In Hedging Your Bets, readers are welcomed into a tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the unexpected joys of love. Gillian, the strong-willed protagonist, emerges from the shadows of a toxic marriage to prioritize her own well-being. Her pride and joy lie within the carefully tended haven of her garden, a year-round labor of love entered into the local contest, symbolizing her determination to cultivate a new chapter in life.

The story takes place in the charming town of Willow Cove, where Gillian's life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Noah, a neighbor with a shared history of heartbreak. The enemies-to-lovers theme adds a delightful layer of tension to the story, and the pacing mirrors the careful growth of Gillian's prized garden—steady, deliberate, and ultimately rewarding.

I enjoyed her similarly aged friend group as they added depth and relatability to the story. Additionally, the town gossips, an older group of women, provide an amusing yet endearing backdrop, offering support and occasional meddling that adds a delightful touch to the narrative. This is more of a slow-burn romance and while not overtly steamy, the sweetness of their connection is palpable and heartwarming.

For readers seeking a contemporary romance that balances heartwarming moments with genuine character development, Hedging Your Bets is a delightful choice. Fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes and closed-door romances will find this book a satisfying addition to their shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel.

This slow burn rom com was adorable! The beginning was very slow but once I knew that Gillian and Noah were flirting, it made it easier to want to keep reading. I love how Gillian was confident in herself and her body as a plus size woman. It's always great to read about that representation. I was cracking up at the group of old ladies who live in the neighborhood and meddle. If the beginning had not been so slow, this would have been a 4 star read for me, but it took me numerous tries to get into the book.

This was my first time reading a book by Jayne Denker. It was a slow burn, rom/com but it picked up towards the end of the book.

When Noah and Gillian both realize that they liked each other, that’s when I really started to get interested in the story.

My favorite characters were the gang of old lady neighbors. Judy was so funny and I loved how nosy they were.

Another thing I loved was that Gillian was a full figured confident woman. I haven’t read many books about full figured/plus size woman. Being plus size myself I loved that representation.

I didn’t really care for Bette.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read an E-arc and giving my opinion and review.

3⭐️

I'm struggling on how to rate this one. It is sweet and has a charming small town feel to it. With the close knit friends and everyone in town knowing Gillian. Fiercely loyal to her and the distrust of this interloper that has made an enemy their beloved Gillian.

The issue I had was with the romance. It just didn't capture me and I had a hard time connecting. The chemistry between the two just wasn't there for me. I also was really put off by the comments regarding Gillian's body image and Noah stating she was acting like b#^tch in front of a complete stranger.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

This was my first read by this author and although it didn't disappoint, it wasn't my favorite rom-com novel. This is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers book with some fun small-town charm. I most enjoyed the neighborhood gossip grannies especially because they actually meddled to save the day.

Hedging your bets is a low-stakes, enemies to lovers romance novel with closed door romance scenes. Gillian Pritchard is a long-time participant in Willow Cove's garden contest, and this year she is in it to win it. Noah West moves next door and unintentionally destroys the work she has put in thus far, so the two don't exactly have a great first introduction.

Overall this was a sweet story, however I didn't read "The Rom-Com Agenda" So I found myself lost on who some of the side characters were, and wish I would have read it before diving into this one.

I found their romance to be sweet and slow-building, however the mention of Gillian's body often came across as a non-fat person trying their hardest to write a curvier character, it just felt a bit off the mark.

That being said, I would recommend this book to any of my closed-door reading friends who are looking for a fun read that also includes a love for gardening.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for my pre-release copy of Hedging your Bets through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet, cozy romance. I did have a problem connecting with the characters and it seemed a bit choppy but for the most part it was a cute story.

First off, thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. It was just meh or okay for me! This had some of my favorite tropes but I could not connect with the main characters at all. The fighting and lack of chemistry between them for most of the book definitely played a huge part in my enjoyment of the story. Overall, it had some cute moments and the cover is adorable. However, I wish I had liked it more!

This book was a charming read. Nothing that made it stand out, but definitely a book I would recommend to anyone looking for a cute, small town enemies to lovers trope.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's publishing for the ARC of this book.

I loved the FMC, Gillian. She was such an easy character to root for, & I always love that in a rom com. This book felt like a cozy Hallmark movie & I really liked being back in Willow Cove. The Rom Com Agenda (the first book in this series) definitely worked better for me, but this one was really cute, too. I will definitely be back for the next book in this series ❤️

When you look at the cover of this book, you see gardening. That is exactly what you will get in this story.
It’s a light read. And pretty much all about gardening. Noah and Gillian don’t quite hit it off to start with but as the story grows and the gardens grow so does their relationship. This is a closed door romance. It does take some time getting into but once you do it’s a light and cute read.

Hedging Your Bets is exactly what the book cover, title and description promises to give you. A cheesy romcom. Which can be good or bad depending on how you feel about romcoms. I personally love romcoms and it was a pretty good book. Characters had wit and courage and no third act breakup to prepare yourself for. Overall decent but lacking slightly in character development and closure for the main characters. Could have used more of an emotional connection to Noah’s past rather than just his ex and left me with too many questions about his family troubles.

A very light, fluffy, and cute book. I was unaware it was set in the same town as the author’s previous book, The Rom-Com Agenda, so it was a nice surprise to visit there again. If you’re looking for an easy, light-hearted read to chase away the winter blues, then be sure to check out Hedging Your Bets.
3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Griffin.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC copy for review.

0/5 spice (closed door)

Noah has just bought a home in Willow Cove (sight unseen) after a breakup and moves in next door to Gillian. In a bad mood he gets on Gillian’s bad side and quickly realizes the whole town is definitely on her side. They both can’t seem to stop infuriating the other, despite their attraction to one another.

Noah is convinced to join the the gardening contest which further fuels their annoyance with the other. Eventually they call a truce as frenemies, and spend time together and fall into their desire for one other.

What I loved most about this book was the three meddling ladies and all the supporting characters. Gillian and Noah had some sweet moments but their romance felt lacking. It was void of that tension that pull that makes you feel things as a reader.

Overall a solid read for lovers of small town romances, found family, and enemies to lovers trope.

I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. This book has drama, romance, mystery. Gillian personal life has been around alot of bases. But can she find someone who makes her want to stop at home plate for good? Noah has been dealt a difficult blow in the love life department so much that he moves across to the other side of th United States. Can he learn to trust and love again? First impressions can tell you alot about someone but can it make you think you might not know everything. Contest no matter what is is brings out the worst and best in us. Is there a true winner? This is for a mature audience or can be ready anywhere!

Thank you, Jayne Denker, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Hedging Your Bets comes out January 9, 2024.

I was a huge fan of Jayne Denkers first novel The Rom-Com Agenda, and while Hedging your Bets had good parts I think it fell a little flat. I feel like in the first one and this one the found family aspect of her books is heartwarming and fun. I loved that I got to see the progression of the first couple. Also, some of the interactions between the two main characters were funny and romantic. I think the biggest problem for me was that the main female character was still dating people maybe a little too far into the book. Also, there was so much animosity between the two and then bang they were a couple, it just seems a little unrealistic. Overall, though I think the book did have good part and I did enjoy the ending.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this one.. I just couldn't get behind the characters and root for them, and the gardening aspect was not interesting and really hard for me to relate to.

I liked Hedging Your Bets even better than the author's previous book (Rom Com Agenda). Set in the same small town with the same friend group in the supporting cast, this is an enemies to lovers where the enemies part is blessedly non- nasty. Also a big plus is that there are no big bombshells to throw a spanner in the works - coming clean at the right time is a beautiful thing. The relationship builds nicely from enemies, to friendly adversaries, to friend to lovers. This was a nice low stress closed door romance.


ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley - release date January 2024 (which is sooner than you think, autumn is already here and 2023 will be over before you know it). This is an unpaid review.

This is a sweet romcom story of Gillian, a well known pharmacist and gardener in her small town. Everyone knows her and loves Gillian, but she is having trouble with the whole “dating” aspect after her divorce. Then we meet the new neighbor, Noah, who took over the local marina after the owner passed. He moves their looking for a fresh start after a breakup on the other side of the country. Noah and Gillian first meet doesn’t go well and that’s when the feud begins! With a point of you told from both sides, you can see sparks starting to develop and possibly “roots” being planted? (Sorry for the pun, I had to 🤣). I thought this was a cute story, took a bit to fully get myself invested but I did find it to be a nice light read that I would recommend to anyone who is into the tropes like: grumpy/sunshine, close proximity, small town romance, opposites attract then I can suggest giving this book a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley and @jaynedenkerauthor for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this Advanced Readers Copy of Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker!