Scan barcode
A review by ashley_mrose530
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I wasn't really feeling this one. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two main characters. There were a couple of times where the fluff got to me a little bit, but it wasn't enough for me to want them to be together. And the spicy scenes didn't help build their chemistry for me either.
I don't really know what it was. I liked the premise. I thought it was new and different. Having a side gig of objecting to marriages is honestly fascinating, though I don't think it's quite believable that there were that many people looking to get out of their wedding without it being their fault. Either way, it was still a great idea for a premise.
I also really liked Sophie as a character right away. I thought she was funny and strong-willed. I liked that she knew what she wanted and actually asked for it.
But Max was a little more blah I think. I don't remember him having much of a personality outside of being the love interest who's an architect and likes to object to marriages. I'm not even sure why he and his ex broke up and why it was so devastating for him that he gave up on relationships all together. It was never fully explained. Maybe the lack of chemistry between the two main characters stems from him not having a developed personality. Honestly, I think Larry had more personality than Max did and Larry was just a side character.
I think I'm finding that I prefer Painter's young adult romance books. She focuses more on the characters and their scenes and development together in those rather than trying to have spicy scenes do all the heavy work for her. I'm also noticing that she tends to kind of lean into misogynistic and sometimes even homophobic troupes in all her writing. Betting on You had the "men and women can't be just friends" thing and this one had Max's mom wanting him to find a girl so he had someone to "take care of him" which was the whole reason he agreed to pretend to be dating Sophie. They were both only slightly present through the whole book, but it was enough to annoy me both times. I think at this point her writing is hit or miss for me. I'll probably still continue to read her books unless I get put off completely.
I don't really know what it was. I liked the premise. I thought it was new and different. Having a side gig of objecting to marriages is honestly fascinating, though I don't think it's quite believable that there were that many people looking to get out of their wedding without it being their fault. Either way, it was still a great idea for a premise.
I also really liked Sophie as a character right away. I thought she was funny and strong-willed. I liked that she knew what she wanted and actually asked for it.
But Max was a little more blah I think. I don't remember him having much of a personality outside of being the love interest who's an architect and likes to object to marriages. I'm not even sure why he and his ex broke up and why it was so devastating for him that he gave up on relationships all together. It was never fully explained. Maybe the lack of chemistry between the two main characters stems from him not having a developed personality. Honestly, I think Larry had more personality than Max did and Larry was just a side character.
I think I'm finding that I prefer Painter's young adult romance books. She focuses more on the characters and their scenes and development together in those rather than trying to have spicy scenes do all the heavy work for her. I'm also noticing that she tends to kind of lean into misogynistic and sometimes even homophobic troupes in all her writing. Betting on You had the "men and women can't be just friends" thing and this one had Max's mom wanting him to find a girl so he had someone to "take care of him" which was the whole reason he agreed to pretend to be dating Sophie. They were both only slightly present through the whole book, but it was enough to annoy me both times. I think at this point her writing is hit or miss for me. I'll probably still continue to read her books unless I get put off completely.