This one follows a wedding objector and a cheated on bride, as their friendship blossoms over the ordeal at her wedding, leading her to becoming his partner in objecting at weddings. The banter was downright hysterical and the love they begin to feel along the way for each other felt real. I love Lynn Painter and I would recommend this friends-to-lovers read to anyone.

I liked this book way more than I thought I would after reading more about the premise. I’ve liked the author’s work previously, but I’m never one for super contrived, dramatic setups in romance novels. That being said, this book exceeded all of my expectations. The characters were so incredibly likable and had great chemistry. Even the “objector” storyline was interesting and relatable. Sure it was dramatic, but all of the objector scenes had a lot of humor in it that kept me engaged. I really loved this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This was an adorable rom-com!
Two cynics who become unlikely friends. Sophie and Max end up working together to save people from their wedding day. The more they work together the more the sparks between them fly.
This was my first book by Lynn Painter but I know that I’ll be seeking out her backlist now because her writing has everything I look for in a rom-com:
~Charming and relatable characters (including fun side characters)
~Lots of Witty banter
~Great chemistry with some spice
Definitely recommend this engaging read.

i think this would work better as a movie. it's a quick, easy read. lynn painter is very good at low stakes relationships who like to have fun and spend a lot of time together.

i'm not MAD at it, but i do continue to find myself disenchanted by lynn painter's works. i want to like them so bad, but i find so many of them fairly shallow. if you only want to read about the relationship moments, then her books are for you! but i find myself wanting more introspection lately, and painter is not the author for that. and that's okay!

thank you lynn painter, berkeley publishing group, and netgalley for my arc <3

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Super cute book. Sophie is about to get married to a douche and Max the Objector is hired to disrupt the wedding. They end up becoming friends and more as Sophie heals from the break up.

I absolutely loved Sophie and I want to hang with her. Max was also fantastic. Highly recommend this fun rom com.

What a perfect romcom - that starts off in the most bizarre way. With our leading man objecting at the wedding of our leading lady to another man! The hilarity ensues from there and I couldn’t have been more drawn into Sophie and Max’s story.

Sophie is about to tie the knot when she discovers that her fiancee has once again cheated on her. Unable to call the wedding off herself due to a few complications, her best friend hires an Objector to stop the wedding during the ceremony. The Objector, Max, hires himself out to individuals who need an "out" from their nuptials. As their paths cross, their lives become more and more intertwined and Sophie, an absolute cynic, soon joins him as an Objector.
I couldn't put down this book and read it in one sitting. Lynn Painter knows exactly how to write fresh rom-coms while making subtle references to romance tropes (there's a hand flex!). Happily Never After is full of everything you would hope for in a romance: a bit of laughter, tugs on your heart-strings and steamy intimate scenes. All in all, Happily Never After is a perfectly satisfying read.

“If anyone has a reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony—"

“I do.”

Lynn Painter’s Happily Never After hooks readers on the very first page as the protagonist’s wedding is crashed by the person she pays to stop it. The first chapters of this book are phenomenal as Sophie, the female lead, gets saved from her wedding, gets drunk in her hotel room, and commits the victimless crime of twinkie vandalism against a Volvo. The love interest and second protagonist, Max, is charmed by this and Sophie making him sound like a hero, so when there comes a wedding that he needs help objecting at, he immediately contacts her.

While the start of the story is strong and gripping, the rest of the book doesn’t quite have the same strength. For one thing, while Sophie goes on (and on) about how she doesn’t believe in love and how liberating it is to be selfish in her passion, readers don’t really get as great an insight into Max’s feelings and history. Max is a cynic about love, but why that is doesn’t come up until his ex is used as a plot device. Also, while this is a romance, the story seemed to focus a bit too much on the main characters. Instead of exploring each of the protagonists’ jobs and looking at their interactions with their friends, Happily Never After feels like one date after another. Readers might be interested in what happens when Sophie meets Max’s parents or what Asha, the person who hired Max to object at Sophie’s wedding, thinks of their relationship, but neither is explored in the story.

All in all, Happily Never After is worth it for the first chapters alone, and while the protagonists’ lives could have been explored outside their relationship, it was still a fun read.

Read this if you like:
•laughing out loud
•& want a cute rom com with a little spice
•friends to lovers
•fake dating
•the swooniest of men

Lynn Painter does it again! I read this in mere hours (on a work day joke the less). I could NOT put this down. I was laughing from page 1. The humor and the banter are top notch.

Thank Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Happily Never After" : A Rom-Com Rollercoaster of Love, Laughter, and Anti-Wedding Antics!

My rating: Highly deserved five stars

Lynn Painter's latest romantic comedy, "Happily Never After," takes readers on a delightful journey filled with love, laughter, and unexpected twists. The novel introduces us to Sophie Steinbeck, a bride-to-be faced with the ultimate dilemma: marrying a cheating fiancé to save her father's job or breaking free.

Enter Max, a charming professional objector who, with a touch of modern-day heroism, disrupts Sophie's wedding, saving her from a hapless fate. As the two love cynics navigate the aftermath, they embark on an unusual partnership as "objectors," saving other couples from the clutches of ill-fated marriages.

Painter's engaging rom-com boasts a fresh and original premise, offering compelling main characters, including Sophie and her lively roommates, Rose and Larry. The perfect blend of heart and steam, coupled with short, momentum-building chapters, creates an irresistible reading experience that keeps readers rooting for Sophie's shot at a happy ending.

The narrative unfolds as Sophie and Max, initially "just friends," find themselves entangled in a web of feelings that challenges their anti-love stance. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and readers will find themselves laughing at Sophie's antics and cheering for Max.

As the story unfolds, a wedding objection job throws a curveball, forcing Max and Sophie to confront their feelings and question their commitment to avoiding love. Painter skillfully weaves depth into the narrative without veering into overwhelming territory, ensuring a balance between humor and heartfelt moments.

While the chemistry between Sophie and Max shines, Painter introduces a fresh take on the rom-com genre, injecting depth without sacrificing the book's overall lighthearted tone. The witty banter, quick pace, and the unexpected acknowledgment of a real book club in the author's note make "Happily Never After" a must-read for romantics seeking a contemporary love story with a touch of spice.

Overall, this book is a fun, engaging read that captivates with its original premise, well-developed characters, and a perfect blend of romance and comedy. Highly recommended for those in search of a modern love story that defies expectations and delivers on the promise of a happily ever after.

This was a fun, fluffy romance for the colder months. I thought that the tension and buildup in the relationship between our two main characters was a bit lacklustre, and while their chemistry was palpable, the immediate establishment of their relationship left something to be desired. The concept of wedding crashing and the aspect of vigilante justice felt fresh and exciting, and I would have liked to have seen more of it throughout the book. What was supposed to be the book’s main point of contention did not feel substantial enough to count as a climax, so I was slightly disappointed by the last 75 pages or so.

Sophie feels pressure to marry her cheating fiancé Stuart, if only to save her father's job that involves working for Stuart's father-a job that would surely be terminated if Sophie were to abruptly bail out. As she desperately tries to figure a way out, her best friend Asha saves the day by employing an "objector," a person designed to object to the wedding and put a halt to the proceedings. When devastatingly handsome Max stands up and disrupts Sophie's ceremony, alluding to Stuart's infidelities, Sophie is saved from a hapless fate and is a newly single woman.

Max becomes an unlikely friend to Sophie, who despite her yearning to break free of her impending marriage, struggles with her new freedom and her feelings of loneliness.

Becoming a fellow "objector" with Max seems to be the perfect remedy for Sophie, allowing her to help other people who also find themselves in tough marital situations.

As Sophie and Max spend more time together, the intensity of their feelings for each other becomes evident and a casual fling becomes more and more out of the question.

But are Sophie and Max ready to risk their hearts again for a chance at true love?

Painter creates an engaging rom-com with a thoroughly original premise. She has compelling main characters, as well as a great supporting cast of characters (especially Sophie's roommates Rose and Larry), and the perfect blend of heart and "steam." You can't help rooting for Sophie and a chance for her to have a happy ending. Great pacing with short chapters helps to also build momentum.

This is my first experience with a book by Lynn Painter and it will not be my last. Romantics out there, get this on your radar!

Happily Never After is another Lynn Painter hit!

Sophie has just had her "dream" wedding turned upside down by a stranger objecting. In the aftermath, she learns exactly who the objector, Max, is and how he does what he does. He's a modern day anti-love hero. AKA the man Sophie wants to be friends with instantly.

The two love haters begin working together under the guideline of being "just friends." Traveling for an out of state wedding objection? Must sleep on separate hotel floors. Flying into the same airport? Must have different depature times. Yet, both soonn realize that what they don't believe in may quickly be happening right in front of them. LOVE, the one thing that both vowed to avoid at all costs. The kicker? This happens right when a wedding objection job pops up for none other than Max's ex. All's fair in love and "not" love.

I found myself quickly turning the pages of Happily Never After, Lynn Painter's 2024 adult romantic comedy. I found myself laughing with Sophie's antics and cheering for Max. While I wanted more growth from Max's point of view side, I felt each character was well written. The cake on the top was definitely Lynn shouting out the bookclub I'm apart of, Joyful Chaos, in her acknowledgements!!

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

I didn't realize initially that this was the same author as Mr. Wrong Number, which was a fine book but hardly my favorite. I definitely enjoyed Happily Never After far more! It's a solid rom-com title with plenty of spice and lots of laughs. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll most likely really enjoy this book!

Happily Never After had me hooked on the first chapter. Max and Sophie are adorable and so are her room mates, Larry and Rose. I laughed out loud while reading this book. I will definitely have a book hangover for a few days now that I am finished reading this one.

I have just recently discovered Lynn Painter's books and have loved every one of them!

In Happily Never After, Sophie discovers just before her wedding that her fiancé has cheated on her once again. She immediately wants to call off the wedding. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”During the anti-wedding party that night, Sophie learns about Max the Objector’s profession. The two of them, who are both cynical about love, start working together. They go from wedding to wedding, and Sophie has more fun than she has had in a long time. She enjoys saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses at every nerve-racking ceremony.

As Sophie and Max spend more time together, they realize that their physical chemistry is undeniable. However, they both agree that they don't have feelings for each other because they believe that love does not exist.

#NetGalleyARC Yet another great fun romance read from this author, who is quickly becoming one of my faves! I love the twisted version of a wedding crasher and thought that the two MCs were written so relatable, which is why I enjoy this author so much. A great read for sure.

This story was so fun and unlike anything I’ve read! The objecting element was silly but I liked that they were doing it together. The steam was definitely turned up in this book. The kisses were excellent!!

I think people wanting a fun steamy read will love this story!

Every time I read something new by Lynn Painter, I continue to be amazed at how she outdoes herself time and time again. Painter is a master of banter and her books just get better and better - from YA to adult, closed door to steamy and beyond, she can do no wrong. I loved the premise of Happily Never After and look forward to more from Painter in the future.

Oh My Goodness! Lynn Painter does it again! Happily Never After made me laugh, cry, scream and do an insane amount of giggling and kicking my legs! Sophie and Max's story of strangers to friends to definitely not lovers to (spoiler) GETTING MARRIED! I was hooked and I inhaled this book so fast! Lynn Painter is truly a genius at writing a man who is absolutely smitten!