One of the Girls (Friendzone Book 1) by Robin Daniels

Senior Nick Moody is the second string quarterback on Roosevelt High School’s championship football team. He’s crushed on Mia for years, but she doesn’t know he exists. It’s time to come off the bench and into the game. Nick refuses to graduate without getting the girl or the glory.

Mia Ashlock is the remarkably kind cheer captain. She’s a yes girl, and her penchant for people pleasing always leads to bad relationships. After being humiliated in a very public dumping, her teammates decide to break her bad habit with a ban on boyfriends.

When Nick sees a poster, advertising cheer tryouts, he has a crazy idea: quit football and become a cheerleader. It’s perfect! He can get close to Mia and steal the spotlight, using his true and hidden talent—gymnastics. Nick and Mia have instant chemistry, but it does him little good. If Mia’s zero dating rule weren’t bad enough, the team treats him less like boyfriend material and more like one of the girls. Breaching the friendzone will be much harder than he thought.

Content: This book contains kissing along with limited/mild swearing and minimal inuendo/crude humor. No explicit language or references to sex.

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This is one of the more well rounded YA books I have read lately.  Yes, much of the book occurs at school or at school functions, but we get the characters in home and family life as well.  It provided a more realistic base for their motivations and desires.

These characters were so easy to like and so easy to root for.  I really fell in love with Nick- how could I not?  He is forging his own path through some pretty tough terrain.  He's pushing against social norms, standing up to his grandfather and putting everything into getting the girl of his dreams.  He is determined, resilient and patient.  Oh, and he is kind.  I am such a fan of kind boys.  💙

There is a slow burn romance here but I loved every minute of it.  I could picture all the moments of this book in my head like a movie. (and some were really funny!)  The story was engaging and I was really invested in everything from beginning to end.  This was such a cute book!  I can't wait for the next one.

Please note content information in the book blurb above given by the author.

This book is on KU if you have that!