On The Same Page discussion

This is my first book by Abby Jimenez! Here's a little info about the book.

Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

I have read a couple of her books & enjoyed them. I put this on hold at the library (though I'm still waiting for the Wizard of Oz book). Looks like this will be forever too, so I may start the audio on Spotify.

Patricia wrote: "I have read a couple of her books & enjoyed them. I put this on hold at the library (though I'm still waiting for the Wizard of Oz book). Looks like this will be forever too, so I may start the audio on Spotify."

I'm not sure what is going on with all of our library holds these days. I just got a book yesterday that the previous day had listed as 8 weeks to wait. Did the library buy more books? Did that many people ahead of me decide they couldn't read it right now?

That said, Spotify is a good choice, and I might have to do something about it too. I don't have this one yet, but it does say 2 weeks. That would be perfect, as long as I don't get any more surprise books coming my way...and it actually gets here somewhere around then. Fingers crossed.

Lea wrote: "I'm not sure what is going on with all of our library holds these days. I just got a book yesterday that the previous day had listed as 8 weeks to wait."

It happened to me last week, too. It had over 10 weeks wait, and I got it in 2 days!!! Needless to say, I was not ready for it, so I passed it to the next reader :-)

Please explain Spotify for audiobooks.

Yes, how does audiobooks work on Spotify and how much dos it cost??

My loan is supposed to come to me today, I’m not sure what I will do, push it another 7 days or get it when it becomes available. Although, I will have a couple of days to make that decision once it opens up for me.

If you have a subscription to Spotify, many audiobooks are included. I think there is supposed to be a limit of 15 hours a month. I've never been cut off, so not sure. They have a very good selection and no waiting for any books included in premium subscription.

Linda wrote: "My loan is supposed to come to me today, I’m not sure what I will do, push it another 7 days or get it when it becomes available. Although, I will have a couple of days to make that decision once it opens up for me."

I got my book early yesterday too, and I decided to take it! So I will start next week, as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading. :-)

I started the buddy read this morning. I’m not sure how much reading I will get done this weekend though.

I'm starting this week! Excited to read this. I love Abby Jiminez!

Lea wrote: "I'm not sure what is going on with all of our library holds these days. ."


I do believe social media is a big reason for this, namely Bookstagram and Booktok. Abby Jimenez is featured on there a lot.

So it's a good thing because I do think more people are reading? But also bad because we all have to wait haha

I just started this book today!

I just started the book today also!

I'm on Chapter 8. (view spoiler)[Kristen is so blasé about someone drinking and smoking in her yard and trying the door handle at 3:00 AM. I would never be able to sleep there again. (hide spoiler)]

I LOVE the banter in Abby Jimenez' books. It flows so easily and never feels forced/fake

Lea wrote: "I just started the book today also!

I'm on Chapter 8. [spoilers removed]"

Um yeah. Esp with a rat for a dog lol

Alissa wrote: "I LOVE the banter in Abby Jimenez' books. It flows so easily and never feels forced/fake"

I wasn't loving the beginning of the book, the meet cute did not do it for me. However, I did love the banter later on in the book. This book has one of those tropes that I usually don't care for, but the banter helped move it along.

Lea wrote: "I just started the book today also!

I'm on Chapter 8. [spoilers removed]"

I get get not telling Tyler with him being deployed, but i would be personally doing more about that situation.

Alissa wrote: "I LOVE the banter in Abby Jimenez' books. It flows so easily and never feels forced/fake"

My thoughts exactly. Love their banter and how they interact.

Regarding Lea’s chapter 8 comment. My thoughts on Tyler and Kristen’s relationship is one of convenience. I did think she loved Tyler, but not to the level of marriage.

This is going to be a spoiler, so if you haven’t read up to the point that Kristen’s mom pops into the scene, don’t read this - (view spoiler)[Kristen’s mom gave her major self esteem issues. I think since Tyler was so different from her, and her mother loved him so much, actually Tyler is her moms perfect guy, I hope that doesn’t sound creepy. 😂 Kristen just settled for him and he was easy, he didn’t really know her, like Josh ended up figuring out. (hide spoiler)]

I finished this one by the way. I loved this one but I think it was a 4 star for me, which isn’t bad at all and I’m totally going to read the rest of the books in this trilogy.

Oh, my heart just stopped - (view spoiler)[Brandon getting in thr accident! (hide spoiler)]

Ok, i finished. Super quick read. What did everyone think of the book overall? What did you think about that ending?

Are y'all going to continue reading the series?

Lindsey, I was totally shocked by your spoiler, I didn’t at all expect the author to do that and then the outcome! Poor Sloan and Brandon’s family.

Lindsey wrote: "Ok, i finished. Super quick read. What did everyone think of the book overall? What did you think about that ending?"


I loved it. I’m going to put this in a spoiler in case someone wants to jump in and not be spoiled. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Lindsey wrote: "Are y'all going to continue reading the series?"


Yes! Definitely!!

Linda wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Are y'all going to continue reading the series?"


Yes! Definitely!!"

I just can't leave Sloane where she's at. I'm going to read The Happy Ever After Playlist next month. Let me know if any of you want to join me. I have the paperback, so I won't be able to pound through the book as quickly as I did with the audiobook. :-)

Lindsey wrote: "Ok, i finished. Super quick read. What did everyone think of the book overall? What did you think about that ending?"

This was my first book by Jimenez, and I enjoyed it. I loved that the book was written in two perspectives, although sometimes you just wanted to smack the characters since the solution was obvious...except the characters don't know what you know.

All of the spoilers below are towards the ending, so if you haven't read it, you have been warned.

I really loved the epilogue and the author's notes. I thought the characters were funny and fun, from Stuntman Mike all the way through.

I didn't enjoy (view spoiler)[the miscommunication trope that was all over this book. As a woman with medical issues that can lead to a reduced chance of being able to get pregnant, I felt that it was important to discuss that with anybody I was seriously dating, maybe somewhere around the third to fifth date. So, I don't understand Kristen concealing that about herself from her bestie and this guy that she's clearly falling for and he's falling for her. It wasn't OK. (hide spoiler)]

And as for the ending (view spoiler)[ BRANDON! You were my favorite character. How come we couldn't off a different character? I must see how our bestie Sloane after this....and heal myself from the trauma. :-) (hide spoiler)]

Lea wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Ok, i finished. Super quick read. What did everyone think of the book overall? What did you think about that ending?"

This was my first book by Jimenez, and I enjoyed it. I loved t..."

I totally agree with both of your spoilers!!!!

This is my thought on the first one - (view spoiler)[I was getting frustrated with Kristen for not just talking to him about it. You can't help having health issues. But it's not fair to make life decisions for someone else. I get that she felt she was doinf that out of love. I am/was (older now so i think its was) in a similar boat where i was told i wouldn't be able to have kids. I was very up front with people i dated. One of my boyfriends, we were getting very serious and his parents wanted the relationship to stop because they wanted grandkids one day and i couldn't guarantee that. He sided with his parents and broke things off. While that was hurtful, it was his decision to make and all i could do was respect that. Now fast forward many many years and we come to my husband. He knew i may not ever be able to have a child and he didn't care. He loved me and if that meant we adopted or used a surrogate or fostered, he was fine with anything as long as we were together. And God blessed us with our son, the only one i could have. And he is my everything. If we were never abler o have Jack we would have adopted and still been just as happy. (hide spoiler)]

I definitely want to know what happens next for Sloane. (view spoiler)[I totally agree, why kill Brandon? That broke my heart. (hide spoiler)]

With regard to your response to the first one (view spoiler)[ Lindsey, thanks for sharing your story. What a wonderful story about how you were blessed with Jack! (It might make a great book...) I had a similar story, except that my husband and I decided we didn't need children to live a fulfilling life, so we didn't try to adopt or foster. (hide spoiler)]

With regard to the second one (view spoiler)[I heard that the second book, The Happy Ever After Playlist, was written first. So, Jimenez had to write the prequel, which involved Sloane losing her first love. Fine, but why did you have to make me love him so much?!? :-) (hide spoiler)]

Thank you for sharing your story Lindsey.

Wow Lea, I hadn’t heard about that, now that I know, I like the way the first book story came together.

This is what Abby Jimenez wrote about The Happy Ever After Playlist.

(view spoiler)[Hello readers!

This book is very close to my heart. The Happy Ever After Playlist was actually the first book I ever wrote and the book that got me my literary agent. While we were shopping it to publishers, I had the idea to go back in time and write The Friend Zone so we could live through the events that made Sloan who she is in her story. Since The Friend Zone came first on the timeline, we led with that as my debut novel.

Obviously because Sloan's book was already written, certain *ahem* THINGS in The Friend Zone had to happen—because they already did. They happened before I ever wrote one word of Kristen and Josh's love story. The *big thing* in The Friend Zone wasn't done to facilitate Kristen and Josh's HEA or to add drama. It was done because doing it was the whole purpose of writing The Friend Zone in the first place.

On the chance that you're here reading this and you somehow haven't read The Friend Zone or the blurb on this book, I'll sidestep the actual spoiler. Then I'll tell you to stop what you're doing and go read The Friend Zone before you touch this one. Both books are standalone novels, but The Friend Zone will give The Happy Ever After Playlist so much more depth.

Sloan's grief will feel authentic—because it is. I wrote The Happy Ever After Playlist after watching a very close friend struggle following the sudden death of her husband. It wasn't until a beta reader told me I did a good job with the complicated grief that I realized what I'd written had a name. It was based on my own observations and attempts to help a friend trapped in a cycle of sadness that she couldn't seem to escape from. I encourage you to read the Author's Note at the end. Actually, I encourage you to read the Author's Note at the end of The Friend Zone too. Both books are based loosely on real events. The infertility struggle in The Friend Zone is, from start to finish, my best friend's real life experience with severe uterine fibroids.

One more quick note. The songs at the start of each chapter were meticulously selected for tone, title, and lyrics. Listening to them before each chapter really enhances the reading experience. There's a Spotify and Apple Music playlist for the book for easy listening.

I hope you love this read! It's been a long time coming and I can't wait to share Jason and Sloan with the world. (hide spoiler)]

I'm only about halfway, so I'll come back later & read all the spoilers. I'm the opposite of Lea--I'm much slower with the audio. I keep hoping the ebook will come in & I would just finish it up, but there's quite a long list for it. I was talking to my daughter last night, wondering why her first book has such a long waiting list (when she's written quite a few others) & she said she's very big on TikTok right now. I have the 3rd book in the series Life’s Too Short. Picked up a used copy sometime last summer, so I do plan on finishing the series. I'm enjoying the buddy reads even when I'm behind. I'm just starting Finding Dorothy. Another with a long waiting list. My other daughter thinks that may be because of Wicked. (And the library system only has 2 copies).

Patricia wrote: "I'm only about halfway, so I'll come back later & read all the spoilers. I'm the opposite of Lea--I'm much slower with the audio. I keep hoping the ebook will come in & I would just finish it up, but there's quite a long list for it. I was talking to my daughter last night, wondering why her first book has such a long waiting list (when she's written quite a few others) & she said she's very big on TikTok right now. I have the 3rd book in the series Life’s Too Short. Picked up a used copy sometime last summer, so I do plan on finishing the series. I'm enjoying the buddy reads even when I'm behind. I'm just starting Finding Dorothy. Another with a long waiting list. My other daughter thinks that may be because of Wicked. (And the library system only has 2 copies)."

Yes, I've heard that Jimenez is big on TikTok, too bad I'm never on there! I got The Happy Ever After Playlist as a gift (it's also a used paperback, my loved ones know how much I love used books) some years ago, and I have put Life’s Too Short on hold. I'm hoping to read one per month, so March and April. If you guys want, we can set up threads for them and we can all discuss whenever we get the books.

I'm glad to hear that you just started Finding Dorothy. I'm eager to see what you think about the book. :-)

That is neat about what the aurhor wrote - how the 2nd book was written first. What an impact a good editor/publisher can have!

I'm in for the next book. I want to continue Sloane's story.

Yesterday was my son's birthday. 💙 13 year old miracle. (For those who haven't read the spoilers yet, this will make sense after you do). My husband and I were just in awe yesterday of all we have been blessed with. Now right now my wallet isn't so happy, when did boys start eating this much food?????? I swear i totally understand the saying - 'you're going to eat me out of house and home'. 🤣

Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm only about halfway, so I'll come back later & read all the spoilers. I'm the opposite of Lea--I'm much slower with the audio. I keep hoping the ebook will come in & I would jus..."
I went ahead & put Happily Ever After on hold. The holds for the physical copy are not too bad. About a hundred on Libby!

Looking forward to Finding Dorothy!

Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm only about halfway, so I'll come back later & read all the spoilers. I'm the opposite of Lea--I'm much slower with the audio. I keep hoping the ebook will come in & I would jus..."

Lea, if you have Instagram, you can also find Abby there. She is fun to
Watch
Pshares her family with her followers. Stuntman Mike travels with her to author events quite a bit. They actually have 4 dogs.

Lindsey wrote: "Yesterday was my son's birthday. 💙 13 year old miracle. (For those who haven't read the spoilers yet, this will make sense after you do). My husband and I were just in awe yesterday of all we have ..."

Happy Birthday to your baby boy!!! 🥳💙

Lindsey wrote: "Yesterday was my son's birthday. 💙 13 year old miracle. (For those who haven't read the spoilers yet, this will make sense after you do). My husband and I were just in awe yesterday of all we have been blessed with. Now right now my wallet isn't so happy, when did boys start eating this much food?????? I swear i totally understand the saying - 'you're going to eat me out of house and home'. 🤣"

Happy birthday, Jack! Can you believe you have a teenager now, Lindsey?!? :-)

I hear you on the grocery bill - it's just the two of us and it still is outrageous.

So glad you will join us to read the next book! I can't wait. :-)

Patricia wrote: "I went ahead & put Happily Ever After on hold. The holds for the physical copy are not too bad. About a hundred on Libby!

Looking forward to Finding Dorothy!"

Yay! I'm glad to hear the holds for The Happy Ever After Playlist aren't too bad. How fun to read this all together!

Linda wrote: "Lea, if you have Instagram, you can also find Abby there. She is fun to
Watch
Pshares her family with her followers. Stuntman Mike travels with her to author events quite a bit. They actually have 4 dogs."

Thanks, Linda, I just found her! I also had previously seen a video on FB her husband took of her chasing someone in an airport who she saw was reading her book in order to sign their copy and I thought that she must be a really fun person. I don't watch a lot of video on social media, but I might watch her stuff. :-) And how can you not want to see those beautiful dogs?

Yay Lea, I’m so glad you found her, she is so so down earth and her videos are so fun. She also owns a bakery in her home town, I don’t know if anyone ever watched Cupcake Wars on the Food Network but she did compete on that show, I think twice.

Linda wrote: "Yay Lea, I’m so glad you found her, she is so so down earth and her videos are so fun. She also owns a bakery in her home town, I don’t know if anyone ever watched Cupcake Wars on the Food Network but she did compete on that show, I think twice."

I've never heard about Cupcake Wars, but it must be fun to watch! :-) I will have to learn more about this....thank you!

Just finished this on audio & I did enjoy it. I understand the frustration with Kristin not being straight with Josh, but those conflicts are what makes a story. Those are the times I want to leave the audio & read the print since I know I can get through it faster. However, I did appreciate the hard issues they went through and how Jimenez.
That's funny that she wrote this after the second. My first book by her was Part of Your World, not realizing it was the second in the series. Of course, I had to go back & read the first. Still have the third to look forward to in that series.

Patricia wrote: "Just finished this on audio & I did enjoy it. I understand the frustration with Kristin not being straight with Josh, but those conflicts are what makes a story. Those are the times I want to leave the audio & read the print since I know I can get through it faster. However, I did appreciate the hard issues they went through and how Jimenez.
That's funny that she wrote this after the second. My first book by her was Part of Your World, not realizing it was the second in the series. Of course, I had to go back & read the first. Still have the third to look forward to in that series."

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this book and the Part of Your World series. I'm hoping to read that series someday too. I think I've found a new go-to author. :-)

When are you looking to read The Happy Ever After Playlist? Will we continue the discussion in this folder?

Lindsey wrote: "When are you looking to read The Happy Ever After Playlist? Will we continue the discussion in this folder?"

I am planning to start it in a week or two. I'd made a new folder for it here, but we can also discuss here. Whatever is most convenient. :-)