Book Review: Maid for each other by Lynn Painter

 


Title: Maid for Each Other

By: Lynn Painter

Genre: Romance

Pages: 368

Release Date: July 15th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.

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?

 

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Review:

Lynn Painter serves up a sparkling, feel good adult rom‑com with Maid for Each Other. The perfect blend of sharp banter, swoony moments, and emotional warmth. This feels like a modern day Maid in Manhattan or Pretty Woman vibe, only with stronger humor and a heroine you root for from the very first page.

Abi Mariano, a hardworking grad student juggling two jobs, unexpectedly ends up sleeping in the penthouse of her millionaire client, Declan Powell, after a building infestation. When his parents arrive and assume she’s his girlfriend “Abby,” Declan scrambles and proposes a fake‑dating arrangement to keep his image intact. Complete with fully covered living expenses for Abi.

What truly shines is Painter’s dual POV and quick witted dialogue. Abi’s sass and sincerity balance perfectly against Declan’s stoic billionaire charm. Their chemistry is electric, even when their fake relationship is strictly business at first.

Despite the pacing being brisk and the premise somewhat contrived, this was a hit for summer reading. Fun, immersive, and impossible to put down. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

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Weekly Menu #616 And The Book Of The Week

 


This week, we’re heading Down Under with an Australian inspired menu that’s bursting with bold flavors and plenty of protein to keep things satisfying. From savory meat pies to hearty veggie packed dishes, this lineup draws from Australia’s diverse culinary landscape. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight or settling in for a cozy weekend meal, these recipes are simple, delicious, and full of Aussie charm.

Alongside our culinary travels, I’ve cracked open The Never List by Jade Presley. A paranormal romance with witches, secrets, and sizzling chemistry. It’s the perfect escape read, blending magical mischief with a strong female lead and a fast-paced plot. I’m only a few chapters in, but the tension is already building in the best way. If you love stories where a witchy heroine doesn’t back down, this one might just cast a spell on you too.

Now, let's get to this week's menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Aussie BBQ Chicken & Sweet Potato Wedges

Kids - Chicken and Fries

 

Tuesday

Kangaroo (or Lean Beef) Burger with Coleslaw

Kids - Cheese Burgers and Salad

 

Wednesday

Chicken Parmigiana with Broccolini

Kids - Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli

 

Thursday

Balsamic Marinated Steak with Roasted Pumpkin Salad

Kids - Nutella Toast and Fruit

 

Friday

Aussie Meat Pie Bowls

Kids - Beef Ramen and Apple Sauce

 

Saturday

Lamb Koftas with Tzatziki and Flatbread

Kids - Flatbread Pizza

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

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Sunday Confessions #313

 


Welcome back to Sunday Confessions where I spill the bookish thoughts, reading habits, and random life updates that don’t quite fit anywhere else. Whether it’s a long-overdue series I finally finished, a spicy take on a popular book, or just a peek into the chaos of my week, this is the place I let it all out. So grab your coffee (or your comfort read), and let’s get into it.


Sunday Confessions #312
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Weekly Menu #615 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
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Binge-Worthy Wednesday: The Rom-Commers by Catherine Center
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Thriller Thursday: The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
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Fantasy Friday: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
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Saturday Sips: Series Review - The Mortal Instruments


Weekly Menu #616 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: Maid for each other by Lynn Painter
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Binge-Worthy Wednesday: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
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ARC Review: Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston
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Book Review: The Life Imposible by Matt Haig
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Sunday Confessions #314













216/100 2025 Reading Challenge



That’s it for this week’s confessions. Books I loved, books I tolerated, and a few thoughts I probably should’ve kept to myself. Thanks for hanging out in my little corner of chaos. As always, I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading, loving, or side eyeing lately. Until next Sunday, may your TBR shrink just enough to justify adding three more books.

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Saturday Sips: Series Review - The Mortal Instruments

 


It took me 17 years to finish this series. I started City of Bones when I had just given birth to my oldest child. Back then, it was something to read while I pumped at work, something to escape into, and for a while, it worked. The first few books were entertaining enough: dark urban fantasy, a snarky cast of characters, and a gritty, demon slaying New York. I was along for the ride.

But then the series took a turn. A very weird turn. As the plot progressed, it felt like the story became obsessed with sibling romance, and then, more disturbingly, there were themes that hinted at incestual rape. And that was the point where I mentally checked out. It stopped being about the adventure or the characters and started revolving around taboo drama that felt more exploitative than meaningful. I couldn’t understand the direction it was going or why these themes kept coming up, especially in a series marketed to teens.

It made me wonder: who exactly was this for? Because it stopped feeling like something a young adult audience would, or should, connect with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.16 // Series Rating: 3.16 out of 5

The only reason this series breaks 3 stars is because of the first few books. They had spark, humor, and a strong enough plot to keep me interested. But the deeper I got into the series, the more it felt like a chore to finish. It wasn't all bad. There are moments of decent worldbuilding and a few side characters that deserved better, but overall, it lost the magic it started with.

Would I recommend The Mortal Instruments? Maybe the first few books, to the right reader. But for me, this series ended up being more frustrating than fulfilling. At least I can finally say: it’s done. Seventeen years later.

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Fantasy Friday: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

 


Title: For She is Wrath

By: Emily Varga

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 389

Release Date: October 29th, 2024

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

Three hundred and sixty-four days.
Framed for a crime she didn't commit, Dania counts down her days in prison until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy responsible for her downfall, the boy she once loved—and still can't forget. When she discovers a fellow prisoner may have the key to exacting that vengeance--a stolen djinn treasure--they execute a daring escape together and search for the hidden treasure.

Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who betrayed her and her family, even though Mazin stands in her way. But seeking revenge becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse, especially when an undeniable fire still burns between them, and the power to destroy her enemies has a price. As Dania falls deeper into her web of traps and lies, she risks losing her humanity to her fight for vengeance--and her heart to the only boy she's ever loved.

 

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Review:

She Is Wrath is a brutal, beautiful scream of a book. Emily Varga delivers a searing tale of vengeance, resilience, and the power of female rage. The prose is lyrical without losing its edge, and every chapter burns with intensity. The main character is unapologetically fierce. Her pain, her fury, and her transformation leap off the page in waves. This story doesn’t flinch. It dares. It challenges. And it stays with you long after the final page. If you're craving a dark feminist revenge arc that doesn’t hold back, She Is Wrath will leave you breathless.

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Thriller Thursday: The Better Sister by Alafair Burke


Title: The Better Sister

By: Alafair Burke

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 311

Release Date: April 16th, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

From Alafair Burke—New York Times bestselling author of the runaway hit, The Wife—comes another twisty tale of domestic noir. When a prominent Manhattan lawyer is murdered, two estranged sisters—one the dead man’s widow, the other his ex—must set aside mistrust and old resentments . . . but can they escape their past?

Though Chloe was the younger of the two Taylor sisters, she always seemed to be in charge. She was the honor roll student with big dreams and an even bigger work ethic. Nicky was always restless . . . and more than a little reckless—the opposite of her ambitious little sister. She floated from job to job and man to man, and stayed close to home in Cleveland.

For a while, it seemed like both sisters had found happiness. Chloe earned a scholarship to an Ivy League school and moved to New York City, where she landed a coveted publishing job. Nicky married promising young attorney Adam Macintosh, and gave birth to a baby boy they named Ethan. The Taylor sisters became virtual strangers.

Now, more than fifteen years later, their lives are drastically different—and Chloe is married to Adam. When he’s murdered by an intruder at the couple’s East Hampton beach house, Chloe reluctantly allows her teenaged stepson’s biological mother—her estranged sister, Nicky—back into her life. But when the police begin to treat Ethan as a suspect in his father’s death, the two sisters are forced to unite . . . and to confront the truth behind family secrets they have tried to bury in the past

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Review:

The Better Sister hooked me from the very first page. Alafair Burke crafts a gripping domestic thriller layered with secrets, sisterhood, and betrayal. The dynamic between Chloe and Nicky is brilliantly complex. Burke dives deep into the tensions of family, motherhood, and identity, while weaving a mystery that kept me guessing until the final reveal. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist blindsided me in the best way. If you love fast paced thrillers with emotionally charged relationships and razor sharp prose, The Better Sister is absolutely worth your time.
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Binge-Worthy Wednesday: The Rom-Commers by Catherine Center

 


Title: The Rom-Commers

By: Katherine Center

Genre: Romance

Pages: 336

Release Date: June 11th, 2024

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?

 

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Review:

I absolutely loved The Rom-Commers! Katherine Center delivers another feel-good hit full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of emotional depth. This story takes you on a whirlwind ride through the ups and downs of creativity, connection, and second chances. I felt the full gambit of emotions. I laughed, teared up, and cheered for the characters, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. It’s fun, fast-paced, and full of charm with just the right amount of swoon. A perfect pick for anyone who loves a smart, heartfelt rom-com with substance.
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