I can't remember if I've read a book like this before (and that is a good thing!) I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed the banter between Charlie and Jean, and the loveable cast. Will be recommending it to our readers!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review🤍

DNF at 38%

Let me start off by saying that this was purely a me problem. I viscerally cannot handle miscommunication and insta-love in romance books Nonetheless, I found the book to be very witty and funny and I enjoyed the writing style.

I was a bit uncomfortable in the beginning with how naively Charlie was portrayed but I caught on quick and he is adorable.

Definitely give this a try if you are in the mood for a book that feels like a 2000s romcom with puns and tongue in cheek humor. Also so far it seems like no spice but tons of chemistry and tension which is always awesome!

Let me tell you about The Odds of Getting Even by Amanda Sellet. This is a standalone sequel to her book Hate to Fake it to You and focuses on Jean (artist, epic card player) and Charlie (loves snakes, is very introverted). Now, I am not *normally* the kind of girl who goes for the shy, nerdy guys who blush at any perceived flirt… but dammit, Charlie may be my exception because he is ADORABLE. Even though I absolutely abhor the miscommunication trope - makes me just want to shout at the characters almost the whole time - this book is not like the others (how basic of me, I know) and you should definitely give it a go! I giggled, fist pumped, and did not put my kindle down until it was finished (which means I didn’t get my 8 hours of sleep but it was well worth it). 🐍🍎 I highly recommend this book!

This was adorable & fun.

The humor and banter really made this book a blast to read. The characters are polar opposites but it works here. Reading about Jean and Charlie was a lot of fun. They had a lot of banter that kept making me laugh out loud.

I also really liked the setting. Can't say I've read anything set in South Dakota before now. I liked all the little details and the descriptions.

This was an adorable romcom.

This fun, quirky romance brings together a perfectly mismatched pair in a wild adventure. Jean, the chaotic resort employee, meets the reserved, mysterious "Charlie" during a late-night towel run, and what starts as a flirtation over poker lessons quickly spirals into a whirlwind of excitement and intrigue. Their chemistry is undeniable, even though their personalities couldn't be more different—she’s spontaneous, and he’s a bit of a shy scientist with a hidden past. As Jean chases after Charlie across the country to confront him about his secrets, their bond deepens in unexpected ways, making for a charming and sometimes hilarious journey.

The real heart of this novel lies in its unpredictability. As Jean and Charlie navigate their personal histories and the wild landscape of South Dakota, their evolving relationship is both heartwarming and entertaining. The book’s lighthearted tone, mixed with moments of deeper reflection, makes it a breezy yet engaging read. If you're looking for a romance full of surprises, adventure, and a dash of humor, this one’s sure to deliver.

I loved how whitty Jean is and the banter. This book had me laughing so much. If you don't like miscommunication, this is not the book for you. I found all of the snake facts interesting and love that they were apart of the story.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

Overall this was really adorable, funny, roamnce that I enjoyed reading.

The burn was definetly slow so if you enjoy a lot of tension between characters this is definetly the read for you. Jean and Charlie were overly adorable and had a beautiful love story, if youre looking for something fluffy and romantic to make you smile this is the one!

Thankyou St. Martins Press + NetGalley for the ARC

Quirky and fun read about a snake aficionado and artist finding themselves. Jean and Charlie have great banter, but terrible communication skills. Cast of fun supporting characters. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before. And the snakes didn’t scare me!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC All opinions my own.

This book is a chaotic blur of blunt, on the nose humor & entertainingly unique personalities. Always one for a love story featuring neurodivergent characters, I especially appreciated that this novel played on each character’s “quirks” in a way that puts the comfy in romcom.

I absolutely adore it and I only took off a star because it moved so freaking quickly. It was >4k pages on my Kindle iOS app, yet i finished it in a few hours.

Now that’s a good book.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was a good read. The main characters had good conversations and the family connections added to the story. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a cute story but it was pretty predictable. I didn't feel like I deeply connected with the characters. It's a fun, easy read that's quirky but nothing that stands out from books with similar stories.

I quickly fell in love with the banter between Charlie and Jean during their *eh hem* NSFW meet cute (IYKYK). After being seemingly snubbed and ghosted by someone she thought she knew better, Jean seeks out revenge yet finds perhaps omissions of truths led to misunderstandings. Add in a lesson in snakes and a quirky and lovable cast, this is a one sitting read.

(ARC via Net Galley)

Goodreads review

I found this book lacked a lot of chemistry between the characters. From the get-go very odd, long uncomfortable conversations that I assume are supposed to be funny. I had to stop after the first meeting because why? I’m sorry this really wasn’t for me.

This entire book is based on avoidable miscommunication.. I liked the quirky ness but I feel like there was to much going on with too many people to keep up with ! I didn’t love nor hate the book

I really enjoyed the South Dakota setting this one brings to the table! I also was a sucker for the banter and humor throughout this story, as it made it that much more fun and enjoyable.

This was a cute read with quirky characters and a lot of LOL moments! Jean and Charlie had great chemistry and I really enjoyed their story.

To put it plainly, I did not like this book. I found the heroine's motivation's to be weak, therefore invalidating her level of anger. There were also several scenes that got confusing because multiple names for multiple characters. This entire book is based on avoidable miscommunication.

Even is a good work to describe my feelings about this book. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. My main issue was I hard time connecting to the main characters. That being said, they did have some good moments together and I quite liked most of the supporting cast of characters. Charlie’s love of snakes was also incredibly charming, but I feel like a lot of his chapters were shorter than Jean’s, which made me relate to him less.

This book was a delightful blend of quirky characters and an overall cute premise. Jean Harrington, the chaotic resort employee, and Charlie, the shy, awkward scientist with a surprising obsession with reptiles, had great chemistry. I loved their dynamic together. Jean’s bold, carefree attitude paired with Charlie’s endearing shyness made for some genuinely charming moments. Their banter was sweet, and the tension between them was fun to watch unfold.


In the end, I enjoyed the romance and the quirky characters, but I think the it just took awhile for the story to build for me. I wish the pace was a bit quicker. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a good rom-com, but just be prepared for some slow stretches along the way!