The Bet #2
by Rachel Van Dyken
Synopsis
Lose a bet, lose your heart...
What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.
If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's otherbest friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .
This book made me so upset. Just so you know, this may be riddled with spoilers because I'm too disappointed and I can't hold it back.
I loved this book. I really seriously did. I thought it was hilarious and sweet. It had everything I like: resembled a romantic comedy movie, friends turned enemies turned lovers, a crazy grandma, etc. I thought Char was just the right amount of irresponsible and Jake the right amount of douche. They were funny together and Grandma Nadine was just hilarious. I was in love, ready to let this book claim a permanent place on my book shelf....
And then I got to the last third of the book and it all went to hell.
I just couldn't rationalize it anymore. Char lost her job, okay - I get it. But then we hear nothing about her freaking out about it or looking for another job or whatever. She's irresponsible, but not THAT irresponsible.
Then we're just supposed to accept that Jake and Char are OKAY with Grandma Nadine secretly marrying them? They weren't even talking a week or two before these encounters and they're supposed to be okay with just being married? And apparently staying married???
And you're going to tell me that their mutual friend, who is important to the story, but not important to me right now, is just OKAY with Char wearing WHITE to her (the friend's) wedding? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
And they're getting started on having kids already? (Char and Jake that is) Really? REALLY? That's it, I'm done.
If you like shenanigans that don't need an explanation and marriage proposals, this one is for you. It is definitely not for me. It's already been posted on PaperBack Swap.