Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

Sometimes people meet in the strangest of ways. Sophie and Max met when he was paid to object her wedding. Soon after they decide not only to be objectors together but to form a real friendship but fake dating-ish.

I was hooked right away. I absolutely LOVED Max. There was a moment in the book where my heart melted because of him. Seriously, I said "aww" out loud and grabbed my chest. He was the absolute best. I liked Sophie too. She was funny and such a boss, but at times I wanted to shake that girl. I enjoyed the different POVs. It's nice to get how Sophie and Max saw things. I laughed out loud at parts. I cried (where Max melted my heart). I felt all the feels.

Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

We already know Lynn Painter can do no wrong, so this book just confirmed that.

I’ll be super honest, I’ve never been to a wedding where they actually ask if anyone has an objection BUT this was too cute to care.

Sophie and Max are too sweet! I totally felt for Sophie and how scared of loving and being heartbroken she was. And Max was just a sweetie cutie pie who was so understanding and caring.

4/5 stars - A very classic romcom with just enough spice but not to explicit. For once we finally get some open communication because for me there is nothing worse than a miscommunication trope. I always love a good dual POV & fake dating tropes are some of my fav. So if any of those speak to you would recommend this read!

This was sent to me by Berkley Romance, and I enjoyed it. I do feel like I wish I felt more of the chemistry between the two carters but overall, enjoyable.

Lynn Painter is always a guaranteed fun and romance. This was a unique storyline with the classic tropes. Thanks to the publisher for my arc!

"I just want to remember the night I reconnected with happy."

This book was spunky and fun and everything I love about a love story built on friendship. Because that's what Sophie and Max truly do. They form a bond over a shard love of getting paid to object to weddings of people who just want to blame someone else for their misfortune in love. And two people who hate love themselves? Easy.

Sophie was so easy to relate to and easier to love, and watching her realize what life could look like if she only gave it a chance was so special to me, I'll forever hold her character so close to my heart.

Easiest five stars I'll ever give to a silly romance book that turns out to be not so silly after all.

This was just a lot of fun to read! I loved the roommates and their age were a laugh! And I do love the journey they made through love although... I don't love the ending... i didn't really seem in character with them. But it was a fun rom-com!

Happily Never After is not my vibe when it comes to Romance novels, but I can definitely see the appeal to Painter's fans!

I was hooked right from the start! The premise of this book was so unique, and I loved it. The quick-witted banter and hilarious insults had me laughing out loud, and there were tons of swoon-worthy moments too. I highly recommend checking it out!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one, I thought the idea was cute that two professional wedding objectors fall in love. Sophie and Max had great physical chemistry, there was definitely a lot of tension as they spent more and more time together. I didn't feel the emotional connection as much, but I could see the two of them as a HFN couple.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is an irresistible rom-com brimming with wit, charm, and a wholly unique premise. Sophie Steinbeck, reeling from her cheating fiancé’s latest betrayal, crosses paths with Max, a professional “objector” who breaks up weddings for a living. What starts as an outrageous but liberating escape from her own messy life turns into a whirlwind adventure as Sophie teams up with Max to stop weddings, save heartbreaks, and wreak a little havoc along the way.

Painter’s portrayal of Sophie is refreshingly authentic. She’s spirited yet vulnerable, trying to reclaim her confidence after years of being underappreciated. Max is her perfect foil—a jaded but endearing cynic with a mysterious past. Their chemistry crackles as they banter their way through increasingly ridiculous wedding interventions, but the story doesn’t just rely on humor; it digs into themes of trust, vulnerability, and the messy complexities of love.

The turning point, when Sophie is hired to object to a wedding involving Max’s heartbreaker ex, is full of emotional tension that perfectly balances the hilarity of their misadventures. Painter skillfully develops their feelings, making their evolution from hookup partners to something more deeply meaningful feel organic and satisfying.

While the plot’s climax is gripping, the resolution feels slightly rushed, leaving a few subplots unresolved. Still, the combination of laugh-out-loud moments, steamy romance, and heartfelt introspection makes Happily Never After a standout read.

A must for fans of unconventional love stories, sparkling banter, and Lynn Painter’s signature humor.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Happily Never After is a quick romance read following Sophie and Max. The two meet at Sophie's wedding. Sophie's friend hires Max to disrupt Sophie's wedding because her fiancé has cheated on her once again and she does not want to go through with the wedding. Sophie and Max come together again when Max asks Sophie to help him disrupt a different wedding. Their work as disruptors brings them closer together and they become very good friends. Both of them are not looking for a relationship but their connection is undeniable.

I really enjoyed Happily Never After. At first I did not get the whole disruptors thing because I was like why would people go through with a wedding if it's not what they want? Once I got over that, this element was a very fun way to get the characters to come together. Both Sophie and Max do not want relationships, Sophie especially as she has stopped believing in love all together. It was nice to see them come together and shift their views on relationships and love. I felt like this was true friends to lovers as Sophie and Max's friendship is built perfectly throughout the novel. I didn't love the conflict of the novel and found it kind of annoying, but romance conflicts are usually like that.

In the end, Happily Never After is a fun and quick romance read with a unique premise and a true friends to lovers trope. If you are looking for a quick romance read, I'd highly recommend Happily Never After! It would also be a great beach read in the summer.

I went into this one skeptical about the plot because it’s pretty hard to imagine these scenarios but I ended up really loving it. The author has created characters that had the best chemistry ever! They were so fun and their banter was hysterical. This was the perfect fake dating, friends to lovers dramcom. I laughed hard at places and even had tears in my eyes during the last third of the book. It was really fun.

One of the best Rom-Coms! Seriously! All the love for this one.

It's the most unexpected meet cute when Max objects to Sophie's wedding. Max is a man hired to call off the nuptials when one party can't do it themselves. Quite the unusual side gig. Max and Sophie form an unlikely friendship, working together saving couples from saying "I Do" while doing some fake dating.

It's so funny, like literally LOL funny. This is my first book by Lynn Painter (I know, I know. What the what?) and I have been missing out. I think audio made this even better. The narration was superb and really added to the comedic effect.

Chemistry is intense, doors are open, but there's not a ton of scenes so I give it
🌶️🌶️/5

And I give it all the stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

If you’ve ever wanted to hire someone to ruin your wedding OR a friends wedding then Max and Sophie are your go to’s.

Fake dating wedding cashers (but only for people who really deserve it). This was a quick and fun read. The banter was pretty funny but there definitely was some cringe in the romance to me.

What a unique concept for a book! Characters were well developed and the plot was driven, did not take long to finish. Overall an excellent read.

3.5 stars

When Sophie finds out her fiance is cheating she hires Max to object at the wedding so everyone finds out what happened. When she and Max later work together they have so much chemistry and an unexpected connection. However, are either of them ready for anything more than a fling?

This was an interesting story with a fun set up, and I enjoyed it, but it felt a little long and repetitive at times. Overall a nice read but not my favorite from Lynn.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is an absolute gem! From the moment I read about the concept of “wedding objectors,” I was intrigued. But Painter pulls it off! Max was “hired” to object at Sophie’s wedding, and if that doesn’t hook you, nothing will!

The chemistry between Max and Sophie is electric. Max is laid-back, cynical, and doesn’t believe in love. Sophie is a nonbeliever in love who thrives on bullet-point presentations and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. This dynamic of strong personality and soft heart is rare and refreshing, making Sophie incredibly relatable.

The development of their relationship from genuine friendship to undeniable attraction is beautifully done. The tension is off the charts, and the spicier moments, especially the kissing scenes, are simply amazing 🔥. Painter has a knack for making these moments unforgettable.

Overall, Happily Never After is funny, cute, and delivers a perfect happily ever after. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a unique twist. 💕

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