I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. This book has drama, romance, mystery. Gillian personal life has been around alot of bases. But can she find someone who makes her want to stop at home plate for good? Noah has been dealt a difficult blow in the love life department so much that he moves across to the other side of th United States. Can he learn to trust and love again? First impressions can tell you alot about someone but can it make you think you might not know everything. Contest no matter what is is brings out the worst and best in us. Is there a true winner? This is for a mature audience or can be ready anywhere!

Thank you, Jayne Denker, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Hedging Your Bets comes out January 9, 2024.

I was a huge fan of Jayne Denkers first novel The Rom-Com Agenda, and while Hedging your Bets had good parts I think it fell a little flat. I feel like in the first one and this one the found family aspect of her books is heartwarming and fun. I loved that I got to see the progression of the first couple. Also, some of the interactions between the two main characters were funny and romantic. I think the biggest problem for me was that the main female character was still dating people maybe a little too far into the book. Also, there was so much animosity between the two and then bang they were a couple, it just seems a little unrealistic. Overall, though I think the book did have good part and I did enjoy the ending.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this one.. I just couldn't get behind the characters and root for them, and the gardening aspect was not interesting and really hard for me to relate to.

I liked Hedging Your Bets even better than the author's previous book (Rom Com Agenda). Set in the same small town with the same friend group in the supporting cast, this is an enemies to lovers where the enemies part is blessedly non- nasty. Also a big plus is that there are no big bombshells to throw a spanner in the works - coming clean at the right time is a beautiful thing. The relationship builds nicely from enemies, to friendly adversaries, to friend to lovers. This was a nice low stress closed door romance.


ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley - release date January 2024 (which is sooner than you think, autumn is already here and 2023 will be over before you know it). This is an unpaid review.

This is a sweet romcom story of Gillian, a well known pharmacist and gardener in her small town. Everyone knows her and loves Gillian, but she is having trouble with the whole “dating” aspect after her divorce. Then we meet the new neighbor, Noah, who took over the local marina after the owner passed. He moves their looking for a fresh start after a breakup on the other side of the country. Noah and Gillian first meet doesn’t go well and that’s when the feud begins! With a point of you told from both sides, you can see sparks starting to develop and possibly “roots” being planted? (Sorry for the pun, I had to 🤣). I thought this was a cute story, took a bit to fully get myself invested but I did find it to be a nice light read that I would recommend to anyone who is into the tropes like: grumpy/sunshine, close proximity, small town romance, opposites attract then I can suggest giving this book a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley and @jaynedenkerauthor for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this Advanced Readers Copy of Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker!

This thoroughly entertaining rom com was a perfect read to me! The cover is spot on that they are neighbors and fights about their gardens but also it’s something that brings them together. If you are looking for a cheery read this book is for you!

I think this was a case of reading a book at the wrong time. I had been going through a small town romance phase and knew it was ending but tried to fit another in. I just had a hard time getting into it. I really do think I would love this a lot more if I read it at a different time so I likely try again at later date. Still a cute easy read!

Are you looking for a super cute, low-stakes, enemies-to-lovers quick read? Yes? Then this is the book for you. I admittedly requested this book and received it from Netgalley before realizing that this was the second book in a series, but rest assured, if you read this one first you won’t have any issues. Though I did go and reserve this book from my library at the first available moment.

Both characters I admit are pretty high-strung in the beginning of this book, to the point that I wanted to gather them together and take deep breaths with them because everything would be okay. That being said I did fall in love with both of them, despite Noah’s ideas for horrific modern garden design.

The cast of characters surrounding them, some their age, and some stealth grannies (a term from the book that still makes me laugh) are a riot that kept me giggling throughout the book.

Anyone who comments on Gillian’s weight or her personality needs to be kicked in the shins, seriously.

This is a sweet, quick read but may also leave you wishing that you had a nicer garden.

I was very excited for this book but ended up DNFing at the 50% mark. It really just came down to not quite rooting for the characters--I was a little invested in Gillian's outcome, but I really didn't care much about Noah, and I definitely didn't care about the two of them ending up together.

I think if Gillian's POV had shown us a little more of her focusing on her garden, since that was her main motivation at the heart of the book, and Noah's had shown us a bit about him making good choices in the past or at least not blaming other people for his own mistakes, I would have been more invested in them individually. And their verbal sparring just didn't quite work for me--it felt immature and a bit ridiculous, and I didn't get enough chemistry from their interactions to make me root for them to get together.

It's a fun read, I just wasn't invested enough in the romance or the individual characters to keep reading. But while it really wasn't my thing, I do think a lot of people would enjoy this book, especially if you're into contemporary enemies to lovers romances.

This was an okay read for me. It was slow burn which I usually love but I felt the tension that makes you yearn for the leads to end up together was missing. The chemistry was only okay and I felt too long was spent with Gillian dating other people. The supporting characters and friend group were fun and I do like the author’s writing style. Overall 2.5 ⭐️

I really wanted to love this book, but the way that the fmc health and weight is talked about rubbed me the wrong way. I’m sure that this could be a 3-4 star review for others who like small town romances and enemies to lovers. I also found that there was a lot of unnecessary information in this book that had nothing to do with building the story or characters.

There is nothing quite like a book that makes you smile so many times your jaw literally starts hurting! I went into this story somewhat blindly, but I never expected to become so easily captivated by the characters, or that the mere would have me feeling this giddy. Even a week after finishing this book, it still never fails to put a smile on my face.

This is a charming Small-Town Rom-Com!

Hedging your Bets by Jayne Denker is a cute heartwarming enemies to lovers romcom set in the quaint town of Willow Cove. Gillian and her new to town neighbor Noah’s garden-centric feud evolves into a sweet love story, and the lively supporting characters add a dash of humor.

While the initial animosity may seem exaggerated, it’s all part of the fun. This book encapsulates the essence of small-town romance, making it a cheery and delightful read.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC copy for review.

★ ★ ★ ★ //5

Hedging Your Bets
by: Jayne Denker

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you love:

-Small Town Romances
-Enemies to Lovers
-Grumpy/Sunshine

Then this book will be for you!

I love Jayne Denkers writing and this book I enjoyed so much. I loved this slow-burn closed door romance. Noah and Gillian are neighbors who do not care for each other in the beginning and the banter between the two of them is great!!! I loved watching their relationship and growth develop throughout this entire book. This book is such a fun quick read that will leave you in love with the two of them by the ending. As I always say, please check your trigger warnings before reading. This book is a must have on your TBR and a must read.

Cutest friends to lovers novel. Noah and Gillian are so fun. You can just feel the simmering love emotions with each encounter. Plus, there are several nosy neighbor ladies to add to the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was not able to finish the book and therefore do not feel that I can give an unbiased review about the book, its plot, characters, or the author's work. I might revisit this book at a later time and finish it then, but not right now.

This is a charming small town enemies to lovers modern romance. Gillian is strong, smart independent woman who is sick and tired of online dating. She is looking to take a break from online dating then Noah moved to town with his grumpy personality. They both wanted to take a break from dating but Noah couldn't stand for her loves for flowers and gardening. The both decided to enroll in a gardening contest and became dueling contestant where one of them will come out as a winner!

This was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into the story. I'm not sure why, but I wasn't able to finish it.

A neighborly opposites attract , enemies to lovers fun read.

Gillian hasn’t had luck in the dating scene. Noah is trying to start over. Their new neighbors and sparks instantly fly, but not in a good way. You have all the charm of a small town and it’s high jinx in this book.

If you like all of the above you’ll love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.