The Happy Ever After Playlist

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

I really really really loved this one!
It mixes the fun of a romcom with the angst of a rockstars romance and it does it well.
If you need another motivation to pick this up asap there's the most adorable dog ever. Cupid? Idk him, Tucker does it better.

The beginning was so fun and so light, I truly needed it. I loved how they connect and built their relationship. I loved how this book portrays the message of moving on from grief for themselves and not only because there's someone in your life.
Jason and Sloan are both wonderful characters, you connect with both of them, you care for both of them. They're definitely the best match.

The second part was a full angst/will they show more make it or not? And I have to be honest rockstars romance rarely work for me, i saw the plot twist coming from ages ago, and it was my least part of it all.

But overall it truly was a joy to read, the couple is pure gold and Abby Jimenez's writing captures you since the first page. I haven't read The Friend Zone yet because it didn't interest me, but after meeting Kristen and Josh, and loving them, I truly want to give it a chance.

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up when it releases. show less

Sloane Monroe was still reeling from the loss of her fiancée two years ago. She was just going through the motions of life until one day, a dog ran in front of her car and then jumped right into her sunroof! That crazy encounter was the start of a new chapter for Sloane, one where she could rediscover her passions and maybe even find love again.

The dog's tag had a phone number, but it took weeks of calls and messages before Sloane finally got a response from Jason, a sweet musician who was in Australia for a few weeks. As they chatted, Sloane was drawn to Jason's kind heart, and they quickly bonded over their love for animals. Tucker, the adventurous dog who brought them together, became a symbol of their connection. When they finally show more met in person, sparks flew, and Sloane started to wonder if she was ready to move on and open her heart to someone new.

Sloane and Jason's budding relationship had its challenges. Sloane struggled to reconnect with her passion for art, while Jason was juggling fame, a relationship, and the expectations of his label and fans. They had their ups and downs, and Sloane sometimes doubted if they'd get their happy ending. But their love and support for each other won out in the end, proving the power of true love.

Abby's writing is amazing in this heartwarming romance, which is full of humor, wit, and lovable characters. The story is well-paced and engaging, making it easy to get invested in Sloane and Jason's lives. The author is great at creating relatable characters and a believable storyline, and fans of romantic comedies will be totally swept up in the romance. With its lighthearted tone and uplifting message, this book is perfect for anyone who loves dogs, banter, and rich characters. show less

Book two in the series is just as readable as the 1st. I didn't love Sloan as much as her spitfire BFF Kristen, but the love story with a famous musician was sweet. I'm always a little wary of the immediate can't live without each other idea, but I loved the visit to his family in Minnesota. Another one that I didn't want to put down.

Two years ago, Sloan Monroe lost her fiancee in a tragic accident. Still, Sloan finds herself in that place where she doesn't want to move forward. She knows that she should and part of her is ready, but the other part doesn't want to leave her fiancee, Brandon, behind. Basically, it's been tough for Sloan to become motivated again. Then a dog falls in her lap, literally. After trying, and failing, to contact the dog's owner, Sloan takes on the responsibility of caring for the dog, Tucker.

Suddenly, Sloan's world opens up. In caring for another being she begins to care for herself again. But at the end of the day, the dog isn't hers. And when Sloan finally hears back from Tucker's owner, Jason, she's not ready to give him up, plus the show more fact that Tucker was just running lose and that it took so long to reach Jason, Sloan wants to make sure the dog's best interests are kept.

As Jason and Sloan begin talking to each other everyday, they immediately recognize the spark between them, but Jason is a rising star in the music industry. And starting a new relationship while he's trying to navigate fame will present its own set of problems. And now that Sloan has just found herself again, can she tie herself to someone who's life isn't entirely their own?

One of the big things I took away from The Friend Zone was the fact that if anyone deserved their own book and their own HEA it was Sloan. I didn't know what that HEA would look like, I just knew that after the shocker that Abby Jimenez threw Sloan, her story couldn't be left where it was.

I was super happy, though not surprised, when The Happy Ever After Playlist was announced and it quickly became a highly anticipated read.

First off, I loved the clear difference between The HEA Playlist and The Friend Zone. The distinction between Kristen and Sloan as characters and friends. Where Kristen's character, and therefore her story, had a kind of frenetic feel to it, a little zany, always on the move, Sloan is more laid back, contemplative. I think it speaks a lot to Sloan's artistic side. When she's working she's has to be in the moment and in the quiet to paint and produce a product she's proud to sign her name to.

I was right there with Sloan when she and Jason first begin conversing with one another over the phone and through texts. I felt the zing between them right off the bat. Their early interactions are wonderful. When they meet that chemistry is still there, but I felt the seriousness of it more. These two people who are going through a similar, albeit slightly different, experiences.

Jason is learning the ins and outs of fame. The expectations, the scrutiny. What it means to make his art for a big corporation. It's something he's wanted for a long time, and now that his life is aligning with his dreams, meeting Sloan puts a wrench in things only as far as the outside pressure (fans, label, touring) doesn't really lend itself to a growing relationship.

Sloan is emerging from her grief, she figuring out who she wants to be now. She's not, and will never again be, the same Sloan before Brandon's death, it's an experience that has undeniably shaped / changed her. All of a sudden she has to choose to live for someone else in supporting Jason's dream, and again losing herself, or choosing her own path.

The give and take of the whole situation is done really well. I just don't think the commentary about living with grief, moving forward from grief was as deftly felt as Kristen's infertility issues from the previous book. I do like what we see in terms of Sloan waking up again, and I ultimately liked the stance of living for yourself and not for others. But I felt like there's more said about the fame monster as more of the conflicts revolve around Jason's emerging fame and the often darker aspects of what it means to be a famous person in the age of social media.

Overall, though I felt like Sloan was done justice. I loved seeing her emerge as a stronger more confident and capable person. I loved the clear differences between this book and its predecessor. And the connection between Jason and Sloan was fantastic.

I also loved that each chapter has an accompanying song that ends up making, you know, a playlist! (ha). I really want to do a reread and actually incorporate the songs into the chapters as I read. show less

Abby Jimenez is an author you can trust for an excellent read. Her novels don’t contain just romance, but friendships, problems and a whole range of emotions. Her second novel, The Happy Ever After Playlist, has all of these things and more.

The story centres around Sloan, who we met in The Friend Zone. She’s lost the love of her life, and two years later, she continues fumble around in a dream. It sounds odd, but when a dog jumps into her car, things start to change. Tucker (the dog) introduces Jason into her life. He’s a musician currently in Australia and he needs Sloan to continue looking after Tucker until he returns home. Over text, photos of Tucker and eventually phone calls, Sloan and Jason strike up a friendship that when show more he comes home, could be more. But Jason’s star is on the rise and Sloan’s life isn’t really compatible with a life on the road. Can they make it work, or do they trade love for a career?

The summary of the plot sounds very basic, but there’s so much more here. How Sloan learns to trust again, and how trust can be shattered in the most brutal, ugly way possible. How Jason and Sloan want the other to have the best, but that it doesn’t include them. There are some pretty shocking tactics here for the reader (especially as we know how Sloan and Jason both feel) and some underhand ‘tricks’ from external forces. It’s a gentle, happy novel for the first half but boy, the second half is a rollercoaster of events and emotions. Credit to Abby Jimenez for creating characters that are so lovable (but with relatable faults) so that the breakups and events hit that much harder. She also manages to complete redeem the thorn in Jason’s side, singer Lola Simone, which is no easy feat given the things she does.

The pacing of the novel is great. It’s more than enticing enough to want to read more, but in the later half it does speed up which makes putting it down more difficult. I do admire Abby Jimenez for putting her characters through so much, but also giving them an appropriately happy ending. It’s cute, sweet and somehow completely relatable despite the plot of national tours, tour buses and screaming fans. The finale is a bit cheesy, but this couple need that after their trials as Jason’s celebrity increases. It’s a delightful, happy read and who doesn’t need those in their reading life at least occasionally?

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

The Friendzone is definitely a comfort read for me and it meant something very special to me so I was beyond excited to read this. I couldn’t stop thinking about Sloan after finishing the first book and how badly I wanted her to have her happy ending. I needed to read this book to have closure on how she ended up.

The humour of the characters is what got me with the first book and I was so happy to see that it wasn’t lost in this one.

Jason and Sloan’s interactions left me feeling giddy and I found myself smiling like an idiot while I read on multiple occasions.

“You’re worth the wait. You’re worth everything.”

Can I please ask where I can find a Jason and when can he become available to purchase?

SPOILER BELOW

I will admit show more that when we believed that Lola was behind all the things going wrong, I was bothered because I’m not fond of stories making women out to be villains in stories. I’m so happy it wasn’t the case and I was pleased when Lola was able to have her redemption and the help she needed. I felt it was so important that it showed that because addiction and mental health are real issues that so many people deal with. She was crying out for help and someone listened. I’m so happy for her.

“She was every love song I’ve never been good enough to write.”

This line is so beautiful and I will never forget it.

There was something so special about this book. It was heartbreaking and so beautiful. I became obsessed so quickly. I went into this wanting closure and I got that and more. This is definitely a comfort read. show less

I was expecting chick lit. This definitely is that but has more going on. It’s an exploration of the depth of grief and an indictment of the worst of the music industry. Minnesota is the home of good people.