Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

7 reviews

marycage's review against another edition

emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Gaslighting, and Self harm

Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism

readwithria's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Happy Ever After Playlist was exactly what I expect from an Abby Jimenez book - funny, emotional, and full of chemistry.

I loved Sloan in The Friend Zone, so returning to her story and seeing her get the happy ending she deserves made me so happy! She and Jason have amazing chemistry, and I loved reading about them and their relationship. I also loved seeing Kristen through Sloan’s eyes, and their friendship was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

This book did a great job of showing Sloan’s grief and depression, and it also did a great job of showing her growth and rediscovery of her self after loss. This was my third Abby Jimenez book, so I knew what kind of emotional turmoil I was going to be in for, and as usual it all felt grounded in reality.

There are a couple reasons this wasn’t a five star book for me. I think that Jason and Sloan had a bit of an unhealthy communication style, and while it improved throughout the book I still think that a lot of their earlier issues could have been solved with a better timed conversation. I also didn’t love the final conflict of the book, but I think it was all resolved well.

I will definitely be reading more of Abby’s backlist, and her future releases! 4 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Cursing

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual content, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

Minor: Gaslighting, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, Blood, Eating disorder, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

justinekorson's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

POINTS DOCKED OFF FOR THE THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!! JASON YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

Besides that though I love, love, LOVED this novel. The chemistry between Jason and Sloan right off the bat was incredible. They were so damn funny together and when they finally met up I about damn near cried. I did not expect the book to take the very emotional turn it does in the latter half. I did not like Lola throughout the whole novel and then ended up wanting to BURN THE WORLD DOWN FOR HER. She was a product of the situation she was put in and I don't blame her at all for what she did/said. 

Anyways, I'm endlessly glad that my friend bought this for me to read!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death, Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Addiction, Car accident, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

lawoodworth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Death

notsobinaryart's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infidelity

The first half of this book made my heart so full and happy. The love present, the hope, how they met and fell in love, was all so special. What deducted most of the points for me began in the second half to last third of the book after a time jump. It got depressing, and after speed reading through the first half, it took a lot of work to finish this book. Spoilers ahead for what went wrong.

As many people can agree, I hate most third act breakups, especially if they’re solely added to creat conflict. In this case, the third act breakup was the result of the love interest, Jason/Jackson, doing what he thought was the best for the main character female character, Sloane. I cannot stand when someone makes a major decision like that for someone else, and ESPECIALLY how he majorly broke her heart right after she was learning to trust and love again. The hurt he caused was completely unacceptable for no good reason.

Jason also seemed all too perfect until this point. We don’t see any major character flaws in him, which made him seem a bit too unbelievable. Overall, the first half was a very fun read, but brace yourself for a rough second half. If you are not prepared for a book that is heavily surrounded by grief, now would not be a good time to pick up this book.

cady_sass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Will Abby Jimenez ever write a book that doesn’t make me cry like a baby? All signs point to no! 

Side note: you do not have to read the friend zone in order to enjoy this, it reads fine as a stand alone. HOWEVER the love and appreciation for Sloane is amplified x100000 if you do. 
Side note 2: it really, really bothers me that they chose to name him “Jackson Waters” when there’s already a band by that name, it did mess me up at the beginning but I cannot detract a star for it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Mental illness

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A wonderful book where two creatives are brought together by a crazy doggo. 
Strangers to lovers, second chance after strains on a relationship.  This book is so well written. The romance itself so wholesome. 
Dealing with themes of grief and also lying to protect others are dealt with alongside developing communication to be good together as a couple.  I love this book and would definitely reccomend 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders