Review: The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan, Flirty and Fun

The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan already had a lot to prove, and thankfully, Gray came prepared. This book brings fun texting banter, a borrowed pink Fiat, and a football player hero who is charming, filthy, and way too easy to adopt as a book boyfriend. Honestly, the man had one job and it was to be irresistible. He delivered.

Gray was everything I was expecting and even more! ~ Under the Covers

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

What is The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan about?

The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan follows Gray Grayson, a star football player borrowing his agent’s daughter’s hot pink Fiat, and Ivy Mackenzie, who starts texting him from London to make sure he behaves. Naturally, he doesn’t. Their banter turns into friendship, their friendship turns into spice, and that idea of staying just friends is looking like the world’s weakest plan.

The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan Book Review

I was extremely excited to read this book because I had a fascination with Drew’s best friend, Gray, in The Hook Up.  The manwhore who cares deeply about his friend.  The back story that was lurking under the surface that for sure had a deeper hurt tucked away.  Gray was everything I was expecting and even more!  I absolutely loved him and want him to be my best friend and lover.  Locking him as we speak in my book boyfriend dungeon.  He’s got a rocking hot body, he’s talented in the field and in the kitchen, knocks how to rock a girls world and make her toes curl AND he can dirty talk.  Sign me up!

This book starts out a lot of fun.  Gray has borrowed a car from a prospective agent, turns out to be his daughter’s car while she’s away in London.  Said daughter starts texting Gray from London about the well-being of her car and their personalities are so perfect they hit it off right away.  As friends.  Best friends even.  Their relationship blossoms from there, only via text.  She’s never looked him up to see what he looks like.  He only has an old picture of when she was 15 to go by from her father’s desk.  They just click because they are perfect for each other.  When Ivy comes back to the States and their relationship turns physical, it’s all they can do to fight their attraction and keep things as friends only.

I love friends turned lovers stories because they tell the best story of connection between two people.  Ivy and Gray are so perfect for each other without adding the physical chemistry that I enjoyed every single interaction.  Their banter, their bad jokes, their passion for food even!  They can relate on so many levels it’s almost too perfect.  Then you add the physical chemistry, which by the way was off the charts, and you have a total winner.

You will fall in love with this book.  It has just the right amount of angst to keep things interesting, and the perfect amount of smexy to heat things up without overpowering the story.  Kristen Callihan proves one more time that she’s an excellent storyteller.  As much as I was enthralled with Gray and Ivy, I loved seeing the glimpses of Drew and Anna, as well as delving a bit into the rest of the cast and hopefully planting the seeds for future books.  I cannot wait to see where this story will go from here!

Read an Excerpt from The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan

Copyright Kristen Callihan, The Friend Zone | Originally posted on Under the Covers Book Blog May 5, 2015

The backs of his fingers skim up my arm, raising goose bumps on my skin. “Nice top.”
Even though it’s thirty degrees out, I chose a black silk tank that hugs my waist but gathers loosely over my breasts. A tie around my neck holds the top secure. That I am braless is not lost on him. He stares at my stiff nipples as his fingers drift to the bow at the back of my neck and give it a little flick. “Take it off.”

“W-what?”

“Let me see those sweet tits you’ve been teasing me with since you walked in the bar.”

“I—” My breath catches. “No. I’m not taking my clothes off for a stranger.”

He doesn’t look away. “But you want to, don’t you? You want me to look at you.” He bends his head until his lips are at my ear. “You’re dying to expose yourself, to let me see those pretty pink nipples.”

My skin draws tight. I struggle not to sway into him.

He leans back, his attention on my top again. “Untie the bow.”

“Someone might come in.” Despite our play, my fear of getting caught is real, though not completely unwelcome.

“They won’t. I took care of it.”

I believe that. Gray would cover all the bases. In his own way, he’s as much of a planner as I am. But I can’t think of him as Gray now, not when he’s doing this for me.

His fingers are back, skimming over my inner arm, teasing the edges of my top. “Just a little peek.”

My breasts ache so badly, they’re hot, heavy, the silk covering them an irritant. With shaking hands, I reach up. The fabric tugs against my neck then comes free. It slithers over my skin like a caress.

He sucks in an audible breath as my breasts are exposed. I see myself through his eyes, sitting half-naked in this dim back room, my nipples puckered, my breasts quivering with each shallow breath I take. The vulnerability of it feels naughty, forbidden, and I nearly whimper.

A noise of pure satisfaction leaves him. Not bothering to lift his gaze from my breasts, he reaches out, runs the tips of his fingers over my nipple. I’m so sensitized now the touch sends a bolt of pure, searing lust straight through me. I flinch, clench my teeth to keep still.

He hums, strokes me back and forth as if he owns me. “So pretty.” He grazes me again.

“You like that, sweetheart?”

Eyes closed, I bite my lower lip and nod.

I feel him move. The wet flat of his tongue drags over my nipple. My eyes fly open on a strangled cry. He grins up at me, his mouth hovering at my breast. It isn’t his usual cheeky grin but something more wicked. “Mmm. Delicious.”

He takes a step closer, and I swallow convulsively. Gray’s voice lowers. “I wonder where else you taste good. You want to show me, sweets?”

I’m practically panting now. My hair swings as I give my head a hard shake. He leans in, trailing the blunt tip of his finger up the curve of my breast. I nearly yelp when he gives the stiff peak a quick, crude pinch.

His smile is pure male smugness. “Lift up your skirt and show me where you’re wet.”

About the Game On series by Kristen Callihan

The Game On series by Kristen Callihan is all about football players, found family friend groups, spicy romance, and feelings that just won’t stay casual. The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan is book two, following The Hook Up, and finally gives Drew’s best friend Gray the spotlight he was clearly trying to steal from the beginning.

Final Thoughts

By the end, The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan sounds like exactly the kind of friends to lovers romance that understands the assignment: make the friendship believable first, then let the chemistry wreck everyone’s self control. It was so much fun! Gray and Ivy’s connection works because the banter is there, they emotionally click, and the heat is sizzling.

Missed my review of the previous book? Check out The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan.

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