Book Review: Betting on You by Lynn Painter

“It took losing her for me to realize that loving her wasn’t even a risk.”

Lynn Painter, Betting on You

Review:

After reading The Do-Over, I was a bit disappointed that I’d purchased three of this author’s books at one time. Not because the books are bad, but because I am very much too old for these characters and plotlines. Thankfully, I had a buddy to read this one with, and I enjoyed it a lot more. 

Bailey and Charlie meet on a plane, their clashing personalities making for an insufferable flight, particularly for Bailey. A year later, their paths cross again when they both take a job at a waterpark. With all of their peers flirting with each other, bets are made, and Charlie sets out to prove that boys and girls can’t be ‘just friends’. 

Bailey tries to fight how much she’s enjoying her blossoming friendship with Charlie, but he’s at least something better to focus on than her mother’s new boyfriend and the fact that he’s always in her house and destroying her old routine. And when the new boyfriend decides to take her and her mother on a ski trip, she and Charlie come up with a plan to throw a wrench into the works.

I probably would have eaten this up as a teenager. Reading this as an adult, I can appreciate the audience it was written for while also being frustrated with the childish behaviors and ridiculous schemes. As I said, I did enjoy this more than The Do-Over, but I still struggled to wholly care about the characters and get invested in the plot. A lot of things happened that I wish had been done differently. 

I still have Better Than the Movies on my bookshelf, which I do plan on reading the next time I need a palate cleanser. I think some adults can enjoy this book depending on what they’re looking for. For me, this was a good book to pick up when I needed a break from a darker story.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• I thought Charlie had a strong backstory. I do wish we’d gotten to see more of his home life on page, though.

What I didn’t like:

• I wasn’t a child of divorce, so I know I can’t know what I would have done having never been in the situation, but I found it so frustrating that Bailey never told her mother how uncomfortable she was with a strange man suddenly coming into her life and practically living in her house. She still needed her mother.
• I’m too old for high school drama and nonsense.

Afterthoughts:

I don’t see myself continuing the series. I didn’t even realize there was a sequel until putting this review together.

This was a buddy read with my friend Juniper!

Where to buy the book: