Okay, if you're like me and you've read The Friend Zone, you made it to the end and thought, "there damn well better be a Sloan book coming next!" There may have also been some tears and further emphatic demands made toward the universe but that basically sums it up. Well cheers to all because The Happy Ever After Playlist does not disappoint! And while you can absolutely read this one without reading Abby Jimenez's first book, I still highly recommend reading The Friend Zone first. It will make this one so much richer for you.

On to Sloan and Jason and the best meet-cute I've read in a long while. Any time you add a dog to the mix, I'm on board. And luckily Tucker is adorable and the best wingman a guy and girl could ask for. I also loved the way that our leads got to know each other in this one and build their flirty friendship turned romance. Jason's moves were that perfectly balanced but determined "I'm interested" but without being too pushy or creepy.

As for Sloan, I loved how she was still struggling with her past and the emotional hurdles she to work over. But at the same time, the author didn't drag it on and on. She gave us some solid moments in the first 1/3 of the book and then let it evolve. You really got to grasp and fall in love with Sloan and Jason (insert a cute couples name here). And I loved how much more we got to learn about Sloan and her life.

So that's basically the foundation of this book. What then takes place, the new trials and tribulations, the cute and the funny, and basically all of Jason, was so enjoyable to read. I won't spoil any of that. It was a wonderful follow up and practically everything I didn't even imagine I wanted when I knew I wanted this book. Loved it.

* I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez takes place around two years after the events in The Friend Zone. Sloan is a shell of herself, trying to figure out how to move on after her fiance Brandon was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident. The last thing she needs is more stress but the universe doesn't seem to be listening when she's sitting at an intersection and a dog comes leaping through her sunroof and onto her lap. She does everything she can to find the owner but upon hearing nothing in response, she decides to keep Tucker as part of her new life.

Jason is a touring musician and he's livid to learn that his dog has been out roaming the streets of L.A. and not safely taken care of by the woman he left her with. He finally gets in contact with Sloan and the two enter a back and forth over whether or not Sloan will allow him HER new dog back. Slowly Jason starts to penetrate her walls and Sloan reluctantly agrees that when he comes back they can co-chaperone Tucker on an outing and she'll decide whether or not he's worthy.

Jason returns to LA and it's instant chemistry when him and Sloan finally interact. He scares Sloan and she isn't sure she should be feeling such strong emotions for someone in the wake of Brandon's absence. Slowly but surely Jason continues to wiggle his way into her head and her heart and Sloan starts to come into her own and find herself again. Then Sloan discovers a secret about Jason and learns this blossoming new relationship may have an expiration date before it ever really gets started...

OH MY GOD. I loved this one. I loved it even more than TFZ I think. I was laughing my ass off at the banter between these two. Jason was so sweet and understanding and used his wit and charm to continue flustering her and sneak under her defenses. It was so realistic and emotional. There's the exploration of timing and the fact that even once you find your person sometimes timing and life has a way of throwing road blocks into your plan. How you have to be comfortable being happy with yourself so you don't lose yourself in someone else. One of my favorite contemporaries I've read in awhile, and filled with hilarious cameos from everyone's favs Kristen and Josh. You HAVE to preorder this one so you have it when it comes out April 2020!! // ☕☕☕☕☕

Thanks to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the e-copy to review! All opinions are my own!