed exactly how good they were for each other. Both mentally and physically ;) They belonged togther.

Heartwarming and inspiring, The Friend Zone Experiment should not be missed. It’s much more than just a love story. I’m so glad I was able to read it (thank you Bramble)!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.