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Happily Never After
Their name? The objectors.
Their job? To break off weddings as hired.
Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.
When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. 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 anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.
Their job? To break off weddings as hired.
Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.
When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. 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 anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2024
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March 27, 2024
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.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this addictive book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. 🎈❤️
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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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.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this addictive book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. 🎈❤️
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 27, 2024
We are gathered here today for the union of Lynn Painter’s Happily Never After and the reviews of goodreaders but before we begin there is something I need to say.
I object.
Now before anyone starts throwing hands, I do have to say I love me some love and I enjoy some fluffy adorableness and Painter is great at these elements. Her YA books like Better Than the Movies or The Do-Over are total delights. They felt genuine within their own context, which Happily Never After never manages to achieve. Admittedly, Painter comes swinging with a clever and cute premise of wedding objectors who are rescuing people from engagements they can’t get out of without further ruining their lives and it was off to a strong start. Unfortunately, the story never quite finds a groove and glides along feeling rather thinly built without adequate narrative tension to have much to grip onto, reading like it went direct from the draft folder to the publisher and print to fulfill contract duties and deadlines.
And yes, as always I should have just listened to adira (you can read her incredible review here) but you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes and that prize is a disappointing read. But I do not object alone so meet the Goodreads Objectors (and read adira’s review!)
But first, a positive: I do like how Painter tends to pair people where their names form a name familiar to romance fans (Better than the Movies adds up to Elizabeth Bennet, The Do-Over adds up to Nick Hornby) here she would have been Sophie Lauren if Max didn’t object to their wedding, which makes for a fun joke that she would have to hear jokes about it not quite being Sophia Loren. A sign the marriage was a bad idea. Clever, Painter, I like it. Anyways…
I don’t really see how people can enjoy “hate reading,” which I promise this wasn’t, because I just don’t enjoy being disappointed by a book. This was a shame because I initially really enjoyed these characters before character development got shoved aside for sex scenes and we see that tension and titillation aren’t as interchangeable as one would hope with the latter not amounting to much without enough of the former in the narrative. Painter introduces us to Max and says he ‘looked like Henry Cavill’s stunt double or something, but with darker hair and more intense eyes’ and I said OH I AM LISTENING NOW but the initially charming Max eventually descends into being the flag bearer for the Red Flag Parade. But I’m glad he likes Sophie because she is pretty charming and the whole beginning where they rant about being anti-love is pretty great. Painter is pretty funny, and I will say the banter and humor worked well for me, plus I can’t help but giggle at lines like this:
I liked Sophie but, get this all, shes not like other girls because shes…into her car and job and wears flannel shirts well (Max should maybe check out Michigan if that’s his thing). I did enjoy her being an objector at weddings which is a nice role-reversal from how its typically depicted as a man or Shrek running in yelling ‘I object,’ but that entire plotline more or less vanishes as a fake dating plot comes racing into the narrative wearing a more dramatic white dress and steals the entire show.
Which is the issue here. Things just sort of wander around and banter with each other but nothing has much drive and even Max’s Ex-girlfriend plot is sort of hurriedly pushed through the narrative without there being much tension in the story. There’s so many different tropes and parts that, given the proper attention, could have made a sweet treat of a read but instead came all mashed together like when a child “helps” you bake. The rationalities for things were just too silly at times as well and none of the side characters are included enough to really pull much weight. Which makes the fake dating part feel rather flimsy and tacked on, with the reasoning being that Max wants his parents to think he is settled down so they will retire and leave him the company which is…just sort of shitty? Can Max not take care of himself and needs a woman to do it, is that the implication? Not awesome.
The wedding objections were for people in need and Painter really wants you to know its not some shitty anti-love statement but the scenarios she constructs are kind of eye-rolling. Sophie not wanting to call off her wedding because her fiance’s dad is her dad’s boss and he’s “just a mean guy” was like…okay whatever, BUT the next wedding is so ham-fisted and weird where the poor kindergarten teacher groom who fosters pets with disabilities sees texts that his super redneck fiance mocks him as her sexting kink in her affairs and its just…turned cartoonish. What makes Paiters’s YAs work is there tends to be a heavier, more serious narrative subplot that gives enough weight to hold the sweetness from floating off into oblivion but that was lacking here. And the Objecting could have easily been used to make a statement on why it is hard for women to leave abusive relationships because of the danger in puts them in, or something else since i guess thats a bit heavy for a romcom, but it all just fell a bit flat and lacked any friction.
Nothing felt genuine. I did love the surprise twist that Sophie’s roomates were bickering senior citizens so she could afford the apartment her ex-fiance lived in before she moved in. But also, why could he afford it on his own but she can’t when she’s his literal boss? Is this a statement on the gender pay gap? The narrative pushed each other out of the way, nothing really flowed and everyone felt a little cartoonishly immature. Her YAs work because she does teenagers well, but her adult novels just feel like teenagers with a lot of money and sex scenes.
I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this one, and Happily Never After is still pretty cute maybe I just have a bad attitude but I’m fine with my spite and my tears, and my beers and my candles. It just never quite came together for me and while I’m not opposed to sex scenes this one seemed like it tried to use friction in the sheets to compensate from the utter lack of friction in the plot and it just didn't work. But by all means, still give this a shot, the banter is cute, it is lighthearted fun and I’ll probably still read more Lynn Painter in the future.
2.5/5
I object.
Now before anyone starts throwing hands, I do have to say I love me some love and I enjoy some fluffy adorableness and Painter is great at these elements. Her YA books like Better Than the Movies or The Do-Over are total delights. They felt genuine within their own context, which Happily Never After never manages to achieve. Admittedly, Painter comes swinging with a clever and cute premise of wedding objectors who are rescuing people from engagements they can’t get out of without further ruining their lives and it was off to a strong start. Unfortunately, the story never quite finds a groove and glides along feeling rather thinly built without adequate narrative tension to have much to grip onto, reading like it went direct from the draft folder to the publisher and print to fulfill contract duties and deadlines.
And yes, as always I should have just listened to adira (you can read her incredible review here) but you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes and that prize is a disappointing read. But I do not object alone so meet the Goodreads Objectors (and read adira’s review!)
But first, a positive: I do like how Painter tends to pair people where their names form a name familiar to romance fans (Better than the Movies adds up to Elizabeth Bennet, The Do-Over adds up to Nick Hornby) here she would have been Sophie Lauren if Max didn’t object to their wedding, which makes for a fun joke that she would have to hear jokes about it not quite being Sophia Loren. A sign the marriage was a bad idea. Clever, Painter, I like it. Anyways…
I don’t really see how people can enjoy “hate reading,” which I promise this wasn’t, because I just don’t enjoy being disappointed by a book. This was a shame because I initially really enjoyed these characters before character development got shoved aside for sex scenes and we see that tension and titillation aren’t as interchangeable as one would hope with the latter not amounting to much without enough of the former in the narrative. Painter introduces us to Max and says he ‘looked like Henry Cavill’s stunt double or something, but with darker hair and more intense eyes’ and I said OH I AM LISTENING NOW but the initially charming Max eventually descends into being the flag bearer for the Red Flag Parade. But I’m glad he likes Sophie because she is pretty charming and the whole beginning where they rant about being anti-love is pretty great. Painter is pretty funny, and I will say the banter and humor worked well for me, plus I can’t help but giggle at lines like this:
‘but when I saw the bride pull her arm back and launch that snack cake off the balcony like a professional quarterback, I decided to stick around for another minute.’
I liked Sophie but, get this all, shes not like other girls because shes…into her car and job and wears flannel shirts well (Max should maybe check out Michigan if that’s his thing). I did enjoy her being an objector at weddings which is a nice role-reversal from how its typically depicted as a man or Shrek running in yelling ‘I object,’ but that entire plotline more or less vanishes as a fake dating plot comes racing into the narrative wearing a more dramatic white dress and steals the entire show.
Which is the issue here. Things just sort of wander around and banter with each other but nothing has much drive and even Max’s Ex-girlfriend plot is sort of hurriedly pushed through the narrative without there being much tension in the story. There’s so many different tropes and parts that, given the proper attention, could have made a sweet treat of a read but instead came all mashed together like when a child “helps” you bake. The rationalities for things were just too silly at times as well and none of the side characters are included enough to really pull much weight. Which makes the fake dating part feel rather flimsy and tacked on, with the reasoning being that Max wants his parents to think he is settled down so they will retire and leave him the company which is…just sort of shitty? Can Max not take care of himself and needs a woman to do it, is that the implication? Not awesome.
The wedding objections were for people in need and Painter really wants you to know its not some shitty anti-love statement but the scenarios she constructs are kind of eye-rolling. Sophie not wanting to call off her wedding because her fiance’s dad is her dad’s boss and he’s “just a mean guy” was like…okay whatever, BUT the next wedding is so ham-fisted and weird where the poor kindergarten teacher groom who fosters pets with disabilities sees texts that his super redneck fiance mocks him as her sexting kink in her affairs and its just…turned cartoonish. What makes Paiters’s YAs work is there tends to be a heavier, more serious narrative subplot that gives enough weight to hold the sweetness from floating off into oblivion but that was lacking here. And the Objecting could have easily been used to make a statement on why it is hard for women to leave abusive relationships because of the danger in puts them in, or something else since i guess thats a bit heavy for a romcom, but it all just fell a bit flat and lacked any friction.
Nothing felt genuine. I did love the surprise twist that Sophie’s roomates were bickering senior citizens so she could afford the apartment her ex-fiance lived in before she moved in. But also, why could he afford it on his own but she can’t when she’s his literal boss? Is this a statement on the gender pay gap? The narrative pushed each other out of the way, nothing really flowed and everyone felt a little cartoonishly immature. Her YAs work because she does teenagers well, but her adult novels just feel like teenagers with a lot of money and sex scenes.
I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this one, and Happily Never After is still pretty cute maybe I just have a bad attitude but I’m fine with my spite and my tears, and my beers and my candles. It just never quite came together for me and while I’m not opposed to sex scenes this one seemed like it tried to use friction in the sheets to compensate from the utter lack of friction in the plot and it just didn't work. But by all means, still give this a shot, the banter is cute, it is lighthearted fun and I’ll probably still read more Lynn Painter in the future.
2.5/5
April 2, 2024
i woke up happy today with a new perspective on life. what caused this new revelation is a book, which may be surprising to many of you out there. wait, let me hold in my sobs. okay, it was...lynn painter's new wattpad release! this public manual on sexual manipulation chronicles the romance of two shitheads: sophie had a douche cheat on her. max saves her by objecting at their wedding. now they object at everyone's weddings wherever they go, and earn so much money while doing so, they could clone each other but hopefully with better personalities because no one wants more of these idiots walking the earth.
my one problem is (i've got so many more in long organized lists): there are doctors and nurses that SAVE LIVES, and these two go and say ONE WORD at a wedding and earn 10k! the flight, expenses, all that crap PAID FOR. lynn, i don't think that's how jobs work.
i don't think i have the right to say that statement, because in order to finish this book, i had to be extremely jobless as well. i actually cancelled a class for this shit. granted, it was a lecture on plant stimulation in clay, but i still skipped like, something that cost me money in order to read this. that's a new level of giving no fucks.
i assume lynn walks around her admittedly grand house, comes up with an idea, then immediately publishes it. because i can't stomach how an established author creates this shit without it being a money grab. lynn is publishing actual drafts that need so much editing, i could do it and this book would turn out better! I COULD DO IT. i failed english, but i do have a better understanding of healthy relationships than lynn does, so that works out in my advantage.
speaking of healthy relationships, let's talk about one that is so unhealthy, it'll make you read dark romances where that main guy kills like 90 people and holds his love interest hostage..then realize that maybe max, one of our main characters, turns you off more than him. i wouldn't judge you for that. i would definitely say the same. nay, i am saying the same. i would rather marry ghostface then cross paths with max on a random tuesday.
maxxie - lynn, darling. i want you to walk up to the people in your life and ask them for advice on the nickname thing. in your recent book, someone was nicknamed bay. by her stepfather. please, for the love of god, think on these names.
okay, maxxie is a billionaire. but even billions of dollars isn't worth his manipulation, toxicity, and just extraordinary amount of dumbness max possesses. here are some quotes, um, that describes his quirky lil' hot bod.
he had that i-know-carnal-secrets look about him. i assume he also had that i-know-jeffrey-dahmer look too.
i knew she was buzzed, and i didn't care. i wasn't going to do anything but kiss her. sophie had to pry his hands off of her and, while DRUNK, had a clearer mind by deciding to go to sleep.
take a shower together, have sex in the shower, have sex in the elevator, take a bath together..spend an entire night together, have sex on my kitchen counter, have sex on my kitchen table, have sex on my balcony.. this needs no explanation. hopefully the entire night thing on that list is actually a secret youtube challenge where sophie ends up winning millions of dollars after going through with the whole shebang, because otherwise i don't understand the appeal of any of these items. i don't think max would care though, as he's probably tired out from making this list.
let me just say that, after saying the above quote, max decides to tell sophie that he doesn't want to do the friends with benefits thing. HE WANTS TO GET TO KNOW HER. sir. not a single activity on that list of yours had even a slim chance of you getting to look at sophie's face or talk with her. think about that. i will also keep thinking..about my decision to read this book and then proceed to spend actual time writing up a review for it. or whatever you would call this.
sophie - well, she didn't make me become physically uncomfortable upon saying her name! but she is..get ready for it..not like other girls. (squeals) i know! she's..how do i say this...different. she wears plaid shirts. boom. watch out for your boyfriends, people. they may be stolen by this five four" goddess.
"i do. his name is nick, he's a sagittarius, and he makes me feel things i've never felt for another man." it's okay, sophie! i would marry a car too if i was presented with the option of either it or max!
"and no one is going to come after a girl who's barely five feet tall and speaking the truth." "i'm five four", for the record." (that's average height but okay)
sophie is very weird. she is very short. she is abnormally attracted to a car, and she wears plaid shirts. not the oversized kind- the kind that tie up above your stomach, which max so wonderfully pointed out. sophie also says this when kissing max- that it's like KISSING HERSELF. and she LOVES that. sophie wants to "take control" of her sexual behavior, and likes the fact that she is the only one doing the kissing. therefore, sophie is making out. with herself. just- i literally threw my kindle when reading that. the worst part was that lynn really thought she was doing something! oh, and don't worry, dear reader. sophie takes the same attitude when it's time to be "so wonderfully right inside him."
THE SMUT. OH MY GOD- THE SMUT. i hated it so, so much. it may be the worst smut i have ever read! they crested. they moaned. they crawled. clawed. and screamed in a way that made me want to scream "LET ME HAVE MY FUCKING DIGNITY, LYNN!" there was wet suction of things, shattering, bolts, and so many usages of the word fuck. i'm forever scarred.
plot - zilch. lynn's crappy writing didn't help. and her obvious anguish to get the entire task of storyboarding over with is SO apparent throughout this book! god, she wasn't even trying! that's what makes me the most furious. max and sophie just flew everywhere for free and acted like goddamn heroes. i'll tell you who's a hero. me. for finishing "happily never after" even when sophie ogled max's calvin klein boxers for literal hours. i'm also a hero for stomaching the third-act breakup, a signature lynn painter™ exclusive that has made millions of readers cry in absolute despair. i am one of these millions, and i know i always say this, but it seemed like lynn only wanted to write the smut. but she knew that that wasn't her forte, so she inserted a bunch of shit from character.ai.
from the wild misogyny to the creepy vibes of literally everyone in this book, lynn has knocked it out of the park by beating me to death. i am dead, rip me, but that's fine because it's better to be in heaven (hopefully), than be in a world where "happily never after" exists.
---
UPDATE: i know i'm updating this WAY too much, but here. we object!
---------
pre-review: lynn writes like a man, a man with raging hormones that deludes himself into believing that he isn't on the sex offender list. lynn also writes like max, so make of that what you will.
review to come.
the arc gods were JOKING when they gave me this, i think it’s already released but welcome to march (adira’s version) where i rant to you about supporting lynn’s hobby (writing books) and then read them myself!
my one problem is (i've got so many more in long organized lists): there are doctors and nurses that SAVE LIVES, and these two go and say ONE WORD at a wedding and earn 10k! the flight, expenses, all that crap PAID FOR. lynn, i don't think that's how jobs work.
i don't think i have the right to say that statement, because in order to finish this book, i had to be extremely jobless as well. i actually cancelled a class for this shit. granted, it was a lecture on plant stimulation in clay, but i still skipped like, something that cost me money in order to read this. that's a new level of giving no fucks.
i assume lynn walks around her admittedly grand house, comes up with an idea, then immediately publishes it. because i can't stomach how an established author creates this shit without it being a money grab. lynn is publishing actual drafts that need so much editing, i could do it and this book would turn out better! I COULD DO IT. i failed english, but i do have a better understanding of healthy relationships than lynn does, so that works out in my advantage.
speaking of healthy relationships, let's talk about one that is so unhealthy, it'll make you read dark romances where that main guy kills like 90 people and holds his love interest hostage..then realize that maybe max, one of our main characters, turns you off more than him. i wouldn't judge you for that. i would definitely say the same. nay, i am saying the same. i would rather marry ghostface then cross paths with max on a random tuesday.
maxxie - lynn, darling. i want you to walk up to the people in your life and ask them for advice on the nickname thing. in your recent book, someone was nicknamed bay. by her stepfather. please, for the love of god, think on these names.
okay, maxxie is a billionaire. but even billions of dollars isn't worth his manipulation, toxicity, and just extraordinary amount of dumbness max possesses. here are some quotes, um, that describes his quirky lil' hot bod.
he had that i-know-carnal-secrets look about him. i assume he also had that i-know-jeffrey-dahmer look too.
i knew she was buzzed, and i didn't care. i wasn't going to do anything but kiss her. sophie had to pry his hands off of her and, while DRUNK, had a clearer mind by deciding to go to sleep.
take a shower together, have sex in the shower, have sex in the elevator, take a bath together..spend an entire night together, have sex on my kitchen counter, have sex on my kitchen table, have sex on my balcony.. this needs no explanation. hopefully the entire night thing on that list is actually a secret youtube challenge where sophie ends up winning millions of dollars after going through with the whole shebang, because otherwise i don't understand the appeal of any of these items. i don't think max would care though, as he's probably tired out from making this list.
let me just say that, after saying the above quote, max decides to tell sophie that he doesn't want to do the friends with benefits thing. HE WANTS TO GET TO KNOW HER. sir. not a single activity on that list of yours had even a slim chance of you getting to look at sophie's face or talk with her. think about that. i will also keep thinking..about my decision to read this book and then proceed to spend actual time writing up a review for it. or whatever you would call this.
sophie - well, she didn't make me become physically uncomfortable upon saying her name! but she is..get ready for it..not like other girls. (squeals) i know! she's..how do i say this...different. she wears plaid shirts. boom. watch out for your boyfriends, people. they may be stolen by this five four" goddess.
"i do. his name is nick, he's a sagittarius, and he makes me feel things i've never felt for another man." it's okay, sophie! i would marry a car too if i was presented with the option of either it or max!
"and no one is going to come after a girl who's barely five feet tall and speaking the truth." "i'm five four", for the record." (that's average height but okay)
sophie is very weird. she is very short. she is abnormally attracted to a car, and she wears plaid shirts. not the oversized kind- the kind that tie up above your stomach, which max so wonderfully pointed out. sophie also says this when kissing max- that it's like KISSING HERSELF. and she LOVES that. sophie wants to "take control" of her sexual behavior, and likes the fact that she is the only one doing the kissing. therefore, sophie is making out. with herself. just- i literally threw my kindle when reading that. the worst part was that lynn really thought she was doing something! oh, and don't worry, dear reader. sophie takes the same attitude when it's time to be "so wonderfully right inside him."
THE SMUT. OH MY GOD- THE SMUT. i hated it so, so much. it may be the worst smut i have ever read! they crested. they moaned. they crawled. clawed. and screamed in a way that made me want to scream "LET ME HAVE MY FUCKING DIGNITY, LYNN!" there was wet suction of things, shattering, bolts, and so many usages of the word fuck. i'm forever scarred.
plot - zilch. lynn's crappy writing didn't help. and her obvious anguish to get the entire task of storyboarding over with is SO apparent throughout this book! god, she wasn't even trying! that's what makes me the most furious. max and sophie just flew everywhere for free and acted like goddamn heroes. i'll tell you who's a hero. me. for finishing "happily never after" even when sophie ogled max's calvin klein boxers for literal hours. i'm also a hero for stomaching the third-act breakup, a signature lynn painter™ exclusive that has made millions of readers cry in absolute despair. i am one of these millions, and i know i always say this, but it seemed like lynn only wanted to write the smut. but she knew that that wasn't her forte, so she inserted a bunch of shit from character.ai.
from the wild misogyny to the creepy vibes of literally everyone in this book, lynn has knocked it out of the park by beating me to death. i am dead, rip me, but that's fine because it's better to be in heaven (hopefully), than be in a world where "happily never after" exists.
---
UPDATE: i know i'm updating this WAY too much, but here. we object!
---------
pre-review: lynn writes like a man, a man with raging hormones that deludes himself into believing that he isn't on the sex offender list. lynn also writes like max, so make of that what you will.
review to come.
the arc gods were JOKING when they gave me this, i think it’s already released but welcome to march (adira’s version) where i rant to you about supporting lynn’s hobby (writing books) and then read them myself!
March 16, 2024
🌟🌟4.25 Stars!🌟🌟
It's no secret that I love Lynn Painter books. And she has delivered another banger! Ever see the movie Wedding Crashers? This is a lighter and more romantic version, in my opinion.
The story opens up with a hilarious scene as an objector stands up and stops a wedding!
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Our FMC, Sophie is trying to figure out how to get out of her wedding. A few days prior to the wedding, she sees her fiancé, Stuart's, phone and realized he was cheating on her. Her father works for Stuart's father and she's afraid he'll be fired if she cancels the wedding.
Her best friend, Asha, comes up with the idea of hiring an objector. She knew of a college friend of her cousin's that had previously helped out another friend by objecting at that wedding. LOL - I mean. This is rom-com GOLD.
Months later Max contacts Sophie to help him out and to be an objector at his friend's wedding- they end up having so much fun and chemistry 'objecting' together that they decide to take on this little side job for fun, as well as to offer this great and much needed service.
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses.
As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
It's honestly no surprise at all that I fell in love with this book from page one. The characters had me screaming. So funny, the chemistry between them was fantastic. The banter was chefs kiss!
I really loved that both of the main characters are skeptics/non believers when it comes to love and romance. It's refreshing when the two don't fall head over heals by page 10.
The two roommates that Sophie has are hysterical- also odd for sure, not often that you roommate with two elderly people lol.
I do wish that the families were a little more involved in the story - but overall it was a slam dunk for me and I highly recommend if you're in the mood for something quick, light and LOL funny.
It's no secret that I love Lynn Painter books. And she has delivered another banger! Ever see the movie Wedding Crashers? This is a lighter and more romantic version, in my opinion.
The story opens up with a hilarious scene as an objector stands up and stops a wedding!
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Our FMC, Sophie is trying to figure out how to get out of her wedding. A few days prior to the wedding, she sees her fiancé, Stuart's, phone and realized he was cheating on her. Her father works for Stuart's father and she's afraid he'll be fired if she cancels the wedding.
Her best friend, Asha, comes up with the idea of hiring an objector. She knew of a college friend of her cousin's that had previously helped out another friend by objecting at that wedding. LOL - I mean. This is rom-com GOLD.
Months later Max contacts Sophie to help him out and to be an objector at his friend's wedding- they end up having so much fun and chemistry 'objecting' together that they decide to take on this little side job for fun, as well as to offer this great and much needed service.
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses.
As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
It's honestly no surprise at all that I fell in love with this book from page one. The characters had me screaming. So funny, the chemistry between them was fantastic. The banter was chefs kiss!
I really loved that both of the main characters are skeptics/non believers when it comes to love and romance. It's refreshing when the two don't fall head over heals by page 10.
The two roommates that Sophie has are hysterical- also odd for sure, not often that you roommate with two elderly people lol.
I do wish that the families were a little more involved in the story - but overall it was a slam dunk for me and I highly recommend if you're in the mood for something quick, light and LOL funny.
March 13, 2024
Chemistry class is over and Lynn Painter has aced it once again!
Sophie Steinbeck and Max Parks meet when she hears about him through her best friend and pays him to object to her wedding to cheating fiance Stuart. You know the part … “If anyone has any reason why these two should not be wed” … that one. Max is the one that says “I do!”, and the bride-to-be Sophie can now say “I don’t!” without her dad having to repay the cost of the cancelled wedding.
Thus starts one of the weirdest, funniest, most playful, complicated, endearing friendships between two people who’ve sworn off love and relationships that I’ve had the pleasure of reading! Sophie is particularly committed to the idea that romantic “love” is a made-up idea that doesn’t exist in reality. After both have had their hearts broken, they’re not falling for that nonsense again!
Their solution? To become friends and co-objectors to others’ doomed weddings! It’s a side gig that allows them to spare other bride or grooms-to-be the pain of marrying someone who hasn’t been faithful to them. They also figure out that if they post pictures on social media that make it LOOK like they’re together, it will help Sophie achieve a promotion she wants, and will get Max’s parents off his back. It’s win-win for them, right? If only those pesky feelings would go away …
While they double down on the idea that love and relationships are for fools, their burgeoning friendship may have other ideas. I mean … they’re both smart, highly successful, attractive, funny people who might also be two of the most snarkastic characters I’ve encountered in a book! I had so many good laughs from these two, as well as Sophie’s hilariously sassy elderly roommates, Larry and Rose. The first chapter at Sophie’s wedding alone was worth the read!
The heart and soul of this book and what I loved most is Sophie and Max’s friendship. Romance is always fun, but their banter and interactions as FRIENDS were what really made the book for me. Having said that, the chemistry I spoke of at the start of my review? WOW. I needed a minute to bring my heart rate back down! It’s open-door but not overly explicit. If you don’t want to hear about “sexy fun time”, though, you’ll need to skip some spots. I’ll also warn that most of the major characters have occasional potty mouths, but Max is exceptionally fond of the f-bomb. It doesn’t phase me much, but it is excessive at times.
If you enjoy snarky, sarcastic humor and a fun friends to lovers story, this is a winner! This is my third book by Painter, and I’ve loved all of them. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lynn Painter for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
Sophie Steinbeck and Max Parks meet when she hears about him through her best friend and pays him to object to her wedding to cheating fiance Stuart. You know the part … “If anyone has any reason why these two should not be wed” … that one. Max is the one that says “I do!”, and the bride-to-be Sophie can now say “I don’t!” without her dad having to repay the cost of the cancelled wedding.
Thus starts one of the weirdest, funniest, most playful, complicated, endearing friendships between two people who’ve sworn off love and relationships that I’ve had the pleasure of reading! Sophie is particularly committed to the idea that romantic “love” is a made-up idea that doesn’t exist in reality. After both have had their hearts broken, they’re not falling for that nonsense again!
Their solution? To become friends and co-objectors to others’ doomed weddings! It’s a side gig that allows them to spare other bride or grooms-to-be the pain of marrying someone who hasn’t been faithful to them. They also figure out that if they post pictures on social media that make it LOOK like they’re together, it will help Sophie achieve a promotion she wants, and will get Max’s parents off his back. It’s win-win for them, right? If only those pesky feelings would go away …
While they double down on the idea that love and relationships are for fools, their burgeoning friendship may have other ideas. I mean … they’re both smart, highly successful, attractive, funny people who might also be two of the most snarkastic characters I’ve encountered in a book! I had so many good laughs from these two, as well as Sophie’s hilariously sassy elderly roommates, Larry and Rose. The first chapter at Sophie’s wedding alone was worth the read!
The heart and soul of this book and what I loved most is Sophie and Max’s friendship. Romance is always fun, but their banter and interactions as FRIENDS were what really made the book for me. Having said that, the chemistry I spoke of at the start of my review? WOW. I needed a minute to bring my heart rate back down! It’s open-door but not overly explicit. If you don’t want to hear about “sexy fun time”, though, you’ll need to skip some spots. I’ll also warn that most of the major characters have occasional potty mouths, but Max is exceptionally fond of the f-bomb. It doesn’t phase me much, but it is excessive at times.
If you enjoy snarky, sarcastic humor and a fun friends to lovers story, this is a winner! This is my third book by Painter, and I’ve loved all of them. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lynn Painter for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
March 12, 2024
pre read.
3/11/2024: okay why are literal tears streaming down on my face, if i had the talent to write a scathing rant review, i would.
rtc ☆
꒰ ⊹ ࣪🥮 ₊ ꒱ YAY I GOT THE ARC !! lynn’s adult books have severely traumatized me (mr. wrong number and love wager, count your days) and unfortunately this isn’t ya :( please please hope for me that i can finish this one day before the pub date <3
3/11/2024: okay why are literal tears streaming down on my face, if i had the talent to write a scathing rant review, i would.
rtc ☆
꒰ ⊹ ࣪🥮 ₊ ꒱ YAY I GOT THE ARC !! lynn’s adult books have severely traumatized me (mr. wrong number and love wager, count your days) and unfortunately this isn’t ya :( please please hope for me that i can finish this one day before the pub date <3
March 25, 2024
4.75 ⭐️ My favorite Lynn Painter story! I ATE this up!!
"Fuck love and relationships, I just want to be with you because you're my goddamn favorite person."
Synopsis:
Sophie and Max meet when she hires him to be the objector at her own wedding. Months later, Max asks Sophie to join him as an objector at another wedding, and from there, they form a partnership. Both are anti-love and anti-relationship, but as Sophia and Max's friendship blossoms and chemistry sizzles, will they be able to deny their feelings for one another?
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ romantic comedy
✨ he runs his family construction business and a professional wedding objector
✨ she's an HR director who hires him to object at her wedding since her fiance cheated
✨ "let's be wedding objectors together"
✨ they are both cynics and very anti-relationship
✨ "we're just friends"
✨ idiots to lovers
✨ insane chemistry
✨ he falls first
✨ amazing banter
✨ calling each other by their last name
✨ open communication 👏
✨ 2/5 🌶️ (open door but not explicit)
✨ "good girl"
✨ hilarious, nosey geriatric roommates
✨ working with an ex
✨ dual pov
✨ adorable epilogue
My Thoughts:
Happily Never After is a wonderful low-stakes romantic comedy filled with laughter, love, and spice. The premise is incredibly original, the pacing is phenomenal, and the characters have depth and are extremely lovable. I was entertained every step of the way and never wanted this story to end.
Here are some of the highlights:
The very first few sentences. "The moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up. No - first, I wanted to punch my groom right in his besotted smile. Then I wanted to vomit." Like, how can you not be instantly hooked by this???
Max and Sophie individually. I absolutely adore them. I love how Sophie is a strong independent woman with amazing aspirations who is also witty, fun, and generous. And I love how Max is passionate, charming, easy-going, thoughtful, family oriented, and kind. I found them to be incredibly relatable and was constantly rooting for them.
The 'idiots/friends-to-lovers romance. From the get-go, Max and Sophie instantly connect and have insane chemistry, explosive sexual tension, and witty banter. But what I love most is how they develop a friendship before things turn romantic. The 'just friends' trope can be hard to write convincingly but Lynn Painter did this perfectly. Since Max and Sophie both have an aversion to love, it makes sense why they would be comfortable being just friends. By focusing on the friendship aspect of things, they built a solid foundation for a relationship without even realizing it. It was beautiful seeing two people who have closed themselves off from love slowly fall for each other without even realizing it. Theirs is the best idiots-to-lovers story I've ever read.
Some other things I loved about their relationship:
- Their open communication. They both always say what they're thinking and are on the same page.
- Their banter was simply phenomenal. I laughed so hard.
- Max calls Sophie 'sunshine'
- Max and Sophie call each other by their last names: Steinbeck and Parks.
- They can be 100% themselves without judgment.
- They see the best in each other. 🫶
- Max is always hyping Sophie up and encouraging her in regards to her career.
Just FYI, there are a few non graphic, open-door sex scenes that will definitely leave you hot and bothered.
The wedding objection premise. I've never heard of a professional wedding objector but I think it's brilliant! There's a lot of pressure with weddings, so if you don't have the balls to call yours off, why not hire someone to object for you? It's brilliant. And I LOVED every single wedding objection scene. But my absolute favorite was the redneck wedding. 😂 I've reread it a few times because it was just so comical.
Sophie’s geriatric roommates, Larry and Rose. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't sure how these two would fit into this story when they were first introduced, but by the end I LOVED them. Larry are Rose are fucking hysterical (especially when they give Max shit) and their relationship with Sophie was sweet. I wish Lynn Painter would write an entire story about these two finding love because I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
The only reason this isn't getting a perfect 5-stars. . .
There was some ex drama I didn't love that was the main conflict at the end. HOWEVER, it does make sense with the story and was resolved quickly. This is a personal issue, but I just don't like when people still care about their ex and say they 'always will'. I just don't really understand this. It gives me the ick.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Berkley Romance for providing an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
My Favorite Quotes:
*Possible Spoilers* - Read at your own risk!
"You're very weird, Sophie."
"I know," she said, lifting her chin just a little, daring me to pass judgment.
"I like it."
_______
She'd been a beautiful bride and a hot businesswoman, but the plaid shirt, jeans, and boots? Yeah, that shit worked for her.
_______
"Shut up and drive, Parks."
"Shut up and ride, Steinbeck."
_______
"Have you been stalking me, Miss Steinbeck?
"I wouldn't say stalking. More like investigating."
_______
He was wearing nothing special - black button-down shirt, faded jeans, square-toed boots - but he wore nothing special well.
_______
"I don't know you well, but I know that Sophie Steinbeck should only ever be laughing."
_______
"You are also so fucking sexy that it might just kill me."
_______
"You consume me, Soph, every single part of me, and I like it. . . Somehow you've become my center , and God help me, it feels right."
_______
"You have to get hurt to get to the good stuff."
_______
"I'm not in love but also kind of in love with you, Soph."
"I'm not in love but also kind of in love with you, too, Max."
_______
"I've never seen your bed."
"That's funny, because in my head, you've logged a lot of hours there."
_______
There was literally nothing in our life that I would ever object to ever again.
_______
"Fuck love and relationships, I just want to be with you because you're my goddamn favorite person."
Synopsis:
Sophie and Max meet when she hires him to be the objector at her own wedding. Months later, Max asks Sophie to join him as an objector at another wedding, and from there, they form a partnership. Both are anti-love and anti-relationship, but as Sophia and Max's friendship blossoms and chemistry sizzles, will they be able to deny their feelings for one another?
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ romantic comedy
✨ he runs his family construction business and a professional wedding objector
✨ she's an HR director who hires him to object at her wedding since her fiance cheated
✨ "let's be wedding objectors together"
✨ they are both cynics and very anti-relationship
✨ "we're just friends"
✨ idiots to lovers
✨ insane chemistry
✨ he falls first
✨ amazing banter
✨ calling each other by their last name
✨ open communication 👏
✨ 2/5 🌶️ (open door but not explicit)
✨ "good girl"
✨ hilarious, nosey geriatric roommates
✨ working with an ex
✨ dual pov
✨ adorable epilogue
My Thoughts:
Happily Never After is a wonderful low-stakes romantic comedy filled with laughter, love, and spice. The premise is incredibly original, the pacing is phenomenal, and the characters have depth and are extremely lovable. I was entertained every step of the way and never wanted this story to end.
Here are some of the highlights:
The very first few sentences. "The moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up. No - first, I wanted to punch my groom right in his besotted smile. Then I wanted to vomit." Like, how can you not be instantly hooked by this???
Max and Sophie individually. I absolutely adore them. I love how Sophie is a strong independent woman with amazing aspirations who is also witty, fun, and generous. And I love how Max is passionate, charming, easy-going, thoughtful, family oriented, and kind. I found them to be incredibly relatable and was constantly rooting for them.
The 'idiots/friends-to-lovers romance. From the get-go, Max and Sophie instantly connect and have insane chemistry, explosive sexual tension, and witty banter. But what I love most is how they develop a friendship before things turn romantic. The 'just friends' trope can be hard to write convincingly but Lynn Painter did this perfectly. Since Max and Sophie both have an aversion to love, it makes sense why they would be comfortable being just friends. By focusing on the friendship aspect of things, they built a solid foundation for a relationship without even realizing it. It was beautiful seeing two people who have closed themselves off from love slowly fall for each other without even realizing it. Theirs is the best idiots-to-lovers story I've ever read.
Some other things I loved about their relationship:
- Their open communication. They both always say what they're thinking and are on the same page.
- Their banter was simply phenomenal. I laughed so hard.
- Max calls Sophie 'sunshine'
- Max and Sophie call each other by their last names: Steinbeck and Parks.
- They can be 100% themselves without judgment.
- They see the best in each other. 🫶
- Max is always hyping Sophie up and encouraging her in regards to her career.
Just FYI, there are a few non graphic, open-door sex scenes that will definitely leave you hot and bothered.
The wedding objection premise. I've never heard of a professional wedding objector but I think it's brilliant! There's a lot of pressure with weddings, so if you don't have the balls to call yours off, why not hire someone to object for you? It's brilliant. And I LOVED every single wedding objection scene. But my absolute favorite was the redneck wedding. 😂 I've reread it a few times because it was just so comical.
Sophie’s geriatric roommates, Larry and Rose. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't sure how these two would fit into this story when they were first introduced, but by the end I LOVED them. Larry are Rose are fucking hysterical (especially when they give Max shit) and their relationship with Sophie was sweet. I wish Lynn Painter would write an entire story about these two finding love because I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
The only reason this isn't getting a perfect 5-stars. . .
There was some ex drama I didn't love that was the main conflict at the end. HOWEVER, it does make sense with the story and was resolved quickly. This is a personal issue, but I just don't like when people still care about their ex and say they 'always will'. I just don't really understand this. It gives me the ick.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Berkley Romance for providing an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
My Favorite Quotes:
*Possible Spoilers* - Read at your own risk!
"You're very weird, Sophie."
"I know," she said, lifting her chin just a little, daring me to pass judgment.
"I like it."
_______
She'd been a beautiful bride and a hot businesswoman, but the plaid shirt, jeans, and boots? Yeah, that shit worked for her.
_______
"Shut up and drive, Parks."
"Shut up and ride, Steinbeck."
_______
"Have you been stalking me, Miss Steinbeck?
"I wouldn't say stalking. More like investigating."
_______
He was wearing nothing special - black button-down shirt, faded jeans, square-toed boots - but he wore nothing special well.
_______
"I don't know you well, but I know that Sophie Steinbeck should only ever be laughing."
_______
"You are also so fucking sexy that it might just kill me."
_______
"You consume me, Soph, every single part of me, and I like it. . . Somehow you've become my center , and God help me, it feels right."
_______
"You have to get hurt to get to the good stuff."
_______
"I'm not in love but also kind of in love with you, Soph."
"I'm not in love but also kind of in love with you, too, Max."
_______
"I've never seen your bed."
"That's funny, because in my head, you've logged a lot of hours there."
_______
There was literally nothing in our life that I would ever object to ever again.
_______
April 4, 2024
Holy fucking Calvin Klein boxer briefs, good God almighty.
Man, healthy relationships are so sexy 🥵
***
👰🏻𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 - 𝗟𝗬𝗡𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥👰🏻
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅽🅰/🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙻𝙸𝚃 - 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈 - 𝙷𝚄𝙼𝙾𝚁
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙱𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝙲𝚄𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝙵𝙼𝙲 - 𝙵𝙼𝙲 𝙸𝚂 𝙲𝙸𝙽𝙸𝙲 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙾𝙴𝚂𝙽'𝚃 𝙱𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚅𝙴 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 - 𝙼𝙼𝙲 𝙷𝙰𝚂 𝙶𝙾𝙻𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙴𝙽𝙴𝚁𝙶𝚈 - 𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝙵 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝙶𝚁𝚄𝙼𝙿𝚈𝚡𝚂𝚄𝙽𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙴 - 𝙵𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙽𝙳𝚂 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙱𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙵𝙸𝚃𝚂 - 𝙵𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝚃𝚄𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙿 - 𝙵𝙰𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙸𝚃 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙽𝙴𝚃 - 𝚂𝙴𝚇𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝙴𝚃 𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 - 𝙼𝚄𝚃𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝙿𝙸𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶
★𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘:
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥👥👥/𝟱
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼½/𝟱 (𝙶𝚁𝙴𝙰𝚃 𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴𝚂)
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜📜📜/𝟱
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀/𝟱 (𝙲𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 (𝙽𝙾𝚃 𝙱𝙴𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙲𝚂) - 𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙾𝚁 𝙰𝙲𝚃𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙱𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝙳 𝙴𝚇𝙴𝚂)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌻🌻🌻½/𝟱
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌹🌹🌹🌹/𝟱 (𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙼𝚄𝙽𝙸𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙸𝚂 𝙷𝙾𝚃)
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ❌
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧/𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥½/𝟱 (𝙺𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 - - 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙶𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙿𝙸𝚅 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒🚒/𝟱 (𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙸𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 💣💣💣/𝟱
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐½/𝟱 (𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴 - 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙸𝚃 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙴𝚇𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙸𝚃𝚄𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂)
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: 💔💔/𝟱
★𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚:
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘:
★𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 🎶𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁 - 𝚃𝙰𝚈𝙻𝙾𝚁 𝚂𝚆𝙸𝙵𝚃🎶
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
***I always try to be as objective as I can with my ratings for DARK THEMES & TRIGGER WARNINGS, SMUT TECHNICAL CONTENT/INTENSITY, SMUT QUANTITY, ROMANCE QUANTITY, ANGST LEVEL, ENEMIES-TO-LOVERSNESS; the ratings for CHARACTERS, WRITING, PLOT, WORLD BUILDING, SETTING, SMUT QUALITY, ROMANCE QUALITY, are instead tied to my own subjective reading experience and final opinion of the book.
I have literally nothing bad to say about this book.
It was a total page-turner filled with humor, amazing dialogues, sexy scenes and the cutest romance ever.
And two main characters who brought communicating to the next level and were both the paper embodiement of "do I wanna be them or do I wanna be with them?".
I'm not giving it five full stars because it lacked a certain depth and because some situations were a tad too absurd to let them slide, but overall I found myself completely satisfied by this feel-good story and loved how it was packed with all the best feelings.
March 20, 2024
happily never after by lynn painter ~~ four stars (with no objections😉)
ahhh I loved this book🥰 It’s not a secret I eat up anything Lynn writes, even ones with some of my least favorite tropes?? Like who knew I could like time capsules if Lynn wrote about it?? Not I (the do-over) or betting, which i absolutely hate (betting on you). This one tho? I instantly knew objecting at weddings was gonna be a vibe for me🫡
Sophie Steinbeck,our female protagonist is a hard headed, true love doesn’t exist kinda woman. Especially after she found out her fiancé,dirtbag Stuart, was cheating on her mere days before her wedding. She doesn’t want to call off the wedding though because her soon to be father-in-law would definitely fire her father. Her best friend, Asha, comes up with the idea of hiring an objector, or ‘the objector’ if you will. [enter max; the objector] Max Parker; professional objector and Soph’s hero. After the wedding our grumpy protagonist has to go collect his money, which leads him to witnessing the ex-bride throwing twinkle’s at cheater’s car. He decides to stay a while and Sophie learns all about his objecting life, she half joking/half drunk says she would like to be an objector too👀
Several months later, Max calls her up with a proposition. To join him objecting another wedding!! They then form a partnership, as their friendship blossoms they learn they could both benefit from some “fake-dating” to convince people they have a good personal life for themselves. Unfortunately for the two cynics the chemistry between them might be sizzling for real, can they admit they are falling in ”I’m not in love with you but also kinda in love with you”??
ahhh I loved this book🥰 It’s not a secret I eat up anything Lynn writes, even ones with some of my least favorite tropes?? Like who knew I could like time capsules if Lynn wrote about it?? Not I (the do-over) or betting, which i absolutely hate (betting on you). This one tho? I instantly knew objecting at weddings was gonna be a vibe for me🫡
Sophie Steinbeck,our female protagonist is a hard headed, true love doesn’t exist kinda woman. Especially after she found out her fiancé,
Several months later, Max calls her up with a proposition. To join him objecting another wedding!! They then form a partnership, as their friendship blossoms they learn they could both benefit from some “fake-dating” to convince people they have a good personal life for themselves. Unfortunately for the two cynics the chemistry between them might be sizzling for real, can they admit they are falling in ”I’m not in love with you but also kinda in love with you”??
March 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a really cute, fast read. The idea of there being objectors you can hire for weddings was a great storyline and there was a lot of fun scenes there.
I LOVED Max, though I was a little perturbed by a certain decision of his toward the end, so I would have to agree with Sophie on that a bit, but overall he was amazing.
I really liked Sophie to start but was having issues with her once she was obviously developing feelings but then just excused them away at every opportunity, and while I'm all for making sure you're taking care of yourself in a relationship and making sure your needs are being met, I think she kinda crossed the line into being actually selfish and had a total disregard to his feelings.
But I blew through this one and enjoyed it.
This was a really cute, fast read. The idea of there being objectors you can hire for weddings was a great storyline and there was a lot of fun scenes there.
I LOVED Max, though I was a little perturbed by a certain decision of his toward the end, so I would have to agree with Sophie on that a bit, but overall he was amazing.
I really liked Sophie to start but was having issues with her once she was obviously developing feelings but then just excused them away at every opportunity, and while I'm all for making sure you're taking care of yourself in a relationship and making sure your needs are being met, I think she kinda crossed the line into being actually selfish and had a total disregard to his feelings.
But I blew through this one and enjoyed it.
March 16, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Lynn Painter for an ARC of this book!**
Speak now or forever hold your peace...
We all know those words, and many a movie has the long lost love coming out of the woodwork at the last moment to declare their undying love for the bride or groom to be BEFORE they tie the knot with the 'wrong' person.
But what if you could HIRE a certain someone to deliver that protestation...and save someone from marrying a no-good, cheating scoundrel?
It turns out you can...and these folks are known as professional "Objectors." The concept sounds a bit crazy to Sophie Steinbeck...until she has one such Objector shows up at her OWN wedding to stop her from marrying her co-worker and fiance Stuart, whose father ALSO just so happens to be Sophie's father's boss. (Ah, the tangled web of nepotism.) Although Sophie is crushed to learn about Stuart's philandering ways, she is fascinated by Max's Objector job, and after tossing back a couple of tequila shots in the bridal suite, the two have some laughs and commiserate about how love isn't real, etc. etc. The more Sophie learns about the 'job' the more she thinks it might be for her...but is there something about Max's twinkling eyes that is the TRUE reason she's invested?
Their qualms aside, Sophie decides to take the plunge with Max...at least, in business...and the two set out to Break Up Some Weddings. But the more time they spend together, the more they notice their deep attraction to one another...and it starts to become difficult to ignore the connection. With two friends that have sworn off love, though, a kiss here or there couldn't hurt, right? They also add an extra layer to the situation-ship (of sorts) by playing into the facade by posting photos that look couple-y on Instagram and allowing their parents to get excited about the possibility of the future grandbabies (one that isn't even SUPPOSED to come to fruition, mind you!)
But as their physical entanglements continue, the question of whether feelings really ARE involved comes to the forefront when the wedding Sophie is asked to object at next is the wedding of the Max's ex...the one who broke his heart and made him swear off love in the FIRST place...and Max finds himself desperate to stop Sophie from intervening. Does this reluctance PROVE he still have feelings for his ex? Or have Max and Sophie haphazardly stumbled into the relationship they were so DETERMINED to avoid after all?
Lynn Painter is one of those authors I've seen mentioned over and over by trusted book friends and reviewers, and I'd heard that her books were witty and fun, with snarky banter and spice, and of COURSE I wanted to give one a try. I also loved the idea of the professional wedding objector being a new 'career' for our female lead (especially because traditionally it seems like MEN are the ones swooping in to break up unions before they even get started) and thought it would be entertaining to see the trajectory of this venture play out, with Sophie using different tactics and maybe having lots of fun stories to tell along the way....all with a side of very-predictable-but-very-fun romance of her own with Max to help complete the tale.
But what I got was something that relied very little on the premise...and a lot more on the two (somewhat annoying) MCs obsession with each others' bodies, their supposed 'done with love' attitude that was hardly present, LOTS of random profanity on every page...and a subpar plot that left me sighing, rolling my eyes, and ready for the 'wedding' to be OVER.
None of these issues were present for the first few chapters: I actually LIKED the beginning, the set up with Max purposely crashing the wedding, even the liquor-fueled hangout between Sophie and Max at the start and hoped that this initial meetup (I don't think in this case I can call it a meetcute!) would over time blossom into something deep, interesting, and REAL. But when these characters met up for a second time, and Max couldn't stop talking about Sophie's red lips mentally OVER and OVER...red FLAGS started popping up for me...and never really let up from then on.
For one thing, it was hard for ANY of these characters (except maybe Sophie's parents?) to go a full page without dropping f bombs and other profanities, usually randomly, during whatever they were discussing. I'm far from a stickler when it comes to profanity (unless my son is around!) but ALL of these people used this type of language the way others casually drop the word 'like' in every sentence, and it just got to be distracting. Perhaps the worst abusers of this (surprisingly enough) were Sophie's elderly roommates, Larry and Rose, who also were not really charming to me in any fashion. Larry seemed pretty hung up (read: obsessed) with how much Max looked like a certain famous movie star, and there was hardly enough about Rose to even make her memorable to me a week after finishing this one...so that says enough right there.
I also ran into another issue that sometimes pops up for me when I'm reading a romance book that ALWAYS takes me out of the experience: Max's chapters didn't sound like they were written by a guy, and felt SO much like Sophie's that I occasionally forgot who was talking. This is always hard for me, because so many authors (two of my faves, Emily Henry and Sarah Hogle come to mind) have such a defined set of characters, I never have this issue, and I'm not sure what the secret sauce is.... all I know is that it was missing here. I also felt like we got far too involved with both sets of parents in ways that didn't really benefit the plot, and getting to see more into Sophie and Max's SOULS would have been far more interesting. I feel like things stayed surface level with these two for SO long that it was hard to see anything meaningful develop (other than some forced drama at the end to allow Max to be the rescuer) and I didn't find that enough to endear me to the relationship.
And by the way, let's just call it like it is: this is a friends with benefits situation. I find it funny that these two, as blunt and as 'done with love' as they both claim to be, didn't just have that conversation from the beginning and CALL it out. And OF COURSE that situation will get complicated: it ALWAYS does. Even outside the confines of fiction, when two people who are WILDLY attracted to each other decide to participate in that kind of interaction, things will continue to become more complicated UNLESS the two agree to be only hook up buds until they decide to no longer be hook up buds (and we all know THAT wasn't going to happen!) There was really only one direction this was going to go, and although I'm okay with a predictable romance, it still is more fun or emotionally charged if it isn't a COMPLETELY foregone conclusion...and this one had foregone conclusion written all over it. 🤦♀️
The last thing that made this one so difficult for me to truly enjoy was the nature of the situation-ship itself...and the lusty, doe eyed way these two interacted from start to finish. I've already mentioned Max's obsession with Sophie's red lips (which was more than a bit OTT) but with her fascination with his rock hard abs etc., Sophie was hardly better. I'm okay with a certain level of this in a romance novel: played the right way it CAN be spicy and fun. But for me, it was so overdone, the open doors were WAY too open for my liking, and all of the chatter about their Instagram posting had me rolling my eyes too, not to mention hearing all about their nights out drinking, etc.
...By the time I was done with this one? Let's just say I felt every BIT of my 37 years! 👵
There's a reason I am somewhat choosy when it comes to romance books, and it has more to do with me as a reader than some of the fantastic authors in the genre. Much like I was before I met my husband, I'm ALWAYS looking for the perfect match. But as much as I hate to be the Outlier when it comes to this Painter read?
I think it's safe to say you can put me down as an "Objector."
3 stars
Speak now or forever hold your peace...
We all know those words, and many a movie has the long lost love coming out of the woodwork at the last moment to declare their undying love for the bride or groom to be BEFORE they tie the knot with the 'wrong' person.
But what if you could HIRE a certain someone to deliver that protestation...and save someone from marrying a no-good, cheating scoundrel?
It turns out you can...and these folks are known as professional "Objectors." The concept sounds a bit crazy to Sophie Steinbeck...until she has one such Objector shows up at her OWN wedding to stop her from marrying her co-worker and fiance Stuart, whose father ALSO just so happens to be Sophie's father's boss. (Ah, the tangled web of nepotism.) Although Sophie is crushed to learn about Stuart's philandering ways, she is fascinated by Max's Objector job, and after tossing back a couple of tequila shots in the bridal suite, the two have some laughs and commiserate about how love isn't real, etc. etc. The more Sophie learns about the 'job' the more she thinks it might be for her...but is there something about Max's twinkling eyes that is the TRUE reason she's invested?
Their qualms aside, Sophie decides to take the plunge with Max...at least, in business...and the two set out to Break Up Some Weddings. But the more time they spend together, the more they notice their deep attraction to one another...and it starts to become difficult to ignore the connection. With two friends that have sworn off love, though, a kiss here or there couldn't hurt, right? They also add an extra layer to the situation-ship (of sorts) by playing into the facade by posting photos that look couple-y on Instagram and allowing their parents to get excited about the possibility of the future grandbabies (one that isn't even SUPPOSED to come to fruition, mind you!)
But as their physical entanglements continue, the question of whether feelings really ARE involved comes to the forefront when the wedding Sophie is asked to object at next is the wedding of the Max's ex...the one who broke his heart and made him swear off love in the FIRST place...and Max finds himself desperate to stop Sophie from intervening. Does this reluctance PROVE he still have feelings for his ex? Or have Max and Sophie haphazardly stumbled into the relationship they were so DETERMINED to avoid after all?
Lynn Painter is one of those authors I've seen mentioned over and over by trusted book friends and reviewers, and I'd heard that her books were witty and fun, with snarky banter and spice, and of COURSE I wanted to give one a try. I also loved the idea of the professional wedding objector being a new 'career' for our female lead (especially because traditionally it seems like MEN are the ones swooping in to break up unions before they even get started) and thought it would be entertaining to see the trajectory of this venture play out, with Sophie using different tactics and maybe having lots of fun stories to tell along the way....all with a side of very-predictable-but-very-fun romance of her own with Max to help complete the tale.
But what I got was something that relied very little on the premise...and a lot more on the two (somewhat annoying) MCs obsession with each others' bodies, their supposed 'done with love' attitude that was hardly present, LOTS of random profanity on every page...and a subpar plot that left me sighing, rolling my eyes, and ready for the 'wedding' to be OVER.
None of these issues were present for the first few chapters: I actually LIKED the beginning, the set up with Max purposely crashing the wedding, even the liquor-fueled hangout between Sophie and Max at the start and hoped that this initial meetup (I don't think in this case I can call it a meetcute!) would over time blossom into something deep, interesting, and REAL. But when these characters met up for a second time, and Max couldn't stop talking about Sophie's red lips mentally OVER and OVER...red FLAGS started popping up for me...and never really let up from then on.
For one thing, it was hard for ANY of these characters (except maybe Sophie's parents?) to go a full page without dropping f bombs and other profanities, usually randomly, during whatever they were discussing. I'm far from a stickler when it comes to profanity (unless my son is around!) but ALL of these people used this type of language the way others casually drop the word 'like' in every sentence, and it just got to be distracting. Perhaps the worst abusers of this (surprisingly enough) were Sophie's elderly roommates, Larry and Rose, who also were not really charming to me in any fashion. Larry seemed pretty hung up (read: obsessed) with how much Max looked like a certain famous movie star, and there was hardly enough about Rose to even make her memorable to me a week after finishing this one...so that says enough right there.
I also ran into another issue that sometimes pops up for me when I'm reading a romance book that ALWAYS takes me out of the experience: Max's chapters didn't sound like they were written by a guy, and felt SO much like Sophie's that I occasionally forgot who was talking. This is always hard for me, because so many authors (two of my faves, Emily Henry and Sarah Hogle come to mind) have such a defined set of characters, I never have this issue, and I'm not sure what the secret sauce is.... all I know is that it was missing here. I also felt like we got far too involved with both sets of parents in ways that didn't really benefit the plot, and getting to see more into Sophie and Max's SOULS would have been far more interesting. I feel like things stayed surface level with these two for SO long that it was hard to see anything meaningful develop (other than some forced drama at the end to allow Max to be the rescuer) and I didn't find that enough to endear me to the relationship.
And by the way, let's just call it like it is: this is a friends with benefits situation. I find it funny that these two, as blunt and as 'done with love' as they both claim to be, didn't just have that conversation from the beginning and CALL it out. And OF COURSE that situation will get complicated: it ALWAYS does. Even outside the confines of fiction, when two people who are WILDLY attracted to each other decide to participate in that kind of interaction, things will continue to become more complicated UNLESS the two agree to be only hook up buds until they decide to no longer be hook up buds (and we all know THAT wasn't going to happen!) There was really only one direction this was going to go, and although I'm okay with a predictable romance, it still is more fun or emotionally charged if it isn't a COMPLETELY foregone conclusion...and this one had foregone conclusion written all over it. 🤦♀️
The last thing that made this one so difficult for me to truly enjoy was the nature of the situation-ship itself...and the lusty, doe eyed way these two interacted from start to finish. I've already mentioned Max's obsession with Sophie's red lips (which was more than a bit OTT) but with her fascination with his rock hard abs etc., Sophie was hardly better. I'm okay with a certain level of this in a romance novel: played the right way it CAN be spicy and fun. But for me, it was so overdone, the open doors were WAY too open for my liking, and all of the chatter about their Instagram posting had me rolling my eyes too, not to mention hearing all about their nights out drinking, etc.
...By the time I was done with this one? Let's just say I felt every BIT of my 37 years! 👵
There's a reason I am somewhat choosy when it comes to romance books, and it has more to do with me as a reader than some of the fantastic authors in the genre. Much like I was before I met my husband, I'm ALWAYS looking for the perfect match. But as much as I hate to be the Outlier when it comes to this Painter read?
I think it's safe to say you can put me down as an "Objector."
3 stars
April 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5, Romance)
If you’re looking for a light, sweet, & sexy romance, LOOK NO FURTHER. I just had so much fun reading this book. Our love interests communicated clearly! Lots of swoon-worthy dialogue! The leading man looks like Henry Cavill! What more can I say!?
Sophie Steinback was supposed to marry a total D-bag, but she couldn’t call off the wedding (long story!), so she hired a guy to object at the wedding. Are you still with me?! Well, this guy and she hit it off AS FRIENDS (👀), and, long story short, they decide to be wedding objectors together. It’s not as convoluted as it sounds!
I thought the premise was fun and refreshing. There’s some fake dating, but not in the way we’re used to seeing. I loved that the leading woman was a badass career woman who knew what she wanted! Also, her roommates were the stars of the show for me. It’s not a B.R.A.D., but it is open door in a way that is not…overly detailed? Basically, B.R.A.D. and non-B.R.A.D. Lovers will be happy (I think!). I am new to this author and am officially a fan, so tell me what to read next from her!
Best paired with a Sweet Sunrise Mocktail by The Speckled Palate (swipe for recipe!!) 🌅!!!
If you’re looking for a light, sweet, & sexy romance, LOOK NO FURTHER. I just had so much fun reading this book. Our love interests communicated clearly! Lots of swoon-worthy dialogue! The leading man looks like Henry Cavill! What more can I say!?
Sophie Steinback was supposed to marry a total D-bag, but she couldn’t call off the wedding (long story!), so she hired a guy to object at the wedding. Are you still with me?! Well, this guy and she hit it off AS FRIENDS (👀), and, long story short, they decide to be wedding objectors together. It’s not as convoluted as it sounds!
I thought the premise was fun and refreshing. There’s some fake dating, but not in the way we’re used to seeing. I loved that the leading woman was a badass career woman who knew what she wanted! Also, her roommates were the stars of the show for me. It’s not a B.R.A.D., but it is open door in a way that is not…overly detailed? Basically, B.R.A.D. and non-B.R.A.D. Lovers will be happy (I think!). I am new to this author and am officially a fan, so tell me what to read next from her!
Best paired with a Sweet Sunrise Mocktail by The Speckled Palate (swipe for recipe!!) 🌅!!!
March 30, 2024
When Sophie finds out her fiancé has cheated on her, again, Max is hired to object at their wedding. Sophie thinks calling it off herself jeopardizes her dad’s career, so Max is the ideal solution.
Max reaches out to Sophie after that night, offering her the chance to join him as an objectress at upcoming weddings. At first Sophie is opposed but given the payouts being offered and her plans for her future now that she’s not getting married, she finds the offer hard to refuse.
The two form a friendship and take on splitting up weddings together for unhappy couples. Of course, spending so much time together, Max and Sophie begin to bond despite both swearing off love. How long can they keep this up before real feelings get in the way?
Happily Never After was predictable but a solid romcom — Cute, funny and modern, with entertaining dialogue. The physical chemistry became a little much at times, but I ended up liking both characters and enjoyed this story a lot.
Max reaches out to Sophie after that night, offering her the chance to join him as an objectress at upcoming weddings. At first Sophie is opposed but given the payouts being offered and her plans for her future now that she’s not getting married, she finds the offer hard to refuse.
The two form a friendship and take on splitting up weddings together for unhappy couples. Of course, spending so much time together, Max and Sophie begin to bond despite both swearing off love. How long can they keep this up before real feelings get in the way?
Happily Never After was predictable but a solid romcom — Cute, funny and modern, with entertaining dialogue. The physical chemistry became a little much at times, but I ended up liking both characters and enjoyed this story a lot.
March 21, 2024
I picked this up because the premise sounded interesting, and it didn't disappoint. It's a light and fun read with a bit different take on romance, since it's something neither of the main characters believe in or are looking for.
Max is wonderful. Loved him. Sophie made me want to shake her a couple times, but there are a lot of things I really liked about her. I loved their friendship, and their interactions and the banter were excellent. Sophie's roomates are pretty great, too. They are so not what I initally expected.
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style and the humor.
Max is wonderful. Loved him. Sophie made me want to shake her a couple times, but there are a lot of things I really liked about her. I loved their friendship, and their interactions and the banter were excellent. Sophie's roomates are pretty great, too. They are so not what I initally expected.
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style and the humor.
March 28, 2024
Okay so I feel like anything Lynn Painter writes is an automatic 5 stars at this point because she is such a huge author for me. If y'all know me, y'all know that Love Wager was one of my favorites by her. I think this beat that by a good bit just because I LOVED the mc's wayyy more. I laughed, got choked up, and had an all around great time.
March 7, 2024
Just days before Sophie is set to marry Stuart she see's a provocative text from another woman on his phone, nude picture included. Devastated by her new knowledge she sets to right this wrong in spectacular fashion by having an Objector in the pews on the day of her wedding. When the time arrives and the priest asks if anyone knows of any reason why they shouldn't be married, Max, the Objector, will call Stuart out on his cheating in front of everyone thereby giving Sophie the out she desperately needs.
When Max arrives at the bridal suite to collect his fee he finds Sophie and her best friend drunk as can be and decides to join them. Many drinks and many laughs later they finally depart ways.
Until months later when Max texts Sophie to see if she can help him with Objecting at the next wedding he has lined up. From here they become quite chummy with one another but as Sophie insists to everyone that will listen she does NOT believe in love and has no desire to be in a relationship with anyone, not even the hot as can be Max. Can he convince her otherwise? You'll have to read this to find out.
I've enjoyed previous books from Painter in the past so I was thrilled to get an arc approval for her latest. The banter, the chemistry, the humor is all here and I loved that. So much. One of my favorite parts of this novel - Sophie's septuagenarian roommates Larry and Rose. Those two were a hoot! I wish we could have an entire book about them and their shenanigan's in the future.
But, a couple of things didn't work out quite as well for me this time around.
First of all, the swearing. Listen, I drop f-bombs too and I'll never be accused of being a pearl clutcher in the face of, let's say, colorful language, but this was a little over the top. It started to ruin the banter I had been enjoying so much. Joking around together is one thing but when your having a deep conversation it just seems like maybe that isn't the time and place for multiple f-bombs.
Sophie's adversity to love started to become grating because it was all she ever talked about when it was quite obvious that she was in deep with her feelings for Max. I kind of wanted her to just shut up and grow up.
Four or five pages describing a kissing scene became redundant after four or five times of it and while the doors weren't left wide open they were open a little further than I prefer, but that is definitely a me thing.
My quibbles aside, there is plenty to love here and I think rom-com fans are going to devour this with a smile on their face. Painter is definitely proficient in giving a reader heart palpitations and isn't that why we all read this genre? 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my complimentary copy.
When Max arrives at the bridal suite to collect his fee he finds Sophie and her best friend drunk as can be and decides to join them. Many drinks and many laughs later they finally depart ways.
Until months later when Max texts Sophie to see if she can help him with Objecting at the next wedding he has lined up. From here they become quite chummy with one another but as Sophie insists to everyone that will listen she does NOT believe in love and has no desire to be in a relationship with anyone, not even the hot as can be Max. Can he convince her otherwise? You'll have to read this to find out.
I've enjoyed previous books from Painter in the past so I was thrilled to get an arc approval for her latest. The banter, the chemistry, the humor is all here and I loved that. So much. One of my favorite parts of this novel - Sophie's septuagenarian roommates Larry and Rose. Those two were a hoot! I wish we could have an entire book about them and their shenanigan's in the future.
But, a couple of things didn't work out quite as well for me this time around.
First of all, the swearing. Listen, I drop f-bombs too and I'll never be accused of being a pearl clutcher in the face of, let's say, colorful language, but this was a little over the top. It started to ruin the banter I had been enjoying so much. Joking around together is one thing but when your having a deep conversation it just seems like maybe that isn't the time and place for multiple f-bombs.
Sophie's adversity to love started to become grating because it was all she ever talked about when it was quite obvious that she was in deep with her feelings for Max. I kind of wanted her to just shut up and grow up.
Four or five pages describing a kissing scene became redundant after four or five times of it and while the doors weren't left wide open they were open a little further than I prefer, but that is definitely a me thing.
My quibbles aside, there is plenty to love here and I think rom-com fans are going to devour this with a smile on their face. Painter is definitely proficient in giving a reader heart palpitations and isn't that why we all read this genre? 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my complimentary copy.
March 28, 2024
» 1.5 stars ᯓ★
thank god this is over. rtc 😽
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ pre review:
in need of something cutesy after the emotional mess that was crooked kingdom 💐💖🎀
thank god this is over. rtc 😽
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ pre review:
in need of something cutesy after the emotional mess that was crooked kingdom 💐💖🎀
February 24, 2024
4 stars
Happily Never After was such a fun, easy-to-read romance. I loved the friends-to-lovers/fake dating aspect and the banter between Sophie and Max.
Sophie and Max meet at Sophie’s wedding where he’s an objector. It’s a bit of a side job and much needed for Sophie. She’s so thankful for Max’s help and with time they become friends. Sophie wants in on the ‘objectors’ gig and they become a team. They also find hanging out beneficial for Sophie’s job and getting Max’s parents off his back.
With all this time they spend together, it’s normal that feelings start to happen. The problem is Sophie doesn’t believe in love. Can Max change her mind? This one had me chuckling and smiling more times than I can count. Max and Sophie had great chemistry and an even greater friendship. And her roommate/bestie Larry made the book for me. Such a fun read!
Happily Never After was such a fun, easy-to-read romance. I loved the friends-to-lovers/fake dating aspect and the banter between Sophie and Max.
Sophie and Max meet at Sophie’s wedding where he’s an objector. It’s a bit of a side job and much needed for Sophie. She’s so thankful for Max’s help and with time they become friends. Sophie wants in on the ‘objectors’ gig and they become a team. They also find hanging out beneficial for Sophie’s job and getting Max’s parents off his back.
With all this time they spend together, it’s normal that feelings start to happen. The problem is Sophie doesn’t believe in love. Can Max change her mind? This one had me chuckling and smiling more times than I can count. Max and Sophie had great chemistry and an even greater friendship. And her roommate/bestie Larry made the book for me. Such a fun read!
Shelved as 'anticipated'
February 4, 2024it's not a ya
trust me when i say that No One is more disappointed than me.
trust me when i say that No One is more disappointed than me.
March 12, 2024
4 wedding interruption stars - now available
What if you need to call your wedding off, but you can’t do it for any number of reasons? Call in the objector, and he will interrupt things at just the right moment and save the day!
Sophie Steinbeck found herself in this situation, and she’s eternally grateful for the objector who said “I object” at just the right time and she called off the wedding. Sophie has a chance to later meet her savior and loves his approach, he only takes on cheaters.
Sophie decides she would like to help others in the same situation, and the two team up for potential future wedding objections. The two agree that love and marriage are a waste of time and don’t believe in them. Except . . . are they starting to have feelings for each other?
The pair spends more time together, and the chemistry is evident! I loved the banter and fake dating in this one. Sophie has the best roommates – Rose and Larry – and they totally added to the story!
This was my first Lynn Painter story, and I can’t wait to read more of her books!
My thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
What if you need to call your wedding off, but you can’t do it for any number of reasons? Call in the objector, and he will interrupt things at just the right moment and save the day!
Sophie Steinbeck found herself in this situation, and she’s eternally grateful for the objector who said “I object” at just the right time and she called off the wedding. Sophie has a chance to later meet her savior and loves his approach, he only takes on cheaters.
Sophie decides she would like to help others in the same situation, and the two team up for potential future wedding objections. The two agree that love and marriage are a waste of time and don’t believe in them. Except . . . are they starting to have feelings for each other?
The pair spends more time together, and the chemistry is evident! I loved the banter and fake dating in this one. Sophie has the best roommates – Rose and Larry – and they totally added to the story!
This was my first Lynn Painter story, and I can’t wait to read more of her books!
My thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
April 2, 2024
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is a hilarious romantic comedy featuring a friends to lovers story. While I absolutely loved this rom-com I would warn there’s some language and a bit of spice that may not be everyone’s cup of tea though.
Sophie Steinbeck was so looking forward to her wedding day but when she finds out some things about her groom to be she begins looking forward to ending the relationship instead. Sophie finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place though when it comes to ending things with her would’ve been future father in law employing her own father making his job in jeopardy if Sophie walks out.
On the wedding day Sophie’s friend hires Max whose sole job is to object to the nuptials and derail the wedding train. When everything goes wonderfully Sophie still couldn’t help but wonder how Max ended up in such a weird position. A few months pass when Sophie and Max cross paths again and Sophie finds herself fascinated with learning to be an objector herself.
Happily Never After is the third book I’ve read by author Lynn Painter and it’s the third absolutely loved it story too. First, of course it’s great that I constantly found myself laughing while reading this rom com but I also found myself rooting along for the characters quickly and finding myself enjoying such a unique setting and circumstance for those characters. With the exact opposite of the three strikes your out saying with finding three gems from Lynn Painter she will definitely be welcome into my TBR again in the future!!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Sophie Steinbeck was so looking forward to her wedding day but when she finds out some things about her groom to be she begins looking forward to ending the relationship instead. Sophie finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place though when it comes to ending things with her would’ve been future father in law employing her own father making his job in jeopardy if Sophie walks out.
On the wedding day Sophie’s friend hires Max whose sole job is to object to the nuptials and derail the wedding train. When everything goes wonderfully Sophie still couldn’t help but wonder how Max ended up in such a weird position. A few months pass when Sophie and Max cross paths again and Sophie finds herself fascinated with learning to be an objector herself.
Happily Never After is the third book I’ve read by author Lynn Painter and it’s the third absolutely loved it story too. First, of course it’s great that I constantly found myself laughing while reading this rom com but I also found myself rooting along for the characters quickly and finding myself enjoying such a unique setting and circumstance for those characters. With the exact opposite of the three strikes your out saying with finding three gems from Lynn Painter she will definitely be welcome into my TBR again in the future!!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 18, 2024
4.5
PHEW OKAY i was low key scared the thing about max's ex being super rushed, but it ended up being fine.
HOWEVER, it ended up being so pushed to the side that i felt like it should've been a bigger deal than it actually was just because the book's summary MAKES it out to be a bigger deal than it is in the book. either that or the summary needs to change a bit to provide a more... accurate description of what we should expect from it, if that makes sense?
overall, i had a blast. lynn painter please be my friend i love you so much
PHEW OKAY i was low key scared the thing about max's ex being super rushed, but it ended up being fine.
HOWEVER, it ended up being so pushed to the side that i felt like it should've been a bigger deal than it actually was just because the book's summary MAKES it out to be a bigger deal than it is in the book. either that or the summary needs to change a bit to provide a more... accurate description of what we should expect from it, if that makes sense?
overall, i had a blast. lynn painter please be my friend i love you so much
April 2, 2024
3.75/5⭐️!! I love Lynn painter and enjoyed this book a lot it definitely wasn’t my fav one from her but I loved the concept and still had a great time reading it 🤭💓 I didn’t connect as much with this story as usual but still a super fast easy read.
December 28, 2023
I am a HUGE Lynn Painter fan and I was expecting to adore this based on the synopsis. However, this was my least favorite book by her. I found myself feeling bored most of the time. The plot wasn't strong enough and for some reason it didn't made sense at all. I wish I could mention some things that I liked about this but there were sadly none.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.
Read
April 5, 2024We now have a synopsis. YayaYAYAayayYAYAyaYAYya
(please ignore my madness)
______________________________
i dont even know what is this about but, i'll read everything that Lynn Painter ever writes.
I have taken my oath.
(please ignore my madness)
______________________________
i dont even know what is this about but, i'll read everything that Lynn Painter ever writes.
I have taken my oath.
March 12, 2024
happy release day 💖
I fell in love with this story!! on her wedding day, sophie needed a way out. in comes max, a professional wedding objector, to save her from marrying the wrong man. after a night of drinking and talking, they go their separate ways. only to come back together some time later to start tag-teaming objecting at weddings.
I really had so much fun with this one. sophie and max’s banter and chemistry really jumped off the page. and he falls first? I eat it up every single time. because the two don’t believe in love, I loved their fake dating and friends-with-benefits to oh crap I have feelings for you arc. It’s one of my favorite set ups and this one does it so well.
In terms of what I didn’t like, I do wish we got a little more character development in the third act. It felt a little abrupt and brought about by external forces.
also…and this is just a me thing maybe, but these characters say things like “oh god,” “god almighty,” “god forbid,” “in god’s name,” like way too often. I counted, and between just 2 pages alone there was at least 4 expressions using “god” in it. can we get maybe a “shit,” “fuck,” or I’d even take a “crap.” so this repetitive writing, once it hit me in the face, really annoyed me.
I really enjoyed their unique jobs of being objectors and watching them laugh and have fun together was really so cute and I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to Lynn and berkley romance for an arc!
tropes & things
✨ friends with benefits
✨ fake dating
✨ he falls first
I fell in love with this story!! on her wedding day, sophie needed a way out. in comes max, a professional wedding objector, to save her from marrying the wrong man. after a night of drinking and talking, they go their separate ways. only to come back together some time later to start tag-teaming objecting at weddings.
I really had so much fun with this one. sophie and max’s banter and chemistry really jumped off the page. and he falls first? I eat it up every single time. because the two don’t believe in love, I loved their fake dating and friends-with-benefits to oh crap I have feelings for you arc. It’s one of my favorite set ups and this one does it so well.
In terms of what I didn’t like, I do wish we got a little more character development in the third act. It felt a little abrupt and brought about by external forces.
also…and this is just a me thing maybe, but these characters say things like “oh god,” “god almighty,” “god forbid,” “in god’s name,” like way too often. I counted, and between just 2 pages alone there was at least 4 expressions using “god” in it. can we get maybe a “shit,” “fuck,” or I’d even take a “crap.” so this repetitive writing, once it hit me in the face, really annoyed me.
I really enjoyed their unique jobs of being objectors and watching them laugh and have fun together was really so cute and I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to Lynn and berkley romance for an arc!
tropes & things
✨ friends with benefits
✨ fake dating
✨ he falls first
January 6, 2024
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!
~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/happily-neve...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/happily-neve...
March 26, 2024
4-4.5⭐️
November 22, 2023
This got to one of the most boring romance books I have ever read. I have to stop reading so many times because plot was so stupid. Anyway, nothing worked for me, and this was the last time I ever read anything by this author.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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