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A review by rachrreads
Betting On You by Lynn Painter
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Bailey begins a new job at a space themed waterpark when she notices one of her coworkers is someone she hoped she’d never see again. A few years prior, Bailey sat next to Charlie on a plane to Nebraska. Bailey’s parents were mid-divorce and Charlie offered a cynical view of the world, which vastly differed from Bailey’s view. The two begin to work together and Bailey finds herself enjoying her time with Charlie.
When Bailey’s mom starts to see someone new post-divorce, Bailey is not ready for her life to change. Bailey enlists Charlie’s help to push her mom’s new boyfriend out of her life. Despite what feels like a growing friendship, Charlie insists they’re just co-workers— even going as far as saying men and women cannot be friends. To prove his point, Charlie bets Bailey that another pair of coworkers will hook up. Bailey disagrees with him, insisting they are just friends.
One thing that I wish would have been explained more was Charlie’s life. He clearly deals with some sort of mental illness— whether it be anxiety or something else and the author glosses over this other than when it can be used to move the plot/relationship forward. Further, we never meet Charlie’s mom or sister who he apparently lives with.
There was a lot of tropes and cliches that happened in this book but I ate up every minute of it.
Read if you like:
• When Harry Met Sally
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating trope
• opposites attract
Bailey begins a new job at a space themed waterpark when she notices one of her coworkers is someone she hoped she’d never see again. A few years prior, Bailey sat next to Charlie on a plane to Nebraska. Bailey’s parents were mid-divorce and Charlie offered a cynical view of the world, which vastly differed from Bailey’s view. The two begin to work together and Bailey finds herself enjoying her time with Charlie.
When Bailey’s mom starts to see someone new post-divorce, Bailey is not ready for her life to change. Bailey enlists Charlie’s help to push her mom’s new boyfriend out of her life. Despite what feels like a growing friendship, Charlie insists they’re just co-workers— even going as far as saying men and women cannot be friends. To prove his point, Charlie bets Bailey that another pair of coworkers will hook up. Bailey disagrees with him, insisting they are just friends.
One thing that I wish would have been explained more was Charlie’s life. He clearly deals with some sort of mental illness— whether it be anxiety or something else and the author glosses over this other than when it can be used to move the plot/relationship forward. Further, we never meet Charlie’s mom or sister who he apparently lives with.
There was a lot of tropes and cliches that happened in this book but I ate up every minute of it.
Read if you like:
• When Harry Met Sally
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating trope
• opposites attract
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness