Reviews

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker

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kylamari's review against another edition

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Couldn’t get into it at the time - will revisit.

kcoop93's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

saloniporwal's review against another edition

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You Bet Your Heart is a young adult novel with black lead characters Ezra and Sasha. The story revolves around the competition for valedictorian, while the romance between the two blossoms.

Sasha was a fun MC for most of the story, ready to go to any extent to win the title she believes she deserves and the attached scholarship. Her extreme desire to pay a 'tribute' to all those who sacrificed for her was what distanced me from her. Ezra didn't have a POV in the story (I would have liked that) so I don't feel as strongly about him. I never understood his motives for winning the position and his initial meddling personality.

The third act and ending were extremely rushed. To put it simply, the romantic feelings literally pop out of nowhere and then it becomes super serious, and we have no clue what's going on. The last few chapters made no sense and although there is a character arc, it is so abrupt that the MCs feel like different people by the last page.

I had some expectations from this book but it didn't live up to the blurb. I'm not impressed by it, so I don't recommend it, but I wouldn't discourage you either. So if you want to pick it up, go ahead my all means.

cydthekid15's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thesempiternalreader's review against another edition

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4.0

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker is an absolute gem! As a young adult debut, it radiates charm and captivates you from start to finish. The story revolves around two ex-best friends who suddenly find themselves in fierce competition for the prestigious titles of high school valedictorian and the accompanying scholarship. Determined to settle the score, they make a daring bet—a best-of-three challenge where the winner takes it all.

This academic rivals-to-lovers tale is one of the best I've ever read. Ezra is an absolute sweetheart. His endearing nature and his flirtatious interactions with Sasha had me grinning like a fool throughout the book. Their chemistry was simply too adorable to resist. On the other hand, Sasha, with her ambitious plan and the weight of her tie with Ezra as an obstacle, resonated with me deeply. I empathized with her fear of disappointing her mom, but I was relieved to see that she had a strong support system in her best friends, Pricilla and Chance. Their bond was an absolute delight to witness, and it made me appreciate their friendship even more.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I couldn't help but wish for a deeper exploration of Ezra and Sasha's past as best friends and the events that led to their fallout. I believe delving into their history would have added even more depth to their complex relationship. However, despite this, there were countless heartwarming moments shared between them that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming teen romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, You Bet Your Heart is the perfect choice.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!