Happily Never After

By: Lynn Painter

Narrated by: Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2024 Lynn Painter (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"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

"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

"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

Laughed out loud

I loved the characters and the dynamic between them. This book is fresh, smart and heartwarming.

So funny

This story had me laughing out loud. Highly recommended it. I loved their story being so different from the norm. while there some scenes I would not say the overall book is spicy.

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!

Great narrators and clever writing!

Unique premise and fun read. I enjoyed both narrators. This was my first by this author and I’ll get more!

I object

While I loved the premise of the story and her unusual roommates, I could have done with more character development and a WHOLE lot less description of their bodies and the sexual portion. The rest I enjoyed tremendously but ended up fast forwarding thru the last half of the book quite a bit to get to the meat of the story. Guess this is why I usually stick to murder mysteries and cozy mysteries.

RomCom Goodness

It felt like a classic romcom movie & I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m pretty sure this one has taken the top spot of Lynn Painters adult contemporary romance for me. What’s not to love about two wedding objectors who no longer believe in love slowly falling in love with each other? Add in delightfully witty banter & red hot chemistry. HERE. FOR. IT. I was laughing and smiling throughout and maybe blushing at times too.

Tropes + things
Strangers to friends to lovers
Fake dating-ish
He falls first
Quirky roommates

🎧 Highly recommend the audio. They knocked it out of the park. Both are new to me narrators & will be looking for more from them.

Is Love Real …

This was a rare book that I didn’t want to end. The conversation between the two main characters enhanced by excellent narration, was just so entertaining. I wanted more and more. 

Fun Listen

I loved this book. It was funny and I laughed out loud several times. The performance was excellent and the narrators voiced the characters well. The premise was a creative new trope. Character banter was very witty and clever. The side characters were amusing as well. It is moderately spicy and a very enjoyable romance.

Laugh out loud

Lynn Painter has such a knack when it comes to banter, there were times I actually laughed out loud listening to this. Narrators were on point!