Quick Synopsis

Their name? The objectors.
Their job? To break off weddings as hired.
Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.

Publisher’s Synopsis

When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”

During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.

The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.

And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.

Book Review

In Happily Never After, Sophie walks down the aisle knowing her soon-to-be husband, Stuart, has been cheating on her. She is saved from marrying him by a conscientious observer who exposes Stuart. It just happens that her bestie hired Max, the objector to help Sophie get out of her nuptials. Soon after, Sophie and Max team up as paid objectors. But one thing leads to another and Sophie & Max fall for each other.

I read Happily Never After roughly 2 weeks ago and can tell you very little about it outside the general premise. When I initially finished reading the novel, I rated it 4 stars. However, I question that rating now that I am sitting down to review it. For me, a 4 star book means I really enjoyed it; plus, it made me think or feel. But the fact I cannot remember a whole lot about it leads me to believe that nothing about the book stood out. 🤷‍♀️

The premise of Happily Never After convinced me pick this novel up. (I would like to be a paid objector. It seems like easy money to me.) First, I was curious what could possibly be the reason so many people could not call off their wedding before hand and save some money, if possible 💸. My curiosity always gets the best of me. Second, it just seemed like a fun and different take on a contemporary romance.

I think it holds true that if the synopsis calls for you, you will enjoy this story. But if you are looking for a novel with really well developed characters you feel like you know or love that slowly grows overtime, I am not sure Happily Never After is your best bet.

Sophie and Max have some instantaneous chemistry. Because they are continually lusting for one another, they decide to extend their partnership to the bedroom. This alone does not preclude the story from having a romance that grows. However, it seemed like what they liked most about each other was either physical or off the page. As I said, the characters are not particularly well developed, so it is hard to see what each is falling for.

Overall, Happily Never After is a romance novel with a fun premise. However, it fell a bit short on the feels.

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