Member Reviews
thank you netgalley for the arc!
this story starts off with our FMC, izzy, running into our MMC, blake at a starbucks. the barista ends up saying the name "amy", and after no reply, izzy runs up to pretend it's her drink. when she turns around, she ends up splashing blake with the drink, without realizing he is the new VP.
this is pretty much the entire premise of the novel. my main issue was that i felt like lynn was trying to portray too many different aspects, which unfortunately made this novel an overall mess. our FMC was constantly giving the circa 2012 : i Am NoT LiKe oThEr GiRlS which was very jarring and cringy given the prose. given with their ages and professions, i was not vibing with their deportment and mannerisms. they felt very jejune and unfledged to and around each other, even though they just met. lastly, i did NOT like the smut and the third act breakup, as it was not salient for this novel.
overall, this was not horrible, but compared to her other work, this unfortunately lacks in many areas.
2.5 stars.
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I love Lynn Painter YA books. Better than the movies and Nothing like the movies are my favorites 💜
But for some reason, I always struggle a little bit with her adult romance books. I don’t hate them, but I find it quite difficult to connect with the characters somehow. I feel like sometimes they behave childishly. For instance, I couldn’t understand why Blake was so upset with Izzy after they first met. I get it, it wasn’t cool that she lied, but it wasn’t that big of a deal and surely it was something that could easily be fixed by talking to her.
Anyways, I will always recommend Lynn’s books because they have a way to keep you entertained and they’re perfect when you need a light reading or for when you need to get out of a reading slump.
P.S.: This ARC included a sneak peek of Lynn’s next rom-com, Maid for each other. It was just the first three chapters, but couldn’t put them down! Can’t wait to read this one 😍
This is so cute! The beginning was a little rocky but once Blake stopped being self-righteous about their meeting I got into the story. The banter was so cute and I really enjoyed their dynamic. I loved how they could be their silly selves with each other. I was relieved to see that there's never any abuse of power with him being her boss. I didn't read the indie version but I quite enjoyed the traditionally purchased version. This is a quick, light romance that I recommend to anyone who is looking for a contemporary with fun banter.
Thanks to Berkley for my copy of Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter.
This was originally self-published in 2022 after being a serial and in the 2025 release by Berkely, it's been updated, rewritten with 2 POV and about 10k more words.
I love Lynn Painter's banter and funny scenarios and Accidentally Amy includes all of that. It starts with a funny meet cute x2!
I love we have by Izzy and Blake's points of view for this funny romance. I was dying at the Billboard Assholes game -- that's some serious high stakes! I loved the text threads and while it was a little instalove, it was a fun and enjoyable read!
Isabella Shay, oblivious to Amy’s identity, is patiently waiting for her pumpkin spice latte. After several unsuccessful calls to Amy, assuming she ordered the same drink, she impulsively declares, “Hey, I’m Amy,” and snatches the latte. However, her actions inadvertently attract Blake Phillips’s attention, setting the stage for an inevitable attraction.
While Blake might have dismissed “Amy,” the unexpected encounter with a cup of the same PSL could be their first meeting, potentially leading to a beautiful relationship. However, aside from their shared instant attraction, Blake discovers that they both work for the same company and thus adheres to a strict moral code. This fundamental difference creates an insurmountable obstacle for their potential romance.
In Lynn Painter’s humorous tale, readers are treated to witty banter, steamy moments, and the delightful presence of cats. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, but the moral dilemma they face threatens to extinguish their budding romance. Despite my initial confusion about the significance of PSL, I found myself thoroughly enjoying Painter’s writing style and eagerly anticipate reading more of her works in the future.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
This was a cute story, after I got past Blake being a little too self righteous about a cup of coffee. I liked the slow build and the way the characters communicated. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley & Berkley for an ARC of the new & improved version of Accidentally Amy with new chapters, different POV, and new characters. This is a really cute, lighthearted rom com about Izzy & Blake. They have a meet-cute at Starbucks on Izzy’s first day of her new job then she finds out he is her new boss so they can’t be together. They have a sweet & funny friendship and try their best to not fall for each other… but of course they do anyway! It’s short & sweet but not much depth to it. I felt like it was a little too goofy and cringey at times, but it will definitely put a smile on your face!
I usually love Lynn Painter's work, so I was eager to dive into Accidentally Amy, expecting her signature charm and wit. The premise was promising: a quirky meet-cute involving a case of mistaken identity, a PSL, and a grumpy-sunshine workplace dynamic. On paper, it had all the makings of a delightful rom-com.
However, this one fell flat for me. While the setup was cute, the story quickly became predictable, and the characters lacked the depth I've come to expect from Painter's writing. Izzy and Blake's dynamic felt repetitive rather than engaging, and the humour didn't land as often as it should have.
I struggled to stay invested as the story dragged on without much emotional weight or character growth. This was disappointing, especially since Painter has delivered so many vibrant, engaging romances in the past.
While this one didn't work for me, I'm still looking forward to reading more from Lynn Painter in the future—just not revisiting this particular story.
I was lucky enough to read the indie version of this book and had absolutely no notes then.
I have even fewer now.
Lynn is an autobuy author for me because her books have me giggling, squealing, kicking my feet, and laughing my ass off. She is the true standard for what romantic comedies should be like. I’m completely obsessed with the fleshed out (and admittedly much better edited) version of this story.
“I spend hours every day obsessing about all of you, every little bit.”
— 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝘼𝙢𝙮, Lynn Painter
bonus quote: “You also know I liked it because I came so hard I nearly blacked out.”
I’m completely obsessed with Izzy in all of her chaos. She’s hilarious, intelligent, and a mess. Blake, in comparison, is sexy as fuck, also intelligent, and so funny. The banter between these two was utter perfection.
And can we get a round of applause for Blake Phillips?
hot ✅
smart ✅
corporate boss man ✅
CAT DAD ✅
I am weak for this man.
All said, this book was the perfect lighthearted read and I highly recommend picking it up!
Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter is an absolute delight! Izzy and Blake's chemistry is off the charts, and their banter had me grinning from ear to ear. The whole "mistaken identity" trope? Chef's kiss. Watching them navigate their feelings while trying to keep things professional was pure gold. I couldn't put it down!
If you're in the mood for a quick, feel-good read with tons of laughs and swoon-worthy moments, this one's for you. It's the perfect pick-me-up and will leave you with a big smile. Highly recommend!
This was basically a cozy rom-com that felt like Keeley and Roy Kent fan-fic, but with a forbidden office romance that started as friends-to-lovers. A fast read that I think would be great to get you out of a slump!
Content Warnings: Open-Door Romance, Language
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for and ARC of Accidentally Amy. Pub Date: January 14, 2025
I am absolutely OBSESSED with Lynn Painter. TBH I think I am her proclaimed biggest fan lol. I will admit this book in 3rd person was my least favorite out of her whole catalog so when I saw the news she was redoing it in 1st person I KNEW it was going to be amazing!
Lynn Painter delivers a charming, laugh-out-loud romance in her rom com, Accidentally Amy, This is a story filled with witty banter, quirky meet-cutes, and undeniable chemistry. This lighthearted rom-com is a perfect escape for readers who love swoon-worthy moments, lovable characters, and a dash of chaos. When Izzy, a caffeinated, quirky woman in a rush to get to her job, picks up a Starbucks order labeled “Amy," because it is the same as her order, but way ahead in the line. Izzy has no idea the consequences of her actions. The action of picking up the wrong drink will lead to a hilariously awkward—and fated—meet-cute with a handsome stranger. Enter Blake, a broody yet irresistibly charming guy who, despite his serious exterior, seems unable to resist Izzy’s unfiltered personality. What follows is a delightful office romance filled with humorous misunderstandings, slow-burn tension, and Izzy’s signature awkward charm.
Lynn Painter is an auto buy author for me. Thank you to NetGalley for this copy of Accidentally Amy.
Unfortunately, I will not giving feedback given this authors lack of stance on the genocide in Palestine.
Thank you to NetGalley for this digital copy.
4 Stars ⭐️
This is the first adult romance I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The banter between the characters was fun, I love the grumpy-ish/sunshine trope built into a kinda forbidden work place romance.
This was a nice surprise! Accidentally Amy is a rerelease with new pages and new characters and I laughed my way through it! It’s a hilarious, steamy, romcom and I loved it!
Isabella (Izzy) is excited for her first day at her new job and stops for a Pumpkin Spice Latte at her favorite coffee shop. But it’s taking forever and she’s afraid she’ll be late, so when she hears them call out a Pumpkin Spice Latte for Amy three times and no one steps up to the counter, she decides to say she’s Amy and takes the drink (she did pay for a coffee after all). Then she turns and bam, she spills her pumpkin spice latte all over a strong chest that belongs to a tall, dark and handsome guy (Blake). She apologizes to Blake for spilling her drink on him but he really doesn’t seem to mind. They flirt a little and she offers to buy him coffee the next day to make up for the spill before she runs off to work. It's a funny surprise when they are officially introduced to each other at the office and she finds out he is a Vice President at her new job and he finds out her name isn’t Amy - things get complicated!
Blake broke up with his fiancé six months earlier when he found out she had been lying to him. Many of them were white lies but there was one big one that was the final straw for him. He hates lies and dishonesty (stemming from his childhood). He’s disappointed when he finds out Izzy lied about her name so she could take the coffee drink and he gets grumpy with her about it. But he really enjoys talking to her so when she sends him a text and apologizes, he responds (and their texts are hilarious). Soon after, Izzy’s car breaks down and Blake drops everything to rescue her. They end up eating pizza together, meeting each other’s cats then he meets her cousins and their friends and they are all so funny! However, even though they are attracted to each other, Blake reminds Izzy that they can’t be more than friends because he is essentially her boss’s boss.
Blake loves listening to Izzy’s bonkers stories (I did too!) and he thinks she’s really pretty while she thinks he is incredibly charming. She hasn’t dated a lot (no time and no one that she was really interested in, until Blake). When a new organization chart comes out, and Blake is not in charge of Izzy’s group anymore, they jump at the chance to see each other and have a fun weekend together - it was a blast. They start off having a spicy ride in an elevator, visit the zoo, eat lots of pizza and take steamy showers together.
The only problem, which I could see coming a mile away, caused a third act break up, but luckily it was very short. These two were truly meant for each other (and their cats too.)
Accidentally Amy might be my favorite Lynn Painter book so far! I’m so glad she went back and updated it. It’s got so much humor and spice, it’s a recipe for a good time!
I’m super excited to see this rerelease from Lynn Painter. Loved the story and characters. An embarrassing meet cute leads to strangers to colleagues to friends to lovers. Workplace romances usually aren’t my thing, but there are enough non-work related scenes to keep me interested. Izzy and Blake’s fun and easy banter was on point. Highly recommend for contemporary romance readers.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Top notch banter from two weirdos in love 😍
I loved the characters, the texting, the humor, EVERYTHING. This was my first Lynn Painter book and it got me hooked on her specific brand of quirky, sexy, funny, and relatable love stories.
This book was workplace romance done right. The main characters fought their feelings in order to not jeopardize the FMC’s job and were trying to do everything right while being just friends (with insane chemistry).
This book gives us the perfect MMC who loves, appreciates, sees, and likes our main FMC and all of the uninhibited, quirky, and honest things she does and says. He is the main character we all dream about finding.
Also, thank you Lynn Painter for giving all of us Little House on the Prairie fans visibility 😂
Update: The new release has been updated with more banter and fun! My reread was an absolute blast!
lynn painter is one of my favorite authors ever and i planned on reading this for a while but when i saw she was rereleasing it i finally did it. this book is FILLED with playful banter. i absolutely loved the text message threads, i am a sucker for a good text thread. there’s not too much i didn’t like about the story. i read this in two days, its such a fun fall vibes swoony moment. i thoroughly enjoyed but not quite enough for 5 stars! love you lynn!!!! 🤍
Read this if you like:
•pumpkin spice lattes
•friends to lovers
•banter
Lynn writes the best banter and this one doesn’t disappoint! What a funny meet cute turned cute rom com. The cats added a lot of charm too! Thank you Berkley for the eARC!