Book Summary: 

The last thing reluctant resort employee Jean Harrington expected to find on a middle-of-the-night towel run was a bashful scientist in desperate need of company . . . and clothes. Charmed by his awkwardness and endearing tangents about reptiles, she returns the next day to give the handsome mystery guest she knows only as “Charlie” lessons in poker.

He’s reserved and she’s chaotic, but together, the two of them just click. It’s like a honeymoon without the hassle of a wedding, until Jean discovers there’s a lot more to Charlie’s story than shyness and snakes—and she isn’t the only person with a pressing interest in his whereabouts, not to mention his secretly scandalous dating history.

When Charlie has the audacity to abandon her without a word, Jean has a score to settle. She’ll do whatever it takes to get him back—no, get back at him—even if it means chasing him across an ocean to brave the wild west of his remote hometown, and the famous family business he neglected to mention. With flames from their pasts raising the stakes, Jean is gambling she can get the upper hand before Charlie calls her bluff.

The real trick will be remembering what they’re playing for, when the biggest risk is putting all their cards on the table.

My Review:

This is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Sellet, and I was curious to see if she would base this story on a classic movie, as she did with Hate To Fake It To You. Without an author’s note or any hints in the acknowledgments, I’m still not sure, but the book’s laid-back, easygoing pace was a refreshing change from the high-energy, formula-driven contemporary romances that currently saturate the market. In The Odds of Getting Even, the focus shifts to Libby’s friend Jean, and we get to see just how far she’s willing to go when she feels betrayed.

Every day in Jean Harrington’s world is exactly the same: another late night working at the hotel, the same guests, the same requests – rinse and repeat. That is, until a routine request for towels leads Jean to walk in on a guest stark naked, causing her predictable life to take an unexpected turn. Jean didn’t know what to expect from Charlie, but she certainly never imagined that a chance encounter would develop into such a strong connection with this awkwardly adorable scientist. As their days together unfold, so does Jean’s growing infatuation. She can hardly believe Charlie is real – when a visit from an old friend reveals her worst fears: not only has Charlie deceived her, but apparently the whole world is looking for him, including an ex who isn’t ready to let go. Determined to confront Charlie and learn the truth, Jean faces another unpleasant surprise—then he disappears. Refusing to be anyone’s fool, Jean is determined to seek revenge on the only man she’s let into her heart in a long time. With Hildy’s connections and a secret Charlie has shared, Jean discovers what Charlie is really up to and is ready to prove she’s not someone to mess with.

Like Amanda’s last book, this was a sit-back-and-watch-the-story-unfold kind of read. The story wasn’t larger than life; the characters were just everyday people (or at least Charlie really wanted to be). It wasn’t grandiose as you often find in other contemporary romances. Charlie wasn’t 6’7” with rippling muscles and built like a Greek god – he was adorable with a soft middle, inexperienced, and just as lovable as can be. Same with Jean – they may have been average to everyone else, but they were heart-stoppingly beautiful to one another.

I also appreciated getting to read Jean’s story after her introduction in Hate to Fake It to You. One detail I especially liked was the brief check-in with Libby and Jefferson; their story isn’t a fairytale with a perfect ending. Libby is still working at the food truck; Jean still has a dead-end job and is struggling to make ends meet. Good things happen, but their lives aren’t magically transformed – they remain relatable and real. 

Another thing I enjoyed was the little pieces of bait Amanda left throughout the story. When Charlie is initially introduced, he refuses to give his last name and is extremely anxious about being seen, raising the suspicions of the reader. Instead of coming straight out and clarifying what is going on – or, despite being a dual POV, having Charlie’s inner thoughts reveal what he is hiding – Amanda does a great job of dropping hints without confirming the reader’s suspicions. She keeps them engaged as they continue to progress through the story, speculating on what’s true and what is part of the hinted misunderstanding.

For those seeking a closed-door romance, intimate moments were kept behind closed doors or described off-page as recollections. There were glimpses of moments leading up to those situations, but again, Amanda kept everything very modest and even used humorous names to describe some of their time together.

The overarching message of this book was simply about being yourself and trusting that who you are is enough. All Charlie wanted was to be himself, study snakes, and love Jean. He didn’t want to run a brewery or be the center of attention – he just wanted to be Charlie. The same was true for Jean. All she wanted to do was paint. She’d constantly been told she was too much and just wanted to be accepted as she was. She didn’t want to fit into a mold, conform to a standard, or play by certain rules – she just wanted to be Jean.

Amanda Sellet delivers another comfortable, well-written read. I have a soft spot for her books because they’re easy to put down and just as easy to pick back up again. They aren’t high-energy, so you don’t feel sucked in, and the story unfolds at its own pace – there’s no rush to get to the resolution. The hijinks, banter, and just overall lovable characters make for great company until you turn the last page, satisfied that everything worked out as it should, with an ending that feels genuinely realistic.