This was a fun read and made me think that I, too, could make my garden look absolutely amazing and win a gardening competition. And then I remembered that I do not have a green thumb and I should leave the fancy, complicated gardening to the people who absolutely love it and I'll stick with the basics.

I always enjoy a small-town setting in a romance book, with neighbours popping in and out, where everyone has an opinion, and your business certainly isn't your own.

I wasn't always keen on Noah acting out of spite, at times, but I think the characters held each other accountable, challenged each other, and their love felt real.

I dual read this as an e-book and audiobook and also enjoyed the narration of the book.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ALC; all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed "Hedging Your Bets" by Jayne Denker, an easy listen that blends romance and humor beautifully. The narrator brought the characters to life with engaging delivery, making the witty dialogue and emotional moments shine.

While the plot is familiar, it includes enough twists to keep things interesting. Denker's sharp writing makes it easy to connect with the characters.

I’d rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars. It’s perfect for a lighthearted escape. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own! Highly recommend!

#NetGelley #HedgingYourBets #JayneDenker #DreamscapeMedia

Gardening? Life after divorce? Curvy main character? Enemies to lovers with witty banter? Should have been a hit for me, but Hedging Your Bets was a miss. The burn was a little too slow, the small town minds a little too cringey, and I DNF.

This book was super cute and I kind of feel like I want to read it again when I'm in a different headspace. I love a cute little closed-door romance, and this one was just that! Gillian had this self-confidence and contentment (post-divorce and owning it) that was charming and Noah was the sweetest donut. Also, shot out to the curvy MC! Love that part! I really want to see more from this author!

DNFed at 43%

I’ll say that I did not like the characters and I did not like the plot. The MMC left behind his child (doesn’t matter that they were not related by blood) bought a company without looking at the books and is shocked that it’s failing and has this huge tax debt he has to pay. The small town politics with bribery. “You help me and I’ll give you an extension on your tax payment”. Fucking gross.

Now, FMC is “I might be fat but it's ok because I'm healthy”, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I did not like her at all. Nothing personal.

I got an alc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

p.s. Lol. I just realized I DNFed another book by this author the same time last year. It’s my own fault.

Spice: 1/5 - Closed door of 1 scene, otherwise just kissing.

Fun easy read with head strong enemies to lovers.

Usually I'm not here for the enemies to lovers, but this was nicely done. From the first word, both characters admit an obvious sexual attraction, and throughout the book it rolls through to an admiration for the other person as they get to know each other and themselves. Solid personal growth happening for both Gillian and Noah, coming from heavy relationship damage, trying to figure out what they want out of life in a partner.

They have personal frustrations and they want to project them on to the other person, but when it comes down to it, mistakes were made, judgements were passed and when the true comes out they jump on it-or each other.

The dating app aspect of this book is hilarious. I have never been in the dating app scene but this is exactly what I imagine it's like to try and date people when you're in a small town, little pool of fish. Being so matter of fact about it, Gillian does the dating scene like she is working a sale rack. Try it him for a food date, doesn't fit? Rack him and move onto the next.

The entire cast of characters is pushy with Gillian and her dating mission. While this is a bit overbearing at times, the book is quirky and charming so it works. Love the dual point of view, and the town that feels like a family vibe. All of it wraps up in the perfect happily ever after way.

If you're looking for an easy read to not take too seriously, this one will have you giggling, swooning, and leave you with a smile. Left me with a Hallmark warm and fuzzy feeling.

DNF @ 85% due to issues with the audio file.

So far, I'd give it a 3.5⭐ rating, rounded up to 4.
It's a fun, cute rom-com with gardening, sassy old ladies, and plus size rep.
I'm enjoying it, but it's not truly memorable.

I had never heard of this author before, and I honestly requested it because of the adorable cover. It did not disappoint and I absolutely love this mild enemy to lovers with neighbors. The narration is great, and I’ll definitely be looking at this author in the future.

Okkkkk how cute is this cover?!

While I had no problems sign this one, I found my brain tuning out from time to time. Twas alrighty right!

Hedging Your Bets features the story of a divorced woman name Gillian who lives in a small town, and finds herself in a feud with her new next door neighbor Noah.

This is an enemies to lovers, slow burn romcom with a gardening rivalry and an adorable garden gnome. At times it felt too slowburn for me, and I listened to this as an audiobook, which was performed by dual narrators. Their voices were great, but I just wanted to love this more unfortunately.

*many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy for review

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Gillian Pritchard is known in Willow Cover for her fantastic garden, and her fierce friendships. Unlucky in love, and happily divorced, she has sworn off dating, and would rather be in her garden than worry about what a man thinks of her. So when Noah West moves in next door, and accidentally destroys part of her garden in their first meeting, it's war. The annual gardening competition is coming up, and both are willing to do what it takes to win, though it is heating up in more than just a competitive sense.

I loved this book, and it was the perfect start to 2024! Gillian and Noah's romance was epic, and honestly so funny too. The scenes with them and the old ladies plotting to get them together were laugh out loud hilarious, and even the heartfelt moments when they discussed their pasts, and their insecurities were sweet. It was definitely a slow burn romance, but well worth the wait!

Gillian is happily divorced and looking for a good time with the dating apps. She's not impressed with who she finds out there though and who really needs it? Noah has bought business in town and moved into the house next to Gillian's and he's the new local grump. Noah can't help but find Gillian intriguing but after a nasty break up, it should be the last thing on his list. When the local garden competition is underway, Noah and Gillian must duke it out for the top spot and the title of Best Garden.

a fun read that continues in this small but fun world created by Denker! i like revisiting this universe with the most fun friend group around.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was the first book I've read from Jayne Denker, and while I enjoyed reading this and loved the garden competition, I found this a little flat.

The characters had their motivations, but Noah felt like a half-baked character to me. I thought that his previous relationship would play a bigger factor, but it was more his own hesitations that held him back. I loved that Gillian was an unapologetically fat woman, and love that she had grown to not tolerate fatphobic partners.

I didn't understand why someone didn't report Louise to some sort of government office or the garden club for extortion? I also didn't realize this was a low-spice fade-to-black book going in, so I was hoping for more spice as well.

3.5 stars

A nice light hearted book with low steaks and a hea.

Feuding neighbours, gardening competition and a cheeky garden gnome!

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators (Katelyn Levering & Nick Mondelli) did a great job. The voices fitted the characters well and with both narrators I was easily able to differentiate between the characters that were speaking. There were a couple of times where the story would jump ahead in time and it was made completely clear in the narration which could get slightly confusing but it would quite quickly become clear.

There were times where I felt the story moved quite slowly and and I would have loved to see more of Gillian and Noah’s relationship, even just in an epilogue.

Overall a nice light hearted book.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

A fun enemies-to-lovers story with competing gardens, overly friendly octogenarian neighbors and more. I enjoyed this one!

I also loved that it was dual narration. The narrators did a great job!

I absolutely adored this audiobook! The characters were so lovable and had many relatable moments. I’d love to see a second book with some of the other couples mentioned in the book, or even a follow-up on Noah and Gillian.

I had a really difficult time getting into this book and connecting with the characters. I never got the spark I usually feel with a romance.

This was a fun, whitty bantered, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy. Gillian is this amazingly kick-butt strong woman who happens to go toe-to-toe with her grumpyish, good looking, new neighbor in the town's garden competition. The more he gets to know her, the more Noah realizes how fantastic she truly is and finds himself feeling guilty for needing to win the garden competition, his future depends on it. This is a fun read with supporting characters who are as whitty as the main characters - and a few that a reader may recognize if they had read The Rom-Com Agenda.

Katelyn Levering and Nick Mondelli did an excellent job of narrating this, bringing the chemistry of the characters to life!

The audio made it slightly better. I think for a debut, it wasn't that bad.

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.