Title: Maid for Each Other
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 368
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

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Maid for Each Other

Abi Mariano has multiple jobs just to afford her rent, but now her own apartment has an infestation, and she needs to find another place to crash. The problem? She doesn’t have anywhere to stay, for at least a week.

While she’s cleaning an apartment for a client, she gets an idea: she could sleep there. The person who lives there is out of town, after all. But the next morning, she wakes up to find two strangers in the apartment… and surprisingly, they’re not shocked to see her. In fact, they’re incredibly welcoming. They think Abi is their son’s girlfriend and they’ve been dying to meet her.

Declan, the owner of the apartment, is definitely not happy when he finds out the cleaner has been sleeping in his home. But she might just be the solution to his own problem: he lied to his family about having a girlfriend. Now, he’s willing to pay Abi a lot of money to pretend to be his girlfriend for the weekend.

Review

I love Lynn Painter’s books. At this point, her books are definitely an instant buy for me and this one was another great read. I really enjoyed it.

I liked the characters and the whole situation they were in. They were basically helping each other: Abi needed money to pay off her student debt, and Declan needed someone to pretend to be his girlfriend because he lied to his family about having one.

Of course, there’s some tension. Abi isn’t sure how she feels about Declan, especially because he’s super rich, and Declan doesn’t fully trust Abi either, after all, she did sleep in his bed without permission. But the more time they spend together, the more they actually start to like each other.

I was hooked right from the start, which is always a good sign. When that happens, I know it’s going to be a good book. I think I liked Declan the most. Yes, he’s super rich, but he’s actually a good guy who gives back to the community.

The only “issue” I had with the storyline was how Declan lied to his family about having a girlfriend named Abby, and then very conveniently, his cleaner (whose name he didn’t know at the time) is also named Abi. It just felt a little too convenient. He could’ve easily said he had a girlfriend without giving her a name. I definitely rolled my eyes at that part.

At the same time, I don’t really have much else to say about this book. Overall, it was a cute story. I’m not sure if it’s my favorite Lynn Painter book, I don’t think it is, but I still liked it a lot. I can definitely recommend her books if you’re into cute, light, and romantic stories.

Yes, they’re super predictable, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

The post Maid for Each other – Lynn Painter | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

Title: Nothing Like the Movies
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 442
My Rating:

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Nothing Like the Movies

Wes and Liz had been dating for a few months when their lives were upended by tragedy. Both were in Los Angeles for their first year of college when Wes’s father passed away unexpectedly. Overwhelmed with guilt, Wes blamed himself for the loss.

After the funeral, he made the difficult decision to drop out of college to care for his mother and younger sister. In the process, he also ended things with Liz, believing it was the only right choice.

Now, two years later, Wes is in a much better place mentally and deeply regrets how he handled the breakup. He wants Liz back, but there’s one problem—he has no idea if she feels the same. For all he knows, she may have moved on. Still, Wes is determined. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win her back and prove that their love deserves a second chance.

Review

This book is the sequel to Better Than the Movies, a book I absolutely adored. I remember being completely hooked—it was one of those can’t-put-it-down reads. It also happened to be the first Lynn Painter book I ever read, and since then, I’ve read several of her other books. I loved everything about it, from the romance to the endless references to rom-coms. Naturally, I was excited to dive into the sequel… though I’ll admit I was a little cautious after hearing from others that it didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Now that I’ve read it, I have to agree—while it wasn’t the worst book, it didn’t capture the magic of the first one. I found myself constantly comparing the two, and since I loved the original so much, this one felt like a letdown.

Let’s start with the characters. Liz didn’t feel like the same person I came to love in the first book. Back then, she was a rom-com fanatic, but now, all her friends are calling her anti-romance. Was it because of the breakup? Maybe I missed something, but I didn’t feel like the book gave a clear explanation for her sudden change. On top of that, Liz came across as frustrating. One moment she seemed like she had feelings, the next she didn’t want him back, then suddenly she wanted to kiss him—only to flip again and start another fight.

Then there’s Wes. Unfortunately, he turned into a type of character I really dislike—the guy who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. He asked Liz out repeatedly, despite her saying “no” multiple times, and it felt like he kept pushing until she gave in. Honestly, it seemed like Liz agreed to go out with him because she was too tired to argue anymore. Let’s not forget, Wes was the one who broke her heart in the first place.

Another big issue for me was the lack of chemistry between Liz and Wes. In fact, the side characters, Clark and Sarah, had way more chemistry than the main couple, which was disappointing. The whole vibe of this book was just… off. Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon with sequels. Sometimes the first book is so good that the follow-up can’t help but feel average in comparison.

Overall, I’d say it was an okay book, but it had a lot of moments that annoyed me. If you loved Better Than the Movies, just be prepared—you might not feel the same way about this one.

The post Nothing Like the Movies – Lynn Painter | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

Title: Mr. Wrong Number
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

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Mr. Wrong Number

Olivia is one of the most unluckiest person alive. She accidentally burned her whole building down and she has to live with her brother Jack and his best friend Colin. And that is not even the worst, because she also lost her job and her boyfriend.
One night Olivia receives a message from an unknown person asking her what she is wearing. Turns out he, Mr Wrong Number, was sending this message to the wrong person. They keep texting each other send sexy and flirty messages. Olivia has no idea who this guy is, but she likes him and thinks he is funny. On a movie night, Colin finds out that Olivia, his best friends little sister, is Miss Misdial. And suddenly he starts seeing her differently, but Olivia can’t find out that he is Mr. Wrong Number.

Review

I think this year, I discovered Lynn Painter’s books. The first two books I read by her were about teenagers. In this book, the characters are older. They are around 25 years old. Which makes it easier to relate to the characters. I am in my early thirties, so it is hard to relate to teenagers. Although, I have to admit that those two books (Better Than The Movies and The Do-Over) were pretty good. I really enjoyed those books. That is also the reason why I decided to get this one.

This book reminded me of another book I read recently, very recently. More precise it was the book I read before this one, which was Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti. This book has the same vibes, because in both books the female characters are writing to the male characters but they have no idea who they are. While the male characters find out who they are writing to and keep it a secret. I think that is also the reason why I was constantly comparing those books.

Overall, I can tell you that I prefer Hate Mail of these two books. It was not Mr. Wrong Number was a terrible. It wasn’t. I really liked the beginning. For me that was 4-5 stars and the ending was 3-4 stars. But Hate Mail was 100% 5 stars for me. I also think that Mr. Wrong Number was my least favorite book by Lynn Painter so far. It was still really good, but I liked the other ones a little bit better.

The characters were likable enough. Olivia is the most unluckiest girl in the world. It was sometimes hard to believe that she was really this unlucky. I mean, so many things went wrong for her in the beginning and at the end of this book. Olivia is super chaotic and not really paying attention to her surroundings and leads to very unlucky moments like burning her whole building down. Colin is very well put together, although his father has his opinion about him. But Colin has a great aparment, a job he loves and he has enough money.

This book was cute, and funny. I always love when there is a good amount of banter between the two main characters. Makes it more fun and easier to read. The only creepy thing that Olivia did, was sleeping in Colin’s bed while he was at work. If you are together, that makes sense. But they were still in the stage of finding each other super annoying, so that was weird. I can’t imagine sleeping in someone’s bed, he was basically sort off a stranger to her. They knew each other, but I not like best friends know each other. And the apology part of the book was a little bit of a let down as well. I was expecting a little bit more.

Overall, I still really enjoyed it. It is super fun and easy to read. I might like this book less than Lynn Painter’s other books, but it was still good. And if you liked this book, I would recommend reading Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti, since I got the same vibes but better.

The post Mr. Wrong Number – Lynn Painter | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

Title: The Do-over
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 320
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

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The Do-Over

Emilie Hornby is organized, getting good grades, and has the perfect boyfriend… on paper. It is Valentine’s Day and she bought the perfect gift for her Josh and Emilie are ready for the most romantic day of the year. But everything goes wrong. Instead of having the perfect day, she is having the worst day ever. She decides to stay at her grandmothers house for the night, but when she wakes up, she is in her own bed again. At first, she thinks someone brought her back home, but as the minutes go by, she realizes it is Valentine’s Day again. Emilie is reliving the same day over and over again. She is trying to fix everything, but every morning she wakes up on Valentine´s Day again. Will she get out of this loop?

Review

A week before reading this book, I read another book (Better than the Movies) by Lynn Painter and I absolutely loved it. Which was kind of surprising to me, because she writes Young Adult and most of the time I find teenagers just too annoying. But I really liked the way Lynn writes. So a week after reading Better than the Movies, I decided to pick up this book, and guess what? I also really liked this one.

I think we all know the movie Groundhog Day, where this person wakes up on the exact same day over and over again. Sounds like a nightmare, although I sort of had the same feeling when I became an adult and was following the same routine every single day. It was terrible. Since the Groundhog Day movie, there have been many movies like this and even books. This is not the first book I read about a person waking up on the same day every single time. I’ve read ‘Before I Fall’ a few years ago. So I wasn’t sure if I would like this book or not. I mean, it is not a new formula the author uses. But honestly, it wasn’t too bad. I still liked this book. It never got boring.

Emilie is the perfect girl in high school: good grades, perfect boyfriend, and great friends. She is so organized, but when she is reliving the same day over and over, she stops caring at all. It feels like she has become more human. Everything in her life was so organized and scheduled. She even had a plan for Valentine’s Day: when to give her boyfriend his gift, what she was wearing, and everything. She was always following a schedule and that reminds me of myself. I think it is funny how Lynn Painter creates characters that I can relate to even when they are teenagers and I am not. In Better than the Movies, I could relate to the main character because she loves romantic movies and she is kind of a hopeless romantic. Anyway, in this book Emilie ditches her schedules and does whatever she wants and she is having the best day ever. Because it will have no consequences. She is finally doing things for herself and I love that!! She is not trying to please anyone.

I think Better than the Movies is still my favorite book by Lynn Painter, but this one is pretty close too. There is something about her writing style that I really like. I actually finished this book in less than a day, which is pretty rare because I don’t always have a lot of time to read. But this time I couldn’t stop reading. I think that is the best compliment you could give to an author.
Even though I am in my early thirties I still enjoyed reading this book about teenagers falling in love. I have read other Young Adults as an adult and sometimes the main characters are so annoying that makes me hate the book.

Overall, I can recommend this book if you just love cute little love stories. It is definitely one of those books you can finish in one day because you can’t stop reading. And this book gets one bonus point for using my name, for some reason, I always like that. Even though, my name wasn’t used for a person but I am just ignoring that.. Oh and before I forget, Lynn Painter creates playlists for every single book she writes and you can easily find them on Spotify and you can find the playlist for this book here.

The post The do-over – Lynn Painter | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

Recently I read the book Better Than the Movies and I really liked that book. It was so cute and funny and Lynn Painter is becoming one of my favorite authors right now. The book is about a girl who has a crush on a boy and with the help of her annoying neighbor she is trying to make him fall in love with her. The main character also loves romantic movies and every chapter starts with a quote from a famous rom-com movie in other parts of the book, they mention rom-com movies. So I thought it would be fun to create a list with all of the movies (including a few that are not rom-com movies) that have been named in Better Than The Movies.

Better Than The Movies – Movie List

1. Notting Hill: This is a charming romantic comedy film set in London, telling the story of a bookstore owner who falls in love with a famous actress. It’s a heartwarming tale of unexpected romance, cultural clashes, and the magic of love found in unlikely places.
2. Bridget Jones Diary: A humorous tale of a British woman in her thirties navigating the ups and downs of love, career, and self-discovery, all chronicled in her candid and witty diary entries.
3. Sweet Home Alabama: A charming rom-com about a New York fashion designer who returns to her small hometown in Alabama to finalize her divorce from her high school sweetheart, only to rediscover her roots and rekindle old flames.
4. When Harry Met Sally: A romantic comedy exploring whether men and women can be just friends, following Harry and Sally’s evolving relationship over the years.
5. Kate & Leopold: A romantic fantasy film where a modern-day woman falls in love with a charming 19th-century duke, who mysteriously time-travels to contemporary New York City, leading to a delightful and unconventional romance across different eras.
6. You’ve Got Mail: A delightful romantic comedy revolving around two rival bookstore owners who unknowingly fall in love with each other through anonymous email correspondence, despite their real-life animosity.
7. The Ugly Truth: A hilarious romantic comedy about a TV producer who clashes with a chauvinistic morning show host, leading to a bet where he tries to prove his cynical views on relationships wrong by coaching her in matters of love, resulting in unexpected sparks and revelations.
8. 10 Things I hate about you: A modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” set in a high school, where a rebellious teenage girl’s life is turned upside down when her younger sister can’t date unless she does. A charming romance ensues as she reluctantly falls for the boy hired to woo her.
9. Pretty Woman: A classic romantic comedy where a wealthy businessman hires a charming prostitute to accompany him to social events, but their relationship deepens unexpectedly as they discover a genuine connection and love blossoms against the backdrop of glamorous Beverly Hills.
10. Romeo & Juliet: Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy about two young lovers from feuding families in Verona, whose passionate romance leads to a series of tragic events, ultimately resulting in their untimely deaths, but also serving as a testament to the power of love and its ability to transcend societal barriers.
11. The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece set in the roaring 1920s, depicting the glamorous and decadent lifestyle of Long Island’s elite, through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway. The story revolves around the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, his obsession with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, and the themes of love, wealth, and the American Dream, ultimately culminating in tragedy and disillusionment.
12. Two Weeks Notice: A romantic comedy about a dedicated lawyer who resigns from her job as the right-hand woman to a charming but irresponsible billionaire. Their professional relationship turns personal as they navigate the challenges of love and work, learning valuable lessons about themselves and each other along the way.
13. Love Actually: A heartwarming ensemble romantic comedy that follows the interconnected lives of various characters in the weeks leading up to Christmas in London. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and family through a series of intertwining storylines, showcasing the different facets of romantic relationships and the magic of the holiday season.
14. The Sandlot: A coming-of-age sports comedy that follows a group of young boys in the summer of 1962 as they bond over their love for baseball and navigate the adventures and misadventures of childhood. Their friendship is tested when they face off against a legendary neighborhood dog guarding a prized baseball signed by Babe Ruth, leading to a series of memorable and heartwarming moments.
15. The Notebook: A poignant romantic drama based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel, telling the story of a young couple from vastly different backgrounds who fall deeply in love one summer in the 1940s. Despite societal pressures and family objections, their passionate bond endures through the years, even as they face challenges of separation, memory loss, and heartbreak.
16. Long Shot: A romantic comedy about an unlikely pair: a journalist and a politician who used to babysit her. When she becomes his speechwriter as he runs for president, their professional relationship evolves into a romantic one, despite the odds and their differing personalities, creating a humorous and heartwarming tale of love and politics.
17. Pillow Talk: A classic romantic comedy starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson, where two neighbors share a party line telephone and develop an antagonistic relationship until they meet in person and sparks fly. Misunderstandings and comedic situations ensue as they navigate the complexities of love and romance in the bustling city of New York.
18. She’s all that: A teen romantic comedy where a high school jock makes a bet to transform a quirky, artsy girl into the prom queen, only to find himself falling for her genuine personality along the way. Full of humor, heart, and memorable ’90s moments, it’s a modern retelling of the classic “Pygmalion” story with a high school twist.
19. 500 Days of Summer: A nonlinear romantic comedy-drama that chronicles the 500 days of a relationship between Tom and Summer. Through Tom’s perspective, the film explores the highs and lows of love, expectations, and reality, offering a nuanced portrayal of modern romance and the complexities of human emotions.
20. Gone With the Wind: A sweeping epic set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, following the life of Scarlett O’Hara, a headstrong Southern belle, and her tumultuous relationship with the dashing Rhett Butler. Against the backdrop of war, Scarlett’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and love, as she navigates through changing fortunes and societal upheavals.
21. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: A visually inventive action-comedy that follows Scott Pilgrim as he battles his girlfriend Ramona Flowers’ seven evil exes in order to win her heart. Filled with quirky humor, video game references, and stylized fight scenes, the film explores themes of love, self-discovery, and personal growth in a hyper-stylized, comic book-inspired world.
22. Remember the Titans: Based on a true story, this inspirational sports drama follows the integration of a high school football team in Virginia during the early 1970s. Through the leadership of Coach Herman Boone, the team overcomes racial tensions and personal differences to unite and achieve success on the field, teaching valuable lessons about teamwork, respect, and perseverance along the way.
23. Gone Girl: A gripping psychological thriller based on Gillian Flynn’s novel, where the sudden disappearance of Amy Dunne triggers a media frenzy and a police investigation, with her husband Nick as the prime suspect. As secrets are revealed and perceptions shift, the film delves into the complexities of marriage, deception, and the manipulation of truth, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion.
24. The hangover: A raucous comedy following a group of friends who wake up in Las Vegas with no memory of the previous night and must retrace their steps to find the groom missing from their bachelor party. As they encounter wild escapades and bizarre situations, the film unfolds as a hilarious and unpredictable adventure filled with outrageous humor and unexpected twists.
25. American Pie: A classic coming-of-age comedy centered around a group of high school friends who make a pact to lose their virginity before graduation. Filled with awkward and outrageous moments, the film explores themes of friendship, love, and the trials and tribulations of adolescence in a humorous and relatable way.
26. Miss Congeniality: A lighthearted comedy where an FBI agent, Gracie Hart, goes undercover as a contestant in the Miss United States beauty pageant to thwart a potential terrorist threat. As she navigates the world of pageantry, Gracie undergoes a transformation both externally and internally, learning valuable lessons about confidence, self-acceptance, and the true meaning of beauty along the way.
27. The Wedding Date: A romantic comedy about a single woman who hires a male escort to accompany her to her sister’s wedding in order to make her ex-fiancé jealous. As they navigate the complexities of their arrangement, unexpected feelings develop, leading to humorous and heartwarming moments as they confront their pasts and contemplate their future together.
28. 27 Dresses: A romantic comedy about a perennial bridesmaid who has served as a bridesmaid in 27 weddings but struggles to find love herself. Her life takes a twist when she meets a cynical journalist who is covering wedding stories and begins to reassess her own romantic aspirations. Full of humor, romance, and self-discovery, the film explores themes of friendship, love, and personal fulfillment.
29. Pride & Prejudice: Jane Austen’s beloved novel adapted into various films, including a 2005 version starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. Set in early 19th-century England, it follows the tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, characterized by misunderstandings, societal expectations, and the gradual overcoming of pride and prejudice on both sides. The story beautifully captures themes of love, class, and personal growth in the Regency era.
30. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: A romantic comedy where a journalist, Andie, bets she can make a man fall in love with her and then drive him away in 10 days, while the man, Ben, makes a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same time frame. As they both manipulate each other for their respective articles, they unexpectedly develop genuine feelings, leading to humorous and heartfelt moments as they navigate their relationship.
31. My best friend’s wedding: A romantic comedy where a woman realizes she’s in love with her longtime best friend when he announces he’s getting married to someone else. Determined to win him back, she schemes to break up the wedding, only to discover her own feelings and priorities in the process. Filled with humor, heartache, and memorable musical moments, the film explores themes of friendship, love, and the complexities of romantic relationships.
32. He’s just not that into you: A romantic comedy-drama that intertwines the lives of several characters as they navigate the complexities of modern relationships. Based on the self-help book of the same name, the film explores themes of love, communication, and self-worth through various interconnected storylines, offering insights into the realities and illusions of romance in the digital age.

The post Better Than The Movies | Movie List first appeared on A happy life.

Title: Better than the movies
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 384
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Better Than The Movies

Liz Buxbaum is a hopeless romantic and she got that from her mother, who unfortunately passed away years ago. She used to watch romantic movies with her mother all the time. And now she is ready for her own love story. She has had a crush on Michael for years, but then he moved away. Now he is back and she still has a crush on him. Wes is Liz’s annoying neighbor and he is good friends with Michael, so Wes is her way in. Wes and Liz make a deal: Wes can have the best parking spot and Wes helps Liz to get closer to Michael. Pretty simple. Wes takes Liz everywhere he and Michael go so Liz can make a move on Michael. But for someone who watches a lot of romantic movies, Liz is pretty blind to see real love.

Review

I am a huge fan of romantic movies. I can watch them all the time. It is just great to see people fall in love with each other and the chemistry they have. But I have to admit that just like the main character in this book, I am also a hopeless romantic but honestly I don’t care. I just love love. This book is about a girl who loves romantic movies and the thing I loved the most about this book is that each chapter starts with a famous quote from popular romance movies. I really liked that. And if you are wondering, I made another blog post with the movies that were mentioned in this book. There are some great movies on the list. The author has a great taste in movies! I also liked that there was a playlist for this book and yes it is available on Spotify as well.

Sometimes love stories about teenagers are a bit annoying and that is probably because I am older now. I am an adult and teenagers are just different. I was a completely different person as a teenager. That is normal. But that is why I don’t read a lot of Young Adult books. Sometimes the main characters are just too annoying and too immature. But not this time. So that is another bonus point.

And to be honest, I don’t think there was anything that I did not like about this book. I really like Lynn Painter’s writing style. I flew through the book. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and everything in between. It was cute and funny. Sure, love stories are always predictable, but I basically screamed ‘Yes’ when they finally got together. But this book also has a little sadness in it, because Liz her mother passed away years ago and she is still struggling with that sometimes. Especially now she is going to graduate, going to prom, and all of these important moments in her life.

So far I have read 18 books this year and I think Lynn Painter’s books (I also read The Do-Over) are definitely both in my top 10 at this moment. So yes, I can recommend this book to everyone who loves romance movies and just loves reading cute stories. The cover and title kind of reminded me of another book I read in the past (Just like in the movies – Holly Bourne). That book also mentioned a lot of romance movies. So it kind of reminded me of that book, but I think I slightly prefer this book over that one.

The post Better Than The Movies – Lynn Painter | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.