“You cannot create without living. Come and get some inspiration. You might meet someone and fall in love, that’s very inspiring.”
Zen Cho’s The Friend Zone Experiment marks her entrance into contemporary romance, diverging from her usual fantasy genre. The novel centres on Renee Goh, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, who is striving for her father’s approval and inheritance against her older brothers. Her past love interest, Yap Ket Siong, re-enters her life, rekindling old feelings and unresolved issues from their university days.
The book delves into the complex dynamics of family, class, corruption, and ethics, adding layers to the central romance. Renee’s struggle for respect and recognition within her family and the high-stakes rivalry with her brothers are particularly engaging, drawing readers into her world.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. The writing lacks Cho’s usual wit and playful humour, as a result, at times the prose feels rather flat. The characters, particularly Renee, come across as lacklustre and the narrative often feels more suited to a YA audience than an adult one.
Renee’s character is marked by a complex mix of determination, vulnerability, and unresolved emotions from her past love. However, her rich girl persona with all her privileges makes it hard for the reader to connect and empathise with her all that much due to the constant whining.
On the other hand, Ket Siong’s character, while endearing, is overshadowed by the overwhelming family drama. His personal interests and struggles are given minimal attention, making him seem more like a supporting character in his own story. The resolution of his conflicts also feels rushed, and Renee’s role in his life is not sufficiently explored.
The relationship between Renee and Ket Siong is a slow-burn, second-chance romance peppered with mystery. Their backstory, which unfolds through flashbacks, adds some depth to their relationship but also feels somewhat tedious. The pacing is frustratingly slow, and the eventual revelation of their past misunderstandings feels anticlimactic.
Overall, The Friend Zone Experiment is a mixed bag. It offers some compelling moments and intricate family dynamics but falls short of Cho’s usual brilliance. The novel’s mistitling and lack of depth in character development make it less satisfying than expected. While it provides a different take on contemporary romance, it ultimately misses the mark in delivering a memorable and engaging story.
The Friend Zone Experiment is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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?
