REVIEW: Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter: Abbi is officially out of options. She is broke, exhausted, juggling two jobs and college and now she’s homeless after a bedbug infestation takes over her apartment building. With nowhere else to go, she does the unthinkable and crashes in the penthouse of one of the buildings she cleans. It’s a totally harmless plan… until she wakes up to two strangers in the kitchen, Declan’s parents. Who are very excited to have finally met their son’s girlfriend…Dex is focused on his career and has no time to deal with his family’s matchmaking antics, which is why he may have invented a girlfriend named “Abby” just to get them off his back. So when his parents start gushing about meeting her, he’s a bit confused to say the least. But when he figures out the mix-up and meets the very real, very chaotic Abbi, he decides to make her a deal: pretend to be his girlfriend and he will provide everything she needs for the duration of their arrangement. Totally business, completely fake and no feelings whatsoever! Well that is until lines blur, the sparks fly and the whole thing becomes way more complicated than either of them planned.

I loved this book big time! There absolutely nothing that I did not love about this silly cute fake dating turned real romcom. Maid For Each Other had me hooked right from the very first chapter, grinning and giggling as I followed Abbi and Dex as they figured out their way from fake to very real love story. Painter creates the perfect romcom balance between silly cute and heartfelt, with two simply darling main characters that will have you shouting out just get together already!

I just adored both of two main characters. These two were a total mess and I loved every single moment of their silly, cute journey. Abbi was a total gem of a character, she was strong, determined, resilient and sassy as hell. While she might be a bit of a walking disaster, our girl never gives up, after a bit of a melt down she always pulls herself back together ready to concur the world. With her sweet and a bit wacky personality it really was impossible not to root her on and wish her the best. Where as our hero Dex was all mister structure and polish, and I just loved getting to see his world get a bit messy thanks to Abbi. Dex was definitely an interesting one, while he was more reserved and quiet he still had this playfulness to him that I really liked. I really liked getting to see him realise the important things in life and kind of openings his eyes to things that he really wants apposed to thing that he thinks he should want.

While Declan and Abbi are complete opposites that shouldn’t work on paper, in actuality these two were just perfection together. I loved their chemistry, the banter and how easily they fitted into each others lives. The thing that I liked about them was that they balanced each other, Dex softened Abbi, while she forced him to step out of his comfort zone. I really enjoyed getting to see these two slowly go from slightly awkward moments to this intense emotional connection that just sneaks up on them between all their banter.

Overall Maid for Each Other was such a joy to read. It was fun, flirty and full of heart! This book had me laughing and swooning, genuinely one that I didn’t want it to end. This is a definite must read book from me!

Book Info:

Publication: July 15, 2025 | Berkley |

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?