Title: Hedging Your Bets
Author: Jayne Denker
Source: Netgalley. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers.
Trigger Warnings: Fatphobia, Divorce, Toxic Relationships and Body Shaming.
Explicit? No, this is a closed door romance.
Summary: Opposites attract in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy of feuding neighbors and dueling hearts from Jayne Denker, the author of The Rom-Com Agenda.

When small-town neighbors go head-to-head, better start Hedging Your Bets .

Gillian has been happily divorced for several years and, after trying a few dating apps, prefers to stay that way. Navigating her way through dates with fat shamers and lackluster men has left her with no desire to do anything other than work in her garden in her spare time. Who needs rude comments and awkward first-date conversation when soft roses and vibrant tulips are so much better?

Noah West has just moved to Willow Cove. After a rough breakup that leaves him looking to get far away, he relocates to the same small town he spent summers in as a teen―and moves right next door to Gillian. A big believer in minimalist design and that the best kind of plants are non-flowering, he knows as soon as he meets his neighbor that they are going to clash on just about everything. Now if only he could keep his eyes off her too. That might be helpful.

When a gardening contest brings out the competition in Gillian and Noah, dueling plant arrangements and fiery banter ensues. But is it possible that beneath all their differences, they might just be perfect for each other?

Are you looking for a super cute, low-stakes, enemies-to-lovers quick read? Yes? Then this is the book for you. I admittedly requested this book and received it from Netgalley before realizing that this was the second book in a series, but rest assured, if you read this one first you won’t have any issues. Though I did go and reserve this book from my library at the first available moment.

Both characters I admit are pretty high-strung in the beginning of this book, to the point that I wanted to gather them together and take deep breaths with them because everything would be okay. That being said I did fall in love with both of them, despite Noah’s ideas for horrific modern garden design.

The cast of characters surrounding them, some their age, and some stealth grannies (a term from the book that still makes me laugh) are a riot that kept me giggling throughout the book.

Anyone who comments on Gillian’s weight or her personality needs to be kicked in the shins, seriously.

This is a sweet, quick read but may also leave you wishing that you had a nicer garden.