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Bet Me

by Jennifer Crusie (Goodreads Author)

3.94 · rating details · 14,042 ratings · 1,143 reviews

Min Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again. But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before...more

Published (first published 2004)

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May 02, 2011

Sangria3 rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, i-own-on-kindle-3

Such a Treat!

This is my first Jen Crusie book and I can’t believe how long I’ve deprived myself from reading this book that I’ve had in my possession for months.

I’m not going to give you a book summary of what the book is about – you can read it when you pull the book up in Goodreads. But let me tell you this, I don’t read a lot of chic-lit books because they tend to fail to keep me interested, but this book surprised me. Not only did it keep hold my attention, but it...more

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Jul 28, 2011

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, audiobook

After reading this, I don’t think I’ll eat Chicken Marsala ever again.

The heroine of this book ate Chicken Marsala in two different restaurants, twice for takeout, at a wedding, at a dinner with her friends and cooked it 4 times with different levels of success. I don’t know if there’s anything more boring than a person who never tries anything new (if I’d been the hero, I’d have stopped dating her just because of this.)

I enjoyed the first part of the book – the humor w...moreAfter reading this, I don’t think I’ll eat Chicken Marsala ever again.

The heroine of this book ate Chicken Marsala in two different restaurants, twice for takeout, at a wedding, at a dinner with her friends and cooked it 4 times with different levels of success. I don’t know if there’s anything more boring than a person who never tries anything new (if I’d been the hero, I’d have stopped dating her just because of this.)

I enjoyed the first part of the book – the humor was not over the top and the plot was wacky but not creepy. Then as the book progressed, I found two of my big pet peeves: adults that don’t confront their parents when they’re out of line and the demonizing of men. You see, I had a mother like Min’s so I totally understand what it is to live with constant criticism regarding my figure. But when I was in my 20s, I had a very firm chat with my Mom about it and told her I wouldn’t tolerate that behavior. Did my Mother stop completely? Of course not, but at least now it’s manageable and not humiliating like it used to be. And that’s why I cannot respect Min who at 33-years old, should not let her mother choose her hairdo, her clothes or the food she eats.

I HATED how Cal was demonized because he dated a lot. He was so nice and thoughtful that women fell in love with him in droves and when he realized they were more serious than him, he would break up with them. The bastard! Doesn’t he know that once a woman falls in love with him, he owes her a ring no matter his feelings? He made them fall in love! It’s his fault! Because you know, women are little girls that cannot take responsibility for their own feelings and must get every man they want. **Throwing up now**

Then the ending was so saccharine, I don’t think I’ll eat anything sweet for a month.

The narration was good but I don’t think that Cal’s voice was distinctive enough. But what makes this narration really irritating is the author’s writing style. Almost every line of dialogue ends in ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ so after a while, I wanted to shoot myself. I had to speed up this book a lot, just to see if I could stop hearing ‘so and so said’ after every sentence.

Because I liked the humor, I was thinking that I should give this author another shot, but then I thought that for the first time ever, an author has put me off food. If nothing else, that’s my clue that I should never read anything by this author again. She's liable to make me swear off bread or chocolate and THAT I couldn't stand.(less)

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Jul 25, 2011

Lady Vale rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: cont-romance

It was a sweet story, but more chick lit than contemporary romance. While I admit there are some moments when it's nice to read a light funny read, I must say they are not my favorites. In this type of reads I just feel like something's missing. I had a nice time reading this book but it didn't make an impression on me, I could have go on with my life just fine without having read it.

Maybe my main problem was that I never connected with the heroine. I usually like them strong, with ...more

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Apr 22, 2011

Autumn rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, contemp-romance, library-rentals

As i was reading this book i was trying to place a proper "feeling" to it,because even though it was a romantic comedy it deals with a lot of current issues woman struggle with in our society.

So, i will say what worked for me.

- I was very pleased with the premise of the book.that is to say i loved that it was based on typical characters that you can relate with. I liked the way Crusie developed Min with her self stem issues, and the way they fitted in the story...moreAs i was reading this book i was trying to place a proper "feeling" to it,because even though it was a romantic comedy it deals with a lot of current issues woman struggle with in our society.

So, i will say what worked for me.

- I was very pleased with the premise of the book.that is to say i loved that it was based on typical characters that you can relate with. I liked the way Crusie developed Min with her self stem issues, and the way they fitted in the story. She didnt try to change her, or do a make-over.. she needed to accept her self the way she was. I also liked her way of thinking, which balanced the other two friends .. Min was realistic if not perhaps a little sarcastic (which i particularly enjoyed) she saw life in a very practical way. The hero Calvin. I loved him!! he was flawed? yes.. womanizer by default?: perhaps.. emotionally dysfunctional?:definitely! But Cruise gave an excellent sneak peak for the root of his behavior and short comings. So i just loved him through the story!!

- the camaraderie,between friends, the sincerity of the issues at hand ( dealing with self stem issues,both physically and emotionally from the all the characters)

- Calvin`s refreshing honesty towards Min!! the bluntness yet caring way he spoke his mind. and the way Min didn't fought it,but rather made fun of it.

- the dialog was fantastic!! so many punch lines, humorous remarks made this book a fun read!

Now, the things that didnt click IMO:

- It kept screaming chick flick movie all the time because it had such funny dialog but such mild steam or romance!! it was fun yes, but excuse my french ( it took 3/4`s down the book before they got laid!!) so that was a Meh for me. I wanted Min to work thru her issues with intimacy much earlier in the book..It could have added some depth to the story.

- sometimes it went far to unrealistic.. too hasty, it jumped from one event to another.. even though the book wasn't rushed i felt their emotions were.

- call me picky.. but im all about description.Well thats the pt of reading a book isnt it??I wanted to know how curvy Min was.. her height, dress size.. more detail... she was just "curvy" with curly hair.i love to make my own characters and dress them and the whole works,hence i need as many details as possible!! but she went too general for a character whose main issue was physical appearance.

- SHOES! all right my last one here.. but.. Plastic shoes fashionable?? maybe i need a graphic on that one,but the description of Min`s shoes were like children`s footwear. (ok blame it on my imagination) but,plastic fish, cherries and flowers attachments...was beyond me.. dunno why Calvin was worked up on that..but i will give it a break

so, i went a little too picky because the story itself was really good!! I will definitely recommend it to those who love romantic comedies!! (less)

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Dec 22, 2008

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2005, jennifer-crusie, romance

I really liked this one. The story focuses on Minerva Dobbs - and 33 year old overweight woman who just got dumped. While at the bar with girlfriends she overhears her jerk ex-boyfriend bet one of his friends (Calvin Morrisey - hunk alert!) that he can't take her home and do the horizontal tango. Minerva decides to screw with them both by stringing Calvin along. Her evil ex dumped her just before her sisters wedding so she figures this will be perfect - she can bring the hunky lap dog with her a...more

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Apr 01, 2010

Zeek rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-all-time, contemp-rom, romance

Fantastic Contemporary Romance!

I've been wanting to read Bet Me for some time now after seeing all the good reviews- despite the fact I tried one or two other Cruise books awhile ago and wasn't all that hip to them. I liked them well enough but nothing really demanded she become an "autobuy" author. Bet Me might change that.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Min Dobbs has everything a girl could want, good, stable job, close friends, who cares if she has ...moreFantastic Contemporary Romance!

I've been wanting to read Bet Me for some time now after seeing all the good reviews- despite the fact I tried one or two other Cruise books awhile ago and wasn't all that hip to them. I liked them well enough but nothing really demanded she become an "autobuy" author. Bet Me might change that.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Min Dobbs has everything a girl could want, good, stable job, close friends, who cares if she has less than ideal weight? And okay, in the men department, she's a bit lacking too.

The story starts off with Min being dumped by a less then perfect boyfriend, David. Immediately her friends try to help by getting her to hook up with the handsome man standing on the balcony- right next to recent dumpee boyfriend.

When Min decides to take on her friends challenge and meanders over to meet the admittedly attractive man, she freezes in horror when she overhears Dumpee Dave making a bet with sexy new man, Cal Morrissey, that he can't get Min to sleep with him in a months time.

More horrifying, Cal promptly follows Min after she returns to her girls. Because she wants a date for her sister's wedding in 3 weeks, she decides to take him up on his offer for dinner- figuring she'll play the bet against him.

One problem. Cal's not a bad guy. He's smart and more down to earth then Dumpee Dave ever was. And yep, she falls for him- hook, line (well, maybe not every line) and sinker.

Cruise does a fantastic job of characterization and dialogue and I couldn't put this one down. I really loved Min and Cal, especially Min and Cal together. The side characters were just as much fun and I wonder if Min's friend Liza is going to get her own book eventually??

I think what I liked most is that her characters felt so real. Min and crew could be any one of us modern girls trying to make their way in shark-infested waters. Cruise also plays around with our desire for Happily Ever Afters and how that struggles against the fact that those are hard to come by now-a-days.

It's a fun, fast read and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet- which is admittedly very few!

(less)

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Jan 28, 2008

Samantha added it · review of another edition

God bless Chick-lit. Especially Chick-lit that's happy and filled with sexual tension and innuendo!

Here's the story: Min Dobbs (yes, horrible name, but it illustrates how 'plain' she sees herself) gets dumped in the opening sentences by David, who then meets up with God's gift to women, Cal Morrisey and bets him that Cal can't bed Min in a month (because David couldn't in two). At the exact same moment, Min and her girlfriends are checking out Cal and daring Min to go over to him. She ...moreGod bless Chick-lit. Especially Chick-lit that's happy and filled with sexual tension and innuendo!

Here's the story: Min Dobbs (yes, horrible name, but it illustrates how 'plain' she sees herself) gets dumped in the opening sentences by David, who then meets up with God's gift to women, Cal Morrisey and bets him that Cal can't bed Min in a month (because David couldn't in two). At the exact same moment, Min and her girlfriends are checking out Cal and daring Min to go over to him. She does and overhears the bet, with one slight misunderstanding and the game begins.

It's full of little heart-stopping girly-girl fantasy love life moments, from both main characters, and naturally several $10 bets. And, of course, the uncaring, mean spirited, unattentive-to-what-their-child-really-needs/wants parents who jump in
now and then, creating doubt about what seems too good to be true. All of the characters were interesting, and those that wouldn't be were for the most part ignored (the immediately in love friends, Min's father and likely secretary/lover) and a few curve balls were sent (like when the domineering best friend who knows the secret to all beastly men NOT hooking up with the constantly-looking good-natured lesbian bartender).

Just about everybody had a theory for love -- Chaos theory, the Fairy Tale -- but the one that was
my favorite, the one I thought I should have copied down, was Cynthie's theory. She said there were four stages of love:

1. Assumption: subconcious cues that the person you're with is someone you assume you'd be attracted to
2. Attraction: looking to see if the person you're with is appropriate for you. This phase is chockfull of various clues, like copulatory gazes, accepted touches, mirroring each other's moves, etc.
3. Infatuation: attraction reinforced with joy and or pain leads to infatuation, in which you make a connection and attach to each other
4. Mature, Unconditional Love: the final stage; nothing can separate you now

Like I said: happy Chick-lit. Made me giggle more than once, made my heart stop in anticipation and envy, and left me with a smile on my face every time I stopped the disc.

My one major complaint about this book (which may not be a problem for people who read the actual book rather than listen,
cause I'm sure it wouldn't have bothered me then): SAID

It seemed as though Jennifer Cruise (pronounced "cruise-y, by the way) had never read a thesaurus for alternative choices for "said". And it popped up almost every sentence. "Blah blah blah," Min said. "Yadda yadda yaadaaa," Cal said. Et cetera et cetera...That's the only time the book annoyed me or made me roll my eyes. One other item that has kept me from reading more by Cruise was her fascination with specific food items/meals, in this case Krispy Kreme donuts and Chicken Marsala.(less)

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Jul 30, 2007

Wealhtheow rated it

· review of another edition

I heard about Jenny Crusie through fandom_wank, and thence found myself at Arrgh Ink, her amusingly written blog about writing. Her blog was so funny that I randomly chose one of her novels and read it. Bet Me is not as funny as her blog, but it does have its moments. The plot is thin, the characters are cardboard cutouts, and the ending is as preordained as it gets. Nevertheless, Julian and I both finished it, so it can’t be that bad.

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Jul 02, 2011

Tori rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone who loves an honest to goodness romance.

Shelves: jennifer-crusie, my-favorite-books

Probably one of my favorite Jennifer Crusie books. This book is a romance for romance sake and I love the little references like the shoes (cinderella).

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Nov 17, 2010

Cheryl rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, romance

This was my first book that I have read by Jennifer Crusie. It was entertaining and I laughed out loud several times, but it also drove me nuts at the same time! So, I give it 3 1/2 stars!

I typically love a book where the hero and heroine have a love/hate relationship. You know, where their bodies love one another, coming alive and sizzling at the touch of the other, and yet their minds hate one another, telling themselves that they do not want to be in a relationship with this pe...moreThis was my first book that I have read by Jennifer Crusie. It was entertaining and I laughed out loud several times, but it also drove me nuts at the same time! So, I give it 3 1/2 stars!

I typically love a book where the hero and heroine have a love/hate relationship. You know, where their bodies love one another, coming alive and sizzling at the touch of the other, and yet their minds hate one another, telling themselves that they do not want to be in a relationship with this person and making up every excuse why they shouldn't be together. And in this book, the hero, Cal, and the heroine, Min, definitely have that type of relationship. Their bodies react when they are together but they are constantly telling themselves and each other that they don't want to be involved with each other. As a matter of fact, they tell one another "goodbye" and "have a nice life" several times. But fate has different plans for the two of them!

What I liked about the book: It was funny! I really did laugh out loud a lot. Cal and Min were constantly arguing and their banter was quite comical at times!

What I didn't like about the book: The amount of time it took for Cal and Min to see that they were meant to be together! It took just about the entire book and their denying one another was driving me crazy at that point! Also, Min was a fuller-figured girl, which I liked, but she was soooo concerned about what she ate all the time! About every other page had some type of mention of what type of food she shouldn't be eating- maybe it's that this hit a little too close to home, a little too much like reality for me to enjoy it! And then there just seemed to be too much conflict in the book; His parents were uptight and snobby, her parents fought all the time, and her mother was constantly on her about losing weight. And then there was the conflict of the ex's! Both Cal and Min's ex's were out to get them back and keep the two of them from getting together... it was just exhausting!

So overall, it was entertaining and I will definitely not give up on Jennifer Crusie- I can't wait to try another of her books!
(less)

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Dec 26, 2011

Bookgirl89 rated it

· review of another edition

i got ill reading this book, i like chick-lit but this was way toooooo much. the "i love you but you're the devil" and the "she got so dizzy looking in to his dark eyes" thing got on my nerves!!!!!!!!!

the word dizzy is used more than 90 times in this book.

its not bad but its not good, this is the kind of book to read when you have nothing else to do. nothing at all, nothing on TV, no good books, no one to call, its raining outside and you can go out,...more

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Apr 13, 2011

Sarah rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sarah-s-absolute-favorites, read-in-2009, re-reads, read-in-2011

OK, just gonna say it - I LOVE Bet me. This is probably my third or fourth time reading it.

Min Dobbs and Cal Morrisey meet as a result of a bet - her jerk of an ex-boyfriend bets him that he can't get Min to go to dinner with him. Cal always wins the bets he makes and sure enough they go to dinner. But dinner doesn't quite go as planned - Min doesn't respond to Cal's normal charming lines, and Cal accidentally elbows her in the face. After dinner they tell each other to have a nice l...moreOK, just gonna say it - I LOVE Bet me. This is probably my third or fourth time reading it.

Min Dobbs and Cal Morrisey meet as a result of a bet - her jerk of an ex-boyfriend bets him that he can't get Min to go to dinner with him. Cal always wins the bets he makes and sure enough they go to dinner. But dinner doesn't quite go as planned - Min doesn't respond to Cal's normal charming lines, and Cal accidentally elbows her in the face. After dinner they tell each other to have a nice life and go their separate ways. Fate however seems to keep throwing them together, and slowly but surely they develop an attraction, a friendship, and then a true love. This is the first romance book I ever read, and it's still my absolute favorite. In all fairness, it doesn't even seem to belong in the romance category - there's not a ton of sex, there's a great cast of characters, it's funny... it seems more like fiction to me. But anyways.

Min is a GREAT main character. She's self-conscious about her weight (she's kinda chubby), but she's also smart enough to know she doesn't deserve to be treated crappily. She's snarky and witty and has a sweet-side. And she has some great best friends - Liza is tall, skinny, and kind of shark-like; she likes change, and is a bit of pessimest. Bonnie is the exact opposite - a short blonde pixie-ish woman, who believes in fairy tales. I honestly wish I had a little group of friends this awesome.

Cal is also one of the best male characters I've seen in a romance. He has the whole dark & chiseled look going on, and he's been known to date and dump a lot of women (though cheating is not in his history, so he's not a man-slut). He's runs a business with her two best friends Roger and Tony, and he's a bit of a gambler but he's good at it. Not like casino gambling mind you, but he likes to make bets. He's a total softie on the inside, and had a lot more depth than Min initially gives him credit for. And he makes her feel sexy. His friends are awesome too - Roger is big and lovable and instantly has the hots for Bonnie. And Tony is a big manly-man who likes his life nice and uncomplicated. Again, a great little group.

Throw in some great shoes, interferring exes, kid's baseball, mangy cats, and lots of chicken marsala and voila! You've got Bet Me. And if my rambling hasn't convinced you how awesome this book is, know this: I got my boyfriend to read it, and even HE really liked it. He gave it 4 stars.(less)

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Nov 13, 2009

Barbara M. rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites

5 Stars...

What a fabulously outstanding hilarious read. The dialogue has to be just right for me to enjoy a book like this. There were more than one romance in the works, and a lot of characters interacting...but let me tell you...It was perfect!

This quirky and out of the Historical/Otherworldly genre box novel will have you laughing and pulling for this not so perfect girl.

Min is by today's standards chubby, therefore not like other ladies that grace the page...more

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Apr 06, 2009

Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, own-it, loved-it, 2012-reread

If I had to chose a book to be my best friend, I'd choose this one. I have read it many times. If something horrible is going on in my life, you can bet that it won't be long before I pick up my (rather worn) copy of this. If I have a few unexpected days off (like say, during the recent snow storm)...this is the comfort read I'll be sinking into.

Jennifer Crusie's brand of humor is all her own. Every single character is infused with something that makes them feel so real - maybe that ...moreIf I had to chose a book to be my best friend, I'd choose this one. I have read it many times. If something horrible is going on in my life, you can bet that it won't be long before I pick up my (rather worn) copy of this. If I have a few unexpected days off (like say, during the recent snow storm)...this is the comfort read I'll be sinking into.

Jennifer Crusie's brand of humor is all her own. Every single character is infused with something that makes them feel so real - maybe that is why I love the book so much. The characters feel more and more real every single time I read the book. Kinda like Harry Potter - every time I pick it up I feel like I'm visiting family.

Minerva Dobbs is probably the number one character I would choose to be friends with IRL. We have so much in common - she really does remind me of me in so many ways. Which is good, because I wouldn't say no to a Cal if I happened to run into one...maybe she'll bring me luck. I also love the way that she and her two best friends are complete opposities to the point that their personalities clash - that is how it is with me and my friends. We're all so different, if we weren't friends...we wouldn't be friends. haha. I know that doesn't make sense, but I bet you know what I mean.

Even though a lot of the book is about Min and her "shortcomings" and her trying to come to terms with who she is versus what everyone else expects her to be...she is very confident. There is this great scene with Cal...they're in the park...and they start talking about Elvis only to discover that she is talking Presley and he is talking Costello. She says something like "Good thing this isn't a date, or we'd have a really awkward moment trying to come back from that one." That scene always sticks with me as an example of being comfortable with yourself and just taking things as they come.

It has been so long since I read this for the first time that I don't remember when, how or why I ended up with a copy...I just remember reading it three times in a row because I loved Min's story so much. So if you're a contemporary romance or chick-lit fan and you haven't read this...do so immediately. (less)

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Jun 01, 2008

Debbie Moorhouse rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Debbie by: Evil Editor

Shelves: 100-books-2008, ees-book-chat

Imagine sitting down to dinner and being served the most perfectly-cooked dish you can imagine, beautifully presented, exactly the right temperature, everything about it impeccable, except...it's a dish you don't like to eat.

That's more or less how I feel about this book. It's well written, it's full of life and heat and warmth, and it left even cynical little ole me with the warm fuzzies. If you like chicklit, you'll adore this.

But I don't.

I was however ent...more

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Aug 14, 2008

Kate rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, favorite-books, chick-lit-women-s-lit, romance, books-i-own, humor, the-100-in-2007, books-read-2008, books-read-2009, 5-star-reads, books-read-2010

This is my ultimate guilty pleasure, beach book piece of fluff, and consequently I read it in its entirety while I was at the beach this weekend. Whenever I'm in the dumps, there are 2 books I pick up, and this piece of hardcover romantic comedy is one of them. When I broke my leg, I probably read it 5 times in those 3 months.

Bet Me is the story of Min Dobbs, insurance actuarial at large. She is "chubby" by her mother's standards, has a fetish for fun shoes, has lousy luck...more

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Oct 20, 2007

Nicole P rated it

· review of another edition

I loved this book. This is the 4th book that I have read by this author and she really has a way with showing real life relationships, with all the flaws, perfections, and everything in between. The books that she writes are not your average romance novels, they are weird, and quirky, true to life kind of situations, no fluff!!
The main famale character, Minerva Dobbs (dumb name) who was a plus sized woman with a petite (overbearing, scutinizing) mother and sister. She worked as an actuary,...more

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Jul 27, 2011

Brandy Painter rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, contemporary-fiction, romance

This is a light romantic chick lit book, which is not a genre I read much of. However, I was looking for some brain candy one night and remembered how many people have recommended Jennifer Cruise and so I picked it up and was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It is predictable and follows the plot line of most romances but there was more depth to the characters than I have found in books of this genre I have tried out before.

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Feb 16, 2008

LibraryLass Fraser rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2008

This book came highly recommended from the A/zon ladies. I am about a third of the way through and only stopped to sleep (at about 2am) now having fun on these sites but am really looking forward to finishing the book this afternoon. Lovin' it.

Finished it at 1am this morning. Loved the book! The interaction between Cal & Min were priceless. I really loved both their characters and their sidekicks (esp. Roger and Bon - Liza was kickass too). It was a fast read only because I was...more

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Jan 16, 2009

bookczuk rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing, sometimes-fluff-is-good

Read this last summer- cute for the genre. Anybody who likes Krispy Kremes has to be good!

And hints from the book helped me snazz up my Chicken Marsala recipe!

I'm growing fond of this author, who I have been told is a fan of BookCrossing.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows comm...more

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Jan 31, 2012

Britnie rated it

· review of another edition

I was planning on giving this a 3 star but then that ending *shudders* I've never read an ending so bad in a published novel before. It was truly cringe worthy.

There were a lot of funny one liners but the plot was little thin and the characters a little flat. I did find Roger and Bonnie to be rather charming though. But over all though there are more unlikable characters than there is likeable ones. The plot is rather predictable, it did surprise me a bit with how the bet was handele...moreI was planning on giving this a 3 star but then that ending *shudders* I've never read an ending so bad in a published novel before. It was truly cringe worthy.

There were a lot of funny one liners but the plot was little thin and the characters a little flat. I did find Roger and Bonnie to be rather charming though. But over all though there are more unlikable characters than there is likeable ones. The plot is rather predictable, it did surprise me a bit with how the bet was handeled, it nailed certain cliche but did avoid some I was expecting to see, so that is definitely a plus.

The premise and how most of the characters responded and acted was very far fetched, I would have a hard time imagining teenagers acting like some of these characters much less adults in their mid 30's. But I guess a certain mount of leeway with this type of novel must be granted.

I did find the focus on food a little overwhelming, especially Min's reaction to it. I like delicious bread and doughnuts as much as the next person but I lost count of how many times she closed her eyes and looked in general ecstasy after taking a bite of ordinary food. It was kinda weird and a little distracting.

And let's not forget the shoes. Frosted platic heels? Since when do grown women who don't walk the street corner wear these? "Bondage" shoes and ribbon sandels with big fake flowers. I found most of her shoe descriptions to be juvenile, the only thing weirder than a 33 year old women wearing some of them is a 35 year old man getting turned on by it. Not to mention it was honestly irrelevant. I guess it was thrown in to give the uptight girl a quirk but it felt very forced and more than a little silly.

I know it seems like I'm only focusing on the negative but it's 4:30 in the morning and I'm sleep deprived so you're just going to have to forgive me for this not at all eloquent mess. It isn't a bad "pass the time" read but it didn't leave an impression and had it's fair share of problems for me. It was light, fluffy, and very funny at times. I recommend for fans of chick lit looking for a quick light read who don't mind over looking the unrealistic nature and cheesy ending.(less)

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Jan 30, 2012

Ellada rated it

· review of another edition

well first I will say this. usually I don't read about people who had low self confidence, especially girls who think they are fat because the next thing you know is you reading through the book about how the heroin complains that she is fat and ugly and little mice that don't get attention from the nice guys and really, in her heart she is sooo wonderful person but of course nobody can see that.
But I read a lot of good things about this book and decided to give it a chance. I wouldn't s...more

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Jan 28, 2012

Felicia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, 2011-read-for-fun, audiobook, own

Bought on Audible

What I Loved: Minerva Dobbs is a fantastic lead character. She is funny, snippy, real, and just downright screwed up as the rest of us. I laughed a lot reading this book and I even cried at some points. I probably would have done exactly what she did if I was in the same predicament. At 33, perpetually single, she is a good reputation of most single women in her 30s. Calvin was a fantastic leading man. He was stubborn, charming, screwed up, and gets into plenty of s...more

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Jan 21, 2012

Melinda rated it

· review of another edition

Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise (started 12/20/11; finished 12/21/11)
I admit Jennifer Cruise is a skilled writer. I appreciate that she discusses what happens after the declaration of commitment. I love that there are so many characters with extended families and friends without losing focus of the hero and heroine. What can I say? The story is full of drama and hilarious. For some reason there is always someone interrupting sex moments. Seriously frustrating for all involved.

...more

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Oct 07, 2011

Sundae rated it

· review of another edition

3.5 stars

Definitely worth a read if you like contemporary chic-lit romances. It was cute, funny, unpredictable in parts, and written fairly well. While I consider myself to be a romance genre fan, I rarely, if ever find things that I completely like in this genre. This book, while didn't exceed all my expectations, did leave me satisfied and that is more than I can ask for. So why the three stars instead of five? Three reasons. Cruise's over abundant use of the he-said/she-said tag. It...more

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Oct 04, 2011

Kimberly rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

This was a fun contemporary novel. The author has a great sense of humor and writes likeable characters. I laughed aloud and like the two main characters friends and who the whole plot came together at the end. Min, an overweight and intelligent gal wears funky shoes and has a crush on Elvis. Cal a good looking dsylesix businessman gets into a bet about sleeping with her in a month with Min's ex-boyfriend. Silly story but funny and like most romances filled with built up passion that explode...more

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Sep 11, 2011

Lightreads rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, romance

So. As some have noticed, I have ventured with uncertain heart and girded loin into the realm of the romance novel over the past few years. Mostly historical by virtue of the fact I started with Heyer and she wrote, like, seven hundred books. And with the historicals, it’s like reading about the customs of an alien culture, and thinking about it that way is good. The creepy virginity fetishizing, all the arranged marriages, how a girl can be “ruined” by talking to the wrong person – it’s all . ....moreSo. As some have noticed, I have ventured with uncertain heart and girded loin into the realm of the romance novel over the past few years. Mostly historical by virtue of the fact I started with Heyer and she wrote, like, seven hundred books. And with the historicals, it’s like reading about the customs of an alien culture, and thinking about it that way is good. The creepy virginity fetishizing, all the arranged marriages, how a girl can be “ruined” by talking to the wrong person – it’s all . . . anthropological to me, and in that detached way, sometimes quite enjoyable.

And then I get to this, a contemporary romance, and . . . oops. Still aliens. It wasn’t just that the characters were in historical romances; apparently just being in a romance novel is enough. I read this book (which was quite funny, as advertised, with a lot of great banter and secondary character color) and I basically think isn’t that a charming custom. Okay, that one’s a bit odd, but I’m trying not to judge . . . Cultural relativism! Cultural relativism!

Because women who don’t just talk about men but who talk only about men, women who try fad diets requiring impossible lengths of self-denial and then don’t understand what’s happening when they inevitably fail and get trapped in a cycle of guilt and self-loathing, people who assume that serial monogamy is the only acceptable way to live, women who say things like, “I’m not going home with you, I bought my own drink,” to their boyfriend . . . I don’t know these people. I am occasionally reminded they exist, but I find them confusing and sometimes quite distressing.

But then I’m reading, and I get to certain scenes. Like where the heroine breaks down in tears because she’s in love, sure, but that’s not a good thing because she’s going to get hurt. And she puts her finger so keenly, so precisely on that -- if you leave me, it will wreck me. The big risk. Or another scene where one woman browbeats another into actually saying what she wants and not not not apologizing for wanting things, to own what she wants and not dismiss it as a fairy tale or stupid or silly. And how hard that is for some women who have been taught for so long not to want, to always be second, to please someone else first.

And in those flashes I would think oh. Maybe we aren’t aliens to each other. Because I understand that completely.

Anyway. It’s a completely absurd, over-the-top bit of silliness that is quite funny in places. And it’s mostly full of aliens. But once in a while it’s really not. And in those times it is keen and true and really very good.(less)

like 2 likes

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Aug 01, 2011

Mlle. X rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, contemporary-romance, brings-the-funny

I picked up a book by Jennifer Crusie a few years ago (STRANGE BEDPERSONS) and it was one of those books that made me shrug. It wasn't bad, it wasn't great, and it didn't give me any desire to dig further into her oeuvre. However, last week I was really, really in the mood for something (1) contemporary (2) light and (3) funny, and Jennifer Crusie was the best name I could come up with.

This time, I decided to do it right. Jennifer Crusie has written a lot of books so I browsed around ...more

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Jul 25, 2011

Sana rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: absolute-favorites

This is the first book I read of Jennifer Crusie and I couldn't get enough of it! The way it is written is so engaging and pleasant that I finished it in hours. A feel good book which also makes you think at times.

I really like the way the bet thing keeps confusing the main characters. It was indeed a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it kept building up as the novel progressed. Moreover, it was a good thing that Min knew about it because it made all the difference 'cause of that.

...more

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Jul 22, 2011

Alexa rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of contemporary romance

The premise of this book is of the variety that I call the "I Love Lucy problem." As in, "something embarrassing is going to happen at the end, and you know what it is, but you still have to get from points A-Z before it actually unfolds."

I love "I Love Lucy," but only because Lucille Ball is so freaking funny. I HATE the I Love Lucy problem.

Here (and you can get this from the back cover), our romantic leads come together in an misunderstanding o...more

like 1 like

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About Jennifer Crusie

Jenny Crusie is the NYT bestselling author of twenty some novels and lots of other stuff. Her latest novel, Maybe This Time, hit shelves in August, 2010.

Jenny lives on the Ohio River where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.

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Quotes from Bet Me

“Nobody in my life has ever known me the way you do. Nobody in my life has ever made me feel as good as you do. You know me, you know everything about me, and when you leave me, you're going to be leaving the real me, the me nobody else has ever seen, that's who you're going to be rejecting.” — 97 people liked it

“I'm Min's fairy godmother, Charm Boy,' Liza said, frowning down at him. 'And if you don't give her a happily ever after, I'm going to come back and beat you to death with a snow globe.'

What happened to "bibbity bobbity boo"?' Cal asked Min.

That was Disney, honey,' Min said. 'It wasn't a documentary.” — 84 people liked it

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