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Daphne's Questionable Bet
Some rivalries never die.
When sixteen-year-old Daphne Richards moves from Utah back to California, she's excited by the prospect of being reunited with her childhood best friend. But her excitement quickly dies when she learns her mom's high school rival lives next door-with a daughter the same age as Daphne.
Sierra Winters is a chip off the old block. Eager to redeem her mother's name, Sierra offers Daphne a simple challenge: Who can get the gorgeous and charming Bentley Anderson to ask her to prom?
Confident in her ability, and unable to turn down a challenge, Daphne takes the bet. Both girls quickly go to work, doing everything in their powers to woo Bentley-while sabotaging the other. Only, another guy at school quickly catches Daphne's eye, and her ever-building anxiety mounts when a picture involving Care Bear underwear risks getting out.
If Daphne can't sift through her emotions and figure out how to handle the bet, she'll not only risk social suicide ... but the chance at true love.
When sixteen-year-old Daphne Richards moves from Utah back to California, she's excited by the prospect of being reunited with her childhood best friend. But her excitement quickly dies when she learns her mom's high school rival lives next door-with a daughter the same age as Daphne.
Sierra Winters is a chip off the old block. Eager to redeem her mother's name, Sierra offers Daphne a simple challenge: Who can get the gorgeous and charming Bentley Anderson to ask her to prom?
Confident in her ability, and unable to turn down a challenge, Daphne takes the bet. Both girls quickly go to work, doing everything in their powers to woo Bentley-while sabotaging the other. Only, another guy at school quickly catches Daphne's eye, and her ever-building anxiety mounts when a picture involving Care Bear underwear risks getting out.
If Daphne can't sift through her emotions and figure out how to handle the bet, she'll not only risk social suicide ... but the chance at true love.
348 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2021
14 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 2, 2021
HAPPY PUB DAY, DAPHNE! 2/2/21
Confession: I’ve never read a romcom before.
I have been opening myself up to some lighter reads, recognizing how much I weigh myself down with so many dark reading choices. I’ve discovered some new loves within the last year, like campy horror, as I broadened my horizons and welcomed books that were actually just… fun.
So why not add romcom to the list?
I’ll tell you why. It’s because I have seen romcom movies. It’s because I often thought of them as cheesy and formulaic. For most of my life, I have not been a happy ending seeker. When it’s guaranteed, I’ve had no interest.
Even after deciding that Daphne’s Questionable Bet was the romcom to start with, I was nervous. But I realized something while I was reading this and I started to really get the appeal of the genre. It’s not really about having an ending you don’t see coming - it’s about having something safe you can rely on to not mess with your head. Something you know will bring you happiness all the way through. A romcom is the kind of book that eases you out of the everyday anxiety and offers some stability. No, it isn’t full of surprises, but that can actually be a comforting thing.
With so much uncertainty to grapple with, I think a romcom is the perfect antidote. I’ve been blind to this for so long, but I also think we find the right books when we need them and maybe this wouldn’t have been right for me before.
With all that being said, I do want to make it clear that I’m not implying that DQB is completely predictable. Yeah, there are certain givens in a story like this and surely we all realize that when we pick a romcom up. You can expect what you are expecting. Does that make sense? The story still has unique qualities, which means getting from point A to the foreseeable point B is still an entertaining and often unexpected path.
Daphne - a girl who loves Captain America, Care Bears, and Cherry Coke, who hears songs in her head that serve as the soundtrack lineup for her life, who is quirky and has panic attacks and is tired of being bullied - is really a great character. She’s the character those of us who aren’t oh-so-cool can relate to. While she was significantly more outgoing than I will ever be, I did find some aspects of her personality relatable and there was comfort in that. The fact that this story did focus so much on characters with anxiety made me feel right at home.
I enjoyed this book and, in fact, despite being so exhausted before midnight last night, I stayed up until 1 AM to finish it. 😂 Some things are more important than sleep!
I’m so glad that I gave this novel a chance and I do think I’m willing to try a romcom again in the future. My whole world has been indelibly altered!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own. Daphne’s Questionable Bet is available for preorder now and will be out in February 2021!
Confession: I’ve never read a romcom before.
I have been opening myself up to some lighter reads, recognizing how much I weigh myself down with so many dark reading choices. I’ve discovered some new loves within the last year, like campy horror, as I broadened my horizons and welcomed books that were actually just… fun.
So why not add romcom to the list?
I’ll tell you why. It’s because I have seen romcom movies. It’s because I often thought of them as cheesy and formulaic. For most of my life, I have not been a happy ending seeker. When it’s guaranteed, I’ve had no interest.
Even after deciding that Daphne’s Questionable Bet was the romcom to start with, I was nervous. But I realized something while I was reading this and I started to really get the appeal of the genre. It’s not really about having an ending you don’t see coming - it’s about having something safe you can rely on to not mess with your head. Something you know will bring you happiness all the way through. A romcom is the kind of book that eases you out of the everyday anxiety and offers some stability. No, it isn’t full of surprises, but that can actually be a comforting thing.
With so much uncertainty to grapple with, I think a romcom is the perfect antidote. I’ve been blind to this for so long, but I also think we find the right books when we need them and maybe this wouldn’t have been right for me before.
With all that being said, I do want to make it clear that I’m not implying that DQB is completely predictable. Yeah, there are certain givens in a story like this and surely we all realize that when we pick a romcom up. You can expect what you are expecting. Does that make sense? The story still has unique qualities, which means getting from point A to the foreseeable point B is still an entertaining and often unexpected path.
Daphne - a girl who loves Captain America, Care Bears, and Cherry Coke, who hears songs in her head that serve as the soundtrack lineup for her life, who is quirky and has panic attacks and is tired of being bullied - is really a great character. She’s the character those of us who aren’t oh-so-cool can relate to. While she was significantly more outgoing than I will ever be, I did find some aspects of her personality relatable and there was comfort in that. The fact that this story did focus so much on characters with anxiety made me feel right at home.
I enjoyed this book and, in fact, despite being so exhausted before midnight last night, I stayed up until 1 AM to finish it. 😂 Some things are more important than sleep!
I’m so glad that I gave this novel a chance and I do think I’m willing to try a romcom again in the future. My whole world has been indelibly altered!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own. Daphne’s Questionable Bet is available for preorder now and will be out in February 2021!
January 3, 2021
What a perfectly swoony book.
Daphne's Questionable Bet was 340 pages of tension, arguments, love, finding yourself, and embracing the person that you are. This is exactly what I have been looking for with YA contemporary. Last year, I decided to explore YA contemporary and I was so disappointed by the few that I read that I was ready to write off the whole genre, but now I'm definitely rethinking that because this book was perfectly amazing and everything that I want in a book... and it's YA contemporary.
Sara Jo Cluff has such a fun writing style that really brought Daphne to life. Everything about Daphne was so real and vibrant. I loved it way more than I had anticipated. I highly recommend this to people who are fans of the genre, or even people who want to get into it more.
I also think it had some interesting topics that it explored. I loved that Daphne was struggling with her mom dating after the death of her dad. That's a topic that books don't touch on as much as they should. I also liked that all of the characters had to grow. None of them were perfect.
My one critique: I feel like this book had an opportunity to talk about what a God-centered relationship should look like/how important it is to choose your partner wisely. Just one paragraph about that would've made this even better. But still, it was great and I am so glad I got to read it!
Daphne's Questionable Bet was 340 pages of tension, arguments, love, finding yourself, and embracing the person that you are. This is exactly what I have been looking for with YA contemporary. Last year, I decided to explore YA contemporary and I was so disappointed by the few that I read that I was ready to write off the whole genre, but now I'm definitely rethinking that because this book was perfectly amazing and everything that I want in a book... and it's YA contemporary.
Sara Jo Cluff has such a fun writing style that really brought Daphne to life. Everything about Daphne was so real and vibrant. I loved it way more than I had anticipated. I highly recommend this to people who are fans of the genre, or even people who want to get into it more.
I also think it had some interesting topics that it explored. I loved that Daphne was struggling with her mom dating after the death of her dad. That's a topic that books don't touch on as much as they should. I also liked that all of the characters had to grow. None of them were perfect.
My one critique: I feel like this book had an opportunity to talk about what a God-centered relationship should look like/how important it is to choose your partner wisely. Just one paragraph about that would've made this even better. But still, it was great and I am so glad I got to read it!
January 25, 2021
What a fantastic read! Definitely an amazing way to kickoff 2021!
Cluff knows how to write some of the most transparent teenager characters I've ever read. As a writer, she consistently inspires me with her ability to make teenage drama pop off the page. This one was no exception. (And as a reader I just absolutely love everything she writes! She has definitely become one of my "auto buy" authors.)
I deeply enjoyed the themes "covered" in this story. The anxiety on page was incredibly moving and warmed my heart in that even though fiction may be an escapism for many of us, it can be immensely encouraging to find a character you can relate to on that deep of a level. I admit I don't have quite as intense as anxiety as Daphne does, but seeing her friends help her work through her panic attacks and be there for her was really moving.
Another thing Cluff can write extremely well is humor. Oh. My. Goodness. I don't even know where to start in sharing how much I laughed in this book, but it definitely takes the win of "Most Humorous Book I've Read in Years"! Seriously, I can always depend on this author to make me laugh (though I didn't expect to laugh so hard I started crying LOL)!
Can we take a moment to do a shout out to this author also writing some of the sweetest heroes?! Like Weston is one of the most adorable heroes I have read in fiction! Just massive squeals for how sweet this dude is!!
Overall, this was such a fantastic read! I would definitely recommend it to even those who don't like contemporary (because the romance is just so sweet), wanting an abundance of laughter, and just a very great story with amazing characters.
Highly highly highly recommend!
*(I received an ARC from the publisher. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
Cluff knows how to write some of the most transparent teenager characters I've ever read. As a writer, she consistently inspires me with her ability to make teenage drama pop off the page. This one was no exception. (And as a reader I just absolutely love everything she writes! She has definitely become one of my "auto buy" authors.)
I deeply enjoyed the themes "covered" in this story. The anxiety on page was incredibly moving and warmed my heart in that even though fiction may be an escapism for many of us, it can be immensely encouraging to find a character you can relate to on that deep of a level. I admit I don't have quite as intense as anxiety as Daphne does, but seeing her friends help her work through her panic attacks and be there for her was really moving.
Another thing Cluff can write extremely well is humor. Oh. My. Goodness. I don't even know where to start in sharing how much I laughed in this book, but it definitely takes the win of "Most Humorous Book I've Read in Years"! Seriously, I can always depend on this author to make me laugh (though I didn't expect to laugh so hard I started crying LOL)!
Can we take a moment to do a shout out to this author also writing some of the sweetest heroes?! Like Weston is one of the most adorable heroes I have read in fiction! Just massive squeals for how sweet this dude is!!
Overall, this was such a fantastic read! I would definitely recommend it to even those who don't like contemporary (because the romance is just so sweet), wanting an abundance of laughter, and just a very great story with amazing characters.
Highly highly highly recommend!
*(I received an ARC from the publisher. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
May 20, 2021
I was laughing the whole time.
10/5
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This was such a delightful book and I was laughing the whole time while reading it. The humor was spot-on and the characters were so special and unique.
One of the best parts was Daphne herself. Yes, she was quite awkward and had an obsession with Care Bears, Captain America, and Cherry Coke, but these quirks and passions made her quite relatable to me as a reader.
This book isn't all kicks and giggles though. It covers things like anxiety and the loss of a parent. These things just added so much depth to the story and another layer to the characters.
All in all, this was by far one of the best books I've read recently and I am so thankful that I gave this one a chance. Sara Jo is now an auto-read author for me. If you need a pick-me-up or just a few laughs, Daphne's Questionable Bet has you covered.
5/5 Stars
Romance: a kiss
Spritiual: n/a
Language: n/a
Violence: n/a
Note: loss of parent, mention of periods
10/5
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This was such a delightful book and I was laughing the whole time while reading it. The humor was spot-on and the characters were so special and unique.
One of the best parts was Daphne herself. Yes, she was quite awkward and had an obsession with Care Bears, Captain America, and Cherry Coke, but these quirks and passions made her quite relatable to me as a reader.
This book isn't all kicks and giggles though. It covers things like anxiety and the loss of a parent. These things just added so much depth to the story and another layer to the characters.
All in all, this was by far one of the best books I've read recently and I am so thankful that I gave this one a chance. Sara Jo is now an auto-read author for me. If you need a pick-me-up or just a few laughs, Daphne's Questionable Bet has you covered.
5/5 Stars
Romance: a kiss
Spritiual: n/a
Language: n/a
Violence: n/a
Note: loss of parent, mention of periods
July 21, 2021
This was pretty good book! It had some really funny scenes in it and the mood is mostly light throughout while still delving realistically into difficult topics such as anxiety, panic attacks, and the loss of a loved one. Would recommend!
Romance: Some kissing
Spritiual: A few main characters were said to regularly attend church
Language: None as far as I can remember
Violence: None as far as I can remember
Romance: Some kissing
Spritiual: A few main characters were said to regularly attend church
Language: None as far as I can remember
Violence: None as far as I can remember
February 4, 2022
My Doodsssss!!! That was soooo gooood! Um... I love Daphne she is soooo relatable. Weston is adorable. So is Bentley. 😉 This is one of my top reads of 2022! Definitely a favorite! I love Daphne’s personality, she’s quirky, loves Cherry Coke AND Captain America. (Great minds think alike am I right) Sara Jo Cluff is now my new favorite author! (Thank you Anna!) the writing was spectacular! *chefs kiss* and I’m so interested in Taylor and can not WAIT for Taylor’s Outrageous Vow!
January 12, 2021
This was so fun to read and got me out of a reading slump! I love the main character, Daphne. She’s so unique and fun. This book was just so cute to read and so hard to put down. It kept me guessing, reading, and fangirling. I can’t find a single negative thing to say about it. All of the characters were unique and fun to read about. I love how the ending turned out, but won’t go into detail due to spoilers. This book was just so well done and I couldn’t really guess how it would end, not that it mattered. It was the journey of getting to the end that was so fun. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who wants a fun, light read to make them smile, laugh, and have a break from the world.
December 1, 2020
This is my favorite YA contemporary I’ve ever read. It’s SO fun, yet relatable. There was a point when Daphne screamed that she wanted shotgun when she and her friends were headed out to the car that I just couldn’t stop shaking my head and laughing because her competitive yet fun nature cracked me up.
I love the romance! And the insights into the struggles of being a teen girl. I loved the friendships and the sheer FUN of it. I loved the Daphne loves to read horror yet she’s the most lighthearted protagonist I’ve ever read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a fun, quirky romance.
I love the romance! And the insights into the struggles of being a teen girl. I loved the friendships and the sheer FUN of it. I loved the Daphne loves to read horror yet she’s the most lighthearted protagonist I’ve ever read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a fun, quirky romance.
February 4, 2021
Top 10 Reasons you should consider reading Daphne’s Questionable Bet today!
10. I gave it five stars!! It was also in the top 5 books I read in 2020!
9. It portrays loss of a parent and parental dating well! It would have been easy to constantly make her mom’s boyfriend the villain of the story, but Cluff wonderfully showcased a healthy and realistic relationship between a child and their parent’s significant other. I loved how Daphne and Cody developed a relationship while still honoring her dad.
8. All. The. Pop Culture. References! They were so fantastic! If you love music, Captain America, or Care Bears, you’ll instantly connect to Daphne.
7. It has a realistic depiction of different forms of anxiety. Both Daphne and Weston struggle with anxiety, and it was uplifting to see this topic covered in a positive way!
6. The writing style. Cluff has a fun, instantly recognizable writing style!
5. The friendships were strong! Daphne and her friends had each others backs!!
4. The relationships were super adorable! From Daphne and her love interest to her mom and her boyfriend and all the friends in between, this book is full of sweet and funny moments!
3. Weston! Weston is Daphne’s friend, and a possible foil to the bet - if only he wouldn’t be so adorable all the time!
2. The bet. It provides a ideal backdrop to the story, creating tension between Daphne and Sierra. It was fun and provided for hilarious shenanigans!!
1. Daphne herself! To me, Daphne was SO relatable. I saw a lot of myself in her and strive to emulate her positivity every day!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!!
10. I gave it five stars!! It was also in the top 5 books I read in 2020!
9. It portrays loss of a parent and parental dating well! It would have been easy to constantly make her mom’s boyfriend the villain of the story, but Cluff wonderfully showcased a healthy and realistic relationship between a child and their parent’s significant other. I loved how Daphne and Cody developed a relationship while still honoring her dad.
8. All. The. Pop Culture. References! They were so fantastic! If you love music, Captain America, or Care Bears, you’ll instantly connect to Daphne.
7. It has a realistic depiction of different forms of anxiety. Both Daphne and Weston struggle with anxiety, and it was uplifting to see this topic covered in a positive way!
6. The writing style. Cluff has a fun, instantly recognizable writing style!
5. The friendships were strong! Daphne and her friends had each others backs!!
4. The relationships were super adorable! From Daphne and her love interest to her mom and her boyfriend and all the friends in between, this book is full of sweet and funny moments!
3. Weston! Weston is Daphne’s friend, and a possible foil to the bet - if only he wouldn’t be so adorable all the time!
2. The bet. It provides a ideal backdrop to the story, creating tension between Daphne and Sierra. It was fun and provided for hilarious shenanigans!!
1. Daphne herself! To me, Daphne was SO relatable. I saw a lot of myself in her and strive to emulate her positivity every day!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!!
December 1, 2020
Daphne’s Questionable Bet by Sara Jo Cluff
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When I first started this story, I wasn’t sure I liked it. Daphne was almost TO quirky, to over the top. But by chapter three I was invested, cheering for her, her mom, and her friends. Her friend Weston is one of my top five guy characters of all time.
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Daphne struggles with anxiety, and I loved how Sara showed us friends who come along side and help with it. So often in teen stories we see the MC struggling with anxiety alone, isolated and suffering. Daphne on the other hand has a community, and I really liked that.
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Daphne also has a running playlist in her head! She has a song for every occasion. From “Speechless” by Dan + Shay, to “Sucker by the Jonas Brothers, you’ll find yourself humming along to the songs with her. I even ended up making a Spotify playlist of all the songs mentioned!
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With LOL moments, swoon worthy characters, and amazing escapades, I highly recommend Daphne’s Questionable Bet! If you love Kasie West, you’ll love Sara Jo Cluff!
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I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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When I first started this story, I wasn’t sure I liked it. Daphne was almost TO quirky, to over the top. But by chapter three I was invested, cheering for her, her mom, and her friends. Her friend Weston is one of my top five guy characters of all time.
•
Daphne struggles with anxiety, and I loved how Sara showed us friends who come along side and help with it. So often in teen stories we see the MC struggling with anxiety alone, isolated and suffering. Daphne on the other hand has a community, and I really liked that.
•
Daphne also has a running playlist in her head! She has a song for every occasion. From “Speechless” by Dan + Shay, to “Sucker by the Jonas Brothers, you’ll find yourself humming along to the songs with her. I even ended up making a Spotify playlist of all the songs mentioned!
•
With LOL moments, swoon worthy characters, and amazing escapades, I highly recommend Daphne’s Questionable Bet! If you love Kasie West, you’ll love Sara Jo Cluff!
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I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 13, 2022
I loved this book, a full 5/5 stars. I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this one as much as I did. The character Daphne was fun and quirky, Weston was a gentle and kind soul, even the character you’ll probably hate ended up being great and a lot of fun. This book is great for middle school-high school readers. It was all and all a good time read full of fun music and pop culture references.
The story and characters were very realistic and entertaining, it sounds like something that would actually happen in real life. I would also like to point out that Daphne and Weston's representation of anxiety was spot on 👏
I also loved how Daphnes mom was just as flawed as the kids, in most young adult stories we have a stuck-up mother who’d never admit to a mistake or a wise and perfect mom who can do absolutely no wrong. This one was very realistic, she was cool and “hip” and entertaining but still a real person with goals, feelings, and faults that she’ll admit to. I loved this and would’ve loved it at age 12 too. Highly recommended ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
January 25, 2021
Daphne’s Questionable Bet by Sara Jo Cluff is the book I didn’t know I needed to read! Daphne is a girl after my own heart; unapologetically herself, she delights in Onsies, Care Bear’s, especially t-shirts that depict her mood, Cherry Coke and impromptu dancing with her bestie.
When Daphne and her mom, Laura relocate back to California, nobody is more surprised to find Kimber Winters as their new neighbor than Laura. Kimber and Laura had an epic rivalry in high school and it looks like Daphne and Kimber’s daughter, Sierra are soon to repeat it!
This is such a fun book but there’s also some serious topics within. The author cleverly handles the topic of anxiety specifically with Daphne, who has a mental playlist of some seriously amazing songs for every occasion, good and bad, and I loved that Ms. Cluff handled this sensitive topic with such grace. Grief and loss, divorce, parental dating (I know, ugh) and finding the beauty within yourself are strong topics that I think everyone of all ages can benefit from.
This is a feel-good book with all the trappings of a romcom/young adult contemporary, keep in mind that it’s also a book that tackles some heavier subjects, as I said above. The characters are all flawed but each one achieved a level of growth throughout the book that I found satisfying and heart-warming. I’d also like to point out that I need a t-shirt with roller skating Care Bear’s that says “Rolling with my homies’ on it!
Thank you so much Monster Ivy Publishing for gifting me this fun and insightful book! I highly recommend it to any fan of the genre!
When Daphne and her mom, Laura relocate back to California, nobody is more surprised to find Kimber Winters as their new neighbor than Laura. Kimber and Laura had an epic rivalry in high school and it looks like Daphne and Kimber’s daughter, Sierra are soon to repeat it!
This is such a fun book but there’s also some serious topics within. The author cleverly handles the topic of anxiety specifically with Daphne, who has a mental playlist of some seriously amazing songs for every occasion, good and bad, and I loved that Ms. Cluff handled this sensitive topic with such grace. Grief and loss, divorce, parental dating (I know, ugh) and finding the beauty within yourself are strong topics that I think everyone of all ages can benefit from.
This is a feel-good book with all the trappings of a romcom/young adult contemporary, keep in mind that it’s also a book that tackles some heavier subjects, as I said above. The characters are all flawed but each one achieved a level of growth throughout the book that I found satisfying and heart-warming. I’d also like to point out that I need a t-shirt with roller skating Care Bear’s that says “Rolling with my homies’ on it!
Thank you so much Monster Ivy Publishing for gifting me this fun and insightful book! I highly recommend it to any fan of the genre!
February 24, 2021
This was a fun, quirky story that I really enjoyed!
While it was light hearted at times, I liked that the author touches on grief and anxiety and doesn’t just skip past those scenes. We get to meet Daphne at her level as she experiences a panic attack. We see her struggle as her mom dates after losing her dad. We see one of the male characters who struggles with social anxiety and a glimpse into what that looks like. I struggle a lot with anxiety (especially social anxiety) so these scenes were very relatable.
I really appreciate books that shed light (in a good way) on the these types of struggles.
This is a book I will save to share with my kids one day! I look forward to reading more from this author!
While it was light hearted at times, I liked that the author touches on grief and anxiety and doesn’t just skip past those scenes. We get to meet Daphne at her level as she experiences a panic attack. We see her struggle as her mom dates after losing her dad. We see one of the male characters who struggles with social anxiety and a glimpse into what that looks like. I struggle a lot with anxiety (especially social anxiety) so these scenes were very relatable.
I really appreciate books that shed light (in a good way) on the these types of struggles.
This is a book I will save to share with my kids one day! I look forward to reading more from this author!
January 13, 2021
I absolutely adore this book! Cluff has an amazing talent for writing quirky, fun characters that are also relatable. Her descriptions and dialogue of high school life we're spot on. I loved the strong friendships Daphne had and the solid connection with her family. All the song references we're unique and added a fun flavor to the story. So much fun to read!
December 1, 2020
5/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Daphne’s mom decides they’re moving back to California, Daphne is thrilled! She’s especially happy to finally be reunited with her childhood best friend. However, she discovers that her new neighbor is her mom’s old arch-nemesis from high school with a daughter in her grade. The two girls make the decision to resume the rivalry, betting on who will get Bentley Anderson to ask them to prom. But the bet gets out of hand—spying, sabotaging, blackmailing… Not to mention, something Daphne definitely didn’t bet on—falling for another guy.
Okay YA readers, how many of you have ever read a YA book where the main character was practically a Barbie doll? She’s perfect, she gets Ken, and they live happily ever after. Daphne is no Barbie, and I mean that in the best possible way! How can you not love a onesie-wearing, junk food-eating, Captain America-loving girl with an amazing taste in music?! For once, this story is about the quirky girl and I loved it! Daphne is such a fun and refreshing character! Her best friends were also super fun, and their friendship was cute! As fun and adorable as this book is, there are some difficult subjects as well. Divorce, anxiety, death, family relationships all come into play. They just add to the quality of the book by making the characters more realistic and relatable. Also, Weston is adorkable! He’s very sweet and his nerdiness is so cute!
I can’t leave out Daphne’s taste in music! A lot of her favorite songs are mentioned throughout the book, and I definitely loved her song choices!
Readers of YA and YA romance, grab a copy of this book! The quirky girl gets the happily ever after (it’s about time!) This book is fun, enjoyable, and adorable! If you want a book that makes you laugh out loud or if you want some music recommendations, get this book!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Daphne’s mom decides they’re moving back to California, Daphne is thrilled! She’s especially happy to finally be reunited with her childhood best friend. However, she discovers that her new neighbor is her mom’s old arch-nemesis from high school with a daughter in her grade. The two girls make the decision to resume the rivalry, betting on who will get Bentley Anderson to ask them to prom. But the bet gets out of hand—spying, sabotaging, blackmailing… Not to mention, something Daphne definitely didn’t bet on—falling for another guy.
Okay YA readers, how many of you have ever read a YA book where the main character was practically a Barbie doll? She’s perfect, she gets Ken, and they live happily ever after. Daphne is no Barbie, and I mean that in the best possible way! How can you not love a onesie-wearing, junk food-eating, Captain America-loving girl with an amazing taste in music?! For once, this story is about the quirky girl and I loved it! Daphne is such a fun and refreshing character! Her best friends were also super fun, and their friendship was cute! As fun and adorable as this book is, there are some difficult subjects as well. Divorce, anxiety, death, family relationships all come into play. They just add to the quality of the book by making the characters more realistic and relatable. Also, Weston is adorkable! He’s very sweet and his nerdiness is so cute!
I can’t leave out Daphne’s taste in music! A lot of her favorite songs are mentioned throughout the book, and I definitely loved her song choices!
Readers of YA and YA romance, grab a copy of this book! The quirky girl gets the happily ever after (it’s about time!) This book is fun, enjoyable, and adorable! If you want a book that makes you laugh out loud or if you want some music recommendations, get this book!
December 3, 2020
Daphne is so fun and sweet. Like Sara Jo Cluff's other contemporaries like The Kiss List, there's so much packed into a very straightforward and enjoyable story. I especially loved the music references and her developing relationships.
December 23, 2020
"A questionable bet, a scandalous photo, a stalker, and a lion fountain" pretty much sums up the fantastic story of Daphne's Questionable Bet by Sara Jo Cluff. This YA rom-com had me laughing and crying. Daphne is such a relatable character no matter your age. As a woman of 35 years and holding (haha) Daphne brought back memories from my school years. No matter the decade, bullies seem to evolve, like that weed I can't seem to fully get rid of in the yard. Daphne truly handles herself with grace and dignity. I would not have (and did not in real life) managed to reign my wrath nearly as long as she did. But this isn't just a story about bullying. Oh, no. It's about friendships, finding love, and always being true to yourself. I laughed so much reading this book. Daphne dances to the beat of her own drum and we could all learn a little something from her.
January 24, 2021
This book was like a bag of 🍉 sour patch kids and a 🍒coke 😉
I absolutely loved it! Anyone who knows me knows I never read contemporary books but this was amazing!! I was sucked in from beginning to end and loved all the little dramas, heartfelt moments, and the adorable romance. I loved the main character’s personality and competitive yet sweet nature. I felt like I could relate to her. The story premise was awesome and I was on the edge of my seat to find out how it would end. I also loved the bit about Pride and Prejudice and could see how the main characters in this book related to one of my favorite classics! There are so many twists and turns in this story you will never see coming!!
I absolutely loved it! Anyone who knows me knows I never read contemporary books but this was amazing!! I was sucked in from beginning to end and loved all the little dramas, heartfelt moments, and the adorable romance. I loved the main character’s personality and competitive yet sweet nature. I felt like I could relate to her. The story premise was awesome and I was on the edge of my seat to find out how it would end. I also loved the bit about Pride and Prejudice and could see how the main characters in this book related to one of my favorite classics! There are so many twists and turns in this story you will never see coming!!
December 24, 2020
Daphane is a loveably quirky girl whos not taking crap from anyone! I Love how her characters knows who she is and is not afraid to be herself. This is a great book for all those teen girls out there who are trying to navigate their way through those tough teenage years where girl can be really mean to one another. Showing that you don't always know what another person might be going through and you might have more in common than you think.
February 6, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Monster Ivy Publishing. This review is of my own opinion.
I usually do not pick up contemporary books, ever, especially romcoms as this is my first to read, but I will say this is one I did thoroughly enjoy. On the outside, this story seems to be about living life and having fun as one should through dancing with her best friend to finding a rivalry in the daughter of your mother's high school one, oh the tension, I know!
However, why I liked the novel overall wasn't for the cutesie onesies, gummies, or rad playlist Cluff wrote into the story for the moments of all emotions, but for the hardships, real people go through and have to deal with every day. Daphne survives through bullying, anxiety, panic attacks, divorce, her mother dating a younger man, and learning to love yourself before you can truly let anyone else. We grow by living and we live once we accept our flaws and feats which is exactly what Daphne's Questionable Bet comes to discuss.
This book is one I look forward to keeping on my shelves for years to come, and you can bet on it.
I usually do not pick up contemporary books, ever, especially romcoms as this is my first to read, but I will say this is one I did thoroughly enjoy. On the outside, this story seems to be about living life and having fun as one should through dancing with her best friend to finding a rivalry in the daughter of your mother's high school one, oh the tension, I know!
However, why I liked the novel overall wasn't for the cutesie onesies, gummies, or rad playlist Cluff wrote into the story for the moments of all emotions, but for the hardships, real people go through and have to deal with every day. Daphne survives through bullying, anxiety, panic attacks, divorce, her mother dating a younger man, and learning to love yourself before you can truly let anyone else. We grow by living and we live once we accept our flaws and feats which is exactly what Daphne's Questionable Bet comes to discuss.
This book is one I look forward to keeping on my shelves for years to come, and you can bet on it.
January 16, 2021
This book is contemporary, but it reminds me so much of myself as a teenager in the 1990s and I loved every minute.
Cluff weaves a laugh-a-minute tale of Daphne, an awkward but self-assured sixteen-year-old, who reignites a decades-old rivalry with a bet with Sierra. Their moms had been friends-turned-enemies in high school vying for the same boy, and now Daphne and Sierra place a bet to do the same.
Throughout the story is a love for all things Care Bears & Cherry Coke, panic attacks, and a mom who's suddenly dating a much younger man. Daphne has a lot on her plate!
Readers of all ages will enjoy this fun and funky novel. No cursing or inappropriate scenes, either. A win for everyone! And that's a bet I'm willing to make.
Cluff weaves a laugh-a-minute tale of Daphne, an awkward but self-assured sixteen-year-old, who reignites a decades-old rivalry with a bet with Sierra. Their moms had been friends-turned-enemies in high school vying for the same boy, and now Daphne and Sierra place a bet to do the same.
Throughout the story is a love for all things Care Bears & Cherry Coke, panic attacks, and a mom who's suddenly dating a much younger man. Daphne has a lot on her plate!
Readers of all ages will enjoy this fun and funky novel. No cursing or inappropriate scenes, either. A win for everyone! And that's a bet I'm willing to make.
January 31, 2021
I thought this was a sweet, charming, and fun read. While Daphne and Sierra may have been the main lead characters in this story; I found myself a fan of Daphne's friend, Veronica. She cracked me up. There are plenty of funny moments to be found within the pages of this book. Care bear power!
Young adult readers will enjoy this book. All of the characters are very relatable. Which is what I had a bit of an issue is the relatability. This is personally just me as I know other readers including some of my reader friends who really enjoyed this book.
The humor is what is the best part about reading this book. It kept me entertained and wanting to keep reading. I would read another book by this author.
Young adult readers will enjoy this book. All of the characters are very relatable. Which is what I had a bit of an issue is the relatability. This is personally just me as I know other readers including some of my reader friends who really enjoyed this book.
The humor is what is the best part about reading this book. It kept me entertained and wanting to keep reading. I would read another book by this author.
December 2, 2020
Daphne Richards, sixteen and moved back to California after living in Utah. Daphne struggles with anxiety but has found music as her outlet, with different songs floating through her head while dealing with issues. Darling book for teens with the struggles of friends, enemies, and boys.
January 29, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! I was transported back to my awkward teen years and the various crushes I had on all of the boys... ah, the memories! There were so many great scenes within this book that made me laugh uncontrollably. I felt Daphne's emotions and experiences at every turn. Well done, Sara Jo Cluff!
January 3, 2021
Review to come!
May 7, 2022
I’ve deliberated over how to go about writing my review for this book. Normally, I would just jump right in, all cylinders firing. Whether my thoughts be positive or negative, I would just lay them all on the line. But I hesitate to do that here. Ten years ago, if you criticized a book or a movie or a song or your aunt Linda’s chicken parmigiana, people would agree or disagree and maybe there would be an argument, and then everybody would walk away and get over it. But not today. Now, there’s the chance that other readers will be so personally offended by your opinions that they will treat them like a challenge or an attack, and they will ruthlessly demean you into submission. But I’m just a person on the internet. What I think isn’t really that important. I’m just verbal diarrhea-ing my thoughts online, and that doesn’t have to have some sort of significance.
There’s also the potential for creating a hate brigade directed at an author and/or their work, even if you had no intention of doing so. People take what they see online and run so far down field with it that it’s not even the same words you said anymore. What if my review ends up being used to ruin this author’s career or force her off the internet? I would hate to be a part of that, even unintentionally. Cause again, I’m just a person on the internet. What I think isn’t really that important.
Of course, these concerns don’t stop me from posting straight-forward reviews on other books on this site, so I can’t say that they are my sole reason for being so cautious. The reason I am so concerned about one of the above scenarios happening is that this is an indie author with a small indie publisher with a small indie book that currently only has positive reviews. I would be the first negative review for this book (guess I spoiled the ending there), which doesn’t feel too great. My review would be a lot more front and center as well, so that makes me feel pretty vulnerable. (I mean, if I wrote a review today on Harry Potter, no one would ever see it, lol.)
All of this is over-explanation, I know, but the times we are in make me feel compelled to give it, because I want my intentions to be clear. I don’t wish for either of the above scenarios to happen. I just want to give my honest thoughts. So…let’s get on with it.
I purchased Questionable Bet, because the title and cover are very intriguing. I saw them and immediately thought 'I want to read that.'
And I have to say, this book was a disappointment.
Questionable Bet reads like two drafts at different stages in the writing process. The first half feels like a first draft with grammar issues, little characterization, and limited to non-existent prose. The second half feels like a much later draft that has definitely improved on all of these issues but still needs polishing before being released into the world.
I’ll start with the technical issues.
As I’ve said, the first half of the book and the second half feel like two different drafts, and nowhere do you notice this more than in the first 13 chapters. They are exceedingly short, which is strange in contrast with the rest of the book. They are also almost bereft of any prose to the point that it was often pure dialogue with some ‘He did this…’ ‘She did this…’ style sentences in-between to break things up.
There are some glaring grammatical errors throughout the book (they do improve in the second half). Cluff frequently writes sentences such as ‘I scrambled to my feet and threw my arms around Gramps’ neck, burying my head into his neck…’ and ‘I lost my grip. I flailed my arms, trying to grip…’ and ‘After chucking a box of Lucky Charms into the cart, I placed one foot on the bottom of the cart…’ and ‘my fingers pinching the very edge of a tote to pull open the lid. I peered inside the tote, still barely hanging onto the lid’ and ‘I was standing in the middle of my room, giving me ample room…’ That’s a lot of examples, but the reason I have so many is because it happens so frequently. On top of this, there are clunkily worded sentences such as ‘I hurried to snatch it from the coffee table - knowing it was my best friend Veronica video calling - my hand smacking into the mug in the process’ and ‘that even I hadn’t ever conjured up’ and ‘although, I wouldn’t be as nearly a graceful diver as he was’ and ‘I opened the door and got out, stretching my arms over my head, after I shut the door.’ There are some other admittedly small errors (Mom and me instead of Mom and I, I faked frowned at her, etc.) that normally wouldn’t be annoying since they are infrequent, but they become irritating when coupled with the first two problems. But what really confuses me about these issues is that these are things a competent editor should have caught. Unnecessary repetition of words, clunky writing, blatantly obvious errors, all of these things should stop a book from going to print and put it back in re-writes. But no one caught them, and I struggle to understand why.
The last technical issue would have to be the incorporation of the song titles. Most of them, particularly in the first half of the book, are poorly integrated, often interrupting the flow of the writing. They sort of sit there shouting ‘I’m a reference! Get it?’ For example: ‘“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J started up in my head’ and ‘I’m in a Hurry’ by Alabama’ played in my mind.’ Again, this seemed like a good opportunity for the editor to suggest ‘Maybe you should look for some more creative ways of incorporating the song titles,’ and again, I don’t know why they didn’t. This does improve greatly in the second half, but every time one would pop up in the first half of the book, I would cringe.
Moving on to storytelling.
Daphne’s characterization is very shallow. Daphne has a cute friend group that was very fun and engaging to read, but Daphne herself felt like a character with only a surface level personality. Cluff makes a point of telling us that Daphne definitely has hobbies and interests, and she’s a little obsessive about them, but we never see her actually engage in these hobbies and interests. She wears all of the Care Bears and Captain America memorabilia she can get her hands on and carries her little bottle of soda syrup everywhere, but when it comes to a deeper dive into her character, it never happens. These things are just part of a list that convey no deeper meaning about who she is as a person.
I also do not believe in Cluff’s portrayal of anxiety. Daphne is supposed to be extremely anxious and self-conscious to the point of panic attacks. And yet she has this incredibly gregarious personality with most of the people she meets, even with her own enemies. And in situations that you would expect to make her anxiety flare up, they have no effect on her. She drives around town in a full-on Regency outfit, for crying out loud. I would have expected there to be at least some trepidation on Daphne’s part. I do understand that having anxiety/being self-conscious doesn’t mean you’re always anxious or self-conscious, but this behavior was just not congruous with her supposed level of Anxiety and Self-consciousness.
Daphne is not the most frustrating character of this book though. While I find her characterization to be shallow, I think she is still likable and fun. I do have a LOT of problems with Daphne’s mom, however. 1) This is going to an opinion that people might not like, but I was not a fan of pairing her up with a 24-year-old when she has a teenage daughter. There is a dynamic there that is not conducive to being a parent, or to being a teenager. I also found the relationship itself to be infuriating. They go on two (TWO) dates, and mom is already inviting him to Zumba with her and her daughter. And then she’s angry with Daphne when Daphne’s rightly bothered by this. Like, how dare you be uncomfortable with me inviting this complete stranger into our private lives. Of course, this comes back to bite mom in the butt later in the book when 24-year-old shows up at their house unannounced expecting to have a ‘family night’ like he’s the new father in town. This is obviously inappropriate, and both Daphne and her mom are bothered by it. But I have to point out here that when you go on two dates with someone then start inviting them into all of your personal family-time events, you shouldn’t be surprised when this happens. What you should do is rethink some of your choices and reconsider the signals you’re sending.
Mom never recognizes her part in any of this, however, and the whole thing is waved off as 24-year-old being a little too eager.
2) Daphne’s mom actively encourages the bet. It’s obvious from the get-go that Sierra’s mom is very bitter and angry and would really like to get back at Daphne’s mom, and if that means going through Daphne, then so be it. It was mom’s responsibility to protect her daughter from that, and that meant not encouraging these two girls into getting entangled in something that would ultimately leave one or both or all four of them hurt. But there is seemingly no concern on her mom’s part over the potential repercussions, or about the fact that this grown woman is so desperate for revenge she would hurt a teenager. At the end of the day, Daphne’s mom owed Sierra as equal of an apology as Daphne does, and she owed Daphne an apology as well for dragging her into something that was not her responsibility to take on.
But that’s kind of the over-arching theme of Mom’s character. Her choices are waved off as ‘Oh, she’s just a cool mom.’ But there are actually very few moments where mom is actually being a mom. She acts more like another one of Daphne’s best friends, and I found that really frustrating.
I do think there are some really interesting things going on psychologically in all of the participants of the bet, and I would have loved to see that explored. To me, a better story would have been mom getting equally invested in the bet because of her own hang-ups and having a dawning realization towards the end that she’s messed up and dragged her daughter into her mess. It would have made the line ‘You look at those beautiful girls and say that again’ much more impactful.
There are some other things that I wasn’t impressed with in terms of the story, but they are minor compared to the issues above, so I’m not going to talk about them. I also realize I haven’t shared any positives about the story or the writing, so my review probably sounds quite harsh. I do believe that the story improves as you read. The second half has a lot more characterization, some genuinely nice prose, the grammar errors and awkward sentence issues are reduced and less noticeable, there are some really good lines, and I really like Daphne’s friendship with her two besties. Truthfully, if the first half had read like the second half, I wouldn’t have minded the books flaws so much. But the good bits of the book really are overshadowed by its faults, and it was often hard to see the stories good qualities because of this.
In terms of whether I think this is a good book for a teen, if I had some teen girls in my life, I would probably give them this book (as long as they were on the older end of the teen spectrum, because the romance is a little too handsy-feelsy for my tastes). Despite what I consider significant writing flaws, I can definitely see a teen girl loving it. I imagine teen me would have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it as well.
There’s also the potential for creating a hate brigade directed at an author and/or their work, even if you had no intention of doing so. People take what they see online and run so far down field with it that it’s not even the same words you said anymore. What if my review ends up being used to ruin this author’s career or force her off the internet? I would hate to be a part of that, even unintentionally. Cause again, I’m just a person on the internet. What I think isn’t really that important.
Of course, these concerns don’t stop me from posting straight-forward reviews on other books on this site, so I can’t say that they are my sole reason for being so cautious. The reason I am so concerned about one of the above scenarios happening is that this is an indie author with a small indie publisher with a small indie book that currently only has positive reviews. I would be the first negative review for this book (guess I spoiled the ending there), which doesn’t feel too great. My review would be a lot more front and center as well, so that makes me feel pretty vulnerable. (I mean, if I wrote a review today on Harry Potter, no one would ever see it, lol.)
All of this is over-explanation, I know, but the times we are in make me feel compelled to give it, because I want my intentions to be clear. I don’t wish for either of the above scenarios to happen. I just want to give my honest thoughts. So…let’s get on with it.
I purchased Questionable Bet, because the title and cover are very intriguing. I saw them and immediately thought 'I want to read that.'
And I have to say, this book was a disappointment.
Questionable Bet reads like two drafts at different stages in the writing process. The first half feels like a first draft with grammar issues, little characterization, and limited to non-existent prose. The second half feels like a much later draft that has definitely improved on all of these issues but still needs polishing before being released into the world.
I’ll start with the technical issues.
As I’ve said, the first half of the book and the second half feel like two different drafts, and nowhere do you notice this more than in the first 13 chapters. They are exceedingly short, which is strange in contrast with the rest of the book. They are also almost bereft of any prose to the point that it was often pure dialogue with some ‘He did this…’ ‘She did this…’ style sentences in-between to break things up.
There are some glaring grammatical errors throughout the book (they do improve in the second half). Cluff frequently writes sentences such as ‘I scrambled to my feet and threw my arms around Gramps’ neck, burying my head into his neck…’ and ‘I lost my grip. I flailed my arms, trying to grip…’ and ‘After chucking a box of Lucky Charms into the cart, I placed one foot on the bottom of the cart…’ and ‘my fingers pinching the very edge of a tote to pull open the lid. I peered inside the tote, still barely hanging onto the lid’ and ‘I was standing in the middle of my room, giving me ample room…’ That’s a lot of examples, but the reason I have so many is because it happens so frequently. On top of this, there are clunkily worded sentences such as ‘I hurried to snatch it from the coffee table - knowing it was my best friend Veronica video calling - my hand smacking into the mug in the process’ and ‘that even I hadn’t ever conjured up’ and ‘although, I wouldn’t be as nearly a graceful diver as he was’ and ‘I opened the door and got out, stretching my arms over my head, after I shut the door.’ There are some other admittedly small errors (Mom and me instead of Mom and I, I faked frowned at her, etc.) that normally wouldn’t be annoying since they are infrequent, but they become irritating when coupled with the first two problems. But what really confuses me about these issues is that these are things a competent editor should have caught. Unnecessary repetition of words, clunky writing, blatantly obvious errors, all of these things should stop a book from going to print and put it back in re-writes. But no one caught them, and I struggle to understand why.
The last technical issue would have to be the incorporation of the song titles. Most of them, particularly in the first half of the book, are poorly integrated, often interrupting the flow of the writing. They sort of sit there shouting ‘I’m a reference! Get it?’ For example: ‘“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J started up in my head’ and ‘I’m in a Hurry’ by Alabama’ played in my mind.’ Again, this seemed like a good opportunity for the editor to suggest ‘Maybe you should look for some more creative ways of incorporating the song titles,’ and again, I don’t know why they didn’t. This does improve greatly in the second half, but every time one would pop up in the first half of the book, I would cringe.
Moving on to storytelling.
Daphne’s characterization is very shallow. Daphne has a cute friend group that was very fun and engaging to read, but Daphne herself felt like a character with only a surface level personality. Cluff makes a point of telling us that Daphne definitely has hobbies and interests, and she’s a little obsessive about them, but we never see her actually engage in these hobbies and interests. She wears all of the Care Bears and Captain America memorabilia she can get her hands on and carries her little bottle of soda syrup everywhere, but when it comes to a deeper dive into her character, it never happens. These things are just part of a list that convey no deeper meaning about who she is as a person.
I also do not believe in Cluff’s portrayal of anxiety. Daphne is supposed to be extremely anxious and self-conscious to the point of panic attacks. And yet she has this incredibly gregarious personality with most of the people she meets, even with her own enemies. And in situations that you would expect to make her anxiety flare up, they have no effect on her. She drives around town in a full-on Regency outfit, for crying out loud. I would have expected there to be at least some trepidation on Daphne’s part. I do understand that having anxiety/being self-conscious doesn’t mean you’re always anxious or self-conscious, but this behavior was just not congruous with her supposed level of Anxiety and Self-consciousness.
Daphne is not the most frustrating character of this book though. While I find her characterization to be shallow, I think she is still likable and fun. I do have a LOT of problems with Daphne’s mom, however. 1) This is going to an opinion that people might not like, but I was not a fan of pairing her up with a 24-year-old when she has a teenage daughter. There is a dynamic there that is not conducive to being a parent, or to being a teenager. I also found the relationship itself to be infuriating. They go on two (TWO) dates, and mom is already inviting him to Zumba with her and her daughter. And then she’s angry with Daphne when Daphne’s rightly bothered by this. Like, how dare you be uncomfortable with me inviting this complete stranger into our private lives. Of course, this comes back to bite mom in the butt later in the book when 24-year-old shows up at their house unannounced expecting to have a ‘family night’ like he’s the new father in town. This is obviously inappropriate, and both Daphne and her mom are bothered by it. But I have to point out here that when you go on two dates with someone then start inviting them into all of your personal family-time events, you shouldn’t be surprised when this happens. What you should do is rethink some of your choices and reconsider the signals you’re sending.
Mom never recognizes her part in any of this, however, and the whole thing is waved off as 24-year-old being a little too eager.
2) Daphne’s mom actively encourages the bet. It’s obvious from the get-go that Sierra’s mom is very bitter and angry and would really like to get back at Daphne’s mom, and if that means going through Daphne, then so be it. It was mom’s responsibility to protect her daughter from that, and that meant not encouraging these two girls into getting entangled in something that would ultimately leave one or both or all four of them hurt. But there is seemingly no concern on her mom’s part over the potential repercussions, or about the fact that this grown woman is so desperate for revenge she would hurt a teenager. At the end of the day, Daphne’s mom owed Sierra as equal of an apology as Daphne does, and she owed Daphne an apology as well for dragging her into something that was not her responsibility to take on.
But that’s kind of the over-arching theme of Mom’s character. Her choices are waved off as ‘Oh, she’s just a cool mom.’ But there are actually very few moments where mom is actually being a mom. She acts more like another one of Daphne’s best friends, and I found that really frustrating.
I do think there are some really interesting things going on psychologically in all of the participants of the bet, and I would have loved to see that explored. To me, a better story would have been mom getting equally invested in the bet because of her own hang-ups and having a dawning realization towards the end that she’s messed up and dragged her daughter into her mess. It would have made the line ‘You look at those beautiful girls and say that again’ much more impactful.
There are some other things that I wasn’t impressed with in terms of the story, but they are minor compared to the issues above, so I’m not going to talk about them. I also realize I haven’t shared any positives about the story or the writing, so my review probably sounds quite harsh. I do believe that the story improves as you read. The second half has a lot more characterization, some genuinely nice prose, the grammar errors and awkward sentence issues are reduced and less noticeable, there are some really good lines, and I really like Daphne’s friendship with her two besties. Truthfully, if the first half had read like the second half, I wouldn’t have minded the books flaws so much. But the good bits of the book really are overshadowed by its faults, and it was often hard to see the stories good qualities because of this.
In terms of whether I think this is a good book for a teen, if I had some teen girls in my life, I would probably give them this book (as long as they were on the older end of the teen spectrum, because the romance is a little too handsy-feelsy for my tastes). Despite what I consider significant writing flaws, I can definitely see a teen girl loving it. I imagine teen me would have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2021
Complete review posted on my blog: I Heart Fictional People
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was drawn to this beautiful cover. And I hadn’t read a good YA romance in a LONG time, so I thought I’d give this one a chance. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. From the blurb, I thought this one might be predictable. But I was wrong. I had no idea how much I would actually fall in love with this book.
WHAT I LIKED
The characters. I won’t repeat what I said in my Readers’ Favorite review, but I will say this. I don’t remember loving a main character like I loved Daphne. I admired her so much, and I just wanted to give her a big hug. Then there’s Weston. I forgot what it was like to become a little obsessive over a book boyfriend. I just want more of him 😍
The romance. Over the years, I have become so cynical when it comes to romance. I have pretty much given up on reading romance because it’s either way too corny or just over-the-top hopeless romantic vibes with really mushy and unrealistic feelings. BUT this book made me remember how amazing love can be. I sat there hugging my Kindle for a good few minutes with HAPPY tears running down my face and a huge smile to match. Yeah, this book gave me all the feels, and it was so unexpected.
That ending. Are you kidding? How perfect was that?! That’s all I’m going to say.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME
Nothing. I loved everything.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Why must I say goodbye to these characters and this fictional world?? I don’t want to leave yet. I want more Daphne and Weston. I don’t know how to move on from this book. It wasn’t because it had this deep, life-changing message or a tragic story that you can’t forget. It was simply because this story made me genuinely happy, and a book has not had this effect on me in a long time. Sara Jo Cluff, thank you for being the brilliant writer you are and reminding me why I love reading and why I love love.
**Thank you to the author and Readers' Favorite for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was drawn to this beautiful cover. And I hadn’t read a good YA romance in a LONG time, so I thought I’d give this one a chance. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. From the blurb, I thought this one might be predictable. But I was wrong. I had no idea how much I would actually fall in love with this book.
WHAT I LIKED
The characters. I won’t repeat what I said in my Readers’ Favorite review, but I will say this. I don’t remember loving a main character like I loved Daphne. I admired her so much, and I just wanted to give her a big hug. Then there’s Weston. I forgot what it was like to become a little obsessive over a book boyfriend. I just want more of him 😍
The romance. Over the years, I have become so cynical when it comes to romance. I have pretty much given up on reading romance because it’s either way too corny or just over-the-top hopeless romantic vibes with really mushy and unrealistic feelings. BUT this book made me remember how amazing love can be. I sat there hugging my Kindle for a good few minutes with HAPPY tears running down my face and a huge smile to match. Yeah, this book gave me all the feels, and it was so unexpected.
That ending. Are you kidding? How perfect was that?! That’s all I’m going to say.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME
Nothing. I loved everything.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Why must I say goodbye to these characters and this fictional world?? I don’t want to leave yet. I want more Daphne and Weston. I don’t know how to move on from this book. It wasn’t because it had this deep, life-changing message or a tragic story that you can’t forget. It was simply because this story made me genuinely happy, and a book has not had this effect on me in a long time. Sara Jo Cluff, thank you for being the brilliant writer you are and reminding me why I love reading and why I love love.
**Thank you to the author and Readers' Favorite for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
October 13, 2023
Daphne's Questionable Bet
Sara Jo Cluff
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highlight:
📌“Don’t worry,” an older gentleman said next to me. “I only use books that have been so loved, they’re no longer staying together.” He stared at the picture. “Why throw a book away when you can turn it into something else to love?”
Review
This book was just EVERYTHING! I just couldn't put it down like at-all, and I'm not surprised because Sara Jo Cluff wrote it and she's amazing like that!!
Daphne's book is the first book in the series SPUNKY GIRL'S GUIDE TO DATING and to say you're missing out on awesomeness is an understatement of the century! Anyway our protagonist is obviously Daphne and her friends Veronica and Taylor, these girls get to meet after a very long time and they get to go to the same school! They are ecstatic but past has a qay of being thrust in the face and that's what happens when Daphne's mom comes face to face with her sworn enemy Kimber from high school, now Sierra and Daphne are in the same limbo and the lol element is that Daphne doesn't even want the guy! But Daphne takes bets serious and with that our supertastic book begins!
The writing style is elegant and comical, it has words that are out of this realm amazing, the characters are fabulous is their cute care bear onesies and gorgeous personalities, the theme is so well elaborated, the element of family and friendship is so beautifully carved, the language is easy to understand, the title makes sense to the book and the cover is just so cute!
Sara Jo Cluff
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highlight:
📌“Don’t worry,” an older gentleman said next to me. “I only use books that have been so loved, they’re no longer staying together.” He stared at the picture. “Why throw a book away when you can turn it into something else to love?”
Review
This book was just EVERYTHING! I just couldn't put it down like at-all, and I'm not surprised because Sara Jo Cluff wrote it and she's amazing like that!!
Daphne's book is the first book in the series SPUNKY GIRL'S GUIDE TO DATING and to say you're missing out on awesomeness is an understatement of the century! Anyway our protagonist is obviously Daphne and her friends Veronica and Taylor, these girls get to meet after a very long time and they get to go to the same school! They are ecstatic but past has a qay of being thrust in the face and that's what happens when Daphne's mom comes face to face with her sworn enemy Kimber from high school, now Sierra and Daphne are in the same limbo and the lol element is that Daphne doesn't even want the guy! But Daphne takes bets serious and with that our supertastic book begins!
The writing style is elegant and comical, it has words that are out of this realm amazing, the characters are fabulous is their cute care bear onesies and gorgeous personalities, the theme is so well elaborated, the element of family and friendship is so beautifully carved, the language is easy to understand, the title makes sense to the book and the cover is just so cute!
February 6, 2021
4.5 Review Esp/Eng
Todo empieza con Daphne—una chica única y peculiar—, refresco de cereza, gomitas “Sour Patch Kids”, un antiguo triángulo amoroso y una apuesta questionable.
La amistad, la ansiedad y encontrarse a sí mismos son los temas de este libro (todos estos fueron tratados responsablemente).
Nunca antes había leído una comedia romántica, Daphne’s Questionable bet fue la primera. No pude parar de reír con esta agradable historia. Los personajes son muy divertidos, me gustó el desarrollo de cada uno y como se complementan mutuamente.
La escritura de Jo Sara Cluff es ligera y amigable, fácil de comprender para los que están aprendiendo inglés.
[ E N G L I S H ]
It starts with Daphne—a unique and quirky girl—, cherry soda, “Sour Patch Kids” gummies, an old love triangle and a questionable bet.
Friendship, anxiety, and finding yourself are the main topics of this book (all of these were handled responsibly).
I've never read a rom-com before, Daphne’s Questionable bet is the first one. I couldn't stop laughing at this enjoyable story. The characters are very funny, I loved the development of each one and how they complement each other.
Jo Sara Cluff's writing is light and friendly, easy for English learners to understand.
Todo empieza con Daphne—una chica única y peculiar—, refresco de cereza, gomitas “Sour Patch Kids”, un antiguo triángulo amoroso y una apuesta questionable.
La amistad, la ansiedad y encontrarse a sí mismos son los temas de este libro (todos estos fueron tratados responsablemente).
Nunca antes había leído una comedia romántica, Daphne’s Questionable bet fue la primera. No pude parar de reír con esta agradable historia. Los personajes son muy divertidos, me gustó el desarrollo de cada uno y como se complementan mutuamente.
La escritura de Jo Sara Cluff es ligera y amigable, fácil de comprender para los que están aprendiendo inglés.
[ E N G L I S H ]
It starts with Daphne—a unique and quirky girl—, cherry soda, “Sour Patch Kids” gummies, an old love triangle and a questionable bet.
Friendship, anxiety, and finding yourself are the main topics of this book (all of these were handled responsibly).
I've never read a rom-com before, Daphne’s Questionable bet is the first one. I couldn't stop laughing at this enjoyable story. The characters are very funny, I loved the development of each one and how they complement each other.
Jo Sara Cluff's writing is light and friendly, easy for English learners to understand.
April 1, 2022
This book is SO AMAZING!!
I just love Daphne. She is quirky and funny and one-of-a-kind and her characterization is brilliant. I love her crazy outfits and all her references and I love just how real she is. We need more real characters like her in romance books where the character just gets to be themself.
The romance was....awwwwwww. So sweet.
Another highly bingable romcom by Sara Jo Cluff. I didn't know I liked reading romcoms til I started reading Sara's. But I'm in. This series is addictive.
I just love Daphne. She is quirky and funny and one-of-a-kind and her characterization is brilliant. I love her crazy outfits and all her references and I love just how real she is. We need more real characters like her in romance books where the character just gets to be themself.
The romance was....awwwwwww. So sweet.
Another highly bingable romcom by Sara Jo Cluff. I didn't know I liked reading romcoms til I started reading Sara's. But I'm in. This series is addictive.
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