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!

Sophie stood at the altar of the church, knowing she did not want to marry Stuart. He’d been cheating on her, and he lied, and she was done. But she couldn’t call the wedding off herself. There would be repercussions for her family. There would be embarrassment. She needed help. She needed Max.

It was Sophie’s best friend who had found him, the guy who comes to weddings and objects when the pastor asks. He makes the bad behavior public and then leaves. The wedding is canceled, the bride or groom who hired him is off the hook, and better yet, they are free of a bad relationship that could have gone on and on.

After Sophie’s wedding was called off, Max had gone to her hotel room to collect his fee (merely a technicality—he donates most of it), and he ended up having pizza and shots with Sophie and her friend. She was clearly relieved not to be marrying Stuart, and they had a great time hanging out together.

So a couple of weeks later, when Max has another wedding to object to, he thinks of Sophie. For this one, she would be perfect as The Objector, if he can just convince her that she can do it. For her part, Sophie is reluctant to stand up in front of a wedding and call out objections. But when she gets the whole story from Max about what the bride has done to his friend, she is all in. Even if it means going to a wedding in cowboy boots and putting the angry bride in a headlock.

From there, Sophie is all in. And the extra money doesn’t hurt either, since she took Stuart’s apartment out of spite even though she can’t really afford it. She has a couple of roommates to help her make rent, but she’d rather live by herself. And when her boss sees a picture of her with Max, sees that Sophie is moving on from her heartbreak, her boss considers her for a big promotion, and Sophie leans even more into her friendship with Max.

For Max, he’s enjoying spending time with Sophie. And when his parents see pictures of them together, they start thinking that maybe they’ll be able to retire and leave him in good hands. He’s ready for his father to retire, so he can take over the family contracting business. But there is also a chemistry between Sophie and himself that is getting more and more difficult to deny. Sophie is a strong believer in love being a myth. But when Max finds himself having to face the heartbreak of his past, The Objectors may have to admit that true love is possible, even probable, and that they can no longer object to what they themselves are feeling.

Happily Never After is the latest rom com from Lynn Painter, and it’s an instant classic. These characters sparkle, both smart and funny and bringing lots of conflict to the story. The idea of objecting at weddings is a lot of fun. And the writing is so smooth that it feels effortless to read. Every page of this book is a joy, and I think all rom com fans should dive in as soon as they can.

Clearly, I loved Happily Never After. I could have spent another 200 pages with these characters and not noticed anything but being entertained the entire time. Painter writes like a dream, and I want more. I also adore this story. It reminds me of everything I love about those perfect 1980s and 1990s films while still being modern and stylish. This is the best rom com I’ve read in quite some time, and I am already waiting for her next book to come out.

Egalleys for Happily Never After were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Full of great laughs, sweet friendships, and simmering romance, Happily Never After is a fun and quirky rom-com that will keep you smiling from beginning to end.

When Sophie finds out her fiancé cheated on her right before her wedding, she is desperate to call off the big day. Her friend finds a professional objector to come to her rescue and help stop the wedding. Afterward, Sophie is drawn into the idea of helping out others like her and starts working together with her objector, Max. As they spend more time together, an undeniable chemistry sparks, and they find themselves continually being drawn together.

Painter’s love stories are always so warm and cozy, and this one delivers on all the laughs and off-the-charts romance. It was a fun ride seeing these two connect and become a type of partners in crime helping others. It melted my heart!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This book has me quite literally LMAO so many different times. This was a quick read and I was hooked from the start. Max and Sophie were great characters and so believable. Larry and Rose were interesting roommates....and their age made their characters even better. The spice factor started out slow. A kiss or two for most of the book, and then a few spicier scenes later on.

"Happily Never After" by Lynn Painter follows 2 "professional" objectors for weddings who have sworn off their own relationships. Sophie meets Max under unlikely circumstances when her friend hires him to object to Sophie's marriage with his cheating fiancé. From there, a friendship and partnership form as they team up to object at other weddings together. Max and Sophie have an undeniable chemistry, but they agree it is best to stay platonic or is it? And when Max's ex is the next target for their services, will it break the bond the Max and Sophie have developed?

I enjoyed this book. I like Lynn Painter's novels. They are always cute and funny. I loved Max and Sophie as characters and the side characters were also enjoyable. I do wish we got to see them a bit more. I thought the premise was very interesting and I wish we saw more objecting, but I liked the bond Max and Sophie shared from the work. Overall, I would recommend this book to any rom-com fans.

Happily Never After was such a fun read - a delightful and adorable romantic comedy. Max and Sophie are both jaded from previous relationship experiences but they manage to form an amazing friendship after Max is hired as a professional objector at Sophie's doomed wedding. This was just the book that I needed to read right now - incredibly fun with amazing banter and characters.

Here's your warning...

This is a book you are going to be so upset about when you finish.

I should have never raced through...

I really miss Sophie...

As an avid "thriller/suspense" reader, I am extremely particular when it comes to stepping outside my preferred genre. Lynn Painter, is what I like to call a "no brainer". I know if Lynn Painter is writing it, I will be reading it and never once has she failed me.

Happily Never After, is a book that needs to be purchased by all, never mind your "preferred" genre. This book is literary gold. I hung on Painter's every word. I fell in love with ALL of the characters, especially Sophie, and this book brought me to my knees, bellied over laughing!!!

This is by far one of the best rom-com's I have ever read.

Check out this teaser :

Their name? The objectors.

Their job? To break off weddings as hired.

Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.

When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”

During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.

The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.

And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime

Sophie Steinbeck is about to get married to Stuart Lauren and has realized that he has cheated on her AGAIN! Sophie would love to call off the wedding, but her dad works for Stuart's dad and that would be bad. In walks Max Parks, aka The Objector, a guy who will go to a wedding and state he objects at just the right time for money. Thankfully Sophie's friend Asha hired him to stop her wedding to Stuart. The wedding never happens and Sophie is with Asha getting drunk in the bridal suite. When Max heads to the hotel room to get his money, he is shocked to see the fun Sophie is having.....she is throwing Twinkies at Stuart's car from the balcony. It seems Sophie and Asha are celebrating. He reluctantly agrees to celebrate with them and realizes that Sophie is a lot of fun. She doesn't believe in love, just believes that people get together for companionship. By the end of their time together, Max realizes that he is attracted to Sophie.

Four months later Sophie finds herself with two new roommates....senior citizens Larry and Rose. It sure makes life interesting. All of a sudden Sophie gets a text from of all people, Max. Seems he would like her help in stopping a wedding. Sophie reluctantly agrees and then all of the fun really starts to happen. The more time these two spend together whether it's to stop a wedding or just hanging out, it becomes more clear that these two have feelings for each other. Everything is going great until Sophie gets a lead on a wedding to stop and it ends up being the woman that broke Max's heart. Max doesn't want to do the wedding, but won't explain to Sophie why. When everything blows up around them, the past comes back and feelings get hurt. It will take a huge leap of faith for these two to really get together, but once they do, everything falls into place perfectly.

I just adored this funny, couldn't put down romance. Both Sophie and Max were just all around fun people. I loved how they were together and you just couldn't help buy root for them. Overall this was wonderful story, with perfect characters and the best banter I have read in a long time.

I enjoy Painter's books and this one was another fun read! Gotta love a good wedding objection and to do it as a side hustle? So fun! Enter Max our wedding Objector who meets Sophie because she needs his help as a bride! Thus begins their journey together as Objectors and friends and....more?? Gotta read to find out! I'll just say the banter and chemistry between Max and Sophie was great. It definitely helped me get out of a reading slump I was in. Romance books often can take me out of a slump. This was great on audio and the two narrators just made this such a wonderfully fun listen.