Thank you @berkleypub and @lynnpainterbooks for my gifted ebook! Maid for Each Other is out now!

There just something special about Lynn’s books. You know you are going to get a fun book with witty banter and genuine emotions. This dating for convenience novel is a perfect example.

Abi is a house cleaner who needs a place to stay. One of the apartments she cleans is supposed to be empty for the week and she decides to crash there without permission. Until she runs into the owner’s parents, and they mistake her for Declan’s girlfriend. Abi is forced to play along and when she speaks with Declan later, they decide to make a deal. Abi gets to stay in Declan’s apartment for a week and in return, she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend for a few work events. Declan is a rising star at a financial company, but he has to prove he can be a family man to work his way to the next level.

You can see there this is going and Declan has the means to truly whisk an overworked Abi off her feet. It’s fun to see her relax and enjoy herself especially on the dream trip to NYC. This book definitely has Pretty Woman or Maid in Manhattan vibes.

this was such a fun read! I loved the total opposites that these two characters were. While this story only took place over the course of a few days, I think Lynn Painter did a great job showing character growth, conflict, and resolution.

If Lynn Painter writes it, I’m reading it. I love everything she creates, and this one was no exception.
Abi and Declan’s fake-dating romance is so funny, and ohhhh so swoony in all the best ways! The audiobook narration was pitch-perfect, bringing their banter and chemistry to life, felt like I was watching a rom-com movie play out in front of me, all I was missing was the popcorn! The laugh-out-loud moments, the heartfelt tension, EVERYTHING made this an instant 5-star listen for me.

Lynn painter has never steered me wrong. I was lucky enough to get the arc for this book but only got around to reading it now ! loved it, cute, funny and just worked well a nice palette cleanser between fantasy series

I enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of Lynn Painter's YA novels but don't usually dabble in her adult novels. This was a very quick, and easy read. You can tell that Lynn Painter's niche is her YA novels and what she likes writing most.

I'm not saying it was bad at all - I liked it - but she definitely puts her heart into the YA novels and sometimes the adult novels lack :(

Abi Mariano works two jobs and studies while trying to keep her life stable. Her apartment gets infested and she has nowhere else to go. She seizes an opportunity to stay in a fancy penthouse she cleans while its owner is out of town. She does not expect the owner’s parents to show up and assume she is Declan Powell’s girlfriend. Declan has invented a girlfriend to satisfy his parents and clients. Abi and Declan agree to pretend to date so both can get what they need.

Painter gives both Abi and Declan full voices. Abi feels grounded and relatable. She is flawed and funny and strong at the same time. Declan seems stiff at first but he grows as he realizes what matters. Their chemistry builds with banter and small shared moments rather than with instant love.

The fake relationship plot works well here because the stakes make sense. Abi needs a safe place to stay and some financial relief. Declan needs to maintain an image and please those around him. The way Painter handles their emotional growth makes their connection feel earned.

Maid for Each Other is charming and fun, and romantic.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this in one sitting!! I literally could not put it down.

Such a cute read 🥺
I absolutely adored Abi & Declan ~

It had me laughing out loud, grinning so hard, and swooooning!! 💕
It also had so many of my favorite tropes and was written so well!

The plot was just too adorable.

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter is a fun fake-dating romcom that will have you giggling and asking - where's the man who will make ME a bouquet made of inhalers, epipens, and hypoallergenic hydrangeas after my allergy/asthma attack.

Book Synopsis: As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend. Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

My Thoughts: This book was almost everything I could ask for in a sweet romcom. I think the fake dating trop was done quite well. They started out as complete strangers, progressed gradually into a begrudging friendship (not insta-love) and then deeper in love over time. I liked that it wasn't a forced proximity story - Declan was out of town for work and they texted and then progressed to facetime while they were apart. It was sweet and reminded me of when I was dating my husband while he was deployed and had our weekly Skype video dates. Abi and Declan really seemed to form an emotional connection before they started a physical relationship and I'm here for that kind of storyline.

Now, the only thing I really didn't like was the typical miscommunication trope (that leads to a third act breakup). Not at all necessary if they would just talk to each other and trust each other.

I eagerly look forward to Painters next rom-com, whether it's adult or YA.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Lynn Painter is such a funny writer and I found Maid for Each Other to be absolutely charming! Would recommend for fans of Maid in Manhattan.

Why Did I Listen To Maid For Each Other by Lynn Painter?
Maid For Each Other by Lynn Painter is right up my alley — I loved Happily Never After and Betting On You and the tropes were troping. Maid For Each Other is an adult romcom with the billionaire and regular person trope. It has fake dating! False pretenses! And okay, I also just really enjoy Teddy Hamilton’s narration style as well. Oh and I love a good contemporary romance on audiobook while I am driving to and from work or putting together a pivot chart.

What’s The Story Here?
Maid For Each Other alternates points of view between Abi and Declan. Abi is a maid for one of her jobs as well as a grocery store cashier. She also is in school for her MFA. As it turns out, her apartment building has an infestation and she has to find someplace else to stay for a week. Unfortunately, she can’t afford a hotel. So, she’s got nowhere to go. One of her clients has a giant apartment that will be empty for the week – she’s never even met the guy. So, she takes a risk and stays at his apartment. Only, surprise, she wakes up in the morning and there are two strangers in the living room. The strangers happen to be Declan’s parents and they are convinced they know Abi. You see, Declan is a high powered executive and very wealthy. He has realized he needs a girlfriend to appear a family man and to get ahead in his job. So, he makes up a girlfriend who just happens to have the name Abbey.

The jig is up. However, in a desperate bid to not lose her job, Abbey and Declan come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. Abi will pretend to be Declan’s girlfriend and Declan will let her stay in his apartment while he stays at a hotel. Along the way the two get to know each other a little better and sparks fly. Abi also happens to charm Declan’s family, friends and coworkers. She really does such an excellent job. The wild part is that a lot of it is just her being herself – she’s truly a wonderful person. And it turns out that Declan has a really wonderful personality too – even if he does it get it wrong with Abi from time to time.

How Did I Like Maid For Each Other?
I felt like Maid For Each Other was exactly what I needed. I had come into this book after reading some heavier southern noir crime fiction. This was a breath of fresh air – light and easy to get into. The writing is breezy. You instantly fall for and like the characters. Or maybe that was just me? I instantly enjoyed both chapter perspectives. I liked that we get a little bit of New York City in this book too. Just a brief bit, but I loved that. I also liked the path the book took to develop Declan and Abi’s relationship. There was some instant attraction, yes, but they really had to work to understand each other. Oh and before I forget – there are some misunderstandings between Abi and Declan, so the relationship does actually have obstacles.

How’s The Narration?
The audiobook version was the perfect way for me to experience the story of Maid For Each Other. The audiobook alternates between Teddy Hamilton who narrates Declan’s chapters and Saylor Bell Curda who narrates Abi’s chapters. Hamilton and Curda embody their characters in a way that feels intentional. I liked that they had different narration styles. Both played a huge role in my enjoyment of the characters. The audiobook is 7 hours and 39 minutes. I actually didn’t listen to this at 2x speed but at I think it was 1.25x. As said, this was one where I felt like I had wanted to keep listening.

A super fun and easy read! I loved the banter between these two and how he fell first and she was hesitant but not in an annoying way. This was overall a super well written romance and I will definitely be picking up other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

So, I tried. Like, I really tried. The premise of this one is fantastic, I love the cover, I love the names of the characters (for whatever reason, Abi Mariano? It just brings me joy!) and I LOVE fake dating.I also truly love Lynn Painter, and usually adore her books as they are cute, fast paced, and just plain fun.

So with saying all of that, I know it's a me problem - not the books. I'm struggling a fair bit with a slump after reading a ton of books all at once, and well, it got me. So I ended up DNF'ing this one at 40%. The characters had no chemistry and I found myself dreading the thought of reading, so... for now we are a DNF. That's not to say I won't come back later with a phenomenal opinion on this one!

Truly appreciative for the arc though.

Another sweet story by Lynn Painter! When Abi gets mixed up in a not very true half truth Declan tells, she makes the most of an opportunity, since chances like these don't come along very often in her life, can they sell the lie they've never lived, or will it all come crashing down around them amidst feelings they didn't know existed?

🧼 Book Review 🧼

Maid for Each Other was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I adored it! If you love swoony romance with A+ banter, this is for you

✔️ Different Worlds
✔️ Grumpy/ Sunshine
✔️ Pretty Woman Retelling
✔️ And They're Roommates
✔️ One Bed

To escape her apartment infestation, Abi (a house cleaner) decides to spend the night in a client's apartment. Why not? He's out of town and won't even notice. Unfortunately, his parents drop in to visit and mistake her for their son's girlfriend. Declan is less than thrilled with his mom and dad gushing about her and thus, he ropes Abi into a fake dating situation: she will accompany him to some work functions and in return, she can stay in his apartment and she pockets $40k. Of course, forced proximity turns to actual chemistry and all the swoony feelings.

Leave it to Lynn Painter to design a millionaire that I root for 😆 Declan is the exact opposite of Mr. Burns fromthe Simpsons - he's hot, he doesn't really care about money, he gives good banter... the list goes on.

I loved seeing sunshiney Abi break through Declan's cynical shell and make life technicolor for him.

This was a terrific adaptation of what I love about Pretty Woman - 2 people from different classes who just fit together and make each other happy and a makeover scene (who doesn't love a Cinderella scene where she ends up looking amazing and he can't take his eyes off her?!).

Highly recommend! 5⭐️!!

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc copy! I love everything Lynn puts out, however, this one...? Didn't exactly make the cut. Perhaps since it was more adult, it didn't have that same excitement feeling as her other YA books did. I loved Better Than The Movies and The Do Over by Lynn, but this semi missed the mark for me and I DNF'ed it.

Maid For Each Other by Lynn Painter in quick, rapid-fire thoughts.

-I definitely had some issues with this book
-I liked the fake dating concept, and the Abby/Abi mistaken identity
-I could never get behind Abi and Declan's connection
-Declan rubbed me the wrong way, mostly based on how his character was written from Abi's perspective (read: bizarrely not in a good light)
-I hated the third act break up!!! It gave me all the Stuckey vibes from Pretty Woman
-I wished this was a more original storyline

Overall, I loved Painter's Happily Never After SO much more!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley for the complimentary copy to read and review.

This is a cute fake dating romcom, it’s an enjoyable read. Declan is a busy executive who’s made up a girlfriend for himself to keep his friends and family off his back.
Abi is a student who cleans houses to make some money, including Declan’s penthouse. After a long day, she accidentally falls asleep in Declan’s bed and is discovered by his parents, they assume she’s his girlfriend and Abi plays along. Declan is shocked to learn about his suddenly real girlfriend, and he’s got an idea for her.
She pretends to be his girlfriend and he pays for anything she needs while they’re “dating”. When the time comes to breakup, Declan and Abi discover it’s a lot harder to do than they thought.

I enjoyed this entertaining book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received at a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lynn Painter's books are always so cute and sweet!! This rom com is about a millionaire and maid! interesting from the start. I always love a fake dating situation! I could definitely see this as a movie.

I will read anything that Lynn Painter writes, I really liked this book but the ending fell a little flat for me as it seemed rushed.
I adored Abi and Declan's characters and they had great chemistry with lots of banter.
This book was so easy to read, fast paced and a bundle of fun, I havn't read anything like this plot before so I think that's why I was so intrigured, it was different and I was here for it.

5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Millionaire x Maid
Fake Dating
Banter for Dayysss
Grumpy x Sunshine
Cinderella / Pretty Woman Vibes
Only One Bed
Dual POV
Open Door - Mild

Thank you @berkleyromance for the gifted eARC & finished copy & @prhaudio for the ALC #berkleypartner

Abi - hard working grad student & part time maid, has an infestation problem at her apartment. With no where else to go, she crashes at one of the apartment she cleans, only to wake up face to face with the owner’s parents. They’re not as shocked to see her, though. The owner - Declan, a workaholic millionaire, made up a fake girlfriend with the same name to appease not only his parents but the higher ups at his job. The pair agree to fake date & continue the ruse at some of Declan’s work events in exchange for keeping her job & a large sum of money.

Time & again, I’m thoroughly enchanted by Lynn Painter’s words! I picked this up at the end of a reading slump in June & it pulled me right out. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief a little - the low key ridiculous plot is right there in the blurb. But I was here for the ride & loved every second.

Lynn has this magical way of writing addictive chemistry & banter for days that has you falling in love right along with the MCs. The fake dating & all the shenanigans that went along with it were everything. I lived for every bit of forced / fake intimacy that came so naturally where our MCs were inevitably confused by their feelings. Their mutual pining was sublime.

I listened while I read along & enjoyed it very much. Narrated by Teddy Hamilton & Saylor Bell Curda, the audiobook was just as addictive as the book & easily bingeable - coming in just under 8 hours.