A super fun and subtle sequel to Mr Wrong Number, we get all of the laughs that come with navigating online dating with a one night stand to friends to lovers plot. Hallie and Jack have undeniable chemistry. Like seriously, Jack can give me a nickname that sounds like an infectious disease ANY TIME. But also we get text exchanges that'll make you giggle and swoon, the best chaotic roommate ever in Ruthie, and Tigger, king of all cats. I spent last night trying not to laugh out loud while my fiancé was sleeping, but even then Lynn Painter made me bust out a few times. And the STEAM - this is definitely steamier than Mr Wrong Number, starting with a literal bang and more than a few more. Give me Jack Marshall and an elevator any day.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

friends to lovers supremacy. i loved this so much, i started reading it in class because i was bored during my lecture and i was sucked in and didn't want to stop. i finally picked it back up today and i have not moved. it was so incredibly good and i loved their banter and their friendship. it was funny, the third act conflict was just enough to be conflict without being over the top.


anyway, thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Three words to describe The Love Wager: cute, lighthearted, and swoony.

I loved so much about this book! It was such a quick read and was just what I needed to recover after a heavy sci-fi read. It takes place in the same world as Mr. Wrong Number and we even get some cameos from Olivia and Colin (Jack's sister and best friend, respectively). Now, I haven't read Mr. Wrong Number but you best believe that I bought it as soon as I finished The Love Wager because it was THAT CUTE.

I adored Jack and thought Hallie was a fun FMC to read about, even if I didn't relate to her very well. The third act breakup was handled quickly and without unnecessary drama, so I really appreciated that. I am not a fan of the dramatic third act breakups that could have been resolved in a single conversation.

All in all, this is the perfect read for romcom lovers. Mr. Wrong Number is officially on my TBR thanks to this book, and I have a feeling Lynn Painter is going to be an autobuy author from now on.

I was completely smitten with this book from the first few pages of the story! I could go on and on about how unique The Love Wager is, but the truth is that it is not your typical trope story. It is delightful, jovial, swoon-worthy, and incredibly steamy as well!

Just read it for yourself's sake!

This was actually refreshing to read because it was short, focused on the two leads, quick to chemistry, and not a lot of conflict. Sometimes romance gets bogged down with so much filler that it's nice to just read only the good parts.

One of the better romcoms I’ve read in a while as it’s actually romantic and also quite funny. Our main characters have great chemistry and funny banter. Their texts are actually entertaining to read, as they keep each other updated on their romantic exploits trying to see who will win their wager of who can find love first. Of course, their best option is right in front of them!

Very good, felt like a classic romcom and read like a movie in the best way. Looking forward to reading more from Lynn Painter, I’m actually a little surprised that I’ve not read her before!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is 1000% Lynn Painter - laugh out loud funny, exceptional banter, sizzling chemistry! Loved Hallie and Jack, loved getting to see Olivia and Colin again. Come for the tacos, stay for the vomit condoms and fake dating.

I enjoyed reading this book which is about two friends who make a deal that they need to find “the one” on the dating app in order to win the prize. This book takes place in the same universe as Mr. Wrong Number but you don’t have to read that book in order to understand the story. I enjoyed the plot of this book and was instantly hooked with the story. Painter is such an incredible writer who knows what the readers want. The storyline was enhoyable and it was fast paced that you won’t get bored with the story. I also enjoyed the different conflicts that were in the book which reminded me a bit of another book I can’t think of right off my head. This book is also in dual povs which was really enjoyable.

This book is written from both Hallie and Josh’s pov. Hallie is a bartender that is adventerous and fun. She kind of reminds of of Lucy from The Hating Game. Josh is an architect who is trying to find someone to commit his life too. I really enjoyed both characters and their development. Their chemistry was off the charts and I wish they knew way sooner. There are many side characters in this book whom you will enjoy. The romance is friends to lovers and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I just wish we got to see them as a couple for a good because it did take a while. There are also some closed steamy scenes in this book but nothing too detailed.

The ending was well done and I enjoyed how cute the book was. I wish we got to see the couple as a couple for a but longer then we have because the next thing you know that the book is done. It was very well written though and I enjoyed the story. Painter is an incredible writer and I totally recommend reading her books especially Mr. Wrong Number.

Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I thought Mr Wrong Number was cute, but it didn't really grab me. I forgot how much I didn't like Jack in that book and with this being his book... Well, it didn't make me like him any better.

A one night stand leads to friendship and more.

As soon as I read that sweet and precious dedication, I knew this book would be the blend of humor and tenderhearted romance I yearned for. So many things can follow a one night stand, and for Hallie and Jack, it resulted in a wonderful and supportive friendship.

Both Hallie and Jack had reached a reckoning point in their lives. Jack was unmoored following the passing of his favorite uncle, while Hallie knew it was time to pick herself up, dust herself off, and get her life back on track after a shocking break-up. Part of their plan was finding their soulmate, and Jack and Hallie were there to help each other navigate the search.

My affection for this book centered around Jack and Hallie. Their banter and playfulness kept a smile on my face, but I also reveled in the bond that formed between them. The moment they realized they already found their soulmate in each other was a moment that set my heart aflame. I was especially thrilled about this union with respect to Hallie. The reasons for her break up angered me and broke my heart, but she traded up for Jack who delighted in all parts of Hallie and loved her as-is. And that trip to Colorado!!!! One of my favorite parts of the book.

A fat cat, a wacky roommate, and appearances by Liv and Colin put this one over the top for me. Painter’s streak of hits continues, and I am grateful for all the warmth and laughter she brings to me via her stories.

This follow-up to Mr. Wrong Number was absolutely fantastic!

Jack’s self-imposed redemption arc and Hallie’s determination to keep him solidly in the friend zone was a constant battle against their impulse to go all out for each other.

Full review to come on my blog and on Amazon on release day!

This book was cute. A really good friends to lovers. Only frustrating part is why they just....wouldn't date. The plot was a little confusing (if you went out with someone and had amazing chemistry why would you them decide to set them up with others? makes no sense).

It’s just another manic Monday !!

Have you ever laughed so hard you leaked some bodily fluids ? No? Me either , never .

LIES .

I found a book that made my little squirrel brain jump up and down like an old lady at bingo .

The Love Wager

The book is everything you never knew you needed .

I fell in love with Jack and Hallie over and over again . By the time I concluded this book I felt a strong connection and needed more, so I instantly ran over to Amazon to purchase Mr. Wrong Number and Better Than The Movies. I just needed more from the author that caused irreparable bladder damage from laughing so hard.

Lynn Painter is my spirit animal and we are going to become best friends, she just doesn’t know it yet .

This book is filled with love, laughter, truth and at times a tear or two .

Teaser :

Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Wrong Number.

Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult. She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs onto the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she snuck out of.

After agreeing they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie realize they’re each other’s perfect wing-person in their searches for The One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don’t go well, the two of them can get tacos afterward.

Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.

Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off. As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they both struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with.

I loved Mr. Wrong Number and The Love Wager is right up there with rom-com's I'll be recommending. Great premise and utterly lovable characters. Yes, fake dates is an overused trope -- but Painter makes is work her own way. Well done!

I'll admit that I didn't read Mr. Wrong Number. I tried twice (print book & audiobook) but just couldn't get into it. Something about the story just wasn't clicking with me. But when I heard the premise for The Love Wager I was super excited to give Painter another try.

The Love Wager is sweet, cute and wonderfully executed romcom.

I had a lot of fun with the characters. They are silly, fun and chaotic which gave the book a lighter feeling and great for escapism. The dates each of the MCs went on were fun to read about and I loved the meet ups Jack and Hallie would have after. Those were so cute! I also liked that we got to see Hallie and Jack become friends. This rarely happens in friends to lovers story lines so I found it to be nice.

I will say I think the one-night stand happened too quickly (for my liking). I think maybe having it in the middle of the story would've added more drama and angst in the story. It just seemed strange that after their one-night stand and becoming BEST friends that they wouldn't give into their feelings sooner. Plus I wasn't a huge fan of the miscommunication between them either. But those are my only complaints.

Overall The Love Wager was a quick, fun romcom read that was great to escape into.

Hallie and Jack met when he was buying an engagement ring for the girl he just broke up with. After a crazy night, they end up connecting over a dating app and forge a friendship and a bet. Whoever finds true love first wins. Of course, since this is a romance, we know where it's headed, but the journey is fun and filled with banter, friendship and one of my favorite romance tropes. Lynn Painter has become one of my go to authors when I need a fun read that will grab me from page one and keep me riveted until the end. This was a perfect read for an unexpected day off.

My first book by Lynn Painter and for the most part, I enjoyed it! It was told in alternating POVs and I liked how quickly it shifted between our two MCs, Hallie and Jack. It started off really cute and I liked the premise of the love wager-- it was so fun! Though I enjoyed the first half more, the second half is where I started to lose some of that steam and interest. As the book went on, I became less of a fan of Jack because of his jealousy and his behavior and actions related with this. At times it almost seemed possessive to me? I also wasn't the biggest fan of the ending that much. Overall though, it was still cute and I would be interested in checking out her other books!

Okay I’m starting to think I’m just not a Lynn painter girlie and that’s okay. The book wasn’t bad just not a favorite.

A perfect rom-com to recommend to fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren.

After having a one night stand, Hallie and Jack reconnect on a dating app. Both insist they aren’t interested in dating each other, but need motivation to stay in the dating scene. A wager is born and these one-time bedmates become sidekicks. They meet up for tacos after bad dates and text each other all the time. Surely they’re just going to remain friends…

Readers who prefer their romance with a heavy dose of banter won’t be disappointed. Hallie and Jack’s snarky conversations are the star of this book. The chemistry and connection that grows between them over their text conversations, taco dinners, and time spent hanging out makes for a delightful slow(ish) burn. A few plot points are left unexplored, but that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

This was absolutely predictable. There's nothing wrong with that, but there's way more interesting books out there to read than this.