Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Happy Ever After Playlist

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The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

35 reviews

lujisa's review

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emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.0

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caties_books's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I've read in a long time 😍😍

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teadsreads's review

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emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Not bad at all. Fun story of an up and coming rockstar and a woman that lost her fiancé to an accident a few years before. They meet through a chance encounter due to a dog and then things grow from there.

Mostly a fantasy reader but trying to expand my horizons with some romance.

Would recommend if you want a quick read with some slight spice.

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amateur_bookworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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? No

4.75

Genre: Contemporary romance, fiction

My summary: Sloan is still grieving two years after a motorcycle accident that killed her fiancé, Brandon. When a dog, Tucker, jumps into her car, she tries to reach Jason, the owner on his tags, and after two weeks of no luck decides that maybe Brandon sent her Tucker on the anniversary of his accident. Jason, who had been on a two week backpacking trip with no cell service, is both devastated and relieved to get Sloan’s messages that she has Tucker. Still at work in Australia for two more weeks, they start talking and texting about Tucker and it turns into more. When Jason finally returns to Los Angeles and reunites with Tucker and meets Sloan, they fall hard and fast for each other. But Jason is also Jaxon Waters, rising to blockbuster stardom as a singer, and life on the road touring may break them.

My thoughts: Sloan’s story in The Friend Zone was absolutely crushing. So seeing her get a happy ever after with a famous rock star was a fun ride. Although there was a point where I was pretty sure Abby Jimenez shoved my heart through a meat grinder, I really enjoyed the rest of the story. This book made me feel all the feels and I enjoyed it a lot more than The Friend Zone and I’m looking forward to the next one.

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cassiealexandra's review against another edition

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emotional funny tense medium-paced

4.0

This was love at first page for me. I was laughing out loud. The banter between Sloan and Jason, his lost dog and Sloan’s near dognapping as the meet-cute, Jason’s shameless flirting, and the text messaging and calls before the in-person “appointment”-turned-date was all a great opening. I was so happy with the screentime given to Kristen and Josh from The Friend Zone. I was heartbroken with Sloan after her tragic loss, and I was satisfied that the time gap between books was a two full years. I appreciated Jason’s willingness to give Sloan space to sit in her grief and walk through her complicated emotions about reopening her heart to love. The exploration of prolonged grief and the ways that Sloan had completely lost herself, creating a shrine to what she’d lost, was realistic and heart-wrenching. I loved so much about this book, and then…

Then the celebrity romance trope took a turn for the worse for me. I could see hints that it was heading that way throughout the beginning. It was clear Jason’s career was really taking off. It was obvious the past with superstar Lola Simone was going to play a role, (which originally felt like a fun prequel cameo of her small scenes in Part of Your World) but I had no idea how big her storyline would be in this one. The miscommunication and the concealment of information for Sloan’s “protection,” was frustrating as a reader, and it was hard for me to get over some of the choices Jason made even if his intentions were to help Sloan move forward and do what was best for her life. I get that he didn’t want his career and her exhaustion on tour buses to suck the life out of the slowly reawakening Sloan, but the third-act in this one was beyond awful. We skip some of the heartbreak by moving forward three months, and of course, it wouldn’t be romance without a happily ever after. My struggle is whether the extremely satisfying and happy ending make up for the portions that made my stomach turn. I’m not sure. So what might have been five stars turned four two-thirds into this book.

Overall, I still really liked this story of a songwriter and artist falling for each other with a dog playing matchmaker, but a few changes to the story would have made it hit even better for me.

The bottom line: Another solid love story from Jimenez, which takes a look at complicated grief with a balance of humor and heart.

— NOTES —

Genres: romantic comedy, romance, side of contemporary fiction

POV: first-person, dual

Content: complicated grief/prolonged complex bereavement disorder, strong language

Romance: one “almost” scene; one open door scene toward the end of chapter 23

— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —

(all out of 5)

Pace: 4

Enjoyment: 4.25

Craft: 4

My Gut Feeling: 4

Total Stars: 4.125

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

Title: The Happy Ever After Playlist
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: The Friend Zone #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: April 14, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Entertaining • Enchanting • Heartwearming

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Artist Sloan Monroe just can't seem to get her life on track. But one trouble-making pup who randomly jumps into her car with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With Tucker by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

💭 T H O U G H T S

My heart ached for Sloan in The Friend Zone, so I was excited to learn I'd be getting to read her story in The Happy Ever After Playlist. With such a personal connection to this book, I was anticipating another deeply emotional reading experience. Unfortunately, this one didn't have the same emotional punch, which left me slightly disappointed.

The beginning was so good! I absolutely adored the meet-cute (despite being on the dramatic side); the banter between Sloan and Jason was top notch; and getting to know Jason was delightful. And of course, there is Tucker (and I'm not even a dog person)! Yet everything I loved so much through the first third, slowly faded. For instance, Tucker played such a big part role, yet he kind of got left by the wayside as it went on. Their story somehow got bogged down through the middle, making in longer than necessary. Additionally, the fun, light hearted banter, which made their connection so believable, slowly dissipated.

A few other positives. I couldn't help me be entertained by Kristen's entertaining cameos. She was hilarious and I am so glad Sloan had her in her court. Everyone needs a Kristen in their lives. I also adored Sloan's relationship with her MIL. It was all heart-warming.

One last thing, while I typically like when author's include notes on their inspiration, in this case, I have issues with the concept of 'making people better' or 'fixing people' in the face of life-alternating death. It's a reminder of western society's inability to sit with grief and uncomfortableness, even though I know the importance of continuing to live. Grief is a lifelong journey and there is no getting over it, rather moving forward with it.

For me, 2023 has certainly been the year of Abby Jimenez (this was my fourth), and while The Happy Ever After Playlist is my least favourite, I still love how she writes banters and creates realistic romance with depth. I will continue to read everything she writes, and I'm looking forward to continuing with Life's Too Short, while I await her upcoming 2024 release.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Abby Jimenez devotees
• readers who like dogs
• fans of the second chance romance trope

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Sometimes the hardest place to live is the one in-between. And sometimes in-between is all you'll ever get."

"This was just a season, and there's beauty in all seasons."

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xwritingstoriesx's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

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finebook's review

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emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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aleroness's review

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4.5

One of the best romances I've read all year! Well-written and the plot kept me guessing until the end. At almost no point could I discern where the story could or should go next - there was no easy out any I appreciated that! Likeable characters with believable arcs that made me want their stories to continue even as it ended.

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atamano's review against another edition

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emotional 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

2.75

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