Following a break-up with her current boyfriend, Renee bumps back into ‘the one that got away’. But with a position in her father’s company on the line, plus her drive to grow her own business, and all the drama that comes with both, is there too much baggage from the past?

If you’re a lit fic reader looking to dabble in romance, I feel like this would be the perfect book for you. But for me, an avid rom com reader, something about this book just didn’t feel right for me and I didn’t love it like I wanted to.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.

Thanks so much to Pan Macmilllan, Zen Cho and Net Galley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I have mixed feelings about this book, I enjoyed the writing style as it sort of unravelled like a movie but feel like the book had quite a slow start which made it difficult to get into. The family drama was messy and I was captivated by how it was unfolding, and I loved Renee’s character! A feisty female who was able to stand her ground.

I love how she reconnected with Ket Sieong and the epilogue was excellent! Whilst I sometimes found it difficult to follow at first, the second half of the book definitely picked up pace, and I throughly enjoyed the mystery element which added a lot of suspense!

Would recommend!

I enjoyed Zen Cho’s previous work Black Water Sister and loved her short story anthology Spirits Abroad; so, despite the cringe title and not being my genre of choice, I gave it a whirl. You know, for science. And Cho.

It didn’t go well.

Nothing in this book worked for me and I found it an exercise in frustration: a decade of estrangement and this entire book could’ve all been solved by an honest conversation or two. I took notes about what annoyed me about different aspects of this book, just in case it helps other readers decide if they want to give this a go.

Story:
● Objectively, this is a bland book. It might be a personal preference, or simply due to living in a capitalist hellscape, but I really struggle having sympathy for whiny, rich people and their silly problems. The drama here is largely around “I’m competing with my estranged brother for my toxic family’s shady corporation” and “tee hee boys” was just so boring to me. I can’t relate and it’s not exactly high stakes so 🤷🏼‍♀️
● The pop culture references grew tedious, quickly and felt very r/fellowkids.
● The flashbacks to college weren’t particularly enthralling to me as an adult reader. The lack of depth to the characters and their fixation on the halcyon days of college made this feel much more YA than adult. As a woman and immigrant around Renee’s age, I couldn’t relate to her priorities or character. She read more like a teenager than 30+.
● The (view spoiler) mystery is the only reason I kept reading and even that had a trite ending. In the throes of the mystery, getting the flow interrupted with Renee’s whining and melodrama was exhausting.
● The whole ‘corporate intrigue’ plot line felt OTT silly to me and I got fed up of Renee’s toxic family and their business obsession really quickly

Characters and Relationships:
● Renee was lacklustre as a character. She has a business, lives for free in a swish Kensington flat, is up to inherit a CEO position at her family’s firm because nepotism… and she’s whining. Right off the bat Renee seems to pin her self-worth from a man. Her comments about how her relationship with a pop singer would earn her friends and family’s respect were also… disconcerting.
● Renee refers to Ket Siong as “one of her best friends” yet she’s not clapped eyes on then guy in over a decade. Ket Siong admits he’d largely forgotten about her until he clapped eyes on her and now suddenly iT aLl CoMeS rUsHiNg BaCk. Give me strength. 🙄 Even in the flashbacks, the two of them have this fantasy that they’re BFFs but don’t shoot straight with each other, don’t communicate, and don’t have a convincing dynamic… where is this “best friends” narrative coming from?! Renee and Ket Siong’s conversations seem to be mostly the former talking at the latter. Ket Siong mostly thinks stuff and doesn’t say it, coming across as uncommunicative and disinterested. I don’t understand the purported attraction of either of these humans.
● Renee claims she’s afraid of her brother yet is deliberately antagonistic (showing up unannounced at this flat, goading him, insulting him). She seems to crave melodrama and her actions don’t tally with her claims of feeling unsafe.
● Why is everyone in this book so obsessed with who pays for dinner? Just get separate cheques JFC we spend so much airtime on this!
● Renee was all over the place, Ket Siong felt more like a placeholder than a human, and Nathalie didn't read like someone in her 30s (more like a plucky high school BFF).
● Renee needs to cut that toxic family out of her life. After everything she’s been through, it was infuriating watching her keep trying to make it work. Girl, do yourself a favour and just… stop. That family is poison.

Language, Writing, and Presentation:
● As a conscious language advocate, this quote didn’t sit right with me: “She’d never previously slept with anyone she wasn’t already in a relationship with. It was the kind of thing white people did.” Is there a correlation between skin colour and sexual promiscuity?
● This story didn’t have the identity themes that I’ve come to deeply appreciate in Cho’s previous works.
● The writing style felt YA and this book wasn’t as quotable or have the quality of prose of Cho’s previous works.
● Virtu sounds like a pyramid scheme.
● The title with the use of the word ‘experiment’ suggests an intentional testing of a hypothesis which wasn’t the case for this book. It was just two people who refused to be honest with themselves and each other? The title doesn’t make much sense for the book.
● Cover looks AI-generated 🥴

YA enthusiasts and commercial romance readers may have a better time with this than I did. But, if you’re coming here hoping for more of what made Black Water Sister and Spirits Abroad fantastic reads, you’re in for a bad time.

TL;DR: I hate it when people don’t communicate like adults. Worth a try, but a swing and a miss for me. Not even Zen Cho can convert me to the romance genre.

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thanks, Pan Macmillan.

Title: The Friend Zone Experiment

Author: Zen Cho
Genre: Romance

Rating: ★★★★

From the outside, Renee Goh's life looks like the epitome of perfection. She's a stunning thirty-year-old running a chic and profitable women's clothing company in London, and to top it all off, she's been dating a hot Taiwanese pop star. But looks can be deceiving…….

Renee is lonely. Estranged from her family in Singapore and practically living at her office, she faces a harsh reality when her supposed boyfriend dumps her. Why is she ruining her perfectly Instagram-ready makeup by crying over a guy she barely saw anyway?

Just as she's about to dive into a pity party with a pint of Ben & Jerry's, Renee's father calls with a bombshell: he's retiring and considering her as the next CEO of the family conglomerate, Chahaya Group, in Southeast Asia. This news is huge. Renee craves her father's approval, but the thought of working with the brothers who drove her out of Singapore is daunting.

Then fate throws another curveball. That very night, Renee bumps into her first love, Yap Ket Siong, who shattered her heart during their university days. They share a magical night together, but Ket Siong is entangled in a dangerous quest for family vengeance. By the light of day, is there any hope for rekindling their romance?

Why I Loved It:

The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho is a delightful rollercoaster of emotions and intrigue. Renee is a character you can't help but root for, with her blend of vulnerability and fierce ambition. The contrast between her glamorous public persona and her private struggles makes her incredibly relatable.

The family dynamics add depth and drama, especially the tension between Renee and her brothers. The prospect of her taking over the family business while dealing with past wounds and current rivalries keeps the stakes high and the pages turning.

Renee's reunion with Ket Siong is the cherry on top of this engaging story. Their past and present collide in a way that is both heartwarming and fraught with tension. Ket Siong's quest for vengeance adds a thrilling layer to the romance, making you wonder if they can overcome the shadows of their past to find a future together.

Zen Cho masterfully balances humour, heartache, and hope, making The Friend Zone Experiment a must-read. Its blend of romance, family drama, and personal growth kept me engaged from start to finish.

If you're looking for a book that offers a fun escape while touching on deeper themes of love, family, and self-discovery, this is it!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan | Macmillan, The Author Zen Cho & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I have previously read one of the author's books - Black Water Sister - and when I found out she has a romance out, of course I was curious on how I would like it! I'm usually hesitant when fantasy authors switch genres but I actually really found The Friend Zone Experiment enjoyable. I liked the romance and the characters - aside from some scenes where I felt like there were a lot of "telling but not showing", I found Renee and Ket Siong really interesting characters. I don't like when the romance is too on the nose and this was a great balance of romance and plot. I also liked that this book focuses on environmental issues, and touches on discussions about ethics, misogyny, and also corruption.

The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 8 August 2024

Zen Cho's “The Friend Zone Experiment” offers a unique blend of romance and social commentary that pleasantly surprises readers. While the core of the story is indeed a second-chance romance between Renee and Ket Siong, the novel delves deeper into pressing issues such as rainforest destruction and corporate ethics.

The story follows Renee, a successful businesswoman from a wealthy Singaporean family who has established herself in London. Her path crosses again with Ket Siong, her university flame, who has fled to London with his family after their friend Stephen's kidnapping during a protest against deforestation in Malaysia. This unexpected reunion reignites old feelings and sets the stage for a gentle, slow-burning romance.

Cho's approach to the romance is refreshingly subtle. The rekindling of Renee and Ket Siong's relationship feels organic and gradual, with both characters supporting each other through their respective challenges. Renee faces a competition for control of her family's business, while Ket Siong grapples with finding his missing friend. The author skilfully weaves these personal struggles with broader themes of environmental conservation and corporate responsibility.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to balance intimate character development with larger societal issues. While the environmental themes might catch some readers off guard, they add depth and relevance to the story without overshadowing the central romance.

Minor miscommunications between the characters are handled well, avoiding the frustrating tropes often found in the genre. The ending is perfect, a satisfying conclusion to both the romantic and thematic elements of the story.

In summary, "The Friend Zone Experiment” is an engaging read that offers more than just a typical romance. It combines a sweet love story with thought-provoking themes, making it a standout in the genre. Readers looking for a romance with substance and a touch of social consciousness will find this novel particularly rewarding.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan | Macmillan, and the author, Sandy Barker, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Really enjoyed this romance of young Malaysians living in London. Who hasn't secretly been in love with a supposed friend? I enjoyed the mystery subplot, which gave an added depth and layer to the romance.

‘The Friend Zone Experiment’ by Zen Cho is a romance novel that goes heavy on the family dynamics and the cut-throat world of business. The main character, Renee Goh, is the CEO of a fashion and lifestyle brand and the daughter of the wealthy head of a Singaporean conglomerate living a seemingly perfect live in the upper echelons of London society. After a brutal break-up and an unexpected call from her father triggering an escalation of sibling rivalries, the last thing she needs is to run into Yap Ket Siong, the ex who tore her heart into pieces in college…

I really admired Renee as a character - especially her strength in advocating for herself, her bravery in calling her tormentors’ bluff, and her attitude towards her company. The flashback scenes exploring her college romance were heartwarming and sweet. The sophisticated layers of Ket Siong’s twisted loyalties and tragic past were well explored and his motivations were well-rationalised. The book combined elements of Crazy Rich Asians and Succession to create tension.

However, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, for a couple of reasons: (1) the blurb called it a rom-com, but honestly there was very little humour for me - definitely more dramatic and less funny than most of the genre, and (2) the title implied that the novel would be a trope-driven light read, but there was no “experimentation” and the plot was much more driven by Renee’s quest to win her dad’s trust and respect in business.

Overall, I am giving this three stars and recommending to those who want to sink their teeth into a family drama with an intriguing girlboss main character and an important subplot about class and corruption. Just don’t go in expecting the fluffy beach read implied by the package.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Pan MacMillan via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am not really a blurb reader, so it may just have been me being unprepared, but this book was not about what I thought it would be about - granted it is still a romance between Renee and Ket Siong. However, I was not expecting it to go hard about the ethics of rain forest destruction in Malaysia and the ways in which big businesses contribute to deforestation on sacred native land. Was it still an enjoyable read? Yes!

Renee comes from a wealthy Singaporean family and has moved to London to escape them as she grows her business. Ket Siong, his brother and mother have run to London after their friend Stephen is kidnapped on his way to protest a business's attempt to pull down an ancient rain forest in Malaysia. Renee and Ket Siong met 10 years ago in university and haven't stopped thinking about their failed fling since. Now, they run into each other in London and find a way back into each other's orbit.

I liked how gentle this romance was. It really felt like they were creeping back into loving each other and supporting each other through Renee's competition to head the family business (a la Succession) and Ket Siong's desperation to find Stephen. There is slight miscommunication along the way but not in an agonizing sense. The ending is perfectly delightful.

It would be a great beach read (probably not one for the poolside in Singapore though!) but it didn't wow it's way into my favs.

I read “Black Water Sister” by Cho and adored it.
This book is a mix of romance, shady companies, and family rivalries. I don’t think the title suits the book that well.
Most of the book is narrated by Renee Goh, a Singaporean now living in London where she bumps into her ex Yap Ket Siong.
The Renee storyline is a mix of her managing her own company, fighting with her brothers to take over her dad’s company Chahaya, talking to her one friend and rekindling a friendship with Yap Ket.
The Yap ket storyline delves into his friend Stephen who disappears after protesting in Malaysia.
The story bounces back and forth from the present to the past.
Because the same events are narrated by both characters it feels repetitive, which makes the pacing a little weird at times.
While I found Yap Ket’s storyline more compelling, the book was missing something for me. That said, I’m not a huge fan of romance books. I wasn’t really rooting for either of them.

I’d not read anything by Zen Cho before but was intrigued by the London-Malaysia premise so started reading. A lot happens in the first day: Renee is dumped at breakfast, she gets the call from her Dad asking her to compete to succeed him and she re-meets Ket at an exhibition and takes him home for the night. But what will happen next?

Over the course of the novel, we learn about Renee and Ket’s history as students, the moment when they break up before anything’s really happened (and why) and see them fumble towards each other, each utterly unsure as to how the other feels. Who will speak first? Interwoven throughout are the business dealings of both families. Renee’s family has a large and successful business which may or may not have a chequered ethical past; Ket’s family are dealing from the fall out from the firing of his mother for whistleblowing and the kidnapping of a close family friend and activist. These business stories start to interweave: will they prevent Renee and Ket from getting together?

An entertaining read which does include both swearing and sex scenes. The sex scenes are there because the characters act thus rather than primarily there for the reader. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm a big fan of Zen Cho's SFF: I absolutely adored her short story collection Spirits Abroad and loved her novel Black Water Sister. So when I saw that she'd made an unexpected genre-switch into contemporary romance, I had to check it out. First things first: I think this is a bit misjacketed and definitely mistitled. It's less of a straightforward contemporary romance and more a knotty Asian family story, with romance: I'd have called it something like Family Business. Both our Malaysian-Chinese protagonists - Renee and Ket Siong - are deeply entwined with their family's problems and held back by family secrets. For me, this made The Friend Zone Experiment a lot more satisfying than the typical will-they-won't-they, as both leads have genuine reasons to hesitate about getting involved, both in the past and the present, that aren't based on stupid misunderstandings. The dry humour that I've loved in Cho's other writing is still present here, as well. I was fascinated by the way that familiar plotlines, e.g. breaking free from the corrupt family business, took on new emotional weight in this novel because of the way Cho wrote them. I got properly invested in the relationship between Renee and her brother, for example. Having said all this, The Friend Zone Experiment, unsurprisingly, is much more conventional than Cho's SFF, and for me, less interesting. It does what it does well but I hope Cho doesn't continue to focus on this genre.

I absolutely love Zen Cho I am so excite. To read and review this novel. I apologize due to an unexpected health issue ai am dealing with at the moment I’m a bit behind on reviews but very much looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this one very soon!