3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book early. Rating and review are my own. This review is a little (ok a lot) late, but here are my thoughts anyway.
Bet On It was a sweet and steamy romance with a lot of great anxiety rep. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how much it delved into both of the main characters anxieties and how that felt and impacted their relationships. As someone with anxiety myself I related very much with them on this level. In addition to that both characters were likeable and their romance was cute and very steamy. My biggest issue was I felt it was too long in some parts and needed a little more from the side characters. I was so glad to see Aja make new friends and I kinda wanted to see more of them and more of Walker’s granny.
This was a good contemporary romance I would recommend to anyone who wants a steamy romance that isn’t afraid to dip into mental health issues like anxiety.

This one was so cute! I loved the banter between the two, and the level of love that deepened despite their best efforts.

I loved the meet cute here and tghe meddling elders and cast of characters,and why not have a bingo sex pact!

This book fell a bit short for me, but I was grateful for the opportunity to read an advance copy. It felt a bit wordy at times and dragged out, but I absolutely loved the premise.

I received a reviewer copy of Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter from the publisher St. Martin's Press from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Aja Owens and Walker Abbott's first meeting takes place when he helps her calm down in the midst of a panic attack at the grocery store frozen foods. They both feel a connection because they both struggle with anxiety and seem to understand what things are going through. The next time they meet when Walker escorts his grandma to Bingo at the church. Walker is only in Greenbelt to help his grandma and really hates the area, while Aja feels more at peace. The two of them connect and end up forming a sex-bet associated with Bingo but continue to connect, could it be more? Can they overcome their difference feelings towards Greenbelt?

What I Loved: I really liked the concept of the Bingo game and finding yourself a place in the Bingo event in a small town, so charming! I also really loved the connection that these two formed over their shared anxiety and trauma. It was really believable and I liked the way that the author handled the anxiety and how others in their life supported them and met their needs respectively. I also found the issue of the location challenge totally believable.

What I didn’t like so much: At times I got very frustrated with the lead male. I didn't fully understand his motivations and his anger with his grandma.

Who Should Read It: People who love books set in small southern towns.

Summary: A bet over Bingo leads to lots of connection.

I absolutely adored reading this! Aja and Walker's chemistry is straight fire. Plus Walker's grandmother is the cutest little wing woman if I ever did read about one. Also, I love that bingo is involved, as I am an avid bingo player. I think Jodie Slaughter knocked this one out of the park and I can't wait to pick up a final copy!

3 stars. This book was such a mixed bag. Pros: mental health rep, mixed race couple. Cons: cookie cutter relationship, no real distinguishing....anything. I just didn't care about any of it by the end unfortunately. Sigh.

this was unfortunately a DNF at the 55% mark for me! the sex scenes were so cringey and I felt really disconnected from the characters. for some reason I just did not care about them or what they were going through at all.

I really wanted to love this story, and parts of it I totally did love. But, I found it somewhat predictable in a way that wasn't comforting but kind of tedious. I also found myself disliking the male lead character as it came toward the end.

This was surprisingly steaaaaamy. im not sure I LOVED the story, but I definitely like the mental health representation in this book. I did not feel very connected to any of the characters and the story is based in a small town but I felt like it lacked the small town charm that could have been set. Thank you to Netgalley for a ARC of this book.

This is a cute and spicy romance that has a little extra. Aja and Walker meet at a Bingo hall in fictional small town Greenbelt, SC. Aja moved there in search of a quieter life, and Walker is in town from Charleston for a few months helping his grandmother recover from a fall. Sparks fly and the two get to know each other, all the while dealing with their own anxieties and past traumas. I appreciate how the author incorporates characters who are real people with real issues, dealing with them in ways that are sometimes messy. Themes of family, trauma, healing, love, friendships, anxiety and more round out the story.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#netgalley #stmartinspress

I like to read romance as an escape; these character's anxieties were just too much for me to enjoy this. I appreciate the representation, but it's not what I wanted.

This was a perfect mix of steamy & sweet. I loved the bingo aspect of Walker's Grandmother and Aja's friendship.

What I really loved about this book was the mental health talk, and Aja’s journey in making new friends. As someone with social anxiety, that really resonated with me. I really liked the two main characters, but unfortunately just didn’t love the romance. I didn’t feel a strong chemistry between these two.

I really enjoyed Bet On It. I listened to the audiobook & it was an entertaining listen. As someone with anxiety, I really related to and appreciated the anxiety representation in both characters. I would round up to 5 stars.

A steamy romance between a mixed race couple. A story that brings to light the subject of anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD. However, there was not much depth to the characters - I somehow wanted more. This was an okay read for me.

"Bet on It" is a charming romantic novel that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy. The story centers around Aja Owens, a woman who encounters the man of her dreams while having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The man, Walker Abbott, has just returned to Greenbelt, South Carolina after more than a decade away, and is counting down the days until his grandmother's health improves so he can return to his real life. Aja and Walker make a hastily made bingo-based sex pact to keep their feelings in check, but their emotions have other plans.

Jodie Slaughter's writing style is engaging and keeps readers invested in the story. The characters are well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for Aja and Walker to overcome the obstacles in their way. The story's pacing is steady, with just the right amount of tension and humor to keep readers engaged. The bingo-themed aspect of the novel adds a fun and unique twist to the romance genre.

Overall, "Bet on It" is a sweet and enjoyable romance novel that will leave readers feeling happy and satisfied. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light and entertaining read.

This is a sexy and charming novel that also addresses mental health issues with a caring touch. I really enjoyed the romance between Aja and Walker and loved how the author seamlessly wove in Aja’s backstory. I haven’t read this author before but will definitely be looking at more from Jodie Slaughter. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy.

I appreciate the special attention to mental health and not having the protagonists be cookie-cutter perfectionists. That being said, there was very little to draw me into this romance and be heavily invested in this couple. Decent book, but just not one that stood out to me. 3 star ⭐️ rating.

Aja meets Walker when she’s in the middle of a panic attack in the grocery store. Walker helps her through her attack. She doesn’t know yet that she will soon run into him again. The two begin a friendship and set up an agreement on how they want their relationship to be. The story has a serious side where the characters deal with their emotional sides, but there’s also some humor, and some spicy romance.