I love that this book features both a plus size MC, and anxiety rep! Overall, I would definitely recommend trying this novel!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

3.5⭐️
Went in with zero exceptions just because I hadn’t had the greatest luck with ARCs lately but this one genuinely surprised me! It was also duo perspective which is an added bonus!

Our main character, Aja, deals with really bad mental health. She decides to leave busy Washington, DC and move to the small town of Greenbelt, SC in hopes to find some stability (and some good bingo lol). Let’s just say Bingo isn’t the only thing she falls in love with. Aja is a pretty likable and relatable MC. The other characters were good but nothing memorable. I honestly was not a fan of Walker at first. I just didn’t like his vibe or the way he spoke at times. But he eventually grew on me or just developed as a character who knows🤷🏻‍♀️
The way the author touched on both characters mental health was very well done. Didn’t feel forced, or cringy. It felt real and very relatable, especially for people with mental health. The level of spiciness in this book had me shook! Like okayyy little miss Aja! 👀🔥🥵 I was honestly taken aback with her gutsiness considering how bad her anxiety could get. But I was here for it! 👏🏻
I do suggest checking out any possible TW before reading.


Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly? It was meh? I feel bad saying that, but it was definitely not a bingo for me!

There were some pros; I loved the anxiety/PTSD rep, plus size rep; it was nice and steamy, and Walker loved to eat which is always a pro. But really, that was about it for me. Nothing happened in the book? Like there was nothing really driving the plot, the "why can't we be together" really just didn't make sense or work for me; the bet was unnecessary but it was the only source of tension, and the story just fell flat. It's one of those books where you're left wondering what the point was, and it fell sadly very short for me and I'm pretty disappointed because I was looking forward to this one!

I definitely recommend checking out the content warnings before picking this one up!

A modern and sweet small town romance with true mental health rep and body positivity! Walker is returning to his hometown to help his recovering grandmother after escaping due to childhood trauma. Meanwhile, Aja has just begun to settle in the small town to escape the hustle and bustle of a bigger city.

I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters but felt their relationship escalated too quickly and a bit impractically, almost forced due to their mental states. The story also included a few steamy scenes, which I felt were well written. This was my first novel by Jodie Slaughter and while I really enjoyed the various elements the story encompasses, it was just too slow for me.

-understanding
-small town setting
-childhood trauma
-mental health rep
-forgiveness & growth
-bingo theme
-new friendships

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this book was waaaay more “spicy” than I normally prefer but the rest of the story was so fun that I really didn’t mind. It worked. Aja & Walker are such interesting characters and the way they are making life work despite dealing with mental illness makes for a great read. It was frustrating that they were trying so hard not to be in a relationship but should have been all along. I also appreciated that Aja found such good girlfriends and those relationships were highlighted.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this book. It was great!

Oh gosh! This book made me giggle, swoon, and blush. I thought the plot was great and the story moved along at a good pace. There were moments in this book that felt a bit bland but overall, this was a easy romance read for sure!

I adored this book! It was so cute, it was so real. I felt Aja's anxiety, her introvertedness. I loved her. The whole Bingo thing was so much fun. My only disappointment was that Walker's port wine stain is not shown on the book cover. I feel like since it's even in the book, specifically pointed out, it should be represented on the cover. It's just a birthmark. But it's noticeable to Aja. But I loved this book and I look forward to more contemporary romance from Jodie Slaughter!

I think I would've enjoyed this more if I had read it rather than listening to the audiobook (which I got from my library). I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that both protagonists had similar issues, which made it seem monotonous at times. It just felt like they were both leading up to separate breakdowns with their emotions, which I wasn't particularly looking forward to. But I did listen to the audiobook, so I have to mention I wasn't quite sure what the narrator was going for in terms of the hero's voice. I didn't initially realize he was white. I think her Southern accent was just a deeper version of the heroine's voice, which was incredibly off-putting.

Overall, I did enjoy the romance, but the story was just okay. It didn't leave a lasting impression unfortunately.

A sweet romance set in South Carolina where they meet at a local bingo hall. This book has a heavier side with pretty realistic mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks in the main characters. The bingo hall as was fun to read about. Thanks SMP Romance!

Aja has traded her fast-paced life for the quiet small town of Greenbelt, South Carolina. Unfortunately, she runs into the man of her dreams at the grocery store during a panic attack. Little does she know that said man is the grandson of her bingo buddy, and she will have to face him again. The two realize they have a sudden and intense attraction that they should not act on, so they make a pact that they can only act on their feelings when they actually win a bingo game. The premise of this story was a cute one, but for some reason, the characters did not sit well with me. I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but it wasn't one of my favorites. 3 stars.

This was an amazing, steamy romance. It had really fun banter between the characters, it had a great supporting cast of characters, and was really enjoyable to read.

The thing I liked the most about this book though, was the realistic way the book discussed mental illness. In this instance, the book addressed Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. I absolutely love that along with the happily ever after, Jodie Slaughter included realistic issues and struggles that Aja and Walker encounter, and the strides and backward steps that they make along the journey.

Not to mention that the book was just a lot of fun!

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was only ok. I didn’t love the forced southern accent/sayings. The characters were likeable but I just couldn’t get over the southern thing. Being from the south myself it felt a bit irritating.

This is a cute story with some annoying characters that make you like - seriously? Get it together! But it is otherwise well written and the story itself is nice. Two socially awkward middle age adults meet each other at... Bingo, of all places. But they end up learning more about each other and figuring out life the best they could.

Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter follows the story of AJ and Walker. Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. It had potential but I had trouble feeling connected to the characters.

I really enjoyed Bet On It! I really liked the relationship between Aja and Walker and the bingo sex pact was not something I have ever seen as a set up before. As someone with anxiety, the depiction of panic attacks and generalized anxiety rang true for me.

Who doesn’t love a romance novel with an ill-conceived sex pact?? And it’s a bingo-based sex pact? Even better. Plus great anxiety and mental health rep! Overall a super cute and steamy small town romance with sweet characters dealing with complex issues and falling in love along the way.

I loved this book. I really enjoyed seeing 2 different characters with anxiety from different sources living life and falling in love through a bingo hall. It’s nice to see characters with an accurate representation of anxiety portrayed in a rom-com. I loved how Aja came out of her shell throughout the book, making friends and connections. I loved how Walker faced many of his own demons and worked through many of his own issues. This was a well written book and an enjoyable read.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

DNF @ 48%

I was really looking forward to this one: a mixed race couple who both address that they both experience mental health issues meet and bond at a bingo hall.

So going from there, the mental health rep was great including the importance of finding a therapist that works for you.

The use of the bingo hall was fun, I really enjoyed that, but there were a few details there that seemed off. Including there being no winners with three numbers left? Improbable

Why I’m DNFing:
1. Apparently food themed sexual innuendos make me gag. I don’t know if I ever want to eat peach cobbler again

2. Aja almost doesn’t brush her teeth because she likes the taste of him? GIRL. MISS. WHAT? Do people actually do this??

3. Due to reading this after publication date, I got the audiobook from the library for a tandem read. I personally don’t like how the narrator does Walker. The tone and cadence didn’t seem to match the character.


While I think this one has qualities a lot of people will like, it just isn’t for me. (

I really enjoyed the thought the author put into developing the characters individually and writing about the anxiety rep. There was spice but it didn't match the chemistry between the characters so there was a bit of a disconnect.

4 stars

Aja and Walker were so cute! I loved their story. Honestly, this book just made me happy. It was a fun, easy read that I flew through. This book had a good mix of sweet and heat and the storyline was fun. I wish that there was more of the small town and the side characters because I thought they were fun. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

CW: severe anxiety, panic attacks (on page), PTSD, self-harm, child endangerment, and addiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins's press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review,