Cover Image: Bet on It

Bet on It

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Member Reviews

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The romance was cute, the characters where very well developed, and how the author approached the issue of mental health was amazing.

Aja. Aja is such an amazing character. I loved her from the start. I felt as though I completely connected with her. She is intelligent, and strong, and continues to push and work through everything in her life. Her anxiety was so relatable to me and the way the author wrote about her battle with it was very well done. I absolutely adored reading Aja’s POV every time.

Following up with this, her friend group is elite. The amount of love and understanding that they gave Aja was wonderful. I loved reading any and every chapter that included them. Their friendship was beautiful and I loved how it developed throughout the book.

Walker was so sweet. The way the author approached his PTSD was once again handled so well. He had gone through so much and was having to face a place that had caused him so much trauma and pain and it was really wonderful reading about his journey.

Aja and Walker are so cute. I loved them immediately. Their banter and friendship growing into these romantic feelings left me feeling giddy at times. I loved loved loved them.

As much as I loved their relationship, the first two sec scenes that they had, I just did not enjoy at all. Back of the car is not the greatest, but I could get over that. However when man got on his knees the mayors office, I just— I have no words for how much I did not want that at all. It was not for me. ick. I also just am not super attracted to the southern style which made it hard for me to fully enjoy walker and the nickname peaches just reminds me of freaking ice age, but all of that is just my own preferences making an appearance.

Anyways this book was so cute and Aja is so wonderful and I completely recommend because it truly is such an adorable story.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this was about Bingo I was immediately intrigued. I have 5 different Bingo games on my ipad so you might say that I like to play Bingo. Add a Bingo storyline to a romcom and you can sign me up!

I thought that the mental health rep and the POC rep was really good. I liked that they didn't shy away from the main character being black. Sometimes when reading about a POC main character they tend to gloss over the fact but this book made it part of the storyline which I appreciated.

Our main character, Aja, has general anxiety and when we first meet her she is having a panic attack in the middle of the grocery store. You're really thrown right in to a very vulnerable moment with her so I immediately felt for the character.

The love interest is Walker- the grandson of Aja's Bingo partner who has come to care for his grandma after she broke both of her wrists in an accident. Walker has anxiety issues stemming from PTSD from his difficult childhood himself so he and Aja really connect and understand each other.

The spice levels of this book was amazing. No fade to black here which I loved.

So why only 3 stars? I felt like the book did a lot more telling than showing. I didn't feel fully immersed. There was no urgency to pick it up when I put it down.

And while I appreciate the mental health storyline I do feel like it wasn't executed well. While we first meet Aja during a panic attack she never suffers from another one on the pages of the book again. She mentions her struggle with anxiety quite a bit but other than being a homebody we don't really see it.

For a woman who has a panic attack in the middle of Piggly Wiggly over a box of Hot Pockets you would think that there would be more actual struggles in the book and there just wasn't.

I liked the characters, loved the Bingo storyline, the different rep that was featured in the book (did I mention Aja is also plus size?) and I would definitely read another book by this author. It just fell a bit flat for me overall so I rated it as three stars.

If you like romcoms with some good spice I do recommend that you check this out. Just check trigger warnings because of the mentions of panic attacks and anxiety that are mentioned.

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Book received for free through NetGalley

I put this book down a time or two but overall loved the characters and had to find out what happened next. They’re perfectly realistic and overall makes me smile. That said, just a warning, the sex scenes are explicit.

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I really enjoyed this tender and kind romance. Slaughter crafter a great story of two people who struggle with mental illness finding love. There is no magic here though. They still have mental illnesses and the epilogue was a masterclass on showing what a HEA/HFN looks like a little down the road.
Here are some highlights from this book-
Unapologetically fat female main character
love letter to bingo
sex pact
mental health & therapy rep
high heat
oral sex on the FMC without reciprocation
good friendships

I had a few quibbles with the book that are minor but did take away from my enjoyment of the book because I spent time thinking about them.
The timeline- seemed weird.
Walker's job- he is a sports reporter for a local/smaller town newspaper. There is no way that he could do that job remotely for an extended period of time. For this job, it requires going to the sporting events to be able to report on them. That can not be done from afar.

Overall this book was really good and Jodie's writing will take your breath away with how good it is.

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Never did I ever imagine a meet cute in the form of a panic attack in the Piggly Wiggly, but Jodie Slaughter sure did pull it off!

As someone who experiences anxiety and panic attacks myself, I don’t always enjoy books with those topics as storylines (I have more than enough anxiety of my own). That said, Bet on It felt different. Yes, the characters experienced anxiety and panic, but it wasn’t their only identity, nor was this a scenario where they only found love once they miraculously eliminated their anxiety.

The characters felt like whole humans, experiencing a complex range of emotions. The story felt genuine and lovely. Overall, I really enjoyed this one.

*Since I know I have readers with a range of preferences in terms of intimacy, I do want to give a heads up that this is an open-door romance, which means that the intimacy happens on the page (including a couple of scenes where the intimacy happens in pretty public areas).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
⠀⠀⠀

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This book was gifted to me to review. This is the first book I’ve read by Jodie Slaughter. She does a wonderful job of telling Aja and Walkers story! That story doesn’t move too fast or too slow. It’s a perfect romance/comedy book for any young adult! I love how Jodie mentions the struggle they have with their anxiety and mental health because it’s something I can personally relate too! If you want a great quick read that’s sweet and a little steamy in place this if the book for you! I can’t wait to read more from Jodie!

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Holy crap on a cracker. This book was, in a word, PHENOMENAL. I'm actually obsessed with this book. It was so incredible! The characters were so relatable and easy to connect with - I was immediately invested in their individual lives, as well as their relationship with each other. Did some of the things that Walker (the male protagonist) seem unrealistic or unexpected? Maybe. Am I mad about it? Absolutely not. This novel is everything you want out of a romance novel - the extra steamy scenes (holy cow - everything you want in a steamy scene without being vulgar or awkward), the incredible character growth, the slightly-silly-but-still-totally-believable plot - it's incredible! I can't stop raving about this! Also, Aja - LOVE HER. She's a plus size girl just trying to make friends and navigate her anxiety, and if I can't relate to that, then I don't know what I can relate to. You know what's great about this book in particular? Both of the main characters, Aja and Walker, deal with anxiety and other mental health problems throughout the book. The book also addresses PTSD and substance abuse. And Slaughter wrote about all of them so beautifully. So accurate and realistic. I particularly loved that every character in this novel was ACTUALLY INTELLIGENT. I cannot stand characters making dumb decisions, but these characters didn't do any of that. They dealt with their anxiety in ways that worked for them, they talked about their therapy sessions, and what I love the most is that Slaughter didn't use mental health as an excuse to make her characters do dumb stuff. Thank the stars above for intelligent characters and for talented authors who know how to write them well! Loved this book. Seriously - read it - so good!!!

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This was a sweet, fun and emotional rom-com by the must read author Jodie Slaughter. The characters were loveable, the story was as sweet as you want a rom-com to be, and it will make you laugh. I loved the bits of South that were in this book. You could almost taste the Leah cobbler and feel the scenery. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

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I'm obsessed with this book. Slaughter does a stunning job balancing steamy sex, fun shenanigans, and deep trauma healing. I love every single thing about it.

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This is a nice, cute and easy read. I saw that Talia had blurbed it and had to get my hands on a copy! This is perfect for a sunday read. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

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CW: PTSD, Anxiety, past drug abuse

My feelings on Bet On It are pretty mixed. This is more due to my personal preference on the plot to porn ratio when it comes to romance novels. This book was MAD horny. Like, extremely horny. I got no romantic vibes whatsoever. It was immediate sexual attraction between complete strangers, and the later relationship-building felt shallow to me. They’re hot, nice to each other, and both suffer mental illness. It must be love?

HOWEVER, like 35% of this book also discusses mental health difficulties for both MCs (PTSD and GAD). I really enjoyed when the book would sort of swerve into either character breaking down how they felt, why they reacted to things in certain ways, etc. Unfortunately, I’d get broken out of these moments by what felt like really inappropriately timed horny bits about licking lips and stuff.

There were some pretty funny bits, and I really enjoyed the way Slaughter wrote the friendships of the main characters with secondary characters. It felt very genuine and sweet.

Overall, it’s 3 stars for me. I think it’s just a preference thing on the type of romance you enjoy, honestly.

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Oh my word how much I was loving this book. From the meet/cute via way of a panic attack at the local Piggly Wiggly to the real but not preachy talk regarding mental health to the Bingo bet to the characters to the chemistry between Aja and Walker – I was feeling like a Mickey D’s commercial and saying ♬♫♬ da da da da daaaaa I’m loving it ♬♫♬. But then there was not just one but TWO sex in public scenes and, well, your girl is a prude. 4 Stars for the story, but 0 Stars for the smexytimes.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

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~Bet On It Review~

3/5

I saw that Talia Hibbert liked this book and that the main character was plus sized and instantly had to request it on Netgalley! I’m so excited to dive right in to what is hopefully a super steamy romance!

Pros:
+Plus size main character!!!
+realistic depictions of panic attacks and how to calm down from one. i’ve learned some of these techniques in my own therapy so that’s cool
+honestly i would love to go to a bingo hall every week sounds like a blast
+i love thé two main characters!!! yay!!
+there’s is just something so addicting about a story that involves a bet
+dual perspective books are elite
+good steam and chemistry

Cons:
-blonde man \:
-never really been into the small town vibe
-not much really happens in this
-too much mature angst for me
-haha def would not have been so forgiving if i was in the characters shoes i’ll say that much

Overall I didn’t hate or love this book. It was okay but nothing special. I’m not mad that i read it but i don’t think i’ll be thinking about it in a couple days! I think if you’re older than i am and want a more mature romance this one would be for you

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When Aja needs a change of pace, she moves to the small town of Greenbelt, SC. Her anxiety disorder makes it hard for her to make friends though she attends weekly Bingo nights with the elderly residents in town. Walker comes back to his former hometown of Greenbelt when his grandma suffers an injury and needs help. While not as evident on the outside, Walker also suffers from anxiety disorder and does not have a strong connection to his childhood town due to past incidents. Aja and Walker initially meet at the grocery store when she is suffering a panic attack and Walker helps her breathe through it. Fast forward, and Aja and Walker come face to face again at one of the weekly Bingo nights. The two of them connect right away and start to fall in love despite their initial resistance and hesitations.

While the premise seemed strong, I found it really hard to relate to the main characters. I’m usually all about steam and chemistry, but I felt like it was almost forced in this book and WAY too quick. Also, the author included a lot of important topics (e.g., debilitating anxiety, parent abandonment, PTSD), but I did not love the execution. That being said, I did like how the heroine was plus-size but the author did not emphasize her weight throughout the book. She was confident in her appearance and sexuality. Additionally, Aja and Walker were able to sense when the other was struggling and were receptive to each other’s emotions.

This would not be the first book I recommend but I still found the read enjoyable enough to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

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A friendly bet sets up for a wonderful beginning. This book contains a friends to lovers plot that has so much sweetness with some spice. There is a focus on the MCs’ mental health.

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This book was one that had a very realistic approach to anxiety issues that the two main characters have to fight with. It was so full of emotions. It was very emotional. The characters are full of depth, has a very believable plot, and even has some steamy scenes. If you are someone who also suffers from anxiety, I think you will really like this book.

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I was not able to finish this book. The entire story was pushing both characters' mental and emotional difficulties. From what I did read, there didn't seem to be a plot beyond that.

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I requested this book on NetGalley for the same reason I request many romances, because it sounded cute. And I'm pleased to report that it was! However, this book wasn't afraid to tackle mental illness at the very same time, and I really appreciated that. This ended up being a really sweet, slice of life, steamy contemporary romance that I really enjoyed!

This book follows Aja, who struggles with anxiety and is new to the small town of Greenbelt, as she makes friends, and falls in love with her bingo friend grandson, Walker. As Walker is only in town to help his grandmother as she recovers from a bad fall that broke her two arms, Aja and Walker try denying their attraction and try to just remain friends. But when that seems impossible, a bingo pact is made to help the two release their lust every once in a while. However, since Walker is determined to leave Greenbelt as soon as possible, and Aja loves the small town she's setting roots in, can the two have any lasting relationship?

I started this book when I was sick in bed and wasn't in the mood to read anything. But even with the sniffles, there was something so gripping and endearing about this book that had me hooked! One of the things that I really loved about this book was how down to earth it is. The characters feel very flawed and very real. Neither one has a fancy career that they're worried about or some other lofty goal they're trying to reach. You're just following two characters struggling with their mental health, trying to find a home and friend group that suits their needs.

Because this book takes place in a small town, the cast of characters is pretty small as well, but I loved them all. I adored both main characters, Aja and Walker, who are both struggling but doing their very best. I also loved how important the friendships, new and old, were to the story. The characters knew who they could call when they had exciting news to share, or had concerns that they needed to talk through. But what's great is that this book didn't shy away from discussing the importance of talking with a professional when you're struggling as well! Both of the characters are in therapy, and while only one character is actively talking to a mental health professional throughout the story, the mere inclusion and recognition of the importance of therapy made me so happy!

I also really appreciated how these characters actually talked to one another. Aja is dealing with anxiety, Walker is dealing with PTSD related to being neglected as a child, both of them have panic attacks. And they're up front about it. They discuss what they're comfortable with and what they aren't. They figure out how best to manage their relationship when things get weird. These two aren't afraid to deal with any situations that arise and to talk them through, no matter how difficult it may be and I was so happy to see that. Because of the excellent communication, the resolution was one of the strongest that I've read, and I was quite satisfied with the ending!

I gave this book 4 stars in the end! If you're looking for something steamy, with a twist on friends to lovers, that has great communication and great characters, all set in a small town, I couldn't recommend this more!

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Jodie Slaughter’s writing has an immediacy I really love, and her characters are lively and compelling. She truly makes the most of her inventive settings (bingo hall love? I’m on board!). Do check out the content considerations for this book — the author introduces heavier material slowly, which I appreciated, since I was able to check the content warnings on her webpage and figure out the book wasn’t for me before hitting anything too intense. However, based on her talent and writing style, I’ll definitely be picking up other titles from her backlist! My rating is based on the first 25% of the book.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! What drew me in at first was the bingo-based sex pact (cause doesn't that sound amazing?) but what kept me reading was it had such a good representation of mental health and body positivity. I also found myself relating to both MCs so much. I really related to Aja's desperate need for friendship and Walker's struggle with a relationship with his father. I enjoyed Walker's relationship with his Gram as well. I found myself smiling throughout the first half the book. The two MCs had great banter and I loved how with both their mental health struggles they were able to really connect with each other and be able to tell when the other was struggling as well. Overall this was a great read!

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