To no one's surprise, the banter between Jack and Hallie is just so good!! I wouldn’t really call this a fake-dating rom-com as that happens way later in the story, but more like a "disaster meet-cute to friends who make a wager to fake-dating to lovers".

What I didn't like about the book is that I could not connect to Hallie and Jack as individuals, which took me out of the story for a while. Overall, it was a chaotic and joyful ride that was fun but not quite a memorable one.

Thank you Berkley and Lynn Painter for the arc.

**Review will be published March 9th on my site and socials!**

ON FIRE.

That's how this book made me feel. The banter was immaculate perfection and every single interaction made me giddy and weak in the knees. While I was initially hesitant from the one night stand starting point, I LOVE the way Lynn Painter turned this. One of the best strangers to friends to lovers book I have read to date.

Hallie is my favorite type of contemporary main character. A little rough around the edges but wholly understanding of who she is and being that person always. She was pure fun and light, while maintaining that sense of realness. JACK, stop right now, he was the swooniest and sweetest guy EVER. I loved how he just *there*. The texts, phone calls, showing up to help, traveling, you name it, Jack made an effort to be apart of Hallie's life. I thought they had fantastic chemistry and I could feel the tension from miles away. The slow burn will absolutely put you in a chokehold. Everything was ramped up in harmony waiting for that final breaking point and ohhhh how I loved it.

There's a small dash of miscommunication that surprisingly didn't bug me all that much. It's moved through pretty quickly and is overall reasonably dealt with. I actually thought it made those last few scenes even more rom-com magnificent.

THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO GOOD. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong throughout
- Romance: light innuendo; 2-3 brief scenes (low-medium explicit)
- Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of a loss of a loved one

The Love Wager by L. Painter, published by Berkley Publishing Group is a stand-alone romantic comedy.
A sweet read with hilarious scenes that had me laughing out loud more than one time.
Hallie the bartender and Jack, the Jack who's about to propose at his sisters wedding.
They're strongly drawn to each other and wonder o wonder, a drunk ons is changing every single thing.
I fell in insta-love with the character rather quickly, loved the unique story, the great writing.

Lynn Painter has done it again. I think I may have even enjoyed this sequel a bit more than the first book of the series. I loved everything about Hallie and Jack, they were both well-written and relatable characters. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

The Love Wager was a wonderful, bingeable read! Hallie is ready to change her life and after a mind-blowing one-night stand, she decides there’s no time like the present, Jack, the guy who’s room she snuck out of, is also ready for a restart and the two form an unlikely friendship, and a bet: they’ll be the ultimate wing person for each other but who ever finds love first will win. But a weekend at Hallie’s sister’s wedding fake dating blurs the lines of their friendship. The Love Wager is funny and witty and smart. It’s romantic and sweet, and I just adored it. Hallie and Jack are a perfect friends-to-lovers romance. Their banter is quick and fun, and they just feel so genuine and are so easy to root for. Hallie is energetic and loving, and Jack is protective and sexy. Their chemistry is off the charts, and this is just one of the most fun reads I’ve read in a while. Lynn Painter does not disappoint.

A cute fake dating rom-com with easy writing and a fun premise.

I didn't love the main characters in this one as I don't feel like we really get to know them, found the miscommunication a bit frustrating, and the writing not as strong, but I enjoyed the banter and found this to be a relatively quick read!

The dialogue in this one was so much fun and the banter made me laugh out loud several times. One of those cases where fake dating leads to way more than either participant counted on - Jack and Hallie meet at a wedding. Where she is the bartender and his date wrongly assumes he’s flirting/cheating/frolicking with her. So in Hallie’s face goes a glass of cheap Chardonnay. And after one dramatic break-up and a bottle of crown, into Hallie Jack goes…

I loved Mr. Wrong Number and I love the Love Wager - another one sitting read!

I think I have found my new auto-buy author! This book was such an enjoyable. Now it is part of a character series, with Mr. Wrong Number setting the stage for this second instalment. I read this one first and didn't find it necessary to read book one, but if you are a completionist I would recommend reading that one first (I did end up reading it later and it was equally amazing!). Painter is able to weave a fun and enjoyable story with the perfect amount of angst and tension, but also humour and laughs. The characters felt real and the conflict wasn't too over the top. Highly recommend !!!

4.5 stars

RATING: 4/5 STARS

THE LOVE WAGER was another Lynn Painter delight! Jack and Hallie had great chemistry. I loved their banter and various shenanigans. This book was just plain fun - an entertaining execution of the beloved, juicy tropes of friends-to-lovers, only-one-bed, and fake-dating. This was a fresh addition to the rom-com genre. Pick it up if you ever need a fast pick-me-up read.

Okayyy I could not put this one down!! I love Hallie & Jack so much!

Ah their banter was incredible, I actually laughed out loud in parts. Plus, I loved that it wasn’t “insta-love” even though it started off the way it did. The story builds as their relationship builds & I loved every second of it.

A must read IMO! I genuinely couldn’t get enough of this one & will definitely be purchasing a copy as soon as it is released!

Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley & Berkley

If warm fuzzies were a book, this would be it!!!!!!!

I freaking LOVE LYNN PAINTER. Ever since Mr. Wrong Number, I’ve been hooked & she’s never getting rid of me!!!!! Jack & Hallie were perfection & I couldn’t have asked for a better duo to leave a RomCom!! THEIR BANTER WAS PHENOMENAL, and the way I was giggling was low-key embarrassing. I couldn’t stop or help myself. My lord I loved it. And their chemistry. WHEW. I felt it. My heart, soul & body were in this LOL.

I loved it. Really. It’s been a while since a book drew me in right off the bat & the storyline held me throughout the entire book!! Friends to lovers is becoming one of my top tropes & Lynn put her whole all into this one.

I loved the dual pov, the alternating POVs within chapters, and the fun characters!! It always starts with a wager 😏 READ IT BESTIES.

Tropes:
strangers to best friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake dating
One bed
One night stand

Thank you so much for this book! I loved it just like I have loved all her other works!!! So easy to read. I love the characters and get drawn into the storyline so well. I could not put it down! I also loved the spicy parts!

What started as a one-night stand becomes a wager between two non-friends. Whoever finds love on a nondescript dating app gets a prize. Soon enough Hallie and Jack become best friends, but is there something more?

Lynn Painter is an expert at writing off-the-wall, fun friendships that inevitably turn into admiration, then love. The Love Wager will make you snicker, guffaw, and say aww, shucks more than once. Fans of Emily Henry will feel right at home with this book.

This was a super cute rom-com book. If you’re looking for a fun book to read, you’ll definitely want to add this to your list. I gave it 4.5/5 ⭐️. It was my first book I read from Lynn Painter and I am already looking up other books to read from her.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is March 14, 2023.

Ahhhhh!!!! This was so stinking cute! Can’t believe I’m saying this but I like this even better than the first book in the series! Jack and Hallie are gems - they’re both so witty, funny, sarcastic, and sweet. Seeing them go from one night stands, to best friends, to lovers was amazing and I enjoyed it so much. They really have the sweetest relationship and I read through this in one sitting, couldn’t put it down.


Thank you NetGalley from proving me an ARC from the publisher.

This book is one glorious chef’s kiss all throughout 🤌🏻🥰
One night stand
Epistolary element with hilarious texting
So. Much. Chemistry
Dating wager
Amazing banter
Friends to lovers development
Secret pining
So. Much. Chemistry
Fake Dating
Kissing in closets
Slow Burn
One Bed
Blurred Lines
A tiny touch of angst
So. Much. Chemistry
Steamy pay off

HAPPY PLACE book!!! 5 stars from me!
I had loved Mr Wrong Number and enjoyed The Love Wager even more. The author is so damn skilled at crafting genuine chemistry between her romance leads, I couldn't stop myself from reading my night away. This book made me so happy I literally read it in one sitting. If you can call a one night in bed reading 'til 6 AM that.

I started this one before bed and thought I'd read one chapter to get a feel of the story. (Yeah, I know, one chapter is a joke excuse for every reader out there). But really, I just wanted a peek.

First, the meet cute was so damn engrossing there was no way I could stop myself from reading further. I had to know what would happen next to Hallie and Jack.

Not only did the author pique my interest with a stupendous meet cute and all around witty banter but she threw in a one night stand that only enticed my curiosity but also made me root for more of her characters. This snippet was definitely not enough, I needed more of them, scene after scene, chapter after chapter and that's how I ended reading until my son woke up for school.

I'm a sucker for anything epistolary in my romance, I adore when characters form a friendship and—more— through texts, emails, letters. They allow for banter fun but also gives more room for characters to show vulnerabilities. Lynn Painter naturally and casual as you please had Hallie and Jack going from one night stand shenanigans to buddying over a wager that entails blind dates, tacos and cats.

The lines went gradually blurry between these two and their friendship shifted ever so softly that soon enough you're in a middle of a delicious slow burn with one of them secretly pining hard over the other. Some minor angst plot twist was added for balance at midpoint and incidentally served as an incentive to read even more eagerly. I couldn't have stopped even if I wanted to. I was so invested in Hal and Jack I didn't see the night wasting away!

To spice it all up this plot twist required that they fake a relationship (on top of the one night stand to friendship to blind date wingmen, lol) leading them to forced proximity goodness with a one bed situation and kiss in closets and the slow burn sparks from before went full on scorching the pages at this point. HOT!

I may have gotten a little irritated with both of them at one point, shouting out loud "FFS WOULD YOU JUST SEE IT ALREADY YOU MORONS!" because for us readers it was so damn clear they were made for each other and I was so ready to see them the happiest they deserved but in fairness I'd have read even more pages of their angsty circling around each other because it was SO SO SO GOOOOOOOOOD!!!

I can't wait for the next book to roll out after reading the excerpt at the end of this: The Objectors !

This was certainly a refreshing romance, and it did not disappoint! I wasn't sure how her adult romance would compare to her YA books, but I think I liked this even more than the other books I read by her! I really liked both of the main characters and found the premise to be the perfect balance of predictable and original. Obviously with a romcom, you typically know how it's gonna end up, and while that holds true with this book as well, it was a really fun journey from beginning to end. With romance books that include third act conflicts, I usually find those to be both boring and unnecessary. However, with Hallie and Jack, I thought their conflict made sense and was within reason. Additionally, I liked how the conflict was resolved quickly, and that the book itself ended quickly without 40+ pages of needless information. I cannot wait to recommend this book to friends and customers.

Hi my name is Natalie and I have an unhealthy obsession with Lynn Painter's books.

This woman could write three sentences on how to turn on your TV and it would leave you both belly laughing and giddy. There’s a playful tone to this author's writing. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic, without being overdone, and mixed with sincere and genuine conversation. There’s enough spice to not make it a close door romance, but a vague rough description where it’s not an explicit play by play. She knows how to write the perfect romance book that will leave you wishing the book would never end.

Jack the fun loving, terrified of all monkey-like creatures, is the perfect book boyfriend. He’s the guy that wears his heart on his sleeve while being able to make you swoon with his sexy grin. His sarcasm not only made me laugh, but also made me fall for him. Hallie is the epitome of the girl you want to be your friend. She has your back and will be the girl not bailing you out, but sitting next to you recapping your epic night. She’s relatable with fears that everyone has endured and an amusing inner monologue that will make you laugh.

This book is one delightful read and if I had to pick one thing I didn’t enjoy, it would be that the end was a bit of a mess. There were certain scenes that were so obvious to the point that the characters refused to acknowledge them. But overall this book was a fantastic read.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC

So, so good! All the feels! Great banter, hilarious, steamy and smart! Loving this author! If you've read her other books and liked them, then you'll definitely enjoy this one too. Her writing is just so fun and light-hearted. I always get some laughs from her stories and this was one was no different.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When it comes to authors, I hate to play favorites.... fine. You caught me. I'm not fooling anyone. LYNN FREAKING PAINTER IS MY FAVORITE. There. I admitted it. Happy now?

Seriously, this book is pure joy. It's sunshine and rainbows and puppies and unicorns wrapped up with a *very* sexy bow. My face hurts from smiling so much. Even looking at the cover after reading it gives me feels. Also, The Love Wager is so perfect and cute, I kinda want to puke a little.

Was that last bit too much? Probably, but I don't care because I want to marry this hilarious, delightful, adorable (and did I mention sexy?) book!