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De weddenschap
Minerva Dobbs blijft hopen die ene partner te vinden die wel lief en aardig is, vooral voor haar. Haar laatste ex heeft haar vlak voor het huwelijk van haar zus in de steek gelaten. Nu zit Min in haar eentje in een yuppiebar en zint op wraak. Dan valt haar blik op een geweldig aantrekkelijke man. Calvin Morrissey heeft zojuist een heftige weddenschap afgesloten met zijn vrienden. Hij moet zijn charmes op Minerva botvieren en haar binnen één maand in bed zien te krijgen. Maar zij heeft alles gehoord en besluit het spel mee te spelen. Zo hoeft Minerva niet alleen naar de trouwerij en kan ze voor de verandering hèm eens dumpen: vlak voordat de maand om is natuurlijk.
334 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
1535 people are currently reading
63143 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Crusie
80 books7,788 followersJennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,468 reviews
September 29, 2016
After reading this, I don’t think I’ll eat Chicken Marsala ever again.
The heroine of this book ate Chicken Marsala in two different restaurants, twice for takeout, at a wedding, at a dinner with her friends and cooked it 4 times with different levels of success. I don’t know if there’s anything more boring than a person who never tries anything new (if I’d been the hero, I’d have stopped dating her just because of this.)
I enjoyed the first part of the book – the humor was not over the top and the plot was wacky but not creepy. Then as the book progressed, I found two of my big pet peeves: adults that don’t confront their parents when they’re out of line and the demonizing of men. You see, I had a mother like Min’s so I totally understand what it is to live with constant criticism regarding my figure. But when I was in my 20s, I had a very firm chat with my Mom about it and told her I wouldn’t tolerate that behavior. Did my Mother stop completely? Of course not, but at least now it’s manageable and not humiliating like it used to be. And that’s why I cannot respect Min who at 33-years old, should not let her mother choose her hairdo, her clothes or the food she eats.
I HATED how Cal was demonized because he dated a lot. He was so nice and thoughtful that women fell in love with him in droves and when he realized they were more serious than him, he would break up with them. The bastard! Doesn’t he know that once a woman falls in love with him, he owes her a ring no matter his feelings? He made them fall in love! It’s his fault! Because you know, women are little girls that cannot take responsibility for their own feelings and must get every man they want. **Throwing up now**
Then the ending was so saccharine, I don’t think I’ll eat anything sweet for a month.
The narration was good but I don’t think that Cal’s voice was distinctive enough. But what makes this narration really irritating is the author’s writing style. Almost every line of dialogue ends in ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ so after a while, I wanted to shoot myself. I had to speed up this book a lot, just to see if I could stop hearing ‘so and so said’ after every sentence.
Because I liked the humor, I was thinking that I should give this author another shot, but then I thought that for the first time ever, an author has put me off food. If nothing else, that’s my clue that I should never read anything by this author again. She's liable to make me swear off bread or chocolate and THAT I couldn't stand.
The heroine of this book ate Chicken Marsala in two different restaurants, twice for takeout, at a wedding, at a dinner with her friends and cooked it 4 times with different levels of success. I don’t know if there’s anything more boring than a person who never tries anything new (if I’d been the hero, I’d have stopped dating her just because of this.)
I enjoyed the first part of the book – the humor was not over the top and the plot was wacky but not creepy. Then as the book progressed, I found two of my big pet peeves: adults that don’t confront their parents when they’re out of line and the demonizing of men. You see, I had a mother like Min’s so I totally understand what it is to live with constant criticism regarding my figure. But when I was in my 20s, I had a very firm chat with my Mom about it and told her I wouldn’t tolerate that behavior. Did my Mother stop completely? Of course not, but at least now it’s manageable and not humiliating like it used to be. And that’s why I cannot respect Min who at 33-years old, should not let her mother choose her hairdo, her clothes or the food she eats.
I HATED how Cal was demonized because he dated a lot. He was so nice and thoughtful that women fell in love with him in droves and when he realized they were more serious than him, he would break up with them. The bastard! Doesn’t he know that once a woman falls in love with him, he owes her a ring no matter his feelings? He made them fall in love! It’s his fault! Because you know, women are little girls that cannot take responsibility for their own feelings and must get every man they want. **Throwing up now**
Then the ending was so saccharine, I don’t think I’ll eat anything sweet for a month.
The narration was good but I don’t think that Cal’s voice was distinctive enough. But what makes this narration really irritating is the author’s writing style. Almost every line of dialogue ends in ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ so after a while, I wanted to shoot myself. I had to speed up this book a lot, just to see if I could stop hearing ‘so and so said’ after every sentence.
Because I liked the humor, I was thinking that I should give this author another shot, but then I thought that for the first time ever, an author has put me off food. If nothing else, that’s my clue that I should never read anything by this author again. She's liable to make me swear off bread or chocolate and THAT I couldn't stand.
October 25, 2020
Still a great read, the second time around but definitely not a FIVE star. Think I was very gushing in my reviews when I started here on Goodreads. Afraid to insult anybody (probably) - how times have changed!!? A solid 4 stars. Few things niggled me about it ...
-------------------------
ORIGINAL REVIEW...
Until recently, this was not available on KINDLE in Europe and I really wanted to read it so what's a girl to do - had to order the paperback. Loved it. No sooner had I the paperback than it became available on KINDLE in Europe. What's a girl to do? Download it and read it again ... Great, great story.
-------------------------
ORIGINAL REVIEW...
Until recently, this was not available on KINDLE in Europe and I really wanted to read it so what's a girl to do - had to order the paperback. Loved it. No sooner had I the paperback than it became available on KINDLE in Europe. What's a girl to do? Download it and read it again ... Great, great story.
August 16, 2017
Cute story, but I'm still not sold on Jennifer Cruise.
I've read this one and Welcome to Temptation, which are supposed to be her top two books and my feelings for both are overwhelmingly...ok. I know she's supposed to be one of the queens of Chick-lit, so this leads me to believe that Chick-lit will never be my jam.
Which is fine.
Ok.
Min is chubby. And Min is always gonna be chubby. She doesn't magically lose the weight then find her prince charming. And prince charming (Cal) isn't one of those guys who already knows he likes the curvy ladies. It isn't until he talks to her that he realizes he finds her interesting and sexy.
The problem is, he's taking a break from women. <--because they are nothing but grief!
But Min is different. And she's worked her way under his skin...
The back and forth between these two was really cute and sweet. And I enjoyed the fact that she wasn't thin. One thing I thought was maybe a little odd were all the food references. I didn't find the find the scene where he tied her up and fed her donuts all that sexy, to be honest. But...to each their own. Also, how many times can you eat chicken Marsala before you get thoroughly sick of it? Yikes! Branch out and try something new, girl!
Anyway. I blew through it in a couple of days and don't regret it one bit. Chick-lit may not rock my world, but I certainly don't feel like it's a waste of my time.
I've read this one and Welcome to Temptation, which are supposed to be her top two books and my feelings for both are overwhelmingly...ok. I know she's supposed to be one of the queens of Chick-lit, so this leads me to believe that Chick-lit will never be my jam.
Which is fine.
Ok.
Min is chubby. And Min is always gonna be chubby. She doesn't magically lose the weight then find her prince charming. And prince charming (Cal) isn't one of those guys who already knows he likes the curvy ladies. It isn't until he talks to her that he realizes he finds her interesting and sexy.
The problem is, he's taking a break from women. <--because they are nothing but grief!
But Min is different. And she's worked her way under his skin...
The back and forth between these two was really cute and sweet. And I enjoyed the fact that she wasn't thin. One thing I thought was maybe a little odd were all the food references. I didn't find the find the scene where he tied her up and fed her donuts all that sexy, to be honest. But...to each their own. Also, how many times can you eat chicken Marsala before you get thoroughly sick of it? Yikes! Branch out and try something new, girl!
Anyway. I blew through it in a couple of days and don't regret it one bit. Chick-lit may not rock my world, but I certainly don't feel like it's a waste of my time.
October 8, 2019
you know that horrible trope (read: flaw) in fiction involving the inability of some (ahem, many) male authors to write even semi-believable female characters? like there's something off about them you can't put your finger on (although usually it's the fact that they talk about having boobs all the time like the novelty hasn't worn off).
anyway. this book is like if female authors couldn't write believable men. (which they can, because empathy, but apparently can't when it's a mid-2000s attempt at writing a fairytale-level romance.)
we spend 400-ish pages reading about the whirlwind (not a strong enough word) hate-to-love romance between Calvin and Minerva. yes, those are really their names. no, it does not seem necessary.
Min's defining trait is that she's fat. you may be tempted to yell at me about this, but that would be you shooting the messenger, and also it wouldn't be very nice and please be nice to me all the time forever. anyway, there is nothing that Min is called more in these pages than some variation on fat, including: chubby, overweight, round, so on. to say CW: fat shaming would be an understatement.
it is not only f*cked up, it is very annoying.
Cal's defining trait is that he is perfect. that's it. like this guy is:
- a 10/10 in looks
- a 10/10 in body
- a complete charmer
- the owner of his own company
- willing to constantly reassure Min that she is beautiful and her curves are also beautiful
- as a sidenote, also weirdly into both Min's feet and force-feeding her food in what is supposed to be, i guess, a Romantic Thing but does not seem that way to me
- a player but also one who You Can Change
- droppin' the L-word in under a month
- amazing in bed
- totally neutral toward his bombshell relationship-psychologist ex who is actively trying to win him back
- cool with being yelled at (and hit) by Min, her friends, and her family until Min deigns to fall in love with him
- the former roommate of the owner of an unbelievably delicious Italian restaurant
- relatedly, up for delivering free, mouthwatering chicken marsala to your apartment
- discovering your long-lost prized possession after spending a minute in your basement
- giving gifts and also cats
- a frequent Krispy Kreme customer
- a youth softball coach
- totally down to propose on the one-month anniversary.
he sounds like a robot.
bottom line: i wish there was a plot twist to this book and it was like ACTUALLY HE WAS A ROBOT ALL ALONG. A ROBOT BUILT OUT OF THE DEEPEST DESIRES OF EVERYONE WHO SAW BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY IN THEATERS.
would be a lot more interesting.
--------------
i actually just...enjoyed a rom com, so...
attempting to recreate the magic
anyway. this book is like if female authors couldn't write believable men. (which they can, because empathy, but apparently can't when it's a mid-2000s attempt at writing a fairytale-level romance.)
we spend 400-ish pages reading about the whirlwind (not a strong enough word) hate-to-love romance between Calvin and Minerva. yes, those are really their names. no, it does not seem necessary.
Min's defining trait is that she's fat. you may be tempted to yell at me about this, but that would be you shooting the messenger, and also it wouldn't be very nice and please be nice to me all the time forever. anyway, there is nothing that Min is called more in these pages than some variation on fat, including: chubby, overweight, round, so on. to say CW: fat shaming would be an understatement.
it is not only f*cked up, it is very annoying.
Cal's defining trait is that he is perfect. that's it. like this guy is:
- a 10/10 in looks
- a 10/10 in body
- a complete charmer
- the owner of his own company
- willing to constantly reassure Min that she is beautiful and her curves are also beautiful
- as a sidenote, also weirdly into both Min's feet and force-feeding her food in what is supposed to be, i guess, a Romantic Thing but does not seem that way to me
- a player but also one who You Can Change
- droppin' the L-word in under a month
- amazing in bed
- totally neutral toward his bombshell relationship-psychologist ex who is actively trying to win him back
- cool with being yelled at (and hit) by Min, her friends, and her family until Min deigns to fall in love with him
- the former roommate of the owner of an unbelievably delicious Italian restaurant
- relatedly, up for delivering free, mouthwatering chicken marsala to your apartment
- discovering your long-lost prized possession after spending a minute in your basement
- giving gifts and also cats
- a frequent Krispy Kreme customer
- a youth softball coach
- totally down to propose on the one-month anniversary.
he sounds like a robot.
bottom line: i wish there was a plot twist to this book and it was like ACTUALLY HE WAS A ROBOT ALL ALONG. A ROBOT BUILT OUT OF THE DEEPEST DESIRES OF EVERYONE WHO SAW BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY IN THEATERS.
would be a lot more interesting.
--------------
i actually just...enjoyed a rom com, so...
attempting to recreate the magic
October 5, 2013
5 'DONUT' STARS.
A fabulously written book with plenty of heart and soul, low on the drama and high on the humour, 'Bet me' is a book that all romance lovers should have on their 'I need to read' shelves. My book heart was crying out for a chic-lit fix, so with a few recommendations for this book under my belt I decided to forge ahead and reconnect with my first love of reading style. This author did not disappoint 'Bet me' was a gorgeously funny and romantic escape and i'm left with a huge smile on my face.
What's it all about ...
Minerva 'Min' Dobbs is a slightly cynical, witty and suspicious thirty something who has found herself dumped by a man who she barely liked let alone loved. Trouble is Min has an impending wedding to attend as her sisters bridesmaid, throw in the need for a date, two hilariously entertaining best friends, an overbearing mother and a dress that doesn't fit and Min finds herself looking for a replacement man to fill the dateless gap. Min is well aware that there is no such thing as a prince charming to deliver her own happily-ever-after especially one who asks her on a date to win a bet. Calvin 'Cal' Morrisey is ridiculously handsome and successful, this charmer is not looking for a long term commitment especially with the girl who fails to fall for his boyishly good charms, so the two meet through a dubious bet and fall straight into drama, chaos and the possibility of love, 'Bet me' is the wonderful story of Cal and Min ... Can opposites really attract?
What did I love?
Spectacularly well written, witty and full of humour this story is chic-lit at its finest. The book was so random it was amusing, I could not get enough of this loveable story that I devoured in just one sitting. Lately I have found myself so overrun with dramatic books that 'Bet me' was a complete breath of chic-lit air. I loved both the hero and heroine in this story, I fell in love with Min, she was sassy and vulnerable and I loved her quirky, goofy sense of humour even with her self doubt she was always likeable a great leading lady for the delectable Cal, this hero was outstanding he was sweet and sexy and all things book yummy, I was more than pleased to meet this duo. The book has Great supporting characters and so many point of views in the book I lost count, just know this; it worked and I loved getting snippets of 'life' from all the characters. The dialogue between the characters is nothing short of amazing, it is so fast paced and entertaining I was in awe at my reading experience. There was nothing that I didn't love about this story and I'm rushing now to read other books by this talented author. Amazing intro, juicy in between bits and a deliciously scrumptious ending, I am officially in book love.
Final thoughts ...
Jennifer Crusie is obviously an established author, her writing style is flawless and this book had me swooning and laughing in equal measure. 'Bet me' brought me back to question myself as to why I've been leaving this genre of book collecting dust on my shelves, its a funny, quirky tale of learning to trust and that love is often found in the strangest of places. What more can I say? If you are a fan of a romance with more laughs than your local comedy club, then don't hang around, go grab it readers ... Kisses.
A fabulously written book with plenty of heart and soul, low on the drama and high on the humour, 'Bet me' is a book that all romance lovers should have on their 'I need to read' shelves. My book heart was crying out for a chic-lit fix, so with a few recommendations for this book under my belt I decided to forge ahead and reconnect with my first love of reading style. This author did not disappoint 'Bet me' was a gorgeously funny and romantic escape and i'm left with a huge smile on my face.
What's it all about ...
Minerva 'Min' Dobbs is a slightly cynical, witty and suspicious thirty something who has found herself dumped by a man who she barely liked let alone loved. Trouble is Min has an impending wedding to attend as her sisters bridesmaid, throw in the need for a date, two hilariously entertaining best friends, an overbearing mother and a dress that doesn't fit and Min finds herself looking for a replacement man to fill the dateless gap. Min is well aware that there is no such thing as a prince charming to deliver her own happily-ever-after especially one who asks her on a date to win a bet. Calvin 'Cal' Morrisey is ridiculously handsome and successful, this charmer is not looking for a long term commitment especially with the girl who fails to fall for his boyishly good charms, so the two meet through a dubious bet and fall straight into drama, chaos and the possibility of love, 'Bet me' is the wonderful story of Cal and Min ... Can opposites really attract?
What did I love?
Spectacularly well written, witty and full of humour this story is chic-lit at its finest. The book was so random it was amusing, I could not get enough of this loveable story that I devoured in just one sitting. Lately I have found myself so overrun with dramatic books that 'Bet me' was a complete breath of chic-lit air. I loved both the hero and heroine in this story, I fell in love with Min, she was sassy and vulnerable and I loved her quirky, goofy sense of humour even with her self doubt she was always likeable a great leading lady for the delectable Cal, this hero was outstanding he was sweet and sexy and all things book yummy, I was more than pleased to meet this duo. The book has Great supporting characters and so many point of views in the book I lost count, just know this; it worked and I loved getting snippets of 'life' from all the characters. The dialogue between the characters is nothing short of amazing, it is so fast paced and entertaining I was in awe at my reading experience. There was nothing that I didn't love about this story and I'm rushing now to read other books by this talented author. Amazing intro, juicy in between bits and a deliciously scrumptious ending, I am officially in book love.
Final thoughts ...
Jennifer Crusie is obviously an established author, her writing style is flawless and this book had me swooning and laughing in equal measure. 'Bet me' brought me back to question myself as to why I've been leaving this genre of book collecting dust on my shelves, its a funny, quirky tale of learning to trust and that love is often found in the strangest of places. What more can I say? If you are a fan of a romance with more laughs than your local comedy club, then don't hang around, go grab it readers ... Kisses.
October 4, 2019
Yay, funny and sarcastic! Jilly's kind of thing!!
Minerva is the heroine of our story and she is the kind of girl who makes her other friends look hotter by comparison. She's also a bit chubby and hasn't eaten a carb in years. In other words, miserable. I've always said that you can never be happy unless you eat carbs. I went on a carb-free diet for a few months and, although I lost weight, I also went on a killing spree. You probably saw me on the news. I killed the crap out of tons of pigs. You know, because of all the bacon I ate. But, believe me, I was unpleasant to be around. Yeah, I know that's hard to believe because of all of the joy I bring to your life, but it's true. In other words - without carbs life is a vast hellscape that never ends.... until you eat one again... Yeah, it's pretty easy to get out of hell. Just eat a Snickers.
Yeah, but he looks happier after that donut.
So poor Minerva is in hell and then her boyfriend breaks up with her because she wouldn't have sex with him. To add insult to injury, she hears him making a bet with a hot guy that he can't get her to have sex with him either. Minerva does what any raging carb-starved girl would do - she decides to torture the hottie who is trying to pick her up to win a bet. I approve of this.
Cal is the hero who took the bet. He isn't interested in Minerva, and she isn't interested in him. It becomes a strange anti-relationship and you end up just waiting for the whole thing to implode.
On the other hand, some people will do anything to win a bet.
Their romance is really cute and funny, and they both have friends who become a great part of the story. I cared as much about what was going on with their friends as I did about them. I kind of wanted them to get their own books, but I was happy enough that Crusie gave us their fates in an epilogue.
jennifer Crusie's style of writing is unique. I think she will be either a love-or-hate author because of it. She uses a lot of dry humor and there always seems to be a big cast in her books. I am having fun with it, so I think I'll move on to a few more.
Minerva is the heroine of our story and she is the kind of girl who makes her other friends look hotter by comparison. She's also a bit chubby and hasn't eaten a carb in years. In other words, miserable. I've always said that you can never be happy unless you eat carbs. I went on a carb-free diet for a few months and, although I lost weight, I also went on a killing spree. You probably saw me on the news. I killed the crap out of tons of pigs. You know, because of all the bacon I ate. But, believe me, I was unpleasant to be around. Yeah, I know that's hard to believe because of all of the joy I bring to your life, but it's true. In other words - without carbs life is a vast hellscape that never ends.... until you eat one again... Yeah, it's pretty easy to get out of hell. Just eat a Snickers.
Yeah, but he looks happier after that donut.
So poor Minerva is in hell and then her boyfriend breaks up with her because she wouldn't have sex with him. To add insult to injury, she hears him making a bet with a hot guy that he can't get her to have sex with him either. Minerva does what any raging carb-starved girl would do - she decides to torture the hottie who is trying to pick her up to win a bet. I approve of this.
Cal is the hero who took the bet. He isn't interested in Minerva, and she isn't interested in him. It becomes a strange anti-relationship and you end up just waiting for the whole thing to implode.
On the other hand, some people will do anything to win a bet.
Their romance is really cute and funny, and they both have friends who become a great part of the story. I cared as much about what was going on with their friends as I did about them. I kind of wanted them to get their own books, but I was happy enough that Crusie gave us their fates in an epilogue.
jennifer Crusie's style of writing is unique. I think she will be either a love-or-hate author because of it. She uses a lot of dry humor and there always seems to be a big cast in her books. I am having fun with it, so I think I'll move on to a few more.
July 29, 2015
5 Beautifully Insane Stars
This book was...bizarre but so damn charming. It was full of light humour and absolutely free of drama. It is a book you read when you need something to pick you up. I'm so glad I read it!
The main characters were mostly insane...really. We have "Min" who after being dumbed by the world's biggest idiot goes into her "all men are pigs" phase, and we have "Calvin", the comitment-phobe, who gets entangled in a stupid bet against his will. They are our main couple. She is a little chubby and never takes risks, he is a gambler. They decide they have nothing in common and won't be seeing each other again. But fate has other ideas...
The "mean" characters were completely insane... "David" the douche makes the bet with Calvin that he can't get Min in bed in a month, just after he breaks up with her, despite the fact that he wants her back. "Cynthie", Cal's crazy ex, wants him back. She is a relationship gourou and she is certain that love can be clinically analyzed and she is meant to be with Cal... Don't get me started with Cal's mom, Aka "The Iceberg". This book strikes for funny and light and the characters reflect it.
The "friends" were just as crazy... In this category we have "Roger", who glances at Bonnie for the first time and decides he'll marry her(but he'll wait a month before he proposes), and "Bonnie" who believes in fairytales and princes(Roger is hers). They are both completely adorable, like teddy bears, and perfect for each other. And then Tony and Liza, who are the "man-whore" and the "free-spirit". I'll just say that every time Cal kissed Min, Liza decked him with her purse. Need I add anything??
The result?? A beautiful mess of a book. It was charming and cute and so easily read that you didn't want it to end.
*******************Re-read June 2015*******************
This book was...bizarre but so damn charming. It was full of light humour and absolutely free of drama. It is a book you read when you need something to pick you up. I'm so glad I read it!
The main characters were mostly insane...really. We have "Min" who after being dumbed by the world's biggest idiot goes into her "all men are pigs" phase, and we have "Calvin", the comitment-phobe, who gets entangled in a stupid bet against his will. They are our main couple. She is a little chubby and never takes risks, he is a gambler. They decide they have nothing in common and won't be seeing each other again. But fate has other ideas...
“What i'm trying to tell you," Min said, "is that im going to grow up to be one of those chubby old ladies. It's in my genes. Like self raising flour. i'm going to pouf."
"That's going to work out well for me," Cal said. "Because i'm going to grow up to be one of those horny old men who chases chubby old ladies around the couch.”
The "mean" characters were completely insane... "David" the douche makes the bet with Calvin that he can't get Min in bed in a month, just after he breaks up with her, despite the fact that he wants her back. "Cynthie", Cal's crazy ex, wants him back. She is a relationship gourou and she is certain that love can be clinically analyzed and she is meant to be with Cal... Don't get me started with Cal's mom, Aka "The Iceberg". This book strikes for funny and light and the characters reflect it.
The "friends" were just as crazy... In this category we have "Roger", who glances at Bonnie for the first time and decides he'll marry her(but he'll wait a month before he proposes), and "Bonnie" who believes in fairytales and princes(Roger is hers). They are both completely adorable, like teddy bears, and perfect for each other. And then Tony and Liza, who are the "man-whore" and the "free-spirit". I'll just say that every time Cal kissed Min, Liza decked him with her purse. Need I add anything??
“This is a woman you've known less than twelve hours. It took you a year to pick out a couch, but you're seriously—"
“Yes,” Roger said. “She's the one.”
The result?? A beautiful mess of a book. It was charming and cute and so easily read that you didn't want it to end.
*******************Re-read June 2015*******************
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January 26, 2025Another review excavated from the bowels of mid 2010s.
Bet Me represents my first foray into the world of contemporary romance. And I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me (well, you don’t have to forgive me, but it would be nice) because I went slightly off-list in order to read it. I was still feeling pathetically fragile after To Have & To Hold and I’d formed the impression that Bet Me would be low on controversy and high on entertainment.
And, oh thank God, it was. And, oh thank God, I really needed it.
Bet Me kicks off at the loltastically named theme bar, The Long Shot, where the heroine Minerva ‘Min’ Dobbs is getting dumped by her absolute, grade A pillock of a boyfriend. Although under no illusions about David’s pillockhood, Min was hoping to keep him around long enough to be her date for her sister’s wedding, because apparently not having a date to your sister’s wedding is a major serious deal in the US. Anyway, while Min reacts to the break-up with righteous anger, David throws a dude-tizzy and ends up betting the hottest guy in the bar - a love ’em and leave ’em type called Cal Morrissey – ten grand he won’t be able to get Min into bed. Min, of course, overhears the bet, though unfortunately not Cal turning it down. Misunderstandings, mayhem and chicken masalas ensue.
A couple of reviews back I kind of laid into Dragon Actually for not taking its fun seriously enough. I know this was probably a bit wanky of me but frothy is not the same as superficial and frivolous is not the same as silly. A soufflé takes just as much effort and artistry as a swan-stuffed-peacock. Probably more, to be honest, because anybody can stick their hand up a bird’s arse. Bet Me struck me as an archetypally seriously funny book. Its surface charm is underpinned by real depth and the characters are depicted with a light touch that does not detract from their complexity. Also I was averaging about a chuckle per page, which officially puts Crusie up there with Wodehouse for making my day better.
Take this from the very first page:
That’s not just a joke. That’s the joke equivalent of a motorway pileup. Just when you think it’s all over, it hits you again. Bet Me is absolutely bursting with this kind of acerbic, merciless wit, to say nothing of the steady stream of one-liners that fly past you like bullets from a LOL gun. I am not forgetting “tall, dark and self-righteous” any time soon. In case it isn’t obvious: I totally loved the book. When you’re reading it, you get the feeling you’re in really safe hands, Ms Crusie knows exactly what she’s doing, and you can just sit back and enjoy the ride without worrying if the hero is going to arbitrarily starting being an arse or the heroine is suddenly going to get a spinedectomy. Bet Me fits together really well. It’s funny but not shallow, romantic but not sentimental, sharp but not cruel. It’s themes of fairytales and reality, chance and fate, freedom and restriction, unfurl beautifully, as the plot twists and turns, mirrors itself and doubles back. Frankly, it’s just a really damn good book by any standards you care to name.
Also, I don’t know if it’s just a different set of expectations between contemporaries and historicals but I felt like I could genuinely relate to the characters in Bet Me. I hesitate to use the word ‘plausible’ in this context because fiction is fiction and its role is not necessarily solely to represent reality as it applies to us. But I think there’s extent to which ‘history’ is as much an imagined place as any fantasy kingdom, so it gives the author liberty to create bold, larger-than-life characters, who can shoot each other, kidnap each other, and generally behave in a manner that would have you running away screaming if it actually took place in your vicinity. Whereas the characters in Bet Me felt as though they could be people I’ve actually met. They acted in sympathetically recognisable ways. Even the villains aren’t really villains. They’re just selfish, annoying and a little bit pathetic. It’s all quite personal, small-scale and human, even though events tend to play out exaggeratedly for comic effect.
For me, this ended up being both a strength and weakness: a strength because I really liked the experience of feeling part of a familiar world and a weakness because I discovered that my Genre Habituation is still somewhat weak. I kept bogging down in what felt like pointless minutiae, while recognising rationally it was textually important stuff. I think I’m slightly better at reading historicals, paranormals and steampunk romantic adventures than I am at reading contemporaries because, although they contain kissing and characterisation and girly stuff like that (I jest), there also tend to be fight scenes, explosions, zombies and people going to boxing matches. There were none of these things in Bet Me. Please understand, I’m not remotely suggesting that’s a flaw in the text, so much as flaw in me and my reading. And I’m working on it.
There were shoes. And talking, there’s a lot of talking, usually about dating. And haircuts. And nights in with the girls. And it all left me a bit: okay, you just carry on, I’ll be over here now. There’s also this bloody wedding that lurks about like Captain Hook’s crocodile during the first half of the book and then bursts out of the water during the second, devouring everything in its path. I’m sorry to be a curmudgeon but I just don’t like weddings, okay? The family wedding thing? It’s hell. Been there, done that (thankfully not mine, I hasten to add). It’s bad enough in real life. And here I was gritting my teeth through the endless travails and organisational crises of a fictional one. Although I will admit to a deeply pleasurable schadenfreude when it all exploded horribly. Okay, I lied about the lack of explosions in Bet Me. It does have explosions. It’s just that they’re social.
The other thing that struck me as interesting about Bet Me, and I’d be intrigued to know if applies to contemporaries generally, was the degree to which the relationship between Min and Cal, although important, remained quite secondary. Most of the other books I’ve read have either focused exclusively on the romance (occasionally to the detriment of everything else) or have embedded the love story so deeply in the world that the two are inseperable. Min’s developing feelings for Cal are part of a much broader arc and, essentially, he only really becomes narratively important when he becomes important to Min. It’s Min’s book, through and through, and it’s just as much about her journey towards self-acceptance and personal happiness, as it is about the importance of getting it on with a hot guy. I really liked this, actually. I understand the appeal of the Wuthering Heights “it is about us, only us, forever” thing, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I found it refreshing to be reading something more balanced. Love is, after all, only a part of living a full and meaningful life.
Min, it should go without saying, I adored. So much so, I felt weirdly like I was cheating on Jessica. Her near constant supply of snarky insights and devastating putdowns really made this book for me. That and the unerring accuracy of her bullshit detector. I couldn’t help wince for Cal sometimes but it was also sort of delightful to watch her tear right through him when he tries to put the charm moves on her:
She is not, however, without her flaws and her vulnerabilities and, for the most part, I thought they came across well, humanising her without compromising her strength. Again, I’m not really in a strong position to be reading for subversion but Min seemed to be taking absolutely no nonsense from her genre. At one point, despite having been repeatedly told that Min’s no longer interested in him, David turns up at house and tries to kiss her. This is neither deeply traumatic nor secretly romantic. She’s not really threatened by his behaviour, just annoyed that he believes he has the right to barge into her home and manhandle her. And when he tries to tell her it’s because “I just want you so much”, she threatens to mace him, completely puncturing the notion that ignoring a woman’s wishes are a way to demonstrate the intensity of your desire. Similarly, I really liked the fact she doesn’t want children. Although certain characters (knobby ones like David) don’t take this seriously, it’s very clear that the book itself does. Nearly every other romance I’ve read has taken it pretty much for granted that heroines naturally want babies, naturally love children and are naturally nurturing women-type people. Of course there’s nothing wrong with wanting these things (and lots of people-type people do) but when it’s unquestioned or presented as an inherent part of being, y’know, a woman, it strikes me that it could be pretty depressing, to say nothing of problematic.
Also I don’t like children either, so it’s yet another reason Min and I are soulmates. Sorry Jessica. It’s not you, it’s Min.
Cal, despite the lack of soft, strong wings to wrap me around me, is probably my favourite of the heroes I’ve encountered so far. He doesn’t do anything too muppetish, nor does he rape the heroine. Okay, those are pretty low standards for human decency but I’m still counting it a win. To me, he came across as an ordinary kind of guy and I found it weirdly comforting that he basically spends the book behaving like a human being, albeit one with faults and insecurities that sometimes spill into his actions. For example, near the end, his ex-girlfriend (who is a deranged psychologist, more on Cynthie later) sends forth David the Grade A Pillock to mercilessly hammer all of Cal’s trigger buttons until he Hulks Out. Hulking Out seems to be pretty standard hero behaviour but usually I’ve found it a bit spurious, like Dain arbitrarily deciding Jessica is a whore trying to entrap him into matrimony based on no evidence whatsoever, but I totally understood where Cal was coming from here. It was nice to see Hulking Out rooted in what felt like authentic human behaviour, rather than hysterical over-spilling manliness.
For the most part, Cal seems to navigate the romance hero minefield with grace and charm. He’s self-aware and self-ironic, which are traits I personally find rather attractive and seem to be pretty underrated in Romancelandia. Like when David is trying to force him to take the bet, he responds:
I was basically on Cal’s side from that moment forward. But perhaps I’m just over-invested in ‘cheap but not slimy’ as an important and valuable distinction. My favourite scene, in the entire book, by the way, is when Cal takes Min home to meet his family and she leaps on her metaphorical white charger to defend him, and the choices he’s made, in front of his parents, totally ruining dinner in the process. Y’know, I think this might be the most breaktakingly romantic scene I’ve ever read. Min is awesome in it, of course, but I like the way they role switch continually throughout the book, taking turns to play the rescued and the rescuer, and fighting off life’s dragons together. As they leave, Min is resigned to having completely lost Cal on account of blowing up his family, and – truthfully – I could completely see a different hero getting his macho freak on about it - but Cal responds absolutely correctly by jumping on her and kissing her senseless.
Since I mentioned Cynthie in passing, I’d just like to return to her briefly in order to say: oh my God, is she deranged? I genuinely had no idea how I was supposed to be interpreting her. She and Grade A Pillock David are sort of the antagonists of the story. He’s just a wanker and she’s some sort of psychologist who has formulated a theory of attraction, which is mostly proven to be absolute bollocks over the course of the book as Min and Cal weave their own crazy, unpredictable way to love. I was glad about this because the theories made NO SENSE and filled me with a vague sense of instinctive dread every time Cynthie opened her mouth:
I presumed she was supposed to be a send up of that kind of pseudo-analytical dating theory that appears to be moderately popular in magazines and self-help books. But I found her place on the batshit/insightful spectrum somewhat difficult to understand – the book seems to take a certain delight in the wrongness of everything she believes, but she’s also reasonably acute. For example, although the basis of her analysis of Cal is wrong (he’s not trying to compensate for his mother’s conditional love), she’s actually in the right ball park and similarly she sees through David in about 5 seconds flat:
I know she’s nutbags but you kind of have to respect her for calling David out on this, when she could have won him more easily to her cause by criticising Min. So, basically, I felt ambivalent about Cynthie throughout. It also didn’t help that she’s the most conventionally attractive woman in the book and the one who seems most comfortable in herself and her sexuality. Given that Min is NOT comfortable in herself, I suppose it was important to demonstrate that people who seem to tick all the boxes aren’t necessarily any happier (or saner) than the rest of us. But, equally, I’m not sure if it wasn’t a little vindictive. Some people are just pretty; it’s not their fault.
Since we’re on the subject of conventional attractiveness, I don’t really think we can really discuss Bet Me without touching on the weight thing, because it’s kind of a major theme in the book. One might say a weighty theme. Do you see what I did there? The heroine, you see, is apparently chubby. I know it’s dangerous to be over-literal about this kind of thing but, given what a big deal it all was, I did research. At the beginning of the book, Min’s mother is trying to get her to fit into a size 8 bridesmaid dress so it seems logical to assume that Min is not a size 8 but could realistically be perceived as being close to it. So, I guess that means our Min is a size 10? I had no idea what that meant so I asked the Internet and the Internet told me that US sizes are about 2 lower than UK sizes. So Min, the chubby, initially undesirable heroine of this novel, is a size 14. Umm? That’s ... that’s ... Kate Winslet.
Now I know Kate is shown here wearing an Oscar dress and has therefore probably been lowered into it by a team of 20 stylists working round the clock but can we have a sanity check here? Since when did Kate Winslet become our standard for unattractively podgy? And, even taking into account that my deductions are incorrect and Min is so lost to human decency as to be a US 12 (UK 16), I guess that would make her ... Nigella Lawson?
Right. Because there’s absolutely nothing desirable about Nigella Lawson. Okay, look, I know it’s about self-perception not actual body size. The whole point is for Min to come to terms with her body and how to live in it and feel attractive in it. I get that. And I recognise that it’s meant to feed into wider criticisms of the unrealistic beauty standards to which women are held but, given the fact that Min is completely average, arguably somewhat smaller than average, it all seems a bit absurd, bordering on offensive, to me. I mean surely the point, here, is that a human body is not public property. It’s nobody’s bloody business what size you are. But it seems to me that Bet Me’s take home message is more concerned with the problems arising when non-fat people are incorrectly assigned to the fat team. To me, and again this is just my take on it, it’s not about whether being a size x, y or z makes you a fattie, or that conventional beauty standards denote x and y as ideal but not z, it’s a much deeper, wider issue about the way people’s bodies are considered acceptable subject matter for open scrutiny.
Also there’s a moment halfway through the book where Cal attempts to convince Min she’s sexy by telling her that men prefer women who aren’t built like coat-hangers. And this annoyed me too. I know plenty of smaller-than-average people who worry about their bodies just as much as anyone else. For God’s sake, can we not acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of humanity without dissing each other along the way? Some people are built like coat hangers: that’s FINE. Some people aren’t: that’s FINE too. It is okay to be fat, thin, large breasted, small breasted, all or none of the above. Somebody will find you beautiful and want to bang you. And as they’re banging you, they’ll not be thinking very much beyond “yay!”
Review continued in comments...
Bet Me represents my first foray into the world of contemporary romance. And I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me (well, you don’t have to forgive me, but it would be nice) because I went slightly off-list in order to read it. I was still feeling pathetically fragile after To Have & To Hold and I’d formed the impression that Bet Me would be low on controversy and high on entertainment.
And, oh thank God, it was. And, oh thank God, I really needed it.
Bet Me kicks off at the loltastically named theme bar, The Long Shot, where the heroine Minerva ‘Min’ Dobbs is getting dumped by her absolute, grade A pillock of a boyfriend. Although under no illusions about David’s pillockhood, Min was hoping to keep him around long enough to be her date for her sister’s wedding, because apparently not having a date to your sister’s wedding is a major serious deal in the US. Anyway, while Min reacts to the break-up with righteous anger, David throws a dude-tizzy and ends up betting the hottest guy in the bar - a love ’em and leave ’em type called Cal Morrissey – ten grand he won’t be able to get Min into bed. Min, of course, overhears the bet, though unfortunately not Cal turning it down. Misunderstandings, mayhem and chicken masalas ensue.
A couple of reviews back I kind of laid into Dragon Actually for not taking its fun seriously enough. I know this was probably a bit wanky of me but frothy is not the same as superficial and frivolous is not the same as silly. A soufflé takes just as much effort and artistry as a swan-stuffed-peacock. Probably more, to be honest, because anybody can stick their hand up a bird’s arse. Bet Me struck me as an archetypally seriously funny book. Its surface charm is underpinned by real depth and the characters are depicted with a light touch that does not detract from their complexity. Also I was averaging about a chuckle per page, which officially puts Crusie up there with Wodehouse for making my day better.
Take this from the very first page:
I could shove this swizzle stick through his heart, Min thought. She wouldn't do it, of course. The stick was plastic and not nearly pointed enough on the end. Also, people didn't do things like that in southern Ohio. A sawed-off shotgun, that was the ticket.
That’s not just a joke. That’s the joke equivalent of a motorway pileup. Just when you think it’s all over, it hits you again. Bet Me is absolutely bursting with this kind of acerbic, merciless wit, to say nothing of the steady stream of one-liners that fly past you like bullets from a LOL gun. I am not forgetting “tall, dark and self-righteous” any time soon. In case it isn’t obvious: I totally loved the book. When you’re reading it, you get the feeling you’re in really safe hands, Ms Crusie knows exactly what she’s doing, and you can just sit back and enjoy the ride without worrying if the hero is going to arbitrarily starting being an arse or the heroine is suddenly going to get a spinedectomy. Bet Me fits together really well. It’s funny but not shallow, romantic but not sentimental, sharp but not cruel. It’s themes of fairytales and reality, chance and fate, freedom and restriction, unfurl beautifully, as the plot twists and turns, mirrors itself and doubles back. Frankly, it’s just a really damn good book by any standards you care to name.
Also, I don’t know if it’s just a different set of expectations between contemporaries and historicals but I felt like I could genuinely relate to the characters in Bet Me. I hesitate to use the word ‘plausible’ in this context because fiction is fiction and its role is not necessarily solely to represent reality as it applies to us. But I think there’s extent to which ‘history’ is as much an imagined place as any fantasy kingdom, so it gives the author liberty to create bold, larger-than-life characters, who can shoot each other, kidnap each other, and generally behave in a manner that would have you running away screaming if it actually took place in your vicinity. Whereas the characters in Bet Me felt as though they could be people I’ve actually met. They acted in sympathetically recognisable ways. Even the villains aren’t really villains. They’re just selfish, annoying and a little bit pathetic. It’s all quite personal, small-scale and human, even though events tend to play out exaggeratedly for comic effect.
For me, this ended up being both a strength and weakness: a strength because I really liked the experience of feeling part of a familiar world and a weakness because I discovered that my Genre Habituation is still somewhat weak. I kept bogging down in what felt like pointless minutiae, while recognising rationally it was textually important stuff. I think I’m slightly better at reading historicals, paranormals and steampunk romantic adventures than I am at reading contemporaries because, although they contain kissing and characterisation and girly stuff like that (I jest), there also tend to be fight scenes, explosions, zombies and people going to boxing matches. There were none of these things in Bet Me. Please understand, I’m not remotely suggesting that’s a flaw in the text, so much as flaw in me and my reading. And I’m working on it.
There were shoes. And talking, there’s a lot of talking, usually about dating. And haircuts. And nights in with the girls. And it all left me a bit: okay, you just carry on, I’ll be over here now. There’s also this bloody wedding that lurks about like Captain Hook’s crocodile during the first half of the book and then bursts out of the water during the second, devouring everything in its path. I’m sorry to be a curmudgeon but I just don’t like weddings, okay? The family wedding thing? It’s hell. Been there, done that (thankfully not mine, I hasten to add). It’s bad enough in real life. And here I was gritting my teeth through the endless travails and organisational crises of a fictional one. Although I will admit to a deeply pleasurable schadenfreude when it all exploded horribly. Okay, I lied about the lack of explosions in Bet Me. It does have explosions. It’s just that they’re social.
The other thing that struck me as interesting about Bet Me, and I’d be intrigued to know if applies to contemporaries generally, was the degree to which the relationship between Min and Cal, although important, remained quite secondary. Most of the other books I’ve read have either focused exclusively on the romance (occasionally to the detriment of everything else) or have embedded the love story so deeply in the world that the two are inseperable. Min’s developing feelings for Cal are part of a much broader arc and, essentially, he only really becomes narratively important when he becomes important to Min. It’s Min’s book, through and through, and it’s just as much about her journey towards self-acceptance and personal happiness, as it is about the importance of getting it on with a hot guy. I really liked this, actually. I understand the appeal of the Wuthering Heights “it is about us, only us, forever” thing, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I found it refreshing to be reading something more balanced. Love is, after all, only a part of living a full and meaningful life.
Min, it should go without saying, I adored. So much so, I felt weirdly like I was cheating on Jessica. Her near constant supply of snarky insights and devastating putdowns really made this book for me. That and the unerring accuracy of her bullshit detector. I couldn’t help wince for Cal sometimes but it was also sort of delightful to watch her tear right through him when he tries to put the charm moves on her:
“Yes.” He bent still closer. “Somewhere quiet where we can talk. You look like someone with interesting things to say. And I'm somebody who'd like to hear them.”
Min smiled at him. “That's a terrible line. Does it usually work for you?”
She is not, however, without her flaws and her vulnerabilities and, for the most part, I thought they came across well, humanising her without compromising her strength. Again, I’m not really in a strong position to be reading for subversion but Min seemed to be taking absolutely no nonsense from her genre. At one point, despite having been repeatedly told that Min’s no longer interested in him, David turns up at house and tries to kiss her. This is neither deeply traumatic nor secretly romantic. She’s not really threatened by his behaviour, just annoyed that he believes he has the right to barge into her home and manhandle her. And when he tries to tell her it’s because “I just want you so much”, she threatens to mace him, completely puncturing the notion that ignoring a woman’s wishes are a way to demonstrate the intensity of your desire. Similarly, I really liked the fact she doesn’t want children. Although certain characters (knobby ones like David) don’t take this seriously, it’s very clear that the book itself does. Nearly every other romance I’ve read has taken it pretty much for granted that heroines naturally want babies, naturally love children and are naturally nurturing women-type people. Of course there’s nothing wrong with wanting these things (and lots of people-type people do) but when it’s unquestioned or presented as an inherent part of being, y’know, a woman, it strikes me that it could be pretty depressing, to say nothing of problematic.
Also I don’t like children either, so it’s yet another reason Min and I are soulmates. Sorry Jessica. It’s not you, it’s Min.
Cal, despite the lack of soft, strong wings to wrap me around me, is probably my favourite of the heroes I’ve encountered so far. He doesn’t do anything too muppetish, nor does he rape the heroine. Okay, those are pretty low standards for human decency but I’m still counting it a win. To me, he came across as an ordinary kind of guy and I found it weirdly comforting that he basically spends the book behaving like a human being, albeit one with faults and insecurities that sometimes spill into his actions. For example, near the end, his ex-girlfriend (who is a deranged psychologist, more on Cynthie later) sends forth David the Grade A Pillock to mercilessly hammer all of Cal’s trigger buttons until he Hulks Out. Hulking Out seems to be pretty standard hero behaviour but usually I’ve found it a bit spurious, like Dain arbitrarily deciding Jessica is a whore trying to entrap him into matrimony based on no evidence whatsoever, but I totally understood where Cal was coming from here. It was nice to see Hulking Out rooted in what felt like authentic human behaviour, rather than hysterical over-spilling manliness.
For the most part, Cal seems to navigate the romance hero minefield with grace and charm. He’s self-aware and self-ironic, which are traits I personally find rather attractive and seem to be pretty underrated in Romancelandia. Like when David is trying to force him to take the bet, he responds:
“Look, David, sex is not in the cards. I'm cheap, but I'm not slimy. You want to bet ten bucks on a pickup, fine, but that's it. Nothing with a future.”
I was basically on Cal’s side from that moment forward. But perhaps I’m just over-invested in ‘cheap but not slimy’ as an important and valuable distinction. My favourite scene, in the entire book, by the way, is when Cal takes Min home to meet his family and she leaps on her metaphorical white charger to defend him, and the choices he’s made, in front of his parents, totally ruining dinner in the process. Y’know, I think this might be the most breaktakingly romantic scene I’ve ever read. Min is awesome in it, of course, but I like the way they role switch continually throughout the book, taking turns to play the rescued and the rescuer, and fighting off life’s dragons together. As they leave, Min is resigned to having completely lost Cal on account of blowing up his family, and – truthfully – I could completely see a different hero getting his macho freak on about it - but Cal responds absolutely correctly by jumping on her and kissing her senseless.
Since I mentioned Cynthie in passing, I’d just like to return to her briefly in order to say: oh my God, is she deranged? I genuinely had no idea how I was supposed to be interpreting her. She and Grade A Pillock David are sort of the antagonists of the story. He’s just a wanker and she’s some sort of psychologist who has formulated a theory of attraction, which is mostly proven to be absolute bollocks over the course of the book as Min and Cal weave their own crazy, unpredictable way to love. I was glad about this because the theories made NO SENSE and filled me with a vague sense of instinctive dread every time Cynthie opened her mouth:
“He's been trained to please people to get approval, and the people he likes to please most are women, who are more than willing to be pleased by him because he looks the way he does. So his looks guarantee assumption and his charm guarantees attraction. He's one of the most elegant adaptive solutions I've ever observed.”
I presumed she was supposed to be a send up of that kind of pseudo-analytical dating theory that appears to be moderately popular in magazines and self-help books. But I found her place on the batshit/insightful spectrum somewhat difficult to understand – the book seems to take a certain delight in the wrongness of everything she believes, but she’s also reasonably acute. For example, although the basis of her analysis of Cal is wrong (he’s not trying to compensate for his mother’s conditional love), she’s actually in the right ball park and similarly she sees through David in about 5 seconds flat:
“David,” Cynthie said, “if you wanted sex in the first five minutes, you should have dated a stripper. If [Min’s] an actuary, she's a cautious person, her career is figuring out how to minimize risk, and in your case, she was right.”
I know she’s nutbags but you kind of have to respect her for calling David out on this, when she could have won him more easily to her cause by criticising Min. So, basically, I felt ambivalent about Cynthie throughout. It also didn’t help that she’s the most conventionally attractive woman in the book and the one who seems most comfortable in herself and her sexuality. Given that Min is NOT comfortable in herself, I suppose it was important to demonstrate that people who seem to tick all the boxes aren’t necessarily any happier (or saner) than the rest of us. But, equally, I’m not sure if it wasn’t a little vindictive. Some people are just pretty; it’s not their fault.
Since we’re on the subject of conventional attractiveness, I don’t really think we can really discuss Bet Me without touching on the weight thing, because it’s kind of a major theme in the book. One might say a weighty theme. Do you see what I did there? The heroine, you see, is apparently chubby. I know it’s dangerous to be over-literal about this kind of thing but, given what a big deal it all was, I did research. At the beginning of the book, Min’s mother is trying to get her to fit into a size 8 bridesmaid dress so it seems logical to assume that Min is not a size 8 but could realistically be perceived as being close to it. So, I guess that means our Min is a size 10? I had no idea what that meant so I asked the Internet and the Internet told me that US sizes are about 2 lower than UK sizes. So Min, the chubby, initially undesirable heroine of this novel, is a size 14. Umm? That’s ... that’s ... Kate Winslet.
Now I know Kate is shown here wearing an Oscar dress and has therefore probably been lowered into it by a team of 20 stylists working round the clock but can we have a sanity check here? Since when did Kate Winslet become our standard for unattractively podgy? And, even taking into account that my deductions are incorrect and Min is so lost to human decency as to be a US 12 (UK 16), I guess that would make her ... Nigella Lawson?
Right. Because there’s absolutely nothing desirable about Nigella Lawson. Okay, look, I know it’s about self-perception not actual body size. The whole point is for Min to come to terms with her body and how to live in it and feel attractive in it. I get that. And I recognise that it’s meant to feed into wider criticisms of the unrealistic beauty standards to which women are held but, given the fact that Min is completely average, arguably somewhat smaller than average, it all seems a bit absurd, bordering on offensive, to me. I mean surely the point, here, is that a human body is not public property. It’s nobody’s bloody business what size you are. But it seems to me that Bet Me’s take home message is more concerned with the problems arising when non-fat people are incorrectly assigned to the fat team. To me, and again this is just my take on it, it’s not about whether being a size x, y or z makes you a fattie, or that conventional beauty standards denote x and y as ideal but not z, it’s a much deeper, wider issue about the way people’s bodies are considered acceptable subject matter for open scrutiny.
Also there’s a moment halfway through the book where Cal attempts to convince Min she’s sexy by telling her that men prefer women who aren’t built like coat-hangers. And this annoyed me too. I know plenty of smaller-than-average people who worry about their bodies just as much as anyone else. For God’s sake, can we not acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of humanity without dissing each other along the way? Some people are built like coat hangers: that’s FINE. Some people aren’t: that’s FINE too. It is okay to be fat, thin, large breasted, small breasted, all or none of the above. Somebody will find you beautiful and want to bang you. And as they’re banging you, they’ll not be thinking very much beyond “yay!”
Review continued in comments...
February 9, 2013
WOW!
Great story!
Excellent writing!
Amazing Characters!
Min..
Great decision!
Cal...
We KNOW you didn't make the bet
so..
.. in the end
it made me want to eat LOTS, AND LOTS of Krispy Kreme donuts!.. *sigh*
December 2, 2015
4.5 Fairy Tales Do Come True Stars!
It's been a long time since I've read a JC book. I remember her always putting a smile on my face and once again JC had me smiling and laughing many times.
I loved Mim and Cal! Hell I loved everybody in this book!
I might have liked it so much because Mim and Cal acted like enemies instead of lovers. lol All because of a bet made between Mim's ex David and Cal (which Mim over hears). So Mim starts off hating Cal right away and is quick to shoot down his charming ways. They butt heads every time they are around each other. They never want to see each other again but fate has different plans for them. And when it came to the important stuff they were both there for each other!
I loved how Cal made Mim feel sexy about not being a size two. He loved to watch her eat. He made her eat. He also was quick to put Mims mom in her place when it came to her harping all the time to Mim about not eating carbs and dieting.
I loved how Mim stood up to Cals family and never made him feel stupid because he was dyslexic.
Elvis (her cat) was awesome!
I loved how every time Cal or Mim voiced out loud to themselves that they were never going to see each other again something weird would happen. Cal burned his finger or bumped his head. Mim stabbed her self with a loose staple. Haha!
These two had really good friends! They were all wonderful and had each other's back! Oh and Mim had some really cool shoes and she loved Elvis Presley! She had me jamming many times during this book. It brought back memories of my mom playing Elvis records when I was younger. Haha!
This was told through many different POVs and I really liked that a lot. I had no problems figuring out who's head I was in. lol
If you're looking for a light on drama funny read with tons of tension this ones for you!
It's been a long time since I've read a JC book. I remember her always putting a smile on my face and once again JC had me smiling and laughing many times.
I loved Mim and Cal! Hell I loved everybody in this book!
I might have liked it so much because Mim and Cal acted like enemies instead of lovers. lol All because of a bet made between Mim's ex David and Cal (which Mim over hears). So Mim starts off hating Cal right away and is quick to shoot down his charming ways. They butt heads every time they are around each other. They never want to see each other again but fate has different plans for them. And when it came to the important stuff they were both there for each other!
I loved how Cal made Mim feel sexy about not being a size two. He loved to watch her eat. He made her eat. He also was quick to put Mims mom in her place when it came to her harping all the time to Mim about not eating carbs and dieting.
I loved how Mim stood up to Cals family and never made him feel stupid because he was dyslexic.
Elvis (her cat) was awesome!
I loved how every time Cal or Mim voiced out loud to themselves that they were never going to see each other again something weird would happen. Cal burned his finger or bumped his head. Mim stabbed her self with a loose staple. Haha!
These two had really good friends! They were all wonderful and had each other's back! Oh and Mim had some really cool shoes and she loved Elvis Presley! She had me jamming many times during this book. It brought back memories of my mom playing Elvis records when I was younger. Haha!
This was told through many different POVs and I really liked that a lot. I had no problems figuring out who's head I was in. lol
If you're looking for a light on drama funny read with tons of tension this ones for you!
May 6, 2013
Drage moje, vidim da ste je mnoge pročitale... i da se većini dopala... drago mi je (kao uredniku knjige)... :) Jednom rečju, šta god da pročitate od ove autorke lepo ćete se zabaviti, nasmejati... Pravi laki, zabavni, i A klase "ženski" romani... Beach read :)
February 2, 2021
5+ STARS!!
It just struck me as too much like chick-lit ==> but I was so wrong, Bet Me was romance through and through. 😍😍 Min and Cal were wonderful together. And as soon as Cal started 'wooing' Min, I was done for.
Also, the author did such an amazing job with the banter, which came across as effortless and natural. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud.
Honestly, I was expecting it to feel a little more dated since it's almost 20 years old - but nope. It's going on my all-time favorites list!!
I'm now on the hunt now for a physical copy to add to my collection.
Audio: 5 STARS!!
"I'm crazy about you."I completely adored it! I want to thank Leila from the bottom of my heart for nagging me to read this one for YEARS . . . 😂
It just struck me as too much like chick-lit ==> but I was so wrong, Bet Me was romance through and through. 😍😍 Min and Cal were wonderful together. And as soon as Cal started 'wooing' Min, I was done for.
Also, the author did such an amazing job with the banter, which came across as effortless and natural. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud.
Honestly, I was expecting it to feel a little more dated since it's almost 20 years old - but nope. It's going on my all-time favorites list!!
I'm now on the hunt now for a physical copy to add to my collection.
Audio: 5 STARS!!
August 22, 2014
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know when you read a great book when, not even in the middle of it, all you can think of is :
I was seriously beating myself up with this the whole time! It felt so good to read this book!
To sum it up quickly, I loved it for a lot of reasons but mainly :
1 - Dialogues
Jennifer Crusie knows how to make her characters talk! Vividly!
2 - Humor
I was really laughing out loud at some quotes or situations! This book is filled with sarcasm and high quality banter.
3 - Shoes!
Minerva is a woman after my own heart... She is a shoe's freak! She had the most awesome shoes! And how fun it was witnessing Cal discovering a foot fetish... lol.
4 - Food !
Do not read this book on a diet. Scratch that, read it on a diet! I was craving donuts and italian's food the whole time!
5 - Fairytale-ish
This story is filled with fairytale references, but our heroine and hero being such down to earth persons, they aren't even aware of it all!
6 - Villains!
Yes, all fairytales needs their villains... And I loved that we get their POV in this story!
7 - Elvis!
Elvis was a character of its own league here! But wait, are you talking about...
Presley? Costello? The Cat?
To summarize, this book is a gem, have it ready on your shelf for any unexpected craving of all of the above.
The Bet might have be witty, charming, sassy, smart and fabulous but there is nothing quite as nice as LOVE!
** Thanks to Lana and Mo for recommending this! xxx **
You know when you read a great book when, not even in the middle of it, all you can think of is :
I was seriously beating myself up with this the whole time! It felt so good to read this book!
To sum it up quickly, I loved it for a lot of reasons but mainly :
1 - Dialogues
Jennifer Crusie knows how to make her characters talk! Vividly!
2 - Humor
I was really laughing out loud at some quotes or situations! This book is filled with sarcasm and high quality banter.
I know you stole me from my real parents, they'd let me eat butter.
"for future reference," he said starting to laugh. "if you're sitting half naked on my lap and you tell me you're going to spread-"
"Right. I'm sure he was on his way but a truck hit him.”
3 - Shoes!
Minerva is a woman after my own heart... She is a shoe's freak! She had the most awesome shoes! And how fun it was witnessing Cal discovering a foot fetish... lol.
4 - Food !
Do not read this book on a diet. Scratch that, read it on a diet! I was craving donuts and italian's food the whole time!
5 - Fairytale-ish
This story is filled with fairytale references, but our heroine and hero being such down to earth persons, they aren't even aware of it all!
6 - Villains!
Yes, all fairytales needs their villains... And I loved that we get their POV in this story!
7 - Elvis!
Elvis was a character of its own league here! But wait, are you talking about...
Presley? Costello? The Cat?
To summarize, this book is a gem, have it ready on your shelf for any unexpected craving of all of the above.
The Bet might have be witty, charming, sassy, smart and fabulous but there is nothing quite as nice as LOVE!
** Thanks to Lana and Mo for recommending this! xxx **
November 17, 2017
Actual rating: 1.5 stars. Because I'm in a good mood today.
Warning: the gif is strong with this one. Again.
Why? Why the bloody fish did I do this to myself? Because I'm a first-class idiot, that's why. And because I'm a complete, utter, total masochist, that's also why.
Yep, that's me, the human piñata.
Okay, let's get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible. This book made me feel like:
And also like:
And also, also like:
All in all this proved to be a charmingly delightful reading experience. And I have to say it put me in a deliciously jovial, cheery mood.
Good times and stuff.
» And the moral of this Next Time Anyone Sees Me Reading a Book Similar to this One Please Do Me a Favor and Shoot Me in the Head Thank Thee Kindly Super Extra Crappy Non Review Thingie (NTASMRaBSttOPDMaFaSMitHTTKSECNRT™) is: ah, sugar-shock inducing books, there really is nothing quite like them. Who would want to read gloriously dark stuff packed with liars and assholes when such enchanting tales as this one exist? I sure wouldn't. Oh no, not me.
P.S. One day chicken Marsala will save the world. It will eradicate all diseases, make hunger disappear, stop armed conflicts and bring peace on earth. Trust me on that one, I read this book, I know what I'm talking about.
Warning: the gif is strong with this one. Again.
Why? Why the bloody fish did I do this to myself? Because I'm a first-class idiot, that's why. And because I'm a complete, utter, total masochist, that's also why.
Yep, that's me, the human piñata.
Okay, let's get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible. This book made me feel like:
And also like:
And also, also like:
All in all this proved to be a charmingly delightful reading experience. And I have to say it put me in a deliciously jovial, cheery mood.
Good times and stuff.
» And the moral of this Next Time Anyone Sees Me Reading a Book Similar to this One Please Do Me a Favor and Shoot Me in the Head Thank Thee Kindly Super Extra Crappy Non Review Thingie (NTASMRaBSttOPDMaFaSMitHTTKSECNRT™) is: ah, sugar-shock inducing books, there really is nothing quite like them. Who would want to read gloriously dark stuff packed with liars and assholes when such enchanting tales as this one exist? I sure wouldn't. Oh no, not me.
P.S. One day chicken Marsala will save the world. It will eradicate all diseases, make hunger disappear, stop armed conflicts and bring peace on earth. Trust me on that one, I read this book, I know what I'm talking about.
July 13, 2014
4.5 STARS!
Sometimes I find myself discovering a new to me author, and thinking...WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?? Why haven't I heard of Jennifer Crusie before now? Despicable.
And because I'm late into the game, I won't bother explaining what this book is all about. I loved it. I loved Cal. Truly loved that dream of a book boyfriend. He was honest, sweet, considerate, giving, loving and an an all around true gentleman. The scene where they're eating chicken Marsala--umm...YUM!--and he describes how he sees her body...sigh. Seriously, I was this close to tearing up. With Min's mom dishing out endless weight loss advice, and her ex being a douche, Min deserved someone who could see her for herself and love her deeply, want her desperately and keep her forever.
Min was funny. I always felt she put up a shield against people that would judge her, or assume things. This was of course a defense mechanism, and it was hilarious in the beginning when she used it like crazy against Cal. There were tons of laugh out loud moments, a fantastic secondary cast--loved her bff's Bonnie and Liza!--touching scenes, swoony scenes and a romance that gave me the warm fuzzies! Cheesy right? Doesn't matter, I loved this. Tony was awesome, really standing up when it was necessary, and pointing Cal in the right direction. David was a total idiota, and Cyn, poor, sightless Cyn. She was smart professionally, but totally clueless personally. Love can't be theorized and tested using variables and science.
This style of plot where there are other things going on above the main romance are my favorite. They keep you on your toes and round out everything beautiful that is reading. I'm now off to start reading JC's other books, this is why goodreads is so great, we discover new and fantastic authors! The ending was beautiful, the pacing incredible, no filler whatsoever. I especially loved how the epilogue was written, answered all my questions, and proved some of my suspicions. But the real winners? Cal and Min, loved them! Highly recommended.
Sometimes I find myself discovering a new to me author, and thinking...WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?? Why haven't I heard of Jennifer Crusie before now? Despicable.
And because I'm late into the game, I won't bother explaining what this book is all about. I loved it. I loved Cal. Truly loved that dream of a book boyfriend. He was honest, sweet, considerate, giving, loving and an an all around true gentleman. The scene where they're eating chicken Marsala--umm...YUM!--and he describes how he sees her body...sigh. Seriously, I was this close to tearing up. With Min's mom dishing out endless weight loss advice, and her ex being a douche, Min deserved someone who could see her for herself and love her deeply, want her desperately and keep her forever.
Min was funny. I always felt she put up a shield against people that would judge her, or assume things. This was of course a defense mechanism, and it was hilarious in the beginning when she used it like crazy against Cal. There were tons of laugh out loud moments, a fantastic secondary cast--loved her bff's Bonnie and Liza!--touching scenes, swoony scenes and a romance that gave me the warm fuzzies! Cheesy right? Doesn't matter, I loved this. Tony was awesome, really standing up when it was necessary, and pointing Cal in the right direction. David was a total idiota, and Cyn, poor, sightless Cyn. She was smart professionally, but totally clueless personally. Love can't be theorized and tested using variables and science.
This style of plot where there are other things going on above the main romance are my favorite. They keep you on your toes and round out everything beautiful that is reading. I'm now off to start reading JC's other books, this is why goodreads is so great, we discover new and fantastic authors! The ending was beautiful, the pacing incredible, no filler whatsoever. I especially loved how the epilogue was written, answered all my questions, and proved some of my suspicions. But the real winners? Cal and Min, loved them! Highly recommended.
April 4, 2023
“I never bet,” Min said. “Gambling is a statistically impractical form of generating income.”
Minerva Dobbs [Min], 33 years old and self-described as chubby, knows her statistics. She works as an actuary for an insurance company in Ohio. That is why she has chosen her boyfriend David carefully and dispassionately, and that is why she is now getting drunk in a bar with her two best friends, Bonnie and Liza.
David has just broken up with Min because she denied him bedroom privileges. Min is more upset about having no partner for her upcoming sister’s wedding, but things are about to go offscript for our heroine.
Twenty-eight percent of female homicide victims were killed by husbands or lovers.
Which, come to think of it, was probably why there weren’t any women gamblers. Living with men was enough of a gamble. [...] Really, the smart thing to do was stop dating and get a cat.
Min is smart and funny and she deserves better than David. But what she is stuck with in that bar is Calvin Morrissey [Cal] , the tall, dark and handsome stud who never loses a bet where women are concerned.
An overheard bet and a misunderstanding form the initial impulse that throws Min and Cal together and starts the usual cat and dog show we all expect from a rom-com novel. You know, the one where they are strongly attracted to each other, but they get on their nerves and quarrel every time they meet. For a month. With the predictable outcome.
“Just for the record,” Cal said, “I usually last more than seven minutes. ”He let his head fall back onto her pillow. “Of course, foreplay usually doesn’t lasts a month.” He took a deep breath. “Go ahead, tell me the statistics on how long foreplay usually lasts.”
“Not long enough,” Min said.
This is one story where I don’t actually mind predictability, when it’s done with panache and with a wicked sense of humour. I thought my previous two novels by Crusie were wilder and funnier [ ‘Agnes and the Hitman’, ‘Welcome to Temptation’] , yet Min and Cal get bonus points for being slightly different than the usual Barbie and Ken bland offerings of the genre, especially Min, with her sharp mind and with the peer pressure from her family to slim down. Cal has his own personal baggage that I will not get into right now, because he was less convincing than Min [dyslexic? bored by sex with a hot, predatory female journalist?]
The story does get wilder in the later chapters, when friends and relatives are all meddling in the tentative relationship Min and Cal are forging together, with a feral cat and some tasty Krispy Kreme doughnuts thrown in for good measure. And with an Italian chef that seems lifted wholesale from ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
“That’s what every woman in her thirties who’s been screwed over by men says. ‘I’m going to give up the bastards and get a cat.’ It’s a cliche.”
Jennifer Crusie knows how to put her cliches to good, subversive use. She also knows how to round up a good story with colourful and poignant support characters, who can lead us in the right direction without sounding preachy or militant.
“Cynthie thinks relationships follow a pattern and that you can predict them. But how can you? People are complex, and disturbances in their lives are complex, and the attractors in their lives are complex. People in love are pure chaos theory.”
The chaos theory is explained better in the novel, with direct application to the case of Min and Cal.
I really enjoyed this madcap Ohio detour I’ve made from more serious lectures here, and I plan to add more books from Crusie to my future lists.
I really miss the rom-com movies of the early 90s’[I’m a Meg Ryan, Marisa Tomei, Sandra Bullock fan]. Hollywood seems to have misplaced that winning formula, lost it in endless cringe and/or violent dramedies and in politically correct scripts. The closest I’ve come to the classics recently is through the books of Jennifer Crusie, who has held on to the screwball roots of the genre. I wish somebody would make a decent movie out of one of her stories.
June 26, 2018
Reseña en el blog!!!
https://www.virivillarreal.com/2018/0...
Hace mucho tiempo que no disfrutaba tanto leer un libro. En este caso, es una relectura. Sip, lo sé... ¿Yo releyendo algo? en otra vida quizás. Jajaja, pues NO. Lo hice y I REGRET NOTHING!
LO AMO. LO AMO. LO AMO. ESTE ES ESE TIPO DE LIBROS QUE TIENES QUE LEER. LO AMOOOOOOOOOOO.
Un poco bizarra la situación en la que se comienza a desarrollar la relación pero me encantó tanto o más que la primera vez.
Este libro es único. No tiene ningún personaje malo. Todos me gustaron, en serio, hasta los villanos terminaban por hacerme mover la cabeza de incredulidad con sus "teorias" jajaja
Cal es amor. No hay más. Desde su primera aparición te conquista, es de los personajes que debes conocer para enamorarte más pero que a primera vista son irresistibles. No hay palabras para describir lo emocionada que me puse al releer sus pensamientos y acciones. Es que era leer una escena suya y yo ya estaba suspirando.
Min en cambio es distinta. Una chica de talla grande (sip, lo sé... muy predecible) con algunos problemas de autoestima. Algo que gracias a dios no se toca tanto como se pensaría pues en realidad ni siquiera son SUS problemas, más bien los de sus familiares. Min es una chica común, pero encantadora. Descubres en ella una personalidad más vivaz y arriesgada de lo que puedas imaginar viendo su apariencia general.
Un libro 100% recomendado para pasar un rato agradable, disfrutar, reírte, enamorarte y terminar con una sonrisa en la boca súper grande.
4.5 porque mi cursi corazón me pedía niños jajaja (no habla mi reloj biológico lo juro)
https://www.virivillarreal.com/2018/0...
Hace mucho tiempo que no disfrutaba tanto leer un libro. En este caso, es una relectura. Sip, lo sé... ¿Yo releyendo algo? en otra vida quizás. Jajaja, pues NO. Lo hice y I REGRET NOTHING!
LO AMO. LO AMO. LO AMO. ESTE ES ESE TIPO DE LIBROS QUE TIENES QUE LEER. LO AMOOOOOOOOOOO.
Un poco bizarra la situación en la que se comienza a desarrollar la relación pero me encantó tanto o más que la primera vez.
Este libro es único. No tiene ningún personaje malo. Todos me gustaron, en serio, hasta los villanos terminaban por hacerme mover la cabeza de incredulidad con sus "teorias" jajaja
Cal es amor. No hay más. Desde su primera aparición te conquista, es de los personajes que debes conocer para enamorarte más pero que a primera vista son irresistibles. No hay palabras para describir lo emocionada que me puse al releer sus pensamientos y acciones. Es que era leer una escena suya y yo ya estaba suspirando.
Min en cambio es distinta. Una chica de talla grande (sip, lo sé... muy predecible) con algunos problemas de autoestima. Algo que gracias a dios no se toca tanto como se pensaría pues en realidad ni siquiera son SUS problemas, más bien los de sus familiares. Min es una chica común, pero encantadora. Descubres en ella una personalidad más vivaz y arriesgada de lo que puedas imaginar viendo su apariencia general.
Un libro 100% recomendado para pasar un rato agradable, disfrutar, reírte, enamorarte y terminar con una sonrisa en la boca súper grande.
4.5 porque mi cursi corazón me pedía niños jajaja (no habla mi reloj biológico lo juro)
April 24, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
Actual footage of my face when anyone at the office tries to recommend a book to me . . . .
In case you aren’t familiar, my mood tends to fluctuate between . . . . .
And . . . . .
When (literally) the nicest person I’ve ever worked with in all 417 of my years here on Earth told me I should read Bet Me I just knew I was going to break her perky little heart. Imagine my surprise when I actually liked this dang thing! Obviously this is not a selection that is Pulitzer worthy, but when you need a break from the smarty or heavy or stabby options, it’s quite a fun little palate cleanser.
The premise here is of the “I bet you can’t bag that broad” variety. The difference with this selection? The potential baggy just so happens to overhear said wager so the ol’ trope is immediately turned on its ear. Another difference? While the leading male is very much stereotypical rom com dreamboy material . . . . .
The leading lady is of the real plus-sized variety (not just the “ooooh my tummy pooch is sooooooo frustrating and I wish my thigh gap were bigger”) which had me like . . . . .
I will say I absolutely did not enjoy the added storyline of the two exes and thought that just created tons of additional unnecessary pages about people I did not like. Other than that, though, this was quite fun.
3.5 Stars
Actual footage of my face when anyone at the office tries to recommend a book to me . . . .
In case you aren’t familiar, my mood tends to fluctuate between . . . . .
And . . . . .
When (literally) the nicest person I’ve ever worked with in all 417 of my years here on Earth told me I should read Bet Me I just knew I was going to break her perky little heart. Imagine my surprise when I actually liked this dang thing! Obviously this is not a selection that is Pulitzer worthy, but when you need a break from the smarty or heavy or stabby options, it’s quite a fun little palate cleanser.
The premise here is of the “I bet you can’t bag that broad” variety. The difference with this selection? The potential baggy just so happens to overhear said wager so the ol’ trope is immediately turned on its ear. Another difference? While the leading male is very much stereotypical rom com dreamboy material . . . . .
The leading lady is of the real plus-sized variety (not just the “ooooh my tummy pooch is sooooooo frustrating and I wish my thigh gap were bigger”) which had me like . . . . .
I will say I absolutely did not enjoy the added storyline of the two exes and thought that just created tons of additional unnecessary pages about people I did not like. Other than that, though, this was quite fun.
December 13, 2018
4.5 Stars
This was a nice little surprise. I didn’t even have it on my TBR list. I was scrolling through my FB feed about a month ago and Susan Elizabeth Philips posted something about it. She loved it so I one clicked it. How could I go wrong!
Bet Me had a great cast of characters. I adored the heroine Min. She was strong, funny, sweet, and very relatable. I’d love to have her in my circle of friends. The hero Cal was perfectly flawed and he too was very relatable. Their story was a fairy tale of sorts. The kind that leaves you warm in fuzzy inside.
The secondary characters were fabulous. While it was Min and Cal’s story we also got a little side story with Bonnie and Roger. And Cal’s nephew Harry the ichthyologist was too cute.
She is an Elvis fan. He is a Crispy Crème’s fan. They were perfect for each other! It just took them bit of time to figure it out!
Jennifer Cruise is a new author to me and I am looking forward to reading more of her stuff.
This was a nice little surprise. I didn’t even have it on my TBR list. I was scrolling through my FB feed about a month ago and Susan Elizabeth Philips posted something about it. She loved it so I one clicked it. How could I go wrong!
Bet Me had a great cast of characters. I adored the heroine Min. She was strong, funny, sweet, and very relatable. I’d love to have her in my circle of friends. The hero Cal was perfectly flawed and he too was very relatable. Their story was a fairy tale of sorts. The kind that leaves you warm in fuzzy inside.
The secondary characters were fabulous. While it was Min and Cal’s story we also got a little side story with Bonnie and Roger. And Cal’s nephew Harry the ichthyologist was too cute.
She is an Elvis fan. He is a Crispy Crème’s fan. They were perfect for each other! It just took them bit of time to figure it out!
Jennifer Cruise is a new author to me and I am looking forward to reading more of her stuff.
Want to read
April 18, 2021
July 8, 2016
It all started with a bet ...
One exciting and incredibly fun chick lit novel that will make you laugh and make you think about whether a happy ending is really possible and theory of chaos real.
Min is serious. Cal is a charmer. Min is ready for something more. Cal is not known for serious relationships. Min is angry at men, especially after her last relationship. Cal is not ready for a woman who will tell him "NO". Min is a curvy brunette. Cal likes blondes. And they definitely hate each other.
But when fate and a strange bet take over their lives, perhaps one of the most famous assumptions - "opposites attract"- will come true. It's all up to you to find out if it's really like that.
One exciting and incredibly fun chick lit novel that will make you laugh and make you think about whether a happy ending is really possible and theory of chaos real.
Min is serious. Cal is a charmer. Min is ready for something more. Cal is not known for serious relationships. Min is angry at men, especially after her last relationship. Cal is not ready for a woman who will tell him "NO". Min is a curvy brunette. Cal likes blondes. And they definitely hate each other.
But when fate and a strange bet take over their lives, perhaps one of the most famous assumptions - "opposites attract"- will come true. It's all up to you to find out if it's really like that.
December 11, 2011
I needed this book! It seems as if all of the books I read lately are such intense reads. Bet Me was the perfect reprieve. From the first page, it was just so much fun! I mean, she introduces her "R rated pixie" friend on like page five. The intro scene is Min in a bar with her friends while her boyfriend is breaking up with her. It's obvious that she couldn't care less. That is, until she overhears the bet being made with the "Hunka hunka burnin' love" standing next to her new ex.
Call is the perfect guy, which is not what Min wants or expects. Their courtship is full of unexpected encounters...so many that they both get the feeling that fate is really weird. No one would have pictured them together, least of all themselves. But no matter how much they try to stay away, everything just seems to fall into place. Min is a typical woman in that she sees only the worst in herself physically. It takes awhile, but Cal unintentionally forces her to see her as she truly is. It was actually quite beautiful to see this part come about, because it was such a subtle change, but remarkable.
Without sounding like the typical book cover review blip, I'll say this: Ms Crusie writes with such wit and passion and humor, I was literally smiling the entire time I read this book. Going on my love love love shelf!
Call is the perfect guy, which is not what Min wants or expects. Their courtship is full of unexpected encounters...so many that they both get the feeling that fate is really weird. No one would have pictured them together, least of all themselves. But no matter how much they try to stay away, everything just seems to fall into place. Min is a typical woman in that she sees only the worst in herself physically. It takes awhile, but Cal unintentionally forces her to see her as she truly is. It was actually quite beautiful to see this part come about, because it was such a subtle change, but remarkable.
Without sounding like the typical book cover review blip, I'll say this: Ms Crusie writes with such wit and passion and humor, I was literally smiling the entire time I read this book. Going on my love love love shelf!
May 9, 2014
5 Stars!! This is my 3rd time reading, or rather this go around I listened to the audio version. Still a 5 star book, the audio version was wonderful, and Deanna Hurst rocked the read. The story still had the same impact it did when I read it the first and second time. One of my favorite plump girl...full figure...curvy women reads! I smiled like an idiot from beginning to end! Calvin Morrisey is the sweetest guy ever...I love him!
Original review posted 2/11
Great book. Lots of fun, loads of laughs, and some really quirky, memorable characters. What starts out as a bet, turns into love…only Cal and Min have a little trouble figuring that out. But the journey is oh so much fun. Harry "Harrison", cutest little dude ever...wish the author would right about this adorable ichthyologist! A real feel good book. It's a keeper, one of JC's best!
October 5, 2019
Fantastic Contemporary Romance!
I've been wanting to read Bet Me for some time now after seeing all the good reviews- despite the fact I tried one or two other Cruise books awhile ago and wasn't all that hip to them. I liked them well enough but nothing really demanded she become an "autobuy" author. Bet Me might change that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Min Dobbs has everything a girl could want, good, stable job, close friends, who cares if she has less than ideal weight? And okay, in the men department, she's a bit lacking too.
The story starts off with Min being dumped by a less then perfect boyfriend, David. Immediately her friends try to help by getting her to hook up with the handsome man standing on the balcony- right next to recent dumpee boyfriend.
When Min decides to take on her friends challenge and meanders over to meet the admittedly attractive man, she freezes in horror when she overhears Dumper Dave making a bet with sexy new man, Cal Morrissey, that he can't get Min to sleep with him in a month's time.
More horrifying, Cal promptly follows Min after she returns to her girls, seemingly taking on Dumper's bet.. Because she wants a date for her sister's wedding in 3 weeks, she decides to take him up on his offer for dinner- figuring she'll play the bet against him.
One problem. Cal's not a bad guy. He's smart and more down to earth then Dumper Dave ever was. And yep, she falls for him- hook, line (well, maybe not every line) and sinker.
Cruise does a fantastic job of characterization and dialogue and I couldn't put this one down. I really loved Min and Cal, especially Min and Cal together. The side characters were just as much fun and I wonder if Min's friend Liza is going to get her own book eventually??
I think what I liked most is that her characters felt so real. Min and crew could be any one of us modern girls trying to make their way in shark-infested waters. Cruise also plays around with our desire for Happily Ever Afters and how that struggles against the fact that those are hard to come by now-a-days.
It's a fun, fast read and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet- which is admittedly very few!
I've been wanting to read Bet Me for some time now after seeing all the good reviews- despite the fact I tried one or two other Cruise books awhile ago and wasn't all that hip to them. I liked them well enough but nothing really demanded she become an "autobuy" author. Bet Me might change that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Min Dobbs has everything a girl could want, good, stable job, close friends, who cares if she has less than ideal weight? And okay, in the men department, she's a bit lacking too.
The story starts off with Min being dumped by a less then perfect boyfriend, David. Immediately her friends try to help by getting her to hook up with the handsome man standing on the balcony- right next to recent dumpee boyfriend.
When Min decides to take on her friends challenge and meanders over to meet the admittedly attractive man, she freezes in horror when she overhears Dumper Dave making a bet with sexy new man, Cal Morrissey, that he can't get Min to sleep with him in a month's time.
More horrifying, Cal promptly follows Min after she returns to her girls, seemingly taking on Dumper's bet.. Because she wants a date for her sister's wedding in 3 weeks, she decides to take him up on his offer for dinner- figuring she'll play the bet against him.
One problem. Cal's not a bad guy. He's smart and more down to earth then Dumper Dave ever was. And yep, she falls for him- hook, line (well, maybe not every line) and sinker.
Cruise does a fantastic job of characterization and dialogue and I couldn't put this one down. I really loved Min and Cal, especially Min and Cal together. The side characters were just as much fun and I wonder if Min's friend Liza is going to get her own book eventually??
I think what I liked most is that her characters felt so real. Min and crew could be any one of us modern girls trying to make their way in shark-infested waters. Cruise also plays around with our desire for Happily Ever Afters and how that struggles against the fact that those are hard to come by now-a-days.
It's a fun, fast read and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet- which is admittedly very few!
July 21, 2017
Me encantó 😄😄😄, desde el principio me hizo reír mucho es de esos libros que sirven para mejorar tu estado de ánimo para enamorarte y hacerte sonreír
Al principio es una historia de amor-odio donde los personajes no se toleran, se conocen en un bar y por una apuesta van a una cita que resulta ser desastrosa y ellos lo único que quieren hacer es no volverse a ver pero por azares del destino se vuelven a ver una y otra vez parece que esta empeñado en que estén juntos.
Min y Cal tienen una gran química echan chispas y juntos son fuego 🔥🔥 a mi me encantaron todos sus encuentros.
Min no es la típica protagonista de molde, ella es según "llenita" de esas mujeres que se sienten gordas con una mamá que todo el tiempo le está diciendo que tiene bajar de peso pero como le dijo Cal ella es sexy, curvilínea con carne para agarrar
Y Cal ay Dios !! Lo adoré es imposible no amarlo 😍😍, es que es un pan de Dios es sexy guapo pero a la vez es tierno un gran amigo, que tiene grandes inseguridades que es lo que lo hizo humano💕❤💕❤.
Y los amigos son como el ingrediente extra que les da sabor todos me encantaron excepto las amigas zorra de la hermana de Min
Al principio es una historia de amor-odio donde los personajes no se toleran, se conocen en un bar y por una apuesta van a una cita que resulta ser desastrosa y ellos lo único que quieren hacer es no volverse a ver pero por azares del destino se vuelven a ver una y otra vez parece que esta empeñado en que estén juntos.
Min y Cal tienen una gran química echan chispas y juntos son fuego 🔥🔥 a mi me encantaron todos sus encuentros.
Min no es la típica protagonista de molde, ella es según "llenita" de esas mujeres que se sienten gordas con una mamá que todo el tiempo le está diciendo que tiene bajar de peso pero como le dijo Cal ella es sexy, curvilínea con carne para agarrar
Y Cal ay Dios !! Lo adoré es imposible no amarlo 😍😍, es que es un pan de Dios es sexy guapo pero a la vez es tierno un gran amigo, que tiene grandes inseguridades que es lo que lo hizo humano💕❤💕❤.
Y los amigos son como el ingrediente extra que les da sabor todos me encantaron excepto las amigas zorra de la hermana de Min
July 31, 2017
Leer reseña completa en el blog
http://www.lacomunidaddellibro.com/re...
Creo que con esta vez es la cuarta que leo este libro, es uno de ésos libros que siempre recurro cuando estoy pasando por una época en que no consigo que ninguna novela me enganché, siempre que lo leo la historia me atrapa de una forma que hace que lo devore y esté hasta la madrugada para terminarlo (menos mal que siempre me lo leo en sábado).
Es una novela ágil, divertida (de las que te hacen reír a carcajadas) y muy romántica (sin ser empalagosa). Cal y Min son dos protagonistas muy diferentes entre ellos. En una situación normal ninguno de los dos hubieran salido juntos, Min odia a Cal, bueno, en realidad parece odiar a todo el género masculino aunque es compresible si tenemos en cuenta que la noche que lo conoció acababa de cortar con ella su novio, y tampoco ayudó el hecho que lo oyó apostar a que conseguía llevársela s cenar. A Cal le parece que es una bruja, por muy encantador y educado que es él Min no deja atacarlo durante toda la cena. Así que los dos llegan a la misma conclusión, esa será la última y única vez que saldrán juntos, pero la casualidad, el universo, la teoría del caos (al leer el libro os enteraréis en que consiste), el destino, o lo que sea... No hacía más que juntarlos.
Es una novela que destila un humor irónico, con una protagonista imperfecta, según los canones de belleza actuales. Un protagonista que te enamora desde el principio porque siempre esta ahí cuando más lo necesita Min. Un grupo de secundarios que a mi me han parecidos geniales, y que nos ayudan a ver las diferentes formas que tenemos las personas al enfrentarnos al amor, la soñadora, la escéptica....
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho de la novela es que los protagonistas tienen muy claras sus ideas, no quiero hacer spoiler así que no sé cómo explicarlo... hace unos meses que en una lectura conjunta lo estuvimos hablando... En la novela romántica parece que tiene que acabar siempre sucediendo dos cosas, que sin ello parece que no puede haber final feliz, pues en esta pareja no querían una de esas dos cosas...
He estado dudando con la puntuación, no sabías si darle tres o cuatro estrellas. En algunos momentos me ha costado seguir los diálogos, algunos son un poco confusos que han hecho que tuviera que releerlos varias veces, no sé si es culpa de la traducción o de la autora. No es un problema constante, ni que impida que se pueda leer. Al final le he dado cuatro estrellas porque me lo he pasado bomba con su lectura. A pesar de este punto negativo os recomiendo la novela, en la actualidad está descatalogado pero se puede encontrar de segunda mano, yo perdí mi libro y sin buscar mucho encontré en una librería de segunda mano un ejemplar para sustituirlo.
http://www.lacomunidaddellibro.com/re...
Creo que con esta vez es la cuarta que leo este libro, es uno de ésos libros que siempre recurro cuando estoy pasando por una época en que no consigo que ninguna novela me enganché, siempre que lo leo la historia me atrapa de una forma que hace que lo devore y esté hasta la madrugada para terminarlo (menos mal que siempre me lo leo en sábado).
Es una novela ágil, divertida (de las que te hacen reír a carcajadas) y muy romántica (sin ser empalagosa). Cal y Min son dos protagonistas muy diferentes entre ellos. En una situación normal ninguno de los dos hubieran salido juntos, Min odia a Cal, bueno, en realidad parece odiar a todo el género masculino aunque es compresible si tenemos en cuenta que la noche que lo conoció acababa de cortar con ella su novio, y tampoco ayudó el hecho que lo oyó apostar a que conseguía llevársela s cenar. A Cal le parece que es una bruja, por muy encantador y educado que es él Min no deja atacarlo durante toda la cena. Así que los dos llegan a la misma conclusión, esa será la última y única vez que saldrán juntos, pero la casualidad, el universo, la teoría del caos (al leer el libro os enteraréis en que consiste), el destino, o lo que sea... No hacía más que juntarlos.
Es una novela que destila un humor irónico, con una protagonista imperfecta, según los canones de belleza actuales. Un protagonista que te enamora desde el principio porque siempre esta ahí cuando más lo necesita Min. Un grupo de secundarios que a mi me han parecidos geniales, y que nos ayudan a ver las diferentes formas que tenemos las personas al enfrentarnos al amor, la soñadora, la escéptica....
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho de la novela es que los protagonistas tienen muy claras sus ideas, no quiero hacer spoiler así que no sé cómo explicarlo... hace unos meses que en una lectura conjunta lo estuvimos hablando... En la novela romántica parece que tiene que acabar siempre sucediendo dos cosas, que sin ello parece que no puede haber final feliz, pues en esta pareja no querían una de esas dos cosas...
He estado dudando con la puntuación, no sabías si darle tres o cuatro estrellas. En algunos momentos me ha costado seguir los diálogos, algunos son un poco confusos que han hecho que tuviera que releerlos varias veces, no sé si es culpa de la traducción o de la autora. No es un problema constante, ni que impida que se pueda leer. Al final le he dado cuatro estrellas porque me lo he pasado bomba con su lectura. A pesar de este punto negativo os recomiendo la novela, en la actualidad está descatalogado pero se puede encontrar de segunda mano, yo perdí mi libro y sin buscar mucho encontré en una librería de segunda mano un ejemplar para sustituirlo.
February 2, 2021
Re-read #20ish 1/28/2021
What more can I say about this book?
It's still my go-to favourite romance re-read. This time was so much fun because I got to share it with Melanie and experience her enjoyment of reading it for the first time!
__________________
5 chaos theory stars!
Re-read 6/3/2019
Still one of my favourite Rom-Coms that I feel I must read yearly! If you love 90s romantic comedy movies with a happily ever after, then I think that you'd love this book too.
Cal is at the top of my book boyfriend list! He's just so sweet, charming, swoon worthy, empathetic, smart, witty...the perfect guy for me...ok, for Min too. His friends/business partners are equally swoon worthy in their own way.
I love Min! She's a curvy girl, with a mild self-confidence problem, but she's smart, sarcastic, sassy, loyal and quirky. Through her relationship/not-relationship with Cal she comes out of her shell. She's got a great bunch of friends, and sister, that always have her back and their weekly 'If Dinners'.
I love all the little hidden treasures of ‘fate’ stepping in on the relationship, from whispering “This one” in both their ears to little accidents when they try and fight it.
Cal & Min are the perfect hero and heroine! Like chicken masala and Krispy Kreme donuts. :)
What more can I say about this book?
"Some things are supposed to be made with butter. You're one of them."
It's still my go-to favourite romance re-read. This time was so much fun because I got to share it with Melanie and experience her enjoyment of reading it for the first time!
__________________
5 chaos theory stars!
Re-read 6/3/2019
Still one of my favourite Rom-Coms that I feel I must read yearly! If you love 90s romantic comedy movies with a happily ever after, then I think that you'd love this book too.
Cal is at the top of my book boyfriend list! He's just so sweet, charming, swoon worthy, empathetic, smart, witty...the perfect guy for me...ok, for Min too. His friends/business partners are equally swoon worthy in their own way.
I love Min! She's a curvy girl, with a mild self-confidence problem, but she's smart, sarcastic, sassy, loyal and quirky. Through her relationship/not-relationship with Cal she comes out of her shell. She's got a great bunch of friends, and sister, that always have her back and their weekly 'If Dinners'.
I love all the little hidden treasures of ‘fate’ stepping in on the relationship, from whispering “This one” in both their ears to little accidents when they try and fight it.
Cal & Min are the perfect hero and heroine! Like chicken masala and Krispy Kreme donuts. :)
July 27, 2015
This book is HILARIOUS!! & CUTE!
Story:
We meet Min, a woman who doesn't care much about her looks, and is characterized by her friends as plain. After breaking up with her boyfriend, she decides to go out to dinner with a guy who wants to win a bet on her. Calvin is gorgeous, and man whore, a guy who woman shouldn't get too close to, but when coincident plays in the role, Cal & Min gets closer together, and might possibly fall in love. However, will they last together?
“Nobody in my life has ever known me the way you do. Nobody in my life has ever made me feel as good as you do. You know me, you know everything about me, and when you leave me, you're going to be leaving the real me, the me nobody else has ever seen, that's who you're going to be rejecting.”
_______________________
Positive:
-The humor. The best part about this book is that it's hilarious! I was laughing every five minutes at how funny Cal & Min were. This was a great plus for this book since I enjoyed it so much!
-Cal & Min! I really like how different their relationship was. I am VERY grateful to the writer since she didn't make it too dramatic between them unlike other chick-lit's book. I also like how they trusted each other despite everything that happened.
-The side characters: I love Bonnie, Liza, Tony, Di, and all the side characters! I also really like the fact that there are so many side characters to begin with!
_______________________
Negative:
I HATE David, and Cyn! God, especially Cyn since she was acting like a know it all! But I love how she couldn't stir anything in the book!!
Final thoughts:
I really like this book!! At first, it was totally four stars for me, but then it grew on me since the book only got better. I love the character development, and how Min & Cal changed slowly. I also like the fact that it took time for the relationship to grow & it wasn't a one-moment thing. This book is hilarious, and has a very good plot.
Recommend:
I recommend this book to readers who wants a light read. This is highly recommended to readers who just read a VERY heavy subjected book, and want something funny, and light.
November 8, 2010
I belong to the 6% of the human populace who do not like this book. And I have to say, I do not like being the odd man/woman out.
I honestly wanted to like this book. This is included in All About Romances Top 100 list and on Dear Reader Top 100 list plus it won Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Contemporary Single Title (2005), so it was justified that I had high hopes for this. Also, all my goodreads friends rated this four stars or more, however, the characters and dialogues were unbelievable.
Examples are:
(1)
Seriously, does that really happen in real life? I think not.
(2)When Diana, Min's sister, decided not to get married since her fiancee is a cheating bastard, her mother caught her drinking wine, but then her mother quickly said:
Mothers are not like that. The could be calorie police at times, but not at a really lousy time, such as your failed wedding. And if the mothers are all like that, I'll stab them to death.
(3)Statistics are vital in everyday life. Dialogues with a mention of statistics a little often are cute, however, almost every conversation with a mention of percentages of whatever does not strike me as amusing.
(4)The characters also talked about theories on love. That got me confused on what I am reading. Whether this was a contemporary romance book or a psychology book. And in my honest opinion, I think the author was trying to merge the two in one.
Also in the duration of the book, there wasn't any real focus on the H/h. One minute, it's Min and Cal, then next, it's different people talking. The thought and motive were both good, however, it would have worked more if this was a movie.
To all my friends who loved this, I am absolutely sorry. I really wanted to love this book. And it wasn't due to a lack of effort on my part.
I honestly wanted to like this book. This is included in All About Romances Top 100 list and on Dear Reader Top 100 list plus it won Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Contemporary Single Title (2005), so it was justified that I had high hopes for this. Also, all my goodreads friends rated this four stars or more, however, the characters and dialogues were unbelievable.
Examples are:
(1)
Bonnie turned back to the field and called Roger's name. When he came trotting over to them, she said, "Honey, are you going to ask me to marry you?"
"Yes," he said. "I didn't want to rush you, so I thought I'd wait till our one-month anniversary. It's only eleven days."
"Very sensible," Bonnie said. "Just so you know, I'm going to say yes."
Roger sighed. "That takes a lot of the worry out of it." He leaned over and kissed her and went back to the field.
Seriously, does that really happen in real life? I think not.
(2)When Diana, Min's sister, decided not to get married since her fiancee is a cheating bastard, her mother caught her drinking wine, but then her mother quickly said:
"Do you know how many calories—"
Mothers are not like that. The could be calorie police at times, but not at a really lousy time, such as your failed wedding. And if the mothers are all like that, I'll stab them to death.
(3)Statistics are vital in everyday life. Dialogues with a mention of statistics a little often are cute, however, almost every conversation with a mention of percentages of whatever does not strike me as amusing.
(4)The characters also talked about theories on love. That got me confused on what I am reading. Whether this was a contemporary romance book or a psychology book. And in my honest opinion, I think the author was trying to merge the two in one.
Also in the duration of the book, there wasn't any real focus on the H/h. One minute, it's Min and Cal, then next, it's different people talking. The thought and motive were both good, however, it would have worked more if this was a movie.
To all my friends who loved this, I am absolutely sorry. I really wanted to love this book. And it wasn't due to a lack of effort on my part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2016
Don't you just love it when you re-read a book you haven't read in years and are instantly reminded of a genre you used to adore, and a book you thought was wonderful?
If possible, I enjoyed this even more on my second read.
Ah, Cal. What a dreamboat. <3
Read #2: March 6, 2016 - 5 stars
Read #1: August 17, 2012 - 5 stars
If possible, I enjoyed this even more on my second read.
Ah, Cal. What a dreamboat. <3
Read #2: March 6, 2016 - 5 stars
Read #1: August 17, 2012 - 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,468 reviews