I can see the appeal of this book, and there wasn't anything wrong with it, but I felt like it was missing something.

The length of this book and how often the characters went back and forth was a little frustrating. The tensions were never that high, between the two characters, or in the plot.

Overall, it was a nice read if you're looking for something simple and easy that won't take you on a wild ride!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first 30% I loved. I was laugh out loud laughing and really enjoying the characters but then it got … dull. I didn’t like where the story went or how the romance progressed. Overall it was boring, and the characters lacked. I’m a Lynn Painter fan so I do plan on reading more of her work in the future but this was not for me.

So, Abi gets into a bind when her apartment is not livable and in desperation, she stays in the penthouse of a man (Declan) who won’t be home for another several days.

She knows this because she was sent to clean the condo while Declan’s gone.

Except his parents show up and are thrilled that they’re finally meeting his mysterious— and unknown to her and them — totally made-up girlfriend.

Now his parents and his company are demanding to meet her, and Declan has to decide whether to make Abi his fake girlfriend or have her arrested.

Minor spoiler - he chooses the first option, and hires her to be his girlfriend for the weekend, which she agrees to for a large sum of money (to pay her student debt) and a for a place to stay until her apartment is available again.

This book is pure, ridiculous fun. Hardworking Abi has a lot of assumptions about Declan (that I don’t blame her for), and frankly, Declan does the same thing to her.

Reading how they constantly surprise each other is incredible, not to mention their chemistry from the start just leaps off the page.

This would make a perfect movie - it’s a most excellent rom-com with spice, banter, and a plot line that was familiar while still leaving me guessing!

I also liked reading about someone else who has asthma. For some reason, I don’t see that rep often!

I highly, highly recommend! You’ll fall in love with Declan and Abi within 50 pages.

A cute, light rom-com that makes for a quick, easy read. The characters weren’t especially relatable for me, and I didn’t love the billionaire trope, but if you’re looking for something fun and breezy, this could be a good pick.

Cute, fun, expected but comforting. I laughed out loud many times and think this was the perfect summer read.

Look, I get the appeal. Lynn Painter is a rom-com powerhouse, and on paper, this has everything: a fake-dating plot, an accidental squatter, and a hot, uptight CEO. It’s the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie trailer. And for some, that’s exactly what they want. It was… fine. Perfectly, utterly, fine. There's. nothing wrong with a buttered popcorn book sometimes. A solid C.

Lynn Painter writes a fantastic romance, whether it's adult or YA, I always enjoy!

Maid for Each Other is a hilarious fake dating, millionaire (billionaire? honestly I don't remember but he's real rich😂) romcom that starts in a very unexpected way. It's such a quick read and the FMC Abi really keeps you on your toes! The banter is fun and both characters are kind of sassy in their own way. If you like grumpy x sunshine vibes, forced proximity and characters with plenty of chemistry then you'll want to add this to your tbr.

Lynn Painter knows how to build a relationship in her books and Abi and Declan move from strangers to friends to lovers in a very believable manner -- despite the obviously very unbelievable situation they find themselves in -- which kept me invested in their connection throughout the story. They also both have their own interests and secrets and I like how those develop and unravel the longer they're in each other's orbits. We also get alternating POV from Abi and Declan which I love since we get to know the characters just a bit better that way. Overall it's a cute, quick read with lots of humor!

Thank you Berkley for the eARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lynn has such a way of storytelling. This book was no different! While I struggled with some chemistry moments between the two main characters, I really just fell head over heels for the “Pretty Woman” storyline.

Loved these characters with my whole heart!

Declan and Abi’s dynamic is pure rom-com gold: he’s polished and ambitious, she’s down-to-earth and delightfully real. Their sharp, flirty exchanges make every scene crackle with energy, and the slow shift from “purely business” to something far more complicated is perfectly paced. Alongside the humor and sizzling tension, Painter weaves in themes of self-worth, ambition, and learning to let someone in—all of which give the story depth without weighing it down.
By the time the inevitable feelings bubble to the surface, you’ll be rooting for Abi and Declan as if they were your own friends. Painter nails the blend of comedy, heart, and romance, making this one of her most irresistible novels yet.

Thank you so much to Berkley & NetGalley for this e-arc.

This romantic comedy is amazing. Both primary characters developed significantly, and the contrast between their backgrounds brought a lot to the plot. It made everything that happened much more exciting. Actually, this novel made me think a little bit of the Maid in Manhattan movie, which I've seen countless times. I always find myself drawn to the idea of two entirely different worlds coming together to create something amazing. I truly liked this story, even if it was predictable in the greatest way. All of her books have been amazing!

Maid for Each Other is Lynn Painter at her finest! The witty banter, inventive plot, swoon worthy romance, and promise of a beautiful HEA are exactly why she's a must-read for any romance reader and an auto-read for me any time they publish a new book.

This was a solid romance! I love Lynn Painter's YA books, so I was excited to read this adult book. Abi is such a fun character to read, she has many layers. Declan was cute and steady and their romance felt real. It's a good less spicy romance that I'll definitely be recommending. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!

I really liked this! Lynn Painter just makes the most comforting, feel good books.

Something so easy to just fly through, swoon, and smile over. I couldn't ask for more for a rom-com!

I am not usually a fan of a million/billionaire romance, but Lynn Painter proved me wrong. She found a way to address in the story to make me feel more at ease and able to enjoy a fun rags to riches situation. I don't want to spoil anything, but the ending wrapped things up well in this regard. I loved the instant chemistry, banter and fake dating. The first chapter had me cracking up at the funny circumstance with the MMC's parents. From the start I knew it would be a good one and it was!

This book was fun and hilarious. So many romances claimed to be a romantic comedy but are just not that funny. Lynn definitely makes me crack up laughing. I will say that this was not my favorite trope being a millionaire and cleaning lady. I did love the fake dating aspect and thought it was really well executed. The romance is so sweet but a little too superficial for me.

I was estatic to get this book early, because Hello!! LYNN PAINTER. Abi has an infestation in her apartment and decides to spend the night at a clients house that she cleans. When that choice comes back to bite her in the behind, she feels backed into a corner for being the fake girlfriend of the millionaire's home she invaded. What starts out as transactional turns into something more.

This book was not my favorite by Painter, but still good. It had funny moments, and heart clenching moments, and a bit of secondhand embarassment. I think I totally get Abi's viewpoint, and fears about being treated as a commodity and disposable were valid. Having Declan have no concept of how paycheck to paycheck people live, it was hard to root for him. I think that's where my lack of star comes from. His hidden talent was giving away bookus of money but noone knew. which is fine. but he kind of lost all that was presented to us as the story went on. the phone calls at all hours of the night and constant emails and on his phone. I mean it sold us on the dickheadness at the beginning but that doesn't go away because that's a core part of who he is. Aside from that and the constant talk about money, I truly did enjoy this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️

✨The Highlights✨
. Fake Dating
. Text Banter 📱
. Millionaire x Maid 💸
. Forced Proximity
. Grumpy x Sunshine ☀️
. Only One Penthouse 😏
. Audio was 🔥
. Dual POV

✨The Feels✨
Oh. My. Gosh. I adored this book! Lynn Painter has my whole rom-com-loving heart, and this one absolutely delivered. I was laughing out loud, kicking my feet, and grinning like a total fool the entire time. The text banter? The flirting? The meet cute? Impeccable. Everything just clicked.

It’s the perfect lighthearted rom-com for when your soul needs a serotonin boost—pure feel-good joy with all the charm of a classic ’90s rom-com. Honestly, it gave me Pretty Woman vibes… you know, without the whole sex work subplot. 😅

If you’re into swoony banter, tried-and-true tropes, and that nostalgic 90s sparkle, you need this in your life.

Also… why am I such a sucker for couples who call each other by their last names?!

✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨
🎶 He was a millionaire. She was a maid. Can I make it anymore obvious? 🎶

Anyway.

A millionaire, a maid, and one big misunderstanding walk into a penthouse… Abi’s just crashing at her client’s place while he’s away—until his parents mistake her for his girlfriend. Declan’s shocked (and maybe a little intrigued), especially since his “girlfriend” was completely fictional… until now. Cue a fake dating deal that’s totally business. Absolutely no pleasure. Probably.

Super cute and funny, with a good spice level. I honestly don't usually like the billionaire/CInderella subgenre, but this one was a lot of fun. I loved that she had a personality and a backbone, without sounding fake or hard.

3-3.5 stars! I love me some Lynn Painter, and I was ALWAYS read her books!! She got be way back when with Better than the Movies and Mr. Wrong Number and I have been chasing that same high ever since. Maid for Each Other was FUN, CUTE, QUIRKY! So great with the dual POV in both the FMC and MMC. This was a QUICK read which I appreciated because I'm in the biggest reading slump in my LIFE but something about this book, was missing the classic Lynn Painter. To me! I wish there had been more mystery in the beginning and maybe more of the BUILD up to the fake dating. It felt all too coincidental and then overall felt a bit surface level, because we didn't really get to KNOW the characters. You know?

Enjoyed! but not a fav by any means

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🧹 dual POV
🧹 1st person POV
🧹 chapter titles 💕💕💕💕
🧹 chapter illustrations
🧹 grump vs. sunshine
🧹 forced proximity
🧹 millionaire boss and maid
🧹 fake dating
🧹 Gilmore Girls 🩷🖤🩷🖤🩷🖤
🧹 banter 🔥🔥🔥
🧹 no spice ❌❌
🧹 nostalgia
🧹 HEA

I love the fake dating trope!! It’s always so silly and fun 🤪 The banter between the main characters was 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻🔥🔥🔥
I love when a book makes me actually laugh out loud! The writing style was very enjoyable to read and it was very similar to the way I talk, and it drew me in right away. The book started out with a silly little “meet cute” and I was very invested straight away.
I always appreciate a grump character for some reason; their attitude and demeanour toward a sunshiney main character always makes me laugh 🤣 I really liked both of the main characters and I was rooting for them the whole time. Honestly even the parents were kind of stars of the show here 🤪🤪 I really enjoyed
I know a lot of people do not like 3rd person POVs for some reason, so have no fear! This one is 1st person 🤪🤪
This is very “Maid in Manhattan” vibes which gave me such nostalgia and joy reading through! The fake dating was a fun little twist to make it a little bit different than the movie.
I always really enjoy it when chapters have little illustrations. It makes me happy every time I see one, and this book even had CHAPTER TITLES 💕💕💕 I really really love that; it brings me back to my childhood when all the books used to have chapter titles, and that’s something I actually really miss. It’s fun to look ahead at the chapter list when you first start the book and kinda get a little hint of what’s to come in the book.
The nostalgia really hit hard in this one 💕💕 I enjoyed all the references in here to movies I used to love when I was young 🩷🖤🩷 AND GILMORE GIRLS!!!! As soon as there is a GG reference in a book I know it’s my kinda book 💕💕 Add that together with the Maid in Manhattan vibes and the chapter titles… This was a very enjoyable read, but of course it was its LYNN PAINTER 🩷🩷 I have yet to read a Lynn Painter book that I did not LOVE 🖤
There was absolutely no spice in this one, and the ending was super sweet and wholesome 🩷 I’m not a huge fan of spice, so I really enjoyed that.
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Lynn Painter for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕