Included as a top pick in bimonthly July New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Unexpected small town loving starts at a very unexpected place.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story and the way the author incorporated mental health and body image right from the get go. Aja lives in a small town and doesn't get out much except to go play bingo with some of the lively elderly people of her town. She has anxiety and I think that was one reason she never put herself out there. Enter the son of her bingo playing partner, mister Walker Abbott. He's back in his hometown after many years away. The only reason he has returned is to care for his grandma. But these two have an undeniable chemistry and decide to help each other out with a little bingo bet. Will that help them overcome their fears, or will it only make their matters worse?

Bet On It was just a cute, small town romance that also marked a few other boxes.
Mental Health ✅
Body Positivity ✅
Small Town Romance with Drama ✅
Interracial Romance ✅
Bingo Bets ✅

It's the perfect light summer read with a side of some serious with the mental health and a past that Walker didn't want to deal with. Plus, peach cobbler? How could you go wrong??

I really enjoyed this cute rom com. It wasn’t as lighthearted as some—it dealt with some really heavy mental health and life issues—but it was sweet and sincere. Plus, I thought the bingo aspect was really unique and fun and set it apart from some other romance novels. I would recommend it, especially if you enjoy fat-positive representation in your romance like I do!

TW for anxiety, panic attacks, addiction, and childhood trauma

Having a panic attack in the middle of grocery shopping is not the typical way anyone thinks they will meet their next love. That is exactly what happens to Aja Owens. Aja and Walker meet as Walker tries to help Aja through her panic attack. Walker is in town helping his grandmother recover; Aja is a loner who only really goes out to grocery shop and play bingo a few times a week. She is particularly friendly with one of the older ladies at bingo who just happens to be Walker's grandmother. The three start attending bingo together and the attraction between Aja and Walker becomes something they can't ignore. However since Walker plans to leave town in just a few weeks, he doesn't want to complicate things between them so instead they make an unusual pact. A pact that stipulates whoever wins at bingo gets to choose what their prize is--and it goes exactly where you'd expect. When things start getting more involved than either Aja or Walker expect, their relationship inevitably gets complicated when it's time for Walker to leave town. Can they figure out a way to make this whirlwind relationship work?

THIS BOOK. I loved it so much! Aja is confident and does not refer to herself in a negative way at all throughout the story. This is what I want in my plus size heroines! Walker is so sweet, considerate, and sexy as hell frankly. Their steamy scenes are amazing and very well written. I have zero complaints about this book and can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you so much to Jodie Slaughter, NetGalley & St Martin Press for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

This will be published on July 12.

I will be honest and say I was advised that this book was just "okay" and "would not recommend" but after reading it, I have to say the opposite. I really enjoyed reading this and the biggest reason, I finally read a book with a plus size MC and her size was NEVER an issue. And as someone who is plus size, I kept waiting for it to happen and it never did.

The opening of the book starts off with Aja grocery shopping when a panic attack comes over her. A young man sees that this is happen and stays with her through it until he knew she was okay. Fast forward to her big night out at the local bingo hall where she officially meets this young man as Walker, her bingo buddy's grandson.
Walker left the smalltown after years of teasing and rumors haunted him; where as Aja longed for the slow down pace of a smaller town after living in DC. The attraction between the two was felt from the start but neither knew how to approach. Walker knew that he was not staying around and Aja didn't want to get attach. After Walker won his first bingo game, the sexual tension was too much and they decide that anytime either would win a game, that would be the reward.

One thing that I loved was how there didn't need to be all the witty banter (which don't get me wrong I love) to understand that there were feelings between Walker and Aja. Casen point in this line: "The little intricacies of their time together didn’t need to be shared with everyone for his feelings to be understood."

I also loved how this book touched upon the idea the difficulty and nervousness of making friends as an adult. Aja had anxiety but knew she had to keep putting herself out there so she didn't continue being a hermit. She met Miri while doing some self care - getting her nails done which then led her to meet Miri's friends. One thing that Miri said towards the end of the book after Aja expresses that she is happy to have met her. She says "Me too, I'm glad you let us know you, Aja." So many times we hide ourselves and miss so many opportunities because we do not give ourselves the chance to let people in.

"Good friends could be the difference between being left splattered on the pavement or landing hard but steady on your feet."

Something that surprised me was that we got to know a lot about Walker's background and the root of his anxiety. Whereas with Aja, we didn't know when or perhaps why it started. Wish we could have gotten to know more about Aja's past.

I thought there was just enough steam in this. I thought Jodie did a great job in setting the scene. My only critique as being a plus size woman is trying to picture the mechanics of having sex in a vehicle but hey I guess it could happen! Walker loved her body the way it is and never asked her to change and Aja never hide her body from him.

Lastly, I am ready for more bingo romances! What a fun concept!

4 Stars

I was able to read an early copy of "Bet On It" by Jodie Slaughter on NetGalley. This was a great summer, beach read romance book. The main characters are Aja and Walker and Slaughter does a great job of making you feel you know them and their friends and family. I would definitely read another book by her!

This was a cute small town, friends to lovers romance. I found the characters to be a little awkward and un relatable. I did enjoy the mental health representation in this book. It was a nice change of pace. This book has some steamy moments, which made me cringe a little. Usually they don’t bother me, but for some reason, in this book, it did. But, I know a lot of others loved this book, so I recommend checking out their thoughts on it!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A down to earth romance read that had just the right amount of spice but left me wanting a bit more.

Aja Owens and Walker Abbott were both brought to Greenbelt for different reasons. Aja, to escape the big city and Walker to return and help his grandmother. While both there for different reasons, a run in at the grocery store bonds them when Walker encounters Aja having an anxiety attack. They meet again at the bingo hall and their relationship continues to grow from there.

The way the anxiety of both Aja and Walker is described is very relatable. I marked a quote (something I often do not do) because it hit home. When describing how at the moment her anxiety wasn't present she says "All the shame and anxiety inside her wasn't gone, but it was sleeping. Like always, it decided when she got relief, not the other way around. And it would only last so long, so she decided to go with it."

The fun banter between Aja and Walker was so relatable. The interactions seemed genuine and nothing was rushed. It developed as how a relationship really would and the amount of spice between them seemed realistic. The spicy scenes were SPICEY but so tastefully done.

I did want a bit more on the relationship with Walker and his father and would have loved more of a backstory on Aja. I also felt that the middle of the story was lacking a bit. I was waiting for something else to happen beyond the discussion of trauma that never really went into detail.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Aja and Walker...My heart is tied to these two. They have such a unique, honest, vulnerable relationship that makes you really believe in true love and all is fair and love and war...but in the sweet innocent way with a little spice here and there. These two are a perfect match. Anxiety and mental health were key parts in their relationship and evolution and Jodie did a great job navigating how difficult life can be at times. The beginning of the book was a little slow but the second half really drew me in and I found myself cheering for their relationship and then gasping when bumps in the road occurred. A great romance read with a great attention to body positivity and mental health, realities in today's society.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5

Aja Owens moved to a small town in South Carolina to escape the busy city life that was no longer benefiting her. One night while having a panic attack in the local Piggly Wiggly, she meets the man of her dreams. What a first impression, right? Naturally, Aja never expects to see this man again, only to be introduced to him as the long-estranged grandson of her elderly, bingo bff.

This friends to lovers bingo romance - yes, I said bingo romance - was oh so charming and focused on the mutual struggles both Aja and Walker had with their own mental health. Things were certainly not easy for these two, but together, they worked to overcome their anxieties and realized that what they feel for each other is real. I will say that I was surprised by the level of spice in this novel, but I am not complaining. Definitely recommend this one and hope you enjoy watching Aja and Walker fall in love as much as I did!

Bet on It will be published on July 12, 2022.

Thank you to Jodie Slaughter, St. Martin's Press (@stmartinspress), and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts
Anxiety Attacks and PTSD are both something that have reared their ugly heads in my life so personally this story hit home with me.

Luckily, like these characters have found, I have people in my life who have made all the difference for my mental peace of mind.

Sometimes life kicks you in the teeth one too many times leaving internal scars behind that only you can see.

Aja Owens and Walker Abbott are prime examples of people having to live with those internal scars yet still manage to get through their days to best of their ability.

When they find the trust to confide their issues with each other and got total acceptance, I cried. Not only with joy but with relief that these characters finally found that special connection and as Walker thinks to himself a kinship lots of people are never lucky enough to get!

What started off as a chance encounter friendship develops into something each had never dreamed they could have in a romantic relationship.

Not that there are no pitfalls before all is as it should be but Aja and Walkers journey to an HEA is well worth worth the read, warts and all!

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

This book was unfortunately not for me. As much as I wanted to like it, the male main character was a 30 year old with an inner monologue of a thirteen year old who couldn't seem to keep his imaginative hands to himself. The male character had such promise but truly fell flat for me.

I loved the rep for anxiety, PTSD, and panic attacks in this book. I think that part was incredibly well done.

There's definitely an element of miscommunication, but that does go hand-in-hand with the anxiety disorders that surfaced.

The other part of the story that bothered me were the scenes that were meant to be intimate. I honestly love reading intimate scenes – the more detailed the better, but these often felt graphic and not in the pleasant way. They were crude and abrasive – and hey, some people are that way in their intimacy, but it didn't entirely feel like it fit these characters.

The overall plot I did enjoy, which is the only reason I continued reading – I just wanted more from the male MC. I enjoyed the female MC and found her a breath of fresh air compared to many other characters I've read recently.

My favorite part of this story is how well Slaughter captures the feelings of anxiety, panic, and learning to cope with these things in a very public world that still doesn't really get it. Slaughter also has a rich understanding of complex PTSD and trauma -- two things that are rarely captured well in contemporary fiction, much less in contemporary romance. For me, the character development around this really won the day, though the banter and chemistry also made this an easy read.

this was so good and cute!! it was an arc tho so no spoilers!! i loved the honest examination of anxiety and what it means for two anxious people to love each other and to have a relationship with each other. also the spicy scenes were impeccable. honestly the rep in this book is so amazing and the romance is so sweet and i can’t wait for other people to read it!!

SPOILERS FOR NETGALLEY:
WALKER WAITED OUTSIDE HER DOOR FOR FOUR HOURS??? also the peach cobbler to peaches nickname is everything especially when walker realizes how it represents what aja means to him???? honestly this book just hit rlly different, i loved it a lot.

CW: on page panic attack, anxiety, PTSD, parental neglect

Ok, that was so freakin’ cute! Is spicy fluff a thing, because that’s what this book was! The MC’s fall in love at bingo, it doesn’t get much fluffier than that!

Honestly I think the best way for me to write all the amazingness that was in this is to give you a list:
-Accurate and respectful anxiety and PTSD representation. I saw myself in a lot of the overthinking internal monologues and it made me feel a little less alone in my own struggles with anxiety.

-The entire book is wonderfully therapy positive, with both male and female MC’s currently in therapy or had positive experiences in therapy.

-Even though one of the familial support systems is lacking, both MC’s have incredible found family support systems who are completely accepting and conscientious of their friends’ struggles and do everything they can to help and make sure they are always comfortable

-Probably my favorite thing though is the complete and total body positivity of the book! The female MC is plus sized — she’s not vaguely described as “curvy”, but honestly described as fat and there is NOT ONE SINGLE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION when she’s described this way!!! She is confident in her body and has no shame or self consciousness about her body (especially shown when undressing in the spicy scenes!). The male MC worships her thick thighs, her soft stomach, her stretch marks, etc. without fetishizing her body, just 100% worshiping her. As a plus sized woman with some self esteem issues myself, it was incredibly refreshing and empowering to have a female MC who embraced her body and reveled in her love interest’s desire for her body.

Low on angst, medium on spiciness, high on accurate representation and beautiful body positivity, this was the fun, spicy fluff that I didn’t know I needed!

I'm a sucker for friends to lovers, and this 100% fit the bill. Add in a small town and characters to die for, this was the perfect way to kick off my summer reading!

Aja has moved to a small town to get away from the big city. Her social time is Wednesday night bingo where she's made friends with the old woman she sits next to. Walker hates the small town - his childhood was hell and he still has PTSD. So when he has to return home to care for his grandmother and she drags him to bingo, he's conflicted to find a beautiful woman.

Aja's anxiety and Walker's PTSD are really nicely explored. And Aja's tentative steps into a small town social group are So Real. There is a lot of care taken with these characters. Walker makes progress dealing with his past. And both have therapists and a support system in place at the beginning (though it grows), meaning the other character doesn't force them to do their work.

Oh, and it's spicy. These two have made an absurd sex deal based on bingo, and they (surprise) can't stick to it. Definitely the spiciest bingo-centric book I've read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Aja recently moved to a small town in South Carolina to better manager her anxiety which seems to help until she has a panic attack in a grocery store. Walker sees her and recognizes what she's experiencing, as he's dealt with it himself and offers to stand next to her until it passes. Later they have another chance to meet at a bingo night. They create a sex-pact that if one of them wins at bingo, then they can have sex, but then they start to develop FEELINGS.

This book deals with some complex and heavy storylines which are dealt with in a thoughtful manner; however, it isn't discussed much in the blurb, so I would give trigger warnings for anxiety, child neglect, panic attacks and PTSD.

My honest review is given in exchange for receiving a copy of the book from Netgalley. I just reviewed "Bet on It" by Jodie Slaughter. #NetGalley

BET ON IT - JODIE SLAUGHTER
3.75⭐
PLOT -
Aja Owens meets Walker Abbots in the frozen food section while she is having a panic attact but inspite of running away he helps her calm down. They meet a second time at his grandma's famous bingo night. But they both have a series of mental health issues from anxiety to PTSD to deal while they are in the small town of Carolina.
But there is an undeniable sexual attraction which they work on via a Bet!
With Walker return back to his city life after his grandma improves .. can it only remain superficial between the two??
MY THOUGHTS -
I love reading book which deal with mental health issues..this one had a good balance...there was steam and drama.
I loved how Jodie made Aja a strong plus sized heroine who inspite of flaws was ready to battle/figure out life ....taking steps in right direction.
A good story though quite predictable.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

First off I want to say thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin and of course Jodie Slaughter for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a fan of Talia Hibbert, Abby Jimenez or Jasmine Guillory this book was written for you. Don't let the cartoon cover fool you though, if you are looking for a cute light hearted rom-com this is not the book for you. Both the FMC and the MMC struggle with severe anxiety, CPTSD and panic attacks (check tw before you read). The author does a really good job at representing day to day struggles with mental health and how it can affect your relationships, not only romantic but familial and platonic friendships as well. This one was hard for me to rate because I found the pacing of the book made it hard to get through. I loved the story though which is why I am rating it 4 stars.