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Maid for Each Other
A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.
As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.
Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?
As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.
Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2025
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June 23, 2025
3.5 Stars
‘I unfolded it, expecting a printed fortune, but instead found a book quote.
In the prettiest handwritten font.
You have bewitched me, body and soul.’
This was so freaking cute and gave all the Pretty Woman/Maid in Manhattan vibes and I devoured it!
We follow our FMC, Abi housecleaner/barista who is displaced from her apartment due to an infestation (a maid with an infestation at home lol) she crashes at one of the posher apartments she’s assigned to, knowing she only cleans when the owner is out of town.
When Declan’s parents unexpectedly show up, she introduces herself as Abi and nothing else, unaware that Declan has already started a fake girlfriend rouse to get his family to back off a little. A fake girlfriend named Abby.
Bewildered , Declan tracks the squatter down. After a showdown between the two they manage to come up with a plan to work together, in which they can both come out winners in the situation- Declan hires Abi to be his fake girlfriend for the week with his family and his business partners.
This was a really cute and quick romance. I loved it and devoured it in a matter of hours.
For me, the story was very predictable, it was a mashup of Pretty Woman, Cinderella and Maid in Manhattan- all of which I loved by the way. I just wish this had a little more to offer and was a little less “I’ve read this exact story before”
Abi is a fantastic character, she’s loyal, caring, dependable, sassy, funny and charming. She’s witty and also quirky. Love her.
Declan, well first I love the name lol. So Irish so swoon for me. He was really adorable. For much of the story though, he did read as kind of the cookie cutter billionaire mmc template. I didn’t think he was super original or unique. I also wish we got to know him a little bit more. I felt his character wasn’t very fleshed out very well.
The gift he gave her though? 😭 melted my heart.
While I don’t feel that this book is very original, it’s comforting in its familiarity and I definitely recommend it for when you want something sweet, swoony and fun that you can finish in an afternoon.
Perfect choice for a beach read or pool side this spring/summer!
💗Strangers to Lovers
💜Grumpy x Sunshine
💗Red Head FMC
💜Tall/Dark/Handsome MMC
💗Forced Proximity
💜Fake Dating
💗Millionaire Maid
💜Rom-Com
Expected Release Date - 07/15/25 🎉
⋆˚✿˖° "𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓸𝓭𝔂. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓛𝓸𝓻𝓭, 𝓘'𝓭 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼. 𝓣𝓸 𝓯𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮" ₊˚⊹♡
♥
♡
♥
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (I love you besties, you keep me busy!) for the complementary advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own. 💐💜
‘I unfolded it, expecting a printed fortune, but instead found a book quote.
In the prettiest handwritten font.
You have bewitched me, body and soul.’
This was so freaking cute and gave all the Pretty Woman/Maid in Manhattan vibes and I devoured it!
We follow our FMC, Abi housecleaner/barista who is displaced from her apartment due to an infestation (a maid with an infestation at home lol) she crashes at one of the posher apartments she’s assigned to, knowing she only cleans when the owner is out of town.
When Declan’s parents unexpectedly show up, she introduces herself as Abi and nothing else, unaware that Declan has already started a fake girlfriend rouse to get his family to back off a little. A fake girlfriend named Abby.
Bewildered , Declan tracks the squatter down. After a showdown between the two they manage to come up with a plan to work together, in which they can both come out winners in the situation- Declan hires Abi to be his fake girlfriend for the week with his family and his business partners.
This was a really cute and quick romance. I loved it and devoured it in a matter of hours.
For me, the story was very predictable, it was a mashup of Pretty Woman, Cinderella and Maid in Manhattan- all of which I loved by the way. I just wish this had a little more to offer and was a little less “I’ve read this exact story before”
Abi is a fantastic character, she’s loyal, caring, dependable, sassy, funny and charming. She’s witty and also quirky. Love her.
Declan, well first I love the name lol. So Irish so swoon for me. He was really adorable. For much of the story though, he did read as kind of the cookie cutter billionaire mmc template. I didn’t think he was super original or unique. I also wish we got to know him a little bit more. I felt his character wasn’t very fleshed out very well.
The gift he gave her though? 😭 melted my heart.
While I don’t feel that this book is very original, it’s comforting in its familiarity and I definitely recommend it for when you want something sweet, swoony and fun that you can finish in an afternoon.
Perfect choice for a beach read or pool side this spring/summer!
💗Strangers to Lovers
💜Grumpy x Sunshine
💗Red Head FMC
💜Tall/Dark/Handsome MMC
💗Forced Proximity
💜Fake Dating
💗Millionaire Maid
💜Rom-Com
Expected Release Date - 07/15/25 🎉
⋆˚✿˖° "𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓸𝓭𝔂. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓛𝓸𝓻𝓭, 𝓘'𝓭 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼. 𝓣𝓸 𝓯𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮" ₊˚⊹♡
♥
♡
♥
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (I love you besties, you keep me busy!) for the complementary advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own. 💐💜
August 5, 2025
this book *maid* me question my existence in the most non-romantic, existential-dread-inducing, serotonin-depleting way possible. i should’ve dnf’d it when abi used the word alpha unironically to describe how declan kisses—i was genuinely in the trenches. i seriously need to stop reading these.
this is all you get:
-boring, utterly unswoonworthy events strung together to create the illusion of intimacy—making you ask yourself “is it over yet?” every two seconds
-vile nicknames (it was dexxie this time, which is arguably less heinous than chestie mcbestie, but is still criminal)
-unfunny, cringeworthy inner monologues and banter
-no chemistry and painfully forced, contrived romance
-superfluous rhetorical questions almost every single chapter: “why do i care about her/him so much? i’m falling in love with her/him now, whatever shall i do? WHAT AM I FEELING RIGHT NOW?”—indigestion. and organ failure.
-the classic insta love/lust
-taylor swift references thrown around like confetti
-a manic pixie dream girl-esque fmc with red hair and somehow magnetic to everyone
-an abhorrent and formulaic third-act breakup that needs to be studied
-a mmc with less personality than my toilet who exudes “peaked in highschool” and is inexplicably rich
-and naturally, the required reference to pride and prejudice, which is frankly offensive—including the “you have bewitched me body and soul” line, and this time it was wrongly attributed to pride and prejudice, the book, rather than the 2005 film.
ultimately, if you liked accidentally amy, it is without a doubt that you would devour this. because it’s the same book, just slightly longer and hence with more “quirky” inner turmoil. and if you like any of her other adult romance books, it is irrefutable that you would love this, because they’re all the same.
-
if this is accidentally amy all over again i'm gonna crash out. BR WITH MY FAV GIRL EVER!! <3
July 19, 2025
thank you to netgalley for providing this arc!!
i enjoyed this one!! i found it to be an extremely quick read and i always adore how lynn painter is able to forge such a believable friendship between her characters before the romance kicks in. this one is following our fmc who is a maid for our millionaire mmc, and in a turn of events, she ends up being his fake date to some of his company/family events. i was worried i was going to find the power imbalance in this one a bit much, but i didn’t get that vibe at all. Abi is very headstrong and intelligent, and like i said before, i feel as though the time we spent establishing the friendship first is what made this work so well. overall, an extremely binge-able and cute read!!
i enjoyed this one!! i found it to be an extremely quick read and i always adore how lynn painter is able to forge such a believable friendship between her characters before the romance kicks in. this one is following our fmc who is a maid for our millionaire mmc, and in a turn of events, she ends up being his fake date to some of his company/family events. i was worried i was going to find the power imbalance in this one a bit much, but i didn’t get that vibe at all. Abi is very headstrong and intelligent, and like i said before, i feel as though the time we spent establishing the friendship first is what made this work so well. overall, an extremely binge-able and cute read!!
July 15, 2025
If you are craving some COM with your ROM-look no further! This one was SO MUCH FUN! 🤩
Feisty Abi Mariano is a part-time student with two jobs. One is as a maid-so when she has to vacate her apartment for a week and she can’t afford a hotel-she decides to stay in the Penthouse she cleans-since it’s owner-a guy she has never met-is supposed to be out of town the entire time.
Little did she know-his parents were going to be staying there in his place so when she wakes up she finds them in the kitchen-eating her fabulous, freshly baked muffins!
Oops!
What could have been a catastrophe turns out okay though because they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—their son’s girlfriend.
Declan Powell-owner of said Penthouse has always put his career first-no time for love! So when his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he is perplexed. He doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—though he did fabricate one named “Abby” to get everyone off his back.
Who exactly did they meet?
When he finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him in exchange for whatever she wants. With no intention of taking him up on his offer-she jokingly asks for the sum of money that would pay off her student loans-$40,000. And, when he agrees without even blinking-she can’t really turn the proposition down.
The result is a delightfully fun Rom-Com, full of great banter-which unfolds from the alternating first person POV’s of both Abi and Declan! I loved that we could hear from both characters as they played their parts, eventually discovering that the chemistry was real and they were no longer acting! Of course, there is some requisite miscommunication-but when you are REALLY rooting for a couple to get together, isn’t yelling at your Kindle part of the fun?
I loved that Lynn Painter took the time to develop the relationship, and they were not instantly in love too!
A buddy read with MarilynW. Was she yelling at her kindle too? Be sure to watch for her review!
This beach bag approved book is AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!
Feisty Abi Mariano is a part-time student with two jobs. One is as a maid-so when she has to vacate her apartment for a week and she can’t afford a hotel-she decides to stay in the Penthouse she cleans-since it’s owner-a guy she has never met-is supposed to be out of town the entire time.
Little did she know-his parents were going to be staying there in his place so when she wakes up she finds them in the kitchen-eating her fabulous, freshly baked muffins!
Oops!
What could have been a catastrophe turns out okay though because they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—their son’s girlfriend.
Declan Powell-owner of said Penthouse has always put his career first-no time for love! So when his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he is perplexed. He doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—though he did fabricate one named “Abby” to get everyone off his back.
Who exactly did they meet?
When he finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him in exchange for whatever she wants. With no intention of taking him up on his offer-she jokingly asks for the sum of money that would pay off her student loans-$40,000. And, when he agrees without even blinking-she can’t really turn the proposition down.
The result is a delightfully fun Rom-Com, full of great banter-which unfolds from the alternating first person POV’s of both Abi and Declan! I loved that we could hear from both characters as they played their parts, eventually discovering that the chemistry was real and they were no longer acting! Of course, there is some requisite miscommunication-but when you are REALLY rooting for a couple to get together, isn’t yelling at your Kindle part of the fun?
I loved that Lynn Painter took the time to develop the relationship, and they were not instantly in love too!
A buddy read with MarilynW. Was she yelling at her kindle too? Be sure to watch for her review!
This beach bag approved book is AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!
August 28, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐
⤷ this was ridiculous but i had a fun time 🤭 rtc!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
pre-read
i’ve seen lots of mixed reviews on this book so i’m going in with zero expectations!
br with my bb lilly 💕
⤷ this was ridiculous but i had a fun time 🤭 rtc!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
pre-read
i’ve seen lots of mixed reviews on this book so i’m going in with zero expectations!
br with my bb lilly 💕
September 5, 2025
Sweet like your dream cake and just as addictive! Couldn't get enough of the funny story – it had me hooked from the first page. Overall? A deliciously fun read, Highly recommend!
August 4, 2025
in the top 10 contenders for most boring book of the year
⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡
𓏲⋆. pre-read ✧ 💸
this book has the most mixed reviews of any lynn painter book.. 👀 hopefully this one turns out to be a win! 💫💜
𓂃✦ buddy reading this book with my favorite girl, ash! so happy to be reading any book with u, even if it turns out to be terrible 💌
⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡
𓏲⋆. pre-read ✧ 💸
this book has the most mixed reviews of any lynn painter book.. 👀 hopefully this one turns out to be a win! 💫💜
𓂃✦ buddy reading this book with my favorite girl, ash! so happy to be reading any book with u, even if it turns out to be terrible 💌
August 9, 2025
⭑.ᐟ2.5 stars
⤷ spoiler-free review
⟡ ݁₊ .tropes
- billionaire mmc
- forced proximity
- fake dating
- one bed (micro-trope)
- opposites attract
⟡ ݁₊ .thoughts
between the tropes and premise of this book AND the fact that Lynn Painter is a favourite author of mine, I had very high hopes going into this.
this book is completely ridiculous and goofy (in a good way) and it made for a fun and light-hearted read overall. if you are looking for a rom-com (and I mean this with no shade) with surface level characters and one that doesn't require you to think too much, then you may love this book. it was easy to predict where this story was going to go at all times and all in all, I did enjoy parts and aspects of this book however, it is far from a favourite.
the whole fake-dating aspect kicks off very quickly and we pretty much know nothing about either of them which made it incredibly hard for me to feel any form of attachment to these characters. This book also slowed down for me a lot after the first 18% ish and didn't pick back up for a good chunk of the story. don't get me wrong, it was still entertaining at times but I wasn't eager to pick it up and was constantly putting it down.
a big redeeming factor for me was the last 30%ish (minus the conflict). That's the point when I didn't want to put it down because I was just having such a good time with it and felt like I was in the book with Abi and Declan.
I don't even know what songs to give them tbh HAHA (that's how you know I felt incredibly disconnected)
🫧abi mariano
a part-time college student who balances two jobs in order to make ends meet. Abi is very self-sufficient and has always been that way. She doesn't have much family and lacks friends but doesn't seem to mind that too much. She's driven and hard-working and doesn't want things thrown at her, she wants to earn things herself. Obviously, Abi sounds like a great representation of a strong FMC and, in some ways she certainly is. Once again, I just can't feel very connected to her.
🍸declan powell
filthy rich, golden retriever energy type of man. we're introduced to him as a rather "grumpy guy" but very quickly we come to learn he is a softie. I came to really adore the things he did / wanted to do for Abi. he stole my heart a couple of times and I'm always going to love when the MMC falls HARD. like yess, be obsessed with your woman please. we love that. he is a GOOD man and it's very evident as part of his job is revealed later in the book and it's revealed just how good of a heart he really does have. beyond all of that though, he lacks complexity.
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎabi&declan
despite some of their adorable and fun moments, I didn't find Abi's feelings to be very believable. it almost felt like she was thinking badly of him until all of a sudden she wasn't. it just didn't feel the most gradual to me. also, there was almost no character development from either of them so their relationship fell short there for me as well because I find nothing more beautiful than seeing two people bring out these closed-off and hidden sides of a person out.
⟡ ݁₊ .would I recommend? maybe. a lot of people seem to enjoy this one and I can see how this might be someone's jam. I don't regret reading it, but I certainly won't be thinking about it all the time. I would say don't go into this with super high expectations and if you end up loving it, then I am so happy for you!
"you made a deal with the devil, for the price of $40k."
"no, I made a deal with a devilish maid, and it cost me my whole heart"
⭑.ᐟpre-read
a Lynn Painter book being released on my birthday?!🤭 oh you know I was at the bookstore early af, I'm going right in with this oneeee
⤷ spoiler-free review
⟡ ݁₊ .tropes
- billionaire mmc
- forced proximity
- fake dating
- one bed (micro-trope)
- opposites attract
⟡ ݁₊ .thoughts
between the tropes and premise of this book AND the fact that Lynn Painter is a favourite author of mine, I had very high hopes going into this.
this book is completely ridiculous and goofy (in a good way) and it made for a fun and light-hearted read overall. if you are looking for a rom-com (and I mean this with no shade) with surface level characters and one that doesn't require you to think too much, then you may love this book. it was easy to predict where this story was going to go at all times and all in all, I did enjoy parts and aspects of this book however, it is far from a favourite.
the whole fake-dating aspect kicks off very quickly and we pretty much know nothing about either of them which made it incredibly hard for me to feel any form of attachment to these characters. This book also slowed down for me a lot after the first 18% ish and didn't pick back up for a good chunk of the story. don't get me wrong, it was still entertaining at times but I wasn't eager to pick it up and was constantly putting it down.
a big redeeming factor for me was the last 30%ish (minus the conflict). That's the point when I didn't want to put it down because I was just having such a good time with it and felt like I was in the book with Abi and Declan.
I don't even know what songs to give them tbh HAHA (that's how you know I felt incredibly disconnected)
🫧abi mariano
a part-time college student who balances two jobs in order to make ends meet. Abi is very self-sufficient and has always been that way. She doesn't have much family and lacks friends but doesn't seem to mind that too much. She's driven and hard-working and doesn't want things thrown at her, she wants to earn things herself. Obviously, Abi sounds like a great representation of a strong FMC and, in some ways she certainly is. Once again, I just can't feel very connected to her.
🍸declan powell
filthy rich, golden retriever energy type of man. we're introduced to him as a rather "grumpy guy" but very quickly we come to learn he is a softie. I came to really adore the things he did / wanted to do for Abi. he stole my heart a couple of times and I'm always going to love when the MMC falls HARD. like yess, be obsessed with your woman please. we love that. he is a GOOD man and it's very evident as part of his job is revealed later in the book and it's revealed just how good of a heart he really does have. beyond all of that though, he lacks complexity.
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎabi&declan
despite some of their adorable and fun moments, I didn't find Abi's feelings to be very believable. it almost felt like she was thinking badly of him until all of a sudden she wasn't. it just didn't feel the most gradual to me. also, there was almost no character development from either of them so their relationship fell short there for me as well because I find nothing more beautiful than seeing two people bring out these closed-off and hidden sides of a person out.
⟡ ݁₊ .would I recommend? maybe. a lot of people seem to enjoy this one and I can see how this might be someone's jam. I don't regret reading it, but I certainly won't be thinking about it all the time. I would say don't go into this with super high expectations and if you end up loving it, then I am so happy for you!
"you made a deal with the devil, for the price of $40k."
"no, I made a deal with a devilish maid, and it cost me my whole heart"
⭑.ᐟpre-read
a Lynn Painter book being released on my birthday?!🤭 oh you know I was at the bookstore early af, I'm going right in with this oneeee
September 4, 2025
3.75/5 stars.
this is the perfect summer. it was my first lynn painter, (i know it’s crazy how i haven’t read her previous very popular and very loved books) i’ll definitely try to do it sooner now that this was a huge win. it did give me all the “pretty woman” vibes but in a modern world with an even richer mmc.
i loved both declan & abi. they were such fun and refreshing characters to read about and i thoroughly enjoyed their story. i think the book was really well paced and their development was earned!! everything was so so adorably good!!
acts of service is the IT love language for me and this man is fluent in it so what else did i expect other than love him hehe
***ARC Provided by the Publisher Berkley Publishing Group***
this is the perfect summer. it was my first lynn painter, (i know it’s crazy how i haven’t read her previous very popular and very loved books) i’ll definitely try to do it sooner now that this was a huge win. it did give me all the “pretty woman” vibes but in a modern world with an even richer mmc.
i loved both declan & abi. they were such fun and refreshing characters to read about and i thoroughly enjoyed their story. i think the book was really well paced and their development was earned!! everything was so so adorably good!!
acts of service is the IT love language for me and this man is fluent in it so what else did i expect other than love him hehe
***ARC Provided by the Publisher Berkley Publishing Group***
July 23, 2025
જ⁀➴ 𝟒.𝟎𝟎₊˚⊹💜 𝟘𝟟/𝟙𝟡/𝟚𝟝—𝟘𝟟/𝟚𝟘/𝟚𝟝
this is the kind of book where you pick it up and you are IMMEDIATELY giggling not even 10 pages in! the banter in this book was just so good 🤭. get yourself a man who will make you MULTIPLE bouquets of inhalers and epi-pens (she’s asthmatic and has allergies and that shit is EXPENSIVE!!)
i definitely need to read all of lynn painter’s books (this is my fourth one) because they never disappoint!! declan was different than her other mmc’s that i have read but i still throughly enjoyed him and abi was hilarious!
the whole fake dating ploys were so funny and i really had to laugh into my pillow to not wake my roommates while reading this!!
my only complaint is that it did slow a little bit as the story went on and i wished we could’ve kept the fun banter the entire time but i still definitely recommend this!!
(also we NEED a book for roman and lauren asap 👀)
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐n: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝟒.𝟎𝟎
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
♥︎ forced proximity
✎ fake dating for parents
♥︎ millionaire x maid
✎ grumpy x sunshine
♥︎ 2000s romcom coded
✎ he falls first
♥︎ open door romance
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
fake dating workplace romance with amazing banter served by lynn painter (the queen herself). sign me up 👀💜
the whole plot of this book seems so fun (not sure what the comments about it copying ‘maid in manhattan’ since the only thing alike is both the fmc’s being maids but i guess we’ll see?👀)
this book and her next new release ‘fake skating’ are both HIGHLY anticipated reads so i can’t wait to see if this delivers!!
this is the kind of book where you pick it up and you are IMMEDIATELY giggling not even 10 pages in! the banter in this book was just so good 🤭. get yourself a man who will make you MULTIPLE bouquets of inhalers and epi-pens (she’s asthmatic and has allergies and that shit is EXPENSIVE!!)
i definitely need to read all of lynn painter’s books (this is my fourth one) because they never disappoint!! declan was different than her other mmc’s that i have read but i still throughly enjoyed him and abi was hilarious!
the whole fake dating ploys were so funny and i really had to laugh into my pillow to not wake my roommates while reading this!!
my only complaint is that it did slow a little bit as the story went on and i wished we could’ve kept the fun banter the entire time but i still definitely recommend this!!
(also we NEED a book for roman and lauren asap 👀)
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐n: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝟒.𝟎𝟎
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
♥︎ forced proximity
✎ fake dating for parents
♥︎ millionaire x maid
✎ grumpy x sunshine
♥︎ 2000s romcom coded
✎ he falls first
♥︎ open door romance
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
fake dating workplace romance with amazing banter served by lynn painter (the queen herself). sign me up 👀💜
the whole plot of this book seems so fun (not sure what the comments about it copying ‘maid in manhattan’ since the only thing alike is both the fmc’s being maids but i guess we’ll see?👀)
this book and her next new release ‘fake skating’ are both HIGHLY anticipated reads so i can’t wait to see if this delivers!!
August 14, 2025
─── ⋆⋅4☆⋅⋆ ──
꒰ ° ”I made a deal with a devilish maid,” I corrected, “and it cost me my whole entire heart.” ꒱
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᢉ𐭩 unfortunately, I am singlehandedly the most:
1. biased
2. untrustworthy
3. easy to please
4. feet kicking at nothing
5. giggling about the most mediocre dialogue
6. and delusional
Lynn Painter fan you will ever meet! but, perhaps we can scratch the last one because at least I’m self aware. before I sing praises about this book—despite it being one of the most mixed rated Lynn books I’ve ever seen, I’ll first jump into why I fell into deep despair as I worked up the courage to knock a star off my rating.
to put it simply, this is rivaling Mr. Wrong Number for my least favorite Lynn Painter book. while both are four stars, both lacked something that completely knocked out that fifth star. the yearning? the longing? the uncontrollable and painful smiles that Wes and Liz and Charlie and Bailey gave me every single chapter? the way my skin would crawl as the characters fell into a bottomless pit of love and want and affection?? where is it?! I can only seem to find it in her YA books, where lust exits the equation. I didn’t feel as though I was lying in a bed of clouds in the sky while unicorns jumped around me, drinking from a chocolate fountain decorated with hearts. I missed the whimsy of undeniable, all consuming, utterly terrifying but beautiful and life altering love. If Lynn Painter can convince me that this kind of love can exist between TEENAGERS then surely she can convince me it exists between adults, right? apparently no. I waited about 230 pages (which is majority of the book) for these two to really fall in love. I waited and waited for either that realization, that spark that goes off in their heads and makes them face the reality of their feelings, or for that slow development into love. but there was no big realization, no random acceptance after the denial. after the constant “we can be friends” and “I’m kinda warming up to this person” there was still no moment where I truly fell in that bottomless pit with them the way I was hoping I would.
and that’s all I have to say about that! my complaints are essentially “I was here for the lovey-dovey and i mostly got reminded that i have approximately no-money!”
but alas, I zoomed through this book. I paced my room, flipped these pages like they were my life line, and still enjoyed the relationship between these characters despite it not being all that I hoped for. in complete honesty, majority of my complaining has almost convinced me to knock off another star. but like I said, I am the most biased Lynn Painter fan you will ever encounter in the wild. I enjoyed the story, I always like a silly little romcom and I did find myself cackling at how often the fmc purposefully annoyed the mmc, it brought genuine joy into my life. and more than that? I loved watching as he began to find joy in being annoyed by her as well. I haven’t been able to digest a book this quickly in what feels like forever, it was truly wonderful to be able to just dive into something and never feel myself pulling away from it. lately it’s been taking me so long to finish books, but it took me a mere day to finish this one. so that in and of itself makes it a good read for me.
Declan
╰┈➤ I’m so conflicted on this man.. I see the allure: muscular, tall, rich, and generous! but then.. I kind of didn’t like his personality for the first part of the book. well, let me be more fair. I didn’t dislike his personality, I just didn’t find him to be particularly interesting or funny or even charming. in fact, I didn’t care for him all too much, I cared for the love story. not Declan. but, after a while I did start to grow more fond of him. funnily enough, it was after he started to openly want Abi, the fmc. I don’t have much to say about him? he didn’t exactly leave me swooning, but there were moments where I felt genuinely excited to read his pov and where I was smiling about something he did for Abi. for a rich dude, he’s pretty generous. he let Abi stay in his apartment, let her borrow his car, bought her a necklace because it reminded him of her freckles, remembered the engagement ring she wanted, bought her a ton of expensive medicine for her asthma, carried her on his back during a 5K, and.. hm.. maybe I’m convincing myself that he IS swoon worthy as I go on. he was good to Abi, and that’s why I started to like him, but in the beginning where he was bossy and humorless, I have to admit I was rolling my eyes a little bit. even though his anger was completely valid, I find myself supporting women’s wrongs as well as their rights.
Abi
╰┈➤ say what you want, say she’s annoying and ridiculous, say she’s bossy and full of attitude, you’re absolutely correct. and I loved every bit of it. I’m sorry, a rich hating, eye rolling, attitude throwing, rage baiting fmc?? sign me up, right now, sign me up. I loved her, and while I can sense she’s someone that most readers will hate, I loved her. she was hilarious and the way she tormented Declan was pure serotonin to me. it had me holding my breath trying not to laugh at 1am, and had Abi been any different from exactly who she was, I would have had to make this three stars. I think that her being 100% in the wrong over and over again and KNOWING that while also trying to play her cards right to gain as much as possible was truly something that I loved, even if it’s.. horribly unlikable. you could never make me hate Abi and her really horrible asthma. in fact, I’m happy to say that me and her are twinning with the asthma thing. except.. while she’s trying to run 5k’s I’m using mine to get out of any and every physical activity.
Abi & Declan
╰┈➤ so here we are, the big thing, the romance. while I do feel as though this was missing the magic that Betting on You and Better Than The Movies so perfectly displayed, I was one of the few who DID enjoy the romance in this. while it wasn’t everything I was hoping for, I still found myself rooting for this couple. Declan ended up being generous rather than careless, and that was what finalized Abi’s acceptance of her love for him, which I’m glad for. I’m glad that he wasn’t what she expected, and I’m glad that she wasn’t what he expected either. I’m glad that they worked out. but for all of my.. gladness.. I also feel slightly disappointed that this isn’t what I was hoping for! regardless, I still loved it and had plenty of fun reading about these two. I especially enjoyed their texts, I think that one of my favorite parts of Lynn Painters romcoms are the text messages between the fmc and mmc in every single book. they’re always so fun and lighthearted.
in conclusion..
this was a good book in my opinion, not the best, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!! I do have to say, I was extremely excited for this book and am even more excited for her next because I believe it is YA if I’m not mistaken, meaning I’ll probably like it much more. much love to my girl Lynn Painters books, this one is going down in history as yet another Lynn Painter romcom that I devoured.
꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ꒱
I literally can’t recall the last time I finished a book in less than or exactly 24 hours, Lynn Painter just crushed my reading slump and I owe her my liver
꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 ꒱
LYNN PAINTER HERE I COME 🥹🥹 ive been WAITING for this one holy cow im gonna scream
꒰ ° ”I made a deal with a devilish maid,” I corrected, “and it cost me my whole entire heart.” ꒱
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᢉ𐭩 unfortunately, I am singlehandedly the most:
1. biased
2. untrustworthy
3. easy to please
4. feet kicking at nothing
5. giggling about the most mediocre dialogue
6. and delusional
Lynn Painter fan you will ever meet! but, perhaps we can scratch the last one because at least I’m self aware. before I sing praises about this book—despite it being one of the most mixed rated Lynn books I’ve ever seen, I’ll first jump into why I fell into deep despair as I worked up the courage to knock a star off my rating.
to put it simply, this is rivaling Mr. Wrong Number for my least favorite Lynn Painter book. while both are four stars, both lacked something that completely knocked out that fifth star. the yearning? the longing? the uncontrollable and painful smiles that Wes and Liz and Charlie and Bailey gave me every single chapter? the way my skin would crawl as the characters fell into a bottomless pit of love and want and affection?? where is it?! I can only seem to find it in her YA books, where lust exits the equation. I didn’t feel as though I was lying in a bed of clouds in the sky while unicorns jumped around me, drinking from a chocolate fountain decorated with hearts. I missed the whimsy of undeniable, all consuming, utterly terrifying but beautiful and life altering love. If Lynn Painter can convince me that this kind of love can exist between TEENAGERS then surely she can convince me it exists between adults, right? apparently no. I waited about 230 pages (which is majority of the book) for these two to really fall in love. I waited and waited for either that realization, that spark that goes off in their heads and makes them face the reality of their feelings, or for that slow development into love. but there was no big realization, no random acceptance after the denial. after the constant “we can be friends” and “I’m kinda warming up to this person” there was still no moment where I truly fell in that bottomless pit with them the way I was hoping I would.
and that’s all I have to say about that! my complaints are essentially “I was here for the lovey-dovey and i mostly got reminded that i have approximately no-money!”
but alas, I zoomed through this book. I paced my room, flipped these pages like they were my life line, and still enjoyed the relationship between these characters despite it not being all that I hoped for. in complete honesty, majority of my complaining has almost convinced me to knock off another star. but like I said, I am the most biased Lynn Painter fan you will ever encounter in the wild. I enjoyed the story, I always like a silly little romcom and I did find myself cackling at how often the fmc purposefully annoyed the mmc, it brought genuine joy into my life. and more than that? I loved watching as he began to find joy in being annoyed by her as well. I haven’t been able to digest a book this quickly in what feels like forever, it was truly wonderful to be able to just dive into something and never feel myself pulling away from it. lately it’s been taking me so long to finish books, but it took me a mere day to finish this one. so that in and of itself makes it a good read for me.
˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ “I might die if I didn’t get to talk to Abi alone.”
Declan
╰┈➤ I’m so conflicted on this man.. I see the allure: muscular, tall, rich, and generous! but then.. I kind of didn’t like his personality for the first part of the book. well, let me be more fair. I didn’t dislike his personality, I just didn’t find him to be particularly interesting or funny or even charming. in fact, I didn’t care for him all too much, I cared for the love story. not Declan. but, after a while I did start to grow more fond of him. funnily enough, it was after he started to openly want Abi, the fmc. I don’t have much to say about him? he didn’t exactly leave me swooning, but there were moments where I felt genuinely excited to read his pov and where I was smiling about something he did for Abi. for a rich dude, he’s pretty generous. he let Abi stay in his apartment, let her borrow his car, bought her a necklace because it reminded him of her freckles, remembered the engagement ring she wanted, bought her a ton of expensive medicine for her asthma, carried her on his back during a 5K, and.. hm.. maybe I’m convincing myself that he IS swoon worthy as I go on. he was good to Abi, and that’s why I started to like him, but in the beginning where he was bossy and humorless, I have to admit I was rolling my eyes a little bit. even though his anger was completely valid, I find myself supporting women’s wrongs as well as their rights.
˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ “So I’m all in the zone when I hear, like, slipping. Like the sound of someone losing their footing. I turned around—I was smart enough to pause my treadmill first—just in time to see Dexxie fall and then get shot right off the back of his treadmill.”
Abi
╰┈➤ say what you want, say she’s annoying and ridiculous, say she’s bossy and full of attitude, you’re absolutely correct. and I loved every bit of it. I’m sorry, a rich hating, eye rolling, attitude throwing, rage baiting fmc?? sign me up, right now, sign me up. I loved her, and while I can sense she’s someone that most readers will hate, I loved her. she was hilarious and the way she tormented Declan was pure serotonin to me. it had me holding my breath trying not to laugh at 1am, and had Abi been any different from exactly who she was, I would have had to make this three stars. I think that her being 100% in the wrong over and over again and KNOWING that while also trying to play her cards right to gain as much as possible was truly something that I loved, even if it’s.. horribly unlikable. you could never make me hate Abi and her really horrible asthma. in fact, I’m happy to say that me and her are twinning with the asthma thing. except.. while she’s trying to run 5k’s I’m using mine to get out of any and every physical activity.
˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ “You make it really hard to leave, Abi Green.”
“You make it really hard to let you go, Declan Powell.”
Abi & Declan
╰┈➤ so here we are, the big thing, the romance. while I do feel as though this was missing the magic that Betting on You and Better Than The Movies so perfectly displayed, I was one of the few who DID enjoy the romance in this. while it wasn’t everything I was hoping for, I still found myself rooting for this couple. Declan ended up being generous rather than careless, and that was what finalized Abi’s acceptance of her love for him, which I’m glad for. I’m glad that he wasn’t what she expected, and I’m glad that she wasn’t what he expected either. I’m glad that they worked out. but for all of my.. gladness.. I also feel slightly disappointed that this isn’t what I was hoping for! regardless, I still loved it and had plenty of fun reading about these two. I especially enjoyed their texts, I think that one of my favorite parts of Lynn Painters romcoms are the text messages between the fmc and mmc in every single book. they’re always so fun and lighthearted.
in conclusion..
this was a good book in my opinion, not the best, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!! I do have to say, I was extremely excited for this book and am even more excited for her next because I believe it is YA if I’m not mistaken, meaning I’ll probably like it much more. much love to my girl Lynn Painters books, this one is going down in history as yet another Lynn Painter romcom that I devoured.
꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ꒱
I literally can’t recall the last time I finished a book in less than or exactly 24 hours, Lynn Painter just crushed my reading slump and I owe her my liver
꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 ꒱
LYNN PAINTER HERE I COME 🥹🥹 ive been WAITING for this one holy cow im gonna scream
August 8, 2025
DNF’ed at 44%
I tried so hard, I’m sorry 😭
I’m sooo sad that I had to DNF this, because I really like Lynn Painter — but those 44% felt like such a long journey 😭
The beginning was interesting... or should I say, the first three chapters were interesting, but then 😭 it all just went downhill so fast, and some things didn’t even make sense. I was like: umm… excuse me, wtf!? 😭
Seriously, I have nothing to say because nothing even happened (except the fake dating trope) by the time I hit 44% 😭
I’m just so sad 😕 because I was genuinely curious about this one.
—————————————
✶⋆.˚pre-read ✶⋆.˚
Tbh? I’m scared. 😭 But it’s Lynn Painter, sooo gonna give it a try 🙂↕️
I tried so hard, I’m sorry 😭
I’m sooo sad that I had to DNF this, because I really like Lynn Painter — but those 44% felt like such a long journey 😭
The beginning was interesting... or should I say, the first three chapters were interesting, but then 😭 it all just went downhill so fast, and some things didn’t even make sense. I was like: umm… excuse me, wtf!? 😭
Seriously, I have nothing to say because nothing even happened (except the fake dating trope) by the time I hit 44% 😭
I’m just so sad 😕 because I was genuinely curious about this one.
—————————————
✶⋆.˚pre-read ✶⋆.˚
Tbh? I’m scared. 😭 But it’s Lynn Painter, sooo gonna give it a try 🙂↕️
March 26, 2025
a classic lynn painter fake dating romance with a loveable curly-haired redhead fmc and a tall mmc who’s so down bad for her!! this book was adorable 💕💕
thank you to berkley publishing group and netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
thank you to berkley publishing group and netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
July 30, 2025
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ sorry 😞
0.5!! sorry, I know a lot of people loved this, however, I cannot really share the sentiment.
Abi Mariano. This girl was written to be all of that, but she wasn't anything in particular except annoying. I applaud her for hustling with her two jobs and school, however, her character was very underdeveloped. I didn't (and couldn't) get a good read of her character before the whole fiasco happened because it happened so fast, so I don't really know her true, authentic personality. Was she supposed to be quirky??
Declan Powell. This guy was way too cocky for someone who talks like they are in high school and has the personality of an unseasoned piece of chicken. I had to constantly remind myself he's not a high schooler, but an executive at a company which was very tedious might I add. His dialogue didn't fit his overall vibe and often contrasted with his personality to be honest.
The Plot. The idea, in theory, sounds good. You have a woman that works as a professional cleaner and the guy's parents walk into his "apartment" to see her there, assuming she's the girlfriend. However, for me, I felt like the whole thing happened way too fast. I needed a minute to get into the book, but I was just thrown into the middle of the scene where this all happens. I would prefer for it to have eased into that, instead of opening with it.
I think this is definitely different from the other Lynn Painter books since these two are not high schoolers, but perhaps that's where my biggest problem lies. I'm not trying to be rude, but the writing seemed a little childish for these character given their age and where they are in life. It might have worked for those other characters because they were still in high school, but honestly, it didn't work for these two. Like, Declan is a thirty-year old man and he's giving off high schooler which is not the best visual image for his character.
The insta-love romance is going to be the end of me one day. I need a genuine connection somewhere and I didn't really get it. These two were all over each other. Yes, they were fake-dating, but it was the all over each other that would give you the ick.
I can't with the Taylor Swift references anymore, I was about to lose it. Like I said in my other review, we love her, but I would rather not read about her in my books. Even just the song references, like I don't want them in books. The playlist - if the book has it - is more than enough for most books and I don't need the book to be sprinkled with songs everywhere.
With that, I finished my 44th book of the month without a single 5-star rating - some of them were like novellas under 100 pages, chill, I don't have that much free time and I'm not that good at procrastination. 😭😭
Overall, don't take my word for it and also take this review with a grain of salt. Still read it if you're interested in it!!
-------
pre-read: I don't know what to expect, but I just want to enjoy it. I will beg for the enjoyment at this point!!
0.5!! sorry, I know a lot of people loved this, however, I cannot really share the sentiment.
Abi Mariano. This girl was written to be all of that, but she wasn't anything in particular except annoying. I applaud her for hustling with her two jobs and school, however, her character was very underdeveloped. I didn't (and couldn't) get a good read of her character before the whole fiasco happened because it happened so fast, so I don't really know her true, authentic personality. Was she supposed to be quirky??
Declan Powell. This guy was way too cocky for someone who talks like they are in high school and has the personality of an unseasoned piece of chicken. I had to constantly remind myself he's not a high schooler, but an executive at a company which was very tedious might I add. His dialogue didn't fit his overall vibe and often contrasted with his personality to be honest.
The Plot. The idea, in theory, sounds good. You have a woman that works as a professional cleaner and the guy's parents walk into his "apartment" to see her there, assuming she's the girlfriend. However, for me, I felt like the whole thing happened way too fast. I needed a minute to get into the book, but I was just thrown into the middle of the scene where this all happens. I would prefer for it to have eased into that, instead of opening with it.
I think this is definitely different from the other Lynn Painter books since these two are not high schoolers, but perhaps that's where my biggest problem lies. I'm not trying to be rude, but the writing seemed a little childish for these character given their age and where they are in life. It might have worked for those other characters because they were still in high school, but honestly, it didn't work for these two. Like, Declan is a thirty-year old man and he's giving off high schooler which is not the best visual image for his character.
The insta-love romance is going to be the end of me one day. I need a genuine connection somewhere and I didn't really get it. These two were all over each other. Yes, they were fake-dating, but it was the all over each other that would give you the ick.
I can't with the Taylor Swift references anymore, I was about to lose it. Like I said in my other review, we love her, but I would rather not read about her in my books. Even just the song references, like I don't want them in books. The playlist - if the book has it - is more than enough for most books and I don't need the book to be sprinkled with songs everywhere.
With that, I finished my 44th book of the month without a single 5-star rating - some of them were like novellas under 100 pages, chill, I don't have that much free time and I'm not that good at procrastination. 😭😭
Overall, don't take my word for it and also take this review with a grain of salt. Still read it if you're interested in it!!
-------
pre-read: I don't know what to expect, but I just want to enjoy it. I will beg for the enjoyment at this point!!
July 25, 2025
✩ 3.75 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Stranger-to-Lovers
➼ Fake Dating
➼ Broke Grad Student x Millionaire
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ She’s his Maid
➼ Rags-to-Riches
➼ Miscommunication
➼ 3rd Act Breakup
➼ A Cinderella Story
➼ Pretty Woman/Maid in Manhattan Vibes
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
The only thing I didn’t love about this story was the 3rd act break up and the miscommunication that lead to it. Anyone would be hurt and pissed about what his friend said, but it didn’t make sense for her to believe the MMC would think so little of her at that point in their relationship. The whole break up just felt really flimsy and unnecessary. Dear authors, please stop.
Other than that, this had just about everything I look for in a rom-com and was a really excellent fake dating book. Typically the characters have some prior connection when there’s a fake dating trope, but in this book, they just kind of stumble into the agreement because his parents already wrongly believe they are dating. He sought her out to play the role of his girlfriend for a certain time frame without even knowing what she looked like. Clearly there was attraction between them, but initially, their agreement felt very transactional and not at all romantic.
If I’m being honest, I think most romance books feel like insta love. This one however, really didn’t. Their relationship progressed very gradually from dislike, to tentative friendship, to mutual denial of their growing feelings, to love. One detail I really loved was that he had to travel back and forth between cities which created some very clear physical distance between them. There’s just something very sweet and nostalgic about developing a crush on someone over the phone. I like spice as much as the next girl, but with so many books focused on physical intimacy, it was nice to come across a book that focused more on developing emotional intimacy between the couple. Finally, a couple I believe will actually last! 🙌🏻
Pick this up if you’re in the mood for a sweet rags-to-riches story. 💖
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It’s giving Maid in Manhattan and I am here for it! 🙌🏻
I’m about halfway through A Forbidden Alchemy and I’m genuinely loving it, but it’s pretty long. 🙃 I think a Rom-com break is just what I need. 💕
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram It’s giving Maid in Manhattan and I am here for it! 🙌🏻
I’m about halfway through A Forbidden Alchemy and I’m genuinely loving it, but it’s pretty long. 🙃 I think a Rom-com break is just what I need. 💕
What to Expect:
➼ Stranger-to-Lovers
➼ Fake Dating
➼ Broke Grad Student x Millionaire
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ She’s his Maid
➼ Rags-to-Riches
➼ Miscommunication
➼ 3rd Act Breakup
➼ A Cinderella Story
➼ Pretty Woman/Maid in Manhattan Vibes
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
The only thing I didn’t love about this story was the 3rd act break up and the miscommunication that lead to it. Anyone would be hurt and pissed about what his friend said, but it didn’t make sense for her to believe the MMC would think so little of her at that point in their relationship. The whole break up just felt really flimsy and unnecessary. Dear authors, please stop.
Other than that, this had just about everything I look for in a rom-com and was a really excellent fake dating book. Typically the characters have some prior connection when there’s a fake dating trope, but in this book, they just kind of stumble into the agreement because his parents already wrongly believe they are dating. He sought her out to play the role of his girlfriend for a certain time frame without even knowing what she looked like. Clearly there was attraction between them, but initially, their agreement felt very transactional and not at all romantic.
If I’m being honest, I think most romance books feel like insta love. This one however, really didn’t. Their relationship progressed very gradually from dislike, to tentative friendship, to mutual denial of their growing feelings, to love. One detail I really loved was that he had to travel back and forth between cities which created some very clear physical distance between them. There’s just something very sweet and nostalgic about developing a crush on someone over the phone. I like spice as much as the next girl, but with so many books focused on physical intimacy, it was nice to come across a book that focused more on developing emotional intimacy between the couple. Finally, a couple I believe will actually last! 🙌🏻
Pick this up if you’re in the mood for a sweet rags-to-riches story. 💖
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It’s giving Maid in Manhattan and I am here for it! 🙌🏻
I’m about halfway through A Forbidden Alchemy and I’m genuinely loving it, but it’s pretty long. 🙃 I think a Rom-com break is just what I need. 💕
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram It’s giving Maid in Manhattan and I am here for it! 🙌🏻
I’m about halfway through A Forbidden Alchemy and I’m genuinely loving it, but it’s pretty long. 🙃 I think a Rom-com break is just what I need. 💕
February 25, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
^ still debating??
aaaa i am hyperventilating right now. this might the moment i die. i loved it so muchhh <3 full rtc
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc
~~~~
GUYS I JUST GOT THE ARC FOR THIS AND IM SO EXCITED OMGG 💖💖
^ still debating??
aaaa i am hyperventilating right now. this might the moment i die. i loved it so muchhh <3 full rtc
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc
~~~~
GUYS I JUST GOT THE ARC FOR THIS AND IM SO EXCITED OMGG 💖💖
July 17, 2025
જ⁀➴ 𝟦,𝟧 ☆
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭"
“𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥,”
“𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
A light and lovely read! ✨
I truly enjoyed this book and laughed so many times. The banter between the characters? Top-tier! 🔥
Their fake dating turning into real feelings was super fun to watch, and while it was labeled as enemies to lovers, I didn’t really feel like they were enemies—just two people who weren’t on the same page at first.
Declan seemed like a careless jerk at the beginning, but nope—don’t judge a guy by his hoodie 😌 He actually turned out to be such a good and genuine character.
And Abby? I LOVED her. Smart, strong, and so determined to earn her way. Her mindset about money and independence was refreshing and relatable.
At first I liked Roman too, but what he did to Abby near the end? Oof, I almost hated him. I was scared it would ruin his friendship with Declan because honestly… I don’t love the whole “losing a friend over a girl” thing. But he apologized, so I’ll let it slide (barely 👀).
Also, I don’t know how, but I had this feeling that Warren knew about their fake relationship all along 😭 He just gave off that vibe lol.
Declan’s parents were absolutely lovely—I adored them. I was a bit nervous they’d be disappointed if they ever found out the truth… but let’s just say things turned out okay 💭💜
Overall: it’s a fast, cute read with great chemistry, some hilarious moments, and a satisfying ending.💜
💜✨|𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑
Just started reading the newest Lynn Painter release — it officially dropped today! Can’t wait to see what she has in store this time 😍💜
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭"
“𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥,”
“𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
A light and lovely read! ✨
I truly enjoyed this book and laughed so many times. The banter between the characters? Top-tier! 🔥
Their fake dating turning into real feelings was super fun to watch, and while it was labeled as enemies to lovers, I didn’t really feel like they were enemies—just two people who weren’t on the same page at first.
Declan seemed like a careless jerk at the beginning, but nope—don’t judge a guy by his hoodie 😌 He actually turned out to be such a good and genuine character.
And Abby? I LOVED her. Smart, strong, and so determined to earn her way. Her mindset about money and independence was refreshing and relatable.
At first I liked Roman too, but what he did to Abby near the end? Oof, I almost hated him. I was scared it would ruin his friendship with Declan because honestly… I don’t love the whole “losing a friend over a girl” thing. But he apologized, so I’ll let it slide (barely 👀).
Also, I don’t know how, but I had this feeling that Warren knew about their fake relationship all along 😭 He just gave off that vibe lol.
Declan’s parents were absolutely lovely—I adored them. I was a bit nervous they’d be disappointed if they ever found out the truth… but let’s just say things turned out okay 💭💜
Overall: it’s a fast, cute read with great chemistry, some hilarious moments, and a satisfying ending.💜
💜✨|𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑
Just started reading the newest Lynn Painter release — it officially dropped today! Can’t wait to see what she has in store this time 😍💜
July 7, 2025
When I need a good laugh and a fun story there are a few authors I know I can count on, and Lynn Painter is up there with the best of them. Witty banter, loads of sarcasm, great chemistry, dynamic main characters, and messy situations are a frequent staple of her books.
With the bar set so high by the three previous books I’ve read of hers which all got four stars, I know it’s going to look like I’m disappointed by this one and nothing could be further from the truth! This still had all the things I love in Painter’s books … it just didn’t work QUITE as well for me as the others. Having said that, I think I’m in a phase with all rom-coms where I’m getting burnt out on some of the tropes, so it’s likely my issues are a ‘me’ thing and not a book thing.
In this Cinderella/Pretty Woman-adjacent rom-com, Abi Mariano is a maid and part-time grocery clerk taking classes to get her MFA in creative writing. When her dumpy apartment needs to be evacuated temporarily due to an infestation, she sees an opportunity to “borrow” one of the ritzy apartments she cleans. The owner is out of town, so what will it hurt?
Except … oops. She wasn’t counting on the owner’s parents showing up! They assume she’s their son’s girlfriend and find her utterly charming. Multi-millionaire executive Declan Powell who owns the place does NOT, but comes up with a plan that could help both of them: He’ll pay Abi and let her use his penthouse for the week if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at his company’s shareholder weekend to appease his parents and move up in his family-minded company.
Cue the fake dating, enemies to lovers, miscommunication, forced proximity and third act break-up tropes, among others, and you have this book in a nutshell. It’s charming, the chemistry is sizzling and the ending is everything a rom-com lover's heart could desire.
There’s just one thing that kept this from being another four star book and that’s this:
The FMC. Abi was a challenging character. I ended up really liking her in the end, but it took time. She’s got built-in biases and a huge chip on her shoulder about the wealthy after growing up with a man-chasing mom who struggled to make ends meet for the two of them. She’s understandably guarded, but her hypocrisy and biting sarcasm at times with Declan made me feel bad for him and made her look juvenile. He was far more patient than I would’ve been! In the end, it was his acceptance of Abi and their entertaining chemistry that won me over.
One teeny, tiny other complaint and this applies to the romance/rom-com genre as a whole, not just this book: for the love of everything, can red hair (Abi) and green eyes (Declan) not be the prevailing physical description of a main character in EVERY book? Live a little. Mix it up!
I did enjoy this book a lot, so don’t let the three stars scare you off. It only means in comparison to the others of hers I’ve read, I liked those just a little bit more! I assure you I’ll be waiting for her next book just as eagerly.
★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lynn Painter for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out on July 15, 2025.
With the bar set so high by the three previous books I’ve read of hers which all got four stars, I know it’s going to look like I’m disappointed by this one and nothing could be further from the truth! This still had all the things I love in Painter’s books … it just didn’t work QUITE as well for me as the others. Having said that, I think I’m in a phase with all rom-coms where I’m getting burnt out on some of the tropes, so it’s likely my issues are a ‘me’ thing and not a book thing.
In this Cinderella/Pretty Woman-adjacent rom-com, Abi Mariano is a maid and part-time grocery clerk taking classes to get her MFA in creative writing. When her dumpy apartment needs to be evacuated temporarily due to an infestation, she sees an opportunity to “borrow” one of the ritzy apartments she cleans. The owner is out of town, so what will it hurt?
Except … oops. She wasn’t counting on the owner’s parents showing up! They assume she’s their son’s girlfriend and find her utterly charming. Multi-millionaire executive Declan Powell who owns the place does NOT, but comes up with a plan that could help both of them: He’ll pay Abi and let her use his penthouse for the week if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at his company’s shareholder weekend to appease his parents and move up in his family-minded company.
Cue the fake dating, enemies to lovers, miscommunication, forced proximity and third act break-up tropes, among others, and you have this book in a nutshell. It’s charming, the chemistry is sizzling and the ending is everything a rom-com lover's heart could desire.
There’s just one thing that kept this from being another four star book and that’s this:
The FMC. Abi was a challenging character. I ended up really liking her in the end, but it took time. She’s got built-in biases and a huge chip on her shoulder about the wealthy after growing up with a man-chasing mom who struggled to make ends meet for the two of them. She’s understandably guarded, but her hypocrisy and biting sarcasm at times with Declan made me feel bad for him and made her look juvenile. He was far more patient than I would’ve been! In the end, it was his acceptance of Abi and their entertaining chemistry that won me over.
One teeny, tiny other complaint and this applies to the romance/rom-com genre as a whole, not just this book: for the love of everything, can red hair (Abi) and green eyes (Declan) not be the prevailing physical description of a main character in EVERY book? Live a little. Mix it up!
I did enjoy this book a lot, so don’t let the three stars scare you off. It only means in comparison to the others of hers I’ve read, I liked those just a little bit more! I assure you I’ll be waiting for her next book just as eagerly.
★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lynn Painter for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out on July 15, 2025.
Read
August 19, 2025dnf page 188
this was so boring and declan gave me the ick😭🫠
this was so boring and declan gave me the ick😭🫠
February 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
lynn doing a billionaire fake dating book??? interesting.
as individuals, i liked abi and declan a lot. we get both pov’s but my hang up is that, throughout the ENTIRE book, declan is such a piece of poo from abi’s perspective!!! (even when he’s supposed to NOT be, mind you) that i kept looking around like, she’s falling in love with this?
declan’s perspective on the other hand is full of romantic nonsense that i was left so conflicted because he sure doesn’t go out of his way to show any of it. they did build up their relationship fairly well though until the sex scenes…? those were weird as shit. she’s tried her hand at open door and it’s always this weird vague mix of metaphors and phrases but this was just. these scenes were weird. i was kinda confused on if they were even hooking up or not but i digress.
overall, her YA’s are still better and i don’t know why i keep giving these a shot 😭
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
lynn doing a billionaire fake dating book??? interesting.
as individuals, i liked abi and declan a lot. we get both pov’s but my hang up is that, throughout the ENTIRE book, declan is such a piece of poo from abi’s perspective!!! (even when he’s supposed to NOT be, mind you) that i kept looking around like, she’s falling in love with this?
declan’s perspective on the other hand is full of romantic nonsense that i was left so conflicted because he sure doesn’t go out of his way to show any of it. they did build up their relationship fairly well though until the sex scenes…? those were weird as shit. she’s tried her hand at open door and it’s always this weird vague mix of metaphors and phrases but this was just. these scenes were weird. i was kinda confused on if they were even hooking up or not but i digress.
overall, her YA’s are still better and i don’t know why i keep giving these a shot 😭
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
August 30, 2025
i think this is my favorite adult book from lynn
February 3, 2025
"What could go wrong? It’s business, not pleasure. Right?"
Huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group @ Penguin for sending me over this ARC! If anyone knows me at all, they know I absolutely adore Lynn Painter. 🖤✨🥹
What to expect:
🫧Forced Proximity
🫧Fake Dating
🫧Strangers to Lovers
🫧Grumpy x Sunshine
🫧 Millionaire x Maid
🫧 Dual POV
This book was everything I look for in a RomCom. There is palpable tension, enjoyable banters, and a fun, binge-able storyline. The plot was entertaining, and the characters were developed perfectly. The faking dating trope is so fun to me. I also am a sucker for a dual POV book.
Lynn Painter's books seem to always have mixed reviews, and I think it is because they tend to fall somewhere between YA and Adult fiction. The spice is minimal in this, but towards the end, it does exist, which is why I assume this would be considered an Adult RomCom rather than YA. But honestly, I don't have any complaints.
If you're looking for a cute, quick read, this would be perfect.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
Huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group @ Penguin for sending me over this ARC! If anyone knows me at all, they know I absolutely adore Lynn Painter. 🖤✨🥹
What to expect:
🫧Forced Proximity
🫧Fake Dating
🫧Strangers to Lovers
🫧Grumpy x Sunshine
🫧 Millionaire x Maid
🫧 Dual POV
This book was everything I look for in a RomCom. There is palpable tension, enjoyable banters, and a fun, binge-able storyline. The plot was entertaining, and the characters were developed perfectly. The faking dating trope is so fun to me. I also am a sucker for a dual POV book.
Lynn Painter's books seem to always have mixed reviews, and I think it is because they tend to fall somewhere between YA and Adult fiction. The spice is minimal in this, but towards the end, it does exist, which is why I assume this would be considered an Adult RomCom rather than YA. But honestly, I don't have any complaints.
If you're looking for a cute, quick read, this would be perfect.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
Currently reading
July 25, 2025✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ⋆˚⋆｡˚☽˚｡✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
⭑𓂃꒰ ᎮᏒᏋ-ᏒᏋᏗᎴ ꒱
❥ Listen, if he’s anything like Wes Bennet? I’ll be hoola-hooping my way through!
And if the banter and fake dating serve? I’ll be a happy gal too (ᴗ_ ᴗ。)
So, Lynn Painter… I beg of you, do me justice and make a cutesy read out of it ₊˚⊹ᰔ
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ⋆˚⋆｡˚☽˚｡✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
July 31, 2025
— 2.75 ★
after the horrendous experience of reading mr. wrong number first & then accidentally amy, this one turned out quite alright. the conflict at the end, however, made my head hurt—like guys just talk! but overall, it was really cute and lighthearted. it's even safe to say that i had fun to some extent until about halfway through the book.
⊹ "I don't want to steal lines from Fitzwilliam Darcy, but my brain can't help but plagiarize Jane Austen when I look at you. it seems that you have bewitched me, little Abi Mariano." ៹࣪⭑𓂃 ⌗ my thoughts
after the horrendous experience of reading mr. wrong number first & then accidentally amy, this one turned out quite alright. the conflict at the end, however, made my head hurt—like guys just talk! but overall, it was really cute and lighthearted. it's even safe to say that i had fun to some extent until about halfway through the book.
August 20, 2025
⤿ 𝟑.𝟒𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ✩.⋆
Throughout the whole book i was giggling like weirdo and thank god i wasn’t reading it in public or by this point i would be sitting in a psych ward waiting room—simply said i had a great time (i always have a great time with lynn painter books even if i give them lower ratings cuz she just knows how to do a REAL BANTER) and it was a nice romcom-y break. But were some parts and scenes that were hard for me to look away from and not to criticize them (haha so me😂🙄)
꒰ abi ⋆.˚🧺 ꒱
our little skeptical abi. I liked her work-her-ass-out mindset and how funny she could be at the times but the rest of the time she was a) freaking out about money b) freaking out about her life decisions c) freaking out about dex d) freaking out about MONEY. Hun, chill—and her prejudices transformed into her book she wrote was a pretty cheap blow against dex🙄
꒰ dex ⋆.˚🫧 ꒱
he was totally fine, he just wasn’t somehow special or memorable for me—rich guy, Harvard graduated, attractive, nice car. Period. He was helping out random people who needed money and that was very nice of him but honestly there wasn’t much depth into his character and i wish we’ve got more development because there was a lot of potential he was sweet, caring, charming, sarcastic, smart and abby didn’t deserve him.
maybe spoilers (nothing big just my complaints on the third act break up😔)
Okay, here is the part that was veeery problematic for me and that was the third act break up. Like girl?? A man like this? In real life? I.can.f*cking.dream. You are so lucky😭 and not because of declan being rich. It’s because of declan WORSHIPPING THE GROUND YOU WALK ON AND THE LOVE HE SPOILS YOU WITH. I understand money differences can be a big issue, and what roman said was pretty unsettling, but still?? Abi, hun, it took one question. ONE FREAKING QUESTION. What you have to lose? I mean i understand it will hurt being rejected by someone you love but honestly? That one question wasn’t even needed BECAUSE Declan was indicating with his words or actions all.the.freaking.TIME that HE LOVES YOU. But regardless of it all i can see why. Kinda. KINDA. And okay, declan could react better, but if i found out that someone described me as a soulless person with a load of money ?
Here is what was going on in abi’s head when they were having a break up (… i’m done here):
”There was no reason to discuss real feelings or my genuine heartbreak when everything was already over, so who cared if he thought if he thought I’d written a lot of thrash about him? It wasn’t going to work out anyway and he didn’t actually care about me, so why not let him walk away pissed off about what he considered an inaccurate portrayal?”
WHAT THE—?? No, i have NO WORDS.
I knowww this sounds like a two star book and i’m sorry because it was pretty relaxing for me but there are things that are still pissing me off (did i mentioned relaxing earlier ??) okay sorry please just read it or don’t read it but mostly don’t let my review talk you out from reading this book🩷
——
Well well well i have a lot to say…
💘⋆｡𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𖦹°🫧⋆.
⤷ You know what? It’s finally dropped. What does that mean? It means that i HAVE TO read it of course🤭💫 just to find a time…😭
„It was light and fresh and reminded me of summer.”
Throughout the whole book i was giggling like weirdo and thank god i wasn’t reading it in public or by this point i would be sitting in a psych ward waiting room—simply said i had a great time (i always have a great time with lynn painter books even if i give them lower ratings cuz she just knows how to do a REAL BANTER) and it was a nice romcom-y break. But were some parts and scenes that were hard for me to look away from and not to criticize them (haha so me😂🙄)
꒰ abi ⋆.˚🧺 ꒱
our little skeptical abi. I liked her work-her-ass-out mindset and how funny she could be at the times but the rest of the time she was a) freaking out about money b) freaking out about her life decisions c) freaking out about dex d) freaking out about MONEY. Hun, chill—and her prejudices transformed into her book she wrote was a pretty cheap blow against dex🙄
꒰ dex ⋆.˚🫧 ꒱
he was totally fine, he just wasn’t somehow special or memorable for me—rich guy, Harvard graduated, attractive, nice car. Period. He was helping out random people who needed money and that was very nice of him but honestly there wasn’t much depth into his character and i wish we’ve got more development because there was a lot of potential he was sweet, caring, charming, sarcastic, smart and abby didn’t deserve him.
maybe spoilers (nothing big just my complaints on the third act break up😔)
Okay, here is the part that was veeery problematic for me and that was the third act break up. Like girl?? A man like this? In real life? I.can.f*cking.dream. You are so lucky😭 and not because of declan being rich. It’s because of declan WORSHIPPING THE GROUND YOU WALK ON AND THE LOVE HE SPOILS YOU WITH. I understand money differences can be a big issue, and what roman said was pretty unsettling, but still?? Abi, hun, it took one question. ONE FREAKING QUESTION. What you have to lose? I mean i understand it will hurt being rejected by someone you love but honestly? That one question wasn’t even needed BECAUSE Declan was indicating with his words or actions all.the.freaking.TIME that HE LOVES YOU. But regardless of it all i can see why. Kinda. KINDA. And okay, declan could react better, but if i found out that someone described me as a soulless person with a load of money ?
Here is what was going on in abi’s head when they were having a break up (… i’m done here):
”There was no reason to discuss real feelings or my genuine heartbreak when everything was already over, so who cared if he thought if he thought I’d written a lot of thrash about him? It wasn’t going to work out anyway and he didn’t actually care about me, so why not let him walk away pissed off about what he considered an inaccurate portrayal?”
WHAT THE—?? No, i have NO WORDS.
I knowww this sounds like a two star book and i’m sorry because it was pretty relaxing for me but there are things that are still pissing me off (did i mentioned relaxing earlier ??) okay sorry please just read it or don’t read it but mostly don’t let my review talk you out from reading this book🩷
——
Well well well i have a lot to say…
💘⋆｡𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𖦹°🫧⋆.
⤷ You know what? It’s finally dropped. What does that mean? It means that i HAVE TO read it of course🤭💫 just to find a time…😭
May 12, 2025
4 stars
I always have a fun time reading Lynn Painter. Though I tend to enjoy her YA books most, I still enjoy her adult romances. This was a fake dating/opposites attract romance that had me smiling big!
Abi is a student, part time cashier, and part time maid. It’s that maid job that gets her in trouble. And how she meets Declan. Declan is beyond wealthy but there is more to him than meets the eye.
I enjoyed the fake dating aspect of this book the most. I loved watching the two of them catch feelings for one another. They had so much chemistry from the start and the best banter. Maid for Each Other was truly a good time and I’m glad I read it!
I always have a fun time reading Lynn Painter. Though I tend to enjoy her YA books most, I still enjoy her adult romances. This was a fake dating/opposites attract romance that had me smiling big!
Abi is a student, part time cashier, and part time maid. It’s that maid job that gets her in trouble. And how she meets Declan. Declan is beyond wealthy but there is more to him than meets the eye.
I enjoyed the fake dating aspect of this book the most. I loved watching the two of them catch feelings for one another. They had so much chemistry from the start and the best banter. Maid for Each Other was truly a good time and I’m glad I read it!
March 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐
This is such a cute story 🥰
I'm willing to ignore that they literally fell in love over the weekend. This book has the perfect amount of romance, plot, and comedy. I loved that the MMC didn't flaunt his wealth or look down on the FMC for being poor. Also, the FMC is like a contemporary Cinderella except she's willing to work hard to make her dreams come true not rely on Prince charming
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:35, 38
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received this ARC from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group tysm 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
This is such a cute story 🥰
I'm willing to ignore that they literally fell in love over the weekend. This book has the perfect amount of romance, plot, and comedy. I loved that the MMC didn't flaunt his wealth or look down on the FMC for being poor. Also, the FMC is like a contemporary Cinderella except she's willing to work hard to make her dreams come true not rely on Prince charming
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:35, 38
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received this ARC from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group tysm 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
August 31, 2025
3 ⭐
It really pains me to give it only a 3 because I think it has so much potential, but I felt the book was a bit rushed. I feel like Lynn didn't develop the romance much better; I think she could have done a little better.
I loved the characters, even the secondary ones (yes, I had a small confrontation with Roman in one scene, but, Lynn Painter, if you're reading this, if you make a Lauren book, he might forgive her 👀)
Overall, it's a super light and fun read. I had a great time reading it, and it reads pretty quickly. 💜
It really pains me to give it only a 3 because I think it has so much potential, but I felt the book was a bit rushed. I feel like Lynn didn't develop the romance much better; I think she could have done a little better.
I loved the characters, even the secondary ones (yes, I had a small confrontation with Roman in one scene, but, Lynn Painter, if you're reading this, if you make a Lauren book, he might forgive her 👀)
Overall, it's a super light and fun read. I had a great time reading it, and it reads pretty quickly. 💜
January 24, 2025
Lynn Painter's latest romcom offers a fun yet familiar take on the fake-dating trope, pairing a down-on-her-luck grad student with a wealthy, career-focused bachelor. Abi, juggling school and two jobs, finds herself in a morally questionable but understandable predicament when an infestation forces her out of her apartment. Desperation leads her to stay in the luxurious penthouse she cleans, only to be discovered by Declan’s visiting parents, who mistake her for his nonexistent girlfriend. What follows is an arrangement of convenience: Abi plays the part of Declan’s girlfriend in exchange for a temporary home and some financial relief. As their partnership unfolds, it’s clear that sparks are flying, but their differences—and the deception they’ve built their relationship on—threaten to derail their growing connection.
While the premise is undeniably charming, the execution leaves a bit to be desired. The story kicks off at breakneck speed, diving into the fake-dating setup by chapter three, which sacrifices some much-needed character development. Abi and Declan have their moments, and the romantic tension is well-done in places, but both characters feel flat at times, with their personalities revealed in fragments as the story progresses. Abi’s questionable initial choices and Declan’s aloofness, coupled with the constant reminders of his wealth, make it difficult to fully root for them as individuals, even though their relationship has its sweet and steamy moments.
The book shines brightest in its lighter, comedic moments and in its portrayal of Declan’s eventual grand gestures, which bring to mind the sweeping romance of classic romcoms. However, compared to Painter’s previous works, this one lacks the sharp banter and dynamic character chemistry that made her earlier stories so memorable. The rushed pacing and occasional predictability prevent it from fully delivering on its promising setup.
Overall, this is a solid three-star read with plenty of entertainment for fans of the fake-dating trope and lighthearted romances. It’s a fun escape but doesn’t quite reach the depth or emotional resonance of Painter’s past books. While enjoyable in parts, it feels more like a casual weekend read than a standout addition to her repertoire.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing one of my favorite romance authors' latest book's ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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While the premise is undeniably charming, the execution leaves a bit to be desired. The story kicks off at breakneck speed, diving into the fake-dating setup by chapter three, which sacrifices some much-needed character development. Abi and Declan have their moments, and the romantic tension is well-done in places, but both characters feel flat at times, with their personalities revealed in fragments as the story progresses. Abi’s questionable initial choices and Declan’s aloofness, coupled with the constant reminders of his wealth, make it difficult to fully root for them as individuals, even though their relationship has its sweet and steamy moments.
The book shines brightest in its lighter, comedic moments and in its portrayal of Declan’s eventual grand gestures, which bring to mind the sweeping romance of classic romcoms. However, compared to Painter’s previous works, this one lacks the sharp banter and dynamic character chemistry that made her earlier stories so memorable. The rushed pacing and occasional predictability prevent it from fully delivering on its promising setup.
Overall, this is a solid three-star read with plenty of entertainment for fans of the fake-dating trope and lighthearted romances. It’s a fun escape but doesn’t quite reach the depth or emotional resonance of Painter’s past books. While enjoyable in parts, it feels more like a casual weekend read than a standout addition to her repertoire.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing one of my favorite romance authors' latest book's ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
August 29, 2025
2.75 ⭐
well that was something. very ridiculous like accidentally amy 😭
--
don't know what to expect from this tbh
br with my sweet girl cherie💗
well that was something. very ridiculous like accidentally amy 😭
--
don't know what to expect from this tbh
br with my sweet girl cherie💗
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