Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Happily Never After

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

27 reviews

ella_chu's review against another edition

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funny inspiring relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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amateur_bookworm's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My summary: On the eve of her wedding to Stuart, Sophie finds out he is a cheating scumbag and her best friend, Asha, hires The Objector to come to the wedding and protest the marriage. Max started his side hustle as The Objector to help a friend out and then it spread through word of mouth. After stopping Sophie’s wedding, Max comes up to the bridal suite later to get paid and ends up having some drinks with Sophie and Asha. Four months later, Max contacts Sophie to see if she’ll help him out at another wedding as The Objectress. Soon, Max and Sophie hit it off as they continue spoiling the wedding days of doomed couples. With neither of them wanting love or a relationship, it’s the perfect arrangement—until the feelings they have for each other say otherwise.

My thoughts: This is such a fun book! I have never read anything by Lynn Painter before this book and I really enjoyed her writing style. It’s witty and light-hearted yet there’s still a plot. I loved that Sophie’s roommates are very Golden Girls-reminiscent. I really adored this book and it is perfect except for ….. Maxxie, the nickname ruined it for me a little bit. But overall I loved it. It’s a short read and just really enjoyable. I’ll definitely be checking out some of Lynn Painter’s other books now.

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dianaschmidty's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

BUTTERFLIES! That’s what I felt the ENTIRE TIME that I was reading this book! Lynn Painter does such a great job at setting up adorable romances, which make me feel so immersed in the story! I felt butterflies when they were happy and kind of sick to my stomach during the third act conflict. But mostly I was kicking-my-feet kind of giddy!

First of all, Sophie and Max were absolutely adorable! Like, I was giggling anytime they interacted because they just seemed SO GOOD TOGETHER! Like with all of Lynn Painter’s books, the dialogue/banter was phenomenal! And for Max and Sophie specifically, I loved their foundation as instant-besties. I feel like it made the transition of them going from friends to something more so seem less because it felt natural given their connection.

This book was also just hilarious! Between their constantly riffing of each other and the insane situations they find themselves in, I never stopped laughing! The whole concept of The Objectors is amazing and honestly feels like it needs to exist! I actually know multiple people that have gotten married because they felt they couldn’t cancel and then quickly divorced. If only The Objectors (TM) were around!

Also, speaking of The Objectors, I have a bone to pick with Berkley. Berkley, why did you change the title? The OG title of The Objectors fits the book so much better! Happily Never After is a fine title, I guess, but The Objectors fits Max and Sophie’s story SO WELL! In my head, I’ll forever call it The Objectors in my mind.

Overall, this will be one of my favorite books of the year!

Thank you so much to Lynn Painter, Berkley, and Edelweiss for providing me access to this book!!

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beckyremillard's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mysticserenity's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The development from strangers to friends to more was executed flawlessly in this story. The dialogue was perfection. If you want to sit frontline and observe two people desperately fighting against their feelings with close proximity vibes this is a lovely new addition.

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karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

“I had fallen so hard, I wasn’t even trying to get up.”

Imagine hiring someone to crash your wedding because your betrothed is a cheater, only to become friends with said wedding crasher who eventually asks you to join him on his professional endeavors?? If that sounds intriguing, you’re going to want to pick this up!!

Max & Sophie had a great friendship foundation that later translated into magnetic chemistry 🥵

Prior to 2024, I’ve read z e r o books by this author, and now I’m 4.5 LP books deep. I don’t foresee myself disliking any of her stories at this point because these books just don’t miss! This was so funny, swoony, & romantic.

✨t r o p e s—
~ strangers to friends to lovers
~ banter
~ fake dating
~ mutual pining
~ angst
~ he falls first & harder
~ classic romcom vibes

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inked_in_pages's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

We all know Lynn Painter can write the socks off any romance with her banter, sexual tension and hilarious plots. So no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Happily Never After the same way that I've enjoyed all of her previous books. But my absolute FAVORITE part of this book was the hilarious roommate situation Sophie finds herself in after her called off wedding. Without Larry and Rose, I am not sure this book would've been the same.

Read this if you're looking for a fun, witty romance with some spunky septuagenarians to add comedic relief.

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