This was such a delight! It follows Abi, a struggling student who makes money as a maid. After a mishap at her apartment, she finds herself in a fake relationship with one of her wealthy clients, Declan, and living at his apartment.

I adored this book! I loved Abi’s sass and the hilarious dynamic between her and Declan. Their chemistry was undeniable, and seeing their relationship blossom was sweet. This was the perfect rom-com…it was funny, charming and I loved every minute of it.

Thank you @netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

Oh my gosh, what a great palate cleanser! This was such a funny and adorable quick read. Exactly what I was needing for my mini summer vacay.

I have so many Lynn Painter’s on my TBR and my physical shelf and this was the first I’ve picked up. It definitely has me sprinting towards the others. I loved it!

I love the fake dating trope and this one was done so well. Abi is a little spitfire and Declan deserved it all. This was such a sweet little rom-com that I devoured in no time at all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this light and fun summer read! As a longtime fan of Lynn Painter’s books, I was excited to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint. The adult romantic comedy features genuinely likable characters who aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves, which adds a lot of charm and humor throughout the story. While the plot is somewhat unrealistic, it perfectly suits the carefree, escapist vibe that makes it an ideal book for summer. If you’re looking for a feel-good read filled with laughter and relatable moments, this is a great choice.

Huge thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced review copy! 🩷

It’s official. I’m convinced that Lynn Painter does the ‘fake dating’ trope like no other! I’ve only ever read her YA stuff so I was a bit nervous about trying her adult stuff, but I loved this book! It is funny and charming and the perfect summer romance read. Declan and Abi have some hilarious banter to go along with their chemistry; it had me smiling every time they interacted! Reading about Abi charming the pants of everyone in Declan’s life, while Declan simultaneously shows Abi that he’s not a shallow millionaire like she’s always thought was so enjoyable. It’s not insta-love, so we actually get to see how their relationship develops from strangers, to co-conspirators, to friends, to lovers. This book a a bit of everything I need in a rom-com: tension, wit, dual POV, and the added bonus of Pretty Woman vibes. 😍 If you’re looking for a feel-good book to binge on vacation, it’s this one. 🩷

Made for Each Other was a book I was so excited for as I would consider myself a huge fan of Lynns' other books. The synopsis sounded intriguing, but there was that spark that I look for when reading a romance book missing as I hit "the end." While there were some laughs, I found the MMC highly unlikable and did not think that this couple would make it to a happily ever after off page.

Maid For Each Other is a perfect romcom. I loved the unique trope where instant enemies fake date. The chemistry off the two MCs was off the charts and I absolutely loved their banter and how they both antagonized each other. It was highly entertaining and LOL funny.

The audio production was superbly executed by the dynamic duo of Teddy Hamilton and Saylor Bell Curda.

3.5⭐️

Abi has been cleaning apartments at night to help support herself through her Masters. When her own apartment is being fumigated, she ends up sleeping at one of her clients’ penthouse apartments while he is out of town, but the next morning she wakes up to two strangers in the kitchen. Declan has been focused on his career and hasn’t had much interest in dating, but he told his family and colleagues that he had a girlfriend to seem more settled. So when Declan’s parents call him to let him know that they finally met his girlfriend, Declan is taken aback since she does not exist. When he learns that the girl in his kitchen was the cleaner, he comes up with a fake dating proposition to help them both get what they want.

This was such a fun romantic comedy! I love the fake dating trope and the way they came to their arrangement was just so entertaining. Abi and Declan were such a great fit and I loved the friendship they formed first. Declan was always so caring and considerate towards Abi and they made such an adorable couple. I have become such a big fan of Lynn’s writing and I would recomend this book if you like romantic comedies.

What to expect:
💜 Romantic Comedy
💜 Fake Dating
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Millionaire

Thank you to Lynn Painter, Berkley and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maid for Each Other was a fun, lighthearted romcom with an opposites-attract, fake dating romance featuring a millionaire and his maid. It was sweet, funny, filled with banter, and was was the perfect read for summer. I loved it!

Abi and Declan couldn’t be more different. She’s a feisty, poor, MFA student who works two jobs and doesn’t have a family or many friends. He’s a rich, grumpy executive who comes from family money and doesn’t have time for fun. She needs a place to stay while her apartment is being fumigated, and his apartment, which she cleans, happens to be empty. When he finds out, he blackmails her into pretending to be his girlfriend for the weekend, but they both quickly develop real feelings. The forced proximity was delicious, and they had such great chemistry together. This book was an absolutely delightful lighthearted rom-com, and I had a great time with it!

Thank you to Berkley Romance, Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔Maid for Each Other
✏️ Lynn Painter
📆 July 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🦂 millionaire x his maid
🦂 blackmail into fake dating
🦂 grumpy x sunshine
🦂 temporary roommates
🦂 forced proximity
🦂 dual POV
🦂 they’re from different worlds
🦂 fun banter

This was such a fun read! The banter between Declan & Abi had me laughing throughout the book! I adored Abi and her quirks, I loved Declan’s slight grumpiness (can we talk about the man’s willingness to drop ridiculous amounts of money, especially on Abi?!), and I loved watching them both realize they had feelings for each other. Such a fun read with all the Cinderella vibes!

Thank you to @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and @prhaudio for my gifted copies!

This book was so cute! I’ve read several Lynn Painter books, and they are the perfect palate cleanser books—quick and lighthearted reads,—and this one was no exception!

This one is fast paced and kind of throws readers straight into the mix of things with very little introduction. The banter and humor from start to finish were top notch, as always, and I especially love a fake dating story done well! The billionaire x maid dynamic also added a fun and fresh spin on the billionaire romance trope!

One thing I loooove about Lynn Painter books is the fact that she is an Omaha native, as I am, and always includes tons of Omaha references and Easter eggs! Totally adds to my personal enjoyment of her stories.

This one is sweet and swoony with a romance that will have you rooting for both characters. Is it a little predictable? Sure, but it’s a fun read regardless!

🎧The audio here is a great way to enjoy this book! I especially, as always, loved Teddy Hamilton, and Saylor Bell did a good job with her role as well.

It's no secret that I've been a huge fan of Lynn Painter's YA romantic comedies (still thinking about Wes Bennet from Better Than the Movies). I finally got to try one of her adult romances, and I’m thrilled to share that it absolutely delivered!

What I love about her writing is that she delivers sharp banter and dialogue that makes you giggle and kick your feet. This story had me doing that by page 50!

Is fake-dating the most predictable trope? Sure. Do I eat it up every. single. time. YES.
The dynamic between these two was perfection. Abi gives us all the comedy, and you expect Declan to be too serious and a bit of a jerk, but he is genuinely kind, thoughtful and such a good listener. You could just feel their chemistry pulsing through every word, making this a very binge-able read. I’ve seen a few people share that it gives Maid in Manhattan meets Pretty Woman vibes, and I couldn’t agree more. If you love a good 90’s/early 2000’s romcom, then this book is for you.

- Read if you love:
- Fake Dating
- Billionaire Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Dual POV
- Millionaire x Maid

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lynn Painter for this digital ARC.

Lovely little read. Cute premise and just the right amount of steam for our library readers. The characters had a great rapport. The situations were believable for this Cinderella story. I will definitely recommend for those looking for a cute romance.

Lynn Painter's rom-coms are some of my favorites. She's so great at creating characters that I love from the very start of the book. Maid for Each Other is another 5-star read in my book! I adored Abi and Declan, but especially Abi. She's spunky and sassy and not afraid to tell Declan where to stick his attitude when she needs to.

I can fully admit that there are parts of this story that are a bit of a stretch at times, but I absolutely don't care because it's so much fun. And honestly, that's exactly why I read books - to escape reality and to stretch my imagination for a bit. This is character-driven fiction at its best. If you love rom-coms, fake dating, and one bed, you'll love this!

Lynn Painter has such a great style of writing. Her dialog is always easy and fun and her characters well-thought out and likable. While I didn’t love Abi’s reasons for staying in Dex’s house, I did love how she was clever and sassed her way into staying there for the whole week with his permission. Similarly I didn’t love Dex’s lack of care for how much money he had but I loved that he had an ulterior motive for why he thought that way, which the author delivered by the end of the story. These two were well paired and their romance was an enjoyable bit of fun.

Abi’s dislike for the uber-wealthy stems from never having enough money herself. While she never really shows Dex her true self until 2/3rds of the book is finished, the reader sees each character clearly allowing us to overlook some of their faults. Abi’s resolve to change her circumstances through education and hard work makes her worthy of the reader’s esteem. Similarly to Dex’s easy going nature and charm allow us to see him as a worthy partner for her even though he keeps trying to throw money at her to solve all their problems. It’s a fantasy world and these two are lucky enough to be inhabiting this romance novel and the author has made the fantasy believable.

If you’re looking for a fun book that will have you chuckling, I think this one is a perfect fit! I need to make sure I’ve read all of this author’s previous novels. This is the second one I’ve read recently and the second one I’m recommending.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Berkley Publishing (Penguin Random House) and NetGalley for the eARC of this book! Lynn Painter is one of my all time favorite authors, and this did not disappoint!!!

Abi Mariano is a part-time maid, part-time grocery cashier, and grad student who is caught squatting in one of her client’s luxurious Omaha apartments. Declan Powell is a successful billionaire who confronts Abi, whom he has never met, for sleeping in his bed without permission. It just so happens that Declan had spoken of a fictitious girlfriend “Abby” to his parents and colleagues, in hopes of appearing to be more settled down and mature, increasing his chances of moving up in the company. Declan and Abi make an arrangement to “fake date” for an investors weekend. Declan can show her off to the company and his parents, and Abi can continue sleeping at his apartment while her slum residence is fumigated. They also agree on a large payment of $40k for Abi to pay off student loan debt.

Declan and Abi start putting on quite an act, and Declan soon becomes enamored with her quirky personality and feisty attitude. They travel to multiple cities and discover that they are enjoying each other’s company, both of them apprehensive to admit it. Abi uses their situation as inspiration for short stories she is compiling for school. She also becomes suspicious of Declan’s private business transactions with his friend Roman. The way this love story unfolds will have you anxiously flipping the pages!

I was completely smitten with this Cinderella meets Robinhood rom-com by one of my favorite authors! Lynn Painter is a master of romance and I am always falling deeper in love with her writing. Every interaction and inner monologue is whip-smart, original, and a tiny stroke of genius. She incorporates popular songs, Gilmore Girls references, and banter that is to die for.

Most readers of Painter’s work know that her books are not very spicy, but let me tell you it does not take away from the angst and slow burn in this story! I loved the dual POV and fun chapter titles. I HIGHLY recommend this entertaining rom-com for everyone to read this summer!

Topics/Themes/Trigger warnings:
*Billionaire romance
*Fake dating
*Slow burn
*Financial hardship
*Forced Proximity
*Loss of a parent

“How is it that I love someone who’s such a pain in the ass?” I’m sure my husband has asked himself this same question over the years. 🤪

Oh my heart I LOVED this book! Loved. Loved. Loved.

The banter between these two from
polar opposite sides of the financial spectrum is 100/10. The romance? Hot hot hot! I loved these two and want more!

The Pretty Woman comparison is spot on and Abi and Declan are just as fun as Vivian and Edward were when that movie came out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the complimentary ARC.

Every reader has their go-to authors whose books they’ll devour the moment they hit the stands. Lynn Painter is one of those for me. There’s no need to read the back-of-the-book summary to determine if the story is right for me - I already know I can expect witty banter, charismatic characters, wonderful sarcasm, and the all-around goodness that Lynn consistently delivers. For those who aren’t familiar with her but may be feeling a little nostalgic for Pretty Woman (minus the world’s oldest profession vibes), Maid For Each Other brings all the things we loved from that movie and more.

Abi Mariano’s plan was so simple: stay at the penthouse apartment, undetected, while the owner was in London until the infestation in her apartment building was under control. She was a maid; she knew how to keep the place immaculate - no harm, no foul. At least, that was the plan until she ran into the owner’s parents in the kitchen as she was about to leave, who, somehow, knew her. Confused and panicking, Abi agrees to anything they ask in order to make her escape, confident she will never see them again. That is, until the owner of the penthouse, one Declan Powell, shows up at her job, demanding to know how she managed to ruin his life so quickly. Unbeknownst to Abi, Declan had made up a fake girlfriend named “Abby” that his parents are now excited to meet at the upcoming Hathaway event - an event she inadvertently agreed to attend. Determined to unbotch what was supposed to be a simple lie, Declan strikes a deal: show up for the event, pretend to be his girlfriend, and she can stay at the penthouse until her apartment is habitable again. Sound easy? Hardly - Declan is the most infuriatingly controlling man she has ever met. Luckily, Abi needs material for her MFA, and this story seems to be writing itself; she just needs to make it through the week with her sanity intact.

To be honest, this one felt a little rougher around the edges than Lynn’s previous novels. Declan proved to be a hard pill to swallow at first - he reminded me more of the male main character in Accidentally Amy than the charming lead from Love Wager, who reflects more of Roman’s personality. The coupling of these two wholly different personalities on the same page almost acts as a challenge to the reader: do you prefer a rough diamond who is eventually polished, or someone who leads with warmth and good humor from the very beginning? 

Another shift I noticed was in the book’s approach to intimacy. Having read her four previous adult romances, I was surprised to see Lynn sidestep the spice this time, keeping things steamy with just a dash of intensity. I have yet to read her YA titles to compare writing techniques, but I’d guess she mirrored that approach here by focusing more on emotion, connection, and the crackling energy between Abi and Declan - the intimacy of the moment, rather than the act itself. She may have turned it up a notch for an adult romance, but everything was still kept at a gentle simmer.

The book also focused heavily on assumption, perspective, and stereotyping. We see all the deeply rooted stereotypes and assumptions Declan makes about Abi, but we’re just as aware of the ones she has about him - and the 1% in general. It reminded me of As You Like It, where Shakespeare presents the idea that all the world’s a stage and men and women are merely players. The masks we wear and the roles we play are only a fraction of who we are, yet that’s often how we allow the outside world to perceive us. Is it for self-preservation? Possibly.

Despite enjoying the book overall, certain elements felt a bit too predictable compared to Lynn’s previous works. Pretty Woman is such a cult classic that comparisons are inevitable, and the trope of the millionaire you love to hate before you love him is well-worn territory. Declan was too much of a template. I wanted to know more about him - his past, his motivations, the “why” behind his choices, and especially his relationship with Roman, rather than just the quick fly-by peeks we received as backstory. What set him apart from every other millionaire romance I’ve read? What made Declan - well, Declan?

While I may not favor this one as much as Lynn’s previous adult novels (and I have her YA sitting in my TBR stack and can’t wait to dive in), I would still recommend it for the exceptional storyteller Lynn continues to be.

Spoilers have been removed.

This book was delightful. But what books by Lynn Painter aren’t? The case of mistaken identity turned out just right in Maid for Each Other. It was a light, easy read that lifted my spirits and was just what I needed.
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With her apartment off limits to her due to a pest infestation, Abi is desperate for someplace to temporarily live. She is a student, working two jobs, so when she realizes that one of her clients, who has a penthouse she cleans, is out of town and surely wouldn’t know if she slept there for a few nights. Except that one morning she wakes up to hear people talking in the kitchen. These people were the homeowner’s parents who mistake Abi for their son’s girlfriend.
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Their son, Declan, rolls with it and convinces Abi to roll with it too in order to keep everyone off his back. This fake romance was great and seemed real from the start. I enjoyed the witty banter, you all know I am a sucker for it.
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I loved the vibes and relationship in this book, it was just such a fun read. It is out tomorrow so be sure to grab your own copy.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I could not connect with the characters or stay interested in the plot.

Abi is a housekeeper who currently needs to find somewhere to stay while her apartment gets fumigated. She decides to stay at one of her clients’ houses, Declan's, for the week since she believes he is never home. Of course, the first morning, she walks into the kitchen to find an older couple who turn out to be Declan’s parents.

Declan confronts Abi about trespassing at his place, and it quickly turns into a favor. Declan is rich and very high up in his company; however, he is the only single one. He believes it will make him look good to show up to the weekend conferences with a date. Abi agrees only if she can stay at his place and have her student loans paid off.

Declan is an all-around good guy. He is always looking out for Abi, and you can see them both falling for each other. I loved how caring Declan was when Abi’s asthma went full force during the race. I loved this fake dating trope with some mixed-in miscommunication.

Lynn Painter has become an auto-buy author for me. If Lynn writes it, I will read it!

Thank you so much, Berkley Romance, for a gifted copy!