Are you a pumpkin spice lattee girlie? Read this book because it's for all my basic b's out there. I laughed so much!

Izzy Shay assumes the name “Amy” in a moment of desperation at Starbucks, leading to an awkward yet adorable meet-cute with Blake Phillips. Things take a turn when she discovers Blake is her new boss and their workplace tension evolves into undeniable attraction.

I’ve read Lynn Painter’s three other adult novels before and Accidentally Amy is the fourth one I’ve picked up. Workplace romances can be hit or miss for me so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going in. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. While the premise sounded intriguing, the main characters ended up being insufferable. The banter between Izzy and Blake felt more cringeworthy than charming and their immaturity was frustrating given their ages. I appreciated seeing Blake and Izzy in various situations, but I wasn’t a fan of how Blake treated his brothers and how Izzy treated her cousins which was off-putting. Blake’s obsession with honesty was over the top and Izzy’s “not like other girls” persona was so cliché. Many scenes were bogged down by excessive descriptions or awkward pacing which made it feel like the author was stretching to meet a word count. While it could have been a decent three-star read, the ending felt far too unrealistic which completely pulled me out of the story. This is one of those books that should have stayed as a novella. I wish I DNF’ed this one, but am generously giving it 2 stars since I did finish it.

💭”𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐦𝐫. 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭?”
“𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐲.”

𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
i loved this one! a light-hearted rom-com that had me giggling & cheering on their progression! the insta-chemistry had me reeling and i loved that our mmc was sprung for our fmc from the get.

blake & izzy are literally perfect for each other. i love a meet-cute & this one was so fun! i also loved how they were so authentic with each other!
 
thank you to berkley publishing and NetGalley for sharing the arc of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Absolutely loved the banter between Izzy and Blake. They were definitely the best part of the book and the reason I kept reading. I just found the plot to be very minimal and a bit too slow for me.

This is perfect for people that love really cute low stakes romances.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Lynn Painter for the gifted copy.

Thank you for the ARC. I love Lynn Painter and this did not disappoint. Fun, romantic, quick read. Perfect for any romance fan!

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter is a charming workplace rom-com packed with humor and heart. When Izzy Shay, running late on her first day at her dream job, "borrows" a drink meant for "Amy" and spills it on a stranger, she unknowingly sets up the perfect meet-cute. The twist? That stranger turns out to be her grumpy new boss, Blake Phillips.

Their witty banter and simmering chemistry make for an engaging read...perfect for rom com fans who also enjoy a little heat. Painter balances the lighthearted romance with relatable character growth, making both Izzy and Blake feel genuine. Though it leans on familiar rom-com tropes, the delightful execution and playful tone make this a 4-star read perfect for fans of workplace romances.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my free review copy.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Accidentally Amy is Lynn Painter in her typical rom-com safe spot, but that also happened to be my issue with the book. I liked it overall. I thought it was fine. But while some of Lynn Painter's characters and romantic comedies have me kicking my feet and giggling, some—unfortunately like this one—just miss the mark for me. Amy is an okay protagonist and while I could somewhat connect to her, everything just felt exceedingly flat.

Isabella Shay is running late for her first day at work, and her Starbucks PSL is taking forever. When Amy’s PSL is ready and no Amy retrieves it, Izzy impulsively grabs it. She can’t even enjoy her stolen latte properly though because she promptly crashes in to a handsome stranger and spills it all over him. Sparks instantly fly but they’re promptly extinguished when it turns out the stranger is actually Izzy’s (not Amy’s) new boss.

Lynn Painter is so good at creating fun, frothy romcoms that are easy to get lost in! I read this when it was originally published and I enjoyed this revamp even more. The added in words and characters really elevated this charming romantic comedy that I didn’t want to set it down.

The chemistry between Blake and Izzy is on fire from their meet disaster as Starbucks Amy and Mr. Chest and it never really diminishes even as they’re trying to stay in the friend-zone.

The conflict in the 3rd act is a bit predictable and wraps up a little too neatly, but that’s my only real quibble with this story.

I LOVED.

I ate up every single line of this book. There was never a lull. Never a moment that I found boring. I absolutely loved this.

Blake was into Izzy from the jump & I highlighted nearly every word he spoke to her/thought about her.

Lynn Painter is quickly becoming one of my automatic read authors. I’ve adored every one of her books that I’ve read so far.

All the stars.

It’s only the 5th day of the year and I already know this will end up being one of my top favorite contemporary romcoms of 2025.

I loved this book so much!!! The back and forth between them and the way the relationship built and changed was SO well done.

5⭐️3🌶️
Contemporary romance
Romcom
Workplace romance

This book’s humor was right up my alley. I found myself smiling throughout, enjoying the witty, almost British-style humor and the moments that were unintentionally funny. The instant chemistry between the characters was cute but also a bit clichéd, though I didn’t mind it, especially with the fantastic banter. The dialogue had an effortless charm, reminding me of Notting Hill, where everything just flows with a “roll with it” vibe that’s both endearing and hilarious.

Also, there’s a cat named Darkling… a delightful nod to the Leigh Bardugo character. Hilarious.

I do wish there had been a little more diversity in the book. But it was a great read.

This was my first book by Painter, and I’m excited to dive into more of her work!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had SO much fun with this read! The banter and chemistry between Blake & Izzy were so top tier, and I actually laughed my way through a majority of this book because of how funny these characters were! If you are looking for a romantic comedy with an adorable meet cute, fast paced plot line, & entertainingly quirky characters, then this book is for you. Lynn Painter never disappoints!

I really enjoyed this story between Blake and Izzy, who have a hilarious meet cute at a Starbucks after Izzy decides to take Amy’s PSL, so she isn’t late to work on her first day. But she turns around and spills her drink on Blake.

This is a really lighthearted, fun and quirky romance. The FMC is a touch cheesy, but their dialogue and banter are so funny! I couldn’t put it down.

Lynn Painter's Accidentally Amy is a charming yet cringe-inducing novel that captivated me from start to finish. I devoured this delightful read in a single sitting, unable to put it down.

4.25⭐️ wow this is exactly what I want in a romcom. Cute, funny, and lots of laugh out loud moments. I loved Izzy and her quirkiness & Blake aka Mr Chest 🥵 If you want a cute romcom this one is perfect.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
☕️ fun meet cutes
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
🫶 friends to lovers

Accidentally Amy starts out with a fun meet cute with Izzy stealing someone named Amy’s PSL at Starbucks and dumping it all over Blake. Come to find out Blake is actually her boss’s boss at her new job and he HATES lying. Without giving too much away, these two have a gravitational pull towards one another and try to exist as friends…what could go wrong, right?!Both Izzy and Blake were spunky, funny, and dynamic—I very much enjoyed their banter and growing friendship and it made their connection all that more real to me! Izzy was able to be her true sunshine self without judgement and Blake was able to protect and be there for her (even while being a little grumpy 🤪) when she really needed it. In true Lynn Painter fashion—she delivered a cute and quirky romcom that I’d highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book—opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley!

2.5 STARS

Lynn Painters writing in both her adult and young adult novels is always so fast paced, so I love them for a quick speedy read.

This particular book wasn’t quite my cup of tea unfortunately. It was a little too instalovey, raunchy, cringey and crude for my tastes.

There were some hilariously quippy one liners and I thought that the concept was quite funny. I kind of wish that the whole “Amy” plot line had lasted a little longer than it did!

If you don't like to read spicy scenes in books (like myself) then I recommend you skip/skim the following chapters:

🌶️ Closed Door Modifications: Chapters 23, 25, 29, 35 & 36

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy on NetGalley! 🤍

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy of the new Accidentally Amy.

This edition improved on some of the things I didn’t love about the originally published edition. For one, the author removed all of the “OMgaaaawd”s (praise be). I also thought the change from 3rd to 1st person works really well and better matches the tone of the novel.

I think my original sentiments stands though — the book isn’t particularly well written and the characters are sometimes annoying, but I grinned my way through the whole thing and woke up after finishing it missing the characters, so that counts for a lot.

Exact rating: 3.88
Rounded to 4

Rating: 3.25 if I could give it, but rounded to a 3/5

Summary:
Isabella Shay’s first day at her new job starts with a white lie and a stolen Pumpkin Spice Latte meant for someone named “Amy.” After an embarrassing coffee spill on a hot, broad chested stranger, sparks fly—but karma strikes back when the stranger turns out to be Blake Phillips, her new boss. This quirky office romance, born from a serialized story, was expanded and polished for its full release, offering more charm, humor, and spice than ever.

Short and Sweet Opinion:
This quirky, fun, and lighthearted romance had its charming moments, especially with the adorable cat dynamics (The Darkling deserves an award). While the female main character leaned into "pick me" energy and the dialogue could be cringey, it was an enjoyable enough read overall.

In-Depth Opinion:
Accidentally Amy is a quirky, lighthearted romance with a fun premise. The male main character was a standout for me—charming and enjoyable to follow—and the addition of their cats, especially one named The Darkling, was a delightful touch. However, the female main character felt overly "pick me" coded, which detracted from her likability, and the dialogue leaned toward cringey at times. The characters’ immaturity and some rough edges in the writing made the story feel less polished. Despite this, it was an enjoyable enough read for its humor and unique dynamic, though not one I’d be likely to revisit. It’s a decent pick for readers wanting something light and entertaining.

This book is so wonderfully sweet. I didn’t read the indie edition, but I love the POV, love the characters, love the sweetness and the fun of this book. Another great release for Lynn.