I hate to report that this one was a huge disappointment for me. I LOVE Lynn Painter and while I prefer her YA to her adult romcoms, I went into this with high expectations. but for a book that wasn't THAT smutty, this was really only about their physical connection in my opinion. I can handle a romance that doesn't have any other plot lines but this just felt blah. it felt like Sophie and Max's relationship went from 0 to 100 and there was no tension that makes a romcom so good. I also know that they became best friends but it felt like we barely saw them together and the "you're my person now" switch happened with no real basis. I feel like Painter's books are usually fluffy and romantic but this one missed the mark for me. if it wasn't so easy to get through (like her other books, I read it within 36 hours), I would've dnf'd.

a HUGE issue I have is that most of the book is spoiled in the synopsis. the third act conflict doesn't happen until like the 75% mark but it was mentioned on the back of the book?? for it to be included there, I think it should've been part of the build up and we should've had a different conflict.

This is my first Lynn Painter book, although I have a couple on my TBR shelf. I wasn’t too sure what to expect. The story was cute; he falls first . No strings attached. I was really turned off with the amount of F words in this book. I’m by no means a prude but I would have lived without so many f bombs.

4 wedding interruption stars

What if you need to call your wedding off, but you can’t do it for any number of reasons? 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, and she called off the wedding. Sophie has a chance to meet her savior later and loves his approach, and he only takes on cheaters.

Sophie decides she would like to help others in the same situation, and the two team up for potential future wedding objections. The two agree that love and marriage are a waste of time and don’t believe in them. Except . . . are they starting to have feelings for each other?

The pair spends more time together, and the chemistry is evident! I loved the banter and fake dating in this one. Sophie has the best roommates – Rose and Larry – and they totally added to the story!

This was my first Lynn Painter story, and I can’t wait to read more of her books!

This was just not a good fit for me. I've only read one other book by Painter, which I also did not love, so I'm thinking I just am not the right reader for her books.

I didn't care for the writing – I felt like there were some inconsistencies with the characters' personalities and actions. I thought overall the writing came across as cheesy – not in a cute rom-com way but in a cringy cliché way.

There was also a storyline or discussion or whatever (I'm not sure what to call it), about the characters doing things for themselves– like kissing someone with only themselves in mind – I'm pretty sure the character literally said something like 'kiss like I'm kissing myself' which I dunno, is weird to me?? And then they go on to discuss sleeping with someone with only their own wants/desires in mind – as in not worrying what the other person wanted or liked or whatever. And I just found that whole thing to be very odd. Because sadly there are people who act like that all the time, thinking only of what they want and not caring about their partner. I get if you and your partner discuss that beforehand and everyone's on the same page, okay. But I found it strange how the characters discussed it like it never happens to others and is actually an issue in some relationships. I dunno. Maybe I missed the point of what they were trying to say, but it just bothered me.

I probably should have DNFd it, but I ended up pushing through via the audiobook.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This book started with the most fun and sweet dedication, and it really set the stage for a book that was filled with laughs and zany rom-com moments. When I pick up a Lynn Painter book, I am guaranteed giggles and grins galore, and she did not disappoint with Happily Never After.

Sophie was about to marry a man who had cheated on her more than once, but she wasn't sure how to break it off without causing other issues. Enter The Objector, a paid stranger who was planted at the ceremony to object to the union. I found this to be a brilliant and hilarious premise for a rom-com, as well as an interesting sort of meet-cute for the hero and heroine.

This is not the first romance I have read where the hero and heroine had both been burned causing them to be anti-love, but Max's experience which resulted in this Objector side hustle was something fun and fresh. I did feel that this subplot took a bit of a backseat, but I couldn't complain because that space was filled with watching the friendship between Sophie and Max take shape and grow.

I found I could not resist rooting for this couple. They had chemistry galore, and the way they fit so easily into each other's lives was something magical. "The Conflict" actually came as quite a surprise to me, so good job, Lynn Painter, but I think it was necessary in the grand scheme of Max and Sophie hitting that "over it" milestone.

Overall, this was a wonderful rom-com filled with humor, quirky characters, and lots of comedic moments. I found myself laughing often and filled with glee as I watched Sophie and Max fall in love.

This was a fun and fast read - I finished it in less than a day. My only gripe is that Sophie came off as a little manic pixie dream girl at times which for me, is a tough sell. But the banter and steam more than made up for it. Another delight from Lynn Painter.

Lynn Painter has a certain "speak" (erm, dialogue) that I absolutely love! It's funny and fast. Best of all, it makes for a very quick read where I won't easily put the book the down and not pick it up again.

I love Lynn Painter but this book just didn’t do it for me. Max and Sophie are really cute and the friends to lovers angle had me in a chokehold but I wish they were a couple for longer throughout the book.

Thank you Berkley and Lynn Painter for the advanced copy of Happily Never After in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first book by Lynn Painter and I'm honestly wondering what the heck took me so long. It was *so* good and bingeable I devoured it almost in one sitting! The chemistry between Sophie and Max was so good, I loved all of their banter as well.

I didn't really remember the synopsis of the book before I started it, and now that I've finished I went back and read it and I have to say it may be better to go into this one a little blind! I kind of liked that I forgot a certain big detail that happened at the end. (Super cryptic I know).

Based on this book, I think I'm going to need to go ahead and read Painter's entire backlist!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: You Set Me Free - Michelle Branch

💭What I thought would happen:

I thought assholes who hate seeing people happy coming together dating for a wedding or 2 for mutual destruction/emotional preservation

📖What actually happens:

Max is an objector. He stands at people’s weddings and objects to the marriage - every bride’s nightmare except for one Sophie…who hired Max to save her from a future divorce.

Max and Sophie form a connection and decide to partner up. Sophie could use the extra cash and has fun when she’s with him. Their working relationship soon becomes a friends with benefits situation. Nothing more nothing less.

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I laughed out loud many MANY times. Bless Lynn P and her sense of humour ✌🏻make me chuckle Queen 😂

I was giving up on romances after a couple duds. This resurrected my faith in the genre. I didn’t want to quit you ❤️‍🩹🥹

I am certain people will enjoy this one a lot. The audiobook is superb 🤌🏽

🐈🐈‍⬛Check it out just for the cats Karen & Joanne. I peed a little 🤫

<b>"I can't imagine any two people more right for each other than us. I can't imagine any reason why we shouldn't be together when we both feel so much for each other. Shit." My voice cracked and I glanced around the kitchen, desperate to make a point. "See? No one is objecting, Soph."</b>

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER is funny as hell! cute *and* four-alarm fire! guaranteed to fall into a pit of feelings! do you need it? infinity times yes.

ps. can’t wait to get my physical copy so i can go HAM with my tabby tabs and annotations.

pps. let’s all send lynn a gift card to spaghetti works and/or starbucks. is there a rockstar store? a store that sells rockstar.

✨THINGS AND STUFF✨
-soph & maxxie
-dual pov
-PTL for the objector
-twinkies & tequila
-karen & joanne *meow*
-a flirt here and there
-BANTER
-chemistry gone wild
-“ha ha, sure, they’re just friends”
-powerpoint presentation
-pizza in bed
-#IsThisAKissingBook: open door. "I could kiss you forever," I said…"No, you couldn't," he whispered back, …"Because there's pizza in the entryway."

Thank you Berkley Romance for an advanced copy!

Thanks to Let’s Talk Books Promo and Berkley Romance for the copy of this ARC!

Lynn Painter’s romances are honestly just so perfect: they’re escapist and funny, swoony and feel-good. Literally everything I look for in a romance read.

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER has a great premise: the main characters meet at her wedding, where he’s hired to be an “objecter” and make sure the wedding doesn’t happen. Their friendship and fake dating is a really fun adventure, and the conflict in the relationship honestly made so much sense and worked really well. Sophie’s cats and roommates are also shining stars in this novel that deserve a mention, as they provided another level of humor. You will definitely want to pick up this book!!

I’m not sure how the author does it but she knocks it out of the park for me with every single book she releases. Her books are rom com perfection and not having her books adapted as movies is a crime, I swear they would be amazing on a big screen. The unique premise here was too good, professional wedding objectors is simultaneously horrifying and so interesting and combine that with the best banter I’ve ever read and this was absolutely perfect. I’ve always been a sucker for fake dating and Sophie and Max are both so cynical their pairing with this trope could not be more ideal. I always think people who don’t read romance should give her books a try, so freaking good and the humor alone is enough to make anyone swoon.

Sophie finds out right before her wedding that her fiance is cheating on her. What follows is an undeniably unique meet cute between Sophie and the guy who has been paid to stop her wedding. Wedding objector is just Max's side job, but based on this story there are a lot of people who are looking to get out of their weddings without being the one to call it off. When Max gets a job that requires a female objector, he thinks Sophie would be perfect. Surely she will want to help out someone who is in a similar situation to what she had been. As the two build a connection by attending weddings together to deliver the well timed objection, these two can not deny their chemistry.

The story of Max and Sophie touches on the lasting hurt and distrust caused by the end of relationships that end badly. Both are determined that they never want to be vulnerable in love again. Besides the chemistry in this steamy read, taking the relationship off the table allows them to open up to one another about what they want, personally and physically. When the two are first together, they are both still working through their past relationships. I liked that the author allowed these characters to grow throughout the story. I have read several of Lynn Painter's books and enjoy her style of writing as well as her creative stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is a rom-com about two people who have the side gig of breaking up weddings for people who otherwise can't cancel the wedding themselves. They are The Objectors. And they are freakin' adorable.

Max and Sophie meet when her best friend hires him to object to her wedding after she finds out her fiance had been cheating on her. Sparks fly, in a platonic way, and they soon become a team of objectors. They both have kind hearts and want to help people, and it's so very wholesome. Soon, they use their friendship in an almost fake-dating sort of way (I'm such a sucker for this trope) to help themselves in their professional lives. And of course, we romance readers know what happens next....

Sophie and Max's relationship is probably one of my favorite I've read in a long time in a rom-com. Their chemistry feels so natural, and fun. I genuinely had a smile on my face through their interactions. I fell in love with them as they fell in love with each other.

If you enjoy witty banter, fake-dating, and well-rounded characters, this book is definitely for you!

What to Expect:
💗he falls first
💗fake dating-ish
💗grumpy/quirky loveable seniors
💗tension & angst

🫶🏽What worked for me
This was a very unique storyline where Max and Sophie team up to object in weddings that a bride or groom is paying them to do, to avoid canceling the wedding themselves for various reasons. The idea seemed a bit far fetched but I had fun reading about their adventures! The camo wedding scene was priceless 😂 We get plenty of witty banter that Lynn excels at writing! And tender moments as Max and Sophie are both working towards mending their broken hearts. Sophie’s roommates are the best and I’m just going to leave it at that 😁

🤷🏻‍♀️What didn’t work for me
The third act break up-ish scene left me a bit confused. I thought both characters responded oddly, though the reasoning for both characters was later explained and kiiiinda made sense.

I’ll share an updated Instagram link after I post my official review

Title: Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
Publication Date- 03/12/24
Publisher- Berkley
Overall Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow I really enjoyed this. This was my first Lynn Painter novel and I will certainly be reading more. In Happily Ever After we get an interesting, engaging and often funny premise. Two people who object to Weddings together. Getting to know the two main characters was the highlight of the novel but I also enjoyed the other couples whose wedding day’s were about to be ruined. All of the ruined weddings had were doomed to fail and it honestly felt like they were doing the right thing. Another strong suit of Happily Never After are the side characters. Not only do we have strong main characters but the side characters are AMAZING.

I enjoyed the writing and the humor a lot. I’ve been talking a lot about recent romance novels feeling cringey but I’m happy to report this was not, in my opinion. I think a lot of my rating is due to, compared to other romances I’ve read recently this is above average. The characters are very likable, it’s not too steamy but still enough to keep you interested, there’s no instalove, it just really worked for me. Now, this won’t be in my favorites of the year or anything but I really enjoyed my time with it. Here’s to reading more from Lynn Painter in the future.

Happily Never After was such a fun, easy-to-read romance. I loved the friends-to-lovers/fake dating aspect and the banter between Sophie and Max.

Sophie and Max meet at Sophie’s wedding where he’s an objector. It’s a bit of a side job and much needed for Sophie. She’s so thankful for Max’s help and with time they become friends. Sophie wants in on the ‘objectors’ gig and they become a team. They also find hanging out beneficial for Sophie’s job and getting Max’s parents off his back.

With all this time they spend together, it’s normal that feelings start to happen. The problem is Sophie doesn’t believe in love. Can Max change her mind? This one had me chuckling and smiling more times than I can count. Max and Sophie had great chemistry and an even greater friendship. And her roommate/bestie Larry made the book for me. Such a fun read!

Okay this was one of the most adorable rom-com’s ever .

Sophie is about to go through with an unwanted wedding that she cannot call off without there being repercussions for her family, so her friend hires Max, an objector-for-hire, who saves the day by calling out her fiancé in the middle of the wedding so none of the blame falls on Sophie. Max and Sophie have an immediate rapport, and on a whim, Sophie helps Max "object" for some more weddings.
The premise is so fun and *queue the drama*.
As the story progresses they become business partners as "objectors" to help people around by saving them from their hopeless fates and eventually proceeds to become best of friends. I swear this storyline in itself was enough to pull me in.

I absolutely loved the friendship dynamics in this story.
You can definitely feel the chemistry between Sophie and Max.
I love how the foundation of their relationship is based on their strong friendship, it feels so natural when they finally realize they both fit like a puzzle.

Overall i had a blast reading this book and im looking forward to reading more of painters books.

I loved every little thing about this book! It was so cute and hilarious. Every scene at a wedding had me cracking up. I loved the relationship between Max and Sophie so much. This was a quick read that had me hooked the entire time.