I love Lynn Painter’s writing, and Happily Never After is such a fun addition to her books! Sophie Steinbeck needs to call off her wedding after she finds out her fiancé has cheated on her, only she needs help to do it. Max has made it a side hustle to be the objector at weddings and is happy to help. But once the wedding is called off, these two who don’t believe in love find themselves drawn to one another and even they can’t deny their chemistry, no matter how much they want to. Max and Sophie have such a great friendship. It’s playful and the banter is good and their chemistry is so good. They’re sexy and it’s just fun to read their interactions. Sophie is relatable and driven and just honest, and Max is so swoon-worthy. He’s gentle and kind and I love his relationship with his parents. I do think there’s was maybe a little something missing in terms of character depth, I wanted to know more about their motivations and it just took a while to uncover that. But still, I loved these characters and this steamy romance! The writing is witty and sharp and just a joy with just wonderful characters. It’s such a great romcom!

I had so much fun reading this one. The author's writing style was simple and easy to follow and there was a perfect mix of romance and humor. From the start, Max and Sophie's relationship is so playful and their banter was by far my favorite thing about this book. Their humor matched each other perfectly and I love how their relationship grew from strangers to best friends to lovers. It was so natural. I thought the communication between them was pretty good and despite the little conflict towards the end, they were so good at understanding each other and being transparent.

Max was a great mmc. He is so endearing and swoon worthy! Once he realized his feelings for Sophie, you can definitely tell he was in deep and it was so sweet to see how he approached his relationship with her. Sophie was a very fun character. I love that she was so sure of herself and even with Max, I love seeing how comfortable she was and how she was gradually falling for him, despite her stance on love. The side characters were also a great time. Larry and Rose were such an interesting duo and I had so much fun with their friendship with Sophie and Max. All the bickering and shenanigans in this book were amazing.

I would have liked to learn more about Max's past relationship and I was hoping we would get more details about it at the end but this didn't really bother me all that much. I appreciated how sure he was of his feelings for Sophie and they both handled the conflict in such a mature way. The plot was so fun and unique and I had such a great time. I will definitely be reading more of her books!

I found this one to be pretty mid. There's really nothing here that grabbed my attention. The story was a little bit boring. Not much really happens here. The characters have great chemistry......and that's about it. Other than being career minded I couldn't tell you much about the female main character and working in construction is about all we get for the male main character. Again, great chemistry but thin on the plot. I do like the general premise of having them team up to object at weddings, but there is so much more that could have been done with this.

cute little rom-com perfect to read before Valentine's. Some mildly spicy scenes towards the end, but overall it was fun & entertaining enough.

If there’s one thing you can count on Lynn Painter for its top notch banter. This book was so much fun and I had the best time reading it. Sophie and Max were absolutely hysterical individuals and their banter was top tier. I seriously lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud. The plot was also unique and fun, objecting at weddings with a pinch of fake dating.

I was also beyond obsessed with Larry and Rose, Sophie’s roommates. Such a fun and funny plot point but also how endearing 🥹

Had the best time reading this one and can’t wait for her next book!

What to expect:
Fake dating
Friends to lovers
Friends with benefits (kind of)
Cat parents
Anti-relationship MCs
Lol worthy banter

3⭐️ Thank you Berkeley Romance for the ARC!
I’ve enjoyed several of Lynn Painter’s books, but for some reason I didn’t love this one :(
It felt slow at some parts for me and I also didn’t feel super connected to the romance-I liked them together but I wasn’t obsessed.

This premise was interesting and if not for that I may have DNFed this, but I wanted to continue, especially since it was an ARC.

All in all, this sadly wasn’t my favorite but I’m glad I got to read early🫶🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my digital ARC! I enjoyed this fun wedding-crusher rom com! I really liked Sophia and Max and how smooth Lynn Painter’s writing style is. There were a couple ‘icks’ that I couldn’t ignore, making it a lower rating. The nicknames the MMC and FMC used with each other were harsh swear words and I’m not a big fan of romanticizing those kind of nicknames. I also noticed how fast this storyline went, and almost wish it was 50 pages longer for more character development. It was fun, but I would maybe recommend it to the right reader!

What happens when two cynics with undeniable chemistry start a low-key side gig as wedding crashers, and also make a deal to pursue a friendship? Happily Never After explores exactly that — Sophie and Max first meet at Sophie’s wedding, where Max is hired to object her wedding. After a conversation, and a series of events, Sophie decides to join Max’s lowkey gig of being a wedding objector. Being able to help someone out is lovely, as is the added cash, but the best part of it is being able to show her coworkers that she’s moved on from her unfaithful ex-fiancé, who she happens to work with. And if Max and Sophie’s friendship happens to ease Max’s parents’ worries about him, a win is a win.

I adored Sophie. As our heroine, we get to watch her pick up the pieces from what she thought was going to be her life once married. I really liked how despite how cynical and practical Sophie always was, she still had to reimagine her life and recalibrate her expectations in the way that anyone has to after a breakup. And for Max, I totally felt for him — who hasn’t told a white lie here and there to get their parents to worry less?

Max and Sophie have a lot of chemistry, and I really appreciated that there was a distinction between instant attraction for both parties rather than instant love. I think their dynamic progressed well, and I loved their banter although I really wish that we got to see more of Max and Sophie’s relationship once they made sense of their feelings and got together. Especially with the way the epilogue is, I just wish we could’ve seen more of the in-between parts of their relationship.

Something I think Lynn Painter also does really well is balance the amount of wedding crashes, as we do Max and Sophie’s “friendship” develop. Each wedding crashed is a catalyst for a deeper step into the development of their dynamic, as well as their individual character growth. I was initially worried that this concept could get boring and repetitive, but luckily for me, Happily Never After felt that way. Another highlight of Happily Never After, for me, was Sophie’s 77 year old roommate, Larry. Truth be told, I loved all the side characters in the book; it’s just that we saw the most of him.

I really wish we’d seen more of Sophie and Max’s relationship once they got together, but I liked Lynn Painter’s twist on the wedding crasher trope. Overall, I’d recommend Happily Never After to anyone who is looking for a quick, fun, lighthearted read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

This was so cute! While the ending was predictable, as most romances are, it was still very enjoyable. The main characters were great and the side characters were even better. I need a Larry and Rose story now! Highly recommended.

Lynn Painter has a knack for writing utterly engaging characters and completely sucking me into their lives!

Sophie meets Max on her wedding day, when he objects to her marrying her cheating, no-good fiance. Max is an objector - someone who comes in and objects to weddings happening when there is a good reason to. Max and Sophie have instant chemistry, which is reignited when their paths cross a few months later - Max needs a female objectress.

The banter between the two main characters was funny and witty and I loved how well-developed they were. I completely fell for the two of them and I would happily read more Max and Sophie books I loved them so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I was a bit disappointed by this book. I was excited because the description sounded really fun, but I found the characters to be a bit annoying with very little character development throughout until the very end which left it all feeling a bit rushed.
It was a cute book, but I didn't really care what happened to the characters. Hit and a miss for me on this one.

Everything Lynn writes is pure magic and this is no exception! It’s full of her signature banter and wit. I laughed out loud and felt all the feels. 10/10!

Sophie Steinbeck has a hard time believing in the concept of love. Especially after finding out right before her wedding that her fiancé was cheating on her. Unable to call off the nuptials thanks to her future father-in-law being her dad's cutthroat boss, Sophie has resigned herself to fake wedded bliss until an appropriate time for an annulment. But Sophie is saved by Max Parks, a professional objector whose sole purpose is to stand up at weddings and shout the two words no one wants to hear amid their vows: "I object!"

After the almost-wedding ceremony, Sophie and Max spend the night talking all about Max's job, which makes perfect sense to a love cynic like Sophie. The pair decide to join forces and work the wedding scene together, stopping couple after couple from making the worst decisions of their lives. But the more time they spend together, the more they can't deny their attraction. Sophie doesn't believe in love, and Max isn't looking for a relationship, so what could go wrong with a little friends-with-benefits situation? The answer: a whole lot more than they bargained for.

I will pick up anything that Painter writes. Her grocery list? Gimme it. The phone book? I'll read every page twice. Her writing is so fun, and I know whenever I pick up her books, I'm in for a good time. My favorite thing about her writing is the characters. They're always so snarky, but in a way that makes them endearing and not assholes. Sophie and Max were such smartasses and weren't afraid to push each other's buttons, and I loved it. Their banter was so fun because it felt like I was watching two best friends bicker. The chemistry between them was palpable, and I was alternately kicking my little feet and swooning the whole time. The only thing that stopped me from rating this higher was Sophie. She just rubbed me the wrong way. I found her to be a little too stubborn in her views, which made her come across as cold at times. Despite that, I still ate this book up and can't wait for whatever Painter comes out with next.

Once again Queen Lynn did not disappoint! I absolutely adored the dual POV of Sophie and Max. Max is the book boyfriend of my dreams, and Sophie is a bad ass boss lady who is incredibly smart, talented, and goes after what she wants. The banter and the chemistry between these two was off the charts. I loved the whole premise, the strangers to friends to lovers vibes, and everything about this one.

Sophie is stuck marrying a guy she knows cheated on her when a handsome man she's never met stands up at her wedding and objects, calling out her cheating fiance and stopping the wedding. Afterward, when she and her best friend met the Objector to pay him for his services, they have a great night of drunken chatting. When Max, the Objector himself, texts her out of the blue the following week, they begin a friendship revolving around saving other stuck spouses-to-be from terrible futures with awful partners. Sophie doesn't believe in the idea of love, and knows that there's no chance of developing any feelings for Max, and while Max believes in love, he wants nothing to do with being in it. Clearly, nothing will go wrong there.

This is all the best kinds of rom-com moments. It's fun, it's flirty, it's steamy as heck. I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read, and has a fun angle to the "we're never going to get together" trope. Max is the total hottie package. Sophie is the type of character you can see yourself being friends with. Her roommates, are hilarious. The other side characters are fun and the weddings they break up are great moments that you want to cheer through. I loved this book.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

The thing about Lynn Painter's books is that they will always be FUN. And this was no exception. Full of tender, swoony moments, this made me laugh out loud as well. The side characters were very well fleshed out, and the main leads are so relatable. I've never really read a book of hers that I did not enjoy. Definitely adding this to our collection!

Lynn Painter upped her game with her latest Rom Com, Happily Never After. Sophie discovers that her fiancé is cheating a few days before she is ready to walk down the aisle. She doesn’t feel like she can call it off without causing some huge problems for her dad who happens to work for her soon to be father-in-law. Luckily her bridesmaid has come up with a plan. The wedding proceeds as planned but when asked if anyone objects to this marriage a handsome man stands up and objects citing infidelity by the groom. Sophie is shocked and calls it off! The day is saved by this “Objector,” Max. He has made this a lucrative side job and helps brides and grooms get out of weddings. Max comes around to collect payment from the bride who is far from sober. The two end up sharing stories and drinks and eventually team up to become wedding objectors together. Both are anti-marriage, anti-relationship and are having a blast spending time together saving brides and grooms from making life altering mistakes. Unfortunately spending time together and becoming friends has forced an undeniable attraction that neither of them can deny.

I loved this so much. It is hard for me to give 5 star reviews for Rom-Coms because so many are just so predictable and formulaic. This one is such a unique story and the development of the friendship is written so well. Painter has such a skill writing her characters and creating such strong emotional connections.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️

#NetGalley #HappilyNeverAfter #LynnPainter

Lynn Painter... ladies and gentlemen, she does it again!

I adored The Lover Wager last year, and I could hardly wait for Happily Never After! Thank you to Berkley for the ARC of this one via NetGalley - these are my honest thoughts!

No spoilers, but Sophie's wedding at the beginning of the book doesn't happen, because of The Objector. Despite the slightly terrible, off-brand superhero name, Max and Sophie get on like thieves in the night. Their banter is *CHEFS KISS* perfect. They're quippy and fun and flirty, and end of spending her would-be wedding night drinking and eating pizza and throwing Twinkies at her ex's car. It's fun, but also serious. They lay down their views of relationships, and it's surprising to learn that neither of them really believe in happily ever after (hence, the name). Slight time jump forward, and Max enlists the help of Sophie to be his assistant, and their friendship SOARS.

It's hard to deny their chemistry, which simply explodes of the page. Sophie decides her and Max can experiment together, all physical, no feelings, blah blah (we all know how this turns out), and it's SO FUN TO WITNESS.

Things I loved:
- Sophie's elderly roommates
- the TROPES! so many fun ones! No spoilers because the tropes changed throughout the book in such a fun way!
- THE BANTER AND JOKES
- very subtle Taylor Swift references :)
- When the two main characters make out... KISSING CAN BE FULL OF SO MUCH GOOD TENSION AND WE SKIP OVER IT SO OFTEN! THANK YOU, LYNN, FOR THE KISSING!
- how both characters said YES to things (especially when they fake date) - those adventures were some of my favorite moments between the two!
- theeeee spiceeeeeee was so good (I'm still thinking about it)
- When things go off the rails, it happens to both characters, because, feelings and people. It felt very relatable to real life... like, when feelings get hurt, it can go both ways?
- the freaking cats + their names KILLED ME

This one gets five stars and is bound to be one of my favorites from the year! Happily Never After is fun and addictive, with the makings of a rom-com, the feelings that come with jilted lovers, and the foundation for forever.

✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ We Don't Believe in Relationships
✔️ Fake Dating

Wow - ok, this book blew me away. I'm a Lynn Painter fan, especially of her Mr Wrong Number and Love Wager books (both were 5⭐️). Happily Never After took everything I loved from both of the other books and took it to another level.

The chemistry between the two characters was off the charts pretty much from the start. This is not especially easy for two people who have a lot in common - in lesser hands, their relationship could have been tepid. In Lynn's hands, these two sparkled off the page immediately. While the setup was outlandish and is definitely a reason to pick up, the draw for me was everything that happened after. Seeing these two people tease each other and goad each other and fight their chemistry was pure delight.

And sheesh, the spice and dirty talk was excellent. I love an open door romance and here, these moments were effective in adding to the overall swoon to the story. Did I fist pump in the air during the last 5% of the book for the HEA? You bet I did. 5⭐️

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Okay, disclaimer, I read this one while I was home sick with Covid, and I loved it… but my brain was also a little scattered so I didn’t retain a lot of critical details like normal to refer back to while reviewing. So let’s see how this goes…

It was a strong start that immediately hooked me. I was all in to binge this book! I loved both the lead characters. Competent adults that were fun and funny with some anti-love drama fueling their MOs. The various relationship stages, from hijinks to friendly to trope-filled fake dating to real friendship to all the feels… it was a great journey. And I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, Lynn Painter writes great banter and convos. I could read it all day long. I loved the chemistry.

I did think Max’s third act road block was a little puzzling. I’m not sure why he reacted the way he did. But it all played out really well for conflict with Sophie and how her personal growth arc finished. So I didn’t end up minding much.

Overall it was a great book. One I need read again with a clearer head but I also don’t mind that one bit. Good times.