I love romcoms so I devoured this. I love a good second chance romance. The characters were likable and the plot kept me interested in this book the whole way though.

I loved the premise of this story. I also loved the characters. The MCs felt very real and honest, imperfect people. I also adored the side characters, new and old. The friends and family members all really added so much depth to the story.

I think if I had to nitpick something about this book, it would be that I hoped we'd get a little more groveling, more push and pull, angst. Usually when it's a second chance romance/marriage in crisis, we get all that. And we did some, but I just wished for a little more. While I'm happy Miri and Leo got their HEA, I feel like there wasn't a ton of work put in to get there. But I can accept and appreciate that not everyone's journeys are the same. Having said that, I enjoyed reading this particular one nonetheless. It really was written so well; I was sucked right into the story and devoured it in a day.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the ARC!

**Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC**

This book was really good and when I really love a book, I tried to savor it as long I can and to me, it really did that. So, this book is about a woman named Miri who's estranged by her childhood husband, bought two lottery tickets -- one for her mom and other for her -- she played her numbers and won the lottery. After winning, Miri had to but didn't want to contact Leo because legally they're still married. So, this whole progress for Miri is definitely overwhelming and, of course her mom isn't having NONE of it. Both Miri and Leo slowly patches things up between them while renovating childhood homes but of course, close family and friends are being weary and concerned for the both of them.

Like I said, I did love reading this book and the plot as well also there was some humor that did made me giggle. Plus, it ended with a HEA and I LOVE HEAs in romances. So, if you enjoy reading second chances, HEA, and steamy scenes then you definitely should read this book. 5/5

This book was great. It was definitely an easy read! I love the way that the author wrote. I also liked the characters. I think that was the one thing that made this book good.

I need to stop reading marriage in trouble type stories because even though this is mostly a second chance romance, it also falls under the marriage in trouble category and those books just aren’t for me.

That being said, I still enjoyed it for the most part. I really enjoy Jodie’s writing and the positive and respectful way she handles difficult topics. I adored Miri in Bet on It, and I was so happy to see Aja and Walker in this one.

If you enjoyed Bet on It, then I definitely recommend this one because even though they’re both stand-alones, it was fun revisiting the town and cross over characters!

Miriam Butler’s life is thrown off balance when she unexpectedly wins the Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. She lives with her mother and is doing nails at her aunts shop where she has worked since she was sixteen. After talking to a financial counselor her newest task is to pay off and divorce her husband who walked out on her eight years before.

Leo Vaughn, works construction but answers the call to return home to Greenbelt, SC. Instead of taking her offer he asks for less money to fix up a house that belonged to his aunt. Delays with the divorce paperwork gives him time to stay in town and maybe give them another shot as well. Slaughter does a good job of creating sympathy for a guy who marries too young and who really believes in his mind that when he leaves he is doing it to help and not hurt his wife because he can’t be the man to support her. I also like his sister who really lets him know that when he left Miri he left her and her family as well.

This second chance romance is steamy and fun. It plays against type, for example he has remained faithful all these years while she has bedded half the available people in town. This is a sequel to Bet on It (July 2022), although not listed that way. The MCs Aja and Walker from Bet are good friends and appear a lot in this book. I looked through the previous book and enjoyed Miri’s appearances there too. In the review for that book I blasted the overuse of the F word. This time the count is increased by more than 60. I’m going to accept that is how the author writes for her characters to talk and leave my judgment aside.

I liked the story and the easy going acceptance everyone has for each other. Miri comes off as wishy washy as she really doesn’t know what she wants (other than getting a dog). But of course everything is going to work out. I hope author returns to this friend group for another story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

This was super cute and sweet. The plot was well developed, the romance was believable and sweet, and overall I found the writing was so well done and enjoyable.

I loved Play to Win! I was really excited to read another Jodie Slaughter book, and Play to Win definitely lived up to my expectations after being totally drawn into Bet on It. Some of the tropes are maybe a little predictable, but I also think Slaughter continues to touch on really important topics while keeping her narrative engaging and pretty lighthearted. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a good #SubstantiveRomance !

I love a good second chance and this one didn't let me down. After winning the lottery, Miriam realizes she needs to contact her estranged husband, Leo, to finalize the divorce and make sure he doesn't take half of her winnings. When she calls him, he comes rushing home, the home he left 8 years ago. She isn't sure how to feel, but when all the feelings come rushing back to her, she just can't press that button and make things final.
Now that Leo is back home, he knows he needs to do what it takes to make sure people in his life, including Miriam, know how much he loves them. When he left all those years ago, he didn't just leave her, he left everyone and they are all feeling the loss. He knows he needs to try to win Miriam back, so he devises a plan to make sure he can succeed. With help from his sister and friends, he is ready to lay all his cards out on the table and make sure she understands just how much she means to him.
I think Leo is pretty perfect. Yes, he left her before, but I feel like when you are young, communication often is the demise of so many relationships. I am glad that he grew up and was able to tell her all of the things he was feeling and get her to open up as well. I loved their second chance.
Thank you to St. Martins, Jodie Slaughter and Netgalley for an early copy.

While I'm on the surface giving this the same rating as I gave Bet on It (the only other Jodie Slaughter book I've read) they feel like very different books for me. Bet on It while it had a fun premise was intense and trauma filled and at times a hard read. Play to Win has all of the best parts of that, honest characters, discussions of real mental health, and imperfect people and situations, without quite as much visceral pain.

Play to Win is a second chance romance will will mean it never makes it to the top of my list but I really think that this one did the best job of any of the second chance romances I have read in giving a truly realistic reason for the end of the relationship in the past as well as honest and genuine growth that allows are characters to come back together. I think both characters have to grapple with the reality of their flaws and failure to communicate both with each other and the others in their lives. Additionally, this book has wonderful family and friends all over it. Its so gay! This book has queer characters all over it and even some unlabeled Asexual/demisexual rep which is a huge plus for me personally.

This book is spicy, romantic, full of heart and friendship as well as the silly premise of what to do when you win the lottery taken so seriously. I would whole heartedly recommend it especially for those who love a second chance romance and all I ask in the next one Miss. Slaughter is maybe less public sex.

Miri is a small town girl living a financially strapped but modest life when she ends up winning over 200 million dollars in the lottery. Enter her ex. Although estranged, for almost a decade, he still may be entitled to half of her earnings because they are still legally married. Miri and Leo, the ex agree she will give him money to fix up his aunt's house. However, refurbishing the house leads to rejuvenating their relationship.

This is book 2 in the standalone series and it was good to see some of the characters from book one resurface. Again, the author tackled mental health and childhood traumas in this story. Miri had to work through the emotional and mental baggage and somewhat of a type of imposter syndrome due to the sudden shift in her socioeconomic status.

This read felt a bit too much a slow burn and then the rekindling with Leo didn’t quite hit the mark. Of course, you’ll root for this second chance romance but it leaves you asking at what costs? Leo’s behavior and the reason for the separation didn’t fair well. It made it difficult to trust in him and believe his sincerity, despite his attempts to prove he was ready and willing to make it work. However, overall the story did deliver on resolutions of the past and the hope for a brighter future.

With that being said, I would still recommend this book to people who enjoy small-town romances, enemies-to-lovers, and second chance romance books.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This book was SO GOOD.

Book 2 of the series, this book follows Miri and Leo. I am usually not a fan of second-chance romance because I think you should never go back to your ex but this book is the exception because Leo is a giant simp. Don’t get me started on how much I love it when the guy is totally head over heels, can’t think/or even sleep with anyone else, only has eyes for the girl because I will EAT IT UP everytime.

I loved Miri so much in this story. She is a woman who knows what she wants and what she DESERVES. I loved the multiple lgbtq representation in this book and the acknowledgment of therapy and mental health. Leo was a wonderful hero. And I loved his growth throughout the story.

There was a little miscommunication/third act breakup moment but I think it made sense with the context of the characters and the story. Aja and Walker make several appearances in this book, which I adored! I love seeing little glimpses of book 1 characters.

Patrice and Jade stole scenes in the best way and I loved reading their snarky comments and dialogue. I have a feeling that Jade’s book is next and I can’t wait to read it!

-i LOVED this, way more than the first book in this series! leo and miri had amazing chemistry
-despite everything leo had done, i couldn’t help but love and root for him from the start/ he was down BAD
-i love a simping man! i think leo is also supposed to be demisexual, although he doesn’t ever call himself that, but it was cool to see it represented in a man
-the push and pull in miri’s internal monologue was so good and really made you feel everything she felt, almost as strongly as she did
-overall, i thought this was a great read with good pacing and lovable characters, and for me that makes it worth reading!

-one small error in the ARC, around 80%, when Patrice calls her first love both Candice and Wanda a few pages apart

I love this book. It is a love letter to Southern Black communities and the people in them who keep each other afloat.

Who hasn’t dreamed of what they would do if they won the lottery? Who hasn’t dreamed of being able to not worry about bills and make sure their people don’t have to worry about them either? Miri starts the book broke, digging a hole in the ground so that her elderly neighbor can bury some extra cash. She lives with her mother in a rental house neglected by the landlord. On the way home, she stops by the corner store (the lucky one, two people have bought winning lotto tickets there in 20 years) and buys tickets for herself and her mother, even though she thinks it’s a foolish waste of the little money they have. She wins an enormous amount of money and then discovers her estranged husband could sue her for half her winnings.

As soon as Leo hears Miri say she needs him to come see her, he quits his under the table construction job and hits the road. He hopes that she wants him back. When she offers him a lump sum settlement in exchange for a divorce, he asks for some money for his sister and some money to repair his late aunt’s home. And then he starts looking for opportunities to woo Miri.

Play to Win feels like a perfect summer book. It’s languid, and the summer heat is ever present. Things unfold slowly while Miri and Leo try to unstick themselves from the past. The way they slowly move to make decisions and rethink their past feels both heartfelt and realistic. Miri and Leo’s friends and family are there to love them, support them, and call them on their nonsense. Community makes them stronger.

I loved every minute of reading this. Slaughter dives into the pain of generational poverty, the pain of abandonment, and harmful ideas about gender roles, guilt, shame, and forgiveness. She does it all with with enormous compassion for her characters and razor sharp dialogue.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

This was a fun and light rom com that I read in one night! Quirky and witty characters and an ending that will have you feeling swoony!

3.5 stars

I love a good second chance romance but this one left me wanting more. Miri win the lottery and her estranged husband comes back into her life after eight years. This automatically had me not liking Leo. If he loves her so much then why did he leave? I get that they were married young and had money problems but if you love each other you work through it especially if you are married. I didn’t really connect with either character. I just feel like we got more of the side characters (who I loved) and I wanted more between Leo and Miri.

The audio was very well done and Lacey Laurel brought the story alive for me. I’m not sure I would have finished the book if I didn’t have the audio.

After reading bet on it, I didn’t know how the author would follow this book up. However, I think this was perfect. Slaughter is an amazing writer, and I feel like the captivate me each page. I just love everything about it, in the background characters, Philly have dimension which makes the book more lovable to me.

Thank you NetGalley, SMP, MacMillian audio and the author for the free ALC in exchange for honest review. This is the perfect beach read for the summer. Quick chapters interesting story great Audiobook.. i found it a tad slow and hoped a bit more would happen with the second chance romance but the lottery plot was well done.

Miri & Leo were childhood sweethearts who got married young. When their marriage imploded and Leo walked away, Miri could barely scrape herself up again. Eight years have passed and she’s more confident and sure of herself when she goes to buy her mother a lottery ticket. On a whim, she plays one for herself using all the numbers that define her life with Leo. When her number is called, the winnings bring more than just unimaginable wealth her way. They bring a chance at unraveling all the hurt from the past and a second chance at a once in a lifetime love.

This second chance romance is filled with emotion. The winning lottery premise adds some levity but overall the hurt Miri feels at Leo’s leaving and her confusion with his return is palpable. The fact that her winning lottery numbers all had to do with significant moments in her and Leo’s relationship makes their reconciliation feel inevitable even when it also felt impossible. I was really frustrated by Leo’s misplaced sense of honor and my heart hurt on Miri’s behalf over all of the wasted time. I loved the supporting characters, especially Mama Patrice and Thea who confronted Leo and Miri with no nonsense and love.

Recommended for romance readers who love: 🥈 second chance romance 🤑 winning the lottery 🛼 rollerskating rinks ❤️‍🩹 it’s always been you ✨ “it’s better than a dream” 🔥 spicy open door chemistry

3.75⭐️

thank you to netgalley for an earc!

i was excited for this one after reading “bet on it” last year and i enjoyed this one for sure. i love that we had a bisexual fmc but also other lgbtqia+ side characters. regardless of its downfalls, i love the small town this series takes place in. my biggest gripes/irritants come from the couple’s reason for being married but separated for EIGHT YEARS!!! their entire reason for being apart was built on kind of on a miscommunication, and i hate when that happens. also, i felt like miri really was really making leo work for winning her back (as she should!!) but then it felt like she just gave in so quickly at the end. all-in-all, i enjoyed the book and had a good time, just a few things i didn’t love that really stuck with me. i would recommend this one though because i feel like i’m pretty picky with second chance romances.

⚠️: abandonment, infidelity (not mcs), death of parent, racism