4.0⭐

If Lynn writes it, I will definitely read it!!!

Absolutely LOVE this book❤️

You're gonna love all the pride & prejudice references in the book, I sure did<33

Happy pub week to @lynnpainterkirkle and THE LOVE WAGER! This is my first Lynn experience, and it has already cemented her as an auto-buy author for me!!

I absolutely loved Hallie and Jack’s dynamic. Their banter is 🤌, their chemistry plus friendship is fantastic, and watching them slooowly realize they were both absolutely catching feels for each other as they competed to find a soul mate was so fun!!

And can we taco ‘bout the taco content?!? (See what I did there? 🤣) Just a fair warming that you’re going to want taco makings or a good number for Mexican handy because I was craving all the tacos as I read this one.

In addition to reading this, I also had the privilege of listening to the audiobook (thank you so much @prhaudio for the gifted audiobook!) and the narrators @kdimerc and @webberesque did an incredible job bringing Hallie and Jack to life. I especially loved the dual narration and how both narrators made their way into each other’s chapters.

This hit shelves yesterday, so go out and grab a copy ASAP! Now, excuse me while I go listen to MR. WRONG NUMBER (book No. 1 in this series) because I need more of that Lynn Painter banter! FYI, even though The Love Wager is a follow-up to Mr. Wrong Number, it reads perfectly as a standalone 😍

This was the swooniest (yes, we are going to pretend that’s a word) rom com I’ve read in such a long time! The witty banter was absolutely perfect and the chemistry between the characters had me literally smiling as I read! It gave me vibes of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez in the best way! I loved every second and flew through this story. If you’re a fan of the friends to lovers trope, look no further than your new favorite read of the year! 4.5 stars from me! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

After a one night stand at wedding, where she happened to be working, Hallie decides its time to put her life back together. But when she and her one night stand, Jack, match on a dating app, Hallie and Jack decide to make a wager about who can find love first.

What I liked most about The Love Wager was how funny Painter managed to make so many moments in the book. In other writers’ hands, it may have come off as sad or uncomfortable, but she was able to effortlessly make so many parts enjoyable.

What I disliked in the book was a pivotal scene between Jack and one of Hallie’s dates. But I can’t tell you anything because it would be a pretty decent spoiler.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves rom-coms and fake dating books! Also, if you’ve had some pretty ridiculous dates, you’ll appreciate the ones in this book.

Lynn Painter is the QUEEN of banter, and The Love Wager proves that over and over and over. Hallie and Jack were hilarious and the dry sarcasm was right up my alley.

I laughed out loud so many times. The story moved so quickly and I love how Lynn bounces between POV’s, not waiting until the start of the chapter to give us a different perspective.

And if you’re looking for tropes, this book delivers and delivers well!
• one night stand to friends to lovers
• he falls first
• fake dating
• only one bed

We also have texts on page and a whole lot of sexual tension. I’d say this one is steamier than Mr. Wrong Number, but Lynn toes the line very well and fans of closed door romances would still enjoy this one!

I am currently in my Lynn Painter era, so I was excited about the opportunity to read her newest book, The Love Wager. Former one-night-stands Jack and Hallie develop a plan to help each other in their quest to find their individual soulmates. However, they begin to find that they have more fun hanging out with each other than their respective dates. Tacos, banter, and fake dating ensue.

My biggest issue with the book was the inclusion of the third-act fake dating plot. Not every book needs to include fake dating! I love it when it furthers the plot, but in this case, it felt like it was shoved in as a way to check another trope off the list.

Overall, I found this to be a very fun rom-com with two engaging and likable characters. Highly recommend this for folks looking for a more light-hearted romance in the vein of The Unhoneymooners.

Super cute book! Texting + fake dating + friends to lovers? Sign me up. Jack and Hallie were fun, flirty, and their banter was hysterical. Miscommunication comes into play the last 1/4th of the book, but it was navigable and flowed with the story. Overall, I highly enjoyed!

Today I am sharing my thoughts on a book that I really really enjoyed. This book gave me a case of perma smile and I was rooting so hard for the two characters. I am talking about The Love Wager by Lynn Painter. It is the second book in the Mr. Wrong Number series, but it is the first book I read in the series, and I loved it!

In The Love Wager we meet our two main characters, Hallie and Jack. Jack's sister was the main character from the first book, so if you have already read her story you will really enjoy getting to see her and Colin sprinkled throughout this story. But here we have Jack who is ready to get engaged to his (kind of rude if you ask me) girlfriend, but instead of getting engaged- they break up. Enter Hallie, the wedding bartender and a lot of alcohol and Hallie and Jack have a very good time that night, only for her to flee the next morning thinking she will never see him again. When they connect on a dating app, they make a bet to see who will fall in love first. They form a friendship where they encourage each other to get out there and date, and then meet up for tacos when the dates don't go well. Watching them clearly fall for each other was so much fun. And when the fake dating aspect came into play, I was utterly charmed right alongside Jack and Hallie.

The Love Wager is super cute and completely hit the spot. I loved this book and I can't wait to read more from Lynn Painter.

Another great romcom from Lynn Painter!! She just knows how to suck you right in with a fun romcom and get you hooked.

I loved Jack and Hallie and all of the tension between them throughout the book. The one-night stand they had at the beginning of the book really helped with the tension during their friendship, and I was rooting for them to just get it over with and get together through the rest of the book. Their back-and-forth banter was to die for. I had so much fun watching them go from the one-night stand to friends to lovers.

My only complaint is that there the plot followed the miscommunication trope with resulting crisis, and I just can’t stand miscommunication lol.

Other than that, I absolutely loved this story and thought it was so fun!

Now this story is the second book in a series. I haven’t read the first book Mr. Wrong Number yet but I think I’ll pick it up soon. I’ve just fallen in love with Lynn Painter’s books, and I’ve loved every single one I’ve read so far.

I would classify this as a friends to lovers romance. Hallie and Jack are both looking for love and Hallie especially is trying to be a full on adult and making some changes. They make a wager to see who would find love first. Of course there’s a lot of bad dates and ALL.THE.BANTER between these two.
.
I seriously could not stop reading this book. I love it when we get both POVs in a romance. Jack was also in Mr. Wrong Number, so I’m going to read that next. I probably should have read that first, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I just want to read anything Lynn Painter writes!

This book was super cute, I loved it! Lynn Painter eats up banter every TIME! There was tension, there was just enough cheesiness, and I loved the characters. Jack…Jack man… one of my fav book boyfriends for sure. I loved Hallie’s personality and was rooting for the two of them the whole way! I finished this book in a day, definitely a fast paced read that you won’t want to put down. The only downside I’d say is that the pacing overall was good but when we got to the last 20% the ending felt a bit rushed. Like it was built up throughout the whole book and then it quickly ended to wrap everything up. I wouldn’t have minded a few more chapters. Other than that I highly recommend this book and I loved it!

Another incredible five star read from Lynn Painter! At this point, I would read her grocery list — she's that great. She creates such a loveable story with endearing characters and swoon-worthy romance that's not to be missed. Lynn has definitely has solidified her spot as my favourite contemporary romance author and I can't wait to see what she delivers next!

Honestly, Lynn's writing is candy to me. I don't normally fall for simpler plots but the way the tropes are done really work for me. Plus, sequel-romances really are my favorites building off established characters.

This was a cute read!! Not my favourite but definitely still cute. I'm a fan of Lynn's books so I will definitely keep reading titles by her! Thanks Netgalley!

I found The Love Wager to be exhausting. I have enjoyed the trope of two idiots who don't know that they're in love with one another in the past; I also enjoyed a number of Lynn Painter's previous books - however, this one did not work for me.
There's a lack of depth and maturity to both characters and the reason for the third act breakup (and how Hallie comes across the information by happenstance) was just bonkers.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review,

I've been struggling with romances this year. Not a lot have really captured my attention, and most of the time I force myself to finish them because they are arcs and I have to review them. This one though, I really enjoyed! I read it in one sitting (which is usually how I read books that I love) and it was hilarious, snarky, tender, sweet, and romantic. Lynn Wager doesn't waste any time, she hits the ground running from page one. You have the two leads meeting RIGHT AWAY, and you know what? It works! I almost wonder why not more books do this.
The chemistry between Jack and Hallie was very present and real, and their friendship was sincere. You never feel that it's put on. The banter is one of the best (totally commend Lynn Painter on this one!) and you could definitely feel them falling in love with each other throughout the novel. With chemistry off the charts, why not, right?
Anyway. Love this romance. If you're looking for a light, swoony, and hilarious read, I'd wager (yep, I went there) this is the book for you.

I alternated between audio and digital for this book. Both formats made me laugh out loud. There is both a male and female narrator and they did an excellent job.

Hallie and Jack meet at a wedding. She’s the bartender and he’s the brother of the bride (bride is the main character from Mr. Wrong Number, the first book in this fantastic series). The next morning she’s literally crawling out of a hotel room and decides it’s time to be a grownup and get in a dating app. Jack is also in the dating app and they decide their relationship is purely platonic. They actually make a bet on who will find love first and sweetly encourage each other (and laugh at with each other).

Hallie and Jack are both characters I loved and would want to hang out with (especially Hallie) and I adored their friendship as they supported each other through their dates. I loved watching them bond and laugh and have fun. Because they’d decided on friendship, this is the best kind of slow burn. There are so many fun scenes and characters.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.

Okay, where do I even begin. Have you wanted a book with so many tropes that it makes your poor little heart beat with all the warm fuzzies? Well here you go!
Hallie is working 1 full time job and 2 part time jobs. She is trying to get back on her feet after her ex douchecanoe broke her heart. What she didn't expect is to not only help a man pick out an engagement ring at PT job #1, but to have said man buy a drink from her at PT job # 2. As she is making the connection, the man's (soon to be fiancé) accuses him of cheating on her with Hallie and promptly throws a drink in both their faces. What better way to drown their sorrows (ish) than to get stupid drunk and have crazy sex in the elevator, the desk in the hotel, the ..okay you get the point. As she crawls out of his room, Hallie is determined to get on with her life. She quits her two PT jobs, starts apartment hunting, and gets on a dating app. But who does she see there? The GUY, Jack!
But she DOES NOT want to date him and vice versa so they agree to be each other's wingperson and help find their other half.
This turns into a wager to see who can find love first and they become best friends that go eat A LOT of tacos after their failed dates. But they sort of, prefer each other's company more than any of their dates.
Now they're firmly stuck in the friendzone, but Hallie told her family that she has a boyfriend that she is taking for her sister's wedding so Jack agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the weekend. What? It's not like one weekend of fun (and sex) going to ruin their friendship while both are hoping for more... right? Yes, One bed folks! AND THEN there's a scene in the rain during the climax and it is SO Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet!
I literally laughed out loud reading this book and I absolutely adored it!
The only thing I wish was explored more is Jack's job after the revelation at her sister's wedding and what happened to his PhD candidate date!

Hoping for bonus scenes soon!!

3.5/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley & Berkley Publishing I received an E-Arc of this book for an honest review! I’ve got into a bad habit of forgetting to check if books are part of a series before reading them and ding ding ding this one is the second in the series which I didn’t realize until almost halfway through… whoops....

Good news if you haven't read the first one “Mr. Wrong Number” you won’t be missing out or feel like you’re getting too many spoilers. Could easily be a standalone.

This book was super cute and had me laughing out loud. This was a great friends to lovers romance novel. The characters genuinely became friends first and the romance in the end was truly a bonus. With a hilarious meet cute and then a reinteraction it was straight fate. This book is such an easily light read if you need a little serotonin boost!
I’ll definitely be checking out the first book and the rest in this series!

includes: one night stand, friends to lovers, fake dating

the second book in the series is always so fun to read because you're so excited to see how the universe will continue to build and knowing you're going to fall in love with new characters.

lynn painter is always going to deliver a book with happy endings, witty characters and books that will make you laugh and smile. the love wager was no different.

this book had me at fake dating and it delivered.

if you're looking for a mild spicy romance that will make you laugh, you have found it.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc <3