One day, on her way to visit Brandon's grave, she sees a golden blur rush out into the street. She slams on her brakes, hoping against hope that she didn't run over a dog. Not only didn't she run it over, but it jumped into her car through her sun roof, and snuggled up to her, giving her a "take me home" look. She tries reaching the dog's owner, leaving message after message, and then she figures that the best thing she can do is care for him until (or if) she hears from the owner.
Suddenly, having the dog around gives Sloan a purpose. She's actually leaving the house every day, going for walks, and feeling a little bit better about things. After two weeks, she finally hears from Tucker's owner, a musician who has been out of touch while on tour in Australia. Jason is grateful to Sloan for rescuing his dog, but he definitely wants him back, so Sloan agrees to watch Tucker until Jason returns to the U.S., provided Sloan keeps him updated as to how Tucker is doing.
Their conversations via text get flirtier and flirtier, and then turn into long phone calls. Sloan can't deny that Jason is awakening feelings in her that have been dormant since Brandon died. But is she ready to date again, to chance making herself vulnerable once more? For his part, Jason is more intrigued by Sloan than he has been by a woman in some time. But with his music career on the rise, is there room for what could become (he hopes) a serious relationship?
When they finally meet in person, their attraction is immediate and their connection is intense. Jason neglected to mention, however, that he's not just a musician—he's Jaxon Waters, a musician on the verge of fame, whose songs Sloan already loves. The couple tries to navigate the demands of his growing fame, Sloan's uncertainty if she's actually ready for intimacy again, and what the future potential for their relationship actually is, given Jason is about to embark on a world tour for more than a year.
"He'd never met the best version of me, and for some reason he still seemed to want to be here. I was a ghost, wandering the rooms of a museum of the person I used to be, and Jason was like one of the living who could somehow see me and decided to wander the place with me. I liked that he was willing to wander the place with me."
As their relationship intensifies, they have to decide whether Sloan should go on tour with Jason, which means abandoning her family, friends, and art, and possibly dealing with an unstable musician who has feelings for Jason. But if she doesn't go with him, what does that mean for their future? Can they have a life together if they're always on the road, or will they ultimately resent each other? Is their best solution saying goodbye, no matter how much it will hurt?
Abby Jimenez is an amazing storyteller. As she did in her first book, The Friend Zone, which made my list of the best books I read in 2019, she takes a plot with familiar elements and layers it with emotional complexity, and populates her story with fresh and flawed characters you want to root for. This book made me laugh, made me smile, and, I'll admit, made me cry in my office when I was finishing the book during my lunch.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy Jimenez's books and the immense amount of heart she imbues them with. Both The Happy Ever After Playlist and The Friend Zone would make terrific movies—and yes, this one comes with its own playlist, as the title promises. Don't discount these books simply as "chick lit"; these are well-written books which make fantastic reads.
The author and Forever provided me a complimentary advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The Happy Ever After Playlist publishes April 14, 2020.
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