Release Day Review: The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Book Description:
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 get himself out of the friend zone and into Ivy’s heart. Game on.
Giselle’s Review:
PERFECTION.
Kristen Callihan has once again stolen my breath (and heart) with this perfect sports romance. The Hook Up was like, my first sports romance love. I mean, hello? Have you met Drew Baylor?! (The answer should be HELL YES.)
But then I met Gray Grayson and my heart is just torn because this is like that bigger and, dare I say, possibly better second love that people talk about.
In The Friend Zone we meet Ivy and Gray, but they have actually never met. They only know each other through a series of hilarious and witty text messages. So yup, you guessed it (if you hadn’t already from the title 😉 ), this is a best-friends to lovers romance and it is SO. INCREDIBLY. WELL DONE.
The writing is superb, the plot phenomenal, the characters outrageously lovable, and the entire thing is just -well, freaking perfect!!
Grayson. Gray Grayson. Where on earth can I find a guy like you?! Where can I find any of the guys in these books, Kristen?! They’re funny, witty, uber-charming, and- oh yeah, super freaking gorgeous!!
“Jay-sus, he’s hot. And freaking huge. A veritable mountain of sexy.”
*swoons*
And Ivy! Ivy, you are so my latest woman crush. I love you, I love you, I wish I was you, and oh yeah- I love you.
Kristen Callihan knows how to bring her A game with these novels and I could not be happier with this series. There’s football innuendos, sexy football players, smart-mouthed guys and girls, hilarious lines, and the perfect amount of romance, emotional moments, and steamy scenes!
If you haven’t already, get on this series, ASAP!
Silvana’s Review:
I am in awe, Kristen Callihan. I think I died a little bit while reading Gray and Ivy’s book. It was so much better than what I expected since I heard you were going to do another book after The Hook Up. The Friend Zone was left me feeling both happy and complete.
I adored this story. Since the very beginning, Kristen puts you through a roller coaster of emotions. I was literally happy in one moment and crying the next. But it was a fact that this book made me undeniably happy when I reached the end. I love the trope more than anything, (my undying love for best friends turned lovers), and The Friend Zone is just THAT. Gray and Ivy become best friends through text messages and when they finally meet: that’s when the story begins. Every aspect of this book was amazing and I really enjoyed how Kristen told their story.
I didn’t think I could get more excited after Drew and Anna’s book to be honest. But damn, Gray and Ivy took a major turn on me and definitely left an impression. I became so infatuated with them since the start. Their relationship – their friendship – was so cute to see and so hard to read as well because I just wanted them together, and “kiss already” comments were shouted at some point in my reading. The sexual tension between these two was like a volcano ready to explode but it just couldn’t happen yet. All the hotness Gray and Ivy showered me with was A+ and ten million gold stars.
Excerpt:
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.”
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