Swoooooooonnnn. Abby Jimenez does it again with The Happy Ever After Playlist. I was a huge fan of The Friend Zone, and was so excited to read Sloan’s story. Getting this ARC was like an early Christmas present to me and I devoured the book in two days, This book starts with the most epic meet cute and continues delivering laughs and tears until the epilogue....scratch that - the author’s note about complicated bereavement made my cry too.

Sloan meets Jason when she accidentally kidnaps his dog. Turns out he’s a musician on extended overseas tour with a flighty dog sitter. They get to know each other over texts and calls, but when he gets back to LA and they’re faced with the reality of his exploding career, things get more complicated.

Like she did in The Friend Zone, Jimenez does a beautiful job portraying issues around mental health and anxiety that don’t get nearly enough attention in books. The friendship between Kristen and Sloan also develops further in this book, which is a treat because Kristen might be one of my favorite characters in recent memory. The accompanying Spotify playlist was a fun extra as well.

Overall, this is another five star read for me. At this point, I’d read Abby Jimenez’s shopping lists and probably cry.

I loved The Friend Zone and I wasn't sure if this one could measure up. I was wrong. Abby Jimenez has hit another home run with this one. It takes place two years after Friend Zone and is Sloan's story. It is heartbreaking as well as hilarious. I only wish Jason was real!

I really loved The Friend Zone. But this book/story was a real let down.

What I liked- The dialogue between Sloan and Jason. I think Abby is a master at capturing dialogue between characters that feels so real. I loved seeing Kristen and Josh again. I absolutely adored the way Brandon is still very much part of the story. He might be dead but he is still very much part of Sloan and then Jason's life. I love that Jason doesn't want that to change.

What I didn't like- I think the "crazy ex" trope is lacking nuance in the first half of the book. I am tired of seeing women, especially ex girlfriend, as portrayed as crazy. I thought the conflict by the ex/management company was distracting and those parts felt like it was a different book. I think Jason was being wildly mismanaged. At least by his recording company. And Ernie was not really an advocate for him. At least twice I thought about marking the book as DNF because I was so disappointed in the heavy reliance on the crazy ex and manufactured drama by the record label. I felt like there was enough conflict with Jason being a rock star and traveling the world and having a long distance relationship that could have been developed more to be the true conflict rather than falling on the crazy ex.

This book was a disappointing follow up from The Friend Zone. I will be curious to see if the finished product differs at all from this version. I would not recommend it as it currently is.

A wonderful follow up novel! Jimenez's humor and heart shine through yet again. And the song list is amazing. Highly recommended!

The Happy Ever After Playlist follows Sloan’s journey around two years after the events of The Friend Zone.

Sloan still heartbroken after the devastating death of her fiancé is trying to cope without Brandon. One day a dog named Tucker literally jumps through her sunroof and lands in her lap. Unable to get in touch with his owner, Sloan decides to keep him since having Tucker around is bringing her more joy and she’s starting to feel like herself again for the first time in years.

Enter Jason, a handsome singer currently on tour who is gaining more stardom by the minute. When he find out Sloan has his dog and refuses to give him back, the two begin daily conversations slowly starting to know each other. With Jason quickly becoming captivated with Sloan and she letting her guard down, the two make plans to spend an afternoon together with Tucker to see if he will be allowed his dog back.

When Jason returns to town the two are equally surprised to see how much instant chemistry they have with each other. Sloan and Jason are quickly drawn to each other, wanting to spend as much time together before he goes back on tour again. Sloan is scared by how fast she starts having feelings for Jason, not wanting her heart damaged more than it has. Jason is willing to do anything to prove to Sloan that they have the potential to create something magical together while making her break out of her shell and return to the person she was before Brandon died. With obstacles in their way including long tour dates, jealous pop stars and career opportunities Jason and Sloan are put to the test to see if they can keep their building romance alive or will they let it crumble with past demons reaching for the surface.

Be still my beating heart! I absolutely LOVED The Happy Ever After Playlist. I read each delicious page slowly because I just did not want it to end. I didn’t think it was possible for this to top The Friend Zone, but honestly I think it did. This story took you through struggles of heartbreak beyond control, chasing your dreams but not letting it overpower the strength of powerful love and knowing how to be true to yourself to know how to be honestly happy. Readers will love the banter and sweet moments between Sloan and Jason and will be very happy with cameos from Kristen and Josh.

The Happy Ever After Playlist comes out April 2020 and I’m already claiming it as one of my top books of next year!

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me with the best early Christmas present ever. I’m going to be smiling over this one for a long time.

Just like The Friend Zone, I loved The Happy Ever After Playlist. It isn’t JUST about the romance (which I mean, is 🔥😉). HEAP was also a book about love, healing after loss, and living to find yourself again. It was about seeking happiness and loving yourself first. It made my laugh out loud, as well as cry. The new cast of characters was as great as the first (if not better).
———
Also — I think one of my favorite little pieces to this book was the actual playlist. Each chapter starts with a real song, and there is a playlist on Spotify to go along with it. I had so much fun playing each song as I started each chapter to connect it as I assume Abby intended. I have so many feelings.

Supppppeeerrrr adorable. The chemistry between Sloan and Jason is solid.
I'm 100% surprised this wasn't as depressing and sad as expected. Which I'm okay with.
Sloan was still dealing with her grief. Jason was such a cute sweet puppy dog.

This was going to be a 5* until the last bit and fallout. The fallout was too dramatic for my liking. And like I didn't know you could overdo HEA's. But apparently you can because okkkaaayyyy. Like I love but also too much.

Doesn't look like there will be more companions in this world. I'm on board for whatever Abby writes next.

Featuring characters from Jimenez's first novel, The Friend Zone, Happily Ever After Playlist features more quick wit and page-turning romantic drama. While Sloan isn't quite as laugh-out-loud funny as her BFF Kristen, she is equally, if not more, vulnerable and fierce. Jimenez does a remarkable job of giving her characters whole lives and realistic personalities, which makes this romance novel stand out from the crowd.

If you haven't read The Friend Zone, stop what you're doing and pick it up. (That being said, you can read one without the other, but why would you?! More Kristen and Josh, yes please) This book picks up about two years after the events of The Friend Zone. Sloan is a shell of her former self, not even trying to move on after the passing of her fiance, Brandon.

Sloan and Jason's meet-cute is one of the best I've read. It included a dog, apparently that's all I need to be 100% on board. The character development in her books are next to none. I'm already sad that I'm done this book! I liked the supporting characters as much as the mains. I loved how Sloan and Jason got to know each other long distance. It was slow and sweet and respectful. I loved the "regular person" dates an upcoming musician angle as well. 

The author showed the real struggles of grief, both physical and mental (make sure to read the Author's Note to get an idea of why she is so personally invested in this topic, it made her writing feel even more legitimate).

My one tiny complaint about this book, is the (IMO) overuse of emphasis using italics which came off as cheesy at times. Also, the obstacles at the end of the book seemed a bit far fetched for me, but i'm just nitpicking.
I cannot wait for Jimenez's next book. It seems to me this will be the last one with these characters!

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

It's official, I will read ANYTHING Abby Jimenez writes. I was left heartbroken after The Friend Zone, so when I received my ARC of HEA, I dropped everything else. It felt so good to be back in Josh and Kristin's world. They may have been side characters this time, but that just meant I had the chance to fall in love with new people in their lives.

We watched Sloan's life fall apart in The Friend Zone, and this time we watched her put it back together again. It's heartbreaking at times and empowering at others. Of course, she didn't do it by herself. She had Josh and Kristin to pick her up the pieces but we also meet Jason. I thought Josh was the best thing about these books (no I lied, he still is) but then came Jason. He's on the road to fame, he's romantic but patient, and he comes from the best family. Sloan doesn't know if she's ready to fall in love again, but Jason might change that.

But I forgot that best part: Tucker! This book has the best meet cute I've seen in a while. Jason's dog, Tucker, jumps into Sloan's car and when she tries to return him, she can't get through to anyone. When Jason finally gets her messages, she refuses to give him back at first. This is followed by A LOT of flirty texts and phone calls before they finally meet. Yeah, I loved every minute of it. Give me a cute dog, a cute guy, and flirty texts. I'm sold.

As I said about the Friend Zone, don't skip the author's notes at the end! Learning more about Abby Jimenez and the stories behind her books always make me love them more. I've rambled enough now so just pick up this book as soon as you can! And if you haven't read the Friend Zone yet, what are you doing?

I was really enjoying this book until the end. I guess I really should have expected by the title that all was going to end up perfect and neat but I somehow hoped it didn’t. The ending was so overdone that it ruined the rest of the book for me. I wanted to love this but I really didn’t feel the angst I wanted to about Sloan’s tragedy. We do pick back up 2 years later but she just snaps out of it all so quick. This just was okay for me. It felt unrealistic and easy.

This book is a great second in the series as I love the celebrity and regular person trope, plus I was already invested in the characters so even better. The writing is awesome and has crying and laughing and I loved it over all! Can't wait for another hit from this author!
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers from providing me an arc for an honest review! :)

Talk about an amazing book boyfriend. If you don't fall in love with Jason I'd be shocked. Also, where can I get myself a Tucker?!

Abby Jimenez's world that began with The Friend Zone continues with The Happy Ever After Playlist. Sloan & Kristen return in this book to repair Sloan's life. After being widowed at a very young, Sloan finds herself falling in love when she's not sure she's ready to love again. There's dogs, rock stars, art, family, friends, heartache & romance in this wonderful sequel!

I really adored Abby Jimenez's first book in this series until the end of it. I felt like the ending cheapened the journey Kristin went on. The Happy Ever After Playlist knocked it out of the park though.

I loved watching Sloan go on a journey to love herself again and allow herself to be happy. Grief is such a messy and personal thing and I think everyone can relate to Sloan's journey. Jason was one hunky and perfect love interest and I would've fallen for him in a matter of seconds.

I loved that we watched a musician rocket to fame and all the very real consequences that came with it. Communication seemed to be Sloan and Jason's biggest problem and that's a very real problem almost all couples go through at one point.

I loved that we got to see Kristin and Josh along with a ton of swoon-worthy moments between Jason and Sloan. You're going to want this one when it comes out, especially if you loved Erin Hahn's You'd Be Mine.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Wow. Where to even start with this book? I read The Friend Zone earlier this year and I absolutely adored it so I could not wait to get my hands on this one. Author Abby Jimenez has the uncanny ability to submerge me completely in the story at the start of her books and I'm lucky if I know what day it is by the time I've finished. This book had everything a great rom-com should include -- an epic meet-cute (like, I don't think anything will top this one for me), banter that will, at the same time, have you laughing until you're crying but also blushing because DANG, THAT WAS HOT; a best friend whose love and support is both unwavering but also kind of bonkers (in the best way); and last, but most certainly not least, a dog. You really can't go wrong with any of that.

This book can work as a stand-alone, for sure, but, for me, having read The Friend Zone, it felt much easier to get completely swept up in this one, letting a book devour me for once, and, since I was already familiar with Sloan and her devastating past, I was attached to her from the get-go and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with her and to root for her the entire time. And, really, is there anything better than that?

The Friend Zone was one of my favorite books of 2019, The Happy Ever After Playlist will definitely be one of my favorites of 2020 when I read it again upon it's released on April 14th, and Abby Jimenez has become one of my favorite authors, hands down. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this book, to The Friend Zone, and to anything Abby might gift us in the future. You won't regret it.

ARC provided by Netgalley. Wow! I really loved The Friend Zone but this one just blew me away! Sloan and Jason were amazing, they had me in tears. This book is definitely a roller coaster. Sloan is grieving the loss of her fiancé, it’s been two years and she is still struggling. Jason is a rock star, he’s in Australia when he discovers his dog sitter lost his dog and Sloan is now taking care of the pup. The first part of the book is them texting and talking on the phone. Jason falls hard for Sloan before he even sees her face but Sloan is wary. He comes home and it’s love at first sight. The middle drags a little as they get to know each other and then the final third of the book is an emotional wrecking ball but the end is so satisfying.

The Happy Ever After Playlist

Alrighty guys. I’m gonna be honest here. I was reallllly scared to read this book. I absolutely LOVED The Friend Zone. It was easily my favorite book of 2019 from start to finish. So when I finally got my hands on HEAP I was super hesitant to start it because I was scared it wouldn’t be as good as TFZ but let me tell you @authorabbyjimenez does it again 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
How many times can this woman make me laugh and cry at the same time????
Abby does an amazing job at character development, she dives deep into each character making them easy to understand and making you wish that you were friends with them in real life. Even the ‘villains’ of the story are likable!!

Kristin is easily one of my favorite fictional characters, she is down right hysterical and I love how this book really included her and kept her as such a heavy part of the story line. I also loveddd the ending of this book for her and her family 💙💙

From TFZ I was heavily invested in Brandon and Sloans relationship so I knew my mind was going to take a turn when we learned about her life after his death. I love the way that the author showed real life struggles, both physically and mentally, when you loose someone’s so unexpectedly and how she showed Sloans struggles and triumphs as she navigated her new life.

And Jason... my god. Can I meet him in real life??? WHAT A HUNK!! I loved the way the author made him his own character while having him so connected to Sloan. The kind of love he has for her is one of fairy tails (ya know without the rockstar lifestyle) and it gave me all the feels.

Anddddd once again Abby gives us a book with a freaking adorable dog and now I can’t stop sending my boyfriend pictures of puppies up for adoption.

I can’t wait to read this again once it officially comes out in April 2020! Anddd I’m thinking movie adaptation???

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fans of The Friend Zone will be absolutely delighted by Jimenez's second novel, focusing on fan-favorite Sloan, who's still recovering after the death of her fiance two years prior. When a spunky dog and a new chance at love literally leap into her life, Sloan has to find the courage to open up her heart again. Falling for the adorable dog is easy...but falling for his owner, up-and-coming music superstar Jason may be a little harder. The Happily Ever After Playlist has all the bubbly moments of a meet-cute but with the added depth of long-term grief in a way that will really resonate with readers.

I adored this book. I liked it even more than her previous, Friend Zone. This novel continues the story of Sloan, widowed in the first book.
Her grief and re-entry into the world is compelling and moving and all the characters feel like real people