The Love Wager by author Lynn Painter, is my first time book from her, but I will be looking up her other books for sure. Her writing was quick witted and just what I was looking for in a cute rom-com.

A bartender and landscape architect have a one-night stand when they hook up at his best friend’s wedding; when they reconnect on a dating app, they make a bet with a prize to whomever finds their love match first. Hallie is looking for a best friend with chemistry; Jack wants his one true love.

The Love Wager was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and I can safely say it surpassed my expectations. This book is hilarious and swoon-worthy and an absolute must read for all romcom lovers. Jack Marshall is my new favorite book boyfriend-- no contest.
Jack and Hallie meet at a wedding, where they have an unforgettable one night stand, before agreeing that they shouldn't date. Instead, they start on a quest to help each other find love, while growing closer. This book is fun and flirty and just such a good time. I honestly was torn between devouring the book and never wanting it to end. Lynn Painter is one of my all time favorite authors and The Love Wager is a new all time favorite book. I can't wait for this book to be out in the world! Thanks so much to Berkley Romance for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn’t sure you could fit ALL the tropes in one book, but it’s not the first time I’ve been proved wrong.

• one night stand
• fake dating
• only one bed
• best friends to lovers

(If you don’t know, this is the second book in the Mr. Wrong Number Series.)

Okay really though, this book was good. Like I couldn’t put it down good. Jack and Hal annoyed the hell out of me with the fact that they wouldn’t just accept the fact that they were in love with each other, but what’s new?

You cannot convince me that Hallie was not named after Hallie Parker on the Parent Trap, and it was one of the best childhood connections I’ve made.

Some of the things I struggled with:
- mixed media text. Going from the normal text, mixed in with text messages, and then jumping between POV’s had my ADHD brain going wild.
- The book is literally called THE LOVE WAGER and the bet is mentioned like 4 times in the book?
- Can someone please just freaking tell me where Ruthie disappeared to?!

Really though, if you like Lynn Painter books, you’re going to like this one. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day read, for all us diehard rom com readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

THE LOVE WAGER is a top tier romance! Hallie Piper succumbs to a one night stand with a handsome romeo. Disgusted with herself, she decides a makeover is due, including signing up on a dating app. She discovers Jack, her one night stand, is on there too. Hallie and Jack form a bet to see who can find love first. They text each other and become friends forged on bad dates. If their dates tank, they meet up and get tacos afterwards. The ultimate test comes when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding. Hallie is falling for the delicious dude and Jack is handsy with heavenly Hallie. Will they realize they are better together than just being friends?

Ms. Painter delivers another winning novel filled with hilarious texting conversations, bad dates galore and undeniable chemistry between the two stars Hallie and Jack. The plot unfolds expertly as one bad date after another happens as Jack and Hallie each try to find the one that will complete them. Unfortunately there are more frogs in the pond than princes. Will it ultimately become clear that they are meant for each other? This is a must read for fans of rom-coms. The author is an expert at plotting a delightful tale of a friends to lovers novel. THE LOVE WAGER is fast-paced, fluffy and very funny!

Thanks to NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

To no one's surprise, the banter between Jack and Hallie is just so good!! I wouldn’t really call this a fake-dating rom-com as that happens way later in the story, but more like a "disaster meet-cute to friends who make a wager to fake-dating to lovers".

What I didn't like about the book is that I could not connect to Hallie and Jack as individuals, which took me out of the story for a while. Overall, it was a chaotic and joyful ride that was fun but not quite a memorable one.

Thank you Berkley and Lynn Painter for the arc.

**Review will be published March 9th on my site and socials!**

ON FIRE.

That's how this book made me feel. The banter was immaculate perfection and every single interaction made me giddy and weak in the knees. While I was initially hesitant from the one night stand starting point, I LOVE the way Lynn Painter turned this. One of the best strangers to friends to lovers book I have read to date.

Hallie is my favorite type of contemporary main character. A little rough around the edges but wholly understanding of who she is and being that person always. She was pure fun and light, while maintaining that sense of realness. JACK, stop right now, he was the swooniest and sweetest guy EVER. I loved how he just *there*. The texts, phone calls, showing up to help, traveling, you name it, Jack made an effort to be apart of Hallie's life. I thought they had fantastic chemistry and I could feel the tension from miles away. The slow burn will absolutely put you in a chokehold. Everything was ramped up in harmony waiting for that final breaking point and ohhhh how I loved it.

There's a small dash of miscommunication that surprisingly didn't bug me all that much. It's moved through pretty quickly and is overall reasonably dealt with. I actually thought it made those last few scenes even more rom-com magnificent.

THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO GOOD. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong throughout
- Romance: light innuendo; 2-3 brief scenes (low-medium explicit)
- Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of a loss of a loved one

The Love Wager by L. Painter, published by Berkley Publishing Group is a stand-alone romantic comedy.
A sweet read with hilarious scenes that had me laughing out loud more than one time.
Hallie the bartender and Jack, the Jack who's about to propose at his sisters wedding.
They're strongly drawn to each other and wonder o wonder, a drunk ons is changing every single thing.
I fell in insta-love with the character rather quickly, loved the unique story, the great writing.

Lynn Painter has done it again. I think I may have even enjoyed this sequel a bit more than the first book of the series. I loved everything about Hallie and Jack, they were both well-written and relatable characters. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

The Love Wager was a wonderful, bingeable read! Hallie is ready to change her life and after a mind-blowing one-night stand, she decides there’s no time like the present, Jack, the guy who’s room she snuck out of, is also ready for a restart and the two form an unlikely friendship, and a bet: they’ll be the ultimate wing person for each other but who ever finds love first will win. But a weekend at Hallie’s sister’s wedding fake dating blurs the lines of their friendship. The Love Wager is funny and witty and smart. It’s romantic and sweet, and I just adored it. Hallie and Jack are a perfect friends-to-lovers romance. Their banter is quick and fun, and they just feel so genuine and are so easy to root for. Hallie is energetic and loving, and Jack is protective and sexy. Their chemistry is off the charts, and this is just one of the most fun reads I’ve read in a while. Lynn Painter does not disappoint.

A cute fake dating rom-com with easy writing and a fun premise.

I didn't love the main characters in this one as I don't feel like we really get to know them, found the miscommunication a bit frustrating, and the writing not as strong, but I enjoyed the banter and found this to be a relatively quick read!

The dialogue in this one was so much fun and the banter made me laugh out loud several times. One of those cases where fake dating leads to way more than either participant counted on - Jack and Hallie meet at a wedding. Where she is the bartender and his date wrongly assumes he’s flirting/cheating/frolicking with her. So in Hallie’s face goes a glass of cheap Chardonnay. And after one dramatic break-up and a bottle of crown, into Hallie Jack goes…

I loved Mr. Wrong Number and I love the Love Wager - another one sitting read!

I think I have found my new auto-buy author! This book was such an enjoyable. Now it is part of a character series, with Mr. Wrong Number setting the stage for this second instalment. I read this one first and didn't find it necessary to read book one, but if you are a completionist I would recommend reading that one first (I did end up reading it later and it was equally amazing!). Painter is able to weave a fun and enjoyable story with the perfect amount of angst and tension, but also humour and laughs. The characters felt real and the conflict wasn't too over the top. Highly recommend !!!

4.5 stars

RATING: 4/5 STARS

THE LOVE WAGER was another Lynn Painter delight! Jack and Hallie had great chemistry. I loved their banter and various shenanigans. This book was just plain fun - an entertaining execution of the beloved, juicy tropes of friends-to-lovers, only-one-bed, and fake-dating. This was a fresh addition to the rom-com genre. Pick it up if you ever need a fast pick-me-up read.

Okayyy I could not put this one down!! I love Hallie & Jack so much!

Ah their banter was incredible, I actually laughed out loud in parts. Plus, I loved that it wasn’t “insta-love” even though it started off the way it did. The story builds as their relationship builds & I loved every second of it.

A must read IMO! I genuinely couldn’t get enough of this one & will definitely be purchasing a copy as soon as it is released!

Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley & Berkley

If warm fuzzies were a book, this would be it!!!!!!!

I freaking LOVE LYNN PAINTER. Ever since Mr. Wrong Number, I’ve been hooked & she’s never getting rid of me!!!!! Jack & Hallie were perfection & I couldn’t have asked for a better duo to leave a RomCom!! THEIR BANTER WAS PHENOMENAL, and the way I was giggling was low-key embarrassing. I couldn’t stop or help myself. My lord I loved it. And their chemistry. WHEW. I felt it. My heart, soul & body were in this LOL.

I loved it. Really. It’s been a while since a book drew me in right off the bat & the storyline held me throughout the entire book!! Friends to lovers is becoming one of my top tropes & Lynn put her whole all into this one.

I loved the dual pov, the alternating POVs within chapters, and the fun characters!! It always starts with a wager 😏 READ IT BESTIES.

Tropes:
strangers to best friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake dating
One bed
One night stand

Thank you so much for this book! I loved it just like I have loved all her other works!!! So easy to read. I love the characters and get drawn into the storyline so well. I could not put it down! I also loved the spicy parts!

What started as a one-night stand becomes a wager between two non-friends. Whoever finds love on a nondescript dating app gets a prize. Soon enough Hallie and Jack become best friends, but is there something more?

Lynn Painter is an expert at writing off-the-wall, fun friendships that inevitably turn into admiration, then love. The Love Wager will make you snicker, guffaw, and say aww, shucks more than once. Fans of Emily Henry will feel right at home with this book.

This was a super cute rom-com book. If you’re looking for a fun book to read, you’ll definitely want to add this to your list. I gave it 4.5/5 ⭐️. It was my first book I read from Lynn Painter and I am already looking up other books to read from her.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is March 14, 2023.

Ahhhhh!!!! This was so stinking cute! Can’t believe I’m saying this but I like this even better than the first book in the series! Jack and Hallie are gems - they’re both so witty, funny, sarcastic, and sweet. Seeing them go from one night stands, to best friends, to lovers was amazing and I enjoyed it so much. They really have the sweetest relationship and I read through this in one sitting, couldn’t put it down.


Thank you NetGalley from proving me an ARC from the publisher.

This book is one glorious chef’s kiss all throughout 🤌🏻🥰
One night stand
Epistolary element with hilarious texting
So. Much. Chemistry
Dating wager
Amazing banter
Friends to lovers development
Secret pining
So. Much. Chemistry
Fake Dating
Kissing in closets
Slow Burn
One Bed
Blurred Lines
A tiny touch of angst
So. Much. Chemistry
Steamy pay off

HAPPY PLACE book!!! 5 stars from me!
I had loved Mr Wrong Number and enjoyed The Love Wager even more. The author is so damn skilled at crafting genuine chemistry between her romance leads, I couldn't stop myself from reading my night away. This book made me so happy I literally read it in one sitting. If you can call a one night in bed reading 'til 6 AM that.

I started this one before bed and thought I'd read one chapter to get a feel of the story. (Yeah, I know, one chapter is a joke excuse for every reader out there). But really, I just wanted a peek.

First, the meet cute was so damn engrossing there was no way I could stop myself from reading further. I had to know what would happen next to Hallie and Jack.

Not only did the author pique my interest with a stupendous meet cute and all around witty banter but she threw in a one night stand that only enticed my curiosity but also made me root for more of her characters. This snippet was definitely not enough, I needed more of them, scene after scene, chapter after chapter and that's how I ended reading until my son woke up for school.

I'm a sucker for anything epistolary in my romance, I adore when characters form a friendship and—more— through texts, emails, letters. They allow for banter fun but also gives more room for characters to show vulnerabilities. Lynn Painter naturally and casual as you please had Hallie and Jack going from one night stand shenanigans to buddying over a wager that entails blind dates, tacos and cats.

The lines went gradually blurry between these two and their friendship shifted ever so softly that soon enough you're in a middle of a delicious slow burn with one of them secretly pining hard over the other. Some minor angst plot twist was added for balance at midpoint and incidentally served as an incentive to read even more eagerly. I couldn't have stopped even if I wanted to. I was so invested in Hal and Jack I didn't see the night wasting away!

To spice it all up this plot twist required that they fake a relationship (on top of the one night stand to friendship to blind date wingmen, lol) leading them to forced proximity goodness with a one bed situation and kiss in closets and the slow burn sparks from before went full on scorching the pages at this point. HOT!

I may have gotten a little irritated with both of them at one point, shouting out loud "FFS WOULD YOU JUST SEE IT ALREADY YOU MORONS!" because for us readers it was so damn clear they were made for each other and I was so ready to see them the happiest they deserved but in fairness I'd have read even more pages of their angsty circling around each other because it was SO SO SO GOOOOOOOOOD!!!

I can't wait for the next book to roll out after reading the excerpt at the end of this: The Objectors !