Happily Never After

By: Lynn Painter

Narrated by: Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins

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.

Critic reviews

"Happily Never After is a giggle-inducing romp that readers won't be able to object to."—Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Fake Mate

"Happily Never After takes an irresistibly fun concept and expertly delivers on its promise, brimming with hilariously cheeky banter and so-red-hot-it'll-make-you-sweat chemistry between its lovable lead characters. Lynn Painter has a true gift for crafting wildly entertaining rom-coms, and this is her best one yet!"—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of The Gay Best Friend

"Lynn Painter writes the romcom banter of my dreams! Happily Never After is a sparkling, hilarious, sexy romance that leaps off the page and is just begging to be made into a movie!"—Sarah Adams, New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect

"Well-crafted and filled to the brim with sexual tension, Happily Never After is rom-com gold! We fell head-over-heels for the romance and the undeniably swoony chemistry. Max and Sophie are two characters so perfect for each other that you can’t help but want to smoosh them together."—Krista & Becca Ritchie, New York Times bestselling authors

"A rom-com for the cynics...The supporting cast is equally funny and helps to round out an entertaining yarn that doesn’t take itself too seriouslly."—Library Journal

"Painter delivers a charmer of a rom-com with this lively tale of professional wedding objectors…Rom-com fans will find this scratches the itch.”—Publishers Weekly

Happily Never After

Another beautifully narrated version for Lynn Painter. It's Rom-Com gold <3 This is the 2nd book of hers that my ears have read, and I'm totally delighted!

Rom-Com Gold

Super original and fun. This was friends-to-lovers greatness and everything I look for in a rom-com. My first read by this author, and it made me want to dive into her backlist.

Max is an Objector, as a hobby. He gets hired on the DL by brides or grooms who don't want to go through with the big day and gets hired to "object" during their vows. When he objects at Sophie's wedding, Sophie is overjoyed. They strike an instant friendship. Not only that, but Sophie wants to team up with Max in his efforts.

"I don't care about what you want to call this, but I want all of you-every brilliant, beautiful piece of Sophie Steinbeck, with me, in my bed, all night."


Recommend if You Like:
- Friends-to-lovers
- Hilarious side characters (her roommates!)
- Friends with benefits
- Have ever gone paddle boarding
- Stories about people who've been hurt and think they've outsmarted love and figured it all out (Spoiler alert...they haven't!)

I loved the evolution of their friendship. Sophie swears she has a reasonable, platonic explanation for every single thing that elevates her friendship (and her feelings) towards Max.

I listened to the audio and both Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins did a great job bringing Sophie and Max to life.

And I don't know what I was expecting as far as spice...I should know better by now when it comes to the cutesy covers but HAWT DAMN! Sophie and Max burned up the pages in SEVERAL parts of the book and this girl was here for it!

Super enjoyable, witty and original read. Will definitely be reading more from this author soon!

Objectors

Loved the storyline and progression of love in this book. The narrators are a perfect choice for this book.

Loved the readers!

Readers were fantastic! Loved the story so much! The plot was cute, but wanted more smut!

Thank you, Lynn!

You have become one of my top 3 fave authors. Thank you for creating Max & Sophie in my favorite book ever! 💜💜