Review by Ronny
Maid for Each Other is a fun, witty rom-com that is pure Lynn Painter gold.
Favourite Quote:
I had every intention of giving her the public-appropriate kiss of a couple who’d just exchanged a gift, but something happened.
Just as I lowered my mouth to hers, our eyes met and she whispered against my lips, “Don’t disappoint me, Powell.”
Book Synopsis:
As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.
Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?
Review:
We are big, big, big fans of Lynn Painter; whether she is writing YA romance or adult romances, Lynn just knows what her readers want. This book is fabulous, funny, witty, and just everything I wanted it to be. Like all of Lynn’s other books, this book is just a light, fun read and bursting with witty Gilmore Girls-like banter. Lynn’s books, including this one, tend not to deal with any tough or heavy issues, and there aren’t a whole heck of a lot (if any) super serious moments. Now, I am not saying there isn’t any depth to her books because there is. What I am saying is that if you are looking for a pick-me-up read that is sure to charm your socks off and put a smile on your face, then pick up any of Lynn’s books.
What makes this book so special? First is the slightly banana pants plot. I love it when a story is a little bonkers because it usually means I am in for a good time with lots of laughter. Abi is temporarily homeless and decides to spend the night in one of the apartments she cleans, knowing that the owner (Dex) is out of town. But of course, her carefully laid plan is thrown out the door when Dex’s parents pop over to his apartment the next morning and assume Abi is Dex’s mysterious girlfriend. After some fabulous witty banter and haggling, Dex and Abi decide to strike a deal and pretend to be dating for the weekend. The plot is delightfully ridiculous and so much fun. Abi and Dex are from two different worlds. Abi is a poor university grad student, and Dex has more money than Abi could ever imagine. The dynamic between two characters that are so different is always entertaining, and when you add in Lynn’s witty banter and her tendency to put her characters in humorous situations, it always makes for a fabulous read. One of the things that I like about this book is that even though things move fast between Abi and Dex, Lynn makes it so these two characters become friends before moving to that romantic relationship sphere. That friendship allowed these two to get to know each other on a more personal level before diving into bed with each other.
Abi is that fun, quirky heroine, which is pretty typical for a Lynn book. She is chatty, witty, and just a lot of fun to be around. She definitely keeps Dex on his toes, which I found absolutely delightful. There is nothing better than when a hero’s world is turned upside down because of the heroine. Abi has a strong dislike for the super-rich and has a hard time not being too judgmental towards Dex and the other ultra-rich people she meets. Abi’s prejudiced attitude towards the ultrarich world becomes this hurdle that makes having a romantic relationship with Dex difficult. She chooses to only believe that he is a rich man who doesn’t see the true value of anything. Dex is a fabulous book boyfriend. When we first meet him, he comes across as this rigid workaholic who doesn’t like anyone else disrupting his plans to work his way up the corporate ladder. But as the story progresses, you start to peel back those layers and learn that there is more to this man than meets the eye. He’s got layers and depth.
The romance is delicious and everything I hoped it would be. The chemistry between Abi and Dex is addictive, and I found myself craving scenes where they interacted with each other. One of the things that always stands out for me when it comes to a Lynn Painter book is the fast, witty banter between the two MCs. It definitely has that Gilmore Girls vibe to it, and in this case, it felt very Lorelai and Luke bantery. The fake dating parts of this book were fun and well done. Yes, the set-up for the fake dating scenario is slightly ridiculous, but that’s ok because this isn’t meant to be a serious book. This is a dual POV story, which I loved because I enjoy watching a character’s inner struggle when they are trying to deal with or deny those growing feelings that seem to keep on popping. There is some miscommunication that crops up near the end of the book that causes the third act to break up, but to be fair, the miscommunication comes about because of the actions of a secondary character. Once Dex realizes what has happened, he works quickly to clear up the miscommunication.
Maid for Each Other is bursting with fun shenanigans, swoony romance, and witty banter that will put a smile on your face.
Thank you, Berkley Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
