Play to Win is a second chance rom com with a fun plot and some spicy spicy scenes. After hitting the lottery, Miriam must face her estranged husband and make the separation final, but is it really what they both want? Told in alternating point of views, the story progresses at an uneven pace. Some places seemed to drag but other places read fast. The characters, while fine on their own, weren't believable as a couple. Which for me made the spice of the story a bit cringy and eye roll worthy. I didn't feel the romantic tension between the main characters to really be invested in their outcome. I did think it was well written and had some fun moments, and some sweet moments. Blended in a few diverse representation and touched on some metal health/ seeking therapy in a sensitive and seamless fashion. Overall a good read. I do want to say you're a person who is adverse to foul language and detailed sex scenes you may want to skip. This didn't bother me but every reader is different.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

I read the previous book in this series and enjoyed it and this one was also quite an enjoyable read. Miriam's life is in a bit of a slump, but one trip to the grocery store changes everything when she wins the Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. Unfortunately, she can't keep all the winnings because her estranged husband has a right to claim his share. Leo hasn't spoken with Miriam for the past eight years, and is surprised, to say the least, when she calls him out of the blue and informs him of her winnings and asks him to come to Greenbelt to collect his share. She asks him to finally sign the divorce papers so they can move on with their lives. But the last thing Leo wants is to move on without her, so he gives her a counter offer, one that will buy him some time to win her back.
It was nice to visit Greenbelt again, I just love the small town setting. I liked Miriam and Leo together, they had such great chemistry. Eight years did seem like a lot of time to have passed for them to reconcile, but I was pleased with how it all played out. This was a charming second chance romance with lovely characters and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read this.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Play To win is a second chance romance that follows Miriam and her estranged husband Leo after she wins a Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot.

I did not like that the money brought them back together, however, I did find it cute that Leo was determined not to let Miriam go again. I loves that Miri was not so easily trusting of him and made him work for it! We see you girl!

Overall, I had a good time reading this. This author has been consistent in good stories and I cannot wait to read more from her!

Thank you to Jodie Slaughter, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the digital ARC of this book!

I enjoyed this one! Miri takes a chance and buys a lottery ticket never expecting to win. But that is exactly what happens. She learns that her estranged husband may have a claim to her winnings so she needs to deal with that situation once and for all. I had a great time getting to know this cast of characters and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out in the end.

I liked Miri and Leo a lot and I could tell that the chemistry between them was still very much alive. I feel like eight years seems like a very long time for them to be apart to have any hope for a reconciliation but I was excited to see them give it a try. It takes a long time for the romance of the story to fully kick in but I was eager to see how things would develop.

This book was the perfect fun and cute second chance romance to get me through another rainy day.
Miriam (or Miri) is a nailcare specialist in Greenbelt, SC, she is poor, struggling, living with her single mom, still emotionally stuck after her husband and Highschool sweetheart Leo, walked out 8 years ago never to be seen again. But things are turning quite quickly since after playing the lottery just once on a whim Miri wins big, 220 million big … The financial advisor tells her to reach out to her husband by whatever means possible and finally divorce him offering a lump sum so as not to share all her winnings. This wouldn’t be romance if sparks didn’t fly at their reencounter … this book was just the right kind of book, angsty, spicy, a diverse cast of characters, mental health representation, structural racism was addressed to make a great story of what could have been so simple … she is now rich and gets her man !?!

I couldn't put this romance down! I rarely read books in a day, but this one was an exception. The premise, although a little unbelievable, was really fun in my opinion. The idea of winning the lottery and then also winning back your ex was such a fun romance idea. I felt like the chemistry between the two characters was written really well. The dual POV's really helped foster my connection to the characters and their romance.

Part of the book I didn't connect with as much were the steamy scenes. I'm not one to shy away from steamy scenes, but these felt a little thrown in there, especially towards the end. There wasn't much steam throughout the book and then all of a sudden there were three scenes in relatively close proximity. It took me out of the story some.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It's look at divorce and how those separations can impact more than just the couple were really beautiful and made a lasting impact on me. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter is a slow burn, second chance romance. This book touches on a lot of complex/difficult themes but the author does it in such a great way to give the reader a better understanding and makes these characters so good! Overall a great read and not the standard romance but I think it makes it that much better!

I loved Bet on It and requested this without knowing anything about it other than a new book by the same author and I was excited to read it! Unfortunately it’s a second chance romance which just really really hasn’t been working for me lately. I usually find myself thinking they should move on with other people. I decided to DNF this one but still excited to see what the author writes next! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook/audiobook.

A second chance romance in which a woman, Miri, wins the lottery and must face her estranged husband, Leo, who only wants to win her back.

This was good. Not amazing imo, but good. A lot of the romance depends on the reader believing the connection and caring about the history between the two main characters, but we are told what happened, rather than shown. I think this could’ve benefitted from dual timelines in which we saw Miri and Leo as a couple the first time around. I also lowkey feel like Leo didn’t do enough to redeem his past actions.

I enjoyed the focus on mental health in this, and appreciated the mention/normalization of therapy (though I wish the therapy would’ve happened on page). I also really liked the side characters, a bit more than the main characters tbh. They were funny and interesting and well fleshed out.

This is definitely a slow burn romance in which Miri goes back and forth a lot. It makes sense for her character, but we don’t get a ton of the romantic stuff until the end. And it felt a bit rushed.

Overall I enjoyed the representation and themes present in the story. I’d be interested in reading more from the author, but think I’d enjoy a bit more of a fast-paced story than this one!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Griffin Books for granting me access to this ebook so I could read and review this!

Will it be a second chance romance for Miri and Leo after he broke her heart years ago? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Spicy Spicy! I enjoyed the take on this second chance rom com. I have yet to read one about a lottery winner and a married couple lol

The plot was good and I enjoyed the characters. I just wish their emotional connection went a little more in depth.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc! This is the first novel I’ve read by Jodie Slaughter and I very much enjoyed it! This kept me interested and I loved the facets of the main female character’s identity and how her identity as a bisexual woman wasn’t overlooked even though the main relationship was between her and a man. This second chance romance was highly enjoyable and I’ll be picking up Jodie Slaughter’s previous book, Bet On It, asap!
3.75 stars!

2.5 rounded up
"Play to Win" by Jodie Slaughter left me with mixed feelings. While it wasn't a complete disappointment, it certainly failed to leave a lasting impression. The book can be best described as just "fine."

One of the main issues I encountered was with the plot. It followed a fairly predictable and generic trajectory, making it difficult to become fully invested in the story or the characters. There was a lack of originality, and it felt like I had encountered similar plotlines in other books before.

Furthermore, the character development fell short of expectations. I found it challenging to empathize with or even root for the main characters. They seemed one-dimensional and lacked the depth required to make them truly memorable. As a result, I never formed a meaningful connection with any of them.

The writing style itself was adequate but nothing extraordinary. It lacked the compelling prose or clever dialogue that could have elevated the reading experience. While it was easy to follow, I often felt that it lacked the emotional impact that could have made the story more engaging.

Additionally, the pacing of the book was inconsistent. There were moments where the plot seemed to drag on, while other important events felt rushed and underdeveloped. This lack of balance hindered my enjoyment of the book, as it disrupted the flow of the narrative.

Despite these shortcomings, I will admit that the book did have some redeeming qualities. The author's portrayal of the competitive gaming scene was somewhat intriguing, and it shed light on a world that I hadn't explored before in literature. It was evident that the author had done their research in this regard.

In conclusion, "Play to Win" by Jodie Slaughter was a mediocre read. While it wasn't terrible, it failed to deliver anything outstanding. It might appeal to readers with a specific interest in gaming or esports, but for those seeking a truly captivating and original story, this book may not satisfy their expectations.

I enjoyed Play to Win, but I'm still not sure I understand this couple.

Leo left Miri eight years ago because he didn't feel like he could financially support them, but it wasn't like he took another job outside town and sent money home to her - he just... left, presumably leaving her without a second income to help toward the rent and utilities they had already been struggling to pay. How could he possibly see that as an improvement? Now he's back, and suddenly their problems are solved because they don't have to worry about making ends meet? I needed more groveling and more explanation as to how he's come to understand that being a good partner isn't just about contributing financially - there was a bit of this, but not nearly enough for me to root for these two.

The spicy scenes were hot, and I really appreciated Jodie Slaughter's exploration of money/class, and how suddenly winning the lottery doesn't magically fix one's relationship with money.

Basically this is a (short!) book that left me wanting more - more detail on how/why their relationship will be better the second time around, more on how Miri's navigating being suddenly wealthy, and yup - more sex scenes.

I really liked Lacy Laurel's narration for Miri. Sometimes the voice for Leo didn't quite work for me, but I will say that it was usually easy to distinguish which character was speaking.

Ultimately, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as Bet On It, but I remain a fan of Jodie Slaughter and will check out her next book.

I fall in love with Jodi Slaughter stories and characters slow just like her slow burn romances. I think Play to Win is a beautifully complex and layered novel with some extremely hard-hitting themes at its core; what its like being poor (and Black) in south Carolina, what its like being queer (and Black) while being raised in traditionally conservative settings and relationships, what its like to literally have all of your dreams come true (huge ass lottery win) but still be agonizingly stuck and unhappy with your life.

Our protagonists Miri and Leo are both heartbreakingly relatable in their own ways largely bc of their flaws and getting in their own way of happiness. The amount of personal growth Leo goes through and especially how much accountability he takes for the deterioration of his marriage to Miri was extremely hard to read but in the way that it was so difficult because it felt so much like Real Life. We, people, have the capacity to fuck things up SO BAD. It's easy to run away, but it's a million times harder to come back and face your mistakes, face the way your actions have devastating consequences on the people you love most. AND LEO IS DOING HIS BEST AND STRIVING FOR BETTER.

Miri. Miri miri miri <3333 bisexual queen iconic dog mom who has my heart and could boss me around and make me beg any day of the week. I LOVED how Miri was deeply connected to various women in her life and pushes herself to lean on her loved ones when she needs it. Her friendship with Aja, her relationship with her mother, and her sibling bond with Thea were all such a joy to read. I have thus far not met a Jodie Slaughter character I don’t love, main or secondary :’)


Anyways u have to read this, it is NOT A FUN ROMP OF A CUTESY COUPLE BLOWING THROUGH THEIR LOTTERY MILLIONS… it is a soul crushing second chance romance w a laundry room sex scene that’ll make your p*ss* thr*b. I need the rest of the greenbelt girlies to get their love storys written… Jade and Olivia. I AM WAITING.

Also I just can’t NOT mention that Leo reads SO DEMISEXUAL which made my heart SOARRR, and both Miri and Leo are thicc as fuck. Mmmnff.

*this review is written based off an e-arc provided by netgalley*

Miri unexpectedly wins the lottery and is forced to contact her estranged husband. Leo has not seen or heard from Miri in 8 years and when she contacts him because she wants their divorce finalized, he decides to win her back. I had trouble connecting with this story. I liked that Miri struggled with what to do with her lottery winnings, but hated that it brought her estranged husband back into her life. It felt like Miri had completely moved on from him and her winning the lottery forced him back into her life. The miscommunication troupe was slightly used but it was brushed off because "we were young and dumb", which I did not like.

I really loved the author's first book and added this one to my list automatically. This book didn't live up to my expectations. I'm not a big second chance romance fan and didn't enjoy the lottery involvement. I'm sure there are others who will enjoy this though!

This is a book for grown folks because I understood this relationship on a personal level.
Miriam and her mother have a relationship that remind me of my relationship with my mom. And the whole culture of buying lottery tickets religiously is something I’m way too familiar with.

I knew winning the lottery would change Miram’s life and she handled it all quite nicely. Miriam wasn’t divorced from her husband Leo, so that lottery winnings was community property. When Miriam approached Leo to get a divorce and offered him a payoff, the reader was taken on a journey of unfinished business.

I likes both Leo and Miriam, there was just so much emotion still there but because of the mistakes of youth, they lost sight of each other. I was rooting for them to deal with their personal insecurities and also communicate better with each other, so this book felt like following close friends navigating a very rough patch in their marriage.

I enjoyed the author’s story telling style and how she humanized all the characters so that the readers could relate to them. The story had a great pace and I never felt bored with these too. One thing that really stood out to me is how the marital discord affected all, not just the couple, but family and friends. Most specifically, Leo’s little nephew and niece.
What an engaging story despite the marital tension. I really enjoyed this story.

god these two pissed me off. if you leave your WIFE, I expect some real good groveling when you come back. but the only thing we get is Leo being unbearably horny the entire time. grow up.

I loved this book and appreciated how it handled real life circumstances with such grace. My only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more on-page resolution at the end, but overall, a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.