This was my first Lynn Painter and I was really excited to finally try her books! I was enjoying Happily Never After quite a bit, but somewhere around 40% my interest faded and unfortunately didn’t pick up again. I felt a bit bored at the plot toward the end, but the banter had its moments. 2.5 stars (2 for netgalley)

Happily Never After is another 5 star winner from Lynn Painter! I really enjoyed her previous novels but I think this one may just be my new favorite! If you like books that make you LOL, and/or books with wedding themes then grab this one! You won't regret it!

The chemistry was immaculate. The banter was hilarious. The steam was A+. It was fast paced. The was a friends to lovers/kinda fake dating combo was the perfect vibe. Also how the book starts with a wedding objection?! It was everything I didn’t know I needed. So, my only complaints are the third act break up…and the several times Sophie made me want to shake her. However, despite those things…I loved the book anyway.

If you love dual povs, great banter, amazing spicy scenes, friends to lovers/fake dating, and a fun plot line? This is for you!

Overall I thought this book was really fun! I loved the idea of the a professional wedding objector and felt like it was a really unique premise for a book! I thought Sophie and Max were a fun couple and really enjoyed the friendship they built that turned into a relationship.

5 Stars

Every single Lynn Painter book feels like falling in love with your best friend, and this book is LITERALLY FINDING YOUR BEST FRIEND AND FALLING IN LOVE.

Like all of Lynn’s previous romances, the banter is exceptional and I can’t help but smiling throughout the whole story. The premise of this book seems WILD, but it’s so unique that you can’t help but love it. Sophie has, through word of mouth, found someone to object at her nuptials to a cheating cheater, all so she can get out of the wedding unscathed and with fragile business relationships in tact. What she never expected was to befriend the man who objected for her and then want to join him in saving others from a similar fate BECAUSE TRUE LOVE DOESNT EXIST.

Max didn’t expect to be drawn in by Sophie or to do d himself having so much fun with her. LET ALONE CATCH SOME MAJOR FEELS BECAUSE HOLY CRAP THEIR CHEMISTRY IS OFF THE CHARTS. He doesn’t believe in true love, but what they feel for each other is undeniable, no matter how much they try to deny it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance and it made my heart so happy. In my opinion, Lynn can’t write a bad romance and I absolutely loved every second of this story. And if you enjoy audio, the dual narrators were PERFECTION.

Thank you Berkley Romance for my gifted physical and digital copies 💕

Happily Never After
Lynn Painter

📖 On Sophie's wedding day, moments before saying "I do", she's saved by an objector. That is, a person who objects at weddings to stop good people from marrying not-so-good people. She and Max the Objector hit it off, and Max talks Sophie into becoming an objector herself. It's perfect really, as both are love cynics, convinced that real love just doesn't exist. The pair go from wedding to wedding, stopping folks from making the biggest mistake of their lives. But when something bubbles between them, they start to wonder if they've had it wrong all along.

💭 This is only my second Lynn Painter novel, and I was sad that her last one didn't really work for me. But this one? WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. 🏆 This was a blast! Such a clever concept for a romcom. The humor was on point, with multiple laugh-out-loud moments. Sophie is SO quippy and fun, and she and Max have the best banter! The chemistry sizzles, the communication is open and honest, and I love the friends-first component. Definitely recommend!!

4.5 rounded to 5 ⭐

This was such a fun premise! Sophie is at the alter getting ready to marry her fiance who cheated on her repeatedly. She isn't able to call the wedding off because her future father-in-law is her dad's boss so she's in a lose/lose situation. That is until Max yells out I object at her wedding! Max is a professional objector, hired to stop weddings and Sophie is grateful he was there that day.

This was a fun story and premise. It was very light-hearted and a quick read. There was great banter and chemistry in the book and I loved Sophie's roommates.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Lynn Painter has become an auto-buy author for me. I have to have everyone book in every format 🤣 ie- see the above photo with my @bookofthemonth physical copy! 😏

This book is so fun! I absolutely loved the premise and how Sophie and Max interact in this one. I love the whole “objectors” storyline it brings so much to this book, the banter between these two is perfect I’m still swooning.

This is definitely a favorite of mine and will be one of my comfort rereads.

4 Stars!

"The moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up."

I mean, with a first line to the book like this one, who wouldn't be intrigued?!

Super original and fun. This was friends-to-lovers greatness and everything I look for in a rom-com. My first read by this author, and it made me want to dive into her backlist.

Max is an Objector, as a hobby. He gets hired on the DL by brides or grooms who don't want to go through with the big day and gets hired to "object" during their vows. When he objects at Sophie's wedding, Sophie is overjoyed. They strike an instant friendship. Not only that, but Sophie wants to team up with Max in his efforts.

"I don't care about what you want to call this, but I want all of you-every brilliant, beautiful piece of Sophie Steinbeck, with me, in my bed, all night."

Recommend if You Like:
- Friends-to-lovers
- Hilarious side characters (her roommates!)
- Friends with benefits
- Have ever gone paddle boarding
- Stories about people who've been hurt and think they've outsmarted love and figured it all out (Spoiler alert...they haven't!)

I loved the evolution of their friendship. Sophie swears she has a reasonable, platonic explanation for every single thing that elevates her friendship (and her feelings) towards Max.

I listened to the audio and both Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins did a great job bringing Sophie and Max to life.

And I don't know what I was expecting as far as spice...I should know better by now when it comes to the cutesy covers but HAWT DAMN! Sophie and Max burned up the pages in SEVERAL parts of the book and this girl was here for it!

Super enjoyable, witty and original read. Will definitely be reading more from this author soon!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis in a sentence (or a few):
Sophie Steinbeck is about to marry someone she has just discovered is a cheater. Rather than call it all off on the wedding day, Max, a total stranger, is hired to be “the objector.” Max and Sophie will soon forge an alliance around their mutual cynicism towards romance and concern for idealists.

Characters:
I initially found Lynn Painter through Bookstagram, and I’m so glad I did. This was my third romance by her and, by far, my favorite. Her characters are cute, heartwarming, and always a welcome distraction when I need a lighthearted read.

Pacing/Storyline:
♥️I loved the irony in this one. A romance rarely focuses on ensuring two people do not get married, yet this novel is wholly centered around that premise.
♥️I’d never really thought about the objections in a wedding. Admittedly, I saw them as a custom. I loved the way the plot of this story focused on this tradition as a necessity, and the “objectors” became heroes and heroines.
♥️I love a story where I can laugh aloud at moments I would have found horrifying had I lived them, and there were plenty of those.
♥️Witty banter is my favorite, and Max & Sophie’s chemistry kept me turning pages late into the night

Lowlights:
Max’s ex's backstory was not my favorite

I recommend this one to readers who love:
📚Lynn Painter, Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, Emily Henry
📚Dual POV romances
📚” Anti-love” love interests
📚fake dating tropes

Rating: 4.25

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the Digital Review Copy of Happily Never After. All opinions are my own.

I was immediately intrigued by the concept of someone being employed as a wedding objector and that be woven into a love story. Happily Never After is the perfect cheesy romcom in all the best ways possible. The book is written in dual POV which allows the reader to be immersed in the tension and banter of the two main characters. I was hooked by the "will they, won't they" nature of Max and Sophie's relationship. It was a slow-ish burn where Max kinda sorta falls first. It was fun reading about the various weddings that they attended as The Objector and Objectress and wondering what would happen. I adored the ending of the book as well! Lynn Painter's writing style makes for a quick and easy read. Five star read for sure!

This was such a great book. I could see this being made into a movie. And I would absolutely recommend this book to my patrons at the library!

“Her smile was like a power switch that controlled the brightness of my universe all of a sudden, and it was exhilarating and terrifying, all at the same time.”

That quote just grabbed me and is indicative of the entire story. Oh I just loved this book. Sophie and Max had my attention from the get go. So much heart, great character development, and witty banter swept me up in their love story. The writing flows so effortlessly and is so brilliant! Fake dating is such a fun trope especially when it is done well. Lynn Painter can flat out write an addictive story! I will literally read anything she writes. She is a complete auto buy author for me. This book excels with its heartwarming moments and well crafted dialogue. Happily Never After is a complete 5 star read for me!!

✨A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

AHHH OMG GUYS. She's done it again!! Another 5 star read from Lynn Painter. I swear I am obsessed with all of her books and they just get better every single time. I love this one so much! It gives me all the good feels and I wish I was friends with Max and Sophie in real life. I need everyone I know to read it ASAP so we can discuss and fangirl over Max because my goodness, I love him!! And Sophie too! They're just so much fun and sweet as heck together.

The whole premise of this book is just a fun time. She's about to marry a cheater and he's the man her best friend hires to object to the wedding. Even from that first night they meet, their chemistry is clear and they just have a good time together, getting along so easily. When Max messages Sophie out of the blue with a proposition for her to be an "objectress" for his friend's wedding, the two reconnect. Their chemistry is off the charts and their banter is A+ stuff. Neither one of them is looking for love but in a way that makes whatever they're doing together all the sweeter because they simply want to be near each other and can't stay away. It also lets them grow as friends and more without any real expectations. I love their friendship so much and was rooting for them to end up together from the moment he stood up at her wedding. I haven't really mentioned the spice, but rest assured there IS spice and it is perfection. Those scenes are really well written and hot. Even their texts about it are perfect.

And the side characters. I have to mention Soph's elderly roommates, Larry and Rose, because they're a blast. They're funny, smart, and meddling in the best ways. She definitely lucked out with those roomies and I love that they're in an entirely different age bracket but still become some of her closest friends. I honestly just loved every single minute of this book and want to reread it repeatedly!!

Pretty much anytime I see Lynn Painter is coming out with a new book I hit preorder and I'm NEVER disappointed. Her writing is amazing and her stories are just fun with easily lovable characters. I feel like there's so much more I can say about this book but I don't want to give any spoilers and I can't get all my thoughts out because I'm still thinking about it and smiling to myself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that will put a smile on their face, make them laugh and have them falling a little bit in love themselves.

I was so excited when I saw my request was approved for the eARC from Berkley via NetGalley! I voluntarily read and reviewed it; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute rom com! Sophie and Max were adorable and had the BEST banter I have read in a while. Their chemistry was strong from the beginning and they complemented each other so well. I loved the idea of being a wedding objector - apparently I am more of a cynic than I thought! However the second hand embarrassment I would have if that happened at a wedding I was attending would cripple me so maybe I don’t want it to happen lol.

After 6%, it's a no from me. I think I have outgrown my interest in Lynn Painter books - the last few I've tried to read haven't worked for me at all. This seemed cheesy and unrealistic. Why would you walk all the way down the aisle and attempt to follow through with your wedding if you knew your fiancé was cheating and didn't want to be with him anymore? The banter between the MCs that followed seemed like it was trying too hard and I just wasn't interested. DNFing. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

3.5⭐️ whenever i’m in the mood for a good romcom, i can always count on lynn painter to deliver the goods!!! reading her books always reminds me of what it feels like to sit back and watch my favourite comfort movie. her stories are fast-paced, witty, cute, and never fail to make me giggle and kick my feet. this book was no different👏🏻👏🏻

tropes:
- dual pov
- strangers to friends to lovers
- fake dating
- playful banter
- he falls first
- subtle tswift references
- for lovers of “the wedding crashers”

i’ll start by saying that if you’re a swiftie reading this, “speak now” (taylor’s version) will be stuck in your head right from the get-go (which i wasn’t mad about at all🫶🏻)

i really loved the unconventional meet cute between max & sophie and how easily their relationship slowly but surely progressed into more. i’m such a sucker for a good friends to lovers trope and appreciated that it took time for them to further explore their relationship despite the immediate physical chemistry that they both felt. the back and forth banter between these two had me laughing out loud (alone in my apartment lol🙃) and is what truly made me binge this entire book in one sitting!!

i think the hopeful romantic in me really enjoyed the fact that these two were both set in their “anti-relationship” ways upon meeting. yet the more time they spent together, the easier it was for them to break those walls down and open up to each other. don’t get me wrong— it was a bit frustrating at times to read sophie’s pov when max was SO DOWN BAD for her (and made her aware of it) yet she continued to push down and ignore her feelings to almost prove a point. but then max’s inner dialogue would say things like, “she was like a stubborn puzzle who didn’t want to be solved, which made me want to toss all the pieces into the air and then solve it anyway, just to piss her off” and i would just laugh it off and keep moving along!!! the tension between them also really made up for those frustrating moments. and when the spice finally hit, i was not disappointed one bit.

i would have liked to have seen a bit more of max & sophie’s roles together as wedding “objectors” integrated into the plot, but overall their story kept me easily entertained from start to finish. i would recommend picking up this book if you’re in need of a good mood booster (fellow seasonal depression girlies where ya at) or are wanting to get out of a reading slump! this was such a feel-good romance that i picked up at just the right time. a huge thank you to netgalley and berkley romance for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

theme song: (surprisingly not speak now but…)
dress - taylor swift

fave quote(s):

“her smile was like a power switch that controlled the brightness of my universe all of a sudden, and it was exhilarating and terrifying, all at the same time.”

“f*ck love and relationships, i just want to be with you because you’re my goddamn favourite person.”

Is there anything that Lynn Painter writes that I won't read? No! Her books are like that feel good rom-com that you snuggle up to after a rough week. Every single time she knocks it out of the park with characters you want to befriend and an always enjoyable storyline. When asked for book recommendations I always say any Lynn Painter books and this book is no exception. Who doesn't want to read about a Henry Cavill doppelganger and his beautiful partner in crime as they team up to object to weddings?

Chemistry class is over and Lynn Painter has aced it once again!

Sophie Steinbeck and Max Parks meet when she hears about him through her best friend and pays him to object to her wedding to cheating fiance Stuart. You know the part … “If anyone has any reason why these two should not be wed” … that one. Max is the one that says “I do!”, and the bride-to-be Sophie can now say “I don’t!” without her dad having to repay the cost of the cancelled wedding.

Thus starts one of the weirdest, funniest, most playful, complicated, endearing friendships between two people who’ve sworn off love and relationships that I’ve had the pleasure of reading! Sophie is particularly committed to the idea that romantic “love” is a made-up idea that doesn’t exist in reality. After both have had their hearts broken, they’re not falling for that nonsense again!

Their solution? To become co-objectors to others’ doomed weddings! It’s a side gig that allows them to spare other bride or grooms-to-be the pain of marrying someone who hasn’t been faithful to them. They also figure out that if they post pictures on social media that make it LOOK like they’re together, it will help Sophie achieve a promotion she wants, and will get Max’s parents off his back. It’s win-win for them, right? If only those pesky feelings would go away …

While they double down on the idea that love and relationships are for fools, their burgeoning friendship may have other ideas. I mean … they’re both smart, highly successful, attractive, funny people who might also be two of the most snarkastic characters I’ve encountered in a book! I had so many good laughs from these two, as well as Sophie’s hilariously sassy elderly roommates, Larry and Rose. The first chapter at Sophie’s wedding alone was worth the read!

The heart and soul of this book and what I loved most is Sophie and Max’s friendship. Romance is always fun, but their banter and interactions as FRIENDS were what really made the book for me. Having said that, the chemistry I spoke of at the start of my review? WOW. I needed a minute to bring my heart rate back down! It’s open-door but not overly explicit. If you don’t want to hear about “sexy fun time”, though, you’ll need to skip some spots. I’ll also warn that most of the major characters have occasional potty mouths, but Max is exceptionally fond of the f-bomb. It doesn’t phase me much, but it is excessive at times.

If you enjoy snarky, sarcastic humor and a fun friends to lovers story, this is a winner!

★★★★ ½

I love Max, your honor! I love him! I first started with Lynn Painter's books in YA and have found love with her books in YA and adult romance. She just has SUCH a way of writing her plots and the character's relationship that has you on your toes with excitement and love. This one was fast-paced and funny, such a unique story. We love dual POV and we love the rom-com feels that Lynn continues to deliver to us. I loved Sophie and Max! The plot lost me a little once it went into fake dating territory, but it concluded really well for me. I will read whatever Lynn writes, I am thankful for her stories!