ARC Review: Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter

 

IT STARTED WITH A CUP…

Isabella Shay is usually a very honest person.

But when she’s running late for her first day at a dream job and the barista yells for “Amy” 3x with no answer, she does the unthinkable.

Izzy takes that PSL.

It’s the exact drink she ordered and paid for, only waaaay further ahead in the line, so she mutters “I’m Amy” and grabs the cup.

But when she turns around and runs directly into the most attractive man she’s ever seen, spilling the drink all over his GQ shirt and tie, she ends up having the ultimate meet-cute. Sparks fly and things feel beyond promising until he says the words, “See you tomorrow, Amy.”

Uh, oh – she’ll definitely have to straighten him out the following day.

Only when she gets to her new office and meets the VP of her department, it is none other than Blake Phillips - the hottie from Starbucks. And the man might’ve been charming to “Amy,” but he is an arrogant grump to Izzy, an arrogant grump who dos not find her explanation funny at all.

MEET CUTE + GRUMPY/SUNSHINE + FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS = ACCIDENTALLY AMY

Title: Accidentally Amy

Author: Lynn Painter

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Expected Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was excited to see this title had been picked up by a major publisher. I love when indie stories go to print and reach the larger audience and get the recognition for the great tales they are.

I'm a big Lynn Painter fan. She is a go to author for me. I love her YA but I think I like her adult books even more. The romance is always done so well.

This one is a light hearted and easy read. The build up of romance between the two main characters is fun and realistic. Painter infuses the story with humor that had me laughing out loud many times during my read. The story line is nothing new and very much reminded me of the movie Working Girl, which I really enjoyed.

I loved both Izzy and Blake. I enjoyed their differences. His grumpy to her sunshine. Their romance was cute as it blossomed, though I did feel there was that slight bit of insta-love I don't always meld with. But it worked well in this particular story. There was a bit of push and pull with their relationship given their circumstances, as well. 

Painter got the pacing and banter spot on in this one, though. She really knows when to infuse the story with the lightheartedness is needs to break up those more intense moments.

This one does have a bit of a third act break up type thing to it but it is resolved fairly quickly. The circumstances under which is happens are understandable. I'm not sure I would have done what Blake did had I been in his shoes. I don't think my heart could handle it. 

If you're looking for a fun feeling, funny, and entertaining rom-com with friends to lovers, workplace romance, and grumpy sunshine and characters that are quirky and relatable, I highly recommend this one.

If you're looking for a fun feeling, funny, and entertaining rom-com with characters that are quirky and relatable, I highly recommend this one.

Author:

Lynn Painter is the international bestselling author of Better Than The Movies. She writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults, and when she isn't reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. 

Obscure facts that might make her sound interesting (but probably don't): 

*She is the step-aunt to one of the actors on Riverdale, even though she's technically only met him once and he likely wouldn't remember her. Hint: He starred in a movie with Yara Shahidi. And another one with Will Smith. His name rhymes with Barles Gelton.

*She can fit an entire cupcake in her mouth. BOOM.

*She threw up all over herself on the first day of 2nd grade.

*She once saw Kelsey Grammar hailing a taxi in Manhattan, so she's pretty much an NYC native who is best friends with celebrities.

*She has a one-inch vertical.

*Her love for spaghetti is brighter than the sun, stronger than The Rock.

*If you see her doing anything crafty, it isn't her; she has literally set things on fire with a hot glue gun and has the motor skills of a preschooler. No offense, preschoolers.

*Her 4th grade teacher moved her desk out into the hallway because she wouldn't shut up. Like, ever.

*She held the record at her elementary school for finding the most bats (vampire, not baseball) in a single year. The little dork located - and alerted authorities to - four potentially-rabid bats.*

So technically, if you think about it, she might've saved hundreds of lives with her nerditude. #hero

*She was the only one to ever find any bats because everyone else had better things to do at recess.