As someone who struggles with anxiety like Aja, it was nice to see that in a character. I feel like the characters in these types of romance novels are all kind of the same so it was refreshing to see something different. I loved the relationship between her and her friends, Walker, and his grandma. Very sweet story and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I loved it! The chemistry was so cute and the social anxiety rep really made me feel seen. Definitely recommend!

Amazing, unique, and real characters that I fell in love with while reading! I love this story and how even though Walter and Aja did not know each other for a long time, nothing felt forced or rushed with the growth of their relationship. I related so much to their experience with mental health, and was so happy to read some of the very relatable and validating experiences they both had. Also I was pleasantly surprised with the steamy scenes in the book! I found myself cheering them both on in their individual growth, but also really hopeful and excited to see their relationship grow as a couple.

Thanks to NetGalley, I really enjoyed this novel. The main female character Aja is unapologetically fat and gave me Talia Hibbert's Eve Brown vibes, but stands on her own! Give me more diversity like this, folks! I was less keen on the male character Walker but the author, Slaughter, captures PTSD and CPTSD really genuinely. This is a rare novel where I feel like we get a bigger slice of the male character's family and background than the typical female focalization. The Southern euphemism of "peaches" sometimes struck me as sexy, sweet, or eye-rolling worthy. Slaughter doesn't shy away from the spice and I found Bet On It charming!

I received an ARC of this novel from St. Martin's Press through Netgalley in exchange for my review..
Bet on It seems, at first glance, to be a quick romance read and it certainly has those qualities, but author, Jodie Slaughter tackles some tough subjects such as anxiety and family dynamics to give this story more depth. Main characters Aja and Walker don't have a typical "meet cute," instead Walker meets Aja in the middle of a full blown panic attack and supports her in just the sweetest way possible. As the story unfolds, Aja and Walker keep running into each other at bingo and they share a love for peach cobbler. Their love story is sweet and steamy and it really makes for a terrific story!

I loved loved this sweet friends to lovers book!

I loved the book for a variety of reasons. I loved that both characters suffered from anxiety. I loved the romance, the couple as individuals, the small town, the bingo!
It reminded me of a Talia Hibbert book and was just a good book! I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book

When it comes to books where the characters deal with mental health problems, I sometimes am wary of reading them. I’ve encountered books where the mental health problems are more of a random thing added in to give the character depth but it seems not needed. Then there are ones done right.

Bet On It’s main characters Aja and Walker have mental health problems but it’s dealt with so beautifully. It’s integrated in their lives as individuals and separately without taking over the book. Aja and Walker become friends after Walker helps Aja through a panic attack.

Aja also plays bingo with Walker’s grandmother (Walker doesn’t live in town any longer and Aja is a newbie). The two have an instant connection but Aja tries really hard to not give in. Walker is such a gentleman with Aja and he’s so incredibly smooth. Walker has had his fair share of childhood trauma and the way it’s written in the book is so realistic. You can tell that both are dealing with their anxiety in the best way possible. I loved their dynamic and the sex scenes were incredibly hot.

If you want a funny, sexy, swoon worthy, peach cobbler infused read, this one is for you!

This book was STEAMY. Like holy cow, made me squirm kinda steamy. 🤣🤣 Do not recommend reading in public bahahha.

My favorite trend in romances the past couple of years, one that is here to stay, is vulnerability. Vulnerability, honesty, consent, and equality. 🔥

I love that this book gave me insight into anxiety. I have a better understanding and more empathy for having read it.


Walker and Aja are so lovable. It was a true pleasure to watch them fall for each other. I also truly loved Aja’s girlfriends. Hoping for a book two?

Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Bet on it


📚Book review📚

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the arc in exchange for a review!

I feel you! I too have panic attacks in Piggly Wiggly. Serious attraction alert! Plus size POC for the win. I’m torn because it wasn’t much substance but it’s a pleasant story.
Contains the age old trope of friends to lovers.

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

What a cute and STEAMY read! I loved the tie-ins with Bingo, and I found the characters really believable and compelling. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The romance was cute, the characters where very well developed, and how the author approached the issue of mental health was amazing.

Aja. Aja is such an amazing character. I loved her from the start. I felt as though I completely connected with her. She is intelligent, and strong, and continues to push and work through everything in her life. Her anxiety was so relatable to me and the way the author wrote about her battle with it was very well done. I absolutely adored reading Aja’s POV every time.

Following up with this, her friend group is elite. The amount of love and understanding that they gave Aja was wonderful. I loved reading any and every chapter that included them. Their friendship was beautiful and I loved how it developed throughout the book.

Walker was so sweet. The way the author approached his PTSD was once again handled so well. He had gone through so much and was having to face a place that had caused him so much trauma and pain and it was really wonderful reading about his journey.

Aja and Walker are so cute. I loved them immediately. Their banter and friendship growing into these romantic feelings left me feeling giddy at times. I loved loved loved them.

As much as I loved their relationship, the first two sec scenes that they had, I just did not enjoy at all. Back of the car is not the greatest, but I could get over that. However when man got on his knees the mayors office, I just— I have no words for how much I did not want that at all. It was not for me. ick. I also just am not super attracted to the southern style which made it hard for me to fully enjoy walker and the nickname peaches just reminds me of freaking ice age, but all of that is just my own preferences making an appearance.

Anyways this book was so cute and Aja is so wonderful and I completely recommend because it truly is such an adorable story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this was about Bingo I was immediately intrigued. I have 5 different Bingo games on my ipad so you might say that I like to play Bingo. Add a Bingo storyline to a romcom and you can sign me up!

I thought that the mental health rep and the POC rep was really good. I liked that they didn't shy away from the main character being black. Sometimes when reading about a POC main character they tend to gloss over the fact but this book made it part of the storyline which I appreciated.

Our main character, Aja, has general anxiety and when we first meet her she is having a panic attack in the middle of the grocery store. You're really thrown right in to a very vulnerable moment with her so I immediately felt for the character.

The love interest is Walker- the grandson of Aja's Bingo partner who has come to care for his grandma after she broke both of her wrists in an accident. Walker has anxiety issues stemming from PTSD from his difficult childhood himself so he and Aja really connect and understand each other.

The spice levels of this book was amazing. No fade to black here which I loved.

So why only 3 stars? I felt like the book did a lot more telling than showing. I didn't feel fully immersed. There was no urgency to pick it up when I put it down.

And while I appreciate the mental health storyline I do feel like it wasn't executed well. While we first meet Aja during a panic attack she never suffers from another one on the pages of the book again. She mentions her struggle with anxiety quite a bit but other than being a homebody we don't really see it.

For a woman who has a panic attack in the middle of Piggly Wiggly over a box of Hot Pockets you would think that there would be more actual struggles in the book and there just wasn't.

I liked the characters, loved the Bingo storyline, the different rep that was featured in the book (did I mention Aja is also plus size?) and I would definitely read another book by this author. It just fell a bit flat for me overall so I rated it as three stars.

If you like romcoms with some good spice I do recommend that you check this out. Just check trigger warnings because of the mentions of panic attacks and anxiety that are mentioned.

Book received for free through NetGalley

I put this book down a time or two but overall loved the characters and had to find out what happened next. They’re perfectly realistic and overall makes me smile. That said, just a warning, the sex scenes are explicit.

I really enjoyed this tender and kind romance. Slaughter crafter a great story of two people who struggle with mental illness finding love. There is no magic here though. They still have mental illnesses and the epilogue was a masterclass on showing what a HEA/HFN looks like a little down the road.
Here are some highlights from this book-
Unapologetically fat female main character
love letter to bingo
sex pact
mental health & therapy rep
high heat
oral sex on the FMC without reciprocation
good friendships

I had a few quibbles with the book that are minor but did take away from my enjoyment of the book because I spent time thinking about them.
The timeline- seemed weird.
Walker's job- he is a sports reporter for a local/smaller town newspaper. There is no way that he could do that job remotely for an extended period of time. For this job, it requires going to the sporting events to be able to report on them. That can not be done from afar.

Overall this book was really good and Jodie's writing will take your breath away with how good it is.

Never did I ever imagine a meet cute in the form of a panic attack in the Piggly Wiggly, but Jodie Slaughter sure did pull it off!

As someone who experiences anxiety and panic attacks myself, I don’t always enjoy books with those topics as storylines (I have more than enough anxiety of my own). That said, Bet on It felt different. Yes, the characters experienced anxiety and panic, but it wasn’t their only identity, nor was this a scenario where they only found love once they miraculously eliminated their anxiety.

The characters felt like whole humans, experiencing a complex range of emotions. The story felt genuine and lovely. Overall, I really enjoyed this one.

*Since I know I have readers with a range of preferences in terms of intimacy, I do want to give a heads up that this is an open-door romance, which means that the intimacy happens on the page (including a couple of scenes where the intimacy happens in pretty public areas).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
⠀⠀⠀

This book was gifted to me to review. This is the first book I’ve read by Jodie Slaughter. She does a wonderful job of telling Aja and Walkers story! That story doesn’t move too fast or too slow. It’s a perfect romance/comedy book for any young adult! I love how Jodie mentions the struggle they have with their anxiety and mental health because it’s something I can personally relate too! If you want a great quick read that’s sweet and a little steamy in place this if the book for you! I can’t wait to read more from Jodie!

Holy crap on a cracker. This book was, in a word, PHENOMENAL. I'm actually obsessed with this book. It was so incredible! The characters were so relatable and easy to connect with - I was immediately invested in their individual lives, as well as their relationship with each other. Did some of the things that Walker (the male protagonist) seem unrealistic or unexpected? Maybe. Am I mad about it? Absolutely not. This novel is everything you want out of a romance novel - the extra steamy scenes (holy cow - everything you want in a steamy scene without being vulgar or awkward), the incredible character growth, the slightly-silly-but-still-totally-believable plot - it's incredible! I can't stop raving about this! Also, Aja - LOVE HER. She's a plus size girl just trying to make friends and navigate her anxiety, and if I can't relate to that, then I don't know what I can relate to. You know what's great about this book in particular? Both of the main characters, Aja and Walker, deal with anxiety and other mental health problems throughout the book. The book also addresses PTSD and substance abuse. And Slaughter wrote about all of them so beautifully. So accurate and realistic. I particularly loved that every character in this novel was ACTUALLY INTELLIGENT. I cannot stand characters making dumb decisions, but these characters didn't do any of that. They dealt with their anxiety in ways that worked for them, they talked about their therapy sessions, and what I love the most is that Slaughter didn't use mental health as an excuse to make her characters do dumb stuff. Thank the stars above for intelligent characters and for talented authors who know how to write them well! Loved this book. Seriously - read it - so good!!!

This was a sweet, fun and emotional rom-com by the must read author Jodie Slaughter. The characters were loveable, the story was as sweet as you want a rom-com to be, and it will make you laugh. I loved the bits of South that were in this book. You could almost taste the Leah cobbler and feel the scenery. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I'm obsessed with this book. Slaughter does a stunning job balancing steamy sex, fun shenanigans, and deep trauma healing. I love every single thing about it.

This is a nice, cute and easy read. I saw that Talia had blurbed it and had to get my hands on a copy! This is perfect for a sunday read. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!