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Lake City High #1

The Summer Bet

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Wanna make a bet?

That’s Ford Cross’ go to line whenever he sees me.
He’s Mr. Popular,
Mr. high school quarterback, and
Mr. all the girls want me.

And me, Hannah Clark?

I’m just a quiet brainiac who wants high school to be over.

Ask me if I’ve ever made a bet with Ford?

Not a chance.

At least not until he has the ultimate wager.

I’d be stupid not to take this bet; but if I lose, my life will never be the same.

***Note: The Summer Bet ends on a cliffhanger.

ebook

Published July 29, 2022

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Jenny Cole

10 books28 followers

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5 stars
646 (41%)
4 stars
447 (28%)
3 stars
302 (19%)
2 stars
128 (8%)
1 star
38 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Profile Image for Taylor Cody.
25 reviews
October 15, 2022
It started off cute then it got really dramatic and weird, and so much crying and back and forth. I also thought calling the step mom mom was weird. Her dad forced her into it, I know people that the step mom understands when a parent dies we will never be replaced. Also the ending was really weird and dramatic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for sydney friend.
115 reviews6 followers
April 23, 2023
a cute romance, but it took forever to get through i thought! it just had no type of "oomph" to keep me interested which sucked because it was still so cute.
Profile Image for calista.
261 reviews4 followers
Did Not Finish
March 18, 2024
dnfed at like 60% yeah i should have just powered thru but i couldn’t there was no plot all vibes & not even that fun of vibes idk how this is a four book series
Profile Image for Megan.
61 reviews
April 29, 2024
1. Main girl character cries wayyyy to much.
2. He calls her baby ick babe is fine baby?? Ickkk
3. Too much sex had to skip
4. Its a freaking cliff hanger!!!! Bro warm us before we read it.
5. Other than that not totally repulsive.
Profile Image for Jeremi Pendleton.
9 reviews
September 30, 2022
Yeah no

So the idea behind the book is great but as someone said too much crying and there is a part two. This could have been done in one being its a 300+ page book. It dragged. Want to know what happens but I'm not reading book 2.
Profile Image for blue.
46 reviews2 followers
April 25, 2026
Ok so why does no one talk about this book. I literally reread it so often it isn’t even funny anymore.😭😭

In between- Gracie Abrams
Profile Image for M R W.
142 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2026
Not a bad YA

Definitely gives you feelings of a lot of teenage angst, and that startup like a first relationship and normally a first one. The first deep and meaningful, one and the scariness of that, but also that natural connection.You can have with another person.
Touches on the mixture of still being an adolescent, but also having to deal with grown up problems because you're getting closer and closer to being an adult.As well.
I felt like coming into it. The initial conflict was a little rushed. Only because you didn't really have a connect connection with what ends up being the antagonist of the story to feel.The betrayal, all the way that the main character does, but you get the gist of it from her words I do wish there was just a little bit of a repertoire between them to establish that trust before it was broken.So that you could also feel it better as a reader.
And as well as that some of it did seem a little juvenile in the writing at times but ultimately, I was endeared by the characters. And what they're doing, it was a very nice, calm, peaceful book for the most part to read, especially when you have like a stressful situation going on outside of reading, and maybe just need a chill.
I couldn't put it down.So that was good.It was kind of break from some of the more adult books that i've been reading recently.
An equal parts, frustrated and intrigued by the fact that it ends on a very unfinished cliphang dirt, but it's definitely a good way to get you to keep reading and to get the second book which I did. And I'm about to start because I do want to know what goes on with here. Are they gonna get together? Are they gonna grow apart?Will this be that childhood relationship?That was your first love.And you was think back fondly on, when ultimately wasn't meant to be what's gonna happen.I don't know, but i'm about to find out.
Profile Image for Rachel.
512 reviews45 followers
March 6, 2024
“Wanna make a bet?” Never once did Hannah take on a bet made by her frenemy Ford because she knew better than to ever entertain the idea. But when the bet involves Hannah’s best friend and her stepbrother, she is confident that she’d win… only to find out, she actually lost. So, what does Ford get for winning? Hannah gets to spend 4 hours per day every day of summer with Ford. Any girl would be delighted, but this was torture for Hannah. Until things shift between them and she doesn’t know what to do.

Ok, this was a KU read I discovered while perusing through YA romance books, and I can’t believe it’s the first of a series until I got to the end and was left hanging lol. I enjoyed a good bunch of this story—the forced proximity, frenemies to lovers, family coming together, believing in oneself. The bullying drove me nuts (those girls were catty) and a few scenes that I could’ve done without so it didn’t feel so long. I will definitely pick up the second book eventually because I am curious to see how senior year goes for Hannah and Ford.
Profile Image for Elina.
127 reviews11 followers
July 11, 2023
This story is about Hannah and Ford, two teenagers who try to deal with the difficulties their lives bring. They try to grow stronger together and deal with their emotions. Despite the description, this isn't a drama story. It is an easy to read ya story where we can see how teenagers feel and how they try to grow. It was a good summer read! I really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Jess.
14 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2024
surprised

To be honest I was really surprised with this book, the story flowed well, wasn’t too rushed and kept me not wanting to put it down, and for a YA romance novel is normally hard for me cause I get bored pretty easy.
1,628 reviews15 followers
September 29, 2022
It’s a cute story of best friends. She’s a nerd and he is most popular and football player. But they have to get to know each other better than just just arguing and smarty comebacks. So he makes a bet he is sure to win
219 reviews3 followers
September 16, 2022
Wanna make a bet?

Who could have known that four words would change the course of 2 peoples lives in just one summer?

Hannah and Ford have been frenemies since they were in 4th grade. Hannah is both smart & funny and keeps Ford on his toes.

Ford is also her step brother Jack's bestfriend and are very popular in high school, where Hannah on the other hand is not.

In the course of an end of school year party, a secret is discovered, a friendship is lost, and a bet, which changes everthing, is made.

And by the end of summer, a family will be mended and Hannah is a stronger person because of it all.

This story has all the feels - I was crying, laughing and in some cases wishing I could jump through the book to deal with mean girls...grr.

I don't want to give spoilers - all I can say is that you need to read this book!!

The story of Ford & Hannah is not over...their story is to continue in book 2 which comes up in Dec 2022, which I will be impatiently waiting for...I really hope their is an HEA at the end of book 2!

Profile Image for Christina Mason.
195 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2023
This was an easy read. Hannah is indeed a bit whiny but she also has a lot of sh*t going on and at times it seems like it’s really tough to be her. So I won’t judge her for being upset a lot.

I did feel like it was long and was surprised to see that there’s not just one but two more books

What really bugged me was all the spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes and there was a ton. Lots of quotations missing around speech text. Fords name misspelled. Incorrect use of they’re/their etc.
4 reviews
September 19, 2022
So much crying

Book was meh. The whole idea behind the bet is cute but I could not stand Hannah. She spent the majority of the book crying. Literally crying at everything. To add insult to injury this was a book one, meaning there is another coming.

I can’t.
Profile Image for Nancy T2.
2 reviews
August 6, 2023
I didn’t find any of these characters likeable. Hannah is always crying and not sticking up for herself. Ford is a self important jerk who I never felt truely cared for Hannah. Jack is a horrible brother. Alison is a villain with no redeeming qualities. Parents are uninvolved and show no interest in what their kids (especially Hannah) are up to.

I have zero interest in following them into the second book to see what’s next for them.
Profile Image for Brittany  Allen.
31 reviews
January 16, 2023
love

Ugh…I laughed..I cried and man was I disappointed when I got to the last page and realized it was over! This book was a roller coaster of emotions and I loved every moment of it!….impatiently awaiting the second book!
Profile Image for Kiki.
205 reviews
April 17, 2026
These 3 stars are extremely generous!!! They were entirely based on the fact that I liked Ford and Hannah. This audiobook is YA, following the developing relationship of 2 high school juniors in the summer before their senior year. It started off sooo cute and innocent and then kinda derailed from there.

I don't even have energy to point out all the flaws, but I will say the mean girl thing got old really fast! It was never explained why literally everyone hated Hannah! Even adults were mean to her! The book didn't talk much about looks, other than her having curly blonde hair and she was called fat a few times, but Ford said she wasn't fat, so IDK. Not that her being overweight was a reason to bully her. The excessive bullying was just weird and didn't make sense and I guess I was looking for the why. Her family was liked, her step brother (who was in her same grade) was a star football player and was well liked. They don't like each other, but he wasn't even responsible for all the hate she received. She was smart and seemed to keep to her small friend group, so I'm stumped. Also, she kinda just took it on the chin, so to speak. Her parents didn't know she was being bullied, although they didn't seem like they'd do much if they did. She didn't tell teachers either. Just weird!

Ford had been in love with her since 4th grade and she, him, so there's that. 🤷🏽‍♀️. Ford, on the other hand was extremely handsome and charming and all the girls fawned over him. I read some of the reviews of Hannah crying a lot, which she did. But I've been a high school girl and while this wasn't my experience, I understand. Her mom died, dad remarried, she's being expected to embrace the new wife as her mom (not respected stepmom), dad stopped paying for her competitive dance without explanation (which is why she gained the 20 extra pounds), she's being bullied at school, by literally EVERYONE- uhh, I'd be crying too!

Lastly, this book ends in a cliffhanger and I can't speak for others, but this audiobook was over 11 hrs and the remaining three books are over 10 hrs each, so this is Boys II Men for me- The End of the Road! But the kicker is that book 4 of the series is Ford and Hannah graduating high school! Like WTF? If you think I'm gonna spend 40+ hrs listening to a series about the teen angst/ drama of ONE couple, repeatedly breaking up and getting back together, that takes place in the span of ONE school year?....it's a NO for me, dawg! Who even thought this made sense? Missed opportunity for sure! Book 1- summer before senior year, Book 2- senior year and graduation, Book 3 college and Book 4 college graduation, entering adulthood would've made more sense!

At some point I may listen to book 4, just to see it wrap up, IDK.
Profile Image for anggia.
621 reviews120 followers
September 1, 2023
i love this book it’s a really fun read, especially when they werent together yet. i love it, the teasing and anticipation got me kicking my feet and giggling but when they got together well, all those things were expected and it just didnt hit as much as it did before they got together. heheh.

also, ford as a boyfriend is really sus, of course he is sweet and i bet his love language is physical touch, but he kinda like hides their relationships at first, and him letting other girls GIRLS kiss his cheeks??? outrageous!!! i wouldnt let that happen to MY boyfriend, or no matter how outgoing he is it is just NOT right, i think?? iDKKK girls were lining up to him to kiss him hmm yeah no.

anyway also, they are bad at communicating, although they hang out like everyday but when it’s about the stuff that matters, they dont talk!! it kinda frustrates me, how they dodge the drama (which i can feel is coming), and the anticipation of something terrible is going down really ate me, i kept waiting for that third act break up. ford is a sus boyfriend. although him having hannah as his passcode was sOOOO CUTE. and everything is just so adorable and cute, i love them but i hope theyd communicate more so that it does not feel like it’s just physical between them.

also hannah was always crying, i wish she had another man on the side just to be petty and made ford tasted his own medicine, hopefully next book.

spoilerrr below

Profile Image for Oh.
11 reviews
January 20, 2024
This book felt like the the draft before the first draft. It’s clear that little to no editing occurred for this book, which is sad because the premise for this book seemed so cute but that’s all it was - a cute premise.

I feel as though the author had an idea for a high school romance and instead of building a cohesive and coherent plot she just plucked out idiotic tropes and stereotypes and prayed that people forgot that that’s not how actual people act or behave IRL.

The writing was also really repetitive. The author was constantly describing the same thought or scene but with slight variation where I found myself able to read one line of the paragraph and understand what was going on.

Show not tell doesn’t exist within these pages.

Really wished I could have enjoyed this book but it felt like a preschool book.

A favourite quote from the book:

“ chest keeps rubbing against mine and my boobs really, really like the feeling. If he keeps doing it, I'm going to melt into a puddle of goo. “

Profile Image for MisUnderstood.
208 reviews20 followers
September 1, 2023
4.5 stars

Honestly, after reading so many new adult books and all the “adult scenes” I really do get tired of them after a while. Thanks to that, sometimes it takes me back to Young adult books, with all the cheesiness and bubbly chapters. This book is exactly what I was looking for. I know for some people there may be complaints about the grammar or how immature some of them we’re being. But it is what it is.

I actually loved Ford! From the beginning, you can see that he had a small crush on her. It was adorable seeing how Hannah had no idea whatsoever. Hannah was a great character as well, seeing her grow was amazing! When Ford and Hannah got to together, pretty early in the book, I thought I was gonna not finish it. However, I was still hooked! The drama and the mean girls where pretty entertaining. There are things got annoying. But I let it go, because there High school kids. I enjoyed the book. I recommend it if you’re looking for a light romance book.
Profile Image for Amanda Montgomery.
21 reviews
October 11, 2025
This book was so good and it was the best book to listen and read whenever I worked out!!!!! It left a big cliff hanger at the end of the book… I can’t wait to see what happens next between Ford and Hannah. I really hope everything works out between them and really looking forward to reading book 2 to keep reading the series as well as reading them all the way through book 5! I also can’t wait to see what ideas the author had for 2-5, with there being this many books in the series that allows so much to happen in each book! I feel like I’ll be sad whenever I finish this series b/c this is one book I don’t want to stop reading. I keep wanting to know what happens next and that means it’s a really good book that keeps my interest! Love books like that!!
Profile Image for Lindsay Jahn.
6 reviews22 followers
March 1, 2023
The 4 stars are because I lovedddd the IDEA behind the story. The execution wasn’t so great. I find it tough to believe these “mean girls” are actually that awful with little to no consequences, even from the adults…?? Also, the spelling and grammar errors drive me absolutely crazy! I really like the storyline and can’t wait to read the next book of the series, but I’m just having a hard time dealing with the fact that someone was likely paid money to edit this book and did such a horrible job with the proofreading. I mean a few issues here and there is one thing, but the blatant misuse of their/they’re/there and your/you’re is killing me!
Profile Image for Kylee.
27 reviews6 followers
July 30, 2023
Although some say it dragged, I thought it was a good story line. I read this on my kindle, and did find some major edits that needed to be made (grammatically), but other than that I loved the whole idea for it. I thought that the whole bet was cute, and really brought the main character out of her shell. I liked how much they talked about family, and how the protagonist begins to develop more and more love for her blended family. it’s nice to see her growing more accepting of what her family is, and to let in her step mom even more. The character development had its ups and downs but I loved the story.
Profile Image for Victoria Vernier.
53 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2025
i only made it about 70%.
everytime i thought it was the end, I only made it 5%-10% further. i kept saying "im okay ending it here" and finally just called it done. I gave it 3 stars, because I was supper invested and into it about the first 50%, but then it felt like it started dragging. i rate it a level 1 spice (if that), but you dont really get there until the second half of the book.
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SPOILERS
i looked up and saw spoilers said there was a cliffhanger. I wasnt wanting a series, just a quick read before book clubbing a new book. I also felt this could've ended after the fourth of july trip. the rest afterward kinda felt like dragging on.
Profile Image for Cam.
1 review
January 18, 2026
While the premise of this book had potential, the execution ultimately fell short. The writing style was very repetitive, with similar sentence structures and ideas appearing throughout the story. Much of the vocabulary was overly simple, which made the narration feel flat rather than immersive. Additionally, the characters were not explored in much depth; their thoughts, motivations, and growth were only briefly touched on, making it difficult to form a strong connection with them. Overall, the book was easy to read, but it lacked the complexity and emotional depth that would have made it more engaging and memorable.
Profile Image for Kam.
582 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2023
This was such a cute high school rom. I feel like everything was so age appropriate in what was said and reactions/actions. That’s usually my biggest beef with high school stories.

Anyway Hannah is an outcast, but ford has always been around her and joked with her. They make a bet that she has to spend the entire summer with him. They end up falling for each other. I love their relationship development. I love that Ford helps Hannah have a better relationship with her family and with Jack.

This books does end on a cliffhanger, but that’s okay
Profile Image for Kara Short.
3 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2024
unfortunately will be reading the next book

I enjoy a good simple, cute, back and forth romance book. This definitely was all that. However, it went on for aaaaggeesssss where it really didn’t need to be dragging along. Between that and all the grammatical errors, I didn’t want to finish the book. I pulled through and despite all that I will probably read the next book in the series, because after spending a few days with Ford and Hannah I am invested in their life and need to see what is next in their story. 🙃
Profile Image for Molly Robs.
28 reviews
May 13, 2024
This is book 1 in the series
I was looking for a summer book and this is the perfect YA summertime story I was hoping for.
Ford and Hannah had my heart from the get go. I couldn’t put this book down and I was so invested in it, once it ended, I couldn’t wait to dig into book 2

Tropes:
- frenemies to lovers
- brother’s best friend (I love these!!!!)
- summer vacation
- high school drama
- football

I love how Jenny Cole pictured those characters and I fell in love with them after just a few chapters in. Now to book 2 I go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews