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.

©2024 Lynn Painter (P)2024 Penguin Audio

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

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!

Short and Steamy Listen

Sophie finds out her soon to be husband is cheating on her right before her wedding. Worried about the fallout if she calls it off she enlists the help of Max whose side hustle is objecting at weddings to help people out of these exact situations.

A few months later, Max reaches back out to Sophie to see if she would be interested in helping him out at another wedding. Needing the extra income and wanting to save someone who went through what she did, she agrees. Max and Sophie have a lot of chemistry and the more weddings they break up the more they fall for each other. But as both have been burned and neither believe in happily ever after, where does that leave them.

I am a huge fan of this author, but I had a hard time connecting with this couple. They clearly were perfect for each other and yet they stubbornly fought tooth and nail to avoid it and hurt each other over and over again. This is advertised as a love triangle with his ex who is marrying someone else but the drama of that lasts all of two seconds and it’s very clear she’s not interested in him and he never indicates he wants to get back together with her. Just a weird advertising choice by the publishing house but if you’re anti-love triangle then I wouldn’t worry too much about that aspect.

Overall it was a short and steamy listen that I enjoyed but I just didn’t love this one.

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! 💜💜

Laughed out loud

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

Sweet story - interesting plot

3.5 Stars - This was a sweet story with an interesting plot. I enjoyed the premise and enjoyed watching Max and Sophie fall in love. This is not my favourite from Painter but still worth the listen. 

Both narrators were new to me and did a good job.

~ Paragraphs and Petticoats ~

Not the best..not the worst

This was my first Painter book and I'm a bit underwhelmed. I loved the banter but hoped for more character development & story then just all the effs & sex. Skipped through alot unfortunately. I'm glad I listened but meh.

Love it all the way around

Great narration. Sweet story. I’m a big fan of this author now and can’t wait for her next release!

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.