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.

How interesting the premise of this book is.... Being paid to "object" at a wedding when the bride or groom has been caught cheating or other things.
I liked how Max and Sophie hit it off after Max is paid to object at her wedding. They just became good friends and Sophie totally just jumped at the chance to be an objector too.
Their banter, hijinks, and chemistry made for a fun time whenever they were together.

I really enjoyed her two elderly roommates so much! I really laughed at them all the time (especially calling Max anything but his name). Especially Larry- what a wise cracker!

If you are in the mood for just plain fun and some spice, pick up this book soon!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I can say for sure that she’s now an auto-read farther for me. When I first read about the job of being an objector at weddings, come on, I thought it was completely absurd, but seeing the situations that various people encounter due to family, other compulsions, etc, it is definitely a useful profession. So Sophie is trying to get out of her wedding without hurting anyone by hiring an objector Max. This hilarious situation leads her to become an objector in Max‘s company within no time at all.


Sophie and Max, as they go through some hilarious events enjoying themselves falling for each other in spite of being too cynics. I guess one of them is more cynical than the other, and this causes them to mess up their relationship due to their insecurities. As a fan of banter, this one is again pretty high and it was hilarious banter. There is also a fake dating trope so fans of the trope are going to absolutely enjoy this one. At one of their final wedding objections, things get messed up between them in spite of their great chemistry. They’ve not poured their heart to each other completely and that definitely took them some time to reach. Once they communicate their feelings and deal with unresolved issues, they come back together in a true sense. I should say that this is definitely a top romance read this year for me.

This is the first book by Lynn Painter I am reading. Sophie is trying to get out of marrying her fiancee, who has cheated again. With the help of Max "the objector" who was hired by Sophie's bestie, her wish to get the wedding cancelled becomes reality.
A fun rom-com that had me laughing as I watched the relationship and chemistry between Sophie and Max develop.
Loved Sophie's roommates Rose and Larry.
From strangers to friends to actually developing romantic feelings for each other.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

**Review will be published release week on my site and socials!**

HILARIOUS.

This book made me LAUGH and I love when that happens. Lynn Painter hands down writes some of the BEST banter and that was still prevalent here. I really loved the chemistry between Max and Sophie. And the shenanigans they found themselves wrapped up in were charming.

I did think this book had a LOT of language (especially for it being only 300 pages). It started to take me out of the story, as did the extra romance scenes towards the end. I would have rather seen more relationship development other than physical because Sophie made me want to shake her a few times.

I love how fast these books are and that they bring joy to my day. I thought the objector idea was hilarious. And I adored Sophie’s roommates. They were the perfect snarky addition. There were a lot of fantastic swoony moments and the kissing scenes were some of my favorite. There was plenty of goodness here and I will keep waiting to here about Painter’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: very high
Romance: 3+ open door; moderate explicit
Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating

I really liked the premise of Happily Never After.

Sophie and Max's story is full of heartache, full off snark and (most of the time) smart dialogue. There were times that the way they spoke was direct from the cheese factory, but not so much that it took away from my enjoyment.

Their chemistry is off the charts, their spark flies off the pages.

However, there were also times when I was thinking what is happening? Or, man nothing is happening. It flip flopped between the two.

But it was enjoyable enough for me to keep going to the end

Thank you Berkley Romance for my eARC

"The thing that I feel for you, however, this friendship, undeniable chemistry, kinship, respect, admiration, happiness-or the acronym FUCKRAH, if you will-is outrageously potent and I would like to explore it further"

Well isn’t this an adorable rom com..! I was grinning ear to ear like an idiot , Lynn Painter writes the cutest romance books ever. Happily Never After starts in a classic hollywood rom-com style with our bride Sophie trying to get out of her wedding right at the altar after her finance’s cheating shenanigans comes into light.Not to fear! her knight in a shining armor, Max arrives to object her wedding in a rather dramatic fashion to save her from the unwanted wedding.As the story progresses they become business partners as "objectors" to help people around by saving them from their hapless fates and eventually proceeds to become best of friends.I love loved their friendship dynamics and this book probably has the cutest (fake) date night ideas lol

While you might think the tropes in this are nothing new, the take on them is absolutely refreshing with her “how does it look when two cynics fall in love?” theme at the core. Lynn writes characters that are easy to fall in love with, they are charming, witty and has this out of world chemistry. Sophie and Max's fast friendship and compatibility obviously throws a wrench into their "we were just faking it" plan but I loved how Lynn brought in the conflict without compromising any of her character's integrity.

No body acts out of character or is thrown under the bus just because the story needs a conflict and the author handles conflict resolution with so much maturity that you can't help but root for both of the MC's.The chemistry between them is so palpable, sexy and at times hilarious. 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. I can't end the review without noting how hilarious this book is, Sophie's roommates brings such joy to the plot line, I found myself cry laughing towards the end. Overall I had an absolute blast reading this book!

Lynn can do no wrong. I absolutely loved this adult, strangers to friends to friends with benefits to lovers romance novel. The objectors premise is so funny and unique, and it was such a fun way to throw our two characters together. It is fast paced, I adored the two characters and

On the steam side of things, this was a bit of a slow burn - but the payoff was literally perfection. The chemistry was there, it was believable and the scene itself was a fantastic read. (Definitely open door, but nothing dark or overly explicit.)

Lynn is always so good at banter between her characters - it feels real without being too cheesy. And I will just forever pick up anything she writes.

3.5 stars!

Sophie is getting married, but her fiancé has been cheating on her. How can she end the marriage when Stuart's (the fiancé) dad is Sophie's dad's boss? Hire an objector.

In comes Max to save the day and to announce to those attending that Stuart had been cheating this whole time! Sophie is now out of the relationship and doesn't look like the bad guy.

Drunk Sophie then tells Max that this seems like an interesting gig... a few months later, Max reaches out in search for some help to object to another wedding. The team pairs up, "as friends" to object to weddings to help people struggling to get out of marraiges.

What could ever go wrong?!

Sophie and Max have lovely banter and this book gave major "Friends with Benefits" and "No Strings Attached" vibes.

This one had a few steamy scenes in it, too.

Overall, it was a cute love story and had lots of joking and fun back and forth, but there were too many pet names or "good girl" for me.. just not my speed! It wasn't overly spicy, but that just isn't my thing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Happily Never After
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to @berkleyromance for the free ebook! #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

I was in the mood for a true rom-com so when I read the description of this I knew it wouldn’t disappoint.
I’ve read Better Than The Movies, but this was the first adult book that I’ve read by Lynn Painter, and I did enjoy it mostly because this book was laugh-out-loud funny.
Sophie was the FMC and she was so quick with her jokes. The banter between her and the MMC Max was seriously hilarious.
I loved watching them becoming a team, their fast friendship, Sophie’s roommate Larry, and the fact that they are both cat parents. Max is so charming and Sophie is so entertaining.
There is a lot of “we’re just friends” energy and a LOT of tension. This is perfect when you are looking to read a true romantic comedy. This book was fast, upbeat, and fun.
This book will be available on March 12th!

Read If You Like:
💒he falls first
💒partner in crime
💒fake dating
💒hilarious banter
💒strangers to friends to lovers