Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Accidentally Amy is Lynn Painter in her typical rom-com safe spot, but that also happened to be my issue with the book. I liked it overall. I thought it was fine. But while some of Lynn Painter's characters and romantic comedies have me kicking my feet and giggling, some—unfortunately like this one—just miss the mark for me. Amy is an okay protagonist and while I could somewhat connect to her, everything just felt exceedingly flat.

Isabella Shay is running late for her first day at work, and her Starbucks PSL is taking forever. When Amy’s PSL is ready and no Amy retrieves it, Izzy impulsively grabs it. She can’t even enjoy her stolen latte properly though because she promptly crashes in to a handsome stranger and spills it all over him. Sparks instantly fly but they’re promptly extinguished when it turns out the stranger is actually Izzy’s (not Amy’s) new boss.

Lynn Painter is so good at creating fun, frothy romcoms that are easy to get lost in! I read this when it was originally published and I enjoyed this revamp even more. The added in words and characters really elevated this charming romantic comedy that I didn’t want to set it down.

The chemistry between Blake and Izzy is on fire from their meet disaster as Starbucks Amy and Mr. Chest and it never really diminishes even as they’re trying to stay in the friend-zone.

The conflict in the 3rd act is a bit predictable and wraps up a little too neatly, but that’s my only real quibble with this story.

I LOVED.

I ate up every single line of this book. There was never a lull. Never a moment that I found boring. I absolutely loved this.

Blake was into Izzy from the jump & I highlighted nearly every word he spoke to her/thought about her.

Lynn Painter is quickly becoming one of my automatic read authors. I’ve adored every one of her books that I’ve read so far.

All the stars.

It’s only the 5th day of the year and I already know this will end up being one of my top favorite contemporary romcoms of 2025.

I loved this book so much!!! The back and forth between them and the way the relationship built and changed was SO well done.

5⭐️3🌶️
Contemporary romance
Romcom
Workplace romance

This book’s humor was right up my alley. I found myself smiling throughout, enjoying the witty, almost British-style humor and the moments that were unintentionally funny. The instant chemistry between the characters was cute but also a bit clichéd, though I didn’t mind it, especially with the fantastic banter. The dialogue had an effortless charm, reminding me of Notting Hill, where everything just flows with a “roll with it” vibe that’s both endearing and hilarious.

Also, there’s a cat named Darkling… a delightful nod to the Leigh Bardugo character. Hilarious.

I do wish there had been a little more diversity in the book. But it was a great read.

This was my first book by Painter, and I’m excited to dive into more of her work!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had SO much fun with this read! The banter and chemistry between Blake & Izzy were so top tier, and I actually laughed my way through a majority of this book because of how funny these characters were! If you are looking for a romantic comedy with an adorable meet cute, fast paced plot line, & entertainingly quirky characters, then this book is for you. Lynn Painter never disappoints!

I really enjoyed this story between Blake and Izzy, who have a hilarious meet cute at a Starbucks after Izzy decides to take Amy’s PSL, so she isn’t late to work on her first day. But she turns around and spills her drink on Blake.

This is a really lighthearted, fun and quirky romance. The FMC is a touch cheesy, but their dialogue and banter are so funny! I couldn’t put it down.

Lynn Painter's Accidentally Amy is a charming yet cringe-inducing novel that captivated me from start to finish. I devoured this delightful read in a single sitting, unable to put it down.

4.25⭐️ wow this is exactly what I want in a romcom. Cute, funny, and lots of laugh out loud moments. I loved Izzy and her quirkiness & Blake aka Mr Chest 🥵 If you want a cute romcom this one is perfect.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
☕️ fun meet cutes
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
🫶 friends to lovers

Accidentally Amy starts out with a fun meet cute with Izzy stealing someone named Amy’s PSL at Starbucks and dumping it all over Blake. Come to find out Blake is actually her boss’s boss at her new job and he HATES lying. Without giving too much away, these two have a gravitational pull towards one another and try to exist as friends…what could go wrong, right?!Both Izzy and Blake were spunky, funny, and dynamic—I very much enjoyed their banter and growing friendship and it made their connection all that more real to me! Izzy was able to be her true sunshine self without judgement and Blake was able to protect and be there for her (even while being a little grumpy 🤪) when she really needed it. In true Lynn Painter fashion—she delivered a cute and quirky romcom that I’d highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book—opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley!

2.5 STARS

Lynn Painters writing in both her adult and young adult novels is always so fast paced, so I love them for a quick speedy read.

This particular book wasn’t quite my cup of tea unfortunately. It was a little too instalovey, raunchy, cringey and crude for my tastes.

There were some hilariously quippy one liners and I thought that the concept was quite funny. I kind of wish that the whole “Amy” plot line had lasted a little longer than it did!

If you don't like to read spicy scenes in books (like myself) then I recommend you skip/skim the following chapters:

🌶️ Closed Door Modifications: Chapters 23, 25, 29, 35 & 36

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy on NetGalley! 🤍

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy of the new Accidentally Amy.

This edition improved on some of the things I didn’t love about the originally published edition. For one, the author removed all of the “OMgaaaawd”s (praise be). I also thought the change from 3rd to 1st person works really well and better matches the tone of the novel.

I think my original sentiments stands though — the book isn’t particularly well written and the characters are sometimes annoying, but I grinned my way through the whole thing and woke up after finishing it missing the characters, so that counts for a lot.

Exact rating: 3.88
Rounded to 4

Rating: 3.25 if I could give it, but rounded to a 3/5

Summary:
Isabella Shay’s first day at her new job starts with a white lie and a stolen Pumpkin Spice Latte meant for someone named “Amy.” After an embarrassing coffee spill on a hot, broad chested stranger, sparks fly—but karma strikes back when the stranger turns out to be Blake Phillips, her new boss. This quirky office romance, born from a serialized story, was expanded and polished for its full release, offering more charm, humor, and spice than ever.

Short and Sweet Opinion:
This quirky, fun, and lighthearted romance had its charming moments, especially with the adorable cat dynamics (The Darkling deserves an award). While the female main character leaned into "pick me" energy and the dialogue could be cringey, it was an enjoyable enough read overall.

In-Depth Opinion:
Accidentally Amy is a quirky, lighthearted romance with a fun premise. The male main character was a standout for me—charming and enjoyable to follow—and the addition of their cats, especially one named The Darkling, was a delightful touch. However, the female main character felt overly "pick me" coded, which detracted from her likability, and the dialogue leaned toward cringey at times. The characters’ immaturity and some rough edges in the writing made the story feel less polished. Despite this, it was an enjoyable enough read for its humor and unique dynamic, though not one I’d be likely to revisit. It’s a decent pick for readers wanting something light and entertaining.

This book is so wonderfully sweet. I didn’t read the indie edition, but I love the POV, love the characters, love the sweetness and the fun of this book. Another great release for Lynn.

This is an absolutely delightful read! There are so many occasions that Rom-Coms go South by becoming too silly but this hits a perfect tone between Lust and Play. The banter is delightful and I was totally in by page 3. No having to slog through the first chapter or two waiting for a meet cute after some angsty brain burn by the first character. I definitely have put this book on the recommend pile and buy a copy for your bestie list.

So cute!
Instant attraction-forbidden romance-workplace - meet cute-
This book is worth the read or a repeat if you read it previously. The new edited version is more of a slow burn with more details and new scenes which make the book flow so much better. I had previously listened to the audiobook and while I enjoyed the previous version this new one is so much better with more scenes to make the slow burn.. burn. 3.75
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute rom-com, with a unique meet cute. This book is perfect for fans of Emily Henry or Katherine Center!

Fun romcom full of laugh out loud banter and shenanigans. Izzy is the best kind of weirdo and Blake needs that kind of shake up in his life. Billboard Assholes sounds like the most fun, ridiculous game and I wish there were instructions on how to play! The spice was good - not too over the top or descriptive. Highly recommend!

I have a confession to make. I have decided that I really do not like romcoms that are focused around a girl and a group of her girlfriends with the “oh my God” drama and “what should I do” scenarios. I think that’s why this book hit me so perfectly.

The character of Izzy a.k.a. Amy, is structured perfectly. She’s a little quirky and odd. Her best friends are her cousins who are guys and that is an awesome balance for her.

The plot is typical where you totally have a connection with this hot guy, and then come to find out, he’s your Admin VP direct report on the organizational chart at your brand new job.

But the method that Painter uses for their connection is through texting as the people they were before they knew they were coworkers.

It sounds a little wacky, but she totally blends it beautifully, and you just fall in love with these two people and who they are becoming. They’re perfect for each other. Their wit is addicting and the whole book just makes you smile.

Their connection grows through everyday life and not through sex and high drama. But even the drama that comes in the story is not long-winded. The angst is low, which I love, but it’s easily worked through, again what I love.

Accidentally Amy is the total package. Painter creates a magical romance that is so believable and so right from the start. Funny, sexy, perfectly characterized, and synced. I cannot get enough of her stories!

3.49

I had barely started reading “Accidentally Amy” and then stopped. I’ve read this already! Was there more than one romcom that started this way? However, once the female protagonist Izzy showed up to her new job and met her new boss Blake, nothing was familiar. I do read a lot though and remember little after a while. Mystery unsolved, I flipped to the front and I saw that this book is derived from a collection of chapters that the author sent out in her newsletter. That would explain it, except I’m not a subscriber of her newsletters and don’t usually read anything that’s not a full book. I don’t even usually read the preview chapter of the next book after the current one but that must have been the case here.

Note: If there are other books where, upon literally running into a handsome stranger in a Starbucks, a female is mistakenly identified by the name on the unclaimed coffee drink she took out of impatience, only to be caught when introduced by her real name to the same man and also new boss, let me know.

Whether or not you’d like the rest of this book—the first part is pretty cute by the way— depends on whether you like an easy romance that does not veer off track for too long or expect a nail-biting, tragic plot twist. I don’t like either in extreme, per se, but I think that this book went a bit far in one direction for believability. It should be no surprise, however, that there is a happily ever after at the end and Izzy and Blake really are cute with their special language and easy humor and you hope that this kind of relationship does exist for some people at least. It’s a fairly chaste book to begin with, but when they discover sex, they certainly get their work out. It’s not as graphic as many recent romcoms (a fairly low bar ), but goes into more and more detail as it progresses.

All in all a cute, fast read. As my rating reflects, I don’t know that it’s my favorite of the author’s, but I liked both characters and loved the banter and texting. Great senses of humor!

Thank you to Lynn Painter, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.