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yreluctant's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, and Child abuse
headinthepages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this romance! I loved the small town setting, the themes of complex family, mental illness, new adult friendships, boundaries & moving on from the past.
The romance itself was great. I loved the tension and the “betting” trope done in a non problematic way! The bingo scenes were cute and made me want to go play!
The sex scenes were open door and steamy.
I can’t wait to read what the the author does next! :-)
The romance itself was great. I loved the tension and the “betting” trope done in a non problematic way! The bingo scenes were cute and made me want to go play!
The sex scenes were open door and steamy.
I can’t wait to read what the the author does next! :-)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Grief, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Addiction, and Cursing
meaghancook's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Abolish the third act breakup!!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Drug use
Minor: Bullying
kelly_e's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Title: Bet On It
Author: Jodie Slaughter
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: July 12, 2022
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Unique • Steamy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the midst of a panic attack in the aisle of the Piggly Wiggly, Aja meets the man of her dreams. She meets him again at her weekly bingo, when he is introduced as the grandson of her closest bingo buddy.
There are only two things in Greenbelt, South Carolina that take up room in Walker Abbott's heart: the peach cobbler at his favourite restaurant and his ailing grandmother. When he returns to help care for her after a decade away, he has fast plans to be gone as soon as she's rehabilitated.
After the very first game, it's clear they are both going to pose a problem to each other.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was initially drawn to Bet on It because of the cover, and after hearing the author discuss it in upcoming book preview event I attended, I was even more intrigued. It just sounded like the type of book I'd enjoy.
What I like:
• the representation. This book has mental illness representation, diverse representation, and fat representation. All of which were done incredibly well. The anxiety felt so accurate and relatable, and healthy conversations about therapy were a nice touch. The body positivity aspect was flawless.
• the meet cute. Meeting in a bingo hall. Yes, please! Aside from the mental health rep, the whole bingo aspect was my favourite part of the book.
• the grandma. It's no shocker I loved the grandmother.
• the small town vibes. Also not a shocker.
What I didn't like:
• lack of character depth. I felt like both Aja and Walker could have been developed more. Because of the lack of depth, the story kind of petered out.
• the second half. The relationship felt mostly about the sex, and I needed more of their relationship. My attention definitely waned after being so invested throughout the first half.
Overall, I enjoyed the idea of this book, the execution just could have used a little fine tuning. I'll be interested to see what Jodie Slaughter writes next based on the representation alone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like their books steamy
• anyone looking for mental health rep in a rom-con -
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Her brain loved to overthink things. Find hidden meanings in moments without any. She was always digging through simple conversations for unspoken things that she’d already convinced herself were real, even against all logic."
"Shit’s hard. It’s important to be open and honest when you’re ready and willin’. But I don’t think we owe it to anybody to tell them shit we aren’t comfortable tellin’ them either."
Author: Jodie Slaughter
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: July 12, 2022
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Unique • Steamy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the midst of a panic attack in the aisle of the Piggly Wiggly, Aja meets the man of her dreams. She meets him again at her weekly bingo, when he is introduced as the grandson of her closest bingo buddy.
There are only two things in Greenbelt, South Carolina that take up room in Walker Abbott's heart: the peach cobbler at his favourite restaurant and his ailing grandmother. When he returns to help care for her after a decade away, he has fast plans to be gone as soon as she's rehabilitated.
After the very first game, it's clear they are both going to pose a problem to each other.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was initially drawn to Bet on It because of the cover, and after hearing the author discuss it in upcoming book preview event I attended, I was even more intrigued. It just sounded like the type of book I'd enjoy.
What I like:
• the representation. This book has mental illness representation, diverse representation, and fat representation. All of which were done incredibly well. The anxiety felt so accurate and relatable, and healthy conversations about therapy were a nice touch. The body positivity aspect was flawless.
• the meet cute. Meeting in a bingo hall. Yes, please! Aside from the mental health rep, the whole bingo aspect was my favourite part of the book.
• the grandma. It's no shocker I loved the grandmother.
• the small town vibes. Also not a shocker.
What I didn't like:
• lack of character depth. I felt like both Aja and Walker could have been developed more. Because of the lack of depth, the story kind of petered out.
• the second half. The relationship felt mostly about the sex, and I needed more of their relationship. My attention definitely waned after being so invested throughout the first half.
Overall, I enjoyed the idea of this book, the execution just could have used a little fine tuning. I'll be interested to see what Jodie Slaughter writes next based on the representation alone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like their books steamy
• anyone looking for mental health rep in a rom-con -
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Her brain loved to overthink things. Find hidden meanings in moments without any. She was always digging through simple conversations for unspoken things that she’d already convinced herself were real, even against all logic."
"Shit’s hard. It’s important to be open and honest when you’re ready and willin’. But I don’t think we owe it to anybody to tell them shit we aren’t comfortable tellin’ them either."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Bullying and Cursing
PTSDmbedrosian's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
toffishay's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I loved the exploration of anxiety and PTSD. The book took the time to explore what that meant for our characters individually as well as their relationship to each other in a way that really humanized mental illness in a way that it often isn't and made them more fully fleshed out characters. Walker and Aja are so fun and flirty and real with each other; I couldn't turn away from their story once I started.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
readingthroughinfinity's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Ableism, Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Drug abuse
a_libra_library's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Griffin for this Audio Arc.
This book opens with a panic attack and has themes of Mental health and illnesses.
Heavy trigger warnings for PTSD, Anxiety disorders and panic attacks, self harm.
Aja, a young social media manager, who has just moved to the small town of Greenbelt meets the man of her dreams in the local supermarket in the midst of a panic attack.
This dreamy man, Walker Abbot, has just returned to Greenbelt to help with his grandmother after a minor accident. After a heated bingo game Aja and Walker decide to go into a hasty bingo sex pack - Because that would be better than admitting there could be more than just sexual attraction.
I love that this romance book focuses on the two people individually, their families, friendships and health then puts them together. AND THEY COMMUNICATE!
Walker deals with his childhood trauma and relationships with his hometown, father and grandmother.
Aja works with her social anxiety by making friends in a new town and looking for a fresh start.
This book is HOT 🔥 🥵 , I never knew bingo could be sexy!? A bingo sex pact, thats definely how I’m going to recommend this book. The banter, the relationship, friendships!? I loved every bit of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Drug abuse
elizabeth_delozier's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Peaches aren't for staring at, Walker. They're for eating."
You guys. This book. It checks a lot of boxes. A quick read, small town vibes, diversity, a fat main character without fatphobia, well-written smut, well-researched mental illness representation, and a romance that feels very genuine and human.
Also. This book is dirty. Now don't get me wrong - this book isn't going to be SmutTok's smuttiest read of the year, or even close. However, there is plenty of wonderfully written smut that is there for her pleasure, and the use of dirty talk is ✨chef's kiss✨ .
On top of that. This is book is one of my favorite displays of mental illness (specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, childhood trauma, and panic attacks). In particular, I love that the author took the time to highlight the way that panic attacks can manifest differently in men and women, as well as cultural impacts on mental illness.
The audiobook narrator did a great job with these characters and keeping the reader engaged. I do, however, wish that there had been two narrators for the two perspectives, as it wasn't always clear when the perspective changed and it often took me a moment to orient myself to the new perspective.
This is a highly recommend for me. Anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and rom-coms are going to enjoy this one.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Angel Pean, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
You guys. This book. It checks a lot of boxes. A quick read, small town vibes, diversity, a fat main character without fatphobia, well-written smut, well-researched mental illness representation, and a romance that feels very genuine and human.
Also. This book is dirty. Now don't get me wrong - this book isn't going to be SmutTok's smuttiest read of the year, or even close. However, there is plenty of wonderfully written smut that is there for her pleasure, and the use of dirty talk is ✨chef's kiss✨ .
On top of that. This is book is one of my favorite displays of mental illness (specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, childhood trauma, and panic attacks). In particular, I love that the author took the time to highlight the way that panic attacks can manifest differently in men and women, as well as cultural impacts on mental illness.
The audiobook narrator did a great job with these characters and keeping the reader engaged. I do, however, wish that there had been two narrators for the two perspectives, as it wasn't always clear when the perspective changed and it often took me a moment to orient myself to the new perspective.
This is a highly recommend for me. Anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and rom-coms are going to enjoy this one.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Angel Pean, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I thought the bingo premise/meet cute was such a fun idea. This book really focuses in on mental health for both characters. At times it felt the romance was secondary to their individual mental health plots. While this book had some spicy scenes the chemistry between Aja and Walker didn’t seem to go beyond innuendo and sexual attraction. I did enjoy this book but it didn’t deliver in the way I had hoped.
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, and Child abuse
Minor: Emotional abuse