A review by graceangelmama
Betting On You by Lynn Painter

4.0

This was a cute YA book. I am definitely glad I listened to the audiobook - Zachary Webber did a fantastic job bringing Charlie to life; if this book had been single POV only through Bailey’s eyes, I probably wouldn’t have liked Charlie as much as I did. But my sweet, anxious, tums eating germophobe hiding behind a mask of cynicism boy ended up being really endearing. Bless him.

Bailey was an overthinker and resistant to change- and I can relate to that. I appreciated that when she realized Charlie was having a near panic attack about certain germ infested situations, she just tried to make him comfortable- she didn’t force a conversation about it or shame him. She just calmly helped.

I also liked how they became friends first, then the tiny bit of fake dating that revealed they had feelings- my favorite trope did its job!

Given this was YA, the MCs’ reactions to their parents’ divorces and all the subsequent upheavals to their lives and families made sense. Also, they’re teenagers still figuring out who they are and how to be a grown ass person in this crazy world.

(I am the age of their parents and I wanted to have a come to Jesus with all of the adults in this. Wtaf- communicate with your 17 year old that your boyfriend is now going to be sleeping over so she doesn’t walk out to breakfast half dressed and unprepared - or, I don’t know, that you’re so in love he’s going to propose. Your child who hates change- I can guarantee she’d like a heads up about all of that. I couldn’t understand Bailey’s mom at all.)

I liked the story. It felt like it drug on a little long in the middle, but in the end, I enjoyed reading it.