DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn't harm my %. I haven't chose to pick the title back up.

I love second chance marriage stories and was looking forward to trying this new to me author. Pulling off a marriage in trouble is much more difficult in a contemporary than in historical romance and ultimately I felt like their second chance needed more growth and depth. It wasn’t enough for me that after 8 years they started over just because they finally had money. This story didn’t work for me but I am curious to try more from this author.

HOT AMAZING AND BLACK CHARATHERS I LOVE THEM TO DEATH AND THEY DESEVE ALL THE GOOD BECAUSE I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUH THEM BEING UNHAPPY

The premise behind this book was unique, and I had high hopes, but it just did not do it for me. I might have liked it more if it hadn't been connected to a second chance romance. I don't know; I really struggled to connect with the characters. I did love the family aspect. The story moved very slow, and I found myself skipping large chunks of the book to see if there was any redeeming content.

I've enjoyed this author before but this one just lacked a bit of chemistry between the main characters and I wasn't rooting for them to end up together so I guess that's a bit of a fail for a romance. It was only okay.

I struggled with this one. I usually like this type of book, but I could not get into the main character. It just felt very juvenile and she was ridiculously naive. It gave off a feeling of small town ignorance and I couldn’t get into it.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I loved the idea of the lottery win and the second chance, but there wasn’t enough connection between the two characters’ and the timing of the lottery winnings felt uncomfortable. So much so I sort of felt like I was rooting for them not to reconcile so he didn’t get any of Miri’s money, which led me to truly realize this wasn’t the romance for me. I’ll still read Jodie Slaughter in the future as “bet on it” was excellent. This particular book would be good for readers who are invested in that second chance romance vibe or a redemption arc.

Miriam is really a main character you want to root for, and every step she takes to her happiness is one where I'm cheering her on. Unfortunately when it comes to her rekindling her romance with Leo, it becomes confusing why she would want to get back together with him at all. The timing of him trying to win her back right after her win is unfortunate and I really needed more convincing (or at least a different setup) as to why his intentions were truly unmotivated by her sudden earnings.

Second Chance Romance After Lottery Win

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter is a contemporary romance novel that centers around Miriam Butler, a 32-year-old Black, bisexual nail technician, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she wins a Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. The story navigates Miriam's journey as she reconnects with her estranged husband, Leo Vaughn, after eight years apart, to finalize a divorce—a process complicated by her newfound wealth and the emotional entanglements that resurface.

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter is a heartwarming and engaging romance novel that successfully blends humour, passion, and emotional depth. Its relatable characters and themes of second chances and personal growth make it a standout read in contemporary romance. Fans of the genre will likely find themselves rooting for Miri and Leo as they navigate their second chance at love.

For those interested in a romance that is both steamy and heartfelt, Play to Win is a must-read.

Play to Win delves into the complexities of decision-making and personal growth with a compelling narrative. Miri’s paralysis from choices, stemming from a failed decision to marry Leo, poignantly illustrates her struggle with depression—a weighty, bone-deep challenge that ebbs and flows. Leo’s efforts to improve are evident, adding depth to his character. The title has a double meaning: for Leo, he has to make a clear gameplay in order to succeed instead of just drifting; and for Miri - she has to learn that she's can't just freeze if she has any hope of gaining anything. Slaughter subtly critiques how traditional gender roles impact everyone, including those in cisgender and hetero-passing relationships, making the novel a thought-provoking exploration of societal expectations and personal resilience.

I love Jodie Slaughter books! This title didn't work for me but that won't stop my from trying more of her work.

I LOVED this story about a regular, small town, southern woman winning a crap ton of money from the lottery and just how much your life changes after that happens. I didn't love Leo the MMC but hey, I don't have to be married to him. Initially, the two broke up when they were young and went separate ways and this book is their second chance at love with each other under very different circumstances. But the money very clearly doesn't change these two, just gives them a sense of security that they'd never had before being mostly poor in the small town south. Makes you think you, as a normal, regular person can go off and win the lottery and change your fortunes.

This one was just okay. The whole aspect of Leo being gone for 8 years and Miri and him never getting a divorce because he just up and disappeared for a pretty ridiculous reason just didn’t make any sense. Miri deserved better.

REVIEW: Play to Win

“Some things never changed. Relationships did. Feelings did. Even love did. But Black mamas were timeless.”
― Jodie Slaughter, Play to Win

"Play to Win" by Jodie Slaughter is a total page-turner! It's got romance, sass, and some serious drama. The main characters are fantastic; they have incredible chemistry that makes you want to see them get together.

The whole story is about this crazy game with super high stakes. Slaughter's writing is smooth, the dialogue is witty, and there are so many funny moments. You'll be laughing out loud.

The romance is super steamy but also sweet. It's not predictable at all, which is great. The side characters are super fun; they add a whole other layer to the story.

The only thing is, if you're a big romance reader, you might find some parts a little predictable. But the characters are so good, and the writing is so engaging it doesn't matter.

Overall, "Play to Win" is a great escape. It's fun, it's romantic, and it's just a good time. If you're looking for a good read, pick this one up!

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

3.25 stars

Miri is a young Black woman in a small South Carolina town, teetering on the edge of poverty, living with her single mother in a run down rental house, barely making ends meet. Her mother has one vice, playing the Lotto daily, and on a whim one day Miri decides to play her own set of numbers. Miraculously, they turn up, and Miri finds herself the recipient of a 200+ million dollar jackpot. At the urging of her financial advisor, she reaches out to her estranged husband Leo, with whom she has not spoken since he walked out on her 8 years prior, to offer a small settlement and divorce so he cannot sue her for half her winnings. Leo comes back to town, determined to win Miri back, though she understandably has her walls up. Now finding herself wanting for nothing, Miri is more lost than ever, proving that sometimes more money indeed means more problems. Never having the closure she needed, Miri is hesitant to give Leo the divorce papers, and they try to figure out where everything went wrong. The second chance romance here was overshadowed by the miscommunication, and Leo's reasons for leaving in the first place were flimsy at best. I found it hard to connect to the characters, and felt this may have worked better in first person than third.

Not sure this was my favorite book. It kind of fell flat. It sucks because I loved the concept but it didn't stand out.

Growing up, my dad loved to spin tales of what he'd do if he won the lottery. While the premise of Play to Win gave me a nostalgic feel with memories of time spent with my dad, I struggled with aspects of this book. I love a second chance romance, and the opportunity for a couple who has been separated for a long time to find their way back to each other, but I didn't connect with the mmc. I wish he had done more to show that he was all in and worthy of a second chance. This book was SPICY and I wish that had been balanced with more emotional development between the main characters. This book wasn't for me, but it may be perfect for other readers.

I loved the premise of this - the lottery ticket plus an estranged husband makes for a great kick off. However, I always struggle with second change romances in contemporaries and this was sadly no exception. I just never felt like I had a clear enough perspective on why they had broken up and more importantly why it would work differently/better a second time. Another review of this I saw said that having a past/present dual timeline might have helped with this and I'm inclined to agree. What did really work for me was the pacing and overall writing quality, and the fact that Jodie Slaughter knows how to write strong and compelling chemistry between her characters. I think this is one I'd recommend to readers who like second chance for sure! It just wasn't really for me.

I wanted to like this book, I really did but I just couldn't. I kept getting frustrated and putting it down, well I kept falling asleep. This is a cute story but it just took too long to get to the point.

Mari and Leo get married when they are 18. They are very happy at the start but being young they realize that being married is hard. Leo gives up and leaves. So while trying to get her life back together Mari decides to take a chance and buys a lottery ticket, that ends up being a winner. Mari winds several million dollars.

This story story had a great premise, the author just took too long to get to the point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was definitely a unique premise in the second chance romance trope. A lottery winner asking to pay off her husband to sign the divorce papers.

I loved the relationships she had with friends and family. I felt the chemistry between the two, but ultimately something just didn't click in this one to make crazy root for them.

If you are looking for a slow burn, clean romance, you should give this one a try.