The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

The Love Wager: A Witty Fake Dating Rom-Com with Irresistible Chemistry

Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Wrong Number.

Plot Overview

Hallie Piper is determined to turn over a new leaf after hitting rock bottom (i.e., belly-crawling out of a hotel room). She decides it’s time to become a full-on adult: new apartment, new look, and a fresh start on a dating app. But when she logs on, she matches with none other than Jack, the very guy whose room she snuck out of weeks earlier!

Agreeing they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie quickly realize they’re each other’s perfect wing-person in their searches for The One. They text about their disastrous dates, often scheduling post-date taco runs together when things inevitably go wrong. Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.

All Bets Are Off

Discouraged by the lack of romantic prospects, Jack and Hallie make a playful wager to see who can find true love first. However, when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off. As they pretend to be a couple, the line between fake affection and genuine feeling becomes blurred. They both struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with, realizing the love they've been seeking might be sitting right across the table.

Key Tropes & Appeal

• Fake Dating / Wing-Person Alliance: A chaotic and charming setup for unavoidable chemistry.
• Witty Banter: Lynn Painter's signature humor shines through their constant communication.
• Wager/Betting Trope: A playful challenge that leads directly to romance.
• Tone: High-energy, deeply funny, and genuinely swoon-worthy.

Product Details

• Title: The Love Wager
• Author: Lynn Painter
• Format: Paperback
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication Date: March 14, 2023
• ISBN-13: 9780593437285
• ISBN-10: 0593437284