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The one that I want

Jennifer Echols - Author

Gemma’s feelings for Max develop while he is dating Addison, her best friend. The resulting romantic-comedy setup brings attraction into tension with friendship and raises the question of how Gemma can pursue what she wants without going after her friend’s boyfriend.

More about this book

"Gemma can't believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma's heartbroken. Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max's friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can't help thinking that Max likes her back--it's just too bad he's already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend's boyfriend?"--

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Romantic attractionFriendshipDating

Consider

Relationships and intimacySocial conflictRomance

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

romantic attractionfriendshipdatingromantic comedyconfusion

FictionNovel

Themes in Context

Wanting someone who is dating a friend

Gemma falls for Max while he is dating Addison, her best friend, leaving her to consider how to pursue him without going after Addison's boyfriend.Provisional reading

Talk about: If Gemma acts on her feelings, what might that mean for her friendship with Addison?

Romantic-comedy setup

The story begins with a double date arranged under confusing circumstances, as Gemma joins Addison and Max with one of Max's friends.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The double-date confusion gives the romantic-comedy setup its starting point.

Talk about: How does the comic setup affect the way Gemma’s difficult position comes across?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The central dilemma offers a way to talk about the difference between wanting someone and deciding how to act, especially when a friend’s relationship is involved.

What Deserves Attention

Romantic attraction, dating and heartbreak are part of the setup. Gemma is also pressured by Addison to join a date, so the social pressure around the outing may be worth noticing.

A Conversation Worth Having

If Gemma decides what to do about Max, what might help her balance her own feelings with her friendship with Addison?

Reading Approach

Read together or check in after the early dating dilemma, then let the reader lead on whether Gemma’s choices feel fair to her and her friend.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Wanting someone who is dating a friend: The ending and the characters' eventual choices are not established.
Romantic-comedy setup: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.

The One That I Want - Jennifer Echols - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Wanting someone who is dating a friend; Romantic-comedy setup

The one that I want by Jennifer Echols | Open Library