Bet On It has great mental health representation and I appreciated the depiction of anxiety attacks, as this is something I've struggled with in the past.

Unfortunately, the story didn't work for me. It's steamier than I prefer a romance to be, and pacts like this tend to not work for me. They seemed like great companions but there wasn't real connection or chemistry beyond sex.

Thank you to St Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Fun romance. This is an easy read and the main relationship was one that I could get invested in. I’ll continue to look for more from Jodie Slaughter.

I really enjoyed this. Very realistic characters, excellent smut, and a satisfying conclusion. Honestly, what more can you ask for from a romance?

Finding love at the Bingo hall? Sign me up! I was very excited to see how this premise would play out. Aja is a plus-size woman living with anxiety in a new town, and Walker is navigating complex PTSD in the town he hates/grew up in. I appreciate the representation and felt it was done thoughtfully.

I had a hard time connecting to the main romance. It felt a bit too insta-love, which is not a trope I enjoy, and I think a slower burn would have worked better given the characters' emotional history. I also struggled with Walker as a character - his actions, particularly towards the end, just didn't sit right with me. His behavior made the happily ever after unearned, especially given the book's timeline.

I actually found myself enjoying the scenes with the side characters (Ms. May & Miriam) over the main love story.

Some of the spicy scenes didn't work for me either. Setting them in public spaces really threw me off instead of drawing me in.

What a charming book! I enjoyed the diverse characters - a fat, Black woman with anxiety and a white man with a large birthmark on his neck and PTSD from a non-war related situation. It was refreshing, though I was annoyed that Walker doesn't have the birthmark on his neck on the cover. The banter was fun, the sex was sexy, and the story line was solid. Both characters were flawed in their unique ways and felt real.

I appreciated that while this was certainly a romance novel, it wasn't trope-y (not to say I don't love my tropes). This story was unique - both characters felt location-bound and unable to commit to a relationship, but had definite attraction to each other, so they make a pact that if either of them win bingo, they can give into their desires. It's a little ridiculous, but I loved that it wasn't so similar to every other romance novel.

I definitely plan to read more from Jodie Slaughter. We love an unapologetic fat woman!

This was cute and a great add to the romance genre! Entertaining and lighthearted and sweet. Cute prose and characters are wuirky

A sigh worthy story of two people who found each other and took the time to know each other as their feelings deepened and took flame.

Captivating romance that delves into themes of mental health and personal growth. The story centers on Aja Owens, who, while managing her anxiety, forms a connection with Walker Abbott, a man confronting his own past traumas. Their relationship begins with a lighthearted bingo-based pact but evolves into a profound exploration of healing and intimacy. The novel has been praised for its authentic portrayal of anxiety and PTSD, as well as its steamy romantic scenes. However, some readers have noted a slower narrative pace. As a woman in my twenties, I found the characters' journeys toward self-acceptance and love both relatable and inspiring. This book offers a heartfelt narrative that resonates with those seeking stories about overcoming personal challenges and finding connection.

What a refreshing blend of humor, vulnerability, and a hot little romance. The anxiety rep balances with the sizzle of the romantic chemistry perfectly. This would have been a 5 star read if it had not been for some pacing issues making parts of the story feel slow and bogged down.

Reading about anxiety can either make me feel seen or make me feel …… anxious. This book made me feel the latter. I appreciated the unique premise and all of the secondary characters, and was fairly invested in the main couple. Just not as light of a read as I expected.

This was a nice read, maybe just not enough for me in terms of plot - as in not enough happened to keep the book moving at a steady pace and propel the story forward. I really appreciated the anxiety representation. One of the characters also experiences PTSD. It was a unique premise, think I just didn't love the execution.

Realistic portrayal of anxiety not seen in many books. Sweet romance with an interesting storyline. Chemistry could have used a little work.

*Bet on It* by Jodie Slaughter is a frustrating and disappointing read. Despite an interesting premise about a woman finding romance through a shared love of gambling, the execution falls flat. The characters are shallow, with the romance feeling forced and lacking genuine chemistry. The dialogue is often cringeworthy, relying on tired tropes and lacking emotional depth. The pacing is uneven, and the plot feels repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. While the book attempts to explore themes of trust and vulnerability, it does so in a superficial way, leaving me bored and unimpressed. Overall, a forgettable and unsatisfying read.

Peach cobbler, bingo & South Carolina.. this book had my heart right from the start! I’m a sucker for a small town romance.

I loved the character of Aja. Something about Walker always seemed off to me but I loved how he spoke about Aja. Overall, this book was super cute! It was a bit spicier than I expected.

The author managed to make me connect with the characters right away. This book is very character-development driven which was refreshing for a rom-com.

Bet On It also has amazing mental health representation.

My biggest takeaway from the story was the reaffirmation of my dislike of small town living. Beyond that, it’s a sometimes sweet, and jarringly steamy, connection between these two characters. The shared dynamics, anxiety and ptsd, gave depth and layers to their relationship as well as individual journeys. It’s a more serious vibe throughout, despite the delightful Bingo Night levities.

But it was also flat and then overly sexual, in turns. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a lot of steam, but the progression in this story didn’t flow well and seemed out of character at times. It was awkward.

Overall, it’s not horrible, but also not one with a lasting impression.

I loved the plus sized representation in this book. You never had to question what the characters looked like. This book was very well written and tastefully tackles hard topics. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book!

A great romcom that kept me wanting more from this author. Funny, great banter and a perfect read. Can’t wait for more from this author and loved the audio as well. Great narrator!

Bet On It is a delightful, heartwarming romance that offers a thoughtful take on love, anxiety, and the healing power of connection. With its mix of humor, tender moments, and real emotional depth, this novel goes beyond being just a charming love story—it’s also an exploration of mental health, friendship, and the ways we find comfort in each other.

What stood out for me is the showcase of anxiety and mental health. Both characters are dealing with their own struggles, and Slaughter approaches these topics with sensitivity and authenticity. Their shared vulnerability brings a refreshing honesty to their relationship, making it feel both realistic and deeply touching.

The chemistry between Aja and Walker is electric, and Slaughter does a fantastic job building their relationship with care and nuance. Their witty banter, mutual support, and undeniable attraction create a dynamic that’s equal parts steamy and heartwarming. As they navigate their budding romance, they also confront their individual fears and insecurities, making their love story feel like a true journey of growth and healing.

Mental health rep in this one was very well done. Loved the references and depictions of panic attacks as they were described in such a realistic and relatable way.
The relationship between our two MCs seemed genuine however there was a lot of telling instead of showing with the build up of their feelings.
Overall this was an enjoyable read while aspects of it fell flat in my opinion.

DNF at 41%.

This is a cute story. Asia lives in Greenbelt, SC after moving from DC. Walker is temporarily in Greenbelt to take care of his grandma who has had an accident and needs a caretaker. Both are overcoming personal mental issues.

Why I DNFed: crude language. The F bombs were flying and the crass and crude language around sex and anatomy just turned me off (pun intended).

Had the storyline been something unique, I may have pushed through but I feel like I’ve read this before (hello, Act Your Age, Eve Brown). This is a romance so guaranteed there will be a happy ending. I just could not stomach the vocabulary that would be used for that.

Understand, I am not the target demographic for this book. If I were 20-30 years younger, I would have loved this.