Bet Me

Author: Jennifer Crusie
Published: August 24, 2004 (St. Martin's)
Category: Romance
Rating: 8/10

This was my second Crusie, thanks to Jennie, who sent me a copy for my birthday. Thanks Jennie! I started it yesterday afternoon and plowed through it in a day. The whole relationship starts off because of a bet made by the heroine's ex: $10,000 to Cal if he gets Min into bed within a month. I rolled my eyes when I got to that part because here goes another romance where the woman will have to question whether the guy is with her for the bet or for her. But I was wrong. It was so much more than that, because Cal never accepted that bet. He just accepted a $10 bet to take Min to dinner while the ex believed that the $10,000 bet was still on the table.

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 commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes, and keep him on his toes. 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 Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all-true love.

I really liked this book, as Crusie writes "real" characters. Our heroine isn't a super skinny woman; she's average sized! And she's dealing with a mother who wants her to lose weight and never eat carbs! Cal, our hero, is a commitmentphobe, but something about Min attracts him, and he doesn't understand why such a prickly woman who isn't a skinny hottie makes him go to such lengths to see her again. He even acts as a delivery boy for her dinner order so he can invite himself to dinner at her place, and inadvertently brings her the perfect genius cat.

Their romance is incredibly sweet, funny, and sassy. Both Min and Cal have problems with their respective families, and when they do the family visits, they stand up for each other. For example, Cal gave Min bread with gasp! butter when her mother told her not to have any carbs, because he doesn't think there's anything wrong with the way Min looks. At Cal's family dinner, Min

The biggest flaws in Bet Me were Cal and Min's exes. They were so stupid for "smart" people with zero common sense that they were almost too fictional. Cal dated a hot psychologist known for her relationship formula that she used to analyze all relationships, as if such things could be analyzed logically! She was set on marrying Cal and only him, because they were perfect for each other and the formula supported her. Even though she believed that, she still had Min's ex try all sorts of things (calling her, buying her crappy gifts, showing up at her house, etc) to get her back.

I was a little confused on why Min's ex wanted her back so badly when he was attracted to the stereotypical hot young skinny thing (and could get them). During the short time they were an item, he pointed out that she needed to lose weight, and once Cal starts dating her, he thinks that he's going to lose the bet and his future wife. He keeps going on about how she's good wife material. It just seemed kind of odd to find that in a contemporary romance. I'm more used to that in a historical, where being a good wife meant you had a nice dowry, had good manners, and could bear sons. And I really don't think he was going to such great lengths (almost stalking her) just so he wouldn't lose the bet. Did he really think saving $10,000 was worth marrying a woman he didn't really want?

Apart from the stupid exes (that's why they're exes!), the book was great fun, and had a really amusing epilogue.