this was unfortunately a DNF at the 55% mark for me! the sex scenes were so cringey and I felt really disconnected from the characters. for some reason I just did not care about them or what they were going through at all.

I really wanted to love this story, and parts of it I totally did love. But, I found it somewhat predictable in a way that wasn't comforting but kind of tedious. I also found myself disliking the male lead character as it came toward the end.

This was surprisingly steaaaaamy. im not sure I LOVED the story, but I definitely like the mental health representation in this book. I did not feel very connected to any of the characters and the story is based in a small town but I felt like it lacked the small town charm that could have been set. Thank you to Netgalley for a ARC of this book.

This is a cute and spicy romance that has a little extra. Aja and Walker meet at a Bingo hall in fictional small town Greenbelt, SC. Aja moved there in search of a quieter life, and Walker is in town from Charleston for a few months helping his grandmother recover from a fall. Sparks fly and the two get to know each other, all the while dealing with their own anxieties and past traumas. I appreciate how the author incorporates characters who are real people with real issues, dealing with them in ways that are sometimes messy. Themes of family, trauma, healing, love, friendships, anxiety and more round out the story.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#netgalley #stmartinspress

I like to read romance as an escape; these character's anxieties were just too much for me to enjoy this. I appreciate the representation, but it's not what I wanted.

What I really loved about this book was the mental health talk, and Aja’s journey in making new friends. As someone with social anxiety, that really resonated with me. I really liked the two main characters, but unfortunately just didn’t love the romance. I didn’t feel a strong chemistry between these two.

This was a perfect mix of steamy & sweet. I loved the bingo aspect of Walker's Grandmother and Aja's friendship.

I really enjoyed Bet On It. I listened to the audiobook & it was an entertaining listen. As someone with anxiety, I really related to and appreciated the anxiety representation in both characters. I would round up to 5 stars.

A steamy romance between a mixed race couple. A story that brings to light the subject of anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD. However, there was not much depth to the characters - I somehow wanted more. This was an okay read for me.

"Bet on It" is a charming romantic novel that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy. The story centers around Aja Owens, a woman who encounters the man of her dreams while having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The man, Walker Abbott, has just returned to Greenbelt, South Carolina after more than a decade away, and is counting down the days until his grandmother's health improves so he can return to his real life. Aja and Walker make a hastily made bingo-based sex pact to keep their feelings in check, but their emotions have other plans.

Jodie Slaughter's writing style is engaging and keeps readers invested in the story. The characters are well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for Aja and Walker to overcome the obstacles in their way. The story's pacing is steady, with just the right amount of tension and humor to keep readers engaged. The bingo-themed aspect of the novel adds a fun and unique twist to the romance genre.

Overall, "Bet on It" is a sweet and enjoyable romance novel that will leave readers feeling happy and satisfied. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light and entertaining read.

This is a sexy and charming novel that also addresses mental health issues with a caring touch. I really enjoyed the romance between Aja and Walker and loved how the author seamlessly wove in Aja’s backstory. I haven’t read this author before but will definitely be looking at more from Jodie Slaughter. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy.

I appreciate the special attention to mental health and not having the protagonists be cookie-cutter perfectionists. That being said, there was very little to draw me into this romance and be heavily invested in this couple. Decent book, but just not one that stood out to me. 3 star ⭐️ rating.

Aja meets Walker when she’s in the middle of a panic attack in the grocery store. Walker helps her through her attack. She doesn’t know yet that she will soon run into him again. The two begin a friendship and set up an agreement on how they want their relationship to be. The story has a serious side where the characters deal with their emotional sides, but there’s also some humor, and some spicy romance.

considered dnf’ing but i did appreciate the mental health representation!! i wish i felt the connection a little bit more. maybe this one just wasn’t for me!

I'm actually exhausted by the volume of books that are writers writing about writers. This is a 3rd round purchase for most libraries.

A steamy romance with wonderful mental health representation. Loved the side characters and am really excited for the authors next book!

Super cute and a fun read. Loved how it explored anxiety and tramua but still wasn't too heavy of a read for those who might just be looking for a rom com.

Such a cute read! Love Walker and AJ and their love story and especially loved that there was love for a plus sized heroine

I really wanted to like this book but there was just something missing abut the story line. There was a point where I just wanted to finish the book ( I cant seem to DNF a book, but this is one of the books where i considered it )..
I thought that the book was going to be a light quick read but it tries to weave in some darker topics.
One thing I could not get into was the bingo thing, like usually when you make some sort of bet/pact its because you know there is a possibility that you will win.... but here for all they know they would never win. It did seem a bit of low stakes. I found their relationship to be a bit forced so it made no difference to me if they ended up together or not so them being in love just did not make sense to me. The steamy parts were just not doing it for me but I think it was also because i was expecting more of a love story and the development of the relationship. it felt like it was trying a bit too much to be super steamy specially when I consider how they both have anxiety and how they describe themselves, it made it a bit unbelievable that they would be so vocal and up to doin the stuff that they did. I also have to ad that hot tamale being their favorite candy is disappointing to me an I will forever judge a person real or fictional that says they like them.
I did like that they tried to talk about mental health and include it in a romance since I don't usually see that.

I’ve had this book in my TBR pile for so long and when I finally picked it up, I definitely wish I had done so sooner.

It’s a sweet read that has a ton of mental health representation in it (mainly PTSD and anxiety) which is portrayed in a very realistic way. While it is a rom-com, this is also a story about overcoming obstacles and loving yourself no matter where you are. Aja is doing everything she can to get over her fear of social situations and build relationships in a new city (so relatable) while Walker is struggling to come to terms with his community and their view of him. I loved everything about this book - from the body positivity and great character development to the small-town story and the bingo theme. It was such a fun read!