THE HAPPY EVER AFTER PLAYLIST
Genre: ContemporaryRomance
Author: Abby Jiminez
Release Date: April 14, 2020
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zonecomes an adorable and fresh romantic comedy about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers.
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?
I would notice you in a crowd of a million.”
I’ve been dying for Sloan’s story ever since the end of The Friend Zone made me cry my eyes out. I loved her and Brandon so much, it was difficult to imagine the man that would make Sloan’s heart beat again. But man, oh man, never in a million years could I have imagined the perfection that was Jason.
Sloan has been a shell of herself for two years since the tragic loss of her fiancé. Her love for Brandon was one of a kind. But sometimes, life gives you a second chance that you never see coming. For Sloan, this comes in the form of a dog that literally jumps through her sunroof and into her car after she almost hits him while driving. She takes the dog in while trying to get in touch with the owner, and quickly falls hard for the adorable mutt. When the owner finally calls looking for his dog, she’s not ready to let go.
Now, admittedly, I’m a little over the rockstar element in books. But Jason was so different. He’s a rising talent on the music scene and one of the most down to earth men I’ve read in a while. He’s charming, sweet, and incredibly patient. Their relationship starts through a series of funny texts and phone calls that I couldn’t get enough of. I love that they get to know each other before they even know what the other looks like. Jason falls hard and fast for the mysterious woman that refuses to share what she looks like or give his dog bag. He’s determined to woo her for a date. And woo her he does. The man woos her so hard. It was DELICIOUS.
Now I will say, I loved the sweet undercurrent of the book. I really did. I loved the slow build of a relationship between Sloan and Jason. I loved that Jason was a genuinely nice guy. I loved that he was so patient when it comes to Sloan and didn’t try to replace her dead fiancé or felt threatened by his memory. I loved that he treated her right.
What I didn’t love is a lot of the drama around the industry part of Jason. I wished that the time spent on the drama was spent more on seeing Sloan come out of her shell. It was just a touch too much for me, especially at the end. This is entirely personal preference, so take this with a grain of salt. I’m just not a fan of OTT drama, and this felt like OTT for me. It did drive the plot forward, so it certainly wasn’t aimless, but it did nothing for me either. I think I was just so invested in Sloan’s HEA after the events of The Friend Zone, that I wished more time was spent on her personal growth and moving on rather than Jason’s industry drama. I think this is why I’m over the whole rockstar thing in my books, because the industry drama sort of comes along with the territory.
Now don’t get me wrong, I still loved the romance here. SO MUCH. And the ending? Absolute perfection. It wasn’t the laugh out loud hilarious sort of romance that Friend Zone was, but it was a sweet and emotional one that was just as satisfying.
THE FRIEND ZONE
