A review by beckyyreadss
The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I was wanting to read more of Lynn Painter’s work and have read Mr Wrong Number and Better than the Movies, whilst looking at what other books she had, I noticed The Love Wager and saw on Goodreads that it said it was the second book in the series to Mr Wrong Number. I knew this would be the next one I read of Lynn Painter’s work, and I wasn’t disappointed. I loved it. 

This book has two points of view, the first is Hallie Piper, she is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room after a one-night stand, she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult. She gets a new apartment, a new haircut and a new wardrobe. But when she logs into a dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack Marshall, the guy whose room she’d snuck out of. Jack Marshall thought he’d found the one – he had bought an engagement ring and everything, but now it’s over and he doesn’t know what to do and if he wants to settle down. After he slept with the bartender, he can’t seem to get her out of his head. He joins the dating app, looking for God knows what. Through the app, and after the joint agreement that they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie become each other wingman in their respective searches for the One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don’t go well, the two of them can get tacos afterwards. Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off. As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they each struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with. 

I love these two characters. I don’t usually like friends-to-lovers, but I felt like this was more like just a lot of flirting and then friends with benefits to lovers. They weren’t like childhood friends or friends since college or anything like that, so I liked the trope better. The book was such an easy read and I loved it so much. I loved the dual POVs and the texting banter that happened. It was very fast-paced and the plot was predictable but still enjoyable. I loved the dynamic and both of them trying to figure out if they want to fuck up the friendship. I loved seeing Colin and Olivia again and being like a normal couple. This book was fun and adorable.  

I don’t have anything bad to say about this book, I just wanted more and hopefully we get a novella of all four of them on holiday or with the children at Christmas.   
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