Do you take this book to be one of your favorites of 2024? I do.
Happily Never After
Romance
Berkley
March 12, 2024
Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
304
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.
Lynn Painter is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
I expected a sweet, charming romance that would match the vibe of the cute, illustrated cover. Imagine my delightful surprise when “Happily Never After” started with an interrupted wedding, a fight, and a curse flying from the microphoned mouth of the preacher.
All hell broke loose as his groomsmen followed, though it was unclear if they were trying to hold him back or incite the forthcoming brawl. It was a cacophony of male yelling and gray tuxedos in motion. His mother yelled, “Stuart, no!” Just as Stuart punched the objector square in the face. “Oh my God,” I said to no one in particular, watching in disbelief as the objector took the punch without his body moving, as if he hadn’t even felt it. Stuart’s father looked right at me as he loudly muttered, “Jesus Christ.” And Pastor Pete apparently forgot that his lapel mic was on because he sighed and said, “Are you f*cking kidding me?”
Touche’, Lynn Painter. You got me good. I really wish I would have been invited to this wedding. It would have been the highlight of my year.
Unique Meet Cute
The Objector and the Jilted Bride. Amazing! Sophie and Max had me invested in a heartbeat. Their meet cute was so completely out of the box and unique, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Of course, we go on to find out that the bride was in on it the whole time, and neither Max nor Sophie have any desire to be in a relationship, but I digress. It’s still an exceptional take on someone being left at the alter, and what’s more, it becomes the start of a beautiful friendship.
Sophie thinks the idea of The Objector is brilliant. There are so many people who would have benefitted from being able to cancel their weddings without the onus of being the one labeled the quitter. When Sophie finds out that Max needs a woman objector for an upcoming event, she delights in the opportunity. Naturally, attending the objector events together allows for Max and Sophie build their friendship and use it to mutual advantage. Feelings develop, much to everyone’s chagrin but mine. Nope, I was jubilant as I devoured every single page.
Final Thoughts
Max and Sophie are a delightful pair. Sassy, snarky, open to a challenge, these two characters are a breath of fresh air. Not to mention that Lynn Painter uses some of my most favorite tropes. Between the fierce independent woman, the wildly entertaining side characters, and the emphatic way that these two idiots vehemently deny they’re in love with each other, I was putty in Lynn Painter’s more than capable hands.
“Happily Never After” is waiting at the altar for you, and I promise I will not object if you decide that it’s one of your favorite romances of the year.
I’m Val, and I’m excited to share my love of books with you! I’m a sassy Sour Patch kid from New Jersey, dog mom to Chance the beagle, and much like the rest of the Hive, I’m a coffee lover (I think it’s a requirement to be here). The first book I remember reading voluntarily involved a boy wizard who lived in the cupboard under the stairs, and I’ve been chasing magic ever since. I love Happily Ever Afters, and I love love. My favorite genres are romance and rom-coms, fantasy, and young adult/new adult. If I’m not reading, I’m probably kayaking, watching the Great British Baking Show, or discovering a new craft beer.
