Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. I was very excited for this book. I usually like the premise of a bet and the way that can create tension and make a story good. I also adored this author's writing style. However.

Jack does something at some point that I really didn't like and that made me not want to finish the book. I'm sad, because I was very excited for this one, but unfortunately I can't get past that thing. And it's a small thing that I'm sure wouldn't bother most people, so I'm sure this book will be a great read for someone else. Unfortunately I can't finish the book, which is why I'm only rating it two stars.

I will definitely read more books by this author though, because the writing style is great.

So so sooooo adorable. I loved Jack and Hallie so much. Their chemistry was off the charts and the banter was funny and cute. I flew through this book!

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Fun and Flirty Rom-Com

The Love Wager is a delightful romantic comedy that will leave you smiling. Lynn Painter's witty banter and charming characters create a captivating love story.

Hallie and Jack's playful rivalry and slow-burn romance are both endearing and exciting. The author skillfully balances humor, tension, and heartfelt moments, creating a well-paced and engaging narrative.

The supporting characters add depth and humor to the story, and the setting provides a vibrant backdrop for the romance. The author's ability to blend contemporary romance tropes with a unique twist makes this book a standout.

The audiobook narration for the book is exceptional. Zachary Webber's performance is, as always, captivating, bringing the male characters to life with his distinctive voice. Kristen DiMercurio's narration is equally impressive, adding depth and nuance to the female characters. Together, they create a dynamic and engaging listening experience.

If you're looking for a fun and flirty read, The Love Wager is the perfect choice.

5 stars

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4️⃣ THE LOVE WAGER
Genre: contemporary romance
4 stars

💭: ultimate friends to lovers!!! Loved this one night stand turned wingman turned fake dating turned LOVERS!!! Banter was wonderful. My fourth favorite of Lynn’s books!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!!

5/5 stars

Ugh I LOVE friends to lovers and I LOVE fake dating, so this was a perfect novel to me! Fun, cute, entertaining, perfect for what my brain needed right now :) love Lynn Painter, and now all I want to do is read only her books haha 💜💜💜

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Then again, friends to lovers books are my kryptonite. The main characters were fun to read and found myself eager to return to the story whenever I put it down. Even when the characters' feelings for each other became the biggest "duh," I wasn't bored.

This was such a fun return to the world of "Mr. Wrong Number," (I really enjoyed the previous book), centered this time on Olivia's brother Jack and the spirited bartender and tax accountant Hallie Piper. Their unexpected one-night stand sets off a chain of events where they enter into a playful wager to find love first, using Taco Hut as their comfort zone for failed dates. While I enjoyed their banter and chemistry, the rapid progression from a serious relationship to a fling and back again felt a bit rushed. Despite this, the book was still a delightful read with humorous moments and endearing characters, perfect for fans of friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes.

This was just fine for me! We read it for book club, and it was cute but nothing too special. I would read another book by this author though!

I received #TheLoveWager by Lynn Painter as a free ebook through #NetGalley. Hallie Piper initially works 1 full time and two partime jobs. Because one of her jobs is a salesperson at a jewelry store she realizes that as.she bartends that she knows the guy. Jack was her customer that bought an engagement ring and now is asking for drinks at the wedding she is bartending. While talking his jealous girlfriend joins him and end up throwing Chardonnay in Hallie’s face. He breaks up with her. It turns out that he turns to Hallie to help him get drunk and they sleep together. Later, they talk to each other and become wingman’s to each other’s dates and good friends. When the dates don’t go well, they ditch and go out for tacos. The book has both viewpoints and Lynn Painter has written great snarky dialogue. Jack realizes he is falling in love with Hallie and screws up her chances with Alex. Asa result, he goes to Vail with her as her plus one boyfriend for her sister’s wedding. Mixups happen at the return trip but the ending is an HEA. Triggers sex. Alcohol. I would recommend to those people who like snarky romance books with sex.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: E-book

4.25🌟 - I enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the E-ARC!

If Lynn Painter writes it, I'm going to read it! This was such a cute companion to Mr. Wrong Number! This was such a fun one night stand to friends-to-lovers romance. I love her banter, swoon, and creative storylines!

Another hit from painter. You know I picked this up to read a few pages before bed. A few hours later I'm half way through the book and cursing my eyes sliding closed. Absolutely adored the MC's. The banter! My gosh. Can this be real please? I laughed so much. Finished this in two sittings. I spent all morning rushing to get my stuff done so I could pick the book back up. Whatever your favorite trope is it's in here. Maybe that's to much for some but I loved it.
*there's a few open door scenes*

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write this,especially considering how much I enjoyed it. I love a funny romance and this one made me laugh out loud. I will absolutely be finding and reading more books by this author.

Absolutely loved this one! The sexual chemistry was off the charts and I loved both the main characters so much! This was a one night stand turned friendship turned fake dating turned love and it was brilliant

Another absolutely unputdownable book by Lynn Painter. I adored the banter and premise. This was a heavy and much needed dose of friends to lovers.

I’ll continue to read everything this author writes.

My god Lynn Painter you have done it again. The dialogue was kinda strange in the first twenty pages or so of this and I didn't think I was gonna like Hallie, but luckily it got much better VERY quickly. SUCH a good romance, very lovely light read but still some compelling and relatable emotional themes that I very much appreciated. I don't trust how perfect Jack is, but that's neither here nor there. Also, I thought their final reunion-get-back-together scene could've been better, but I am still a large fan of this book. FIVE STARS!

You know that feeling you get in your chest when you read a really good love story? Your heart swells, your pulse quickens, you’re kicking your feet and squealing? That was me with this book. I didn’t think it was possible for Painter to top herself because Mr. Wrong Number is a masterpiece, but…she did.

This book was funny, sweet, sexy, two-halves-of-a-whole, once in a lifetime kind of love amazing. Jack and Hallie meet when she’s bartending his sister and best friend’s wedding (yes, Olivia and Colin!!!!) and what ensues is a super hot night of slutty wedding sex. But they later connect on a dating app, and through mutual dating woes, become best friends. Until they both want more, and it all comes to a head in Vail at HER sister’s wedding. Lord I just love these two so much. They were both hilarious and sweet and soooooo hot. They both wanted to find love, and wound up finding so much more than they ever dreamed of.

Lynn’s writing is beautiful. Her prose flows well. She’s hilariously talented, and creates characters that you feel like you’re living right alongside. I wanted to live in this story forever.

Funny banter, great chemistry, and a wingman trope rolled in with there's only one bed, a bet, friends to lovers, AND he falls first? You can't go wrong.

Why did I wait so long to read this?! I loved every single minute of it. I love the wingman trope and the bet they have. I love that they gather together for tacos after dates don't go well. I love that it also includes a bit of friends to best friends to lovers and a one bed trope and a fake dating trope for a wedding that turns into real feelings.

Jack and Hallie are hilarious together, their banter is top notch! I love that they will text each other even when they are in the same room together. The weekend was one of my favorite parts and how they "played" up the "fake ness" and the cat shelter was so fun too.

I don't know why I keep trying Lynn Painter books because I just don't think she is for me. I imagine this will hit the spot for a lot of contemporary readers, but this just wasn't my vibe. So much of it just doesn't feel believable.

Another solid romantic comedy from Lynn Painter! I really enjoyed her previous books and this was a fun addition to her repertoire.