Betting on You

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Author(s)

Lynn Painter

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

November 28, 2023

ISBN

9781665921237

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When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip.

Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?

Editor review

1 review

Queen of Rom-Coms Does It Again!

December 11, 2023 (Updated: December 11, 2023)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

BETTING ON YOU by Lynn Painter is a YA Contemporary Romance in which Charlie and Bailey meet a handful of times over the years before becoming co-workers. At first, things are a bit icy between them, because their prior interactions proved they’re polar opposites, but as they really get to know one another, they realize that as infuriating as the other may be, they’re reliable as friends. Together, they not only help each other overcome their exes, but they also help each other navigate their respective parents’ divorces. Before long, it becomes clear they have growing feelings, but without healthy examples of love in their lives, it’s too scary to take the next step.

Lynn Painter is the queen of this genre and so consistent in not only delivering the expected conventions but improving on them with her unique touch. She has a genuine skill at getting readers to care about her characters, and that’s because she’s made them so rich with human traits and quirks that they could practically walk off the page. Sometimes, in terms of all the used tropes and characteristics, it felt like a lot was being thrown at us in this book, but it’s such an enjoyable read that I was more excited to go on the ride than narrow in on moments that could’ve been better.

What makes this story shine the most is how Painter allows Charlie’s and Bailey’s story to unfold and build. It’s so natural and innocent, and we readers get to know the characters as they get to know each other. The dialogue, especially Charlie’s, is so amusing and witty that I often found myself chuckling, or in contrast, shocked by the moments of honesty peppered in between everything else.

Overall, BETTING ON YOU is a fabulous little package of charm, sincerity, and humor. It’s impossible to read a Painter book without delighted investment, and when comparing this novel to some of her others, like BETTER THAN THE MOVIES and THE DO-OVER, it is abundantly clear that this isn’t a fluke: Painter is fast emerging as a beloved author who will hopefully be entertaining us for years to come.