ATTENTION: This book review can be found on my new blog
The Brown Eyed Bookworm
Thanks to an amazing and generous fellow Bookstagrammer I was able to read this book early. I received this ARC as part of a traveling book arrangement, think The Sisterhood of the traveling ARC, that crossed the continent from East Coast to West Coast and even made it all the way to Canada and back.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
The Happy Ever After Playlist
by Abby Jimenez
Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can’t seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a “take me home” look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet 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?
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
My thoughts
Last year’s The Friend Zone was one of the hottest romance books of the year. UNFORTUNATELY I wasn’t a huge fan of it. I thought it was just ok. I have a hate/love relationship with hyped books, they just don’t OFTEN work for me. But that didn’t keep me from trying The Happy Ever After Playlist, because you never know.
I’m happy to say that I LOVED The Happy Ever After Playlist!!!
The book was almost entirely divided into two entirely different tropes, a rom-com and a rockstar romance.
I loved the Rom-com part…
The first half of the book was AMAZING. It had the most wonderful rom-com feel, and I’m not even a fan of that particular genre, but let me tell you, the author did a FABULOUS job. Great flirty and funny banter, witty and smart dialogues – the book had it all. I was smiling throughout the entire first half. True fact, there were actual sticky notes throughout the books, with comments from the other bloggers that have read it before me, and when I reached page 93 one said: Have you stopped smiling yet? I’ve had a perma grin since page one. I couldn’t stop laughing, because that’s exactly what I did until then, I smiled non-stop.
Now about the rockstar romance…
The second half was more like a rockstar romance and I must be honest, rockstar romances always reach a point, especially when the couple goes on road, that NEVER works out for the lovers. Unfortunately this became a rather predictable twist/outcome which took some of the joy out of the book. BUT even though it dragged and was predictable at times, the anguish and feelings were REAL!! This book is not just fluffy, it deals with real grief. And the author did a excellent job bringing it to life on page.
The couple was GOLD!!!
The connection between Jason and Sloan was fabulous from start to finish. The way Jason supported Sloan throughout the entire book was just wonderful. He never pressured her or made her feel bad for how she felt. He was the most wonderful, patient and understanding hero. Truly magnificent in every way. Perfection!
Sloan was lovely, the opposite in many ways to her best friend Kristen from The Friend Zone. She was shy at times, got flustered when Jason turned on the flirting, and oh how he loved to make her blush – in a sweet way. And their Meet Cute was one of the cutes I ever read about. I could feel the heat between them, the moment when time stood still for a second or two. It all was just so adorable.
The Epilogue
The way the author wrapped it all up was perfection. She didn’t just wrap up Sloan and Jason’s story but also Kristen and Josh’s and it felt like the two story came to a completion. The two books are supposed to be read as a duet, since Sloan and Kristen’s stories are so tightly connected. All in all, very well done!
Overall
The first half was a definite 5 star for me, the second half slipped a little to a 4 star since it was just too predictable at times, but the epilogue wrapped it all up so beautiful that overall I really, really loved this book.
4.5 stars
FIND THIS BOOK ON AMAZON AND GOODREADS
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
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