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The Friend Zone Experiment
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?
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?
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2024
73 people are currently reading
5463 people want to read
About the author
Zen Cho
59 books2,690 followersI'm a Malaysian fantasy writer based in the UK. Find out more about my work here: http://zencho.org
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March 13, 2024A very striking story. Renee Goh is the daughter of a mega rich businessman, in constant battle with her two brothers for their father's approval--Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession, sort of thing. She fell in love with Yap Ket Siong at college. He's a talented musician whose family lost everything when they came up against a dangerous case of corruption and Ket Siong's elder brother's activist boyfriend (Stephen) was kidnapped and probably murdered. The Yap family had to flee to London where Ket Siong is scraping a living. He bumps into Renee at an event where she's schmoozing for business advantage and he's trying to force a rich guy into admitting what happened to Stephen, and we go from there.
The first half of the book is pretty dark and quite stressful. The impact of Stephen's disappearing on the family is brutal, and Ket Siong's life feels fairly bleak, with a strong sense of threat. Renee has all the privilege but is living a tense, joyless life, tied into a vicious family, forced to put up with gross sexism for financial/familial gain. We really see the harm done by rampant capitalism, and the ghastliness of its perpetrators--and Renee's complicity in the system is absolutely an issue. Their reunion is intense and physical, but there's unquestionably too much baggage and too much unspoken on both sides for it to work initially.
With all that, it's something of a triumph that the author shifts gears to make this really work as a contemporary romance. The plot pivots impressively and takes the mood with it, opening out into people reaching for joy and self-respect in a way that doesn't deny the pain of the first half. This isn't a book that pretends everything's OK globally, or that the millionaire fantasy is other than horrifically problematic, but it is a book that says you can fight to make things better for at least some other people, and that doing so is worth more than scrabbling for the next million for yourself. It is in fact a super-rich person romance that doesn't shy away from the reality of what super-rich means, with a level of honesty we rarely get, and I'm absolutely here for it.
We also see that Renee has the drive but is in desperate need of unconditional love and warmth in her life; Ket Siong is quiet and caring and needs a push to achieve what he's capable of. We end the book genuinely believing they will be good for each other.
It's a compelling read, doing something distinctly different in the romance field. The title is bafflingly inappropriate, though. Wtf publisher.
I had an ARC from the author.
The first half of the book is pretty dark and quite stressful. The impact of Stephen's disappearing on the family is brutal, and Ket Siong's life feels fairly bleak, with a strong sense of threat. Renee has all the privilege but is living a tense, joyless life, tied into a vicious family, forced to put up with gross sexism for financial/familial gain. We really see the harm done by rampant capitalism, and the ghastliness of its perpetrators--and Renee's complicity in the system is absolutely an issue. Their reunion is intense and physical, but there's unquestionably too much baggage and too much unspoken on both sides for it to work initially.
With all that, it's something of a triumph that the author shifts gears to make this really work as a contemporary romance. The plot pivots impressively and takes the mood with it, opening out into people reaching for joy and self-respect in a way that doesn't deny the pain of the first half. This isn't a book that pretends everything's OK globally, or that the millionaire fantasy is other than horrifically problematic, but it is a book that says you can fight to make things better for at least some other people, and that doing so is worth more than scrabbling for the next million for yourself. It is in fact a super-rich person romance that doesn't shy away from the reality of what super-rich means, with a level of honesty we rarely get, and I'm absolutely here for it.
We also see that Renee has the drive but is in desperate need of unconditional love and warmth in her life; Ket Siong is quiet and caring and needs a push to achieve what he's capable of. We end the book genuinely believing they will be good for each other.
It's a compelling read, doing something distinctly different in the romance field. The title is bafflingly inappropriate, though. Wtf publisher.
I had an ARC from the author.
August 16, 2024
The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho
Contemporary women’s fiction, chick lit, drama. Minor romance.
Renee Goh is ready to wallow when her boyfriend dumps her, but gets a surprise phone call from her father. He is retiring and he is considering her for the job as well as her brothers. One of them will win the CEO job of the family run conglomerate after a trial interview period. Renee never thought it possible before but she knows her success at her current job speaks for itself. Renee is all in and ready to compete and win that job even as her brother tries blackmailing and undermining her in the process.
At the same time, Renee runs into her first love, Yap Ket Siong. They spend a hot night together and she knows she needs to focus on her job now and can’t commit to a relationship. They agree to be friends for now and will see if they can sustain it.
Reads like a K-drama. Multiple layers, different but connected storylines, international setting, and sibling rivalries. It starts out dark with secrets and coverups, and does lighten up a bit by the second half but the tone was set for me. This is a clear example of cover and title not being indicative of the storyline. At all. Too much family dislike and lack of trust, for good reason.
The writing is solid and can hold your interest as long as you appreciate it is not a romantic comedy but more a novel of family drama with a touch of romance at the end.
Contemporary women’s fiction, chick lit, drama. Minor romance.
Renee Goh is ready to wallow when her boyfriend dumps her, but gets a surprise phone call from her father. He is retiring and he is considering her for the job as well as her brothers. One of them will win the CEO job of the family run conglomerate after a trial interview period. Renee never thought it possible before but she knows her success at her current job speaks for itself. Renee is all in and ready to compete and win that job even as her brother tries blackmailing and undermining her in the process.
At the same time, Renee runs into her first love, Yap Ket Siong. They spend a hot night together and she knows she needs to focus on her job now and can’t commit to a relationship. They agree to be friends for now and will see if they can sustain it.
Reads like a K-drama. Multiple layers, different but connected storylines, international setting, and sibling rivalries. It starts out dark with secrets and coverups, and does lighten up a bit by the second half but the tone was set for me. This is a clear example of cover and title not being indicative of the storyline. At all. Too much family dislike and lack of trust, for good reason.
The writing is solid and can hold your interest as long as you appreciate it is not a romantic comedy but more a novel of family drama with a touch of romance at the end.
April 10, 2024
2.5 rounded up for general harmlessness although it could just as easily have been rounded down because the package is so so unbelievably awful. the cover is apparently not ai even though it looks like that? and HWAT is with the title. 'experiment' implies a deliberate, contrived, romcom-plot intention, "i am going to friendzone x for narrative purposes of y" (also 'friendzone' is extremely negative and manosphere-y in a way that is offputting on its own). that's not the case! it's just two people who are deeply in childhood-first-love love pretending they're regular friends!
the people: they are so sensible and levelheaded that it makes a fairly high-stakes plot feel rote. this pulls a lot from kdrama—it's in the acknowledgements and everything—in its combination of romance/corporate succession plot/a backstory where someone was, probably, MURDERED!, but the fun of a good kdrama is the melodrama—either high theater or sweeping sincerity. it's very funny to see a kdrama plot met with a "hmm. ok. noted" from both of its characters. the few moments of high emotions are painstakingly realistic and grounded: yes, it's true, even a nice adult can have a panic attack.
i know we're just calling contemporary romance "romcom" now because the former has dated genre connotations but it's funny to put that designation on a largely unfunny book. i'm not saying it's full of clunkers, rather that it doesn't bother at all—it doesn't have the lighthearted, affected winkiness of say an emily henry that establishes a world where anyone might pratfall into anyone's arms at any moment (whether or not that is 'humor' per se is immaterial to it being a genre signifier, and i'm digressing). this is a sensible shoe. this is a story told by a coworker that you basically like but kind of wish she would wrap up so you can go home. as a member of the o.g. gossip girl generation i am a very generous reader for setting via pointed brand invocation but i kept having to take breaks to prevent medium-fancy-though-not-trendy-real-london-restaurant namedrop fatigue. it's not satirical and it's also not particularly aspirational. you can literally go to yauatcha.
i mentioned that 'contemporary romance' is looked on as dated but the tone here is much more similar to early-00s women's fiction, the era of 'chick lit'. if there's really no place for that in the present market, that i suppose accounts for the wildly inarticulate positioning here. i DO think punting this into the present romance market is a huge awful setup for the author, especially given the air of abject misery every time she has to get herself to the other side of a sex scene. i don't want that for zen cho! i loved black water sister and her reams of very good short fiction! why is the romance imprint of a sff publisher putting her in the 'spice, queen? 👀' saw trap! everyone involved here, her included, should have gently asked themselves "what are we doing here? like what do we want out of this?" and then, and this is the most important part, they should have come up with an answer.
the people: they are so sensible and levelheaded that it makes a fairly high-stakes plot feel rote. this pulls a lot from kdrama—it's in the acknowledgements and everything—in its combination of romance/corporate succession plot/a backstory where someone was, probably, MURDERED!, but the fun of a good kdrama is the melodrama—either high theater or sweeping sincerity. it's very funny to see a kdrama plot met with a "hmm. ok. noted" from both of its characters. the few moments of high emotions are painstakingly realistic and grounded: yes, it's true, even a nice adult can have a panic attack.
i know we're just calling contemporary romance "romcom" now because the former has dated genre connotations but it's funny to put that designation on a largely unfunny book. i'm not saying it's full of clunkers, rather that it doesn't bother at all—it doesn't have the lighthearted, affected winkiness of say an emily henry that establishes a world where anyone might pratfall into anyone's arms at any moment (whether or not that is 'humor' per se is immaterial to it being a genre signifier, and i'm digressing). this is a sensible shoe. this is a story told by a coworker that you basically like but kind of wish she would wrap up so you can go home. as a member of the o.g. gossip girl generation i am a very generous reader for setting via pointed brand invocation but i kept having to take breaks to prevent medium-fancy-though-not-trendy-real-london-restaurant namedrop fatigue. it's not satirical and it's also not particularly aspirational. you can literally go to yauatcha.
i mentioned that 'contemporary romance' is looked on as dated but the tone here is much more similar to early-00s women's fiction, the era of 'chick lit'. if there's really no place for that in the present market, that i suppose accounts for the wildly inarticulate positioning here. i DO think punting this into the present romance market is a huge awful setup for the author, especially given the air of abject misery every time she has to get herself to the other side of a sex scene. i don't want that for zen cho! i loved black water sister and her reams of very good short fiction! why is the romance imprint of a sff publisher putting her in the 'spice, queen? 👀' saw trap! everyone involved here, her included, should have gently asked themselves "what are we doing here? like what do we want out of this?" and then, and this is the most important part, they should have come up with an answer.
dnf
June 30, 2024dnf
our mc, the (quasi)estranged daughter of wealth, runs her own fashion brand and is possibly in line to inherit the family empire...sounds familiar? initially, this nod to Crash Landing onto You amused me. however, Zen Cho's latest novel quickly devolves into a bland rehash of romcom and K-drama clichés.
what's most disappointing is the complete absence of Cho's trademark witty humor and playful satire. Cho's prose feels flat and uninspired compared to her usual works.
it pains me to admit that The Friend Zone Experiment feels like an attempt to cash in on the romcom trend. while i understand its potential for commercial success over Cho's fantasy novels, i had hoped for her to inject more of her style into the genre. instead, we're served one cliché after another—like a beautiful MC who doesn't realize her own attractiveness ("conscious about her jaw," but somehow "no less lovely now—more so, if anything").
despite the characters' wealth, Cho's attempt to immediately garner sympathy for our 'relatable' MC (who has launched a successful brand and owns a flat in London... in this economy?) feels rushed and contrived. then there's this perplexing moment: "She had wondered over the years if he was gay and that was why things had gone wrong when she’d fallen for him. But she wasn’t wearing a blouse under her jacket, and there was something about the way Ket Siong’s eyes were carefully avoiding her neckline that made her think that wasn’t it." i don't even know where to begin with this. it was a choice, one that would not be out of place in a Wattpad story, but i am dissapointed to see an author who previously centred her stories on queer characters write something so banal.
this novel falls short of Cho's usual brilliance (boring characters, predictable story, flat writing) and lacks the charm and depth i have come to expect from her
our mc, the (quasi)estranged daughter of wealth, runs her own fashion brand and is possibly in line to inherit the family empire...sounds familiar? initially, this nod to Crash Landing onto You amused me. however, Zen Cho's latest novel quickly devolves into a bland rehash of romcom and K-drama clichés.
what's most disappointing is the complete absence of Cho's trademark witty humor and playful satire. Cho's prose feels flat and uninspired compared to her usual works.
it pains me to admit that The Friend Zone Experiment feels like an attempt to cash in on the romcom trend. while i understand its potential for commercial success over Cho's fantasy novels, i had hoped for her to inject more of her style into the genre. instead, we're served one cliché after another—like a beautiful MC who doesn't realize her own attractiveness ("conscious about her jaw," but somehow "no less lovely now—more so, if anything").
despite the characters' wealth, Cho's attempt to immediately garner sympathy for our 'relatable' MC (who has launched a successful brand and owns a flat in London... in this economy?) feels rushed and contrived. then there's this perplexing moment: "She had wondered over the years if he was gay and that was why things had gone wrong when she’d fallen for him. But she wasn’t wearing a blouse under her jacket, and there was something about the way Ket Siong’s eyes were carefully avoiding her neckline that made her think that wasn’t it." i don't even know where to begin with this. it was a choice, one that would not be out of place in a Wattpad story, but i am dissapointed to see an author who previously centred her stories on queer characters write something so banal.
this novel falls short of Cho's usual brilliance (boring characters, predictable story, flat writing) and lacks the charm and depth i have come to expect from her
September 28, 2024
LOVED it. This is The Author of Black Water Sister Does Romcom. Imo the perfect tone, the perfect balance of cute fluffy romance with fraught backstabbing family empire/violent corruption - yes that’s possible, but only in this specific book as far as I can tell. Every time I picked this up I was immediately right back in it because the writing was so great. CanNOT wait for what Zen Cho writes next.
July 15, 2024
A thought-provoking, K-drama-esque romance that was everything I imagined it would be and more!
Having loved Zen Cho’s witty supernatural novel, Black Water Sister, I was excited to see how she would tackle the contemporary romance genre. Which I’m glad to report didn’t disappoint.
Delving into the complex (and slightly dysfunctional) bonds of family, class, corruption and ethics, Zen Cho’s social commentary-infused prose was a masterclass in nuance that had me glued to my seat.
The emotional depth in our protagonists (Renee and Ket Siong) was really well executed and the backstory that unfurls between them (detailing their unique family situations, longtime friendship and their reason for drifting apart) added a layer of complexity to their second chance romance that I found quite compelling.
I loved our fashion designer protagonist, Renee, and really enjoyed exploring beyond the ambitious public persona she has spent the past decade crafting to the endearing and emotionally vulnerable woman beneath.
Her struggle to gain respect for her hard earned success from her own family, and the high stakes, drama filled rivalry with her brothers (and their frustrating sense of entitlement) was edge of your seat worthy— I was completely invested in the drama and rooting for Renee the whole time.
Fellow protagonist and love interest, Ket Siong was really endearing too. His journey to uncovering the truth behind his friend’s disappearance is what leads him back into Renee’s orbit—and I loved the subtle, simmering development of their relationship.
I do think the romance aspect does occasionally take a back seat to some of the more important issue (like corruption, unethical business practices and family struggles) which is perfect if you love your romances to have a little depth.
Overall, a deft and engaging contemporary romance with a cast of flawed but compelling characters that fans of Succession or Crazy Rich Asians definitely want to consider checking out!
Also, thanks to Book Break UK and Chloe Davies for the fabulous proof.
Having loved Zen Cho’s witty supernatural novel, Black Water Sister, I was excited to see how she would tackle the contemporary romance genre. Which I’m glad to report didn’t disappoint.
Delving into the complex (and slightly dysfunctional) bonds of family, class, corruption and ethics, Zen Cho’s social commentary-infused prose was a masterclass in nuance that had me glued to my seat.
The emotional depth in our protagonists (Renee and Ket Siong) was really well executed and the backstory that unfurls between them (detailing their unique family situations, longtime friendship and their reason for drifting apart) added a layer of complexity to their second chance romance that I found quite compelling.
I loved our fashion designer protagonist, Renee, and really enjoyed exploring beyond the ambitious public persona she has spent the past decade crafting to the endearing and emotionally vulnerable woman beneath.
Her struggle to gain respect for her hard earned success from her own family, and the high stakes, drama filled rivalry with her brothers (and their frustrating sense of entitlement) was edge of your seat worthy— I was completely invested in the drama and rooting for Renee the whole time.
Fellow protagonist and love interest, Ket Siong was really endearing too. His journey to uncovering the truth behind his friend’s disappearance is what leads him back into Renee’s orbit—and I loved the subtle, simmering development of their relationship.
I do think the romance aspect does occasionally take a back seat to some of the more important issue (like corruption, unethical business practices and family struggles) which is perfect if you love your romances to have a little depth.
Overall, a deft and engaging contemporary romance with a cast of flawed but compelling characters that fans of Succession or Crazy Rich Asians definitely want to consider checking out!
Also, thanks to Book Break UK and Chloe Davies for the fabulous proof.
August 28, 2024
beautifully written and interesting characters. i probably didn't enjoy it as much as i should as i was not really in a mood for romance, though even not being in the mood i read it and liked the people so probably it's really good. i like her fantasies much better, but then i like fantasies.
April 8, 2025
more literary fic adjacent romance than romcom, and more kdrama than anything else, but not nearly melodramatic enough to be either, really. decently fun and fresh, with a deceptive marketing strategy: this is barely a romance, and certainly not a funny quirky light one at that. why did bramble publish this, and why THIS cover or title? while technically a second chance romance, i was honestly more invested in the secondary romance between the brother and his best friend, and the vaguely mysterious mystery plot. meh
February 7, 2024
Like Crazy Rich Asians but with a healthy dose of politics and even more complicated (and very real) family/sibling dynamics!! Probably the most tense I've ever been while reading a romance novel, in a very good way.
August 18, 2025
This has been the summer of me catching up on books I got a while back and never read. And of new-to-me authors.
This has been such an interesting read - a bit of contemporary fiction (Crazy Rich Asians), a bit of soap opera feel (many friends of friends of relatives and seemingly random coincidences), a bit of romance (and I loved that bit a lot).
There is a lot of going on in this story, too much at times, but it is all well explored and presented in depth. Nothing is superficial, every little details matters, and adds colour to the big picture. Both MCs carry their own traumas, they are complex and run deep and don't go away overnight. The world of the super-rich is not my preferred reading scene but I was ok with it here. It's not just fun and glamour, it's corruption and manipulations that put the lives of ordinary people in danger.
I quite liked the romance. The odds were not in favour of them making it together in the long run - too much history, too much blame and hurt and family pressure. There is the possibility for redemption and making a different choice, taking a stand and moving foward.
I am afraid this is not a very coherent review, but in short, it's a complex, engaging story about social justice and a tender, passionate romance all in one.
Highly recommend it.
CW: kidnapping, political corruption, sexual abuse
This has been such an interesting read - a bit of contemporary fiction (Crazy Rich Asians), a bit of soap opera feel (many friends of friends of relatives and seemingly random coincidences), a bit of romance (and I loved that bit a lot).
There is a lot of going on in this story, too much at times, but it is all well explored and presented in depth. Nothing is superficial, every little details matters, and adds colour to the big picture. Both MCs carry their own traumas, they are complex and run deep and don't go away overnight. The world of the super-rich is not my preferred reading scene but I was ok with it here. It's not just fun and glamour, it's corruption and manipulations that put the lives of ordinary people in danger.
I quite liked the romance. The odds were not in favour of them making it together in the long run - too much history, too much blame and hurt and family pressure. There is the possibility for redemption and making a different choice, taking a stand and moving foward.
I am afraid this is not a very coherent review, but in short, it's a complex, engaging story about social justice and a tender, passionate romance all in one.
Highly recommend it.
CW: kidnapping, political corruption, sexual abuse
August 8, 2024
3.5 rounded up
A moving and enjoyable dual timeline second chance friends to lovers romance set in London that sees a successful Asian businesswoman living in London working hard to impress her father and win a role as CEO of his Singapore based company while also reconnecting with the first man she fell in love with.
Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao or Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. This was my first book by Zen Cho and I very much look forward to reading more. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: closed door/fade to black
A moving and enjoyable dual timeline second chance friends to lovers romance set in London that sees a successful Asian businesswoman living in London working hard to impress her father and win a role as CEO of his Singapore based company while also reconnecting with the first man she fell in love with.
Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao or Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. This was my first book by Zen Cho and I very much look forward to reading more. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: closed door/fade to black
August 22, 2024
3.5 stars
August 18, 2024
Gosh, you never know what you're going to get with Zen Cho! I can't think of hardly any authors who move across genres the way she does.
The cover and title do this book (and readers) a disservice - this is what drives me nuts about cover trends, esp illustrated covers. This is not a light, fluffy romcom or genre romance. It's a rom-dram with pretty high stakes. Zen Cho can write a romp when she wants to (Order of the Pure Moon...!) and this is very much not that. I wish publishers would remember that we look to covers for clues/vibes and not just choose whatever cover style is hot in order to fool readers into buying it.
The author is exceptionally talented, and this book was SOLID. but I'm afraid that with that cover and title, it's going to have a hard time finding its readers or getting love from the folks who pick it up expecting something else.
The cover and title do this book (and readers) a disservice - this is what drives me nuts about cover trends, esp illustrated covers. This is not a light, fluffy romcom or genre romance. It's a rom-dram with pretty high stakes. Zen Cho can write a romp when she wants to (Order of the Pure Moon...!) and this is very much not that. I wish publishers would remember that we look to covers for clues/vibes and not just choose whatever cover style is hot in order to fool readers into buying it.
The author is exceptionally talented, and this book was SOLID. but I'm afraid that with that cover and title, it's going to have a hard time finding its readers or getting love from the folks who pick it up expecting something else.
July 6, 2024
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 shitty family’s shady corporation” and “tee hee does this boy like me?” 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 brand name-dropping felt more like advertising than anything relevant to plot (unless it’s illustrating the vapid way rich people waste money?)
● 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 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.
● In the flashbacks,
● 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 keeps banging on about how Ket Siong “broke her heart” and Nathalie holds a lot of resentment for “what he did” too. But, like, why? Why is she acting like she’s so traumatized over something so minor that happened so long ago?
● Oh Christ, now 🙄
● Ket Siong tells Renee his suspicions about and she makes the whole thing about her! 🙃
● Why is Nathalie threatening violence on Ket Siong because These characters are so immature and silly!
● 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.
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 shitty family’s shady corporation” and “tee hee does this boy like me?” 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 brand name-dropping felt more like advertising than anything relevant to plot (unless it’s illustrating the vapid way rich people waste money?)
● 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 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.
● In the flashbacks,
● 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 keeps banging on about how Ket Siong “broke her heart” and Nathalie holds a lot of resentment for “what he did” too. But, like, why? Why is she acting like she’s so traumatized over something so minor that happened so long ago?
● Oh Christ, now 🙄
● Ket Siong tells Renee his suspicions about and she makes the whole thing about her! 🙃
● Why is Nathalie threatening violence on Ket Siong because These characters are so immature and silly!
● 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.
August 5, 2024
3.5 rounded up. I've enjoyed every other book I've read by Zen Cho and I'm very glad I picked this up too. I overall had a great time with this book, and Cho's writing style is smooth and makes for a quick read. I immediately saw the kdrama inspo (which I loved), and thought the overall arching themes of corporate corruption was a compelling plot thread. The one drawback I felt was that the dynamic between the two leads in the present day POVs felt like there could have been more there, and I felt like the serious conversation they had at 65% should've happened sooner in my opinion to allow for a more satisfying character arc and growth by the end. However, it was an overall enjoyable and fast read that had its light moments even with the serious tones woven throughout. A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC in exchange for my thoughts!
March 5, 2025
Not a romcom! It is chick lit
October 21, 2024
This book started out so good and by the middle completely fizzled for me. I liked the K Drama aspects of the evil brothers out to sabotage their sister who is taking over the company. I hated everything about the melodramatic romance and the "I want you, but we're not good for each other" back and forth. It wasn't interesting and the couple had little chemistry together.
June 7, 2024
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 received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
September 30, 2024
The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho is the first modern contemporary romance book by the author who mainly wrote fantasy and I was so excited to pick this up when I first heard the news about it. This is a second chance romance with family dramas mixed in and working on each others' goals in life.
Honestly, this is just an okay book for me. The romance is not so swoon worthy but it is very realistic. I'm not a huge fan of going back and forth between present and past but I understand why it had to be the way that it is.
I was expecting what happened to Stephan to be more unexpected and wowed but again, this is quite a realistic book and as we Malaysians say it: pijak di bumi yang nyata. The same goes with Renee's decision with the family business.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
Honestly, this is just an okay book for me. The romance is not so swoon worthy but it is very realistic. I'm not a huge fan of going back and forth between present and past but I understand why it had to be the way that it is.
I was expecting what happened to Stephan to be more unexpected and wowed but again, this is quite a realistic book and as we Malaysians say it: pijak di bumi yang nyata. The same goes with Renee's decision with the family business.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
perhaps-finish-later
April 6, 2025I'm tagging this as PFL for the time being. After I dropped the book I left it on currently reading for a while to figure out how I want to proceed. At the moment I can't picture myself coming back to it to finish it. There's just something so "not lighthearted" about it that clashes with my ideal romance book, even though I wouldn't say I only enjoy romances that are all fluff and no seriousness.
August 11, 2024
File under "books I want to give ten stars to". All of the author's characteristic wit, observational shrewdness, compelling characters and insightfully drawn relationships brought perfectly to a new genre. I loved this. Right up to the top of my favourite romances of all time, and quite possibly my favourite ever m/f romance.
December 31, 2025
CAWPILE: 5.86/10.00
August 13, 2024
4.3 stars!⭐️
I liked that…
I enjoyed this one! One thing that kept me thoroughly intrigued throughout the story was the aspects of family drama and the secrets on both sides!! I loved Renee’s whole character!! She is a powerhouse to be reckoned with! I liked that it was dual pov! and I didn't mind that the romance aspect took a bit of a backseat! I really liked how it was a good balance of romance but also had lots of family and workplace drama!
I didn't like!
The only thing that was a bit off-putting was sometimes the political intrigue of the book was a little bit confusing to follow with the book being dual pov, whilst jumping timelines
I liked that…
I enjoyed this one! One thing that kept me thoroughly intrigued throughout the story was the aspects of family drama and the secrets on both sides!! I loved Renee’s whole character!! She is a powerhouse to be reckoned with! I liked that it was dual pov! and I didn't mind that the romance aspect took a bit of a backseat! I really liked how it was a good balance of romance but also had lots of family and workplace drama!
I didn't like!
The only thing that was a bit off-putting was sometimes the political intrigue of the book was a little bit confusing to follow with the book being dual pov, whilst jumping timelines
November 5, 2024
So I really, really enjoyed this book, but what in the world is the title about??? And why is the cover in a completely different vibe?!
If I'd read this book hoping for the cover+title combination I reckon I'd have been miserably disappointed
If I'd read this book hoping for the cover+title combination I reckon I'd have been miserably disappointed
September 20, 2024
I will follow Zen Cho almost anywhere, including reading a straight m/f contemporary romance. Don’t believe the cover or the blurb, this isn’t a fluffy rom-com. I’m glad I read KJ Charles’ excellent review first, so I knew what to expect.
I enjoyed reading it. I’m not entirely convinced by the romance but I loved spending time with the characters. And I really loved Renee’s character arc.
I enjoyed reading it. I’m not entirely convinced by the romance but I loved spending time with the characters. And I really loved Renee’s character arc.
February 4, 2025
The Friend-Zone experiment turned out to be a massive failure and THANK GOD because Renee and Ket Siong are meant for each other and I personally don't know why they would ever think they weren't simply meant to be together (and definitely NOT as "Just Friends").
I loved the brutal look at 2 very different family dynamics and how though wildly different they can massively mess with your head or push you to be great even with the best or worst intentions.
The romance was lovely but it was not exactly the main plot of the book, which I think is actually to its merit. Zen Cho is able to craft an interesting story looking at corruption, kidnapping and business intrigue while also developing a convincing romance. Is it done well? Yes! Does a part of me wish there was a tiiiiiny more depth to both aspects? Also Yes!Do I desperately want more info on Steven and Ket Hao? YES (a novella, a special chapter - what happened on that video call, and in that kitchen, what happens nextttt ahhhh...I'll take anythiiiing!).
Overall, a great book and super fun. I'm going to miss the absolute icon that is Natalie.
I loved the brutal look at 2 very different family dynamics and how though wildly different they can massively mess with your head or push you to be great even with the best or worst intentions.
The romance was lovely but it was not exactly the main plot of the book, which I think is actually to its merit. Zen Cho is able to craft an interesting story looking at corruption, kidnapping and business intrigue while also developing a convincing romance. Is it done well? Yes! Does a part of me wish there was a tiiiiiny more depth to both aspects? Also Yes!Do I desperately want more info on Steven and Ket Hao? YES (a novella, a special chapter - what happened on that video call, and in that kitchen, what happens nextttt ahhhh...I'll take anythiiiing!).
Overall, a great book and super fun. I'm going to miss the absolute icon that is Natalie.
March 15, 2024
Renee and Yap Ket Siong had moments of will they or won't they in college until Yap Ket Siong had to return home.....for reasons he kept from Renee which resulted in a broken heart. Fast forward, years later, and Renee is a successful business woman with a powerful father (not that she can really count on him or her family for anything other than judgement) but she is lonely. When she runs into Yap Ket Siong again all those feelings return (for both of them) but they are both hesitant to act on them for various different reasons. This was a slow burn romance with a bit of mystery thrown that was fun to read and more importantly I was rooting for Renee & Yap Ket Siong both personally and for them together.
First time reading Zen Cho but it won't be my last....thanks to Bramble for the ARC!
First time reading Zen Cho but it won't be my last....thanks to Bramble for the ARC!
August 14, 2024
I was so excited when I got chosen for this tour since it falls under my Malaysian reads month and I’m interested to see how this author chooses to tackle the romcom genre seeing this is her first foray into this genre.
The writing style makes this a breezy and fun read. For a rom-com, it was a light-hearted read even though it touches serious topics like family bonds and dysfunctions, class, values, romance and corruption.
I appreciate the representation of Malaysian and Singaporean culture even though the story mostly takes place in the UK where both leads are Malaysians but studied and eventually decided to migrate abroad. Both leads Ket Siong and Renee are from completely different worlds yet they met during their uni days, fell in love and circumstances lead them apart only to meet again many years later, giving you the second chances vibe. We also get flashbacks which eventually lead us to understand what circumstances drove them apart.
I do love some of their interactions and how strong both characters are even though so much huddles are thrown their way. Renee’s family is crazy dysfunctional and I cannot even imagine having siblings like hers.
Let's talk about the not-so-good stuff.
I find the emotional aspect and the serious topics more like a brief touchpoint as opposed to diving into the heart of them. This makes the book very chicklit focus which makes it a fun read, it wasn't the kind of book that would grip me and want me to keep reading. It was a solid read but it wasn't an amazing read. Hence the 3.5 stars.
Thank you to @brambleromance @coloredpagesbt and @zenaldehyde for this gifted ARC as part of #TheFriendZoneExperimentTour
The writing style makes this a breezy and fun read. For a rom-com, it was a light-hearted read even though it touches serious topics like family bonds and dysfunctions, class, values, romance and corruption.
I appreciate the representation of Malaysian and Singaporean culture even though the story mostly takes place in the UK where both leads are Malaysians but studied and eventually decided to migrate abroad. Both leads Ket Siong and Renee are from completely different worlds yet they met during their uni days, fell in love and circumstances lead them apart only to meet again many years later, giving you the second chances vibe. We also get flashbacks which eventually lead us to understand what circumstances drove them apart.
I do love some of their interactions and how strong both characters are even though so much huddles are thrown their way. Renee’s family is crazy dysfunctional and I cannot even imagine having siblings like hers.
Let's talk about the not-so-good stuff.
I find the emotional aspect and the serious topics more like a brief touchpoint as opposed to diving into the heart of them. This makes the book very chicklit focus which makes it a fun read, it wasn't the kind of book that would grip me and want me to keep reading. It was a solid read but it wasn't an amazing read. Hence the 3.5 stars.
Thank you to @brambleromance @coloredpagesbt and @zenaldehyde for this gifted ARC as part of #TheFriendZoneExperimentTour
June 22, 2024
This book was a complete surprise to me, luckily a pleasant one!
I thought I would be reading a typical adult romance here, with traditional tropes, but instead found a more complex plot that was entertaining and interesting.
Under pressure from her father to work in the family's multi conglomerate company based in Singapore, Renee opts instead to move to London and found her own successful business. Although she expects her estrangement from her father and brothers to be permanent, her father reaches out to her a decade later and informs her that he is going to soon decide whether she or one or her brothers would be his successor.
Meanwhile, Renee's private life becomes complicated when she runs into an old college friend - a former crush she believes was not interested in her romantically during those days. Yap Ket Siong, along with his mother and brother, has been hiding in London due to the activism and subsequent kidnapping of a close friend of the family protesting the deforestation of a pristine rainforest in Malaysia.
Favorite elements:
* While they are drawn to each other, there are so many reasons why Renee and Ket Siong should not be together, and their confusion and consternation are written in a realistic manner.
* I loved the complexity of the subplots involving environmentalism and capitalism.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaway program and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I thought I would be reading a typical adult romance here, with traditional tropes, but instead found a more complex plot that was entertaining and interesting.
Under pressure from her father to work in the family's multi conglomerate company based in Singapore, Renee opts instead to move to London and found her own successful business. Although she expects her estrangement from her father and brothers to be permanent, her father reaches out to her a decade later and informs her that he is going to soon decide whether she or one or her brothers would be his successor.
Meanwhile, Renee's private life becomes complicated when she runs into an old college friend - a former crush she believes was not interested in her romantically during those days. Yap Ket Siong, along with his mother and brother, has been hiding in London due to the activism and subsequent kidnapping of a close friend of the family protesting the deforestation of a pristine rainforest in Malaysia.
Favorite elements:
* While they are drawn to each other, there are so many reasons why Renee and Ket Siong should not be together, and their confusion and consternation are written in a realistic manner.
* I loved the complexity of the subplots involving environmentalism and capitalism.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaway program and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 7, 2024
Loved this slow burn and second chance romance between Renee and Ket Siong. This book also has both characters navigating complicated family relationships and responsibilities while trying to balance their own goals. This is Crazy Rich Asians money mixed in with Succession maneuverings for power along with political power in a home country, while living abroad. It's challenging and yet, sweet at the same time. Zen Cho has always been a talented writer, but this switch in genres just magnifies that talent.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick 8/24
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick 8/24
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