Member Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Ok - so I have lots of thoughts about this book.

It was WAY more complex then I thought it was going to be. I figured - this is a story about Miri -she wins the lottery and her ex comes back into the picture trying to get her to give him a second chance.

Only it wasn't that. Not really.

1. It is not a traditional romance. Is there a love story - yes. And although the ENTIRE purpose of one of the characters is to redeem himself and get a second chance (aka: LOVE) - this still doesn't feel like a romance novel.

2. Miri wins an insane amount of money -220 million dollars. She basically went to bed trying to figure out how she will pay her bills and wakes up with more money then she knows what to do with.

3. We quickly learn that Miri married her high school sweetheart when she was 18 years old - and he had walked out on her when she was 22. Eight years later she needs to reach out to him to ensure that he doesn't stake a claim on half her winnings & ask for a divorce.

4. That's when Leo comes into the picture. With the goal of winning her back - and no - the money wasn't the reason.

Ok - so this book explores so many things - mental illness - because Miri was definitely suffering from a form of depression / and Leo was dealing with feelings of worthiness. They also could not communicate to save their lives... or their relationship.

It explores how to be a better person, how money doesn't always buy happiness or solve all your problems.

I conflicted about this book - I do like how it was written, and it was well paced. It just felt like so much was being thrown at me - but maybe that was the point? A real study in how life can be messy.

I'm giving this 3 stars - it was entertaining , and I really liked the writing. I just felt like Miri and Leo's story didn't really get resolved (pre-epilogue) - it was like it was tied up too neatly.

That said - if you liked "Seven Days in June" - this book might be for you. It has similar push and pull between the two mains, dual points of view and it's a second chance romance (and Slaughter delivered on the spice once they decided to get physical). It's just not your typical romance novel. But that isn't a bad thing.

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This book just bored me. There just wasn’t that much of a plot and the characters weren’t compelling. Miri wins a huge lottery, but after a lifetime in poverty, it is too huge an adjustment for her to ever get used to extreme wealth. Leo, her estranged husband, left her after a year of marriage because he felt he’d failed her by not being able to provide for her in some misguided, patriarchal bs. When she calls him back home after 8 years of radio silence, she’s planning to pay him off in return for a divorce while he hopes it’ll be an opportunity to reconcile. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any reason why she’d want a guy back who had abandoned her and had done nothing to improve his lot in life. In fact, he’s still working as a day laborer being paid under the table.

Ultimately, neither main character had much to recommend them, the sex scenes were unappealing, and the pace was way too slow. Not recommended.

I received this ARC from St, Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are completely my own.

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Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook and the audiobook to review. I really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook so I preferred that format, though checking spelling of character names in the ebook was helpful. However, when the perspective was the main MC, I felt like it would be better if there were a male narrator as I got a bit confused.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Miri was a likable character, Leo was as well, for the most part. I enjoyed the estranged marriage premise and the fact that Miri winning the lottery spurred their relationship to get back on track. The reason I reduced a star was the sex scenes were a little more than I prefer. I know this is just personal preference. Other than those scenes, I completely enjoyed the book.

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Miriam Butler is a lucky woman. Isn’t she? Yesterday her life was going nowhere: low-paying job, living with her mother, no romance in her life. Today she’s the winner of a Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. No matter that the only numbers she could think of when she bought that winning ticket were all about her estranged husband Leo: “Six.” The age she was when she met Leo Vaughn. “Thirty-one.” Like the day in July she’d kissed him for the first time. “Fourteen.” The number of wildflowers he always brought her, two more than a dozen to make up for the fact that he couldn’t get her store-bought ones. “Twenty-one.” The most times he’d told her he loved her in one day. “Fifty-eight.” The number of days it had taken her to leave the house again after he’d left.

Leo, who she hasn’t talked to in eight years. Leo, who left her early in their marriage with hardly any explanation. Leo, who because of the absence of an actual divorce has the right to a share of her money. So Miri needs to find Leo, offer him a lump sum to sign the divorce papers, and close that door for good. Oh, if it was only that simple.

I knew right away I was going to love this story. Hey, Jodie Slaughter wrote it, right? And after about a paragraph you just know that Miri’s life is going to keep you spellbound. And then the bonus mention of Aja and Walker and other favorites from Bet on It. What’s not to love?

Miri never wanted to see Leo again, but obviously her head – and her heart – didn’t get that memo. Why else would those numbers have popped into her head? Why else would she cry – again – thinking of him? As for Leo, he doesn’t want that darn money. He wants Miri. But just how can he pull that off after what he did.

Play to Win is laugh-out-loud funny, heart-stoppingly sexy, a bit tragic at times, and just a great, great read. So many misunderstandings, so many words that should have been said and weren’t. And so much longing. You’ll have your fingers and toes and everything else crossed that these two can finally work things out.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Play to Win for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. Anything written by author Jodie Slaughter is a pleasure, and my honest opinion is that this is a wonderful story that will tug at your heart, hook you and keep you enthralled right until The End. I voluntarily leave this review and all opinions are my own.

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This book was a little disappointing to me. It took a while to get into and was very slow moving. I didn't really understand the second chance element when Miri never knew why Leo left in the first place. This just wasn't a win for me.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC. Ask opinions are my own.

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Rating: 3.5 stars

Who wouldn't want to win the lottery and fall in love?

I absolutely loved the concept of this book and have found that I really enjoy a good second chance romance. The first chapter really drew me in. That being said, I think after the initial excitement and confusion of winning the lottery, the plot really dragged on.

I do think this story is relatable with the lack of communication between our love interests, both in the past and present. Communicating properly with your partner (or anyone) can be so hard when you don't even know how to communicate with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. I also thought the mental health rep was good, but would have loved to see more - maybe seeing Leo in therapy or more info on how he's grown over the years.

Overall, this was a good read and I'd like to read more of Jodie Slaughter's books in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

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3.5
first off, THE COVER??????? the concept for this one was fascinating! a second chance romance AND the lottery?

as much as i was excited, it took me a really long time to get into the story. i’m not sure if it was the writing but something about it took me out a few times.

i liked how leo tried so hard to get back into miri’s good graces. we love a good grovel! i loved the family and friendships. i liked seeing a glimpse of aja and walker.

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The story and premise was cute but the middle really dragged for me. I didn’t ever feel like Leonard had done anything to redeem himself and prove he wasn’t back just because life would be easy and they would have money. Glad I finished it and the call back at the end was a nice touch.

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3.5 stars. I liked the concept. Some parts were enjoyable but some were just okay. The last bit felt rushed.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I love a second chance romance and the lottery portion of the story hooked me. I tore through the first half of the book, but the second half stalled out for me. I wanted more about the lottery (surprisingly) and less about Miri’s reluctance to get back together. I also wanted more about all of the friendships. I loved that Leo was not afraid to say what he meant and wished he had more emotional intelligence 8 years prior (but then we wouldn’t have had a story!). I also wish the winning numbers being significant to Miri and Leo’s relationship had come up again. All in all, a solid romance for any reader looking for that!

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When you when the lottery and become a millionaire what’s the first thing you do……. Find your estranged husband so you can divorce him. This story had a cute premise but dragged a bit for me.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Play to Win is a sweet rom-com second chance romance that I would recommend to everyone!
Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:
Miri's (Miriam) mother is a regular lottery player and Miri is not. However, Miri decides to buy a lottery ticket on a whim and plays numbers that mean something to her and are connected to a past lover, and she ends up winning $220M. During a visit with a financial counselor, she learns that a spouse has a right to half of the money, and she is estranged but still legally married to Leo. She begrudgingly calls him up and asks him to come back to town to talk with plans to offer him a lump sum of her winnings if he is willing to sign divorce papers. However, Leo doesn't want Miri's money because he only wants to win Miri back. Leo regrets the choices he made when he left Miri years ago and he plans on becoming the man that Miri deserves.

What I liked:
- I loved that this book demonstrates a person claiming the winnings anonymously, using the money appropriately, and seeking help from a financial counselor.
- I loved the representation about living broke and having to budget and move money around.
- I also liked that the author included Miri struggling to go from broke to rich, and how that changed her life so quickly.
- I liked the mental health representation, and showing how Miri is afraid at first to seek help.
- I loved Leo, and how much he loves Miri. Leo comes back to win her back, and he really puts a lot of effort and groveling into trying to get her back. I also appreciate that he didn't want Miri's money but he accepted money for his sister's family and to fix up a house he plans to live in with Miri.
- The spice was so good.
- I also just loved Leo and Miri separate and together.

What I didn't like:
- I felt like it was a little unrealistic that people didn't start trying to get money from Miri and reluctantly accepted what she gave them.
- I didn't love the idea that they were estranged for 8 years and that he made no attempt to contact or work things out during those 8 years.

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This is my second Jodie Slaughter book and much like the first one, this title was equally enjoyable.
The idea of summoning your ex back to town for a divorce after you win the lottery is a unique idea for a second chance romance that works. Miri and Leo have amazing, angsty chemistry that draws you in from the moment they reunite. I was expecting Leo to be this really unlikeable character and yet he was open and honest and more vulnerable than any other romantic male leads I've read this year. He and Miri both are beautiful portrayals of black love, something that is so desperately needed in mainstream romance, which is why I enjoy Jodie's rom coms so much. I'm excited to see what she brings us next.

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Mary's life is changed in the moment she buys a winning Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot ticket. Now not only does she have more money than she can imagine, but she's going to have to finally divorce her estranged husband. Leo doesn't want to take Mary's money, but he doesn't want to sign the divorce papers either. This was a super fun second chance romance that focused not only on the two main characters figuring out their relationship, but also their relationships with their families. I thought this book did a good job of forcing the characters to grow and deal with the consequences of the choices they made when they were younger.

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It's been eight long years since Leo Vaughn walked out on the love of his life, Miriam Butler, and he's regretted it every moment. When she calls him out of the blue and asks to talk, he sees it as his chance to make things right. But he's shattered when she tells him she won the lottery and he gets half the money if he'll sign the divorce papers. But he hatches a plan of his own. He only wants enough money to renovate his childhood home... and time to stay in town and win Miri back.
Just Like Miri's friend said, all of their problems could have been solved with communication and even when he's trying to win her back, she keeps running away. I like how Miri's struggle with winning the money and the guilt over spending it are detailed in the book. After being poor all of her life to suddenly having millions was overwhelming to her. I loved the small town southern vibe of the community too.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I ended up receiving a physical copy of this book and spoke about that book on Instagram Live for a bookmail/bookhaul video! I didn't know that this book was a companion but I was able to enjoy it as a stand alone. It was definitely worth the read and I would go back and read the previous book at some point.

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I'm sad to give this one just 3.5 stars because the writing is good but I am so over a dragged-out drama that could have been avoided and/or easily resolved with just one conversation where both parties are honest.
Miri married Leo, the love of her life and a childhood friend, at 18. They were happy to start their life together, but things were hard. Lots of work and very little comfort or hope for the future. So Leo walked away. Eight years of hard work and trying to build up her self-esteem go by until one impulsive purchase of a lottery ticket makes Miri several hundred million dollars richer. The first thing she has to do is finalize the divorce from Leo, but can age and wisdom help them realize that all they need was time to grow into themselves before they could be happy as a couple?
It's a good idea, and I'm impressed with how well Slaughter navigates Miri through such a life-changing thing as winning so much money. It's great to see a book that shows all the complications and worries that come along with the windfall.
The romance has a great sense of a second chance that is hard earned, but it could have easily been solved so much faster if people would just talk to each other. It's a major peeve in life and even worse in books. I get that it's showing how hard-headed they both are, but it's one story element that I would love to see less of and this book suffers because of it.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Griffin for the early read!

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Two summers ago, I read Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter, and it stuck with me. From the plus-size main character and how mental health was treated and discussed in a relationship to an expected level of spiciness I appreciated, I often compare more recent rom-com-type stories to it. When I saw that Slaughter had a follow-up coming out this summer, this time called Play To Win, that featured one of Aja’s friends in Greenbelt, SC, I knew I had to read it!

Unfortunately, this story was a bit of a sophomore slump for me, which sucks because I love this group of friends, and I hope we get more stories about them. The dialogue was still pretty good, and I still felt immersed in the world, like I did with Bet On It, but something was missing between the MC and her love interest that wasn’t letting me connect with them.

What didn’t work for me

The second-chance romance: Coming into this, I thought it was super refreshing that we were getting a rekindled love story between a previously married (now separated, but still technically married) couple. Getting a second chance at love is super special, and I was hoping we could breeze through some of the early-days getting-to-know-you stuff that you see at the beginning of relationships—but there was no real insight into their backstory ever revealed, so I didn’t really care about the couple. I didn’t see growth from either of them (because the development happened individually before the book started), and I couldn’t see why they were drawn to each other. I didn’t feel inevitable; it just felt easier.

The lottery storyline: Winning the lottery was definitely a way to get the plot started, and I liked where we were going at the beginning where she was giving some money to her family and friends to help unburden them, but then Leo shows up, and nothing really happens with the money. Sure, there’s a throwaway line at the end, but it ended up being a non-factor in much of the story, so I felt like it wasn’t totally necessary. Or at least it didn’t need to be that big of a win.

What I liked

The world-building: Like Slaughter’s first novel, I liked the setting, the small-town life depicted and the group of friends. I loved that we also got an insight into Aja and Walker’s life. I feel like I know exactly what Greenbelt looks like.

The spice factor: Most of the way through the book, I was thinking about how sexy I thought the first story was compared to this one, but it did end up delivering. I also liked how open Miri was about her sex life—and that Leo was a virgin before they met. Sex isn’t a taboo topic, even among friends, which is refreshing.

3 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a fun romance with a different twist. Miri has won the lottery and has found out that she could possibly have to split it with her estranged husband, Leo, who she hasn't talked to since he walked out eight years ago. She decides to get in touch with him to make a deal so she doesn't have to give him half. He is surprised to hear from her and decides to use this as an opportunity to win her back because he hasn't stopped loving her and regrets the choices he has made. He tells her he only wants enough money to help his sister and her family and to be able to renovate his late aunt's house. Reading how this plays out is very entertaining.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

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Miri Butler is struggling. It has been 8 years since her husband left her, and she’s back to living in her childhood home with her mother. Miri unexpectedly wins the lottery and has to get in touch with Leo Vaughn, her estranged husband. He has to come back and settle things, and Miri wants to make sure he can’t claim her money.

I love that Jodie Slaughter includes curvy girl representation in her books! Plus, I really enjoyed Bet On It last year, and I liked that the MC’s in that book were included in this one. I also enjoyed the bisexual representation, but I felt we could have explored it more, instead of it being mentioned as an afterthought. While I liked the premise of this book, I struggled with the pacing. About 50% of the way in, it became very dense, and I skipped ahead in some parts. The miscommunication between Miri and Leo made the story less enjoyable. Also, I wish there were flashbacks! It would have been helpful to see how their relationship progressed. I didn’t fully understand the connection, and it felt like lust instead of true love. I wish Miri would have had a stronger backbone when it concerns Leo. He should have done a lot more to earn Miri’s trust and companionship back. Unfortunately, I could not root for this couple and this second chance romance was not for me. Jodie Slaughter is a talented writer, but I really struggled to connect with the MC’s in this book.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

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