Happily Never After

Lynn Painter — 2024

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.

Reviews

Priscilla Stanfield@priscillas01

Sep 22, 2024

4/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

So this was my favorite adult romance by Lynn Painter. I have a lot of misses when it has come to them but this one I ended up enjoying. The concept was fun, the characters were likeable and not so quirky to the point of being annoying. There was a change here for me for the positive especially when it comes to an adult romance. I know they are supposed to cutesy and unserious because it’s a romcom but the adult characters shouldn’t be acting the same way as her young adult characters that are high schoolers in my opinion. But this one was good, I liked it. It was quick, fun, and entertaining.

Annabella@onmyown

Apr 26, 2024

Reading this after Emily Henry was a bust

Keira 💫@dirtyhandssidechick

Apr 22, 2024

This book was cute.

I liked them, although the drama, idk why it was brought in between and I’ll be honest because of how long it took me to complete this book idk who this one character was and how she’s relevant 😭😭

Alyssa deRaad@aderaad

Mar 30, 2024

I love Lynn Painter!

I have been in such a bad reading rut and this is the first book that has fully held my attention in nearly a month. All of Painter’s books are fantastic, and this one did not disappoint! It had me smiling practically the whole time, and I couldn’t put it down.

Samantha King@samtalksbooks

Mar 30, 2024

I enjoyed this but I don't think kts a book I'd think about a lot. I did enjoy the story and liked that our main character doesn't beleivee in love. It was a fun read but I found myself being annoyed by Sophie a lot and thought she was pretty selfish.

It's not a bad book but not the best. I had a good time it was cute. Ending felt rushed however

Lynn Braden@ftbooklover

Mar 17, 2024

Sophie Steinbeck's friend, Asha, hires wedding objector, Max to stop Sophie from marrying Stuart, who has been cheating on her. It works so well, that when Max comes for his money, Sophie and Asha invite in to celebrate with them. Sophie learns more about what it takes to be an objector, so when Max calls her with a wedding objector opportunity, Sophie agrees to accompany him to the wedding, and they both have so much fun that they start to become friends. The more weddings they attend, the closer they become, so when Sophie declares that doesn't believe in love and Max states that he's not interested in a relationship they think they are safe, but their chemistry is undeniable.

Happily Never After is such a fun romance with an unusual set up. Sophie comes off as a little unlikable at times but redeems herself by the end of the book, and it's clear that there couldn't be any couple more suited for one another. Many laugh out loud moments populate the narrative as we slowly get to know the characters through their banter. The pacing of the plot is extremely well done, developing a natural progression of the romance. The story would have benefited from more time spent on the hilarious roommates, Larry and Rose. Also, the ex-fiances, Stuart and Lily are underdeveloped. Overall, however, Happily Never After is a page turning, entertaining read.