A spicy and sweet romance with great mental health representation!

This story was sweet, and at times, a little cheesy, and I loved it because of it. Aja and Walker's relationship together and their relationships with their friends were such great examples of the importance of having people in your life who love you and work with your intricacies.

I loved the narrator's voice!

I simultaneously read and listened to ARCs of this book, and the paragraphs below are the review for the print copy. For the audio ARC, I will only add that the narration was well done, with a good choice for narrator.

Aja Owens left the DC Metropolitan area behind for Greenbelt, South Carolina for a change of pace--which has done wonders for her anxiety. Still, she is struggling to adjust to a new place where she doesn't know anyone. Which is why she has a Wednesday night ritual of going to bingo. Sure, she's mostly surrounded by the geriatric portion of Greenbelt's small population, but it gets her out of the house and she enjoys the routine. However, she starts to worry when the lady she usually sits beside is absent for a few weeks, relieved to see Miss May walk into the bingo hall again.... then horrified to see the casts on her arms. And then absolutely mortified when Miss May's incredibly handsome grandson appears with her.

The same man who, just a few nights before, witnessed her anxiety attack in the local Piggly Wiggly.

Walker Abbott (Wally to his grandma) hasn't been back to Greenbelt since the day he left for College of Charleston and hasn't looked back. But when his grandmother has an accident, he drops everything to be at her side. But he's made it clear: he's only staying for a few weeks, until the casts are off. Then he's leaving again. Leaving behind the town that mocked him and whispered about him for his addict parents, his PTSD and anxiety attacks, and generally made him feel unwelcome in the very town he was born in. Nothing can make him stay, even though he adores his grandma, who raised him. Not even the gorgeous Aja Owens.

Sparks fly between Aja and Walker, though they both refuse to act on it; after all, Walker isn't going to be sticking around and Greenbelt is Aja's new home. That is until a bout of joking between them after a game of bingo leads to a pact: they can sleep with each other only if one of them wins a game of bingo. Then and only then. Nothing in between.

Yeah. Like that's going to last long.

A brilliant romance that focuses heavily on mental health, self-care, and works to destigmatize mental illness while also being funny, sexy, and an addictive page turner. Aja and Walker both have amazing and supportive friend groups, I adore Miss May, and the setting of a bingo hall is fun, creative, and incredibly unique. I was also relieved that, though there was tension between Walker and Miss May at the beginning, there was no big blow-up that was dragged out to the end of the book, only for them to reconcile after that; no, they handled it well and early on, talking like the adults they are about their feelings. That was a breath of fresh air.

A brilliant addition to your summer reading--and 100% South Carolinian approved!

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early! This is a really cute story about 2 people working through some stuff and finding love on the way. Aja is a 20 something woman living in a tiny town, playing Bingo with a bunch of old ladies and living a pretty solitary life until one day, the grandson of one of her friends sees her having a panic attack in the Piggly Wiggly. He's supportive and kind in a way that only someone who has been there can be. He has PTSD from a really rough childhood and now suffers with anxiety and panic attacks as well. He comes to Bingo with his grandma while he's in town for the summer (I think its summer) and the 2 srike up a banter filled relationship. Things cross the line but since they know its temporary, they make a bet that they will only hook up when one of them gets a Bingo. I love how the couple bonded over their shared experiences with panic attacks and anxiety. As an anxiety sufferer, there is no greater comfort than having a friend who gets it. However, I really didn't like how steamy this book was. It definitely goes there and I didn't need that part, but thats just me. I also felt like the characters read younger than they were and the narrator for Walker sounded nothing like his description. Overall this was a cute story if you're looking for something steamy with some depth.

👍🏼👍🏼 awesome friends to lovers romance + audiobook

I found this audiobook on NetGalley and the premise sounded so cute! I am so glad that I got a chance to listen because this narration is *chef’s kiss*. The characters are represented so well and I really loved the chance to get to know them better. Not too mention that the story itself is really well written!

The characters you will love:

😌 Aja Owens - a sweet, anxiety prone woman who has moved to a small town to escape the pressures of the city and breathe a little easier. Hobbies include Wednesday night bingo where she is by far the youngest participant.

😉 Walker Abbott - a true southern gentleman who was raised by his grandmother after experiencing some extreme childhood trauma that he is still working through. He hates returning to his hometown, but he will do anything for his grandma - including helping her get to her Wednesday night bingo when she hurts herself.

This book explores Aja and Walker’s individual mental health journeys and their unexpected friendship. OH and their so hard to resist attraction to each other. Who knew that Peaches would be such a 🥵 hot nickname?!

I loved listening to Aja and Walker find themselves and each other through the book.

This one was sweet and steamy.

I started the book via eARC then switched over to the ALC.

I liked the progression of Aja and Walker’s relationship. How they started as friends then decided to use their Bingo games as ways to move things forward.

There was a lot of talk about mental health in this book. Both Aja and Walker are working to address their histories and their current mental health symptoms. I appreciated seeing how they acknowledged each other’s needs.

I liked Aja’s progress in making friends with the other young women in the town. I liked seeing her struggle to put herself out there but push her a little past her comfort zone.

Overall, the story was good but I think I would have wanted more in some ways. I am not quite sure I can explain what was missing for me, but I just left feeling like I could have used some more.

This was was still a fun and enjoyable book. (3.5)

OMG OMG! I absolutely loved that the audiobook started off with the disclaimer that already prepared me for the greatness of Bet on It. I love that the story wasn't all fluff and omg when will the romance come. It was a delicate and safe space to discuss lovely things and complex mental health issues. Both Aja and Walker were like true people becoming themselves and this story did a great way of describing that to us readers. Also, boy was it spicy, the spicy factor was at 1,000 and I liked that. A true person who doesn't shy away from great graphic detail Jodie Slaughter didn't shy away herself. The small town move for Aja was just what she didn't and didn't know what was coming her way this summer and joyful it was everything she didn't know she needed and more. The way the author mentioned how the characters were into healing and finding help outside themselves was very healthy, you don't normally see that, and has become and new and positive way people, specifically in POC communities, view Therapy. The Bingo sex pact might be my favorite part of the book because millennials in weekly bingo joined together to enjoy themselves based on winning a game played by mostly the elderly is hilarious and so 2022. Overall, I truly enjoyed the book and looking forward to more by Jodie Slaughter.

If you're looking for a fun + spicy romcom this is the book for you!

Aja Owens is mid panic attack in the freezer aisle of her local grocery store when she meets Walker Abbott for the first time. Soon after, Aja goes to her weekly bingo game where she quickly realizes that handsome Walker is none other than her bingo partner's grandson. An immediate mutual flirtation begins, although they each have reservations. Both dealing with anxiety and mental health issues they quickly find themselves falling for each other while also finding a solid ally to help them navigate the ins and outs of panic attacks, anxiety, and love. A risky bingo bet made on a whim for fun could quickly turn into something more serious when feelings start to develop and all bets are off.

This was my first Jodie Slaughter book and I would definitely classify it as *spicy*! The entire book is full of quirky moments, mostly involving food, and several laugh out loud funny lines. Even with all the spice and humor the story tackles some serious issues too. It feels real and relatable. I enjoyed the narrator immensely but did find it hard to visualize Walker's description while matched with the narrators voice. 4 fun stars. And 5 🌶
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Bet On It will hit shelves on July 12 and is the perfect book to take along for a trip to the beach!

This was a fun steamy read. I thought the premise of having both protagonists meet at a bingo and them making a sex pact was so original! Hooked me right off the bat!

Both Aja and Walker struggle with mental health issues (anxiety, panic attacks) that are tackled all throughout the story and that really added a level of depth to the plot which I appreciate. I was rooting for Aja, I felt for her. I liked her personality and how she had these moments of confidence! You go, girl!

I also like how they both had unresolved issues they had to learn to deal with and how they slowly found support and understanding in each other. Some minor things were indeed a bit predictable, but the ending left me smiling and I really enjoyed it.

You'll need tons of ice packs if you plan to read this one because the level of steam is...wow! haha

I'm struggling to put into words how much I adored this book.

Fictional men always raise the standard for irl men, but Walker? Yeah, Walker just shot it through the roof. Not for anything he said or did, but for the way he thought. Every time he sees Aja he has something new to say about how beautiful, stunning, and sexy she is. My goal in life is to have someone cherish me in the way that Walker does with Aja. (Also his dirty talk? Out. Of. This. World. The cartoon cover caught me off guard again!)

The story features two main characters who both live with anxiety disorders, (General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD) and displays that there isn't a one size fits all diagnosis and solution. I teared up a few times when either of the main two would share something about their experiences and the other didn't have to say anything, they just *knew*. There are multiple scenes that are so intimate, you almost feel like you're intruding, like there are two people with crazy sexual tension staring at each other and you're sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

The story felt realistic and honest. While it may center on a romance, other topics like the importance of friendship and growing up in difficult situations are woven throughout, making these characters dynamic.

This is my top read of 2022 so far, and when this book comes out I will be forcing every body to read this.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for access to the ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What a delight! This audio book was just what I needed. Great story, great characters, mental health/anxiety discussion, and lots of fun. If you're in the mood for a great rom-com, this is the book for you. Who would have thought re-meeting at a Bingo event would lead to Aja & Walker's romance. This book had romance, lots of simmering spice, chemistry and so much more. Highly recommend and can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook had me from the opening line! I enjoyed this book with how well a realistic portrayal of mental health was presented. It was a great read to listen to and was pretty spicy! A great recommendation for anyone looking for a romance that is realistic in the realm of mental health.

2.5 / 5 stars.

I thought this story was set up really well -- the two protagonists meet in a grocery store in a small town and he helps her through an anxiety attack. From there, though, I thought it went a bit downhill. The story was either about anxiety OR sex. I wanted more character development, more slow burn. All in all, an okay read, but not my favorite of the year.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book!

⚜My Summary
📚 I truly enjoyed this book. A cute sassy, sexy, to hot to handle read by @jodie_slaughter. Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress for sending me this read. My first read by Jodie Slaughter and I must say I was impressed. The narrator Angel Payne was very entertaining and has a beautiful voice. But the story of Asia and Walker had me in love. I love how they were such a great fit being that they stood out to their anxiety issues. I really loved that they weren't victims to it and tried their best to overcome it. The spiciness was what had me on the edge. A very sexual read. This book kept me entertained. A real page turner!

⚜Favorite/Least Favorite Part
📚My favorite part was when Wally and his dad made amends becuase a large part of Wally's anxiety stemmed from his relationship with his dad. I also loved when he told Asia he loved her.

📚My Least Favorite part was when Wally left Asia without saying goodbye.

⚜Would I recommend?

📚Absolutely! A must read!

⚜Can everyone read this book?

📚Yes! Pg 13

Just Read Stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so cute and sweet! I loved the romance and how panic attacks were addressed in the narrative. This was a quick and fun read for sure!

I think I liked the audiobook way better than the book. It is much easier for me to really get engulfde and the narrator was amazing.

This was my first book I have read by Jodie Slaughter! From the cover you think it is going to be a romcom but it is a much deeper than a bingo sex pact. Aja first comes in contact with Walker while hanging a panic attack at Piggly Wiggley. Aji then finds out that Walker is her bingo buddy’s grandson. Walker is only in town to help take care of his grandma and the last thing he wants is to be in a relationship that would keep him in a small town that has a lot of bad memories for him. I loved how open Aja and Walker are with their mental health and supported each other in times of need and the most rewarding part was watching them grow individually.

Special thanks to NetGalley and
publisher for a copy of the Audiobook in exchange my pure honest review

This was a very spicy rom-com that reminded me of Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters series. I enjoyed that chemistry between the two main characters, and the overall character growth seen throughout the novel. I do think that the spice actually slowed down some of the pacing, but overall thought it was a light-hearted read. I added this book into my monthly reading wrap-up video.

✨ Review ✨ Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter; Narrated by Angel Pean
CW: PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health concerns

I really loved the concept of this book - two characters, both struggling with mental health, bonding over bingo (and betting on amping up their relationship based on their bingo outcomes). There was so much great representation here of body positivity, openness about mental health and more.

However, for me, it just felt like it dragged on a bit. The characters were making good progress in their lives and together but there wasn't quite that magical spark that pulled me in. By the middle of the book, I just wanted to fast forward a bit to find out how it ended. I think this will be a really good book for many, it just didn't quite capture me.

I think there's so much great writing here about friendship and families, trauma and healing, and more. The audio narrator was fabulous - I enjoyed listening to it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m romance, featuring body positive and mental health rep.
Pub Date: July 12, 2022

Read this if you like:
⭕️ peach cobbler
⭕️ romances with mental health themes
⭕️ small town romances

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley for an e-copy of this book!

I am so so glad that I listened to this romance novel as an audiobook. The narrator's southern accent just adds so much to the story, it would not have been the same without it. The story itself is absolutely gorgeous, Jodie Slaughter is an absolutely amazing writer.

This book has absolutely everything. Charming southern culture, bingo, funny characters, and real life issues like anxiety that exist without overtaking the plot. Slaughter balances all of the intricacies of life in this sweet rom com. Aja and Walker are my absolute favorite couple at the moment, I don't think I have ever fallen harder for a relationship than I did while reading this book. I walked around with headphones in listening because I couldn't pause the story for a second while I did everything I had to do.

If you like steamy romance novels with a side of emotional angst, this is absolutely the book for you. This is one of the best romances I have read all year.

TW: Panic attacks, mentions of drug abuse (not main characters), anxiety, past child abuse

4.5 stars rounded up

This was excellent! I've heard great things about Jodie Slaughter and I'm glad I finally got to read something by her. One thing worth noting is that while this does have some fun moments, overall it's a heavier version of a romance novel that is dealing (very sensitively!) with mental health issues including generalized anxiety disorder and complex PTSD.

Both characters go through panic attacks and in fact they initially meet when our heroine is having a panic attack in a grocery store. We have scenes with our heroine talking to her therapist and it's very pro-therapy in general which is great, and this emphasizes growth, healing, and coping mechanisms rather than anyone being "fixed". Mental health is a major theme throughout the book and the characters connect over some of their shared experiences.

We also have a fat heroine and I thought the representation was handled beautifully! She feels good about herself, comfortable in her skin, and doesn't have a problem getting sexy with the hero. (for the record this is a pretty steamy book!) She isn't weird about eating and enjoys food, no one around her is fatphobic either. The hero is definitely into her body, but it doesn't feel fetishized in a weird way. Personally, this is exactly the kind of fat representation I enjoy in my romances.

Their relationship starts as a friendship, then a short term sex pact, but it's clear they are both developing feelings. It's also adorable how they get to know each other through bingo where they're definitely the youngest people and he's in town to help out his grandmother while she recovers from an injury.

On top of all that, we also get some great female friendships developing! Our heroine is new to town and doesn't really know anyone, but ends up making some great friends despite her insecurities about getting to know new people. Loved it. This was just a great book and I would definitely read more from this author in the future. The audio narration is great too! Loved the voice of the narrator. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.