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When her
latest boyfriend
breaks up
with her, Min
is more irritated
than hurt. An Actuary by profession, Min deals more
in facts than in feelings - to her, Love is a fairy tale and which
doesn't happen to full-figured gals like her. But
when she accidentally
overhears her
recent ex-boyfriend making
a bet with a
practiced Casanova, Calvin
Morrissey,
about bedding her, clever
and enraged gal that she
is, Min decides
to turn tables
on both of
them and goes
out with Calvin.
Virtually bulldozed into
making this
bet, Calvin
isn’t pleased either
to be dating
a prim-looking
marm like Min.
But still, a
bet is a
bet, and
Calvin doesn't
like to lose.
Determined to
dislike Calvin from the first,
Min is brutally honest with him
and Calvin
soon reciprocates, neither caring
what impression
they make
upon each other.
Thanks to this
refreshing candidness, there
is no artificiality
or pretense between them; which is why they
are most
pleasantly surprised when
they begin to
like each
other because of
it and for
it. As
time passes and they spend
more time
together, something strange
happens to both
of them. Is
it Fate throwing
them together
at every turn of
life,
showing them how
perfect they
are for each
other, or is
it just plain
unfulfilled desire
clouding their senses? With
ex.’s who just won’t give up, psycho cats, and loopy friends, this book
is Fun all the way.
On
the surface,
Calvin and
Min appear to
be to two
completely disparate
individuals, and yet
they're not. Crusie’s
woman characters
are always
true to life
and very real and that is
the case with
Min and her
best friends
Liza and Bonnie.
Min’s struggle with her
full figure
and constant attempts
to diet are simultaneously
amusing and affecting. Calvin’s
initially not very
likable,
what with his
Casanova reputation
and betting at
the drop of
a hat. But he
redeems himself completely
when he likes
Min the way
she is and
doesn't want to
change her. The
whole book is
a wonderfully
warm journey of
discovery and
togetherness between
them.
Wonderfully wicked
observations, delightfully
droll comments, amusing situations
- all
titivate an already hilarious
piece of
fiction. Humor is generally an integral part of all Crusie’s stories
and so it is
with this too.
One of
the best
books so far
this year, “Bet Me” is
smart,
wicked, funny
and trendy,
and a must-read
for every
discerning reader.
Reviewed By
Rashmi Srinivas for The Road to Romance
January 7, 2004
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