Lynn Painter is always just what I need. This book was an adorable breath of fresh air and it had me swooning over all the pining Max was doing and laughing out loud at Sophie's roommates.
Max is hired to break up Sophie's wedding as the objector when Sophie finds out that her fiance was cheating. She didn't want her parents to be out the money for the wedding by just calling it off and this way her ex would be disgraced and not her. After it's all said and done, Max comes to her room for payment and the two become fast friends. Neither are looking for love, but of course love finds you when you are not looking.. or even trying to avoid it. These two had sizzling hot chemistry. I just wonder if people really think this way, can you just avoid love forever and pretend it is all a farce? I guess I am just a hopeless romantic so it annoyed me when Sophie tried to just explain things away. Max more than made up for it though. He was such a good man and knew he had a good thing going and he wasn't willing to give it up. He was just so open and honest and that was refreshing. 4.5 swoony stars. I always round up if the male is someone I want to hug.
Thank you to Berkley, Lynn Painter and Netgalley for an early copy.

After a humiliating heartbreak, at the altar no less, Sophie befriends Max, a fellow love cynic. Sophie and Max friendship blossoms as they work together to help other unlucky in love couples untangle themselves from unwanted relationships, and marriages. As you can imagine, sparks fly!

Sophie finds out her fiancé cheated just before her wedding, and hires a professional objector to help call it off. When she meets the objector Max later that night, she wants in on his side hustle, and helps save others from going through with bad marriages.

This was a unique premise and an enjoyable romcom featuring two love cynics. The characters were great -- Max and Sophie had great chemistry and banter, and I loved Sophie's roommates, Rose and Larry. Our characters play up their friendship to appease worried family members and colleagues, developing feelings they are forced to confront along the way.

It's a fun and fast paced story that perfectly blends humor and romance.

Thanks Berkley and NetGalley for my complimentary advance copy!

Max was hired as Sophie’s “wedding objector”. After Max helps Sophie out of her wedding disaster, they strike up an unlikely friendship.
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💍wedding crashers
💍friends to lovers
💍fake dating
💍funny
💍top tier banter
💍so much chemistry
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This was a cute read. I loved Max and Sophie (even though she frustrated me a bit). 🫠
Thank you Berkeley and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book! 💕

Thank you to Berkley for the free book and to PRH Audio and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This was such a unique concept. Max has fallen into a side hustle of objecting at weddings. He only does so when one person has been betrayed but can't stop the wedding on their own. And Sophie meets him when he steps in to object to her wedding to her cheat of a fiancee. Sophie doesn't believe in love and joins Max in serving as an objector.

I loved all of the awesome texts and banter. And Lynn Painter wrote the cutest and most amusing takes on iconic romance movie scenes. This one had me laughing over and over.

Larry and Rose are the best roommates ever and absolutely stole each scene in which they featured. Plus the cats were hilarious.

There was great and steamy chemistry with an amazing background plot. The end got a bit far fetched, but this was a hugely enjoyable romp.

Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins were the perfect narrators. They matched the humorous tone of the book to perfection. For instance, they included sound effects of talking while eating when doing dialogue.

When Sophie Steinbeck needs an out of her wedding after her fiance has cheated, her best friend has an unlikely solution. Hiring an objector - a random person who will object to her wedding when the officiant asks if there's any reasons these two should not be together. Enter Max who has been objecting at weddings as a side gig for awhile, but never did he spend time or hang out with the Bride whose wedding he stopped before. After explaining what he does and what being an objector entails, Sophie wants in. She vies to never fall in love again and to help people not make the mistake of going through a wedding when there's lying, cheating and hurt. However, along the way her and Max become fast friends and use one another to make their friends, family and employers believe that they're head over heels for each other - in a "friendly" way of course. What they can't deny though, is their off the charts physical chemistry.

I thought this was a fun and unique title. I especially love Sophie and Max's I guess you could call it "meet cute," it was unconventional and that's the kind of story that really pulls me in. However as the book progressed and there was less objecting situations and more Max/Sophie getting to know one another and purposely fooling people into thinking their an item... I just found the characters unlikeable. I think part of it had to do with the dialogue and how cheesy it was to a certain extent. It made me cringe rather than swoon.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie and Max are simply my new favorite couple. From the wedding shenanigans to their witty banter, this couple sizzled in this contemporary love story. The chemistry was off-the-charts, and their tension was salacious. This story has it all - love, laughter and a few unexpected moments. The secondary cast, Sophie's geriatric roommates, were a pure delight.

Happily Never After is the perfect blend in the romance genre. Its a fun reading experience with a touch of spice. Don't let the title fool you, it is a happily ever after.

Thank you, Berkley

As a huge fan of Lynn’s past books, I can confidently say that this book lived up to my high expectations! That banter was fantastic as always. I loved the concept of our two main characters objecting at weddings as a side huddle—how unique! There were plenty of laugh out loud moments and the spice was A1. This was the perfect quick romcom, I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy!

what. a. freaking. cute. read.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be called an ass. So many variations and I ate it up.
This was such a cute read. First Lynn Painter read for me and it did not disappoint. Even though there were some really cheesy parts, I found myself really enjoying it! It mixed in really well with the vibe of the whole book, so it didn’t bother me at all. I was giggling and kicking my feet, it was so cute.
I loved the whole Parks and Steinbeck not-a-relationship. The friendship was so real and so funny. The back and forth banter was *chef’s kiss.* FUCKRAH.
This was a beautiful start to my Lynn Painter Journey. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Cannot wait to buy the physical!

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

As a kid who only had basic cable as a kid, Wedding Crashers was playing in my house a LOT. So a book that gave me those vibes with a bit more romance felt super nostalgic.

I laughed out loud at the antics that The Objectors got up to - god bless that hillbilly wedding y'all. Sophie and Max were absolutely precious together throughout, as they became almost coworkers, then friends, and then lovers. The mirror scene? Steamiest LPK thus far for sure. At some points I felt like the plot got a little discombobulated, but I had a good time so whatevs.

I love Lynn Painter books and although this wasn’t my favorite of hers, I still really enjoyed it. The wedding objecting seemed a little forced and like it was a truly “only in a rom-com” device, but what I did enjoy and find refreshing is that the two main characters did like each other from pretty much the beginning and it let their friendship-turned-romance develop naturally and realistically (and also gave multiple opportunities for physical intimacy instead of having to wait until the end of the book for it to finally happen). I was laughing out loud at the descriptions of the TJ/Callie wedding. I feel like I’ve experienced exactly that wedding lol.

The book *chefs kiss*

Max and Sophie are literally my new favorite book couple. This one has it all. The banter, the steamy scenes, the amazing secondary characters. All of it.

It needs to be a must read for EVERYONE.

lynn painter does it again! i know that if i need a fluffy, fun, and just perfect romcom vibe book, lynn painter is the girl to go to and once again, she does not disappoint. happily never after is such an interesting premise and with her signature wit and charm, painter makes it so easy to root for max and sophie. their chemistry is just so insane and i was rooting for them every step of the way.
i so highly recommend checking this one out when it releases march 12!

thank you berkely for the eARC in exchange for an honest review ♡

Lynn Painter is an auto-buy author for me so receiving this e-ARC was one of the most exciting moments of 2024 so far!

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER was the perfect mix of heart, humor, and spice! A TRUE romantic comedy in its full meaning.

Sophie and Max were seemingly plucked right out of a 200’s rom-com with their off the charges chemistry, incredible banter, and relatability. For me, the thing I loved most was getting to witness their friendship develop in such a unique way. I loved each of the characters perspectives on love.

This book was filled with a great balance of lighthearted moments to make you LOL and yet plenty of depth to make you fall in love with all of the characters. Speaking of characters—- Sophie’s roommates were a RIOT!!!! I want a Roomate spinoff of Rose and Larry!

Thank you NetGallet and Berkley Publishing for the eARC!

I like this one!

I love the way it started, thought it slowed down alittle, but really thought it was good. I love the FMC spunk and whit, and the MMC was enjoyable too!

Rating: 4.5/5
Steam: 3/5

Thank you to Berkley Romance for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is might be my favorite Lynn Painter book so far, I could NOT stop laughing the whole time I was listening to this book. Truly, Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins, knocked this narration out of the park.

But mostly, I have no notes. Okay just one but really it’s tiny. I loved this couple, I love how they communicated and understood each other. The tension was SO THERE. I loved the humor. Rose and Larry were perfect. And all the cats, this was the perfect Rom Com.

I really enjoyed this book! I love this author's books and her writing. The premise itself is intriguing, setting the stage for a romantic comedy with a refreshing twist. Painter skillfully develops the characters of Sophie and Max, two love cynics brought together by an unconventional profession.
What sets this novel apart is the perfect blend of humor and genuine emotion. This author's writing captures the essence of two romance cynics navigating the tumultuous world of weddings, creating moments that are both laugh-out-loud funny and touchingly heartfelt. The chemistry between Sophie and Max is electric, adding a layer of romance that unfolds with each page.
While this book follows a familiar romantic comedy formula, it distinguishes itself through its unique premise and well-developed characters. The author successfully blends humor, romance, and a touch of realism, creating an enjoyable read for fans of the genre. The story's exploration of love, cynicism, and unexpected connections makes it a compelling addition to the romance genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“In your presentation,” he said, “you used the word love.” “Now wait a minute,” I said defensively. “I clearly stated multiple times that I don’t believe in it—” “But you said—and I quote—that if you did, this is what it would feel like.”

I loved it!

Unlike many, I liked but did not love Painter's much-adored YA debut Better Than the Movies. I attribute that to not being in the target audience. This book, however, I loved right from the start.

I smiled and giggled so much while reading this. The chemistry, the banter, the friendship, the sexual tension, everything melded so perfectly together into an absolutely delicious adult romance.

Sophie was charming and delightfully straightforward. Max was charismatic and honest. They each had reasons for not wanting to enter a relationship. But in each other, they find their perfect match.

I think this might be one of my favorite contemporary romances in recent memory.

Tropes: Strangers to friends to lovers, faking-dating

Lynn Painter writing YA is my queen, Lynn Painter writing adult romance...it is kind to say she is hit or miss considering there are more misses than I can remember. This plot was silly and boring and did not make sense most of the time. Unfortunately my least favorite of hers, but I will forever be a slave to reading her books in hopes of finding the same high that Better Than the Movies gave me.

A fun romcom full of hijinks, this takes on the major question of every wedding: who objects to this union? And after meeting in this very way, Sophie and Max reunite to become professional “objectors” for hire, breaking up weddings and exposing cheaters. But with each wedding adventure, the cynical dynamic duo learns that maybe true love is real, after all.
I had so much fun reading this! Sophie and Max are such a memorable pair, with great banter back and forth and plenty of humor (talking about you, Rose and Larry!) I also appreciated that while there’s spice, it’s not overly done and graphic like others…just enough!
Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.