Sophie and Max have the absolute best banter. I lost count of how many times I laughed.

I wasn’t sure I would love the Objector aspect of the book, but it was so well done. They both have their own reasons for being anti-relationship but it was fun to see their love blossom on the page while neither is willing to admit it.

Larry and Rose also stole the show- hilarious!

3.75/5
This was the perfect cheesy romcom and lynn painter as usual delivered on characters with banter and chemistry.

The start of this book was amazing, the setup and the idea of crashing weddings together was so much fun and it’s very easy to see these characters have chemistry.

The story reads very quickly, I couldn’t put it down. I will say that I lost steam at one point towards the end when I felt the story kind of lost the plot for a minute.

I did enjoy the ending, it felt so quickly resolved and almost a bit rushed, but this came with the plus of being such a digestible easy read, and hello the chemistry these two characters had?? Loved it.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the arc.

Fun and quick read by Lynn Painter. I think the idea of wedding objectors is a good one. Lol. Main characters were fun and loved the "older" supporting ones too. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #HappilyNeverAfter

I'm a fan of the author and really was looking for a nice easy going fun read and this book was mostly that. However, at times the characters really didn't pull it in for me and the storyline was fine and kind of fun, but it wasn't one that I'll go back to. Usually I just fly through these books and can't wait to read more, but this one just seemed to drag for me. The main characters were nice, but to be honest, sometimes the perfectness of the characters is unrelatable and that their "flaws" are them just being so amazing just doesn't make them likable. The side characters were enjoyable, the plot was there, but overall it was just an ok read for me. Still a fan of the author, but this one didn't land for me.

Thanks to NetGalley & Edelweiss for the ARCs!

This was such a cute, fun read. It was also quick. I loved the banter and slow friendship buildup over the course of the book.

I will say I wish there had been more weddings sprinkled into the story. There were chuncks of time that felt drawn out without it.

Best of all, there was no BIG third act breakup. The conflict was resolved pretty quickly.

Larry and Rose were the best side characters. They kept me highly entertained. They need their own book of shenanigans. I would definitely read that.

4 🌟 stars.

Super cute read about finding true love in the most unexpected places. This one grabbed me from page one and held on until the end. I loved the characters and plot progression. Nothing felt forced. Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? Most definitely!

Quick and predictable romance between two non-committal characters both burned by previous heartbreak. The wedding objector stints and Sophie’s room mates, Larry and Rose, added depth and comedy to the story. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn Painter's sexy, hilarious banter always makes for a too-quick read! I wish I could slow down and take in very detail, but her dialogue is so funny and her characters so compelling, I can't help but swallow scenes whole. I loved how refreshingly professional Sophie was - we love a corporate baddie - and how easily she matched Max at everything: in work, in life...in bed. And the wedding vow objector "hook" was a delightful romp through the insanity of the wedding industry while also being a strategic and charming way to explore the characters’ feelings—past, present, and future!

I love Lynn Painter's writing with my whole heart, so I was very excited to read an advanced copy of her newest adult romance. However, while I really enjoyed it, it fell flat in some areas for me. I had also read her newest YA romance the week prior and that book had so much more longing and just better chemistry between the love interests than this one. The concept was really interesting and I still had a fun time reading it, but when you read one book that does similar things way better than this one, by the same author, it's hard to ignore that.

What a sweet read, quick paced, full of flawed and quick witted characters that are easy to root for!

I've had really mixed feelings on this authors books in the past, but this one was a dnf for me. The beginning was cute, but then it got so boring I couldn't continue on (even though the guy looked like Henry cavill). I'm sure others will enjoy it though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter was an absolute page-turner! The rom-com vibes were spot-on, even if the storyline felt familiar. Painter’s fresh take on it made all the difference.

Sophie and Max were so relatable and ridiculously funny! There were moments I just burst out laughing. It’s rare to find characters that real in a book. Max’s patience, understanding and his sense of self-respect and restraint were truly commendable. Sophie’s guardedness rang true and was utterly believable. The way she misconstrued her own feelings to match her beliefs was relatable - we’ve all been there.

I could totally see this as a movie; it played out so vividly in my mind! This was my first Painter read, and now I’m hooked. Her writing’s just so effortlessly engaging.

Rom-com fans, this one’s a must. It’s got that cozy familiarity but with a new, hilarious twist that keeps you hooked till the end!

3.5⭐️ SG / 3⭐️ GR

A perfect lighthearted read for me after finishing One Dark Window. There’s not much depth in this book making it a wonderful fluffy palette cleanser!

If sarcasm and witty banter are your love languages, you’ll love Sophie and Max! I’ve never loved a side character in a romance more than I love Larry, especially after the stairwell (iykyk) 😂

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💞

Publication date: March 12, 2024

This book was cute from the start and I love a good romcom. I read it in one afternoon and I rated it 3.75 elsewhere.

Sophie is about to marry Stuart and Max objects. At the time she doesn’t know what’s going on but we find out that Stuart is a cheater and did Sophie a huge favor.

Max finds Sophie again to ask her to help him at another wedding.

The banter between these two characters was the best and their chemistry. I did however find some of this book very “juvenile” but it was super cute regardless. I love Lynn Painters books.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

4.5 ⭐️

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter presents a modern take on relationships, adding a unique twist to the conventional romance novels.

I found the premise interesting—Sophie, a woman about to get married to her cheating fiancé, hires a wedding “objector” named Max to disrupt her ceremony. In this case, when the pastor finally says "speak now or forever hold your peace,” an objector says "I do,” and provides the reason why the couple shouldn’t be married.

Throughout the book, Painter skillfully explores the intricacies of love by portraying Sophie's disbelief in it, despite her undeniable emotions. As a reader, Sophie's refusal to believe in love proved to be quite frustrating. While her reasoning behind this belief makes sense, her actions and thoughts contradict it, evoking my desire to shake her out of her denial.

The development of Sophie and Max’s relationship is the highlight of the book. It was very easy to like Max because of his humor. Painter masterfully creates well-rounded characters with distinct identities, making their friendship and support for each other's careers genuinely endearing.
The witty banter between the characters keeps the narrative engaging, ensuring there's never a dull moment. Furthermore, the inclusion of Larry and Rose, Sophie's elderly roommates, enhances the story by offering a unique perspective on unconventional relationships.

The narrative skillfully explores the complexities of romantic relationships, portraying a character who thinks and acts in love despite vehemently denying its existence. Sophie's inner struggle, coupled with her undeniable chemistry with Max, evoked so much emotion from me. Despite my frustration with Sophie's continuous denial and repression of her feelings, it serves to heighten the tension, keeping me invested in their journey.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read another one of Lynn Painter's novels. I admire her ability to write such delightful and immersive romcoms, like this one.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the ARC!

I freaking love this book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starting with the name of the book, the author has managed to captivate me with her delightful story once again. I was introduced to her a year or so ago, and really enjoy her style of writing.

Her last book was a delightful 5 Star read for me and I knew when I saw this book up for review, I just had to have it. And I’m so glad that I did.

Happily Never After is a perfect example of a romantic comedy story. It’s witty and fun-loving, sexy, and steamy. I freaking love this book. It feels like one long foreplay session that is fun, quirky, and hot as hell. It has everything you want and is a perfect romcom!

Painter creates characters that you simply fall in love with. Max is a dream boat and the epitome of the perfect book boyfriend. I want one exactly like him!!

This book is a creative masterpiece where the author thinks outside the box, creating an experience, not just a story. It is a joy to read and definitely one you will read again and again.

If you’ve never read Lynn Painter, this is the perfect book to start the addiction!

Lynn Painter is one of my all time favourite authors. I feel like I need to say that before this review.

Max is a “professional” wedding objector. Meaning that he gets people out of their weddings by exposing truths on their wedding day. He ropes Sophie in to his tasks and hilarity ensues.

This book relationship fell flat for me. I liked Sophie and Max… but I feel like I needed more. The banter had so much potential, but it missed the mark a bit. The characters talked a lot about their chemistry, but I needed more buildup.

I loved Larry and Rose — they were the unexpected entertainment that I didn’t know that I needed.

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

Lynn Painter's writing is my jam – it's so smooth, and the banter is on point. The way she crafts realistic interactions, like Sophie and Max's grocery shopping escapade, is just chef's kiss.

What really got me was the natural progression from strangers to buddies and then lovers. No rush, no forced vibes. Now, we all know how romcoms these days love to solve everything with one chat, but not this one. The third-act drama had some weight, and even though it could've been a quick fix, the ending still hit the sweet spot.

For my fellow rom-com enthusiasts, especially those in need of a breezy, enjoyable read – this one's a no-brainer recommendation! 📚💕

I loved these two!!! What great chemistry and BANTER!!! Oh my gosh the Banter was amazing!!! I was laughing and swooning over these two. The sexual tension was so awesome. The sex scenes were so well done. Not too many and not over done. This was such a fun story idea. The love story between these two was so awesome.
There is a lot of swearing. F word and others. Some alcohol use.

Lynn Painter can do no wrong. I'm convinced she could write anything and it'd be an EASY FIVE STAR read for me.

I have yet to not fall head over heels for Painters books. I love the plotline, the characters, the witty banter, and the spicy scenes.

Happily Never After is my 2nd fav book by this author (Mr. Wrong Number still takes the #1 spot). The plot of this is absolutely wild and I was here for it. Sophie the main character is about to get married and finds out her fiance is cheating on her... again. She hires someone to call off the wedding for her. A wedding objector to stand up and object to the marriage. Max is the objector and he helps Sophie get out of a marriage she definitely doesn't want.

Flash forward a couple of months and Max calls up Sophie to see if she wants to be an objector with him for a wedding. Now is where the fun begins. Max and Sophie have the best banter and the BEST slow burn I've read. Reading about them being nothing but strangers to best friends who object at weddings was iconic and hilarious. The slow burn was literally the definition of *chefs kiss*. While this was a rom com it was also about some deeper topics and the author did a fabulous job at being light hearted but emotional at the same time. The spicy chapters were also... *chefs kiss*.

Seriously if you aren't reading Lynn Painter books then I think somethings wrong.