Bet on It A Novel

Ok super cute. I really liked this book. It had a super steady pace that I feel like could have been faster.

This is a cute and spicy romance that has a little extra. Aja and Walker meet at a Bingo hall in fictional small town Greenbelt, SC. Aja moved there in search of a quieter life, and Walker is in town from Charleston for a few months helping his grandmother recover from a fall. Sparks fly and the two get to know each other, all the while dealing with their own anxieties and past traumas. I appreciate how the author incorporates characters who are real people with real issues, dealing with them in ways that are sometimes messy. Themes of family, trauma, healing, love, friendships, anxiety and more round out the story. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #netgalley #stmartinspress

I think this book had a lot of cute aspects to it, but for some reason I just didn’t connect to it like I thought I would. The mental health representation is phenomenal and so nicely done. It has a wonderful element of body positivity, not just from the main character, but by the ML. The small town feel was so palpable you could imagine yourself there, sitting in the bingo hall.

Overall it was a cute read, but it lacked excitement for me. I don’t think expireships are for me.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Sex is there, scenes are hot, but with an added slow burn element I did not want

“Either way I turn this situation around, I win, because I get you. Whether just for now or for the rest of my life, I get you.” this was such a stunning book pls,, the emotional scenes and spicy scenes are chef’s kiss,,, it’s a hit! BINGO!!

This book has a lot of emotions.

It’s a great representation of two main characters both actively dealing with mental illness. I appreciate how certain aspects of their lives/ relationship are brought up so casually and not overdramatized as some stories tend to do(ie. Aja’s weight, consent, protection/ sti tests.)

I appreciate both of their characters and all the work they both put in dealing with their disorders and traumas. Overall, it’s not quite a “lighthearted rom-com” and more a contemporary romance dealing with real life issues. The story itself is a bit simple because it’s more focused on character/ relationship development.

I can’t stress enough how much I love characters in books dealing with their mental health because it’s something my partner and myself have been working on for years.

There are a few good spicy scenes and a few sweet moments. I think both Aja and Walker’s friends are my favorite part. I generally liked the book but didn’t quite love it.

I loved the mental health rep in this book. It was very nice to see anxiety rep in a way where they weren't trying to "fix" it, it is just a part of who they were. I also loved that Walker and Aja were just able to be themselves around each other. I received an arc through netgalley.

I rate this 3.5. It doesn't have anything to do with the subject matter. It had too much spice for my liking. This book deals with mental illness, which is pointed out at the beginning of the book. The two main characters are each working through their own mental illness throughout the story and it's what connects them. The author writes it in a way to help the reader better understand what the character is going through past and present. Throughout the story we see how the characters have come to terms with their mental illness and how they are working through that with therapy or techniques. We read how the characters would normally act in settings such as big crowds and how they have learned to deal with these situations. To me the author also displayed a sense of progression when it comes to how society see mental illness past and present. Walker's former classmates realize now that they were not there for him or didn't realize what he needed, but now they understand. The character's friends in this story recognize and check in with them making sure they are ok. Having this positive support in a story and mainly real life is crucial. The narrator was good choice for Aja, but I didn't care for her as much for the Walker. The voice didn't fit what I thought he would sound like. Personal preference. Overall I did like the narrator though. Bet on It is a great story. While it deals with heavy topics, it also shows how we can be there for our loved ones. I liked the author’s writing and would read another book of hers. I listened to this as an audiobook at 1x to 1.75x speed. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

For someone who has never really played bingo, I love it. I have this weird fascination with it, so when I saw this was a rom-com based around it, I was sold. I loved the whole southern small-town setting and the way Slaughter depicted it made you feel as if you were right there, sweating along with Aja and Walker. I thought the pair had decent chemistry, and I liked the progression of their relationship. I went in expecting a fluffy romance, but it was pretty heavy. Slaughter incorporates elements of mental health and trauma in a very realistic way which I thought was well done. The only issues I had were the dialogue got pretty cringy at moments, and the ending felt a bit lackluster. Other than that, I enjoyed this.