As someone who grew up in the American Deep South (and went to college in the Carolinas), I can say that it was really refreshing to have a book set in the South, with honest-to-god Southern characters and speaking patterns and sayings, that managed not to slip into either stereotypes or fetishized mannerisms. Ms. Slaughter handles that so well here. You really get a sense that these MCs could be real people, just trying to make it through a grocery run at the Piggly Wiggly.

All in all, this was a nice book. There are really honest and raw characterizations of mental illness - both of our MCs have their own struggles / history with that, and both are actively on the path of healing. The way the author handles it, you really feel as if you are getting a whole pictures of Walter and Aja, without their mental illness becoming <i>who</i> they are. There's a lot of great themes with family trauma, family healing, and found family. And you definitely get some steamy scenes in there too.

There's also an absolutely wonderful sense of our leading lady as a black woman, and how that differs from Walter's experiences without it taking over the story (or being a main point of conflict). It reminded me of many recent LGBTQ+ romances that make a point in the world-building to assume that homophobia isn't a big deal, and the characters don't have to deal with it. While that absolutely doesn't erase the very real-life issues, there is something radical in creating a story where the author can say "fuck that" and instead give the characters something else to find conflict over. Slaughter does that in this book in terms of race, so the characters are left just dealing with themselves and their own issues without having to add that as a layer.

For me, though, the overall book fell a little flat with the sense of place, the depth of the storytelling, and the dialogue... sometimes it just didn't flow naturally, we moved fairly quickly through different scenes when I would have liked to linger, and I was REALLY waiting to get more of those small-town Carolina vibes.

Bingo! This was just the 🔥 rom-com I was hoping for.

Aja just moved to Greenbelt, South Carolina. A more desirable, smaller town. A quiet place where she can more easily manage her daily struggles with anxiety. And today is no exception. A simple shopping trip to the local Piggly-Wiggly has Aja frozen in place, ironically enough, next to the frozen foods section in the midst of a full blown anxiety attack.

A simple gesture of kindness from a stranger.

Walker instinctively recognizes what’s happening to Aja and offers to simply stand by her side until the attack passes. He understands only too well, because he too deals with the same issue. And yet another chance encounter finds the two meeting again at the Wednesday night bingo event.

I‘ve noticed lately that many rom-coms have started delving into heavier topics such as mental health. Jodie Slaughter does an exquisite job of shining a light on many of the effects anxiety can have in someone’s life. The support and love from their families and friends was truly touching and heartfelt.

I loved both characters as they navigated their way towards love while also looking after their own hearts and minds. The attraction and chemistry felt oh so real.

Looking forward to reading more from this very talented author.

⚠️ be prepared…this is a very spicy rom com!

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press

This was such a fun book with likable characters! Without spoiling too much, seeing a character deal with and find ways to manage anxiety was such a welcomed addition to a fun and sexy romance. Would definitely recommend!

This was just an okay romance for me, and I think a big part of that was because of the writing. I love that a central focus of this book is trying to navigate mental health issues as an adult, and in a relationship. But I feel like the writing really let that aspect down. More specifically, there was a lot of show-don't-tell, to the point where we would get large swaths of text that were just the protagonists telling us things about themselves. The more I read, the more I wanted some dialogue rather than character exposition. I also found that a lot of the discussion of mental health and romance was crammed into these exposition-heavy sections of texts rather than more cohesively integrated into the story through feelings, dialogue, plot points, etc. Overall, I would've liked to see more themes explored through small character moments or small moments in general, rather than just told us to us over and over again in exposition that made the book drag.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

3.5 stars
Bet On It is a cute romance with some really great representation. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fairly light read with some serious discussions sprinkled throughout. The conversations about anxiety, triggers, etc never felt overwhelming, but they were appropriately serious. I also loved that the main character, Aja is a plus-size woman of colour with anxiety. It's good and diverse representation. The romance and premise of this book were both really cute, but I never felt super connected to them. I found that although the main characters had clear chemistry, for most of the book they were at the same point in their relationship, so there wasn't a ton of development. For the most of the book they were sexually attracted to one another, really liked each other personalities, but didn't let themselves get to deep into the relationship. The only other 2 distinct points were the start when they were introducing themselves, and the end when they were in love, so although the romance was really cute, it also felt a bit slow. Still, I really enjoyed this overall and would definitely recommend it.

Guys, guys guys. This book was SOMETHING ELSE, and I was blessed enough to I receive an ARC copy from NetGalley (yes I squealed). I’ll do a full review closer to release but I was so excited I felt like I would explode without doing a teaser!

🍑Immersive story telling with a dreamy Southern background
🍑Diverse heroine with a candid look at mental health
🍑Cinnamon roll hero with a dirty side (HAWT scenes galore)
🍑A satisfying grovel moment (you already know I love those)
🍑 Raw, but still laugh out loud funny.

This baby comes out on July 12, 2022 and will be the perfect summer time treat (but honestly I loved it so much, read, reread, fall in love with it).

BLURB: Aja Owens considers Greenbelt SC her own little slice of paradise, somewhere she can unwind, take charge of her mental health, and work on some self love, that becomes especially true when she meets Walker Abbot (AKA her bingo buddy’s hot grandson). Walker Abbot was dreading coming home to his stifling small town where his bad memories threaten to consume him. When he meets Aja he recognizes a kindred spirit… but can these two fight for the love they deserve?

Thank you so much NetGalley! You made my weekend!

Bonus if you get the Avett Brothers reference. :)

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

First, I requested this book because I met my husband in Piggly Wiggly, it tugged at my sentimental heart.

I really enjoyed that I could feel the characters anxiety and that the author took care in how Aja and Walker were presented as fully realized people outside of their relationship. What stood out most for me was Aja, vulnerable but determined.

Bet On It was definitely the most fun book about bingo I've ever read! While I loved the diversity in characters represented, along with the realistic and insightful depiction of mental health, ultimately I felt the romance was slightly lacking. The intimate scenes were well written and sexy, but I didn't really feel the connection between the two main characters. Perhaps this is a reality of reading about mental health issues and falling in love in the midst of dealing with that, but regardless I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I would want to. Overall, Bet On It was an enjoyable and easy read, but didn't hit all the notes I wished it would.

There couldn't be a more lovely book about bingo. I loved this creation and how Walker and Aja fit so perfectly together. Even that game of bingo is sexy.

Aja's character was a wonderful mix of certainty and anxiety. She has so much potential to be a strong woman, but that little voice of anxiety in the back of her head causes turmoil at the most inconvenient of times. A very relatable trait that I even struggle with.

Walker is so wonderful, but I feel at times his dick runs away with him. Since I'm not a man, I can't speak to if this is really how they think, but after being married to my husband for 15 years, I can imagine this might be true. Its still weird to read, but it gives this story so much enjoyable content to wrap my head around.

As far as the story goes, I love how the game of bingo is the center piece for the characters sex life. When Walker has his exponential crises, I felt so overwhelmed for him, but at the same time absolutely furious for how he treated Aja. I just wanted to slap that boy upside the head and knock some sense into him.

I was happy with how the story ended and the little story tidbits in the epilogue. They made me feel complete.

My review will be live on my blog Book Confessions of 12-7-2021.

Aja Owens moved to Greenbelt, South Carolina for a change of pace. She meets Walker Abbott -- the son of a bingo friend, Wally, but only to some -- when she's not exactly in her moment. The two get to know each other more, and in order to stave off their mutual attraction and ideally prevent any broken hearts when Wally leaves town, they make a bet around intimacy and bingo.

The premise intrigued me, but descriptions of the sexual encounters got to be a bit too much for me. I did, however, appreciate the descriptions of Aja's anxiety and Wally's PTSD and the deeper conversations about Wally's family and past. They were handled tactfully and very clearly with care! A fun read.

Many thanks to Jodie Slaughter, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I went into this figuring on a lighter read, a meet-cute, friends-with-benefits rom-com. But this - it’s decidedly very realistic, and rather grittier than I was expecting, but I enjoyed every second of it, it was nice to read a realistic book that touches on Mental Illness, Panic Attacks, Drug Abuse and Child Endangerment. Please keep the trigger warning in mind, but if you are ok reading a book that touches on those triggers, read this book. I enjoyed it so much I finished it in one sitting.

Reading this book made me feel good. Rarely do I get to see characters who struggle with anxiety, and when I do going forward, I want them to be as well-written as Jodie’s. I understood both MCs inner monologues so completely, and she was able to make their anxiety a big part of who they were without it being the only thing about them. Hot, hot, 🥵 sex scenes, and a really lovely portrayal of a fat FMC. Can’t recommend this one enough for when it’s released!

Bet on It covers a lot of bases - POC representation, a curvy heroine, both MCs struggle with their mental health (PTSD + anxiety) - but ultimately fell a bit flat for me.

I love the frank discussion about mental health and it was refreshing to see the FMC, Aja, acknowledge her struggles and actively push herself to conquer them little by little. I enjoyed seeing her slowly grow and discover herself, but unfortunately those moments were scarce.

This is one of those books that has a strong, unique premise but a lukewarm execution. The writing leaned over explanatory and inconsistent at times, the conflict felt forced (the final conflict in particular, oh Lord, it was a whole "...seriously?" moment), the steam was meh, the dual POV was okay but favored Walker's character development more than Aja's, who I was more emotionally invested in, and the supporting characters felt like cardboard cut outs. The concept of a bingo sex pact is quirky and attention grabbing, but it spurred some odd conflict that, again, felt forced and implausible.

It felt unfinished. Almost there, but not quite ready for the final draft stamp. It's a pleasant read, at least, though not something I'd revisit or enthusiastically recommend.

2.5, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication date: July 26, 2022

The first time Aja meets Walker, she is having an anxiety attack in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. She doesn’t expect to see him again, especially at the local bingo. Walker has returned to his hometown to care for his injured grandmother, and he fully intends to hightail it out of there as soon as she is better. He never planned on developing feelings for his grandmother’s young bingo friend. Neither Aja nor Walker are looking for a committed relationship, so they make a bingo-related bet that will ensure they keep things light and fun.

There’s a lot that I liked about this story. The main characters are really well-developed and relatable, and I love that Aja is a pretty plus-sized woman. We need more plus-size representation in literature! And the way Walker talks about Aja’s body and his deep attraction to her is positively swoon-worthy. Oftentimes, there is shame associated with being larger, and this story and these characters show nothing but acceptance, respect, and desire. It’s refreshing.

I also like the anxiety rep in the story. Aja has generalized anxiety disorder, which I totally relate to. I thought her struggles were so on point, and I so understood how Aja felt many times in the story. Her thought process, her physical reactions, and her emotional turmoil are all realistic and relatable. Walker has PTSD, and his struggles are relatable and realistically presented as well. I love that they talk so openly about their mental health, therapy, and more, and I cheered for them as they opened up to each other and stepped out of their comfort zones.

Aja and Walker have a sweet and steamy romance. They become friends first, but their chemistry is intense almost from their first meeting. I love their banter and flirtatious way with each other, and when they get together, it is hot! I so rooted for these two to find their happy ending, and though they make mistakes (Yes, I’m talking to you, Walker!), they both deserve the happiness they find in each other.

The story also highlights some of the struggles that come with living in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Gossip travels fast, and mean gossip scars. I think there are some good messages here about being more sensitive to other people’s struggles and supporting people instead of adding to their troubles.

Overall, I thought this was a good read. It was a bit heavier than I expected, but the characters, humor, and romance balance the story well. I would recommend this book to readers of contemporary romance but would encourage them to check out the content warnings before reading. Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Perfect representation of anxiety and PTSD. Examples of healthy relationships. And a super cute romance. I loved spending time with these characters. And hell, it made want to play bingo.

CW: PTSD, drug addiction, panic attack, anxiety, bullying

3.5*

Aja Owens escapes to a small town for a fresh start while Walker Abbott escapes to a big city where nobody knows his name. Slaughter captures the perfect small town, one with gossip, rumors, and the best cobbler around. I really enjoyed the escapism this book provided. I loved the Aja and Walker both struggled with their mental illness but were so open about it. Aja struggles with panic disorder while Walker struggles with PTSD and both characters develop throughout the novel at a very realistic pace. I also enjoyed the tension and chemistry Slaughter depicted. She has a great way of balancing slow burn and insta-love but I was a bit unsure on the pacing of this novel. It was so close to nailing it. At times, it felt like only days had gone by but then suddenly we learn it's been a few weeks or vice versa. Sadly, it made it harder for me to buy the love story but I ate up their chemistry like a peach cobbler. I wish the pacing was a little more even, there was more development on the characters outside their mental health, and the technicalities of Bingo were more accurate, but other than that, it was a fun way to escape. This was a cute, quick read with substance. I would definitely recommend to someone looking for a quick romance with depth.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story was the perfect quick, sexy, leisurely read! My favorite part was that the MC being fat wasn’t fetishized, her weight was not a constant source of insecurity (she actually never mentioned it at all), and it wasn’t a “hot guy falls for fat girl” trope. It was just a regular old steamy romance between two people who look like normal, sexy people. Great storyline, excellent writing, perfect length. 10/10 would recommend!

Wally’s upbringing was a rough one and reminders of his past trauma are everywhere in his hometown of Greenpoint. He doesn’t expect to return home for a prolonged visit, but after his grandmother suffers a fall, he rushes home to take care of her. He also doesn’t expect to encounter a beautiful woman in the middle of a panic attack in the frozen food aisle of the Piggly Wiggly.

Aja is new to town. Deciding the bustling city life of DC isn’t for her, Aja picks Greenbelt because it seems quaint. She like her small town, but her anxiety keeps her from putting herself out there. Wednesday night Bingo is one of her favorite things about her new town, so imagine her surprise when Wally shows up with his grandmother, the woman she has sat next to for months. Wally, the kind stranger who helped her through her panic attack at the supermarket.

I love when my romances have depth and offer more than sweet, meet cute moments. Bet on It offered a few of those sweet (and spicy) moments between our main characters, but so much more. I loved all of the serious conversations our characters has about their anxiety, PTSD and general state of their mental health. Both characters go to therapy, which is always great to see in books. Growing up with a father who was an addict is still triggering for Wally and figuring out how to have a relationship with him is something Wally struggles with every day. That lingering trauma contributes to problems in his relationships with his grandmother and Aja, and it’s wonderful to see his growth throughout the book.

That being said, this book was lighter on the romance than I expected. I was drawn in by the bingo sex pact premise (which sounded light and super fun), but Bet on It ended up being way heavier than I was expecting. The romantic elements that were there seemed a bit rushed and instalovey. The passion and lust was there, but I don’t know that I necessarily believed the love story. I also wish we got to see more of Aja’s relationship with her new friend group. It was so great to see her put herself out there and make new friends, but we rarely got to see them.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There's so much to like about Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter. A contemporary romance between a curvy female with general anxiety disorder and a country boy with PTSD caused from a traumatic childhood, falling in love over bingo and shared experiences, while living in a small town? It hits all the right spots without feeling like a PSA. The characters and their struggles are relatable without turning into caricatures of what one would think a person with disorders would react. Though these lie at the center of the story, and at times feel a bit overstated and over-explained, it's the growth each goes through in their time together that the story is truly built upon.

Aja finds more of her voice through exploration and the journey pushes Walker to do the same. While I loved the characters, I do feel like more exposition was given to Walker throughout the entirety of the book. You knew exactly where his PTSD and anxiety developed from, how he chose to cope with it, and how far he still had to go before finding forgiveness for the past. I wanted more of that with Aja. I would have liked to have known the first time she realized that something wasn't quite right, but was unsure of what or why? Was their a trigger in her past or none at all? It would have been a great addition to get more of her backstory.

Along with an ending that, while cute, felt slightly rushed and friends who seemed one-dimensional and added more as props than fully developed side characters, I couldn't give this a full five stars of perfection.