Cover Image: Bet on It

Bet on It

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Member Reviews

This is what I would call a nice easy beach read. Perfect for that relaxing day at the beach or by the lake when you just want to relax and read a nice easy book.

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3.5

These characters were sweet and I loved that this romance didn't have your average first encounter you see in most romance books . It had really good mental health representation and I enjoyed seeing these two comfort each other.

I just wish there were MORE moments of us seeing them fall in love. I felt like I barely saw the romance blossoming. It was just missing some more scenes for me...it mostly felt lust driven throughout the whole thing. And the conflict near the end came so sudden then resolved so quickly.

But despite that, I enjoyed reading this!

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This book had some really strong points: character diversity, body positivity, and discussion/depiction of mental health not often seen in this type of story. However, the character development, especially of everyone but the mains, and even somewhat inclusive of them, was lacking. And some of the pacing seemed incongruent, as the book both dragged in parts and then led us to the foregone conclusion a little too quickly.

I did read this in less than two days though, so it was an easy read, if not a perfect one.

*I was honored to receive an ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

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The first time Aja Owens encounters Walker Abbott, she’s having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the local grocery store. The second time, he’s being introduced to her as her favorite bingo buddy’s semi-estranged grandson. The connection between these two is nearly immediate and definitely undeniable. So, a bingo-based sex pact is formed and meant to keep things from getting out of hand. However, one taste is never enough..

Aja and Walker both suffer from forms of anxiety, so getting out of their own heads is tough and trying not to have a relationship with the other one is even more tough. However, both characters help each other to grow and improve on themselves.

Both characters are genuine and easy to like, however the novel itself fell a little flat for me and didn't exactly keep me entertained. It is a sweet NA rom-com, however it felt rushed for some parts and dragged on for other parts. I'm definitely in the minority here rating this only a 3/5 stars, but maybe you'll just have to pick this one up yourself and let me know your thoughts!

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I wanted to like story , it had such a strong premise. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into the characters — maybe I see too many similarities with myself but not enough redeeming! Life is too short to read books that you don’t love.

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Romance is not usually my thing, but I loved this one. Fun and sexy.. Honest portrayal of loneliness, mental health, and the importance of family (biological & found).

ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

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i really enjoyed getting to read this book early. it was so much fun and such a sweet little romance. it made me feel good and that's something i really enjoy in my books. a lovely escape!

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The main thing I thoroughly loved about this book is the inclusion of mental health awareness. Both of the main characters suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, which is something I can relate to. I loved how detailed and accurate the characterizations were and I applaud the author for that. The story develops as Aja and Walker enter the chat. Aja recently escapes her life in Greenbelt, South Carolina and Walker recently moves back home to take care of his grandmother. I LOVED the plus-size representation, the topic of mental health, and the relationships between family, friends, and the chemistry of love. The story itself fell flat for me and wasn't as entertaining as I would have liked. Some of the plot seemed to drag more than other parts, but I overall loved the representation included in this book.

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley for an eARC for my honest review.

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Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter is different than what I normally read. This romance book has you not only feeling for the characters but also has you relating to them. Everyone has anxiety and some know what trigger it and others don't. It's how you deal with it that helps you over come it. Aja Owens meets Walker Abbott because of this and the story begins there. It's worth the read if you are wanting to try a read that is outside your normal reads. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's for this advance Read.

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4.5 stars

Bet on It is much more than a lighthearted love story. It’s an exploration of the effects of mental illness (generalized anxiety disorder and complex PTSD) and how two people who are drawn to each other but who don’t seem to fit into each other’s lives navigate their budding friendship and attraction.

The first time Aja Owens meets Walker Abbott, she’s having a panic attack just before closing time at the Piggly Wiggly. The second time they meet, she realizes he’s the grandson of her favorite bingo buddy. Walker has no plans to stay in the small town of Greenbelt, and Aja knows it’s exactly where she wants to be. With that in mind, but aware of their intense attraction to each other, they hastily establish a bingo-related sex pact. Something they mostly stick to. But when things start to get real, so does the fallout. Because there’s only one way this can end… right?

One of the things that grabbed me about this book from the beginning is the way that Aja and Walker are able to sense when the other is struggling. Whether it’s a panic attack or a tightly clenched jaw, their personal experiences help them be more observant and empathetic with each other.

There’s a great network of secondary characters that help enrich the story. And the way that author Jodie Slaughter writes about Aja’s body and Walker’s response to it is pitch-perfect. Bodies of all shapes and sizes and beautiful, and this book celebrates that so well.

I also loved how hot the book was. Surprisingly so. The chemistry between Aja and Walker is palpable, though the burn is on the slower side. But the payoff is totally worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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I enjoyed this romance novel. I appreciated the mental health inclusion/advocacy, which is mentioned on probably half of the pages. Both characters had gone through a great deal of therapy and, at times, their conversations were a bit like therapy. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’ve had similar conversations with friends, so I can see it happening naturally with people who are actively working on and managing their mental health. I liked both characters and appreciated their humor. It was nice to see them step out of their comfort zones and find love with each other.

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Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for my NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: July 12, 2022
In one sentence: Aja and Walker have found a way to make bingo a lot more interesting - a sex pact allowing them to hook up only when one of them wins a game.

When I started my bookstagram and romcom journeys, I did not think I would ever write the phrase "bingo sex pact" in a review. But here we are, and honestly, I was on board. Extra points for plot creativity - am I right?

Aja and Walker are wonderfully imperfect and relatable main characters - both have personal trauma and anxiety to deal with, and I loved following their journeys and seeing them support each other. I also enjoyed the small town Southern setting - Greenbelt, SC has the best peach cobbler around.

Steam-wise - this is a hot one. I definitely had to skim through the sex scenes, but open door romance readers will love the passion here. Although the level of detail was a bit much for my prudish eyes, I did like the emotion that Jodie Slaughter wrote into the hookup scenes - you could easily sense the characters' deep connection.

I think this will be a fun summer romcom for lots of readers!

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When Aja meets Walker for the first time, she is having an anxiety attack in the Piggly Wiggly. His kind gesture to stay with her until it passed was more than expected from a stranger. So when she walks into bingo on Wednesday night and sees Walker joining with an injured Ms. May, who turns out to be his grandmother, she's at a loss for words. Neither Aja nor Walker intended to enter a committed relationship, so they make a bingo-related bet to keep their feelings in check.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this story. The main characters were well developed and relatable. The mental health representation was done in a very realistic way. I'm not someone who suffers from anxiety, but I felt I understood some of the triggers individuals suffer after reading this book. The author did a great job detailing them in ways that made me empathize with their struggles.

It was a good read, heavier and much steamier than expected. I encourage everyone to check the content warning before reading this book as there are many emotionally intense parts.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press, for the ARC.

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Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter was a laugh out loud romantic comedy and kept me wanting to read more. The small Southern setting was the perfect location for this book. I loved how the author took on the topic of anxiety and other large topics but putting it in a way for the reader to understand if they haven't experienced the same thing all while keep it light and fun. But can we please discuss the runaway hit of the book, the matchmaking older ladies!! They had me in stitches and I absolutely loved them. This book comes highly recommended by me!

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Jodie Slaughter, new author to this reader hooked me on “Bet on It” as a first time read. It is such a fantastic book that I truly enjoyed immensely. You have Aja who escapes the life of the city in Greenbelt, SC and then there is Walker, who moves back to take care of his ailing grandmother. This book is loveable itself because I enjoyed the positive plus size heroine, topic of mental health and relationships between family, friends and love interests. You have the heroine with her anxiety and the hero with PTSD which was a first in my readings in a contemporary story where these topics are discussed between the main characters. It was nice that the author conveys that in the story and forewarns the readers of content prior to reading the story.

There is a compliment between Aja and Walker that is undeniable. Although I like to see a bit of steam in my romance novels, however I came away that this story was much more than sexual but the two characters coming together from their life experiences and wanting to be there for one another to bring some form of balance from their mental health issues. Such an amazing story. A suggested read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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What a fantastic book. This book deals with two individuals that have severe anxiety. I have to say in this day, when more and more of our youth are dealing with anxiety it is nice to see it dealt with in a novel. It is done in a way that normalized it a bit. Both characters have a hard time talking about their issues with others, but you get to see the comfort that comes from finally letting someone in. This subject is very dear to me as I have teenage children that are dealing with anxiety. It was beautifully written so thank you Jodie Slaughter for this.

I loved Walker and Aja. I love how they comforted each other when they were uncomfortable. Their love story was truly beautiful, but I think the acceptance of each other just as they are, was even more perfect.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

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Aja escapes city life for some peace and quiet in little ole’ Greenbelt, South Carolina. Walker moves back to town to take care of his grandma, only to confront a past he’d rather not relive. When two people are brought together by their mutual love of a certain old lady and Bingo night, how could sparks not fly? Only when time isn’t on your side, one may have to get creative in how they lay out the terms and agreements of their steamy summer romance.

There are so many things I loved about this book- body positive plus size main character representation, POC representation, continuous discussions about mental health, and healthy adult relationship boundaries (between friends. family members, and romantic partners). Aja deals with intense anxiety and Walker deals with PTSD- I haven’t read a romance book where both romantic interests experience and openly discuss their mental health. The way these characters spoke to and engaged with one another throughout the entirety of the book is how I hope to see more people do so in real life. Also, there just aren’t enough other books depicting the insanely awkward and uncomfortable act that is making new friends as an adult! And in addition to all of these previous points, this book was still a standout SEXY romance novel! Let’s give a round of applause to Jodie Slaughter for making me reflect on how to approach mental health in a relationship while also making me lust after a fictional man. For fans of Talia Hibbert, Jasmine Guillory, and Julie Murphy's books, this is going to be a summer 2022 MUST-read.

You’ll Love This If You Love:
💕Sweet Home Alabama (even though this book takes place in South Carolina)
💕The ‘Get A Life’ series from Talia Hibbert
💕Peach Cobbler
💕Books That Talk About Mental Health
💕Spicy Romance Novels
💕WOC main characters
💕Bingo/Playful Competition

Content Warning: PTSD, Panic/Anxiety attacks, Childhood trauma, Alcoholism

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Bet on It is an absolute delight! It's sweet, hot, and completely hilarious. I love the chemistry between Aja and Walker and their conversations felt so real. Absolutely loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own,

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I loved this book. The characters were like able and easy to connect with. It also made my think about a professional bingo career! Hey it brought them together!

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Loved it! This isnt was the day that you were ueotowotowutoeu we were all over here and there are so cute and charming and so sexy about how to get it out from you and

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