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!

This thoroughly entertaining rom com was a perfect read to me! The cover is spot on that they are neighbors and fights about their gardens but also it’s something that brings them together. If you are looking for a cheery read this book is for you!

I think this was a case of reading a book at the wrong time. I had been going through a small town romance phase and knew it was ending but tried to fit another in. I just had a hard time getting into it. I really do think I would love this a lot more if I read it at a different time so I likely try again at later date. Still a cute easy read!

Are you looking for a super cute, low-stakes, enemies-to-lovers quick read? Yes? Then this is the book for you. I admittedly requested this book and received it from Netgalley before realizing that this was the second book in a series, but rest assured, if you read this one first you won’t have any issues. Though I did go and reserve this book from my library at the first available moment.

Both characters I admit are pretty high-strung in the beginning of this book, to the point that I wanted to gather them together and take deep breaths with them because everything would be okay. That being said I did fall in love with both of them, despite Noah’s ideas for horrific modern garden design.

The cast of characters surrounding them, some their age, and some stealth grannies (a term from the book that still makes me laugh) are a riot that kept me giggling throughout the book.

Anyone who comments on Gillian’s weight or her personality needs to be kicked in the shins, seriously.

This is a sweet, quick read but may also leave you wishing that you had a nicer garden.