Thanks Netgalley for this ARC! This was my first Lynn Painter book and I doubt it will be my last! The story line was typical rom/com but omg the dialog was so spot-on! I couldn't help but smiling thoughout the entirety. Not to mention how I LOVED the Buffett/Mrs. B characters, which is exactly how I have always imagined them to be. Growing up in Omaha, I am realizing how much of a sucker I am for these books set there. 4stars!

Abi, a professional cleaner, is unexpectedly in need of a place to stay after there is a building-wide outbreak and they have to fumigate. She believes she finds a solution in a penthouse she cleans, where the owner will be out of town all week.

She wakes up to two strangers in the kitchen (his parents!) and when they hear her name is Abi, they think she is their son's girlfriend "Abby". Dex, extremely career minded with no time for romance, hears about the mistake and is ready to fire and report her. But, after further thought he realizes she might be the perfect person to play the part of Abby and show everyone that his pretend girlfriend is real!

The banter between the characters is so much fun, and Abi has a lot of spunk. It's not your average, everyday person that can pull off getting paid MORE to do the exact thing that almost got you fired. BY THE PERSON FIRING YOU. It has some classic tropes that accompany fake dating, and I loved every minute of it! Such a fun, quick read.

Abi's apartment has an infestation, so she figures: what could it hurt to crash at the fancy home of one of her cleaning service clients? Unfortunately, Declan's parents arrives at the place while Abi is still there and assume she's his girlfriend. Declan is supremely unhappy and very confused about how they could have met a made-up girlfriend. He and Abi strike a deal that she will pretend to be his girlfriend during an important business weekend, and he'll pay her a ridiculous sum of money and allow her to stay at his place. The two quickly become actual friends, and the spark that was clear from the beginning grows.

I had so much fun reading this! I'm not sure if I've read anything by Lynn Painter before, but I now I have to look into her. I would highly, highly recommend this book for anyone looking for any of the following tropes: a billionaire MMC, fake dating, opposites attract, or forced proximity.

Lynn Painter's adult books never seem to hit the same way her YA books do for me, however this book was a pleasant surprise! I am a huge sucker for fake dating though, and this one was every bit of hilarious perfection that I needed it to be!

What a cute story. I really enjoyed Maid for Each Other. Painter gives us great characters, enough stressors to grab the reader and a sweet HEA.

Abi is so smart. She's finishing her masters degree despite the struggles of supporting herself. She's got two jobs and school and can never seem to get her head above water. Her mother has spent her life flakily chasing an HEA that's never come. She's one of those women who can't give up the hope despite repeatedly being repeatedly disappointed and left alone. She's more interested in finding her man than taking care of her daughter. Or really even more than taking care of herself. Her mother isn't an option when Abi must find a temporary home while her apartment is being fumigated. But what about that fabulous penthouse where she knows the elusive owner is out of two all week? Perfect. Or not, of course.

Declan is livid to find he has a squatter in his apartment and that his parents think she's his fictional girlfriend, Abby. He storms into her second place of employment intent on retribution. Slowly, an idea takes hold. He's got a huge share holder meeting this weekend where his boss will be finalizing a decision on who to promote, The boss, in addition to his parents, thinks Declan should find a nice girl because settled would be a better look for Declan. Could Abi be his Abby? Could she help get everyone off his back about being single?

Declan is incredibly wealthy. Money is so different to him than to Abi who's not only poor but saddled with huge student loan debts. Declan accepts Abi's request for $40k for a weekend of playing fake girlfriend. Not only is she up to the task, she's got his boss, co-workers and family loving her with her quick wit and intelligence. She's also kind and sweet. Well, you know what comes next. Feelings start to form though both have serious misgivings and do that thing where they tell themselves they don't really care. They can't care.

The story was a nice version of the fake girlfriend trope. The characters are great. There's plenty of prejudiced opinions of the other's thoughts, desires and wants that must be overcome. Can this couple from such different backgrounds overcome "stinking thinking" and fear to find their HEA? Of course they can and the getting there is fun. I definitely recommend this story.

Such a fun read for summer. I loved this fake-dating, grumpy-sunshine, cinderella story of Abi the cleaner and Declan the billionaire falling in love. It was very reminiscent of Maid in Manhattan and Pretty Woman, which means it was quite predictable and wasn't doing much new. But it was still a very fun and enjoyable quick read. I loved the banter between Abi and Declan. Loved his parents. Loved Abi's whip-smart personality. It was just the kind of book I was looking for this summer. 4 stars for being a fun, engaging read, even if it didn't blow my mind with brilliant writing or amazing plot twists.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Super cute, super cliché, and totally entertaining!
Maid For Each Other is packed with all the classic tropes—fake dating, forced proximity, one bed, and a swoony millionaire MMC—and I ate it up. The banter? Top-tier. The tension? Swoon!!! The feisty FMC? Loved her. Sure, it’s predictable, but in the best way. I literally laughed out loud at times.

I haven’t ventured into Lynn Painter’s popular YA romances yet, but her adult novels? I’m all in!! ❤️❤️❤️

This story, and its tropes, have been told a million times and while it was a fresh take, I just couldn't connect with the characters and couldn't really get invested in their relationship. That back and forth between MCs was good at times and of course it had a happy ending. If you're looking for a quick romcom with a satisfying conclusion where you don't have to think to hard, this just might be for you.

I just finished Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter and here are my musings.

Abi has a dream and it is not to be a professional cleaner for the rest of her life. When her apartment has an infestation she needs to find somewhere to stay.. One of her clients is away and she thinks… What's the harm in just crashing in his empty place… What she didn’t expect is to come face to face with his parents and she just so happens to have the same name as the elusive girlfriend of the owner of the place she is crashing at.

When Declan discovers she's been staying in his home he hatches a plan… She plays his fake girlfriend and she can stay in his place until hers is safe again…. Win win… What could go wrong?

I LOVED THE BANTER. I think this book might have had the best witty back chat of any book I have ever read. The characters were so much fun. I loved Abi! Would I have fake dated Declan? Damn straight I would have and the fun she had playing his girlfriend had me giggling my face off.

I am not a massive fan of the fake dating trope but this one was quite excellent because the underlying attraction was always there and it felt natural. I always find it odd that people lie about dating people which is why the trope never normally sits well with me but Declan.. I kinda get it. He’s not normal and it shows but he is perfect for Abi and the hopeless romantic in me loved the chemistry.

I like how it ended too. It was very pretty woman!

4.5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted copy

Lynn Painter can't write a book that I don't love. I've been around since the beginning and I have read them all. I have also loved them all, but Declan might be in my top three now. Abi agrees to fake date Declan to help him out with his parents and for just enough money to pay off her student loans. As the time goes by though, each of them realize there is so much more to their story than just a fake weekend.
They like to be around each other and Abi helps Declan see there is more to life than work and money. He lives to see her smile and wakes up everyday they are together doing all he can to make sure she is happy. Declan is the most green flag hero I have read, besides the whole "tricking my family into thinking I have a girlfriend" situation.
There were elements to this one that reminded me of Pretty Woman, Yes, I even thought of his friend as Jason Alexander's character, but let me tell you he was also sweet so don't worry about the outcome being the same lol.
All I can tell you is that I loved this book from the moment I started it to the moment I finished it. All the stars.
Thanks to Berkley, Netgalley and Lynn Painter for and early copy.

Another knock out of the park feel-good romance by Ms Painter. Keep ‘em coming. These are like chicken soup for my soul. Thanks NetGalley for the early access to this.

Thank you Netgalley & Berkeley for the eARC.

If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that Lynn Painter is going to write a book that makes me laugh and swoon, and I had a great time reading Maid for Each Other while on vacation. It was quick, light, fun, and held the nostalgia of some of my favorite rom coms – Maid in Manhattan and Pretty Woman. I am always down for fake dating romances, especially when the characters are such opposites like millionaire Declan and Abi, the housekeeper/grocer/apartment squatter. I especially loved watching Declan melt and soften his gruff, polished exterior as he fell for Abi throughout the story. As an added bonus - I really love seeing our @joyfulchaosbookclub shoutout in the Acknowledgements section (IYKYK).

If you’re like me lately and just looking for a light escape, Maid for Each Other hits the right chord.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was my second Lynn Painter book (first adult Lynn Painter), and I really enjoyed it. The romance moves very quickly - somehow both rivals-to-lovers and instalove - but still lots of fun. I struggled with Abi's apparent disgust with Declan's wealth while actively benefiting from it. Even with his "side business" coming to life, it still didn't feel like it fully make sense. Neither did Declan's desire to give money away while spending it on anything and everything his heart desired. I understand the moral quandary in today's day-in-age with billionaires and the ethical quagmire they present, but I wish that it either hadn't been mentioned (for full dissociative reading) or thought through more thoroughly.

That said, I did enjoy myself while reading. It took a bit for me to get really invested, probably around 60%, which is longer than I'd normally give a book to hook me. I think I'd really enjoy another Painter book without a billionaire.

I love love Lynn Painter, but this was just wasn't for me. Maybe I'm just more of a fan of her YA selections. I will recommend this to romcom lovers!

Abi Mariano is a student and working two jobs as a barista and house cleaner. She has to move out of her apartment for one week due to an infestation. She can't afford to stay in a hotel so she takes is upon herself to stay in the penthouse of one of her clients. He is supposed to be out of town so imagine her surprise when she wakes up to his parents in his apartment! They assume she is their sons girlfriend and she doesn't correct them.

Declan Powell is a busy man and owns the penthouse Abi spent the night in. His main focus is on his career and not a love life. He's made up a girlfriend named Abby to keep his parents and others from nagging him about his love life. So when his parents tell him they met his girlfriend he is shocked!

Declan quickly discovers who the real Abi is. She needs a place to stay. He needs a pretend girlfriend so they make a deal. She will pretend to be his girlfriend for $40,000 (the amount of money she owes on her student loan).

Abi and Declan discover that they have something between them but keep up the facade that it's just transactional. Like most RomCom's the relationship builds and readers see what's going on between before the characters do.

Lynn Painter has written another good read. The characters are well developed and the story is told from dual point of views. I am becoming obsessed with Painters books and characters.

I always love everything Lynn Painter. Her writing immediately hooks me and I can never put the book down. The same goes for this book. I started reading this last night at 7:50 and went to bed at 11 and then I finished it this morning. The story of Declan Powell and Abi Mariano really sucked me in. Also Lynn, I love the last name choices. HAHA.

Their banter was so cute and the fake-dating trope was executed perfectly. This trope is ALWAYS so good but Lynn did it PERFECTLY. I loved how you could watch them falling for each other. I loved the funny lines(literally laughed out loud). I loved how Declan couldn't help himself from falling for Abi. I loved everything.

This book was absolutely adorable and such an easy, fun, relaxing read. I loved every bit of it! Definitely go buy this book on it's release date July 15. I can promise you will not regret it! Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this. I will never not love a Lynn Painter book!

Maid for Each Other is a cute though not terribly original story. It has some good banter and Abi is a pretty likeable FMC. If you are looking for a lighthearted romcom with familiar themes this might be a good pick.

To Lynn Painter's credit, I think billionaire romance is a difficult sell right now particularly to a US audience. I think she grasped that and tried to make adjustments for it. At the end of the day though it still has a bit of a billionaires aren't bad if you get to know them feel. Abi meets people and appreciates that that seem to really care about her as a person (once she is connected to someone rich). She is also routinely awed by the benefits of wealth while focusing less on the costs she seems to care about. At the end of the day I think Declan is a likable mmc but I don't think he is that likable without his POV.

I may have just picked up this book at a bad time. I read it the same week the United States wad debating passing the "Big Beautiful Bill" and it's possible has a read it a different week my feelings would have been different. However, at then end of the day it just felt out of touch.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Let me preface this with that I love Lynn Painter and her writing. Fake dating between a millionaire and his cleaner? Yeah, that sounds like a trope combo up my alley. I enjoyed Saylor Bell Curda's narration, but Teddy Hamilton's felt... lacking to me? Just kind of feelingless, and maybe that detracted from my reading experience. But I just felt like something was missing in this book, a spark that would make me actually root for this couple. It also felt a little rushed in the third act conflict and not as impactful as it could've been.

Unfortunately, I decided to dnf this one. I didn't even get past chapter 7 and the only reason I chose to dnf was literally the choice of using "unalived" instead of killed. This isn't a TikTok comment section, there are no guidelines here to protect yourself against! It gave me the most intense reading ick I closed it right then and there. Maybe I'm just too old to be the target audience here though it is marked as an adult book... From what I did read, these characters did not read as the age they were meant to be. In my opinion this should definitely be more catered to a younger audience but take that with a grain of salt because I didn't read enough to know how appropriate/inappropriate it gets. I've heard great things about this author, so I was really disappointed with this.

Fake dating at its finest! I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC, and it did not disappoint. The friendship forged between our two MC’s was so beautiful and it really made their special moments together all the better.