Happily Never After by Lynn Painter was such a pleasant surprise for me. It was a book that I read with a smile plastered to my face for a good portion of the book. The main source of my plastered smile was the fun banter and the quirky side characters (Larry for the win!).  These two elements are some of my favorites to find in books, so having both in one was an extra treat. 

The premise was a fresh one in that it was anti-romantics partnering up to object to weddings to save one of the spouses to be.  Although I’ve never been to a wedding where they even asked for objections, let alone seen an objection, it was fun to see it played out on the page.  The evolution of the objector and objectresses friendship was also a delight to read.  I recommend this one for a pleasurable light read!

I realized that this is my first ever Lynn Painter. I was happy to learn that she has an equally amazing backlist. I’m hoping to tackle some of the other highly recommended reads from her backlist this spring when I need a good, fun rom-com,

This was such a fun, easy romance to read. I am always down for fake dating!

Sophie meets Max when he is an "objector" at her wedding. He has an interesting side gig where he objects at weddings to stop weddings when people don't know how to get out of them. They end up meeting a time or two and become friends. Sophie decides she wants in on the objecting. They start hanging out and it helps her as far as her job goes, and Max's parents think that he's found someone. So they run with that.

Not surprising, they catch feelings. But Sophie doesn't believe in love. Can Max make her fall?

The audio was so cute and I loved the narration.

Such a fun read!

Many thanks to PRH Audio for an ALC, and NetGalley and Berkley Pub for an ARC all in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book!! I love the characters and the way Painter creates a situation that is both funny and emotional. The banter and chemistry between Sophie and Max are top notch. Also, if you are looking for the funniest first line, look no farther.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Happily Never After by Lynn Painter. I enjoyed this book so much!

I found this book to be a breath of fresh air. I have been in such a reading slump this year, and I enjoyed this one so much. It was fun and engaging, and I really enjoyed the characters. I identified with so many elements of their character, and I thought the book was cleverly written. I give this book two thumbs way way up!

Happily Never After is a fun idea - he’s an “Objector”, someone who is paid to object at a wedding by the bride or groom for various reasons (usually infidelity on the other’s part). She’s a bride whose friend arranged for his services for her, as her fiance is a scumbag but she can’t just dump him because her dad works for his. They share a few drinks the night of the canceled wedding, and reconnect months later.
She doesn’t believe in love or marriage, he falls first, and she has absolutely hysterical roommates (Larry is in his 70s and possibly one of the best side characters ever).
Lynn Painter’s banter is next level, I always love the way her main characters talk to each other. The dialogue is snappy, the plot is perfectly paced, and the characters are funny and wonderfully flawed. Such a fun read!

Thank you @berkleyromance & @prhaudio for my complimentary copy. My thoughts are my own.

This was such a fun and engaging read! Romance is not my go-to genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! With an original storyline, well-developed (and lovable) characters, a quirky cast of friends, witty banter, and a touch of spice, this amusing story also has depth!

Sophie first encounters Max on her wedding day when he stands and objects to her nuptials! Soon, they develop a friendship as they are both hired to object at other questionable weddings. But when they are asked to object at the wedding of the woman who broke Max’s heart, Max must decide if he can be a participant to his ex-fiancée getting hurt, and Sophie is forced to examine her true feelings for Max.

I equally enjoyed both the print and audio versions of this book. The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Sophie and Max. Audio narrators Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins do an excellent job bringing the characters to life!

Read (or listen to) this if you enjoy:
*friends to lovers
*hilarious situations
*quirky roommates
*love cynics
*soul-searching moments
*a touch of spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Another sweet rom-com from Lynn Painter.

I thought the premise for this book was cute, if a little farfetched. I don't think I have been to a wedding that asked for objections in a very long time, so for there to be this many of them that Max was able to make it as pocket money seemed a bit out there. But honestly that wasn't even the most unbelievable thing about this book. That would go to Sophie buying a completely original '69 Camaro with less than 8000 miles on it from an old lady who had been holding onto it for decades after her husband died. To quote Indiana Jones, "it belongs in a museum!" Or at least on the auction block.

Other than that, it was a sweet story with plenty of banter and a lot of feeling. Max and Sophie were soft for each other right from the get go, if a little goofy and quirky, but not necessarily in a bad way. If there was one thing that I would have wanted to see more of it would have to be the resolution of the book. It felt very rushed and the reader did not get as big of a payoff as I would have liked. But otherwise, it was a very enjoyable book, and if you like Painter's other books, you'll enjoy this one.

Netflix and Amazon - Here is your next hit Rom Com!

Without a doubt this is one of most original romances I have read and the comedy is off the charts. Told with warmth, empathy, and the most amazing nuance for storytelling through dialogue Painter will amaze and astonish you with the power of this book. I literally laughed so hard out loud by the unexpected humor when I started this that My Guy needed to hear what was so funny. And then he was laughing along as we enacted the first meeting between Sophie and Max, we were giggling like teens on a first date as we red through scenes together! He wants to be an Objector! Now, that is a book not to be missed.

This review is my own opinion of an ARC from Netgalley and Berkley

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is witty, fun loving, and steamy romantic comedy that is more than just a story; taking the reader on a hilarious ride. Suppose you need to call your wedding off, but you can’t do it for any number of reasons. You can call in the objector, and he will interrupt things at just the right moment and save the day. Sophie Steinbeck found herself in this situation, and she’s eternally grateful for the objector who said “I object” at just the right time enabling her to call off the wedding. Sophie has a chance to later meet her savior, Max, and loves that he only takes on cheaters. Sophie decides she would like to help others in the same situation, so she teams up with Max for potential future wedding objections.

The two agree that love and marriage are a waste of time and as they go from wedding to wedding objecting, it becomes harder to deny their growing feelings. Sophie and Max might have been “love skeptics” but their chemistry was undeniable. I enjoyed their openness, especially with regard to their physical attraction, their playful teasing and banter, flirty texts, and fake dating. Sophie has the best roommates, Rose and Larry, and they added an additional depth to this enjoyable and humorous story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

What I loved:
✨Creative rom-com plot: I love the whole premise! Max successfully saves Sophie from marrying her cheating fiancee by objecting at the wedding when the minister asks if anyone knows why Sophie and her groom shouldn't marry. Afterward, Max proposes to Sophie to work together as "Objectors" at weddings. All this leads to a fun friendship and fake dating, one of my favorite romance tropes.
✨Hilarious: the wedding antics, the witty banter, the side characters: Larry & Rose, Sophie’s senior citizen roommates!
✨Narration: Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins embody Sophie and Max as they build their friendship, create hot chemistry with their fake dating, and have a refreshing take on open communication. They feel like a real couple.

Lynn Painter is a must-read author for me, and this book did not disappoint! It was a cute and easy read, with a unique plot and likable main characters. I really enjoyed the scenes where Sophie and Max went together to object weddings, and I love how they first met when he saved her during her own wedding. While I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t my favorite compared to some of Painter’s other novels. I’m looking forward to reading whatever she puts out next!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Lynn Painter for an ARC of this book!**

Speak now or forever hold your peace...

We all know those words, and many a movie has the long lost love coming out of the woodwork at the last moment to declare their undying love for the bride or groom to be BEFORE they tie the knot with the 'wrong' person.

But what if you could HIRE a certain someone to deliver that protestation...and save someone from marrying a no-good, cheating scoundrel?

It turns out you can...and these folks are known as professional "Objectors." The concept sounds a bit crazy to Sophie Steinbeck...until she has one such Objector shows up at her OWN wedding to stop her from marrying her co-worker and fiance Stuart, whose father ALSO just so happens to be Sophie's father's boss. (Ah, the tangled web of nepotism.) Although Sophie is crushed to learn about Stuart's philandering ways, she is fascinated by Max's Objector job, and after tossing back a couple of tequila shots in the bridal suite, the two have some laughs and commiserate about how love isn't real, etc. etc. The more Sophie learns about the 'job' the more she thinks it might be for her...but is there something about Max's twinkling eyes that is the TRUE reason she's invested?

Their qualms aside, Sophie decides to take the plunge with Max...at least, in business...and the two set out to Break Up Some Weddings. But the more time they spend together, the more they notice their deep attraction to one another...and it starts to become difficult to ignore the connection. With two friends that have sworn off love, though, a kiss here or there couldn't hurt, right? They also add an extra layer to the situationship (of sorts) by playing into the facade by posting photos that look couple-y on Instagram and allowing their parents to get excited about the possibility of the future grandbabies (one that isn't even SUPPOSED to come to fruition, mind you!) But as their physical entanglements continue, the question of whether feelings really ARE involved comes to the forefront when the wedding Sophie is asked to object at next is the wedding of the Max's ex...the one who broke his heart and made him swear off love in the FIRST place...and Max finds himself desperate to stop Sophie from intervening. Does this reluctance PROVE he still have feelings for his ex? Or have Max and Sophie haphazardly stumbled into the relationship they were so DETERMINED to avoid after all?

Lynn Painter is one of those authors I've seen mentioned over and over by trusted book friends and reviewers, and I'd heard that her books were witty and fun, with snarky banter and spice, and of COURSE I wanted to give one a try. I also loved the idea of the professional wedding objector being a new 'career' for our female lead (especially because traditionally it seems like MEN are the ones swooping in to break up unions before they even get started) and thought it would be entertaining to see the trajectory of this venture play out, with Sophie using different tactics and maybe having lots of fun stories to tell along the way....all with a side of very-predictable-but-very-fun romance of her own with Max to help complete the tale.

But what I got was something that relied very little on the premise...and a lot more on the two (somewhat annoying) MCs obsession with each others' bodies, their supposed 'done with love' attitude that was hardly present, LOTS of random profanity on every page...and a subpar plot that left me sighing, rolling my eyes, and ready for the wedding to be OVER.

None of these issues were present for the first few chapters: I actually LIKED the beginning, the set up with Max purposely crashing the wedding, even the liquor-fueled hangout between Sophie and Max at the start and hoped that this initial meetup (I don't think in this case I can call it a meetcute!) would over time blossom into something deep, interesting, and REAL. But when these characters met up for a second time, and Max couldn't stop talking about Sophie's red lips mentally OVER and OVER...red FLAGS started popping up for me...and never really let up from then on.

For one thing, it was hard for ANY of these characters (except maybe Sophie's parents?) to go a full page without dropping f bombs and other profanities, usually randomly, during whatever they were discussing. I'm far from a stickler when it comes to profanity (unless my son is around!) but ALL of these people used this type of language the way others casually drop the word 'like' in every sentence, and it just got to be distracting. Perhaps the worst abusers of this (surprisingly enough) were Sophie's elderly roommates, Larry and Rose, who also were not really charming to me in any fashion. Larry seemed pretty hung up (read: obsessed) with how much Max looked like a certain famous movie star, and there was hardly enough about Rose to even make her memorable to me a week after finishing this one...so that says enough right there.

I also ran into another issue that sometimes pops up for me when I'm reading a romance book that ALWAYS takes me out of the experience: Max's chapters didn't sound like they were written by a guy, and felt SO much like Sophie's that I occasionally forgot who was talking. This is always hard for me, because so many authors (two of my faves, Emily Henry and Sarah Hogle come to mind) have such a defined set of characters, I never have this issue, and I'm not sure what the secret sauce is....all I know is that it was missing here. I also felt like we got far too involved with both sets of parents in ways that didn't really benefit the plot, and getting to see more into Sophie and Max's SOULS would have been far more interesting. I feel like things stayed surface level with these two for SO long that it was hard to see anything meaningful develop (other than some forced drama at the end to allow Max to be the rescuer) and I didn't find that enough to endear me to the relationship.

And by the way, let's just call it like it is: this is a friends with benefits situation. I find it funny that these two, as blunt and as 'done with love' as they both claim to be, didn't just have that conversation from the beginning and CALL it out. And OF COURSE that situation will get complicated: it ALWAYS does. Even outside the confines of fiction, when two people who are WILDLY attracted to each other decide to participate in that kind of interaction, things will continue to become more complicated UNLESS the two agree to be only hook up buds until they decide to no longer be hook up buds (and we all know THAT wasn't going to happen!) There was really only one direction this was going to go, and although I'm okay with a predictable romance, it still is more fun or emotionally charged if it isn't a COMPLETELY foregone conclusion...and this one had foregone conclusion written all over it.

The last thing that made this one so difficult for me to truly enjoy was the nature of the situation-ship itself...and the lusty, doe eyed way these two interacted from start to finish. I've already mentioned Max's obsession with Sophie's red lips (which was more than a bit OTT) but with her fascination with his rock hard abs etc., Sophie was hardly better. I'm okay with a certain level of this in a romance novel: played the right way it CAN be spicy and fun. But for me, it was so overdone, the open doors were WAY too open for my liking, and all of the chatter about their Instagram posting had me rolling my eyes too, not to mention hearing all about their nights out drinking, etc. When I was done with this one? Let's just say I felt every BIT of my 37 years!

There's a reason I am somewhat choosy when it comes to romance books, and it has more to do with me as a reader than some of the fantastic authors in the genre: much like I was before I met my husband, I'm ALWAYS looking for the perfect match. But as much as I hate to be the Outlier when it comes to this Painter read?

I think it's safe to say you can put me down as an "Objector."

3 stars

This book was full of so much heart! 2 people struggling with the same fear of love not being real and getting their hearts broken again find each other! So funny as well!!

I loved this one! Lynn Painter brings us two fun characters who “object” at weddings to give the bride or groom a “Get Out of Jail Free Pass!” Sophie has sworn off of love and thinks she can put Max in the “friends only” box. However, these two have way too much chemistry and fun to stay in the friend zone! Fun banter and a cute storyline…this is a spicy and fun romance!

Sophie Steinbeck is on the verge of getting married when she finds out her one time cheating fiancé has oops, done it again. But ending things outright is complicated-their lives intertwined in more ways than one.

Then Sophie hears about a service where you can hire a professional objector to show up at your wedding and call out your shady significant other for you. This is how Sophie comes to meet Max, said part time objector, and a man who just so happens to be equally put off by love.

Over post, would be nuptial bonding, the pair come to a mutual understanding. So when Max offers Sophie to be his co-objector in crime, who is she, no pun intended, to object? But the more the two work to break others up, the more they find themselves drawn to one another. Can these two cynics take their sour outlook on love and turn their objections into declarations?

Happily Never After is perfect, rom com escapism for fans of old school movies that have, in recent years, inexplicably fallen out of favor. Putting aside the ridiculous premise there would be THAT MANY weddings to call off, the scenario itself is unique and an ideal setup for fans of jaded romance that no diehard fan can object to.

“I love banter, but I hate witty banter.” Kevin from the Office. If you share his viewpoint, then you’ll want to skip this book because the banter between the two MC is epic! This book was so much fun it gave me a kind of Wedding Crashers vibe with a romance vibe and it was off the charts fun!
Sophie is trying to get out of marrying her cheating fiancé without her father, who works for her fiancés father losing his job after just days before the wedding she found irrefutable evidence of the affair on her fiancés phone. Her best friend brings in Max, who is a college friend of her cousin’s, who had helped out another friend by objecting that the couple should not be wed at their wedding and got her out of her wedding too. Max has become The Objector. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up! But somehow Lynn Painter manages to time and time again!
After Max saves Sophie from marrying Stuart, they hit it off and a few months later he asks her to help him out as an Objector at another wedding and they end up having so much fun and so much chemistry that they agree to continue offering this service. Neither of them believe in love and they go from wedding to wedding and as they spend more and more time together, they try the friends with benefits route but soon realize that maybe love really does exist after all.
This book started with an awesome first line and kept me engaged the entire time. I didn’t want it to end! I loved that Sophie has two geriatric roommates that are more cool than I could ever hope to be as well. They brought such a fun energy ti their scenes!
If you’re in the mood for a light and laugh out loud funny story with a fair amount of steam then pick this one up today!
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

OMG this book was HILARIOUS! When bride, Sophie finds out her fiance was cheating on her, and her wedding was broken up, she is raging and ends up determined to save others from her humiliation. She joins forces with "Objector" Max, and they object during weddings when there is infidelity happening in the relationship. Determined never to fall in love again, Sophie is adamant that she and Max be friends...with benefits...but only friends. But is that actually possible?

I loved this book! I laughed out loud so many times! Now to go read Lynn Painter's backlist books!

Lynn Painter has done it again! There's truly nobody who does witty banter like her. Within the last year or two, she has become one of my absolute favorite authors.

I read romance books quite frequently, and I loved that this one had a unique concept! Max and Sophie are wedding objectors -- when the attendees are asked if anyone has a reason for the couple to not get married, they say "I do!" It all started at Sophie's wedding, where Max was hired as an objector to expose Sophie's fiance, who was cheating on her. Together, they help expose toxic partners at wedding ceremonies, so that their partner doesn't have to take the heat for calling off the relationship.

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER is a hilariously sweet friends-to-lovers romance. I adored the friendship between Max and Sophie, and their banter made me laugh out loud many times. I was sad when this book ended because I wanted to spend more time with these characters.

Lynn Painter is SO good at what she does and I will never not be counting down the days until next next release!

I'm a huge fan of Lynn Painter's novels and I'm happy to report that I have found a new favorite from her with her latest, Happily Never After!

When we first meet the female main character, Sophie, she is about to walk down the aisle but has just learned that her fiance has cheated on her yet again. She wants to call it off but her dad works for her soon-to-be father-in-law and she’s worried he will pay the price if she does. Not all superheros wear capes though and Sophie’s hero arrives in the form of Max, who has been paid by her besties to come to the ceremony and object to the marriage. Max hangs around for the anti-wedding festivities and he and Sophie get to know each other. He explains what he does as a professional Objector and when Sophie expresses interest in trying it, he calls her up the next time he has a job. A fun partnership soon forms, but what happens when the objectors, neither of whom really believes in love after having been burned too many times, start to have feelings for one another?

I really just loved everything about this book! Both Sophie and Max are so loveable and I just loved the way their friendship grows from such an unlikely scenario. It was also just so fun watching them go out there saving people from marriages destined to fail, one ceremony at a time. That partners-in-crime vibe was such a great time, and I adored their chemistry. It was all too easy to root for them to become more than friends.

Nobody makes me laugh harder than Lynn Painter. Her banter is some of the best I’ve ever read and it’s usually why I pick up her books. Happily Never After has all of that and so much more because there’s some emotional depth as both Sophie and Max have to learn to move beyond what has burned them in the past and re-embrace the possibility of love if they’re going to have a future together.

Lynn Painter does banter like no one else! This was an original romantic comedy that represented everything I love about this genre while still feeling fresh with a story line that hasn't been overdone. Sophie and Max have a meet cute (?) that is unlike anything I've read and I loved it! It was quite funny and the perfect set up for the rest of the book.

Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book was Sophie's logical disbelief in true love. We've read countless stories where the FMC gets burned then swears off love, but Sophie's approach was so much less... emotional. It was an odd POV for a main character to have in a romcom, and I was really anxious to see how Lynn Painter would navigate it. She made me dis-believe in love so early on (and the MMC, too!) but she broke down the belief expertly and it really added to the story.

Sophie is independent, funny, and put herself first. I really enjoyed her as a FMC and she and Max had excellent chemistry!

Overall, this book is a great read if you're looking for something that will both chill your heart then warm it - - all while being expertly entertaining!