review: wanna bet? by talia hibbert

Jasmine Allen has many vices. Rahul Khan has just one: her.

For the last seven years, Rahul’s been Jasmine’s closest friend. Sure, he’s strong, sexy, and deliciously stern—but she doesn’t care about that. She certainly isn’t tempted by his wicked smile or his genuine sweetness. She can’t be. Because everything Jas touches turns to dust.

Rahul disagrees. Seven years ago, Jasmine touched him, and he’s still standing—still standing, and still hopelessly in love. When disaster drives Jasmine into his spare bedroom, Rahul prepares for a month of painful proximity to the woman he secretly wants.

But when he realises that Jasmine just might want him, too… all bets are off.

She’s wild. She’s reckless. She doesn’t know how to love, and she doesn’t intend to learn.
But she’s also his. And in this game of desire, Rahul’s playing to win. ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided to the author’s newsletter subscribers in exchange for an honest review.

(This is also free on KU)

Review:

Wanna Bet? was a fun, sexy friends to lovers story that also had emotional depth and character growth.

Jasmine has abandonment issues, thanks to her mom, and only wants to have one night stands. Rahul needed to make a choice one night, 7 years ago, be the one night hook up or be Jasmine’s friend if he wanted to continue to have her in his life. As painful as it was – he chose friendship. Even though it meant him going far away to college to try and get over her.

And they really do have an amazing friendship. They can finish each others thoughts and rely on each other at all times – including when Jasmine needs a place to stay after her bedroom in her apartment floods.

There’s sexual attraction, because...of course, but they are both stunned that the other may feel the same way and take a chance at being more than friends.

So much of this could go south for me. Rahul is completely head over heels, love sick for Jasmine and she’s all hell no! This will not be more than one night…ok maybe just a casual fling, ok maybe we'll be mutually exclusive while I’m living here…but no more! Then she's able to move back home and now what???

She does not want to give in and she struggles with her fear of intimacy and not feeling worthy of a man like Rahul. This kind of thing usually drives me batty but Hibbert writes the characters in such a way that always has them moving forward. Jasmine panics but Rahul talks her down and she settles – moving one step forward. Baby steps for sure – but steps in the right direction.

And this is were I’m going to shift and talk a bit about Hibbert’s writing and characters in general, rather than this book specifically.

This is the second book I’ve read by her ( A Girl Like Her was the first) and I have mad love for the way she writes her heroines. They’re flawed and skittish and snippy but with good hearts and willing to open up to those worthy of their love despite being hurt before. They’re also overweight, have stretch marks, saggy boobs/small boobs, like sex, get their period and are REAL.

The heroes are these decent guys that are so smitten and smart. They come to their own conclusions despite the gossip and well meaning advice warning them away from the heroines. They also know their own worth and how much they’ll put up with. Being supportive doesn’t mean being a doormat or not calling the heroine out when she crosses the line.

I thought A Girl Like That was funnier (& had way more dirty talk) and Wanna Bet? was more emotional and a bit darker since it deals with child neglect & yes, I had a few quibbles with both books but this is an author writing the kind of romances I love and don’t see much anymore.

I understand you need conflict but characters trying to be better are my catnip – angsty without being annoying, flawed characters that are still relatable, heroes that are strong but kind. Plots that don't just go in circles.

I’m really looking forward to reading whatever this author has coming next.