Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter Narrator: Teddy Hamilton, Saylor Bell Curda
Published by Berkley, Penguin Audio on July 15, 2025
Genres: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 336
Length: 7 hours, 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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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 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’s never even met him). It goes great…until she comes out of the bedroom one morning to find 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 executive vice president at Hathaway Holdings, but he still has his eyes set on the next level. When his parents mention they met his girlfriend Abi, he all but chokes on his escargot. As great 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 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?
I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Lynn Painter. They always seem to have very fun banter and humor. So I always want to read her books. The setting for this seems to be Omaha Nebraska with a Warren Buffet type character.
Maid for Each Other is a class difference book, not that they really care about that too much. Abi is a maid, who also works in a grocery store and is finishing her graduate degree. She got her undergraduate degree in finance and is now doing her master’s in creative writing. She grew up with a single mother who is not quite a competent adult. Her apartment building has an infestation and she can’t afford to go anywhere. So she stays in the apartment of a cleaning client who is out of town.
Declan has more wealth than most people can imagine. He works for a well known and successful investor (Warren). His parents end up surprising Abi in his apartment, eating her homemade muffins. Declan has an imaginary girlfriend he named Abby since the company prefers their vice presidents to be settled.
Thus begins my favorite – fake dating. Abi is convinced to “play” his girlfriend at a company dinner and ends up getting to know Declan well. There is some class prejudice in each of them. Neither one is mean about it, but their backgrounds are very different. I felt for Abi enjoying the whirl of expensive clothes, meals, cars and trips, and a handsome guy who she could too easily want more.
I found Declan hard to like even if he was very handsome. He didn’t seem to understand how hard it was for her and the need to protect herself, especially when he seemed to question her integrity too much. I didn’t find their banter as appealing as some of the other books I have read. Many of the situations didn’t feel realistic to me.
Declan turns out to be a decent guy who understood more than he was willing to admit. In the end, he was eager to share how he really felt as was Abi. So it is a happy ending.
Narration:
I believe this is my first listen to these narrators. Their performance gave life and emotion to the characters. It was comfortable and fun for me. I listened at my newer 1.6x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Lynn Painter
Lynn Painter is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I enjoy Painter’s books, too. And this one sounds fun, even if Declan isn’t a perfect leading man.
Thanks Kara. Her books always have the best banter.
I’ve collected a few of Painter’s books but haven’t read any yet. Like the fake dating trope and good banter. Great review, Anne💜
I absolutely love the fresh outlook of her heroines. The Love Wager is a real favorite.
I also love fake dating/romance. I still haven’t read one of Painters books. I’m glad this one worked out despite not loving the MMC.
I really enjoy them Jen. I’d start with the original Love Wager and move forward from there, although they aren’t really series.
Like you, I haven’t been into contemporary romances as much. A romance has to be amazing for me to get into it nowadays, so I probably wouldn’t pick this one up. Also, I’ve read one of her books and I was a little underwhelmed. Happy to see you enjoyed the story.
yes I’m not sure why other than the plot is roughly always the same. That sort of could be said of mysteries also, but there is much more variation.. But I like mystery or suspense or other factors with my romance. Even Scifi or a fantasy world.
I do highly recommend Mr. Wrong Number and The Love Wager though.
I just wrote up my review and it will go live on my blog on Monday while I’m on my cruise. I enjoyed this a little more than you, but I can see all the things you had issues with for sure!
Thanks Lisa. I’ll still be reading her books because her characters have fresh perspectives.
This is an author I’ve been wanting to read and this one looks really cute!
I’ve enjoyed all her books but would highly recommend Mr. Wrong Number or The Love Wager as my favorites.
Adorable title and cover. I like the sounds of it.
It’s fun as all her books are with a fresh perspective.