Once again, Lynn Painter delivers a sweet, engaging, and emotional YA Contemporary Romance read. Her books read like the 90s / 2000s romcoms / teen romcoms I love and miss (where did those type of movies go anyway?). Her books could easily be scooped up and made into a film and I would definitely love to see it 😊

As with her others, Betting On You had some strong banter and the vibe just had me smiling my whole way through. It was a book that really captured the nostalgia of the coming of age, teen experience well. I loved both Bailey and Charlie, they were interesting as individuals and great as a couple too.

I really appreciated that there were some deeper issues explored, particularly around family dynamics, divorce and the implications afterward for the children in these situations. It was an excellent read and one that I honestly couldn’t resist picking up asap and binged immediately.

Can’t wait to try more from Lynn Painter in the future. Thank you to @Netgalley and @simononsndschuster for the opportunity to read an early copy! Can’t wait to add my final copy to my collection

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

This book got me out of a book slump! Those who liked Lynn Painter's other YA novels will enjoy this one. It has the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, fake dating, opposites attract, and grovel tropes. There were many funny lines in the banter between Bailey and Charlie. Overall, BETTING ON YOU was swoony, perfectly paced, and a refreshing read.

**Review will be published release week on my site and socials!**

THE BANTER.

I absolutely think that Lynn Painter writes some of the best banter I have ever read in rom-coms. I LOVED the way Bailey and Charlie brought the slowly building tension through well placed snark and sarcasm with a hint of some real feelings.

The strangers to friends to lovers was super cute. I loved the friendship and how it took up a lot of the book. The slow burn was fantastic and I really felt the chemistry between them.

I connected deeply to the themes surrounding divorced parents, seeing parents in new relationships and that struggle to watch things move on around you and not knowing where you land. It’s a big sucker punch that I could understand the way Bailey and Charlie were working through their situations.

As a YA book I do think there was a bit too much language, otherwise nothing else bugged me. I think if I could have had a little bit longer chapters from Charlie I would have known him even better. There was something slightly missing from that angle.

But honestly, another great read from one of my favorite romance authors. I love her books. I love how easy they are to binge and just ENJOY. And this ending was real stinkin’ cute and I loved Bailey and Charlie.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong and high
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: strained parent relationships, cheating (side characters), theme surrounding being a child of divorce

OMIGOD. Lynn Painter is the reigning queen of rom com banter + writes such heartfelt, laugh your face off YA.

Bailey and Charlie are only 17, they don’t know anything…except that sparks fly whenever they’re around each other.

After a couple of random run-ins, the two are surprised to find out that they’re coworkers! Annoyance gives way to friendship gives way to something more. Both are dealing with the divorce and subsequent new relationships of their parents. Grappling with complex emotions of grief, loneliness and resentment- they both help each other heal + find acceptance.

Along with tender + vulnerable emotions, this love story includes laugh out loud banter, a kitten rescue, plenty of Taylor Swift references, and fake dating!

Thanks S&S and Netgalley for my copy!!

Content Warning: profanity


I thought this one was cute! Bailey and Charlie actually meet first at the airport and they don’t exactly hit it off. Charlie is charming but not to Bailey who thinks he’s just arrogant. Charlie thinks Bailey is a bit stuck-up and high maintenance, but she’s just got certain quirks. They run into one another years later and they become unlikely friends and partners in crime. The crime? Trying to cause havoc in her mom’s new relationship.

I really liked that Bailey and Charlie ultimately become friends because they are both children of divorce and know what the other is going through. Yes, Charlie is a cynic about love, and Bailey has her quirks but they are opposites that attract. My favorite parts are their banter and growing friendship. There is even some fake-dating going on which just blurs the lines between their friendship and also some betting on love that causes the conflict but I was rooting for them the whole way through.

Now I love Taylor Swift but I will say this is the 3rd book I’ve read this year referencing her songs and I know she is a cultural phenomenon but I don’t know that I want her mentioned in every young adult contemporary book I read. This book does have lots of pop cultural references, if that isn’t your thing.


Tropes: one bed, fake dating, opposites attract, betting, meeting at the airport

Why you should read it:
*the banter between Bailey and Charlie
*it’s a fun story full of teenage antics, and a cute love story

Why you might not want to read it:
*might be too many pop cultural references

My Thoughts:
I’m a fan of Lynn Painter’s adult and young adult books. I always feel like her characters are strong and her romances are fun, including this one. Bailey and Charlie become friends after their first unfortunate meeting but I loved watching their friendship and attraction grow. This was a fun book to read!

Between trying to get some space from her mom's boyfriend, her new job at the local space-themed family funplex, and Charlie? Yeah Bailey's got a lot going on. There's a lot of nuance in this book from the takes on divorce and dating with children to young friendship. And, of course, it's not without Lynn Painter's signature humor (and picky eating). Between Bailey's deconstruction of pizza and Charlie's wry grins, there's so much character between them. And while this isn't Better than the Movies, there are still SO many movie and pop culture references.

Ultimately this book is Lynn Painter - if you like her, you'll like it. Between the bets, games, and fake dating, it's hard not to love Bailey and Charlie.

*Thank you Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review and to Lynn Painter for the gifted ARC*

First things first, I will read anything Lynn Painter writes. She could publish her grocery list and I'd read and love it.
'Betting on You' is about seventeen year-old Bailey, who is dealing with a new job, a breakup, and her mom's new boyfriend. Enter Charlie. They instantly have so much chemistry and banter, it was hard not to love them. It's quick and witty and so much fun. I raced through this book, just so excited to see another one of Charlie and Bailey's adventures. 'Betting on You' definitely holds up to Painter's other books and is perfect for readers who like dual POV, slight enemies to lovers, and character driven stories.
This book does have a number of pop culture references throughout, which is personally something that I don't enjoy in literature. It felt like a bit much at times.

I give 'Betting on You' 4.5 stars

This is such a cute Young Adult Romcom it had me giggling so many times. The cover is so cute, and I love the colors. The banter between Charlie who is so sarcastic and Bailey who has a type A personality are so hilarious. I really like how this book touched on subjects not really discussed in other books that I've read like how both Charlie and Bailey feel about their parents' divorces but also was light and fun in most areas. Love all the Taylor Swift references who doesn't love T-Swift. This book is a super-fast read that you will get lost in. Although this is my first book by this author, I will defiantly be reading more in the future.

Lynn Painter is such a backbone of the romance and rom-com community! "Betting on You" will be a fan favorite for certain.

I love Lynn Painter so much like I'm just obsessed with how adorable and cute her characters are and just how funny they can be! The banter was a perfect amount of cheesy but filled with just swoon worthy cuteness that had me grinning from ear to ear! I loved both characters so much and really related to both of them, especially when Bailey talked about not being good with change. Honestly I just need this to be a movie ASAP because I think this is my new comfort book.

Lynn Painter hasn't missed so far and I SPED through this book and just can't wait to read it again! This was for the RED girlies and the ones who eat up every little bit of "i hate you so much" kind of flirting! There was not a single moment where I wasn't laughing out loud or trying not to smile!