Bet Me

This book was painful for me to finish. I'm an avid reader and will pretty much read anything, I never don't finish a book. My interests are varied but I do read a good amount of romances- I read the hating game and because of that Kindle recommended this one for me. Hating game was a good fun light read.This book is about an overweight curvy woman who is 30 something with a great career, who gets dumped because she doesn't put out. The dumper ex makes a bet with a super hot colleague that the super hot colleague can't get her into bed because she's so frigid. Then the story begins, super hot fit man pursuing an overweight not traditionally attractive woman. The story goes on an on without much of an exciting plot like beyond that. The woman talked a lot about how she feels super fat and unattractive and doesn't understand why the guy wants her. She spends a lot of time putting herself down in front of him, and not believing him when he's sincerely interested. Several scenes and i mean SEVERAL are designed around her not fitting into clothes, and also designed around him forcing her to eat Krispy cream donuts and high calorie Italian food even when she pleads with him not to. I'm not sure if it's a fantasy of some women to be overweight but be with a super fit hot guy who forces you to eat Krispy Kremes, but for me it just really grossed me out. There was so much of this that I just started feeling sick by the end.SPOILERRRR:even the sex scenes involve Krispy Kreme donuts. Yuck.I'd skip this one if I was you. Generally well written so the author may have some better books out there.

Five betting stars ✨I can't believe I haven't read this book until now. It has all the elements I love in a romantic comedy. First, it's really funny with witty and zippy dialogues, hilarious but probable interactions and situations among characters.Second, the hero and heroine are likable and relatable with enough strengths and weaknesses to make them real. I like that Min is full-figured but wasn't ashamed of it and didn't try to lose weight to get her man. I liked that Cal has vulnerabilities but is also confident about himself and he really, really knew Min. I love that they tried to stay away from each other yet fate kept bringing them together. I appreciate that they got each other's backs when it comes to defending the other against their awful families.I also like that although there are a lot of secondary characters in this book, their presence is all because of Min and Cal. I love the friendship, the cat, Elvis, even the families. I love the Stats nickname (that's me), the cute shoes, the Chicken Marsala, and the doughnuts. This book just hits the right spots for me

Reading this book requires no effort; it flows continuously along bringing joy and laughter in every paragraph. It was also my introduction to Jennifer Crusie so I found every book of hers ever written and read them. And then I read Bet Me again, and again. Then I got the audio book and listened to it. Min, Cal, Liza, Tony, Dianna, Bonnie, Shanna, and Roger are fun people to hang out with while mayhem ensues over a bet gone awry. I just want to sit down at Emileo's restaurant, eat Chicken Marsala as the story plays out. The final scene had me laughing so hard I almost lost my donut. Yes, you have to read this book to understand what I'm talking about; you'll thank me later.

Curl up with Crusie, and become a convert! I've lived her writing for 13 years (half my lifetime) and they are seriously good comfort reads, I re-read them every year. For reference, other authors I like: Susan Anderson, Kresley Cole, Melanie Harlow.Her characters are incredibly relatable, and I can't get enough of her fast-paced storylines and humour-filled conversations. "Bet Me" in particular really deconstructs a classic fairytale; with a lending hand from fate, it draws Cal and Min together in deliciously enjoyable scenes, despite their best efforts at completely avoiding each other. Crusie creates characters you want to have lunch with, and you won't find "cheap laughs" as she has fine tuned her story telling to an art (probably helps with her master’s degree in Professional Writing and Women’s Literature!).I can't praise her highly enough, however if you read a Jennifer Crusie book, you will get to know a world of down to earth, relatable characters that have theor lives disrupted by delightfully funny scenarios, delicious romance, witty repertoire, and the ambitions of the supporting characters which all takes on a life of its own. Read all day and all night, then ease your book-hangover with more Crusie! Enjoy Xx

This one is a permanent resident on my Comfort Reads shelf. The references can be a bit dated (the tech and internet stuff always makes me giggle), and there are some moments that are crinegworthy (motivations of certain female characters are cartoonishly villainous at times, and gay characters are reduced to stereotypes at others, among other things), but it's fine. And I love Cal and Min. I love them. This book is unapologetically ridiculous, and Crusie is a witty, entertaining writer. It's fun fluff with a plus size heroine and a hot hero who loves her to distraction. If you can overlook the dated tech and social commentary, it's comfort food for your brain.

This book reminded me of the screwball comedies of yesteryear. And that made it charming and endearing.The witty dialog and screwball nature of the plot and the ensemble cast of cooky cohorts made me overlook the things I typically don’t like in romances:: bets about getting someone in bed— I loathe this particular trope, incessant harping on weight— especially the heroine’s, awful parents— and we get a BOGO with this book because both sets are awful, and 30 somethings who can’t say what they mean and mean what they say and who are still bullied by their parents— H and h both.And yet, I still loved this book. Because it has the screwball comedy feel and the Doris Day movie feel— executed perfectly in the 21st century context.Loved it.